Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
MANAGEMENT OF INTEREST RATE RISK AND MARKET RISK ANALYSIS
Qualitative Aspects of Market Risk . The Company seeks to provide sustainable net interest income (NII) under varying economic conditions, while protecting the economic value of assets and liabilities from adverse effects of changes in market interest rates. While a number of market factors affect the level of NII and the economic value of our assets and liabilities, changes in interest rates is the most significant aspect of our market risk. As such, the Company maintains a regular cadence for review and oversight of its asset-liability policies and interest rate risk positioning with oversight from senior management and the Board of Directors. The manner and extent of the movement of interest rates is an uncertainty that could have a positive or negative impact on the Company’s earnings.
The Company manages its interest rate risk by analyzing the sensitivity and mix of its assets and liabilities, including derivative financial instruments. The Company also uses secondary markets, brokerages, and counterparties to accommodate customer demand for long-term fixed rate loans and to provide it with flexibility in managing its balance sheet positions.
Quantitative Aspects of Market Risk. The Company quantifies its NII sensitivity using an earnings simulation model that compares a baseline view of NII over 12 and 24 month horizons, based on a static view of the balance sheet and market interest rates, to a wide range of parallel and non-parallel rate shocks and ramps. In addition, the Company analyzes net income at risk and equity at risk from interest rate changes through discounted cash flow analysis.
The chart below shows an analysis of a scenario where interest rates ramp in a parallel manner over a period of 12 months compared to a base case of flat interest rates. Modeled assets and liabilities are assumed to reprice at respective repricing or maturity dates. Pricing caps and floors are included in the results, where applicable. The Company uses prepayment expectations set forth by market sources as well as Company generated data where applicable. Generally, cash flows from loans and securities are assumed to be reinvested to maintain a static balance sheet. Other assumptions about balance sheet mix are generally held constant. There were no material changes to the way that the Company measures market risk in 2021.
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Item 7-7A - Table 2 - Qualitative Aspects of Market Risk
Change in
Interest Rates-Basis
Points (Rate Ramp)
1- 12 Months 13- 24 Months
$ Change % Change $ Change % Change
(In thousands)
At December 31, 2021
+200 17,815 6.82 39,059 14.83
+100 7,294 2.79 15,282 5.80
-100 1,227 0.47 (1,356) (0.51)
At December 31, 2020
+200 (108) (0.03) 12,199 4.01
+100 (3,090) (0.99) (943) (0.31)
-100 5,408 1.73 6,769 2.22
At year-end 2021, a 200 basis point parallel upward interest rate increase results in approximately a 7% increase in modeled NII compared to the static baseline view in the first year, and approximately a 15% increase in the second-year horizon. The Company has shifted towards asset sensitive positioning throughout 2021, and remains well-positioned for the forecast rate cycle ahead. Asset sensitivity is driven by elevated cash balances from loan payoffs, a predominantly floating-rate loan portfolio, and modeled assumptions for deposit pricing and beta. For purposes of NII sensitivity reporting, a weighted average deposit beta of 35-45% is assumed in asset-liability modeling. Our positioning to downward changes in market rates remains limited due to a smaller effective shock for assets and liabilities to reprice lower from the current rate environment. In addition to parallel shocks and ramps, the Company analyzes the impact of non-parallel shocks (i.e., yield curve twist scenarios). At this time, the primary driver of asset sensitivity is on the short-end of the yield curve, though upward changes in the long-end are also expected to be accretive to NII.
Economic value of equity is modeled to increase by 4.5% in the event of a 200 basis point upward parallel shock in interest rates. Based on market expectations for higher interest rates in 2022 and beyond, and on commentary from monetary authorities about easing monetary stimulus, it is anticipated that the Company’s positive sensitivity to rising rates may contribute to its BEST goals for improved profitability.
A critical component of modeling this scenario is the assumption of deposit interest rate sensitivity, which the Company continues to model at a 40% beta level after an initial low beta for the first 50 basis points of rising rates. Due to the low level of interest rates, the modeled sensitivity of a downward shift in interest rates is affected by assumptions related to market influences on spreads and floors. Prime, mortgage rates, and deposits are floored. All other rates are zero bound.
Modeled interest rate sensitivity depends on other material assumptions. Market risk exposure is affected by the level and shape of the yield curve in markets for financial instruments including U.S. Treasury obligations, forward interest rate derivatives, the U.S. prime interest rate, and LIBOR rates. Also, the economic impact on customer and market behaviors of the COVID-19 pandemic remains uncertain and may cause actual events to differ from assumptions. The behavior of markets under the historically unusual conditions currently prevailing may be different from modeling assumptions, and the Company continues to monitor the markets and the assumptions in its model.
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ITEM 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The Consolidated Financial Statements and supplementary data required by this item are presented elsewhere in this report beginning on page F-1, in the order shown below:
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 173 )
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
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