Item 1. Financial Statements
Item 1 – Financial Statements
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
ASSETS
(unaudited)
(audited)
Cash and due from banks
$
84,655
$
72,803
Interest-bearing deposits in banks
3,887
4,328
Total cash & cash equivalents
88,542
77,131
Investment securities
Available-for-sale, net of zero allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022
1,010,377
934,923
Held-to-maturity, (fair value of $ 290,956 at September 30, 2023 and $ 328,011 at December 31, 2022)
323,560
336,944
Allowance for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities
( 16 )
( 63 )
Net, investment securities held-to-maturity
323,544
336,881
Loans:
Gross loans
2,100,810
2,052,940
Deferred loan costs (fees), net
163
( 123 )
Allowance for credit losses on loans
( 23,060 )
( 23,060 )
Net loans
2,077,913
2,029,757
Premises and equipment, net
21,926
22,478
Goodwill
27,357
27,357
Other intangible assets, net
1,618
2,275
Bank-owned life insurance
51,332
52,169
Other assets
136,271
125,619
Total assets
$
3,738,880
$
3,608,590
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing
$
1,059,878
$
1,088,199
Interest-bearing
1,809,842
1,757,965
Total deposits
2,869,720
2,846,164
Repurchase agreements
94,865
109,169
Other borrowings
317,000
219,000
Long-term debt
49,281
49,214
Subordinated debentures
35,615
35,481
Allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments
600
840
Other liabilities
62,940
45,140
Total liabilities
3,430,021
3,305,008
Commitments and contingent liabilities (Note 7)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value; 24,000,000 shares authorized; 14,702,079 and 15,170,372 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively
109,638
112,928
Additional paid-in capital
4,934
4,148
Retained earnings
256,201
243,082
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
( 61,914 )
( 56,576 )
Total shareholders' equity
308,859
303,582
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
$
3,738,880
$
3,608,590
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
1
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Interest and dividend income
Loans, including fees
$
24,915
$
21,833
$
71,736
$
64,211
Taxable securities
14,375
7,646
39,848
15,613
Tax-exempt securities
2,679
2,346
8,233
5,926
Federal funds sold and other
415
103
861
466
Total interest income
42,384
31,928
120,678
86,216
Interest expense
Deposits
8,767
1,761
22,710
3,105
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements
817
71
3,335
231
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
3,522
319
6,692
319
Long-term debt
429
427
1,286
1,284
Subordinated debentures
762
439
2,120
1,024
Total interest expense
14,297
3,017
36,143
5,963
Net interest income
28,087
28,911
84,535
80,253
(Benefit) provision for credit losses
( 33 )
1,259
157
4,184
Net interest income after provision for credit losses
28,120
27,652
84,378
76,069
Noninterest income
Service charges and fees on deposit accounts
6,055
6,008
17,127
17,464
Net gains on sale of securities available-for-sale
—
—
396
1,032
Increase (decrease) in cash surrender value of life insurance
558
( 23 )
1,388
( 1,252 )
Other income
1,149
627
3,444
5,870
Total noninterest income
7,762
6,612
22,355
23,114
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits
12,623
11,521
37,567
35,070
Occupancy and equipment costs
2,482
2,470
7,251
7,170
Other
7,457
7,005
23,704
21,042
Total noninterest expense
22,562
20,996
68,522
63,282
Income before taxes
13,320
13,268
38,211
35,901
Provision for income taxes
3,435
3,333
9,656
9,355
Net income
$
9,885
$
9,935
$
28,555
$
26,546
PER SHARE DATA
Book value
$
21.01
$
19.56
$
21.01
$
19.56
Cash dividends
$
0.23
$
0.23
$
0.69
$
0.69
Earnings per share basic
$
0.68
$
0.66
$
1.93
$
1.77
Earnings per share diluted
$
0.68
$
0.66
$
1.93
$
1.76
Average shares outstanding, basic
14,583,132
14,954,503
14,762,231
14,968,242
Average shares outstanding, diluted
14,636,477
15,014,048
14,791,696
15,046,883
Total shareholders' equity (in thousands)
$
308,859
$
295,072
$
308,859
$
295,072
Shares outstanding
14,702,079
15,085,675
14,702,079
15,085,675
Dividends paid (in thousands)
$
3,407
$
3,471
$
10,361
$
10,449
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
2
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Net income
$
9,885
$
9,935
$
28,555
$
26,546
Other comprehensive (loss) gain, before tax:
Unrealized loss on securities:
Unrealized holding loss arising during period
( 7,670 )
( 14,994 )
( 7,182 )
( 101,432 )
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income (1)
—
—
( 396 )
( 1,032 )
Other comprehensive loss, before tax
( 7,670 )
( 14,994 )
( 7,578 )
( 102,464 )
Income tax benefit related to items of other comprehensive loss, net of tax
2,267
4,433
2,240
30,292
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
( 5,403 )
( 10,561 )
( 5,338 )
( 72,172 )
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
4,482
$
( 626 )
$
23,217
$
( 45,626 )
(1) Amounts are included in net gains on investment securities available-for-sale on the Consolidated Statements of Income in noninterest income. There were no income tax expenses associated with the reclassification adjustment for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. Income tax expenses associated with the reclassification adjustment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 were $ 0.1 million and $ 0.3 million, respectively.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
3
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Common Stock
Paid In
Retained
Comprehensive
Shareholders'
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
Loss
Equity
Balance, June 30, 2022
15,090,792
$
111,727
$
4,585
$
233,179
$
( 50,444 )
$
299,047
Net income
—
—
—
9,935
—
9,935
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
—
—
—
—
( 10,561 )
( 10,561 )
Stock options exercised, net of shares surrendered for cashless exercises
5,400
458
( 397 )
—
—
61
Restricted stock surrendered due to employee tax liability
( 9,965 )
( 74 )
—
( 147 )
—
( 221 )
Restricted stock forfeited / cancelled
( 552 )
—
—
—
—
—
Stock based compensation - stock options
—
—
18
—
—
18
Stock based compensation - restricted stock
—
—
264
—
—
264
Cash dividends - $ 0.23 per share
—
—
—
( 3,471 )
—
( 3,471 )
Balance, September 30, 2022
15,085,675
$
112,111
$
4,470
$
239,496
$
( 61,005 )
$
295,072
Balance, June 30, 2023
14,811,736
$
110,097
$
4,887
$
251,119
$
( 56,511 )
$
309,592
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
—
—
—
—
( 5,403 )
( 5,403 )
Restricted shares withheld for taxes
( 10,129 )
( 76 )
—
( 136 )
—
( 212 )
Restricted stock vested in period
—
374
( 374 )
—
—
—
Stock based compensation - stock options
—
—
16
—
—
16
Stock based compensation - restricted stock
—
—
405
—
—
405
Stock repurchase
( 99,528 )
( 740 )
—
( 1,260 )
—
( 2,000 )
Excise tax on stock repurchase
—
( 17 )
—
—
—
( 17 )
Cash dividends - $ 0.23 per share
—
—
—
( 3,407 )
—
( 3,407 )
Balance, September 30, 2023
14,702,079
$
109,638
$
4,934
$
256,201
$
( 61,914 )
$
308,859
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
4
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Accumulated
Additional
Other
Common Stock
Paid In
Retained
Comprehensive
Shareholders'
Shares
Amount
Capital
Earnings
(Loss) Income
Equity
Balance, December 31, 2021
15,270,010
$
113,007
$
3,910
$
234,410
$
11,167
$
362,494
Cumulative change in accounting principle
—
—
—
( 7,315 )
—
( 7,315 )
Net income
—
—
—
26,546
—
26,546
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
—
—
—
—
( 72,172 )
( 72,172 )
Stock options exercised, net of shares surrendered for cashless exercises
10,600
512
( 398 )
—
—
114
Restricted stock surrendered due to employee tax liability
( 11,161 )
( 83 )
—
( 170 )
—
( 253 )
Restricted stock forfeited / cancelled
( 1,212 )
—
—
—
—
—
Stock based compensation - stock options
—
—
66
—
—
66
Stock based compensation - restricted stock
—
—
892
—
—
892
Stock repurchase
( 182,562 )
( 1,325 )
—
( 3,526 )
—
( 4,851 )
Stock issued-acquisition
—
—
—
—
—
—
Cash dividends - $ 0.69 per share
—
—
—
( 10,449 )
—
( 10,449 )
Balance, September 30, 2022
15,085,675
$
112,111
$
4,470
$
239,496
$
( 61,005 )
$
295,072
Balance, December 31, 2022
15,170,372
$
112,928
$
4,148
$
243,082
$
( 56,576 )
$
303,582
Net income
—
—
—
28,555
—
28,555
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
—
—
—
—
( 5,338 )
( 5,338 )
Restricted stock granted
29,064
—
—
—
—
—
Restricted shares withheld for taxes
( 11,893 )
( 89 )
—
( 159 )
—
( 248 )
Restricted stock forfeited / cancelled
( 4,370 )
—
—
—
—
—
Restricted stock vested in period
—
454
( 454 )
—
—
—
Stock based compensation - stock options
—
—
53
—
—
53
Stock based compensation - restricted stock
—
—
1,187
—
—
1,187
Stock repurchase
( 481,094 )
( 3,574 )
—
( 4,916 )
—
( 8,490 )
Excise tax on stock repurchase
—
( 81 )
—
—
—
( 81 )
Cash dividends - $ 0.69 per share
—
—
—
( 10,361 )
—
( 10,361 )
Balance, September 30, 2023
14,702,079
$
109,638
$
4,934
$
256,201
$
( 61,914 )
$
308,859
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
5
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 AND 2022
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
28,555
$
26,546
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sales of securities
( 396 )
( 1,032 )
(Gain) loss on disposal of fixed assets
( 15 )
6
Gain on sale on foreclosed assets
—
( 8 )
Writedowns on foreclosed assets
—
91
Stock based compensation expense
1,240
958
Provision for credit losses on loans
444
4,360
(Benefit) provision for credit losses on held-to-maturity securities
( 47 )
18
Depreciation and amortization
1,787
1,910
Net amortization on securities premiums and discounts
2,199
2,934
Net accretion of premiums/discounts for loans acquired
( 232 )
( 149 )
(Increase) decrease in cash surrender value of life insurance policies
( 1,388 )
1,251
Amortization of core deposit intangible
657
758
Increase in interest receivable and other assets
( 1,880 )
( 18,017 )
Decrease in other liabilities
17,560
15,506
Deferred income tax benefit
( 347 )
( 2,397 )
Decrease in value of restricted bank equity securities
291
332
Excise tax on stock repurchases
( 81 )
—
Amortization of debt issuance costs
67
55
Net amortization of partnership investment
453
338
Net cash provided by operating activities
48,867
33,460
Cash flows from investing activities:
Maturities and calls of securities available for sale
65,581
7,663
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale
25,676
26,408
Purchases of securities available for sale
( 197,153 )
( 450,984 )
Principal pay downs on securities available for sale
34,445
60,198
Net purchases of FHLB stock
( 1,929 )
( 336 )
Loan originations and payments, net
( 67,519 )
( 36,286 )
Purchases of premises and equipment
( 1,112 )
( 899 )
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
26
—
Proceeds from sales of foreclosed assets
19,151
10
Purchase of bank-owned life insurance
( 99 )
( 19 )
Liquidation of bank-owned life insurance
—
11
Increase in partnership investment
( 5,000 )
( 7,562 )
Proceeds from BOLI death benefit
2,324
859
Net cash used in investing activities
( 125,609 )
( 400,937 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Increase in deposits
23,556
103,896
Increase in Fed funds purchased
10,000
—
Increase in short-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances
8,000
103,100
Proceeds from long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other debt
80,000
—
(Decrease) increase in customer repurchase agreements
( 14,304 )
5,075
Cash dividends paid
( 10,361 )
( 10,449 )
Repurchases of common stock
( 8,738 )
( 5,108 )
Stock options exercised
—
118
Net cash provided by financing activities
88,153
196,632
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
11,411
( 170,845 )
Cash and cash equivalents
Beginning of period
77,131
257,528
End of period
$
88,542
$
86,683
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid
$
33,993
$
5,958
Income taxes paid
$
7,455
$
8,946
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Real estate acquired through foreclosure
$
15,406
$
—
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
6
Table of Contents
SIERRA BANCORP
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2022
(Unaudited)
Note 1 – The Business of Sierra Bancorp
Sierra Bancorp (the “Company”) is a California corporation headquartered in Porterville, California, and is a registered bank holding company under federal banking laws. The Company was formed to serve as the holding company for Bank of the Sierra (the “Bank”), and has been the Bank’s sole shareholder since August 2001. The Company exists primarily for the purpose of holding the stock of the Bank and of such other subsidiaries it may acquire or establish. As of September 30, 2023, the Company’s only other subsidiaries were Sierra Statutory Trust II, Sierra Capital Trust III, and Coast Bancorp Statutory Trust II, which were formed solely to facilitate the issuance of capital trust pass-through securities (“TRUPS”). Pursuant to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) standard on the consolidation of variable interest entities, these trusts are not reflected on a consolidated basis in the Company’s financial statements. References herein to the “Company” include Sierra Bancorp and its consolidated subsidiary, the Bank, unless the context indicates otherwise.
Bank of the Sierra, a California state-chartered bank headquartered in Porterville, California, offers a wide range of retail and commercial banking services via branch offices located throughout California’s South San Joaquin Valley, the Central Coast, Ventura County, the Sacramento area, and neighboring communities. The Bank was incorporated in September 1977, and opened for business in January 1978 as a one -branch bank with $ 1.5 million in capital. Our growth in the ensuing years has largely been organic in nature, but includes four whole-bank acquisitions: Sierra National Bank in 2000, Santa Clara Valley Bank in 2014, Coast National Bank in 2016, and Ojai Community Bank in October 2017. As of the filing date of this report the Bank operates 35 full-service branches and an online branch, and maintains ATMs at all but one of our branch locations as well as at seven non-branch locations. Moreover, the Bank has specialized lending units which focus on agricultural borrowers, commercial real estate, and mortgage warehouse lending. In addition, in February 2020 the Bank opened a loan production office which is currently located in Roseville, CA. To support organic growth in the agricultural lending sector the Bank also opened a loan production office in Templeton, CA in April 2022. The Company had total assets of $ 3.7 billion at September 30, 2023, and for a number of years we have claimed the distinction of being the largest bank headquartered in the South San Joaquin Valley. The Bank’s deposit accounts, which totaled $ 2.9 billion at September 30, 2023, are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) up to maximum insurable amounts.
Note 2 – Basis of Presentation
The accompanying interim unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in a condensed format as allowed under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Therefore, these financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete, audited financial statements as presented in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. The information furnished in these interim statements reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of Management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for such periods. Such adjustments can generally be considered as normal and recurring unless otherwise disclosed in this Form 10-Q. In preparing the accompanying financial statements, Management has taken subsequent events into consideration, through November 2, 2023 and recognized them where appropriate. The results of operations in the interim statements are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for any other quarter, or for the full year. Certain amounts reported for 2022 have been reclassified to be consistent with the reporting for 2023, none of which impacted net income or shareholders’ equity. The interim financial information should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).
7
Table of Contents
Note 3 – Current Accounting Developments
In September 2016 the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments , which eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold for credit losses in current U.S. GAAP, and instead requires an organization to record an estimate of expected credit losses over the contractual term for financial assets carried at amortized cost (generally loans and held-to-maturity investment securities) in addition to certain off balance-sheet credit exposure. Under the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) methodology expected credit losses for financial assets are estimated over the contractual life of the financial asset, adjusted for expected prepayments, considering historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Additionally, under CECL the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities is addressed through an allowance for credit losses which is a change from legacy GAAP which previously required the direct write-down of securities through the other-than-temporary impairment approach. The Company implemented CECL on January 1, 2022 , using the modified retrospective approach to estimate lifetime expected losses on financial assets measured at amortized cost in addition to certain off balance sheet credit exposures. The January 1, 2022, increase in the Company’s allowance for credit losses, of $ 9.5 million on loans and $ 0.9 million in off balance sheet credit exposures, net of the impact of deferred taxes, was reflected in a transition adjustment of $ 7.3 million to retained earnings. There was no cumulative effect adjustment related to our available-for-sale investment portfolio upon adoption and the Company had no securities designated as held-to-maturity as of January 1, 2022.
For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which management has an intent to sell the security or considers it more likely-than-not that the security in question will be sold prior to a recovery of its amortized cost basis, the security will be written down to fair value through a direct charge to income. For the remainder of available sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, which don’t meet the previously outlined criteria, management evaluates whether the decline in fair value is a reflection of credit deterioration or other factors. In performing this evaluation, management considers the extent which fair value has fallen below amortized cost, changes in ratings by rating agencies, and other information indicating a deterioration in repayment capacity of either the underlying issuer or the borrowers providing repayment capacity in a securitization. If management’s evaluation indicates that a credit loss exists then a present value of the expected cash flows is calculated and compared to the amortized cost basis of the security in question and to the degree that the amortized cost basis exceeds the present value an allowance for credit loss (“ACL”) is established, with the caveat that the maximum amount of the reserve on any individual security is the difference between the fair value and amortized cost balance of the security in question. Any unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income.
On April 1, 2022 the Company transferred $ 162.1 million of Agency, Mortgaged-Backed and Municipal securities from available-for-sale to held-to maturity. On October 1, 2022, a similar transfer of $ 198.3 million securities from available for sale to held-to-maturity was completed. Because of the implicit and explicit guarantees of the Federal Government on the Agency and Mortgage-Backed securities there is no expectation of future losses on any of these securities. The Bank’s municipal bonds moved to the held-to-maturity designation all have credit ratings considered investment grade or equivalent. A discounted-cash-flow reserve calculation was performed upon the transfer of these securities into the held-to-maturity designation and is updated on a quarterly basis. As of September 30, 2023, it was determined that the allowance for credit losses related to held-to-maturity securities is minimal given that most held-to-maturity securities are U.S. Government sponsored or are highly rated municipal securities.
In March 2023 the FASB issued , ASU No. 2023-02 , “Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Accounting for Investments in Tax Credit Structures Using the Proportional Amortization Method.” ASU 2023-02 is intended to improve the accounting and disclosures for investments in tax credit structures. ASU 2023-02 allows entities to elect to account for qualifying tax equity investments using the proportional amortization method, regardless of the program giving rise to the related income tax credits. Previously, this method was only available for qualifying tax equity investments in low-income housing tax credit structures. ASU 2023-02 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2024, though early adoption is permitted, and its adoption is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s financial statements.
On October 9, 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-06, “ Disclosure Improvements: Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification of Initiative.” ASU 2023-06 amends the disclosure or presentation
8
Table of Contents
requirements related to various subtopics in the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “Codification”). The ASU was issued in response to the SEC’s August 2018 final rule that updated and simplified disclosure requirements that the SEC believed were “redundant, duplicative, overlapping, outdated, or superseded.” The new guidance is intended to align U.S. GAAP requirements with those of the SEC and to facilitate the application of U.S. GAAP for all entities. ASU 2023-06 applies to all reporting entities within the scope of the amended subtopics. Note that some of the amendments introduced by the ASU are technical corrections or clarifications of the FASB’s current disclosure or presentation requirements. The effective date for each amendment of ASU 2023-06 will be the date on which the SEC’s removal of that related disclosure requirement from Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K becomes effective, with early adoption prohibited. The Company will apply the amendments in ASU 2023-06 prospectively after the effective dates. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant effect on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 4 – Share Based Compensation
On March 17, 2023, the Company’s Board of Directors approved and adopted the 2023 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2023 Plan”), which became effective May 24, 2023, the date approved by the Company’s shareholders. The 2023 Plan replaced the Company’s 2017 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). Options to purchase 210,800 shares granted under the 2017 Plan and options to purchase 132,649 shares that were granted under the 2007 Plan were still outstanding as of September 30, 2023, and remain unaffected by that plan’s expiration. The 2023 Plan provides for the issuance of various types of equity awards, including options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted share units, performance share awards, dividend equivalents, or any combination thereof. Such awards may be granted to officers and employees as well as non-employee directors, which awards may be granted on such terms and conditions as are established by the Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee in its discretion. The total number of shares of the Company’s authorized but unissued stock reserved for issuance pursuant to awards under the 2023 Plan was initially 360,000 shares, and the number remaining available for grant as of September 30, 2023 was unchanged. The potential dilutive impact of unexercised stock options is discussed below in Note 5, Earnings per Share.
Pursuant to FASB’s standards on stock compensation, the value of each stock option and restricted stock award is reflected in our income statement as employee compensation or directors’ expense by amortizing its grant date fair value over the vesting period of the option or award. The Company utilizes a Black-Scholes model to determine grant date fair values for options, while the market price of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant is used for restricted stock awards. Forfeitures are reflected in compensation costs as they occur for both types of awards. A pre-tax charge of $ 0.4 million was reflected in the Company’s income statement during the third quarter of 2023 and $ 0.3 million during the third quarter of 2022, as expense related to stock options and restricted stock awards. For the first nine months of 2023 and 2022, the charges totaled $ 1.2 million and $ 1.0 million, respectively.
Restricted Stock Grants
The Company’s Restricted Stock Awards are awards of either time-vested or performance-based shares. The Restricted Stock Awards are non-transferrable shares of common stock and are available to be granted to the Company’s employees and directors. The vesting period of Restricted Stock Awards is determined at the time the awards are issued, and different awards may have different vesting terms or performance measures; provided, however, that no installment of any Restricted Stock Award shall become vested less than one year from the grant date. Restricted Stock Awards are valued utilizing the fair value of the Company’s stock at the grant date. These awards are expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period and consider the probability of meeting the performance criteria. There were 29,064 shares granted to employees of the Company during the first nine months of 2023. As of September 30, 2023, there was $ 2.2 million of unamortized compensation cost related to unvested Restricted Stock Awards granted under the 2017 plan. That cost is expected to be amortized over a weighted average period of 1.9 years.
9
Table of Contents
The Company’s restricted stock award activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 is summarized below (unaudited):
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
Shares
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Shares
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Unvested shares, January 1,
175,619
$
21.42
165,131
$
21.72
Granted
29,064
21.50
—
—
Vested
( 23,675 )
19.17
( 37,748 )
19.20
Forfeited
( 4,370 )
22.79
( 1,212 )
27.16
Unvested shares, September 30,
176,638
$
21.72
126,171
$
22.45
Stock Option Grants
The Company has issued equity instruments in the form of Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options to certain officers and directors. No options have been granted since 2020, but the Company could elect to issue under the 2023 Plan. The exercise price of each stock option is determined at the time of the grant and may be no less than 100 % of the fair market value of such stock at the time the option is granted.
The Company’s stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 are summarized below (dollars in thousands, except per share data, unaudited):
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
Shares
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)
Shares
Weighted Average
Exercise Price
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (in years)
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)
Outstanding at January 1,
352,249
$
25.06
$
348
415,870
$
24.15
$
1,338
Exercised
—
$
—
$
—
( 5,600 )
$
11.22
$
56
Forfeited/Expired
( 8,800 )
$
26.56
$
3
( 32,381 )
$
27.32
$
—
Outstanding at September 30,
343,449
$
25.02
4.48
$
167
377,889
$
24.07
5.13
$
470
Exercisable at September 30,
319,649
$
24.86
4.35
$
167
336,489
$
23.69
4.88
$
470
(1) The aggregate intrinsic value of stock option in the table above represents the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the amount by which the current market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on September 30, 2023. This amount changes based on changes in the market value of the Company's stock.
Note 5 – Earnings per Share
The computation of earnings per share, as presented in the Consolidated Statements of Income, is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during each period, excluding unvested restricted stock awards. There were 14,583,132 weighted average shares outstanding during the third quarter of 2023 and 14,954,503 during the third quarter of 2022, while there were 14,762,231 weighted average shares outstanding during the first nine months of 2023 and 14,968,242 during the first nine months of 2022.
Diluted earnings per share calculations include the effect of the potential issuance of common shares, which for the Company is limited to shares that would be issued on the exercise of “in-the-money” stock options, and unvested restricted stock awards. For the third quarter of 2023, calculations under the treasury stock method resulted in the equivalent of 53,345 shares being added to basic weighted average shares outstanding for purposes of determining diluted earnings per share, while a weighted average of 278,374 stock options were excluded from the calculation because they were underwater and thus anti-dilutive. For the third quarter of 2022 the equivalent of 59,545 shares were added in calculating diluted earnings per share, while 303,387 anti-dilutive stock options were not factored into the
10
Table of Contents
computation. Likewise, for the first nine months of 2023 the equivalent of 29,465 shares were added to basic weighted average shares outstanding in calculating diluted earnings per share and a weighted average of 326,036 options that were anti-dilutive for the period were not included, compared to the addition of the equivalent of 78,641 shares and non-inclusion of 299,404 anti-dilutive options in calculating diluted earnings per share for first nine months of 2022.
Note 6 – Comprehensive Income (Loss)
As presented in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), comprehensive income (loss) includes net income and other comprehensive income (loss). The Company’s only source of other comprehensive income (loss) is unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investment securities. Investment gains or losses that were realized and reflected in net income of the current period, which had previously been included in other comprehensive income (loss) as unrealized holding gains or losses in the period in which they arose, are considered to be reclassification adjustments that are excluded from other comprehensive income (loss) in the current period.
Note 7 – Commitments and Contingent Liabilities
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business. Those financial instruments currently consist of unused commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. They involve, to varying degrees, elements of risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheet. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and issuing letters of credit as it does for originating loans included on the balance sheet. The following financial instruments represent off-balance-sheet credit risk (dollars in thousands):
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Commitments to extend credit
$
543,722
$
889,517
Standby letters of credit
$
5,124
$
6,037
Commitments to extend credit consist primarily of the unused or unfunded portions of the following: mortgage warehouse lines, home equity lines of credit, commercial real estate construction loans, where disbursements are made over the course of construction; commercial revolving lines of credit, unsecured personal lines of credit and formalized (disclosed) deposit account overdraft lines. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the unused portions of committed amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Standby letters of credit are issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party, and the credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as the risk involved in extending loans to customers. Included in unused commitments are mortgage warehouse lines which are in the form of repo lines and are unconditionally cancellable. Unused commitments on mortgage warehouse lines were $ 254.4 million at September 30, 2023 and $ 594.6 million at December 31, 2022. The decline in unused mortgage warehouse commitments is due to the Company strategically reducing total exposure on certain individual lines while increasing the number of overall mortgage warehouse lines.
The ACL on unfunded commitments is estimated using the same reserve or coverage rates calculated on collectively evaluated loans following the application of a funding rate to the amount of the unfunded commitment. The funding rate represents management’s estimate of the amount of the current unfunded commitment that will be funded over the remaining contractual life of the commitment and is based on historical data. The ACL on unfunded loan commitments is located in other liabilities while any related provision expense is recorded as a provision for credit losses.
At September 30, 2023, the Company was also utilizing a letter of credit in the amount of $ 127.9 million issued by the Federal Home Loan Bank on the Company’s behalf as security for certain deposits and to facilitate certain credit arrangements with the Company’s customers. That letter of credit is backed by loans which are pledged to the FHLB by the Company.
11
Table of Contents
The Company is subject to loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, which are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable, and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe there are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements.
Note 8 – Fair Value Disclosures and Reporting and Fair Value Measurements
FASB’s standards on financial instruments, and on fair value measurements and disclosures, require public business entities to disclose in their financial statement footnotes the estimated fair values of financial instruments. In addition to disclosure requirements, FASB’s standard on investments requires that our debt securities that are classified as available for sale and any equity securities which have readily determinable fair values be measured and reported at fair value in our statement of financial position. Certain individually identified loans are also reported at fair value, as explained in greater detail below, and foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. FASB’s standard on financial instruments permits companies to report certain other financial assets and liabilities at fair value, but the Company has not elected the fair value option for any of those financial instruments.
Fair value measurement and disclosure standards also establish a framework for measuring fair values. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Further, the standards establish a fair value hierarchy that encourages an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and limit the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair values. The standards describe three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:
● Level 1 : Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
● Level 2 : Significant observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.
● Level 3 : Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the factors that market participants would likely consider in pricing an asset or liability.
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time based on relevant market data and information about the financial instruments. Fair value disclosures for deposits include demand deposits, which are, by definition, equal to the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. Fair value calculations for loans reflect exit pricing, and incorporate our assumptions with regard to the impact of prepayments on future cash flows and credit quality adjustments based on risk characteristics of various financial instruments, among other things. Since the estimates are subjective and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment they cannot be determined with precision, and changes in assumptions could significantly alter the fair values presented.
12
Table of Contents
Estimated fair values for the Company’s financial instruments are as follows, as of the dates noted:
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Fair Value Measurements
Carrying
Amount
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
88,542
$
88,542
$
—
$
—
$
88,542
Investment securities available-for-sale
1,010,377
—
958,142
52,235
1,010,377
Investment securities held-to-maturity
323,544
—
290,956
—
290,956
Loans, net held for investment
2,077,913
—
—
1,933,957
1,933,957
Financial liabilities:
Deposits
2,869,720
1,059,878
1,811,832
—
2,871,710
Repurchase agreements
94,865
—
94,865
—
94,865
Other borrowings
317,000
—
314,364
—
314,364
Long-term borrowings
49,281
—
41,122
—
41,122
Subordinated debentures
35,615
—
31,183
—
31,183
December 31, 2022
Fair Value Measurements
Carrying
Amount
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
77,131
$
77,131
$
—
$
—
$
77,131
Investment securities available for sale
934,923
—
877,488
57,435
934,923
Investment securities held-to-maturity
336,881
—
328,011
—
328,011
Loans, net held for investment
2,011,616
—
—
1,909,822
1,909,822
Individually evaluated collateral dependent loans
18,141
—
18,141
—
18,141
Financial liabilities:
Deposits
2,846,164
1,088,199
1,756,443
—
2,844,642
Repurchase agreements
109,169
—
109,169
—
109,169
Other borrowings
219,000
—
219,000
—
219,000
Long-term borrowings
49,214
—
42,775
—
42,775
Subordinated debentures
35,481
—
37,171
—
37,171
For financial asset categories that were carried on our balance sheet at fair value as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company used the following methods and significant assumptions:
● Investment securities : Fair values are determined by obtaining quoted prices on nationally recognized securities exchanges or by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique used widely in the industry to value debt securities by relying on their relationship to other benchmark quoted securities.
● Collateral-dependent loans : Collateral-dependent loans are carried at fair value when foreclosure is probable or repayment is expected through the sale or operation of collateral and borrower is experiencing financial difficulty.
● Foreclosed assets : Repossessed real estate (known as other real estate owned, or “OREO”) and other foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Fair value is the appraised value less expected disposition costs for OREO; fair values for any other foreclosed assets are represented by estimated sales proceeds as determined using reasonably available sources. Foreclosed assets for which appraisals can be feasibly obtained are periodically measured for impairment using updated appraisals. Fair values for other foreclosed assets are adjusted as necessary, subsequent to a periodic reevaluation of expected cash flows and the timing of
13
Table of Contents
resolution. If impairment is determined to exist, the book value of a foreclosed asset is immediately written down to its estimated impaired value through the income statement, thus the carrying amount is equal to the fair value and there is no valuation allowance.
Assets reported at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:
Fair Value Measurements – Recurring
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2023, using
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
(Level 3)
Securities:
U.S. government agencies
$
—
$
107,084
$
—
$
107,084
$
—
Mortgage-backed securities
—
102,951
—
102,951
—
State and political subdivisions
—
178,314
—
178,314
—
Corporate bonds
—
—
52,235
52,235
—
Collateralized loan obligations
—
569,793
—
569,793
—
Total available-for-sale securities
$
—
$
958,142
$
52,235
$
1,010,377
$
—
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2022, using
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Realized
Gain/(Loss)
(Level 3)
Securities:
U.S. government agencies
$
—
$
50,599
$
—
$
50,599
$
—
Mortgage-backed securities
—
122,532
—
122,532
—
State and political subdivisions
—
205,980
—
205,980
—
Corporate bonds
—
—
57,435
57,435
—
Collateralized loan obligations
—
498,377
—
498,377
—
Total available-for-sale securities
$
—
$
877,488
$
57,435
$
934,923
$
—
Fair Value Measurements - Level 3 Recurring
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Collateralized Loan Obligations
Corporate Bonds
2023
2022
2023
2022
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at January 1,
$
—
$
195,707
$
57,435
$
27,530
Total gains or losses for the period:
Included in other comprehensive income
—
—
( 5,200 )
—
Purchases
—
—
—
26,806
Transfers out of Level 3
—
( 195,707 )
—
—
Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at September 30,
$
—
$
—
$
52,235
$
54,336
All of the Company’s collateralized loan obligations with a fair value of $ 195.7 million as of January 1, 2022 were transferred from Level 3 to Level 2 during the first quarter of 2022 because observable market data became available due to a significant increase in trading volume for these securities during that time.
14
Table of Contents
The Company had no assets reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2023. Assets reported at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2022 are summarized in the table below:
Fair Value Measurements – Nonrecurring
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2022, using
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
Total
Individually evaluated collateral dependent loans
Real estate:
Farmland
$
—
$
15,391
$
—
$
15,391
Total real estate
—
15,391
—
15,391
Other commercial
—
2,750
—
2,750
Consumer loans
—
—
—
—
Total collateral dependent loans
$
—
$
18,141
$
—
$
18,141
Foreclosed assets
$
—
$
—
$
—
$
—
Total assets measured on a nonrecurring basis
$
—
$
18,141
$
—
$
18,141
The table above includes collateral-dependent loan balances for which a specific reserve has been established or on which a write-down has been taken. Information on the Company’s total collateral dependent loan balances and specific loss reserves associated with those balances is included in Note 10 below.
The unobservable inputs are based on Management’s best estimates of appropriate discounts in arriving at fair market value. Adjusting any of those inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement. For example, an increase or decrease in actual loss rates would create a directionally opposite change in the fair value of unsecured individually identified loans.
Note 9 – Investments
Investment Securities
Pursuant to FASB’s guidance on accounting for debt securities, available for sale securities are carried on the Company’s financial statements at their estimated fair market values, with monthly tax-effected “mark-to-market” adjustments made vis-à-vis accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders’ equity. Held-to-maturity securities are carried on the Company’s financial statements at their amortized cost, net of the allowance for credit losses.
15
Table of Contents
The amortized cost, estimated fair value, and allowance for credit losses of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment securities are as follows:
Amortized Cost And Estimated Fair Value
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Allowance for Credit Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Available-for-sale
U.S. government agencies
$
108,385
$
—
$
( 1,301 )
$
—
$
107,084
Mortgage-backed securities
112,464
30
( 9,543 )
—
102,951
State and political subdivisions
209,198
12
( 30,896 )
—
178,314
Corporate bonds
65,244
—
( 13,009 )
—
52,235
Collateralized loan obligations
574,051
838
( 5,096 )
—
569,793
Total available-for-sale securities
$
1,069,342
$
880
$
( 59,845 )
$
—
$
1,010,377
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrecognized
Gains
Gross
Unrecognized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Allowance for Credit Losses
Held-to-maturity
U.S. government agencies
$
5,557
$
—
$
( 854 )
$
4,703
$
—
Mortgage-backed securities
145,658
—
( 17,622 )
128,036
—
State and political subdivisions
172,345
16
( 14,144 )
158,217
( 16 )
Total held-to-maturity securities
$
323,560
$
16
$
( 32,620 )
$
290,956
$
( 16 )
December 31, 2022
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Allowance for Credit Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Available-for-sale
U.S. government agencies
$
50,625
$
49
$
( 75 )
$
—
$
50,599
Mortgage-backed securities
129,948
—
( 7,416 )
—
122,532
State and political subdivisions
223,810
607
( 18,437 )
—
205,980
Corporate bonds
65,164
10
( 7,739 )
—
57,435
Collateralized loan obligations
515,032
60
( 16,715 )
—
498,377
Total available-for-sale securities
$
984,579
$
726
$
( 50,382 )
$
—
$
934,923
Amortized
Cost
Gross
Unrecognized
Gains
Gross
Unrecognized
Losses
Estimated Fair
Value
Allowance for Credit Losses
Held-to-maturity
U.S. government agencies
$
6,047
$
—
$
( 621 )
$
5,426
$
—
Mortgage-backed securities
157,473
—
( 9,915 )
147,558
—
State and political subdivisions
173,424
1,603
—
175,027
( 63 )
Total held-to-maturity securities
$
336,944
$
1,603
$
( 10,536 )
$
328,011
$
( 63 )
The Company reassessed classification of certain investments and effective April 1, 2022 the Company transferred $ 162.1 million of Agency, Mortgaged-Backed and Municipal securities from the available-for-sale designation to the held-to-maturity designation. On October 1, 2022, a similar transfer of $ 198.3 million securities from available for sale to held-to-maturity was completed. The securities were transferred at their fair value as of the transfer date, with the related unrealized gain or loss as of the date of transfer included in the amortized cost basis of the transferred security and subject to amortization or accretion over each security’s remaining life. An unrealized loss of $ 28.9 million, on securities transferred from the available-for-sale to held-to-maturity categorization, remains as of September 30, 2023
16
Table of Contents
and is included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax. The remaining unrealized loss on the securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, will be accreted over the remaining term of the securities, with the amortized-cost basis of these securities and accumulated comprehensive income each increasing over time.
Because of the implicit and explicit guarantees of the Federal Government on the Agency and Mortgage-Backed securities there is no expectation of future losses on any of these securities. The Bank’s municipal bonds moved to the held-to-maturity designation all have credit ratings considered investment grade or equivalent. A discounted-cash-flow reserve calculation was performed upon the transfer of these securities into the held-to-maturity designation and is updated on a quarterly basis.
The Company elected the practical expedient available under CECL to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of all categorizations of investment securities, and resultingly did not estimate reserves on accrued interest receivable balances, as any past due interest income is reversed on a timely basis. Accrued interest receivable is included in other assets on the Company’s balance sheet and as of September 30, 2023, measured at $ 12.1 million and $ 1.7 million for available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities, respectively. Accrued interest receivable as of December 31, 2022, on these same classes of investment securities measured at $ 9.3 million and $ 2.7 million, respectively. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, no interest receivable on available-for-sale or held-to-maturity securities was reversed against interest income and the Company did not have any held-to-maturity debt securities past due.
As of September 30, 2023, an allowance for credit losses of $ 0.02 million had been established on the Bank’s held-to-maturity portfolio, which is a decrease of $ 0.04 million from the December 31, 2022 allowance for credit losses of $ 0.06 million.
17
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the amortized cost of held-to-maturity municipal bonds aggregated by NRSRO credit rating:
Held-To-Maturity by Credit Rating
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Held-To-Maturity
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
State and political subdivisions
AAA/Aaa
$
57,802
$
57,833
AA/Aa
113,054
115,040
A/A2
544
551
Not rated
946
—
Total
$
172,346
$
173,424
For available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position for which management has an intent to sell the security or considers it more likely-than-not that the security in question will be sold prior to a recovery of its amortized cost basis, the security will be written down to fair value through a direct charge to income. For the remainder of available sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, which don’t meet the previously outlined criteria, management evaluates whether the decline in fair value is a reflection of credit deterioration or other factors. In performing this evaluation, management considers the extent which fair value has fallen below amortized cost, changes in ratings by rating agencies, and other information indicating a deterioration in repayment capacity of either the underlying issuer or the borrowers providing repayment capacity in a securitization. If management’s evaluation indicates that a credit loss exists then a present value of the expected cash flows is calculated and compared to the amortized cost basis of the security in question and to the degree that the amortized cost basis exceeds the present value an allowance for credit loss (“ACL”) is established, with the caveat that the maximum amount of the reserve on any individual security is the difference between the fair value and amortized cost balance of the security in question. Any unrealized loss that has not been recorded through an ACL is recognized in other comprehensive income.
The following table summarizes available-for-sale debt securities that were in an unrealized loss position for which an ACL has not been recorded, based on the length of time the individual securities have been in an unrealized loss position, including the number of available-for-sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position, as of the dates indicated below.
Investment Portfolio - Unrealized Losses
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Less than twelve months
Twelve months or more
Total
Number of Securities
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Available-for-sale
U.S. government agencies
29
$
( 1,180 )
$
103,205
$
( 121 )
$
3,879
$
( 1,301 )
$
107,084
Mortgage-backed securities
332
—
27
( 9,543 )
98,911
( 9,543 )
98,938
State and political subdivisions
303
( 2,601 )
50,842
( 28,295 )
119,290
( 30,896 )
170,132
Corporate bonds
51
( 407 )
5,089
( 12,602 )
47,146
( 13,009 )
52,235
Collateralized loan obligations
53
( 77 )
53,389
( 5,019 )
391,724
( 5,096 )
445,113
Total available-for-sale
768
$
( 4,265 )
$
212,552
$
( 55,580 )
$
660,950
$
( 59,845 )
$
873,502
18
Table of Contents
December 31, 2022
Less than twelve months
Twelve months or more
Total
Number of Securities
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Fair Value
Available-for-sale
U.S. government agencies
8
$
( 75 )
$
27,550
$
—
$
—
$
( 75 )
$
27,550
Mortgage-backed securities
340
( 7,108 )
119,260
( 308 )
3,227
( 7,416 )
122,487
State and political subdivisions
252
( 15,732 )
147,635
( 2,705 )
9,807
( 18,437 )
157,442
Corporate bonds
52
( 7,644 )
54,636
( 95 )
405
( 7,739 )
55,041
Collateralized loan obligations
60
( 10,152 )
309,102
( 6,563 )
169,743
( 16,715 )
478,845
Total available-for-sale
712
$
( 40,711 )
$
658,183
$
( 9,671 )
$
183,182
$
( 50,382 )
$
841,365
The table below summarizes the Company’s gross realized gains and losses as well as gross proceeds from the sales of securities, for the periods indicated:
Investment Portfolio - Realized Gains/(Losses)
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Proceeds from sales, calls and maturities of securities available for sale
$
2,100
$
3,540
$
91,257
$
34,071
Gross gains on sales, calls and maturities of securities available for sale
—
—
396
1,032
Gross losses on sales, calls and maturities of securities available for sale
—
—
—
—
Net gains on sale of securities available for sale
$
—
$
—
$
396
$
1,032
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available-for-sale and held-to-maturity at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022 are shown below, grouped by the remaining time to contractual maturity dates. The expected life of investment securities may not be consistent with contractual maturity dates since the issuers of the securities might have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without penalties.
Estimated Fair Value of Contractual Maturities
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Available-for-Sale
Held-to-Maturity
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
Maturing within one year
$
586
$
581
$
145
$
145
Maturing after one year through five years
39,384
38,576
2,458
2,369
Maturing after five years through ten years
158,089
143,086
19,021
16,780
Maturing after ten years
184,768
155,390
156,278
143,626
Securities not due at a single maturity date:
Mortgage-backed securities
112,464
102,951
145,658
128,036
Collateralized loan obligations
574,051
569,793
—
—
Total
$
1,069,342
$
1,010,377
$
323,560
$
290,956
19
Table of Contents
December 31, 2022
Available-for-Sale
Held-to-Maturity
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
Amortized Cost
Fair Value
Maturing within one year
$
12,141
$
12,184
$
672
$
666
Maturing after one year through five years
21,013
20,831
2,059
2,032
Maturing after five years through ten years
119,649
111,513
19,048
17,431
Maturing after ten years
186,796
169,486
157,692
160,324
Securities not due at a single maturity date:
Mortgage-backed securities
129,948
122,532
157,473
147,558
Collateralized loan obligations
515,032
498,377
—
—
Total
$
984,579
$
934,923
$
336,944
$
328,011
At September 30, 2023, the Company’s investment portfolio included 485 municipal bonds issued by 395 different government municipalities and agencies located within 36 different states, with an aggregate fair value of $ 336.5 million. The largest exposure to any single municipality or agency was a combined $ 4.8 million (fair value) in general obligation bonds issued by the City of New York (NY). In addition, the Company owned 51 subordinated debentures issued by bank holding companies totaling $ 52.2 million (fair value).
At December 31, 2022, the Company’s investment portfolio included 501 municipal bonds issued by 406 different government municipalities and agencies located within 37 states, with an aggregate fair value of $ 381.0 million. The largest exposure to any single municipality or agency was a combined $ 5.1 million (fair value) in general obligation bonds issued by the City of New York (NY). In addition, the company owned 51 subordinated debentures issued by bank holding companies totaling $ 57.4 million (fair value).
The Company’s investments in bonds issued by corporations, states, municipalities and political subdivisions are evaluated in accordance with Financial Institution Letter 48-2012, issued by the FDIC, “Revised Standards of Creditworthiness for Investment Securities,” and other regulatory guidance. Credit ratings are considered in our analysis only as a guide to the historical default rate associated with similarly rated bonds. There have been no significant differences in our internal analyses compared with the ratings assigned by the third-party credit rating agencies.
20
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the amortized cost and fair values of general obligation and revenue bonds in the Company’s investment securities portfolio at the indicated dates, identifying the state in which the issuing municipality or agency operates for our largest geographic concentrations:
Revenue and General Obligation Bonds by Location
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Amortized
Fair Market
Amortized
Fair Market
General obligation bonds
Cost
Value
Cost
Value
State of issuance
Texas
$
150,035
$
131,691
$
153,209
$
146,667
California
64,661
55,450
65,758
60,701
Washington
20,524
5,622
21,635
21,312
Other (29 & 26 states, respectively)
96,787
100,590
102,336
100,480
Total general obligation bonds
332,007
293,353
342,938
329,160
Revenue bonds
State of issuance
Texas
9,194
8,051
9,216
8,840
California
3,793
3,539
3,788
3,673
Washington
4,054
3,199
4,083
3,490
Other (29 & 15 states, respectively)
32,495
28,389
37,209
35,844
Total revenue bonds
49,536
43,178
54,296
51,847
Total obligations of states and political subdivisions
$
381,543
$
336,531
$
397,234
$
381,007
21
Table of Contents
The revenue bonds in the Company’s investment securities portfolios were issued by government municipalities and agencies to fund public services such as utilities (water, sewer, and power), educational facilities, and general public and economic improvements. The primary sources of revenue for these bonds are delineated in the table below, which shows the amortized cost and fair market values for the largest revenue concentrations as of the indicated dates.
Revenue Bonds by Type
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Amortized
Fair Market
Amortized
Fair Market
Revenue bonds
Cost
Value
Cost
Value
Revenue source:
Water
$
20,183
$
17,356
$
21,246
$
19,977
Lease
6,082
5,608
7,035
7,250
Sewer
6,544
5,883
6,560
6,405
Sales tax revenue
4,105
3,652
4,123
3,934
Local or GTD housing
1,035
775
3,040
2,951
Other (9 and 10 sources, respectively)
11,587
9,904
12,292
11,330
Total revenue bonds
$
49,536
$
43,178
$
54,296
$
51,847
Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (“LIHTC”) Fund Investments
The Company has the ability to invest in limited partnerships which own housing projects that qualify for federal and/or California state tax credits, by mandating a specified percentage of low-income tenants for each project. The primary investment return comes from tax credits that flow through to investors. Because rent levels are lower than standard market rents and the projects are generally highly leveraged, each project also typically generates tax-deductible operating losses that are allocated to the limited partners for tax purposes.
The Company currently has investments in five different LIHTC fund limited partnerships made in 2014, 2015, two in 2022, and one in 2023, all of which were California-focused funds that help the Company meet its obligations under the Community Reinvestment Act. We utilize the cost method of accounting for our LIHTC fund investments, under which we initially record on our balance sheet an asset that represents the total cash expected to be invested over the life of the partnership. Any commitments or contingent commitments for future investment are reflected as a liability. The income statement reflects tax credits and any other tax benefits from these investments “below the line” within our income tax provision, while the initial book value of the investment is amortized on the proportional amortization method as a “below the line” expense, over the time period in which the tax credits and tax benefits are expected to be received.
As of September 30, 2023, our total LIHTC investment book balance was $ 14.6 million, which includes $ 11.2 million in remaining commitments for additional capital contributions. There were $ 0.4 million in tax credits derived from our LIHTC investments that were recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2023, and “below the line” amortization expense of $ 0.5 million associated with those investments was recorded for the same time period. Our LIHTC investments are evaluated annually for potential impairment, and we have concluded that the carrying value of the investments is stated fairly and is not impaired.
As of December 31, 2022, our total LIHTC investment book balance was $ 10.1 million, which includes $ 7.4 million in remaining commitments for additional capital contributions. There were $ 0.5 million in tax credits derived from our LIHTC investments that were recognized during the year ended December 31, 2022, and amortization expense of $ 0.5 million associated with those investments was netted against pre-tax noninterest income for the same time period.
Note 10 – Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
We adopted the new current expected credit loss accounting guidance, CECL, and all related amendments as of January 1, 2022. Similar to practice under legacy GAAP, the ACL on the loan portfolio is a valuation allowance deducted from the recorded balance in loans. However, under CECL the ACL represents principal which is not expected to be collected
22
Table of Contents
over the contractual life of the loans, adjusted for expected prepayment, whereas under legacy GAAP the allowance represented only losses already incurred as of the balance sheet date. The ACL is increased by a provision for credit losses charged to expense, and by principal recovered on charged-off balances. It is reduced by principal charge-offs. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio, using information from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Adjustments are also made for changes in risk profile, credit concentrations, historical trends, and other economic conditions.
The Company elected the practical expedient available under CECL to exclude accrued interest receivable from the amortized cost basis of all categorizations of loans, and resultingly did not estimate reserves on accrued interest receivable balances, as any past due interest income is reversed on a timely basis. Accrued interest receivable on loans of $ 5.3 million and $ 6.4 million at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively is included in other assets on the Company’s balance sheet.
The following table presents loans by class as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The December 31, 2022 balance in residential real estate loans reflects year-to-date 2022 loan purchases of $ 173.1 million. The majority of the disclosures in this footnote are prepared at the class level which is equivalent to the call report or call code classification. The final table in this section separates a roll forward of the Allowance for Credit Losses at the portfolio segment level.
Loan Distribution
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
418,734
$
437,446
Commercial real estate
1,334,663
1,311,158
Other construction/land
7,368
18,412
Farmland
90,993
113,394
Total real estate
1,851,758
1,880,410
Other commercial
137,407
102,967
Mortgage warehouse lines
107,584
65,439
Consumer loans
4,061
4,124
Subtotal
2,100,810
2,052,940
Net deferred loan fees and costs
163
( 123 )
Loans, amortized cost basis
2,100,973
2,052,817
Allowance for credit losses
( 23,060 )
( 23,060 )
Net Loans
$
2,077,913
$
2,029,757
23
Table of Contents
The Company places loans on nonaccrual status when management has determined that the full repayment of principal and collection of contractually agreed upon interest is unlikely or when the loan in question has become delinquent more than 90 days. The Company may decide that it is appropriate to continue to accrue interest on certain loans more than 90 days delinquent if they are well-secured by collateral and collection is in process. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, any accrued but uncollected interest for the loan is reversed out of interest income in the period in which the loan’s status changed. For loans with an interest reserve, i.e., where loan proceeds are advanced to the borrower to make interest payments, all interest recognized from the inception of the loan is reversed when the loan is placed on nonaccrual. Once a loan is on nonaccrual status subsequent payments received from the customer are applied to principal, and no further interest income is recognized until the principal has been paid in full or until circumstances have changed such that payments are again consistently received as contractually required. Generally, loans are not restored to accrual status until the obligation is brought current and has performed in accordance with the contractual terms for a reasonable period of time, and the ultimate collectability of the total contractual principal and interest is no longer in doubt.
The following tables present the amortized cost basis of nonaccrual loans, according to loan class, with and without individually evaluated reserves as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
Nonaccrual Loans
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Nonaccrual Loans
With no allowance for credit loss
With an allowance for credit loss
Total
Loans Past Due 90+ Accruing
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
446
$
—
$
446
$
—
Total real estate
446
—
446
—
Other commercial
335
—
335
1,115
Consumer loans
—
—
—
—
Total
$
781
$
—
$
781
$
1,115
December 31, 2022
Nonaccrual Loans
With no allowance for credit loss
With an allowance for credit loss
Total
Loans Past Due 90+ Accruing
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
688
$
—
$
688
$
—
Farmland
15,812
—
15,812
—
Total real estate
16,500
—
16,500
—
Other commercial
2,909
163
3,072
940
Consumer loans
—
7
7
—
Total
$
19,409
$
170
$
19,579
$
940
24
Table of Contents
The Company did not recognize any interest on nonaccrual loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, and would have recognized an additional $ 0.004 million and $ 0.06 million, respectively, in interest income on nonaccrual loans had those loans not been designated as nonaccrual. Due to loans being placed on nonaccrual status, during the third quarter and first nine months of 2023, $ 0.001 million and $ 0.3 million respectively, of interest receivable on loans was reversed against interest income .
The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral-dependent loans by class as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022:
Collateral Dependent Loans
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Amortized Cost
Individual Reserves
Amortized Cost
Individual Reserves
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
152
$
—
$
688
$
—
Farmland
67
—
15,812
—
Total real estate
219
—
16,500
—
Other commercial
—
—
3,043
39
Total Loans
$
219
$
—
$
19,543
$
39
During the first nine months of 2023 the amortized cost balance of collateral-dependent loans declined by $ 19.3 million due to the foreclosure and subsequent sale of Farmland and other Commercial collateral related to a single borrower during the first quarter of 2023, as well as declines resulting from upgrades and payoffs. The weighted average loan-to-value ratio of collateral dependent loans was 12 % at September 30, 2023. There were no collateral dependent loans in the process of foreclosure as of September 30, 2023.
25
Table of Contents
The following tables presents the aging of the amortized cost basis in past-due loans, according to class, as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
Past Due Loans
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
30-59 Days Past Due
60-89 Days Past Due
Loans Past Due 90+ Days
Total Past Due
Loans not Past Due
Total Loans
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
51
$
—
$
98
$
149
$
419,791
$
419,940
Commercial real estate
208
—
—
208
1,331,686
1,331,894
Other construction/land
—
—
—
—
7,376
7,376
Farmland
—
—
—
—
91,217
91,217
Total real estate
259
—
98
357
1,850,070
1,850,427
Other commercial
469
43
1,325
1,837
136,949
138,786
Mortgage warehouse lines
—
—
—
—
107,584
107,584
Consumer loans
35
2
—
37
4,139
4,176
Total Loans
$
763
$
45
$
1,423
$
2,231
$
2,098,742
$
2,100,973
December 31, 2022
30-59 Days Past Due
60-89 Days Past Due
Loans Past Due 90+ Days
Total Past Due
Loans not Past Due
Total Loans
Real estate:
Residential real estate
$
1,294
$
87
$
179
$
1,560
$
437,171
$
438,731
Commercial real estate
—
—
—
—
1,308,328
1,308,328
Other construction/land
—
—
—
—
18,358
18,358
Farmland
522
97
15,393
16,012
97,582
113,594
Total real estate
1,816
184
15,572
17,572
1,861,439
1,879,011
Other commercial
19
134
3,718
3,871
100,264
104,135
Mortgage warehouse lines
—
—
—
—
65,439
65,439
Consumer loans
15
—
—
15
4,217
4,232
Total Loans
$
1,850
$
318
$
19,290
$
21,458
$
2,031,359
$
2,052,817
26
Table of Contents
Loan Modifications
The Company may agree to different types of concessions when modifying a loan. There were no modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty, including principal forgiveness, rate reductions, payment deferral, or term extension, during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2023. There were no payment defaults on loans previously modified in the preceding 12 months for either of the periods ending September 30, 2023 and 2022. The Company had no additional funds committed on loans which have been modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no new Troubled Debt Restructures (TDR) and no modifications of existing TDRs.
The Company monitors the credit quality of loans on a continuous basis using the regulatory and accounting classifications of pass, special mention and substandard to characterize and qualify the associated credit risk. Loans classified as “loss” are immediately charged-off. The Company uses the following definitions of risk classifications:
Pass – Loans listed as pass include larger non-homogeneous loans not meeting the risk rating definitions below and smaller, homogeneous loans not assessed on an individual basis.
Special Mention – Loans classified as special mention have the potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the institution’s credit position at some future date.
Substandard – Loans classified as substandard are those loans with clear and well-defined weaknesses such as a highly leveraged position, unfavorable financial operating results and/or trends, or uncertain repayment sources or poor financial condition, which may jeopardize ultimate recoverability of the debt.
27
Table of Contents
The following tables present the amortized cost of loans by credit quality classification in addition to loan vintage as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
Loan Credit Quality by Vintage
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
September 30, 2023
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Prior
Revolving Loans Amortized Cost
Revolving Loans Converted to Term Loans
Total Loans
Residential real estate
Pass
$
—
$
106,878
$
232,300
$
7,662
$
1,998
$
51,555
$
13,455
$
2,244
$
416,092
Special mention
—
—
—
—
—
2,617
51
340
3,008
Substandard
—
—
—
—
—
548
124
168
840
Subtotal
—
106,878
232,300
7,662
1,998
54,720
13,630
2,752
419,940
Commercial real estate
Pass
94,660
276,945
58,990
486,033
51,884
256,619
23,366
—
1,248,497
Special mention
3,368
—
—
42,759
3,026
6,606
—
—
55,759
Substandard
—
—
—
15,856
—
11,782
—
—
27,638
Subtotal
98,028
276,945
58,990
544,648
54,910
275,007
23,366
—
1,331,894
Other construction/land
Pass
—
—
—
3,702
648
1,715
1,311
—
7,376
Substandard
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
Subtotal
—
—
—
3,702
648
1,715
1,311
—
7,376
Farmland
Pass
2,743
29,650
11,908
3,531
1,683
25,537
3,753
400
79,205
Special mention
—
—
—
—
—
2,927
—
2,927
Substandard
—
—
—
—
—
9,085
—
9,085
Subtotal
2,743
29,650
11,908
3,531
1,683
37,549
3,753
400
91,217
Other commercial
Pass
29,405
11,894
3,121
6,872
4,768
10,347
62,711
3,888
133,006
Special mention
—
—
80
2,841
1
39
144
437
3,542
Substandard
—
—
60
—
33
—
1,809
336
2,238
Subtotal
29,405
11,894
3,261
9,713
4,802
10,386
64,664
4,661
138,786
Mortgage warehouse lines
Pass
—
—
—
—
—
—
107,584
—
107,584
Subtotal
—
—
—
—
—
—
107,584
—
107,584
Consumer loans
Pass
1,457
271
134
102
77
199
1,831
—
4,071
Special mention
—
—
—
17
7
35
1
—
60
Substandard
43
2
—
—
—
—
—
—
45
Subtotal
1,500
273
134
119
84
234
1,832
—
4,176
Total
$
131,676
$
425,640
$
306,593
$
569,375
$
64,125
$
379,611
$
216,139
$
7,813
$
2,100,973
Gross Charge-Offs
1,376
38
250
—
50
1,305
25
3,044
28
Table of Contents
Loan Credit Quality by Vintage
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
December 31, 2022
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Prior
Revolving Loans Amortized Cost
Revolving Loans Converted to Term Loans
Total Loans
Residential real estate
Pass
$
107,744
$
239,044
$
7,814
$
2,066
$
10,723
$
49,282
$
15,970
$
1,825
$
434,468
Special mention
—
—
—
—
89
1,584
36
970
2,679
Substandard
—
—
—
—
31
1,201
—
352
1,584
Subtotal
107,744
239,044
7,814
2,066
10,843
52,067
16,006
3,147
438,731
Commercial real estate
Pass
276,728
62,764
474,494
56,419
82,595
221,447
22,158
—
1,196,605
Special mention
296
—
73,002
3,068
—
7,299
—
—
83,665
Substandard
—
—
14,733
—
7,144
6,181
—
—
28,058
Subtotal
277,024
62,764
562,229
59,487
89,739
234,927
22,158
—
1,308,328
Other construction/land
Pass
—
—
14,896
734
955
1,010
693
—
18,288
Substandard
—
—
70
—
—
—
—
—
70
Subtotal
—
—
14,966
734
955
1,010
693
—
18,358
Farmland
Pass
30,346
12,941
4,504
1,819
9,418
24,175
3,976
420
87,599
Special mention
—
—
—
—
7,045
3,042
—
—
10,087
Substandard
—
—
—
—
3,417
12,491
—
—
15,908
Subtotal
30,346
12,941
4,504
1,819
19,880
39,708
3,976
420
113,594
Other commercial
Pass
7,478
6,350
7,913
6,028
5,178
10,579
47,998
167
91,691
Special mention
—
129
3,067
44
—
1,616
3,773
660
9,289
Substandard
1
2,798
28
—
28
133
—
167
3,155
Subtotal
7,479
9,277
11,008
6,072
5,206
12,328
51,771
994
104,135
Mortgage warehouse lines
Pass
—
—
—
—
—
—
65,439
—
65,439
Subtotal
—
—
—
—
—
—
65,439
—
65,439
Consumer loans
Pass
1,162
203
138
127
4
375
2,148
—
4,157
Special mention
5
—
35
16
—
—
11
—
67
Substandard
8
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
8
Subtotal
1,175
203
173
143
4
375
2,159
—
4,232
Total
$
731,138
$
399,934
$
1,182,393
$
132,361
$
237,201
$
616,060
$
189,029
$
4,981
$
2,052,817
CECL replaces the legacy accounting for loans designated as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) with loans designated as purchased credit deteriorated (“PCD”). PCD loans are loans acquired or purchased, which as of acquisition, had evidence of more than insignificant credit deterioration since origination. Due to the immaterial balance in the Company’s PCI loans as of December 31, 2021 management elected not to transition these loans into the PCD designation. As of September 30, 2023 the Company had no loans categorized as PCD.
As noted in footnote 3, on January 1, 2022 the Company implemented CECL and increased our ACL, previously the allowance for loan losses, with a $ 9.5 million cumulative adjustment. The Company’s ACL is calculated quarterly, with any difference in the calculated ACL and the recorded ACL trued-up through an entry to the provision for credit losses. For purposes of estimating the Company’s ACL, Management generally evaluates collectively evaluated loans by Federal Call code in order to group loans with similar risk characteristics together, however management has grouped loans in selected call codes together in determining portfolio segments, due to similar risk characteristics and reserve methodologies used for certain call code classifications.
Management calculates the quantitative portion of collectively evaluated reserves for all loan categories, with the exception of Farmland, Agricultural Production and Consumer loans, using a discounted cash flow (“DCF”)
29
Table of Contents
methodology. For purposes of calculating the quantitative portion of collectively evaluated reserves on Farmland, Agricultural Production, and Consumer categories a Remaining Life methodology is utilized.
The DCF quantitative reserve methodology incorporates the consideration of probability of default (“PD”) and loss given default (“LGD”) estimates to estimate periodic losses. The PD estimates are derived through the application of reasonable and supportable economic forecasts to call code specific regression models, derived from the consideration of historical bank-specific and peer loss-rate data. The loss rate data has been regressed against benchmark economic indicators, for which reasonable and supportable forecasts exist, in the development of the call-code specific regression models. Regression models are generally refreshed on an annual basis, in order to pull in more recent loss rate data. Reasonable and supportable forecasts of the selected economic metric are then input into the regression model to calculate an expected default rate. The expected default rates are then applied to expected monthly loan balances estimated through the consideration of contractual repayment terms and expected prepayments. The Company utilizes a four-quarter forecast period, after which the expected default rates revert to the historical average for each call code, over a four-quarter reversion period, on a straight-line basis. The prepayment assumptions applied to expected cash flow over the contractual life of the loans are estimated based on historical, bank-specific experience, peer data and the consideration of current and expected conditions and circumstances including the level of interest rates. The prepayment assumptions may be updated by Management in the event that changing conditions impact Management’s estimate or additional historical data gathered has resulted in the need for a reevaluation. LGD utilized in the DCF is derived from the application of the Frye-Jacobs theory which relates LGD to PD based on historical peer data, as calculated by a third-party. Economic forecasts are considered over a four-quarter forecast period, with reversion to mean occurring on a straight-line basis over four quarters. The call code regression models utilized upon implementation of CECL on January 1, 2022, and as of September 30, 2023, were identical, and relied upon reasonable and supportable forecasts of the National Unemployment Rate. Management selected the National Unemployment Rate as the driver of quantitative portion of collectively reserves on loan classes reliant upon the DCF methodology, primarily as a result of high correlation coefficients identified in regression modeling, the availability of forecasts including the quarterly FOMC forecast, and given the widespread familiarity of stakeholders with this economic metric.
The quantitative reserves for Farmland, Agricultural Production and Consumer loans are calculated using a Remaining Life methodology where average historical bank specific and peer loss rates are applied to expected loan balances over an estimated remaining life of loans in calculation of the quantitative portion of collectively evaluated loans in these classes. The estimated remaining life is calculated using historical bank-specific loan attrition data. For the Farmland, Agricultural Production and Consumer classes of loans, reasonable and supportable forecasts of the National Unemployment rate, real GDP and the housing price index are considered through estimation of qualitative reserves.
Management recognizes that there are additional factors impacting risk of loss in the loan portfolio beyond what is captured in the quantitative portion of reserves on collectively evaluated loans. As current and expected conditions, may vary compared with conditions over the historical lookback period, which is utilized in the calculation of quantitative reserves, management considers whether additional or reduced reserve levels on collectively evaluated loans may be warranted given the consideration of a variety of qualitative factors. Several of the following qualitative factors (“Q-factors”) considered by management reflect the legacy regulatory guidance on Q-factors, whereas several others represent factors unique to the Company or unique to the current time period.
● Changes in lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collection, charge-off, and recovery practices
● Changes in international, regional and local economic and business conditions, and developments that affect the collectability of the portfolio, as reflected in forecasts of the Housing Price Index, Real GDP and the National Unemployment Rate (Farmland & Agricultural Production and Consumer segments only)
● Changes in the nature and volume of the loan portfolio
● Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff
● Changes in the volume and severity of past due, nonaccruals loans, and adversely classified loans, as reflected in changes of the relative level of loans classified as substandard and special mention
● Changes in the quality of the Bank’s loan review processes
30
Table of Contents
● Changes in the value of underlying collateral for loans not identified as collateral dependent
● Changes in loan categorization concentrations
● Other external factors, which include, the influence of peer data on estimated quantitative reserves, residual COVID-19 related risk, expected impact of current and expected inflationary environment, reliance on the National Unemployment rate as opposed to the California unemployment rate in the calculation of quantitative reserves, the expected impact of current and expected geo-political conditions
The qualitative portion of the Company’s reserves on collectively evaluated loans are calculated using a combination of numeric frameworks and management judgement, to determine risk categorizations in each of the Q-factors presented above. The amount of qualitative reserves is also contingent upon the historical peer, life-of-loan-equivalent, loss rate ranges and the relative weighting of Q-factors according to management’s judgement.
Although collectively evaluated reserves are generally calculated separately at the call code or loan class level, management has grouped loan classes with similar risk characteristics into the following portfolio segments: Residential Real Estate, Commercial Real Estate, Farmland & Agricultural Production, Commercial & Industrial, Mortgage Warehouse and Consumer loans. Loans secured by Residential Real Estate have a different profile from loans secured by Commercial Real Estate. Generally, the borrowers for Residential Real Estate loans are consumers whereas borrowers for Commercial Real Estate are often businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated how these different categories of real estate loans were subject to different risks, which was exacerbated by the widespread work-from-home model adopted by many companies during and since the pandemic. Farmland and Agricultural Production loans are included in a single segment as these loans are often times to the same borrowers, facing the same risks relating to commodity prices, water supply and drought conditions in addition to other environmental concerns. Commercial & Industrial loans are separated into a unique segment given the uniqueness of these loans, which are often revolving and secured by other business assets as opposed to real estate. Mortgage warehouse loans are also unique in the Company’s portfolio and warrant separate presentation as an individual portfolio segment, given the specific nature of these constantly revolving lines to mortgage originators and also attributable to a very limited loss history, even after consideration of peer data. Finally, the Company splits out Consumer loans as a separate segment as a result of the small balance, homogeneous terms that characterize these loans.
Management individually evaluates loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans when estimating reserves. As of September 30, 2023, the only loans that Management considered to have different risk characteristics from other loans sharing the same Federal Call Report code were loans designated nonaccrual.
31
Table of Contents
The following tables present the activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the quarters ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:
Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investment in Financing Receivables
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Residential Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Farmland & Agricultural Production
Commercial & Industrial
Mortgage Warehouse
Consumer
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, June 30, 2023
$
3,037
$
17,373
$
497
$
1,676
$
144
$
283
$
23,010
Charge-offs
—
—
—
( 116 )
—
( 425 )
( 541 )
Recoveries
—
—
54
170
—
250
474
Provision for credit losses
( 115 )
501
40
( 481 )
( 36 )
208
117
Ending allowance balance:
$
2,922
$
17,874
$
591
$
1,249
$
108
$
316
$
23,060
Residential Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Farmland & Agricultural Production
Commercial & Industrial
Mortgage Warehouse
Consumer
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, June 30, 2022
$
3,593
$
17,319
$
376
$
1,133
$
41
$
340
$
22,802
Charge-offs
—
—
—
( 85 )
—
( 371 )
( 456 )
Recoveries
—
—
—
36
—
196
232
Provision for credit losses
( 262 )
249
1,034
67
6
118
1,212
Ending allowance balance:
$
3,331
$
17,568
$
1,410
$
1,151
$
47
$
283
$
23,790
There were no significant changes in the Company’s loan portfolio ACL in the third quarter of 2023.
32
Table of Contents
The following tables present the activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:
Allowance for Credit Losses and Recorded Investment in Financing Receivables
(dollars in thousands, unaudited)
Residential Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Farmland & Agricultural Production
Commercial & Industrial
Mortgage Warehouse
Consumer
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, December 31, 2022
$
3,251
$
17,732
$
458
$
1,233
$
72
$
314
$
23,060
Charge-offs
—
—
( 1,277 )
( 476 )
—
( 1,292 )
( 3,045 )
Recoveries
205
17
1,370
239
—
770
2,601
Provision for credit losses
( 534 )
125
40
253
36
524
444
Ending allowance balance:
$
2,922
$
17,874
$
591
$
1,249
$
108
$
316
$
23,060
Residential Real Estate
Commercial Real Estate
Farmland & Agricultural Production
Commercial & Industrial
Mortgage Warehouse
Consumer
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, December 31, 2021
$
1,909
$
9,052
$
1,202
$
1,060
$
512
$
521
$
14,256
Impact of adopting ASC 326
611
9,628
( 480 )
358
( 421 )
( 242 )
9,454
Charge-offs
—
( 1,911 )
( 2,170 )
( 244 )
—
( 984 )
( 5,309 )
Recoveries
99
259
—
118
—
553
1,029
Provision for credit losses
712
539
2,858
( 141 )
( 44 )
436
4,360
Ending allowance balance:
$
3,331
$
17,567
$
1,410
$
1,151
$
47
$
284
$
23,790
There were no significant changes in the Company’s loan portfolio ACL in the first nine months of 2023.
Note 11 – Goodwill
The following table discloses changes in the carrying value of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022 (dollars in thousands, unaudited):
Nine months ended September 30,
2023
2022
Net carrying value at beginning of period
$
27,357
$
27,357
Impairment exists when a reporting unit’s carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value. Bank of the Sierra (the “Bank”) is the only subsidiary of the Company that meets the materiality criteria necessary to be deemed an operating segment, and because the Company exists primarily for the purpose of holding the stock of the Bank we have determined that only one unified operating segment or reporting unit (the consolidated Company) exists. The fair value of the consolidated Company is its market capitalization, as determined by quoted prices in active markets, plus a sales control premium, as determined by analyzing recent mergers and acquisitions. If the Company’s market capitalization plus a control premium exceeds recorded shareholders’ equity (the book value), it can be reasonably presumed that no impairment exists. Therefore, it was determined that the fair value of the reporting unit exceeded its carrying value, resulting in no impairment at September 30, 2023.
33
Table of Contents
Note 12 – Borrowings and Other Arrangements
The following table summarizes the Company’s other borrowings as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022:
September 30, 2023
December 31, 2022
Weighted
Weighted
Average
Average
Balance
Rate
Balance
Rate
Overnight Fed funds purchased (1)
$
135,000
5.12 %
$
125,000
4.08 %
Short-term FHLB advance (2)
102,000
5.35 %
94,000
3.44 %
Long-term FHLB advance (2)
80,000
3.91 %
—
—
Total other borrowings
$
317,000
5.00 %
$
219,000
3.67 %
The Company has established secured and unsecured lines of credit under which it may borrow funds from time to time on a term or overnight basis from the FHLB, FRB, and other correspondent banks.
Federal Funds Purchased (1) – The Company had unsecured available lines of credit with correspondent banks and the Federal Home Loan Bank for short-term borrowings totaling $ 362.8 million at September 30, 2023 and $ 237.0 million at December 31, 2022. In general, interest rates on these lines approximate the federal funds target rate. At September 30, 2023, $ 75.0 million of the federal funds purchased were from the Federal Home Loan Bank.
Secured Federal Home Loan Bank Borrowings (2) – At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had secured available lines of credit with the FHLB totaling $ 657.5 million and $ 718.8 million, respectively, based on eligible collateral of certain loans and investment securities.
Federal Reserve Line of Credit – The Company has an available line of credit with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco secured by certain loans and investments. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 the Company had borrowing capacity under this line totaling $ 383.9 million and $ 42.3 million, respectively. We had no outstanding borrowings on this line of credit as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022. The increase in this line was due to the pledging of certain Collateralized Loan Obligations.
Repurchase Agreements – Repurchase agreements represent “sweep accounts”, where commercial deposit balances above a specified threshold are transferred at the close of each business day into non-deposit accounts secured by investment securities. Repurchase agreements totaled $ 94.9 million at September 30, 2023 relative to a balance of $ 109.2 million at December 31, 2022.
Long-Term Debt – The Company has long-term debt in the form of fixed to floating rate subordinated debentures with a fixed rate of 3.25 % until September 30, 2026, then floating rate at 253.5 basis points over 3-month term SOFR until maturity on October 1, 2031. The balance of the Company’s long-term debt, net of unamortized issuance costs, at September 30, 2023, was $ 49.3 million and December 31, 2022 was $ 49.2 million.
Subordinated Debentures - Sierra Statutory Trust II (“Trust II”), Sierra Capital Trust III (“Trust III”), and Coast Bancorp Statutory Trust II (“Trust IV”), (collectively, the “Trusts”) exist solely for the purpose of issuing trust preferred securities fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. For financial reporting purposes, the Trusts are not consolidated, and the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the “Subordinated Debentures”) held by the Trusts and issued and guaranteed by the Company are reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet in accordance with provisions of ASC Topic 810. Trust preferred securities are variable rate instruments which were benchmarked against the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a spread until LIBOR was phased out on June 30, 2023. These instruments are benchmarked against the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), effective June 30, 2023. At September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022 the Company’s trust preferred securities totaled $ 35.6 million and $ 35.5 million, respectively.
34
Table of Contents
Note 13 – Revenue Recognition
The Company utilizes the guidance found in ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), when accounting for certain noninterest income. The core principle of this guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Sufficient information should be provided to enable users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company’s revenue streams that are within the scope of and accounted for under Topic 606 include service charges on deposit accounts, debit card interchange fees, and fees levied for other services the Company provides its customers. The guidance does not apply to revenue associated with financial instruments such as loans and investments, and other noninterest income such as loan servicing fees and earnings on bank-owned life insurance, which are accounted for on an accrual basis under other provisions of GAAP.
All of the Company’s revenue from contracts within the scope of ASC 606 is recognized when incurred as noninterest income and gains on the sale of OREO which is classified as noninterest expense. These gains were immaterial for each of the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. The following table presents the Company’s sources of noninterest income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2023 and 2022. Items outside the scope of ASC 606 are noted as such (dollars in thousands, unaudited).
For the three months ended September 30,
Nine months ended September 30,
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2023
2022
2022
Noninterest income
Service charges on deposits
Returned item and overdraft fees
$
1,375
$
1,273
$
3,929
$
3,973
$
5,227
Other service charges on deposits
2,642
2,494
7,057
7,033
9,331
Debit card interchange income
2,038
2,241
6,141
6,458
8,533
Gain (loss) on limited partnerships (1)
—
64
—
( 162 )
253
Dividends on equity investments (1)
275
189
772
619
843
Unrealized (losses) gains recognized on equity investments (1)
—
—
( 291 )
( 332 )
( 332 )
Net gains on sale of securities (1)
—
—
396
1,032
1,487
Other (1)
1,432
351
4,351
4,493
5,428
Total noninterest income
$
7,762
$
6,612
$
22,355
$
23,114
$
30,770
Percentage of noninterest income not within scope of ASC 606.
21.99 %
9.13 %
23.39 %
24.44 %
24.96 %
(1) Not within scope of ASC 606. Revenue streams are not related to contracts with customers and are accounted for under other provisions of GAAP.
With regard to noninterest income associated with customer contracts, the Company has determined that transaction prices are fixed, and performance obligations are satisfied as services are rendered, thus there is little or no judgment involved in the timing of revenue recognition under contracts that are within the scope of ASC 606.
35
Table of Contents
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.