CVB FINANCIAL CORP 10-Q

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS Except as discussed below there have been no material changes to the risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A. to Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. The materiality of any risks and uncertainties identified in our Forward Looking Statements contained in this report together with those previously disclosed in the Form 10-K and any subsequent Form 10-Q or those that are presently unforeseen could result in significant adverse effects on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. See Item 2. “ Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Risks relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the banking industry and our business. The ultimate impact on our business and financial results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic and actions taken by governmental authorities in response to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global, U.S., California and local economies, disrupted supply chains, lowered equity market valuations, created significant volatility and disruption in financial markets, and sharply increased unemployment levels. In addition, the pandemic has resulted in temporary closures of many businesses and the institution of social distancing and sheltering in place requirements in many states and communities, including in California and the principal counties and cities in which our banking centers are located. Our operations, like those of other financial institutions that operate in our markets, are significantly influenced by economic conditions in California, including the strength of the real estate market and business conditions in the industries to which we lend or from which we gather deposits. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a substantial decline in the revenues of many business sectors as well as in commercial and residential property sales and construction activities. As a result, the demand for our products and services has been, and may continue to be, significantly impacted. Furthermore, the pandemic could further influence the recognition of credit losses in our loan portfolios and further increase our allowance for credit losses, particularly as many businesses remain closed or partially open. Our customers could be expected to draw further on their lines of credit or to seek deferments of scheduled loan payments to help mitigate the effects of lost revenues. We implemented CECL, for determining our overall provision for credit losses, at the beginning of the first quarter of 2020. For the year ended December 31, 2020, our allowance for credit losses increased by $23.5 million in provision for credit losses, primarily due to the forecasted impact of COVID-19 on certain economic variables that may cause distress to our loan portfolios. During the first quarter of 2021, forecasted improvements in macroeconomic variables, because of the wide availability of vaccines and government economic stimulus, resulted in a $19.5 million recapture of provision for credit losses. In addition, through March 31, 2021 we have temporary payment deferments of interest or of principal and interest to customers for six loans, with a gross balance of $10 million, or 0.12% of our total loan portfolio at March 31, 2021. Depending on the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe there is a possibility that increased provisions for credit losses could prove necessary in the future. Similarly, because of changing economic and market conditions affecting bond issuers, we may be required to recognize credit losses in future periods on the securities we hold as well as reductions in other comprehensive income. Our business operations may also be disrupted if significant or critical portions of our workforce or managers are unable to work effectively, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions, or other restrictions in connection with the pandemic. In response to the pandemic, and to comply with or follow various government recommendations or mandates, we have also suspended certain real property foreclosure actions and sales, and in certain instances, we are providing fee waivers, payment deferrals, and other expanded assistance for our business and mortgage customers. The extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our business, results of operations, and financial condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios, will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope and duration of the pandemic, the safety, effectiveness, distribution and acceptance of vaccines developed to mitigate the pandemic, and actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response to the pandemic. Our bank has elected to participate as a lender in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and has accordingly become subject to a number of significant risks applicable to lenders under the PPP. As one set of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, our federal, state and local governments have promulgated a wide variety of laws, regulations, executive orders and programs designed to ameliorate the severe and widespread economic distress caused by the mandatory closings of many businesses throughout the State of California and counties in which we operate. One such program is the PPP enacted under the federal CARES Act. This program is designed, among other things, to provide employee payroll maintenance support for small and medium-sized businesses throughout the United States, 65 Table of Contents including in the State of California, through loans made by authorized lenders and guaranteed by the federal Small Business Administration (SBA). Because the Company is an authorized SBA lender and our primary customer base consists of small and medium-sized businesses, the Company has actively participated in the PPP. Including the second round of funding, after legislation passed on April 24, 2020, we originated and funded approximately 4,100 PPP loans totaling approximately $1.10 billion, of which $582.8 million was outstanding at March 31, 2021. On January 13, 2021, the SBA reopened the PPP for Second Draw loans to small businesses and non-profit organizations that did receive a loan through the initial PPP phase. At least $25 billion has been set aside for Second Draw PPP loans to eligible borrowers with a maximum of 10 employees or for loans of $250,000 or less to eligible borrowers in low or moderate income neighborhoods. Generally speaking, businesses with more than 300 employees and/or less than a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020 are not eligible for Second Draw loans. Further, maximum loan amounts have been increased for accommodation and food service businesses. Recently, the Bank began accepting applications for the second round of PPP loans. As of March 31, 2021, we have originated approximately 1,500 round two loans totaling $325 million in customer borrowings. Under interim final regulations promulgated by the SBA, PPP lenders are entitled to rely on borrower certifications with respect to issues such as program eligibility and eligible loan amounts, and PPP loans are designed to be subsequently forgivable, in whole or part, if certain additional criteria are met by the borrower with respect to employee payroll maintenance. However, in view of the fact that the PPP was by design intended to support economically distressed businesses, the SBA’s guarantee of PPP loan amounts to participating lenders is a critical feature of the program. There are significant risks to the Company’s participation in the PPP, including whether certain borrowers will ultimately be found to have been eligible for PPP loans, whether eligible PPP loan amounts for certain borrowers were correctly calculated, whether certain PPP loans will ultimately be determined to be forgivable, and if not, whether the SBA’s guarantee will continue to apply to any unforgiven PPP loan amounts. As of March 31, 2021, approximately 2,400 loans, representing nearly $544 million in loan balances, were submitted to the SBA and granted forgiveness. To date, our customers who have had their forgiveness requests reviewed by the SBA have received almost 100% loan forgiveness.