Community West Bancshares 10-Q

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS The following discussion supplements the discussion of risk factors affecting us as set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors, of our 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The discussion of risk factors, as so supplemented, provides a description of some of the important risk factors that could affect our actual results and could cause our results to vary materially from those expressed in public statements or documents. However, other factors besides those included in the discussion of risk factors, as so supplemented, or discussed elsewhere in other of our reports filed with or furnished to the SEC could affect our business or results. Recent negative developments affecting the banking industry, and resulting media coverage, have eroded customer confidence in the banking system. The recent high-profile bank failures involving Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank have generated significant market volatility among publicly traded bank holding companies. These market developments have negatively impacted customer confidence of the safety and soundness in the financial securities industry. As a result, customers may choose to maintain deposits with larger financial institutions or invest in higher yielding short-term fixed income securities, all of which could materially adversely impact the Company’s liquidity, loan funding capacity, net interest margin, capital and results of operations. While the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC have made statements ensuring that depositors of these recently failed banks would have access to their deposits, including uninsured deposit accounts, there is no guarantee that such actions will be successful in restoring customer confidence in the banking system more broadly. In addition, the banking operating environment and public trading prices of banking institutions can be highly correlated, in particular during times of stress, which could adversely impact the trading prices of our common stock. These recent events may also result in potentially adverse changes to laws or regulations governing banks and bank holding companies or result in the impositions of restrictions through supervisory or enforcement activities, including higher capital requirements, which could have a material impact on our business. The cost of resolving the recent bank failures may prompt the FDIC to increase its premiums above the recently increased levels or to issue additional special assessments. Rising interest rates have decreased the value of the Company’s securities portfolio, and the Company could realize losses if it were required to sell such securities to meet liquidity needs. As a result of inflationary pressures and the resulting rapid increases in interest rates over the last year, the fair value of our securities classified as available-for-sale has declined, resulting in unrealized losses embedded in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a part of shareholders’ equity. If the Company were required to sell such securities to meet liquidity needs, including in the event of deposit outflows or slower deposit growth, it may incur losses. The loss of our deposit clients or substantial reduction of our deposit balances could force us to fund our business with more expensive and less stable funding sources. As of June 30, 2023, deposits from our top 100 client relationships accounted for, in the aggregate, 21.93% of our total deposits. The deposits not insured by the FDIC (approximately $776.1 million of uninsured deposits, or 35.27%, of our total deposits of $2.2 billion at June 30, 2023) could present a heightened risk of withdrawal, if such depositors materially decreased the volume of those deposits and it could reduce our liquidity. We have traditionally obtained funds through deposits for use in lending and investment activities. The interest rates stated for borrowings typically exceed the interest rates paid on deposits. Deposit outflows can occur for a number of reasons, including; clients may seek investments with higher yields, clients with uninsured deposits may seek greater financial security during prolonged periods of volatile and unstable market conditions. If a significant portion of our deposits were withdrawn, we may need to rely more heavily on more expensive borrowings and other sources of funding to fund our business and meet withdrawal demands, adversely affecting our net interest margin. The occurrence of any of these events could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. 46 Changes in economic, market and political conditions can adversely affect our operating results and financial condition. We are subject to macroeconomic and interest rate risk due to domestic and global economic instability that has resulted in higher inflation than the United States has experienced in more than 40 years. The global economic impact from the geopolitical events in Europe that is contributing to rising energy and commodity prices, as well as the on-going supply chain disruptions have resulted in inflationary pressures and increases to prevailing interest rates. The Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) raised the target range for the federal funds rate from 5.00% - 5.25% to 5.25% - 5.50% on July 26, 2023, resulting in a cumulative increase of 375 basis points from July of 2022. These recent increases in prevailing interest rates and the expectation that further increases are likely will impact both our customers and many aspects of our business. Higher interest rates will not only impact the interest we receive on loans and investment securities and the amount of interest we pay our depositors, but could also impact our ability to grow loans and deposits. Rising interest rates, higher commodity prices, and supply chain issues and an overall slowdown in economic growth could also impact the fair value of our assets and adversely impact our asset quality. ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS None to report. ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES None to report. ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES None to report.