egbn-20241231
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
☒ Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2024
☐ Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from _________ to _________
Commission file number: 0-25923
Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland 52-2061461
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
7830 Old Georgetown Road , Third Floor , Bethesda , Maryland 20814
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: ( 301 ) 986-1800
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Trading Symbol(s) Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value EGBN The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Section 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act Yes ☐ No ☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant; (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ Accelerated filer ☒
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. § 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒
If securities are registered pursuant Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements. ☒
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatement that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant's executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to § 240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act. Yes ☐ No ☒
The aggregate market value of the outstanding Common Stock held by nonaffiliates as of June 30, 2024, was approximately $ 551.8 million .
As of February 10, 2025, the number of outstanding shares of the Common Stock, $0.01 par value, of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. was 30,204,202 .
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on
May 15, 2025 are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.
Table o f Contents
EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Part I
Item 1. Business 4
Item 1A. Risk Factors 18
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 33
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
33
Item 2. Properties 34
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 34
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 34
Part II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities 35
Item 6. [Reserved] 36
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation 37
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 72
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 76
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 137
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 137
Item 9B. Other Information 138
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
138
Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 138
Item 11. Executive Compensation 138
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters 138
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence 139
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 139
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 140
SIGNATURES 143
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
In this report, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “us,” the “Company,” “Eagle” and “our” refer to Eagle Bancorp, Inc. and our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, except in the description of any of our securities, in which case these terms refer solely to Eagle Bancorp, Inc. and not to any of our subsidiaries. References to “EagleBank” or “Bank” refer to EagleBank, which is our principal operating subsidiary. This report contains additional trade names and trademarks of other companies. We do not intend our use or display of other companies' trade names or trademarks to imply an endorsement or sponsorship of us by such companies or any relationship with any of these companies.
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on October 28, 1997, to serve as the bank holding company for EagleBank (the "Bank"). The Company was formed by a group of local businessmen and professionals with significant prior experience in community banking in the Company’s market area, together with an experienced community bank senior management team.
The Bank, a Maryland chartered commercial bank, which is a member of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve Board," "Federal Reserve" or "FRB"), is the Company’s principal operating subsidiary. It commenced banking operations on July 20, 1998. The Bank currently operates twelve branch offices: six in Suburban Maryland; three located in the District of Columbia; and three in Northern Virginia. The Bank also has four lending centers and utilizes various digital capabilities, including remote deposit services and mobile banking services. The Bank maintains its physical presence via branches and lending centers consistent with its strategic plan.
The Bank has three active direct subsidiaries: Bethesda Leasing, LLC, Eagle Insurance Services, LLC and Landroval Municipal Finance, Inc. Bethesda Leasing, LLC holds title to and operates real estate owned and acquired through foreclosure. Eagle Insurance Services, LLC, which previously offered access to insurance products and services through a referral program with a third party insurance broker, continues to receive fee income in connection with such program. Landroval Municipal Finance, Inc. focuses on lending to municipalities by buying debt on the public market as well as direct purchase issuance.
The Bank operates as a community bank alternative to the super-regional financial institutions that dominate its primary market area. The cornerstone of the Bank’s philosophy is to provide superior, personalized service to its clients. The Bank focuses on relationship banking, providing each client with a number of services, familiarizing itself with, and addressing itself to, client needs in a proactive, personalized fashion. Management believes that the Bank’s target market segments, small, medium and middle-sized for profit and non-profit businesses and the consumer base working or living in and near the Bank’s market area, demand the convenience and personal service that an independent locally based financial institution such as the Bank can offer. These themes of convenience and proactive personal service form the basis for the Bank’s business development strategies.
Over its twenty-six year history, the Company has grown primarily through organic growth, but also has completed two whole bank acquisitions. On August 31, 2008, the Company acquired Fidelity & Trust Financial Corporation ("Fidelity") and on October 31, 2014 acquired Virginia Heritage Bank ("Virginia Heritage").
Description of Services. The Bank offers a broad range of commercial banking services to its business and professional clients, as well as consumer banking services to individuals living and/or working primarily in the Bank’s market area. These services include (i) commercial loans for a variety of business purposes such as for working capital, equipment purchases, real estate lines of credit and government contract financing; (ii) asset based lending and accounts receivable financing (on a limited basis); (iii) construction and commercial real estate loans; (iv) business equipment financing; (v) consumer home equity lines of credit, personal lines of credit and term loans; (vi) consumer installment loans such as auto and personal loans; and (vii) personal credit cards offered through an outside vendor.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company ceased originating residential real estate mortgage loans and completed residual origination and sales activities on its residential real estate mortgage lending business. The Company made the decision to cease originating residential real estate mortgage loans given the challenged nature of the business and the uncertainty of maintaining or increasing the volume or percentage of revenue or net income that has previously been produced by the residential mortgage business.
The Bank emphasizes providing commercial banking services to sole proprietors, small, medium and middle-sized businesses, partnerships, corporations, non-profit organizations and associations and investors generally living and working in and near the Bank’s primary service area. A full range of retail banking services are offered to accommodate the individual needs of both corporate customers as well as the community the Bank serves. The Bank also offers online banking, mobile banking and a remote deposit service, which allows clients to facilitate and expedite deposit transactions through the use of
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electronic devices. A suite of Treasury Management services is also offered to business clients. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to the fullest extent provided by law.
The Bank’s loan portfolio consists primarily of traditional business and real estate secured loans. Commercial and industrial loans are made, with a substantial portion having variable and adjustable rates, where the cash flow of the borrower's operating business is the principal source of debt service with a secondary emphasis on collateral. Real estate loans are made generally for commercial purposes and are structured using both variable and fixed rates and renegotiable rates which adjust in three to five years, with maturities of generally five to ten years. Commercial real estate loans, which comprise the largest portion of the loan portfolio, are secured by both owner occupied and non-owner occupied real property and include a component of acquisition, development and construction ("ADC") lending.
The Bank’s consumer loan portfolio is a smaller portion of the loan portfolio and primarily includes home equity loans and lines of credit that are structured with an interest only draw period followed either by a balloon maturity or a fully amortized repayment schedule.
The Bank is also a preferred lender under the Small Business Administration's ("SBA") Preferred Lender Program. As a preferred lender, the Bank can originate certain SBA loans in-house without prior SBA approval. SBA loans are made through programs designed by the federal government to assist the small business community in obtaining financing from financial institutions that are given government guarantees as an incentive to make the loans. Under certain circumstances, the Bank attempts to further mitigate commercial term loan losses by using loan guarantee programs offered by the SBA. SBA lending is subject to federal legislation that can affect the availability and funding of the program. From time to time, this dependence on legislative funding causes limitations and uncertainties with regard to the continued funding of such programs, which could potentially have an adverse financial impact on our business.
Up until the second half of 2024, the Company originated multifamily Federal Housing Administration ("FHA") loans through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Multifamily Accelerated Program. The Company securitized these loans through the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae") MBS I program and sold the resulting securities in the open market to authorized dealers in the normal course of business and periodically bundled and sold the servicing rights. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company sold the remaining servicing rights to all multifamily FHA loans. However, the Company maintains its licenses to operate in this business and is evaluating options for future activity.
The Bank's lending activities carry the risk that the borrowers will be unable to perform on their obligations. As such, interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve and general economic conditions, nationally and in the Bank’s primary market area, could have a significant impact on the Bank’s and the Company’s results of operations. To the extent that economic conditions deteriorate, business and individual borrowers may be less able to meet their obligations to the Bank in full, in a timely manner, resulting in decreased earnings or losses to the Bank. Economic conditions may also adversely affect the value of property pledged as security for loans.
The Bank's goal is to mitigate risks in the event of unforeseen threats to the loan portfolio as a result of economic downturn or other negative influences. Plans for mitigating inherent risks in managing loan assets include: designing and enforcing loan policies and procedures to mitigate those risks, evaluating each borrower’s business plan during the underwriting process, identifying and monitoring primary and alternative sources for loan repayment and obtaining collateral to mitigate economic loss in the event of liquidation. Specific loan reserves may be established based upon credit and/or collateral risks on an individual loan basis. A risk rating system is employed to proactively estimate loss exposure and provide a measuring system for setting general and specific reserve allocations.
The composition of the Company’s loan portfolio is heavily weighted toward commercial real estate, both owner occupied and income producing. At December 31, 2024, owner occupied commercial real estate and construction – commercial and industrial ("C&I") (owner occupied) represented approximately 17% of the loan portfolio while non-owner occupied commercial real estate and real estate construction represented approximately 66% of the loan portfolio. The combined owner and non-owner occupied and commercial real estate loans represented approximately 83% of the loan portfolio. Real estate also serves as collateral for loans made for other purposes, resulting in a combined total 85% of all loans in our portfolio being secured or partially secured by real estate. These loans are underwritten to mitigate lending risks typical of this type of loan such as declines in real estate values, changes in borrower cash flow and general economic conditions. The Bank typically requires a maximum loan-to-value ("LTV") ratio of 80% and a minimum debt service coverage ratio ("DSCR") of 1.0 to 1.15. Personal guarantees may be required but may be limited. In making real estate commercial mortgage loans, the Bank generally requires that interest rates adjust not less frequently than five years.
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The Company is also an active traditional commercial lender providing loans for a variety of purposes, including working capital, equipment, accounts receivable financing and other corporate purposes. The Company's underwriting standards address collateral and debt service cash flow. Personal guarantees are generally required, but may be limited. In originating SBA loans, the Company assumes the risk of non-payment on the unguaranteed portion of the credit. The Company generally sells the guaranteed portion of the loan generating noninterest income from the gains on sale, as well as servicing income on the portion participated. SBA loans other than Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans are subject to the same cash flow analyses as other commercial loans. SBA loans are subject to a maximum loan size established by the SBA as well as internal loan size guidelines. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding loan origination and risk management.
Our lending activities are subject to a variety of borrower lending limits imposed by state and federal law. These limits will increase or decrease in response to increases or decreases in the Bank’s level of capital. At December 31, 2024, the Bank had a legal lending limit of $223.0 million. At December 31, 2024, the average loan size outstanding for Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") and C&I loans was $7.2 million and $1.2 million, respectively. In accordance with internal lending policies, the Bank may sell participations in its loans to other banks, which allows the Bank to manage risk involved in these loans and to meet the lending needs of its clients. The risk of nonpayment (or deferred payment) of loans is inherent in all lending. The Bank’s marketing focus on small to medium-sized businesses may result in the assumption by the Bank of certain lending risks that are different from those associated with loans to larger companies. Management and/or committees of the Bank carefully evaluate loan applications and attempt to minimize credit risk exposure by use of loan application data, due diligence and approval and monitoring procedures; however, there can be no assurance that such procedures can significantly reduce such lending risks.
Loans are secured primarily by duly recorded first deeds of trust or mortgages. In some cases, the Bank may accept a recorded junior trust position. In general, borrowers will have a proven ability to build, lease, manage and/or sell a commercial or residential project and demonstrate satisfactory financial condition. Additionally, an equity contribution toward the project is generally required whether associated with acquisition or construction of a property.
The general terms and underwriting standards for each type of commercial real estate and construction loan are incorporated into the Bank’s lending policies. These policies are analyzed periodically by management, and the policies are reviewed and re-approved periodically by either the Board of Directors (the "Board") or a designated committee thereof. The Bank’s loan policies and practices described in this report are subject to periodic change, and each guideline or standard is subject to waiver or exception in the case of any particular loan, by the appropriate officer or committee, in accordance with the Bank’s loan policies. Loan policy standards are often stated in mandatory terms, such as "shall" or "must," but these provisions are subject to exceptions. Policy requires that loan value not exceed a percentage of "market value" or "fair value" based upon appraisals or evaluations obtained in the ordinary course of the Bank’s underwriting practices.
Construction loans require that the financial condition and experience of the general contractor and major subcontractors be satisfactory to the Bank. Guaranteed, fixed price contracts are required whenever appropriate, along with payment and performance bonds or completion bonds for larger scale projects.
Loans intended for residential land acquisition, lot development and construction are made on the premise that the land: (1) is or will be developed for building sites for residential structures; and (2) will ultimately be utilized for construction or improvement of residential zoned real properties, including the creation of housing. Residential development and construction loans will finance projects such as single family subdivisions, planned unit developments, townhouses and condominiums. Residential land ADC loans generally are underwritten with a maximum term of 36 months, including extensions approved at origination.
Commercial land acquisition and construction loans are secured by real property where loan funds will be used to acquire land and to construct or improve appropriately zoned real property for the creation of income producing or owner-user commercial properties. Borrowers are generally required to put equity into each project at levels determined by the appropriate loan committee. Commercial land acquisition and construction loans generally are underwritten with a maximum term of 24 months.
LTV ratios, with few exceptions, are maintained consistent with or below supervisory guidelines.
Substantially all construction draw requests must be presented in writing on American Institute of Architects documents and certified either by the contractor, the borrower and/or the borrower’s architect. The Company's policies also provide that each draw request shall also include the borrower’s soft cost breakdown certified by the borrower or their Chief Financial Officer. Prior to an advance, to justify the draw requisition, the Bank or its contractor inspects the project to determine that the work has been completed.
Commercial permanent loans are generally secured by improved real property, which is generating income in the normal course of operation. Debt service coverage, assuming stabilized occupancy, must be satisfactory to support a permanent
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loan. The DSCR is ordinarily at least 1.0 to 1.15. As part of the underwriting process, DSCRs are generally stress tested assuming a 200 basis point increase in interest rates from their current levels.
Commercial permanent loans generally are underwritten with a term not greater than 10 years or the remaining useful life of the property, whichever is lower. The preferred term is between 5 to 7 years, with amortization to a maximum of 25 years.
Personal guarantees are generally received from the principals on commercial real estate loans, and only in instances where the LTV is sufficiently low and the debt service coverage is sufficiently high is consideration given to either limiting or not requiring personal recourse.
Updated appraisals for real estate secured loans are obtained based on factors relating to borrower financial condition, project status, loan terms and market conditions.
The Company’s loan portfolio includes ADC real estate loans including both investment and owner occupied projects. ADC loans amounted to $1.8 billion at December 31, 2024. A portion of the ADC portfolio, both speculative and non-speculative, includes loan funded interest reserves at origination. ADC loans that provide for the use of interest reserves represented approximately 59% of the outstanding ADC loan portfolio at December 31, 2024. The decision to establish a loan-funded interest reserve is made upon origination of the ADC loan and is based upon a number of factors considered during underwriting of the credit including: (1) the feasibility of the project; (2) the experience of the sponsor; (3) the creditworthiness of the borrower and guarantors; (4) borrower equity contribution; and (5) the level of collateral protection. When appropriate, an interest reserve provides an effective means of addressing the cash flow characteristics of a properly underwritten ADC loan, although as with all lending activities the Company remains exposed to credit risk. The Company does not significantly utilize interest reserves in other loan products. The Company recognizes that one of the risks inherent in the use of interest reserves is the potential masking of underlying problems with the project and/or the borrower’s ability to repay the loan. In order to mitigate this inherent risk, the Company employs a series of reporting and monitoring mechanisms on all ADC loans, whether or not an interest reserve is provided, including: (1) construction and development timelines which are monitored on an ongoing basis which track the progress of a given project to the timeline projected at origination; (2) a construction loan administration department independent of the lending function; (3) third party independent construction loan inspection reports; (4) monthly interest reserve monitoring reports detailing the balance of the interest reserves approved at origination and the days of interest carry represented by the reserve balances as compared to the then current anticipated time to completion and/or sale of speculative projects; and (5) quarterly commercial real estate construction meetings among senior Company management, which includes monitoring of current and projected real estate market conditions. If a project has not performed as expected, it is not the customary practice of the Company to increase loan funded interest reserves.
As part of its overall risk assessments, management reviews the Bank’s loan portfolio and general economic and market conditions on a regular basis and will continue to adjust both quantitative and qualitative reserve factors as necessary.
Deposit services include business and personal checking accounts, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal ("NOW") accounts, tiered savings and money market accounts and time deposits with varying maturity structures and customer options. A complete individual retirement account program is available. The Bank also participates in the IntraFi Network, LLC ("IntraFi") Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service ("CDARS") and its Insured Cash Sweep ("ICS") program, both of which function to provide greater FDIC insurance coverage for participating Bank customers. The Bank also utilizes brokered deposit funds in its overall asset/liability management program.
The Bank historically has offered a full range of online banking services for both personal and business accounts and has a Mobile Banking application. In early 2024, the Bank launched a new online and mobile banking platform as the Bank seeks to further modernize its deposit offerings to its customers. Deposit services associated with this digital platform are available and marketed outside of the Bank's immediate market area across the United States. This digital banking platform is predominantly focused on Certificates of Deposits and High Yield Savings Accounts. Other deposit services offered by the Bank within our Washington, D.C. metropolitan area market include cash management services, business sweep accounts, lockbox, remote deposit capture, account reconciliation services, merchant card services, safe deposit boxes and Automated Clearing House origination. After-hours depositories and automated teller machine ("ATM") service are also available.
The Company and Bank maintain portfolios of short term investments and investment securities consisting primarily of U.S. agency bonds and government sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities, municipal bonds and corporate bonds. The Bank also owns equity investments related to membership in the Federal Reserve and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB"). The Company’s securities also include equity investments in the form of common stock of two local banking companies. These equity investments are categorized as Other Assets and not accounted for in the Fixed Income Securities tables. The investment securities portfolio provides the following objectives: capital preservation, liquidity management, additional income to the Company and Bank in the form of interest, collateral to facilitate borrowing arrangements and assistance with meeting interest rate risk management objectives. The current Investment Policy primarily limits the Bank to investments of high quality U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. agency securities, government sponsored enterprise
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MBS and high grade municipal and corporate securities, with certain exceptions for the purchase of BBB- or non-rated subordinated debentures of U.S. regulated banks following an analysis of credit worthiness. High risk investments, including private label collateralized mortgage obligations rated AA and below or municipal or corporate bonds rated BBB and below, and non-traditional investments are prohibited. Investment maturities are generally limited to ten to fifteen years, except as specifically approved by the Asset Liability Committee ("ALCO") and mortgage-backed pass-through securities, which may have final stated maturities of 30 years, with average lives generally not to exceed eight years.
The Company and Bank have formalized an asset and liability management process and have a standing ALCO consisting of senior management overseen by the Board. The ALCO operates under established policies and practices and a Committee Charter, which practices are updated and re-approved annually. A typical ALCO meeting includes discussion of current economic conditions and balance sheet and other strategies, including interest rate trends and the current balance sheet and earnings position, comparisons to budget, cash flow estimates, liquidity positions, liquidity stress tests, and funding alternatives as necessary, interest rate risk position (monthly), including derivative positions, capital positions of the Company and Bank, reviews (including independent reviews) of the investment portfolio of the Bank and Company and the approval of investment transactions. Additionally, ALCO meetings may include reports and analysis of outside firms to enhance the Committee’s knowledge and understanding of various financial matters. Various other bank employees attend monthly committee meetings to build their understanding of all financial matters. A weekly conference call is scheduled to bring added attention primarily to shorter term cash flow estimates and interest rate matters.
The development of the Company’s customer base has benefited from building full relationships that include deposit balances, loan balances and noninterest revenue sources. The Bank has placed enhanced reliance on proactively designed officer calling programs and lender teams, active participation in business organizations, and enhanced referral programs.
Internet Access to Company Documents. The Company provides access to its Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings through its web site at www.eaglebankcorp.com. After accessing the web site, the filings are available upon selecting “Investor Relations/SEC Filings/Documents.” Reports available include the annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after the reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Further, the SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
MARKET AREA
The primary market area of the Bank is the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. With a population of 6.4 million and projected annualized growth rate of 0.48% through 2030, the region is the 6th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau 2023). Total employment in the region is approximately 3.4 million per the 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics report. The unemployment rate has increased since 2023. As of November 30, 2024 and 2023, the region had a 3.2% and 2.5% unemployment rate, respectively. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area contains a substantial federal workforce, as well as a variety of support industries that employ professionals such as attorneys, lobbyists, government contractors, real estate developers and investors, non-profit organizations and consultants. The Gross Regional Product for the metropolitan area in 2023 was reported at $714.7 billion, per the Federal Reserve Economic Data. This figure can be heavily attributed to the federal government, but other significant sectors include professional and business services, education, healthcare, leisure and hospitality. The region also has a very active non-profit sector including trade associations, colleges, universities and major hospitals. Transportation congestion and federal government spending and employment levels remain threats to future economic development and quality of life in the area.
Effective July 1, 2015, the Bank entered into a multi-faceted support agreement with George Mason University ("George Mason"), the Commonwealth of Virginia’s largest public research university. The agreement provides for significant educational support, and a strategic alliance including the Bank obtaining the naming rights to a multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue formerly known as the Patriot Center, now known as "EagleBank Arena" in Fairfax, Virginia for up to a 20-year term. Under the agreement, the Bank pays George Mason an annual fee to be used for scholarships, internships, overall educational and athletic support and beautification efforts.
COMPETITION
The Bank faces significant competition in originating and retaining loans and attracting deposits as the Washington, D.C. market area has a high concentration of large and regional banks based outside the area, one large locally based bank that operates nationwide, numerous community banks and several large credit unions. Although some consolidation has occurred in the market in the past few years, the Bank continues to compete with other community banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions and finance companies, as well as other kinds of financial institutions and enterprises, such as securities firms,
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insurance companies, savings associations, private lenders and nontraditional competitors such as fintech companies and internet-based lenders, depositories and payment systems.
The Bank’s most direct competition for deposits comes from large and regional banks based outside the Washington, D.C. market area, all of which have substantially greater financial resources than the Bank. Among the advantages that many of these large institutions have over the Bank are their ability to finance extensive advertising campaigns, maintain extensive branch networks, make larger technology investments and to directly offer certain services, such as international banking and trust services, which are not offered directly by the Bank. In addition, following the banking sector stress of March 2023, some large banks had advantages in sourcing deposits due to the perceived stability of larger banks.
The Bank faces direct competition for loans from each of these institutions described above as well as from on-line lenders and other loan origination firms. Further, the greater capitalization of the larger institutions headquartered out-of-state allows for higher lending limits than the Bank, although we believe the Bank’s current lending limit is sufficient for our business and able to accommodate the credit needs of most businesses in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which distinguishes it from most community banks in the market area. Some of these competitors have other advantages, such as tax exemption in the case of credit unions and, to some extent, lesser regulation in the case of finance companies and many nontraditional competitors.
As a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act"), enacted in July 2010, regulation of all financial firms was heightened, although new legislation in 2018 did amend some of the prior law, prompting some de novo activity but mostly driving further consolidation. Under current law, unlimited interstate de novo branching is available to all state and federally chartered banks. As a result, institutions, which previously were ineligible to establish de novo branches in the Bank’s market area, may elect to do so.
HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES AND MANAGEMENT
Human Capital
At EagleBank, our culture is defined by our Relationships F.I.R.S.T. corporate values: Flexible, Involved, Responsive, Strong, and Trusted. We value our employees by investing in a healthy work-life balance, competitive compensation and benefit packages and a vibrant, team-oriented environment centered on professional service and open communication amongst employees. We strive to build and maintain a high-performing culture and be an “employer of choice” by creating a work environment that attracts and retains outstanding, engaged employees who embody our company mantra of “Relationships FIRST.”
The Board oversees the strategic management of our human capital resources. The Human Resources Department’s day-to-day responsibility is managing our human capital resources.
Talent Acquisition and Retention
As of December 31, 2024, we employed 451 full and part time employees across our 17 locations, which includes our branch offices, corporate offices and lending and other operating facilities. During 2024, we hired 108 employees. Our voluntary turnover rate was 18%, 12% and 17%, respectively for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. None of our employees are represented by a union or subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
Diversity and Inclusion
We strive toward a powerful and inclusive team of employees, knowing we are better together with our combined wisdom and intellect. With a commitment to equality and inclusion for every employee, we focus on understanding, accepting and valuing the differences among people. To accomplish this, we have established a Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council made up of 20 employee representatives.
Compensation and Benefits
We provide a competitive compensation and benefits program to help meet the needs of our employees. In addition to salaries, these programs include annual bonuses, stock awards, a 401(k) Plan with an employer matching contribution, healthcare and insurance benefits, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, vacation and sick leave, family leave and an employee assistance program.
We provide pay levels and pay opportunities that are designed to be internally fair, externally competitive and cost-effective. To determine competitive market compensation levels, we use market surveys that report salary data of companies with similar positions, asset size and geographical location. To further align base pay with experience and individual performance, we annually review our salary structure and ranges to keep pace with changes in the marketplace. With the support of independent third-party experts in this field, we review the compensation of employees and conduct a pay equity analysis as part of our efforts to ensure consistent pay practices.
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Employee Engagement
We regularly collect feedback to better understand and improve the employee experience and identify opportunities to continually strengthen our culture. In our last employee survey, conducted in 2024, nearly 58% of employees participated. We host periodic all-employee conference calls to disseminate information and to respond to employee questions.
Learning and Development
We invest in the growth and development of our employees by providing a multi-dimensional approach to learning that is designed to empower, intellectually grow and professionally develop our colleagues. Our employees receive continuing education courses that are relevant to the banking industry and their job function. We also offer leadership and customer service training. These resources help to provide employees with the skills they need to achieve their career goals, build management skills and become leaders within our Company. Employees have access to more than 5,000 on-demand learning solutions to help them learn new skills and advance in their career as well as certificate programs built around specific job roles. We also provide tuition reimbursement to help employees develop their skills and enhance their performance.
REGULATION
Our business and operations are subject to extensive federal and state governmental regulation and supervision. The following is a brief summary of certain statutes and rules and regulations that affect or may affect us. This summary is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the statutes or regulations applicable to our business. Supervision, regulation, and examination of the Company by the regulatory agencies are intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF"), rather than our shareholders or other investors.
The Company . The Company is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended ("BHC Act") and is subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB. The BHC Act and other federal laws subject bank holding companies to restrictions on the types of activities in which they may engage, and to a range of supervisory requirements and actions, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe and unsound banking practices. As a bank holding company, the Company is required to file with the FRB an annual report and such other additional information as the FRB may require pursuant to the BHC Act. The FRB may also examine the Company and each of its subsidiaries. The Company is subject to risk-based capital requirements adopted by the FRB, which are substantially identical to those applicable to the Bank, and which are described below.
The BHC Act requires approval of the FRB for, among other things, a bank holding company’s direct or indirect acquisition of control of more than five percent (5%) of the voting shares, or substantially all the assets, of any bank or the merger or consolidation by a bank holding company with another bank holding company. The BHC Act also generally permits the acquisition by a bank holding company of control, or substantially all of the assets, of any bank located in a state other than the home state of the bank holding company, except where the bank has not been in existence for the minimum period of time required by state law; but if the bank is at least 5 years old, the FRB may approve the acquisition.
With certain limited exceptions, a bank holding company is prohibited from acquiring control of any voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in any activity other than banking or managing or controlling banks or furnishing services to or performing services for its authorized subsidiaries. A bank holding company may, however, engage in, or acquire an interest in a company that engages in, activities which the FRB has determined by order or regulation to be so closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be properly incident thereto. In making such a determination, the FRB is required to consider whether the performance of such activities can reasonably be expected to produce benefits to the public, such as convenience, increased competition or gains in efficiency, which outweigh possible adverse effects, such as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices. Some of the activities that the FRB has determined by regulation to be closely related to banking include making or servicing loans, performing certain data processing services, acting as a fiduciary or investment or financial advisor and making investments in corporations or projects designed primarily to promote community welfare. The FRB may order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any of these activities or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when it has reasonable cause to believe that the bank holding company’s continued ownership, activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of it or any of its bank subsidiaries.
The Gramm Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 ("GLB Act") allows a bank holding company satisfying criteria related to its and its bank subsidiaries' status as well capitalized and well managed and the bank's under the Community Reinvestment Act to certify its status as a financial holding company, which would allow such company to engage in activities that are financial in nature, that are incidental to such activities or are complementary to such activities. The GLB Act enumerates certain activities that are deemed financial in nature, such as underwriting insurance or acting as an insurance principal, agent or broker, underwriting, dealing in or making markets in securities and engaging in merchant banking under certain restrictions. It also
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authorizes the FRB to determine by regulation what other activities are financial in nature or incidental or complementary thereto. The Company has not elected financial holding company status.
Federal Reserve policy and regulation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA") require a bank holding company to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its bank subsidiaries. As a result of a bank holding company's source of strength obligation, a bank holding company may be required to provide funds to a bank subsidiary in the form of subordinated capital or other instruments which qualify as capital under bank regulatory rules, including at times that the bank holding company might otherwise determine not to provide support. Any loans from the holding company to such subsidiary banks likely would be unsecured and subordinated to such bank’s depositors and perhaps to other creditors of the bank. If a bank holding company commits to a U.S. federal banking agency that it will maintain the capital of its bank subsidiary, whether in response to the source-of-strength authority or other regulatory measures, that commitment will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee for the bank holding company if it commences bankruptcy proceedings, and the bank will be entitled to priority payment in respect of that commitment, ahead of other creditors of the bank holding company. In addition, where a bank holding company has more than one FDIC-insured bank or thrift subsidiary, each of the bank holding company's subsidiary FDIC-insured depository institutions is responsible for losses to the FDIC as a result of an affiliated depository institution's failure.
Share Repurchases . A bank holding company is generally required to give the FRB prior written notice of any purchase or redemption of its own then outstanding common stock if the gross consideration for the purchase or redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of the company's consolidated net worth. The FRB may disapprove such a purchase or redemption if it determines that the proposal would constitute an unsafe and unsound practice or would violate any law, regulation, FRB order or directive or any condition imposed by, or written agreement with, the FRB. The FRB has adopted an exception to this approval requirement for well-capitalized bank holding companies that meet certain conditions. In addition, in certain circumstances a bank holding company’s repurchases of its common stock are subject to prior notice or supervisory non-objection under policies or supervisory expectations of the FRB. Redemptions of equity in the form of preferred stock are generally subject to a prior approval requirement, and the capital conservation buffer requirement can also restrict the Company’s ability to engage in repurchases of its regulatory capital instruments as described below under “Capital Adequacy.”
As a Maryland corporation, the Company is subject to additional requirements, limitations and restrictions. For example, state law restrictions include limitations and restrictions relating to indemnification of directors, distributions to shareholders, transactions involving directors, officers or interested shareholders, maintenance of books, records, minutes, borrowing and the observance of corporate formalities.
The Bank . The Bank is a Maryland chartered commercial bank and a member of the Federal Reserve and a state member bank, whose accounts are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF") of the FDIC up to the maximum legal limits of the FDIC. The Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the State of Maryland Office of Financial Regulation and the FRB. The regulations of these various agencies govern most aspects of the Bank’s business, including required reserves against deposits, loans, investments, mergers and acquisitions, borrowing, dividends and location and number of branch offices. As an institution with over $10 billion in total consolidated assets, the Bank became subject to increased regulation and supervision by the FRB and the FDIC in 2022. As of December 31, 2024, our total assets were $11.1 billion. Therefore, the Bank is subject to ongoing (rather than periodic) supervision, targeted examinations, more frequent loan portfolio reviews and other enhanced supervision. In particular, the FRB and the FDIC focus on the soundness of the Bank’s risk management framework and capabilities, given the greater complexity and impact of the Bank’s risks as a larger institution. The laws and regulations governing the Bank generally have been promulgated to protect depositors and the DIF and not for the purpose of protecting shareholders or other investors.
Commercial banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions are generally able to engage in interstate banking or acquisition activities. As a result, banks in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area can, subject to limited restrictions, acquire or merge with a bank in another jurisdiction and can branch de novo in any jurisdiction.
Subsidiary banks of a bank holding company are subject to certain restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Act on any extensions of credit to the bank holding company or any of its subsidiaries or investments in the stock or other securities thereof, and on the taking of such stock or securities as collateral for loans to any borrower. Further, a bank holding company and any subsidiary bank are prohibited from engaging in certain tie in arrangements in connection with the extension of credit. A subsidiary bank may not extend credit, lease or sell property or furnish any services or fix or vary the consideration for any of the foregoing on the condition that: (i) the customer obtain or provide some additional credit, property or services from or to such bank other than a loan, discount, deposit or trust service; (ii) the customer obtain or provide some additional credit, property or service from or to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) the customer not obtain some other credit, property or service from competitors, except for reasonable requirements to assure the soundness of credit extended.
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Branching and Interstate Banking . The federal banking agencies are authorized to approve interstate bank merger transactions without regard to whether such transaction is prohibited by the law of any state, unless the home state of one of the banks has opted out of the interstate bank merger provisions of the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 ("Riegle-Neal Act") by adopting a law after the date of enactment of the Riegle-Neal Act and prior to June 1, 1997, which applies equally to all out-of-state banks and expressly prohibits merger transactions involving out-of-state banks. Interstate acquisitions of branches are permitted only if the law of the state in which the branch is located permits such acquisitions. Such interstate bank mergers and branch acquisitions are also subject to the nationwide and statewide insured deposit concentration limitations described in the Riegle-Neal Act. Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia have each enacted laws that permit interstate acquisitions of banks and bank branches. The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes national and state banks to establish de novo branches in other states to the same extent as a bank chartered by that state would be permitted to branch.
The GLB Act made substantial changes in the historic restrictions on non-bank activities of bank holding companies and allows affiliations between types of companies that were previously prohibited. The GLB Act also allows banks to engage in a wider array of nonbanking activities through “financial subsidiaries”.
Brokered Deposits. A "brokered deposit" is any deposit that is obtained from or through the mediation or assistance of a deposit broker. Deposit brokers may attract deposits from individuals and companies throughout the United States and internationally whose deposit decisions are based primarily on obtaining the highest interest rates. Banks that become less than "well-capitalized" under applicable regulatory capital requirements may be restricted in their ability to accept or renew, or prohibited from accepting or renewing, brokered deposits, and less than "well capitalized" banks also are subject to interest rate restrictions on deposits.
Bank Secrecy Act . Under the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act, commonly referred to as the "USA Patriot Act," financial institutions are subject to prohibitions against specified financial transactions and account relationships, as well as enhanced due diligence standards intended to detect and prevent the use of the United States financial system for money laundering and terrorist financing activities. The Bank Secrecy Act requires financial institutions, including banks, to establish anti-money laundering programs, including employee training and independent audit requirements, meet minimum standards specified by the act, follow minimum standards for customer identification and maintenance of customer identification records and regularly compare customer lists against lists of suspected terrorists, terrorist organizations and money launderers.
Office of Foreign Assets Control. The United States has imposed economic sanctions that affect transactions with designated foreign countries, foreign nationals and others, which are administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC"). The OFAC-administered sanctions targeting countries take many different forms. Generally, however, they contain one or more of the following elements: (i) restrictions on trade with or investment in a sanctioned country, including prohibitions against direct or indirect imports from and exports to a sanctioned country and prohibitions on a “U.S. person” engaging in financial transactions relating to making investments in, or providing investment-related advice or assistance to, a sanctioned country; and (ii) a blocking of assets in which the government or specially designated nationals of a sanctioned country have an interest by prohibiting transfers of property subject to U.S. jurisdiction (including property in the possession or control of U.S. persons). Blocked assets (e.g., property and bank deposits) cannot be paid out, withdrawn, set off or transferred in any manner without a license from OFAC. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences.
Capital Adequacy . The FRB and the other federal banking agencies have adopted risk-based and leverage capital adequacy requirements, pursuant to which they assess the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising banks and bank holding companies and in analyzing bank regulatory applications. Risk-based capital requirements assign different capital requirements to various classes of assets and off-balance sheet items based on standardized supervisory measures of risk. The Dodd-Frank Act additionally requires capital requirements to be counter cyclical so that the required amount of capital increases in times of economic expansion and decreases in times of economic contraction, consistent with safety and soundness.
The federal banking agencies have adopted rules, referred to as the Basel III Rules, to implement the framework for strengthening international capital and liquidity regulation adopted by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, or Basel III. The Basel III framework, among other things, (i) introduced the concept of common equity tier one capital ("CET1"); (ii) required that most adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital; (iii) expanded the scope of the adjustments to capital that may be made as compared to prior regulations; and (iv) specified that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier 1 capital” instruments meeting specified requirements. Under the Basel III Rules, repurchase or redemption of Additional Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital instruments requires prior approval of the appropriate federal banking agency, which in our case is the FRB for both the Company and the Bank. Prior approval to repurchase or
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redeem CET1 instruments is only required under the Basel III Rules to the extent that a separate legal or regulatory requirement for prior approval applies, such as the restrictions described under “Share Repurchases” above.
The Basel III Rules require institutions to maintain: (i) a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of 4.5% plus a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% for an overall effective requirement of 7.0%; (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6.0% plus the capital conservation buffer for an overall effective requirement of 8.5%; (iii) a minimum ratio of Total (Tier 1 plus Tier 2) capital to risk-weighted assets of 8.0% plus the capital conservation buffer for an overall effective requirement of 10.5%; and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to balance sheet exposures plus certain off-balance sheet exposures (computed as the average of the month-end ratios each month during a calendar quarter).
Banking institutions with a risk-based ratio above the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer face constraints on their ability to pay dividends, effect equity repurchases and pay discretionary bonuses to executive officers, which constraints vary based on the amount of the shortfall, and the institution's "eligible retained income" (that is, the greater of (i) net income for the preceding four quarters, net of distributions and associated tax effects not reflected in net income, and (ii) average net income over the preceding four quarters).
The Basel III Rules provide for the manner of calculating risk-weighted assets, including the recognition of credit risk mitigation, such as financial collateral and a range of eligible guarantors. As discussed below, the Basel III Rules also integrate the capital requirements into the prompt corrective action provisions under Section 38 of the FDIA.
The capital ratios described above are the minimum levels that the federal banking agencies expect. Our state and federal regulators have the discretion to require us to maintain higher capital levels based upon our concentrations of loans, the risk of our lending or other activities, the performance of our loan and investment portfolios and other factors. Failure to maintain such higher capital in accordance with supervisory expectations could result in a lower composite regulatory rating, which would impact our deposit insurance premiums and could affect our ability to borrow and costs of borrowing and could result in additional or more severe enforcement actions. In respect of institutions with high concentrations of loans in areas deemed to be higher risk, or during periods of significant economic stress, regulators may require an institution to maintain a higher level of capital and/or to maintain more stringent risk management measures than those required by these regulations.
In December 2017, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the last version of the Basel III accord, generally referred to as "Basel III Endgame." On July 27, 2023, the federal banking regulators proposed revisions to the Basel III Rules to implement the Basel Committee’s 2017 standards and make other changes to the Basel III Rules. The proposal introduces revised credit risk, equity risk, operational risk, credit valuation adjustment risk and market risk requirements, among other changes. However, the revised capital requirements of the proposed rule would not apply to the Company or the Bank because they have less than $100 billion in total consolidated assets and trading assets and liabilities below the threshold for market risk requirements. The Federal Reserve has indicated that it expects to work with the other federal banking regulators in 2025 on a revised proposal.
In 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued the current expected credit losses model ("CECL"), which became applicable to us on January 1, 2020. CECL required financial institutions to estimate and establish a provision for expected credit losses over the lifetime of the asset, at the origination or the date of acquisition of the asset, as opposed to reserving for incurred or probable losses through the balance sheet date. Upon implementation, an institution recognized a one-time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for credit losses ("ACL"). The federal banking regulators have adopted a rule providing for an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects upon adopting CECL. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal banking regulators issued a final rule in March 2020 that provided banking organizations with an alternative option to temporarily delay for two years the estimated impact of the adoption of the CECL methodology on regulatory capital, followed by the three-year phase-in period. The cumulative amount that is not recognized in regulatory capital will be phased in at 25% per year beginning January 1, 2022. We have elected to adopt the option provided in the March 2020 interim final rule.
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Prompt Corrective Action . Under Section 38 of the FDIA, each federal banking agency is required to implement a system of prompt corrective action for institutions that it regulates. The federal banking agencies have promulgated substantially similar regulations for this purpose. The following capital requirements currently apply to the Bank for purposes of Section 38.
Capital Category Total Risk-Based
Capital Ratio Tier 1 Risk-Based
Capital Ratio Common Equity
Tier 1 Capital Ratio Leverage Ratio Tangible Equity
to Assets
Well Capitalized 10% or greater 8% or greater 6.5% or greater 5% or greater n/a
Adequately Capitalized 8% or greater 6% or greater 4.5% or greater 4% or greater n/a
Undercapitalized Less than 8% Less than 6% Less than 4.5% Less than 4% n/a
Significantly Undercapitalized Less than 6% Less than 4% Less than 3% Less than 3% n/a
Critically Undercapitalized n/a n/a n/a n/a Less than 2%
An institution generally must file a written capital restoration plan which meets specified requirements with the appropriate federal banking agency within 45 days of the date the institution receives notice or is deemed to have notice that it is undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized. The appropriate federal banking agency must provide the institution with written notice of approval or disapproval within 60 days after receiving a capital restoration plan, subject to extensions by the applicable agency.
An institution that is required to submit a capital restoration plan must concurrently submit a performance guaranty by each company that controls the institution. Such guaranty shall be limited to the lesser of (i) an amount equal to 5.0% of the institution’s total assets at the time the institution was notified or deemed to have notice that it was undercapitalized or (ii) the amount necessary at such time to restore the relevant capital measures of the institution to the levels required for the institution to be classified as adequately capitalized. Such a guaranty shall expire after the appropriate federal banking agency notifies the institution that it has remained adequately capitalized for four consecutive calendar quarters. An institution that fails to submit a written capital restoration plan within the requisite period, including any required performance guaranty, or fails in any material respect to implement a capital restoration plan, shall be subject to the restrictions in Section 38 of the FDIA that are applicable to significantly undercapitalized institutions.
A “critically undercapitalized institution” is required to be placed in conservatorship or receivership within 90 days, unless the FDIC formally determines that forbearance from such action would better protect the DIF. Unless the FDIC or other appropriate federal banking agency makes specific further findings and certifies that the institution is viable and is not expected to fail, an institution that remains critically undercapitalized during the fourth calendar quarter after the date it became critically undercapitalized must be placed in receivership. The general rule is that the FDIC will be appointed as receiver within 90 days after an institution becomes critically undercapitalized unless good cause is shown and an extension is agreed to by the federal regulators. In general, good cause requires that adequate capital has been raised and is imminently available for infusion into the institution, except for certain technical requirements, which may delay the infusion for a period of time beyond the 90 day time period.
Immediately upon becoming undercapitalized, an institution shall become subject to the provisions of Section 38 of the FDIA, which (i) restrict payment of capital distributions and management fees; (ii) require that the appropriate federal banking agency monitor the condition of the institution and its efforts to restore its capital; (iii) require submission of a capital restoration plan; (iv) restrict the growth of the institution’s assets; and (v) require prior approval of certain expansion proposals. The appropriate federal banking agency for an undercapitalized institution also may take any number of discretionary supervisory actions if the agency determines that any of these actions is necessary to resolve the problems of the institution at the least possible long-term cost to the DIF, subject in certain cases to specified procedures. These discretionary supervisory actions include: requiring the institution to raise additional capital; restricting transactions with affiliates; requiring divestiture of the institution or the sale of the institution to a willing purchaser; and any other supervisory action that the agency deems appropriate. These and additional mandatory and permissive supervisory actions may be taken with respect to significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized institutions.
Additionally, under Section 11(c)(5) of the FDIA, a conservator or receiver may be appointed for an institution where: (i) an institution’s obligations exceed its assets; (ii) there is substantial dissipation of the institution’s assets or earnings as a result of any violation of law or any unsafe or unsound practice; (iii) the institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition; (iv) there is a willful violation of a cease-and-desist order; (v) the institution is unable to pay its obligations in the ordinary course of business; (vi) losses or threatened losses deplete all or substantially all of an institution’s capital, and there is no reasonable
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prospect of becoming “adequately capitalized” without assistance; (vii) there is any violation of law or unsafe or unsound practice or condition that is likely to cause insolvency or substantial dissipation of assets or earnings, weaken the institution’s condition or otherwise seriously prejudice the interests of depositors or the insurance fund; (viii) an institution ceases to be insured; (ix) the institution is undercapitalized and has no reasonable prospect that it will become adequately capitalized, fails to become adequately capitalized when required to do so or fails to submit or materially implement a capital restoration plan; or (x) the institution is critically undercapitalized or otherwise has substantially insufficient capital.
Regulatory Enforcement Authority . Federal banking law grants substantial enforcement powers to the federal banking agencies. This enforcement authority includes, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease-and-desist or removal orders and to initiate injunctive actions against banking organizations and institution-affiliated parties. In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. Other actions or inactions may provide the basis for enforcement action, including misleading or untimely reports filed with regulatory authorities.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau . The Dodd-Frank Act created the CFPB, an independent federal agency with broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection laws, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Truth in Lending Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the consumer financial privacy provisions of the GLB Act and certain other statutes. The CFPB has examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to depository institutions with over $10 billion in assets. The CFPB also has authority to prevent unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in connection with the offering of consumer financial products. The Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and standards that are more stringent than those adopted at the federal level and, in certain circumstances, permits state attorneys general to enforce compliance with both the state and federal laws and regulations.
The Bank is also required to provide information to the CFPB on a quarterly basis, and is subject to periodic examinations by the CFPB focused on compliance with consumer laws and regulations, as a banking organization over $10 billion in total assets. The changes resulting from the Dodd-Frank Act and CFPB rule making and enforcement policies may impact the profitability of our business activities, limit our ability to make, or the desirability of making, certain types of loans, including non-qualified mortgage loans, require us to change our business practices, impose upon us more stringent capital, liquidity and leverage ratio requirements or otherwise adversely affect our business or profitability. The changes may also require us to dedicate significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make necessary changes to comply with the new statutory and regulatory requirements.
In October 2024, the CFPB finalized a new rule that requires a provider of payment accounts or products, such as a bank, to make data available to consumers upon request regarding the products or services they obtain from the provider. Any such data provider is also required to make such data available to third parties, with the consumer’s express authorization and through an interface that satisfies formatting, performance and security standards, for the purpose of such third parties providing the consumer with financial products or services requested by the consumer. Data required to be made available under the rule includes transaction information, account balance, account and routing numbers, terms and conditions, upcoming bill information, and certain account verification data. The rule is intended to give consumers control over their financial data, including with whom it is shared, and encourage competition in the provision of consumer financial products or services. For banks with at least $10 billion but less than $250 billion in total assets, compliance with the rule’s requirements is required by April 1, 2027.
In December 2024, the CFPB issued a final rule that modifies or eliminates several long-standing exclusions from requirements generally applicable to consumer credit that previously exempted certain overdraft practices. The rule generally requires banks to restructure many overdraft fees, overdraft lines of credit, and other overdraft practices as separate consumer credit accounts that would be subject to those requirements. This rule applies to banks with over $10 billion in total assets, including the Bank, starting in October 2025. Compliance with these new requirements could result in the Bank, among other things, facing higher compliance costs in charging overdraft fees, experiencing a decreased ability to recover amounts extended as overdraft protection, reducing the availability of overdraft protection, and/or charging lower overdraft fees.
Fair and Responsible Banking. Banks and other financial institutions are subject to numerous laws and regulations intended to promote fair and responsible banking and prohibit unlawful discrimination and unfair, deceptive or abusive practices in banking. These laws include, among others, the Dodd-Frank Act, Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act. Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition, to those listed above. These federal, state and local laws regulate the manner in which financial institutions deal with customers taking deposits, making loans or conducting other types of transactions. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could give rise to regulatory sanctions and actions by the U.S. Department of Justice and state attorneys general.
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Financial Privacy and Cybersecurity . Under the Federal Right to Privacy Act of 1978, which imposes a duty to maintain confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records, financial institutions are required to disclose their policies for collecting and protecting confidential information. Consumers generally may prevent financial institutions from sharing personal financial information with nonaffiliated third parties except for third parties that market the institutions’ own products and services. Additionally, financial institutions generally may not disclose consumer account numbers to any nonaffiliated third party for use in telemarketing, direct mail marketing or other marketing through electronic mail to consumers.
The federal banking regulators regularly issue guidance regarding cybersecurity intended to enhance cyber risk management standards among financial institutions. A financial institution is expected to establish multiple lines of defense and to ensure their risk management processes address the risk posed by potential threats to the institution. A financial institution’s management is expected to maintain sufficient processes to effectively respond and recover the institution’s operations after a cyberattack. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to enable recovery of data and business operations if a critical service provider of the institution falls victim to this type of cyberattack. The Bank has adopted an information security program that has been approved by the Board and reviewed by its regulators.
In November 2021, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule regarding notification requirements for banking organizations related to significant computer security incidents. Under the final rule, a bank holding company, such as the Company, and a state member bank, such as the Bank, would be required to notify the Federal Reserve within 36 hours of any incident that has materially disrupted or degraded, or is reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, the banking organization’s ability to deliver services to a material portion of its customer base, jeopardize the viability of key operations of the banking organization, or pose a threat to the financial stability of the United States.
In July 2023, the SEC issued a final rule that requires registrants, such as the Company, to (i) report material cybersecurity incidents on Form 8-K within four business days of their being deemed material, (ii) disclose cybersecurity policies and procedures and governance practices, including at the board and management levels, in Form 10-K and (iii) present the disclosures in inline XBRL.
Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) requires that, in connection with examinations of insured depository institutions within their respective jurisdictions, the federal banking agencies evaluate the record of each financial institution in meeting the needs of its local community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The Bank’s record of performance under the CRA is publicly available. A bank’s CRA performance is also considered in evaluating applications seeking approval for mergers, acquisitions and new offices or facilities. Failure to adequately meet these criteria could result in additional requirements and limitations being imposed on the Bank. Additionally, we must publicly disclose the terms of certain CRA-related agreements. In October 2023, the OCC, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC jointly issued a final rule to modernize the federal bank regulators’ regulations implementing the CRA. The final rule introduces new tests under which the performance of banks with over $2 billion in assets will be assessed. The new rule also includes data collection and reporting requirements, some of which are applicable only to banks with over $10 billion in assets, such as the Bank. Most provisions of the final rule will become effective on January 1, 2026, and the data reporting requirements will become effective on January 1, 2027. However, the final rule is currently enjoined as to the plaintiff trade associations while a federal court considers a lawsuit challenging the rule.
Concentration and Risk Guidance. The federal banking regulatory agencies promulgated joint interagency guidance regarding material direct and indirect asset and funding concentrations. The guidance defines a concentration as any of the following: (i) asset concentrations of 25% or more of Total Capital (loan related) or Tier 1 Capital (non-loan related) by individual borrower, small interrelated group of individuals, single repayment source or individual project; (ii) asset concentrations of 100% or more of Total Capital (loan related) or Tier 1 Capital (non-loan related) by industry, product line, type of collateral or short-term obligations of one financial institution or affiliated group; (iii) funding concentrations from a single source representing 10% or more of Total Assets; or (iv) potentially volatile funding sources that when combined represent 25% or more of Total Assets (these sources may include brokered, large, high-rate, uninsured, internet-listing-service deposits, Federal funds purchased or other potentially volatile deposits or borrowings). If a concentration is present, management must employ heightened risk management practices including board and management oversight and strategic planning, development of underwriting standards, risk assessment and monitoring through market analysis and stress testing, third party review and increasing capital requirements.
Additionally, the federal bank regulatory agencies have issued guidance governing financial institutions with concentrations in commercial real estate lending. The guidance provides that institutions that have (i) total reported loans for construction, land development and other land which represent 100% or more of an institution’s total risk-based capital; or (ii) total reported commercial real estate loans, excluding loans secured by owner-occupied commercial real estate, representing 300% or more of the institution’s total risk-based capital and the institution’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased 50% or more during the prior 36 months, are identified as having potential commercial real estate concentration risk. As of December 31, 2024, as per the regulatory guidance, commercial real estate loans (including construction, land and land
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development loans) represented 372.6% of consolidated risk based capital; however, growth in that segment over the past 36 months at 26.8% did not exceed the 50% threshold laid out in the regulatory guidance. Construction, land and land development loans represented 122.60% of consolidated risk based capital as of December 31, 2024. Institutions that are deemed to have concentrations in commercial real estate lending are expected to employ heightened levels of risk management with respect to their commercial real estate portfolios, and may be required to hold higher levels of capital.
FDIC Insurance Premiums . Deposits at the Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the DIF of the FDIC and the Bank is subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. Deposit insurance assessments are based on average total assets minus average tangible equity. For larger institutions, such as the Bank, the FDIC uses a performance score and a loss-severity score to calculate an initial assessment rate. In calculating these scores, the FDIC uses a bank’s capital level and supervisory ratings and certain financial measures to assess an institution’s ability to withstand asset-related stress and funding-related stress. The FDIC has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score based upon significant risk factors that are not adequately captured in the calculations.
Under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. In addition, the FDIC is authorized to conduct examinations of and require reporting by FDIC-insured institutions.
The Dodd-Frank Act permanently increased the maximum deposit insurance amount for banks, savings institutions and credit unions to $250 thousand per depositor. The Dodd-Frank Act also broadened the base for calculating FDIC insurance assessments. Assessments are now based on a financial institution’s average consolidated total assets less tangible equity capital. The Dodd-Frank Act required the FDIC to increase the reserve ratio of the DIF to 1.35% of insured deposits and eliminated the requirement that the FDIC pay dividends to insured depository institutions when the reserve ratio exceeds certain thresholds.
On November 16, 2023, the FDIC finalized a rule that imposes special assessments to recover the losses to the deposit insurance fund (“DIF”) resulting from the FDIC’s use, in March 2023, of the systemic risk exception to the least-cost resolution test under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in connection with the receiverships of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The FDIC estimated in approving the rule that those assessed losses total approximately $16.3 billion. The rule provides that this loss estimate will be periodically adjusted, which will affect the amount of the special assessment. Under the rule, the assessment base is the estimated uninsured deposits that an insured depository institution reported in its December 31, 2022 Call Report, excluding the first $5 billion in estimated uninsured deposits. Because the Bank had $4.4 billion in estimated uninsured deposits at December 31, 2022, the special assessment will not affect the Bank.
Affiliate Transactions . The Company and Bank are separate and distinct legal entities, and the Company is an affiliate of the Bank. Federal laws strictly limit the ability of banks to engage in certain transactions with their affiliates. Transactions deemed to be a “covered transaction” under Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act between a bank and an affiliate are limited to 10% of the bank's capital and surplus and, with respect to all affiliates, to an aggregate of 20% of the bank's capital and surplus. Further, covered transactions that are loans and extensions of credit generally are required to be secured by eligible collateral in specified amounts. Federal law also requires that covered transactions and certain other transactions listed in Section 23B of the Federal Reserve Act between a bank and its affiliates be on terms as favorable to the bank as transactions with non-affiliates.
Incentive Compensation. The Federal Reserve reviews, as part of the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as the Company, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews are tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives are included in reports of examination. Deficiencies are incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
Under Federal Reserve guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or as part of a group, a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that appropriately balance risk and financial results in a manner that does not encourage employees to expose their organizations to imprudent risk, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors.
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In 2016, the U.S. financial regulators, including the FRB and the SEC, proposed revised rules on incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities having at least $1 billion in total assets (including the Company and the Bank), but these proposed rules have not been finalized.
In October 2022, the SEC adopted a final rule directing national securities exchanges and associations, including NASDAQ, to require policies mandating the recovery or “clawback” of excess incentive-based compensation earned by a current or former executive officer during the three fiscal years preceding a required accounting restatement, including to correct an error that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. The excess compensation would be based on the amount the executive officer would have received had the incentive-based compensation been determined using the restated financials. NASDAQ’s listing standards pursuant to the SEC’s rule became effective October 2, 2023. The Company’s clawback policy adopted in accordance with these listing standards is included as Exhibit 97.1.
Climate-Related and ESG Developments. In recent years, federal, state and international lawmakers and regulators have increased their focus on financial institutions’ and other companies’ risk oversight, disclosures and practices in connection with climate change and other environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) matters. For example, in March 2024, the SEC issued a final rule on the enhancement and standardization of climate-related disclosures for investors. The final rule requires public issuers, including us, to provide certain climate-related disclosures in their SEC filings. In April 2024, the SEC issued an order staying the new rule pending judicial review of certain legal challenges to the rule. In addition, several states have enacted or proposed statutes or regulations addressing climate change and other ESG issues, including “anti-ESG” statutes or regulations. For example, California enacted climate-related disclosure laws requiring certain companies doing business in California to make certain climate-related disclosures, including but not limited to greenhouse gas emissions data and climate-related risks.
Future Legislation and Regulation
In addition to the discussion above, other new proposals for legislation continue to be introduced in the Congress that could further substantially increase regulation of the bank and non-bank financial services industries and impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within the industry to conduct business consistent with historical practices. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. Certain aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to the financial industry, if enacted or adopted, may impact the profitability of our business activities, require more oversight or change certain of our business practices, including the ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads and could expose the Company to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. These changes also may require significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes to operations to comply and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves risks. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully read and consider the risk factors described below as well as the other information included in this report and other documents we file with the SEC, as the same may be updated from time to time. Any of these risks, if they actually occur, could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect us. In any such case, you could lose all or a portion of your original investment.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Our business and results of operations may be adversely affected by the financial markets, fiscal, monetary, and regulatory policies and economic conditions. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our earnings, net interest margin, financial condition, rate of growth, liquidity levels, and stock price.
General economic, political, social and health conditions affect financial markets, and therefore, our business. Fiscal and monetary policies have a direct and indirect impact on the level and volatility of interest rates, liquidity of financial markets, the availability and cost of capital, and market conditions of financing. For example, recently, interest rates have been elevated due to central banks’ efforts to manage inflation through monetary policy.
Financial markets and the banking industry are affected by economic growth and its sustainability. Changes in economic growth may result in unexpected changes in gross domestic product ("GDP"), fluctuations or other significant changes in both debt and equity capital markets and currencies, liquidity of financial markets and the availability and cost of capital and credit. Changes in the size of the government workforce, actual or potential federal government shutdowns, and developments related to the U.S. federal debt ceiling may also have an economic impact or result in market volatility. Increased market volatility and changes in financial or capital market conditions may be further impacted by energy prices, commercial
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property values, residential property values, consumer spending, bankruptcies, employment levels, labor shortages, changes in immigration policy, tariffs and changes in trade policy, wage inflation and supply chain disruptions.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio consists of loans secured by commercial properties, the adverse performance of which could impact the credit quality of the loan portfolio and result in a negative impact to our financial condition or results of operations.
Economic weaknesses, sustained elevated inflation, challenging business conditions, the implementation or persistence of hybrid work arrangements and other changes in business operating practices, market disruptions, adverse economic or market events, rising interest or capitalization rates, declining asset prices, greater volatility in areas where we have concentrated credit risk or deterioration in real estate values or household incomes may cause us to experience a decrease in cash flow and higher credit losses in our portfolios or cause us to write down the value of certain assets. Certain adverse consequences of the pandemic, including lower office occupancy rates, continue to materially affect the businesses of certain segments of our customer base and of their customers, which impacts their creditworthiness, their ability to pay amounts owed to us and our ability to collect those amounts.
We may also experience continued and long-term negative impacts to our commercial credit exposure and an increase in credit losses within those industries, such as commercial real estate, that may be impacted by changes in consumer preferences or office occupancy rates. A large portion of our loan portfolio is related to real estate, with 83% consisting of commercial real estate and real estate construction secured by commercial real estate. As a result of actual or expected credit losses, we may downgrade loans, increase our allowance for loan losses and write down or charge off credit relationships, any of which would negatively impact our results of operations. In addition, market upheavals are likely to affect the value of real estate and commercial assets. As a result, in the event of foreclosure, it is possible that we will be unable to sell the foreclosed property at a price that will allow us to recoup a significant portion of the delinquent loan.
A significant number of our commercial real estate loans are secured by office properties. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still being felt due to the significant changes in working arrangements that have impacted and could continue to impact the performance of some of the office properties within our commercial real estate portfolio. Hybrid work arrangements, flexible work schedules, open workplaces and teleconferencing have become increasingly common. These practices enable businesses to reduce their office space requirements. A continuation of the movement towards these practices over time could continue to erode the overall demand for office space and, in turn, place downward pressure on occupancy, rental rates and property valuations, each of which could have an adverse effect on our borrowers, the office properties securing their loans, and our ability to collect the amounts owed to us.
Our calculation of our ACL relies on estimates and assumptions, resulting in the risk that our calculated ACL may not cover actual future credit losses, which could result in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We use a credit reserving methodology known as the CECL methodology. The provision for credit losses represents management’s estimate of expected credit losses on our portfolio and is recorded in the ACL on our loan portfolio. Management utilizes a variety of inputs in the calculation of its estimate, including historical losses based on internal and peer data, economic conditions and trends, the value and adequacy of collateral, volume and mix of the portfolio, performance of the portfolio, and our internal loan processes. Our use of third-party service provider provided historical loss data in the calculation of our CECL provision may not approximate our own historical loss data.
Our ability to accurately forecast future losses under this methodology may be impaired by significant uncertainties:
• Uncertainties surrounding volatility in inflation and interest rates, which have disrupted financial markets and adversely affected commercial real estate and other sectors in the economy.
• Uncertainties related to the identification of the appropriate economic indicators.
• Uncertainties related to the data utilized to build models and draw assumptions.
• Uncertainties and limitations related to the different sources of data: internal data, peer data, market data, macroeconomic data, geopolitical data, etc.
• Uncertainties related to the need to make difficult and complex judgments that are often interrelated.
Additionally, the condition of our loan portfolio’s credit quality is factored into the calculation of our CECL estimate. Our ability to accurately forecast and react to future losses may be impaired by significant uncertainties which could result in loan losses and other exposures which could exceed our allowance. Furthermore, if the models, estimates and assumptions we use to establish reserves or the judgments we make in extending credit to our borrowers prove inaccurate in predicting future events, the result may also be losses in excess of our CECL provision. As economic conditions change, we may have to increase our allowance, which could adversely affect our results of operations, earnings and financial condition.
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We are subject to operational risks in connection with our employees and our technology that may adversely impact our business.
Risk to our operations is inherent in our business. We rely on business processes and branch activity that largely depend on people and technology, including access to information technology systems as well as information, applications, payment systems and other services provided by third parties. Operational risks that may have an adverse effect on our operations, include (i) risks related to our work productivity; (ii) increased spending on our business continuity efforts; (iii) increased strain on certain risk management practices, including, but not limited to, the effectiveness and accuracy of our models, given the potential lack of data inputs and comparable precedent; (iv) risks related to the effectiveness of our anti-money laundering and other compliance programs; (v) increased cybersecurity risk due to, among other things, the increased connectivity of third parties and electronic devices to our systems, hybrid work arrangements and new technologies, such as artificial intelligence; (vi) risks related to our efforts to provide banking services through digital channels; and (vii) operational disruptions at our third-party service providers. Increased cyber risks in this context may include greater phishing, malware and other cybersecurity attacks, vulnerability to disruptions of our information technology infrastructure and telecommunications systems for remote operations, increased risk of unauthorized dissemination of confidential information, limited ability to restore the systems in the event of a systems failure or interruption, greater risk of a security breach resulting in destruction or misuse of sensitive, confidential, personal or proprietary information and potential impairment of our ability to perform critical functions, including wiring funds, all of which could expose us to risks of data or financial loss, litigation and liability and could seriously disrupt our operations and the operations of any impacted customers.
Our reliance on external service providers exposes us to operational risk that could adversely impact our business.
We rely on many outside service providers that support our day-to-day operations including data processing and electronic communications, real estate appraisal, loan servicers and local and federal government agencies, offices and courthouses. Any actions by these entities to limit the availability of and access to their services may impact our business. For example, a loan origination could be delayed due to the limited availability of real estate appraisers to evaluate the collateral. Loan closings could be delayed related to reductions in available staff in recording offices or the closing of courthouses, which slows the process for title work and mortgage and UCC filings. In addition, unintended operational disruptions, including cybersecurity incidents and coding errors, at our third-party service providers may adversely affect our ability to provide our products and services as usual.
Our inability to generate liquidity in a timely manner may adversely impact our ability to satisfy obligations associated with our financing, our operations and other components of our business.
Timely access to liquidity is essential to our business, and being able to meet obligations as they come due and pay deposits when they are withdrawn is critical to ongoing operations. If we are unable to meet our payment obligations on a daily basis, we may be subject to being placed into receivership, regardless of our capital levels. Our primary sources of liquidity consist of cash and cash balances due from correspondent banks, excess reserves at the Federal Reserve, loan repayments, federal funds sold and other short-term investments, maturities and monetization of investment securities, cash provided by operating activities and new core deposits into the Bank. Our ability to obtain or liquidate these primary sources of liquidity may be impacted by adverse economic conditions resulting from dynamic, complex, and other foreseen and unforeseen inter-related factors and events in the economic environment. If we were to rely on sales proceeds from the sale of investment securities within our portfolio in order to satisfy our obligations, we may be adversely impacted by our ability to transact and settle such sales. Sales of investment securities in an unrealized loss position would negatively affect our earnings and regulatory capital. In addition, in order to monetize our “held-to-maturity” securities, we expect to rely on pledging those securities for secured funding, and our liquidity may be impaired if we are unable to timely pledge those or any other securities due to a lack of available funding, operational impediments or otherwise. Our industry is susceptible to the negative impact of limited access to short-term and/or long-term sources of funds, which could result in a liquidity shortfall and/or impact our liquidity coverage ratio and could have an adverse effect on our operations, financial condition and earnings.
Our inability to access sources of financing at terms that are favorable to us may result in an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our liquidity could be adversely affected by any inability to access the debt or equity capital markets, liquidity or volatility in those capital markets, the decrease in value of eligible collateral or increased collateral requirements (including as a result of credit concerns for short-term borrowing), changes to our relationships with our funding providers based on real or perceived changes in our risk profile, prolonged federal government shutdowns or changes in regulations. Additionally, our liquidity may be negatively impacted by the unwillingness or inability of the Federal Reserve to act as lender of last resort.
Our ability to raise additional financing depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental
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activities and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we may be unable to raise additional financing if needed or on acceptable terms.
We face competition in the deposit markets and have experienced, and in the future may experience, a significant outflow in our customer deposit accounts, the impact of which required us, and may in the future require us, to find alternative sources of financing, including brokered deposits and other borrowings, in order to fund our financing commitments and operating activities.
We compete with banks and other financial services companies for deposits. If our competitors raise the rates they pay on deposits our funding costs may increase, either because we raise our rates to avoid losing deposits or because we lose deposits, and must rely on more expensive sources of funding. Checking and savings account balances and other forms of customer deposits may decrease when customers perceive other investment opportunities, such as stocks, bonds, or money market mutual funds, as providing a better risk/return trade-off. When customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments, we may lose a relatively low-cost source of funds, increasing our funding costs and negatively affecting our business, liquidity, funding mix, results of operations or financial condition. Adverse changes in the real estate market in our market area could also have an adverse effect on our cost of funds and net interest margin, as we have a significant amount of noninterest bearing deposits related to real estate sales and development.
During 2023 and 2024, as a result of increasing interest rates, we experienced a reduction in noninterest bearing deposits and increase in interest-bearing deposits, which increased our interest expense and had a negative impact on our results of operations. Such activity, if it were to occur again in the future, may have a further negative impact on our financial condition and our results of operations. Brokered deposits or other sources of financing, such as FHLB borrowings and repurchase agreements have historically been, and may in the future be, available only at higher financing costs. Generally, these alternative sources of financing may not be as stable as other types of deposits, or may be associated with higher levels of risk. An inability to maintain or replace customer and brokered deposits as they mature could negatively affect our liquidity, which could significantly reduce our future growth or materially adversely affect our business and our results of operations. If brokered deposits become more difficult to access, we may have to seek alternative funding sources, including accessing borrowings or selling loans or investment securities, in order to continue to fund our growth. There can be no assurance that brokered deposits will be available, or if available, sufficient to support our growth. The migration from one financing source to another financing source may negatively impact our ability to execute investment transactions. The lack of availability of sufficient brokered deposits may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our outstanding deposits with balances in excess of maximum FDIC insurance coverage limits may be more likely to be withdrawn or transferred to other financing sources with a higher costs to us, which could adversely impact our business, our financial condition, our results of operations, our liquidity and our funding mix.
At December 31, 2024, we had approximately $2.2 billion of deposits, or 24% of our total deposits, in excess of the maximum FDIC insurance coverage limits. Deposits make up a significant source of financing for our investment strategy and funding for our operations. Customers who have uninsured deposits with us could present a heightened risk of withdrawal. Additionally, clients could elect to use other non-deposit funding products, such as repurchase agreements, that may require us to pay higher interest and to provide securities as collateral for our repurchase obligation. If a significant portion of our deposits were withdrawn, as happened in 2023, and could happen again, 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, liquidity, funding mix, results of operations or financial condition.
If we are unable to continue funding our assets through customer deposits or access capital markets on favorable terms or if we suffer an increase in our borrowing costs or otherwise fail to manage our liquidity effectively, our liquidity, net interest margin, financial results and condition may be materially adversely affected. In order to maintain appropriate levels of liquidity, we may need to, or be required to raise additional capital through the issuance of common stock, which could dilute the ownership of existing stockholders, or reduce or even eliminate our common stock dividend to preserve capital or to raise additional capital.
The 2023 failures of Silicon Valley Bank ("SVB"), Signature Bank and First Republic have resulted and may continue to result in increased regulatory and supervisory focus on liquidity risk management, including with respect to uninsured deposits. Meeting supervisory expectations or any new regulatory requirements relating to liquidity risk management generally or uninsured deposits in particular could require us to seek to change our funding sources or the size and composition of our balance sheet, to incur higher expenses or to make other changes that adversely affect our net interest income and net interest margin.
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Our inability to comply with capital and other regulatory requirements would have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. This may result in an inability to provide returns to our shareholders.
The banking industry is highly regulated and supervised under federal and state laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, the public, the banking industry as a whole or the FDIC deposit insurance fund (“DIF”). The Company and Bank are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, as well as our state regulator. We are subject to U.S. regulatory capital rules, and banking regulators have broad authority to determine whether we are operating in a safe and sound manner, including with respect to liquidity risk management and asset quality. We may need to raise additional financing in the future to provide sufficient funding to meet regulatory requirements, supervisory expectations or business needs. In conjunction with any changes to our capital, we must meet certain regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity, including to maintain our status as a well-capitalized institution. Additionally, regulatory capital requirements could increase from current levels, which could require us to raise additional capital or change the size or composition of our balance sheet. If we fail to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, our regulators may place restrictions on our activities or impose penalties, which would adversely affect our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the need to meet supervisory expectations regarding capital planning, asset quality and liquidity risk management, among other areas, exposes us to risks relating to ratings downgrades, ongoing heightened supervisory scrutiny, expenses associated with remediation activities and enforcement actions.
Our ability to fund our operations, to continue growing and to return capital to our shareholders depends in part on our ability to maintain regulatory capital levels above minimum requirements plus buffers. If earnings do not meet our current estimates, if we incur unanticipated losses or expenses, if we grow faster than expected or if our capital position and capital planning do not meet supervisory expectations, we may need to obtain additional capital sooner than expected or we may be required to reduce our level of assets or reduce or suspend dividends or stock repurchases (if restarted) or refrain from pursuing growth opportunities we may otherwise consider attractive. Under those circumstances net income and our growth prospects may be adversely affected.
Our investment securities are subject to market risk and credit risk that may have an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our investment securities portfolio is classified as either “available-for-sale” securities, which are marked to market on a recurring basis and recorded at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), or “held-to-maturity” securities, which are recorded at amortized cost less any associated ACL. In pricing the AFS securities portfolio, a variety of factors beyond our control may significantly influence the fair values of these securities. These factors include, but are not limited to, market conditions, instability in the credit markets, rating agency downgrades of the securities, lack of market pricing of the securities, defaults of the issuers of the securities and issuer impairments. Conditions within the market or with the security may result in unrealized losses that may have a negative impact on our financial condition. If such losses were realized in a sales transaction, that may have a negative impact on our results of operations and our regulatory capital ratios.
Our investment securities portfolio as a whole is exposed to credit risk associated with rating agency downgrades and defaults or impairments of the issuers of those securities. We measure expected credit losses on our investment securities portfolio through our CECL estimate. Increases to the provision for credit losses would have a negative impact on our results of operations and regulatory capital ratios. Additionally, an insufficient CECL provision may result in additional losses that would also have an adverse impact on our results of operations. The investment securities portfolio’s performance, including the existence of unrealized and unrecognized losses in the portfolio, also may create reputational risk for us, particularly in conjunction with the conditions of the banking industry generally, that could result in deposit outflows or reduced access to funding, or negatively impact our ability to attract and retain prospective customers.
Damage to our reputation, including as a result of actual or alleged conduct or public opinion of the financial services industry generally could harm our operations, including our liquidity, competitive position and business prospects.
Reputation risk, or the risk to our business, liquidity, funding mix, earnings and financial capital from negative public opinion, adverse publicity or negative information is inherent in our business and has increased substantially due to the instant access and instantaneous transmission and communication of information, which may include misinformation, including regarding actual or alleged conduct related to any number of activities or circumstances by the Bank, our directors, our officers, our employees and/or third parties. Our reputation may be harmed by our actual or perceived practices and disclosures and those of our customers and third parties. The speed and pervasiveness with which information can be disseminated through digital channels, in particular social media, could magnify risks relating to negative publicity.
Risks related to our reputation and the banking industry’s reputation have also increased due to increased volatility in the business environment and challenging economic conditions, as a result of fiscal and monetary policies, banking industry stresses and sudden events whether within our control or not. For example, in March 2023, SVB and Signature Bank, which had elevated concentrations of uninsured deposits, experienced large deposit outflows, resulting in the institutions being placed into
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FDIC receiverships. The collapse of these banking institutions sparked a panic that resulted in many banks, including us, experiencing deposit outflows and changes in deposit composition. In addition, the rapid dissemination of negative information through social media, in part, is believed to have accelerated the collapse of SVB. SVB suffered a level of deposit withdrawals within a time period not previously experienced by a bank. We could also be subject to rapid deposit withdrawals or other outflows as a result of negative social media posts or other negative publicity.
Our ability to attract and retain customers is highly dependent upon the perceptions of current and prospective borrowers and deposit holders and other external perceptions of our products, services, trustworthiness, business practices, workplace culture, compliance practices or our financial health. Negative and adverse perceptions regarding our reputation and the banking industry’s reputation could lead to difficulties in generating and maintaining customers as well as in financing their needs, and difficulties maintaining appropriate liquidity levels and funding requirements.
Negative public opinion or damage to our brand could also result from actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities or circumstances, including lending practices, regulatory compliance (including compliance with anti-money laundering statutes and regulations), security breaches or other cybersecurity incidents (including the use and protection of customer data), corporate governance, resolution of conflicts of interest and ethical issues, sales and marketing and from actions taken by regulators or other persons in response to such conduct. Such conduct could fall short of our customers' and the public's heightened expectations of financial institutions with rigorous privacy, data protection, data security and compliance practices, and could further harm our reputation. In addition, there has been an increased focus by investors and other stakeholders on topics related to corporate policies and approaches regarding environmental, social and governance and diversity, equity and inclusion issues. Due to divergent stakeholder views on these matters, we are at increased risk that any action, or lack thereof, concerning these matters will be perceived negatively by some stakeholders, which could negatively affect our business and reputation and heighten the risk of litigation.
Negative perceptions regarding our ability to maintain the security of our technology systems and protect customer data or our compliance programs, could lead to decreases in the levels of deposits that customers and potential customers choose to maintain with us or significantly increase the costs of attracting and retaining customers. We also face an increased risk of litigation, governmental and regulatory scrutiny and/or actions governmental authorities may take in response to those conditions.
If we do not respond appropriately to the current economic environment, or if customers or other stakeholders do not perceive our response to be adequate, we could suffer damage to our reputation and our brand, which could materially adversely affect our business. All these factors may erode consumer and investor confidence levels, and/or increased volatility of financial markets, could impact and/or adversely affect our reputation and the banking industry’s reputation which could harm our operations, including our liquidity, competitive position and business prospects.
We may not be able to grow or manage competition.
We have grown in the past several years through organic growth. We intend to seek further growth in the level of our loans and deposits within our existing footprint in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We cannot provide any assurance that we will be able to grow at acceptable risk levels and upon acceptable terms, or at all. Our ability to generate loan portfolio growth has been and may continue to be negatively impacted based on our ability to source deposit funding and lending opportunities, the adverse economic effects due to the levels of interest rates and inflation, banking industry stresses and the heightened competition in the Bank’s market area. Even if economic conditions continue to improve in future quarters, there can be no assurance that we will be able to increase our total net loans in the short-term or long-term.
We may not be able to achieve meaningful growth in asset levels, loans or earnings in future years. Moreover, as our asset size, and loan portfolio increase, it may become more difficult to maintain the levels of performance and earnings achieved and to continue to grow in the future. Additionally, it may become more difficult to maintain or achieve improvements in our expense levels and efficiency ratio. We may not be able to achieve or maintain the relatively low levels of nonperforming assets that we have generally experienced prior to 2024. The inability to maintain or achieve growth of income or assets or deposits and increases in improvements of operating expenses or nonperforming assets may have an adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and the value of the common stock.
Failure to maintain effective systems of internal and disclosure controls could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition and stock price.
Effective internal and disclosure controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud and to operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation, operating results or stock price could be adversely impacted.
Any failure to maintain effective controls, to timely implement any necessary improvement to our internal and disclosure controls or to effect remediation of any material weakness or significant deficiency could, among other things, result
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in losses from fraud or error, harm our reputation or cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or stock price.
Management reviews and updates our systems of internal control and disclosure controls and procedures, as well as corporate governance policies and procedures, from time to time. Any system of controls is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may face risks with respect to future expansion or acquisition activity.
We are subject to comprehensive regulation under federal and state banking laws. These laws and regulations significantly affect and have the potential to restrict the scope of our existing businesses and limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities, including the products and services we offer. We may seek to selectively expand our banking operations through limited de novo branching or opportunistic acquisition activities. We cannot be certain that any expansion activity, through de novo branching, acquisition of branches of another financial institution or a whole institution or the establishment or acquisition of nonbanking financial services companies, will prove profitable or will increase shareholder value.
The FRB's prior approval is required to acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank or savings association, to acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of any bank or savings association or to merge or consolidate with any other bank holding company or savings and loan holding company. The BHC Act and other federal law enumerates the factors the FRB must consider when reviewing the merger of bank holding companies, the acquisition of banks or the acquisition of voting securities of a bank or bank holding company. These factors include the competitive effects of the proposal in the relevant geographic markets; the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the companies and banks involved in the transaction; the effect of the transaction on the financial stability of the United States; the organizations' compliance with anti-money laundering laws and regulations; the convenience and needs of the communities to be served; and the records of performance under the CRA of the insured depository institutions involved in the transaction. Such regulatory approvals may not be granted on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all. We may also be required to sell branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval, a condition which may not be acceptable to us or, if acceptable to us, may reduce the benefit of any acquisition.
The success of any acquisition will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the estimated cost savings and revenue enhancements from combining the businesses of the Company and the target company. Our ability to realize increases in revenue will depend, in part, on our ability to retain customers and employees and to capitalize on existing relationships for the provision of additional products and services. If our estimates for such activities turn out to be incorrect or we are not able to successfully combine companies, the anticipated cost savings and increased revenues may not be realized fully or at all or may take longer to realize than expected. It is possible that the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of each company’s ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain relationships with clients and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the merger. As with any combination of banking institutions, there also may be disruptions that cause us to lose customers or cause customers to withdraw their deposits from our bank. Customers may not readily accept changes to their banking arrangements that we make as part of or following an acquisition. Additionally, the value of an acquisition to the Company is dependent on our ability to successfully identify and estimate the magnitude of any asset quality issues of acquired companies.
Our concentrations of loans may create a greater risk of loan defaults and losses.
A substantial portion of our loans are secured by commercial real estate in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and substantially all of our loans are to borrowers in that area. We also have a significant amount of real estate construction loans and land related loans for commercial developments. At December 31, 2024, 85% of our loans were secured or partially secured by real estate, primarily commercial real estate. Of these loans, $1.3 billion, or 16% of portfolio loans, were land, land development and construction loans. An additional $1.2 billion, or 15% of portfolio loans, were commercial and industrial loans, which are generally not secured by real estate. At December 31, 2024, $871 million, or 11% of the total loan portfolio, comprised commercial real estate loans collateralized by office properties. The performance and repayment of these loans often depends on the successful operation of a business or the sale or development of the underlying property and, as a result, is more likely to be adversely affected by adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy in general. While we believe that our loan portfolio is well diversified in terms of borrowers and industries, these concentrations expose us to the risk that adverse developments in the real estate market or in the general economic conditions in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and in particular the area’s office property market, could increase the levels of nonperforming loans, which could have an adverse impact on our provision for credit losses, loan charge-offs and overall loan demand. In that event, we would likely experience higher losses or lower earnings. Additionally, if, for any reason, economic conditions in our market area deteriorate, commercial real estate values, in particular for offices, decline further, or there is significant volatility or weakness in the economy or any significant sector of the area’s economy, our ability to develop our business relationships may be diminished,
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the quality and collectability of our loans may be adversely affected, the value of collateral may decline and loan demand may be reduced.
The loan portfolio contains a significant number of commercial and commercial real estate and construction loans with relatively large balances. The deterioration of one or a few of these loans may cause a significant increase in nonperforming assets. An increase in nonperforming loans could result in: a loss of earnings from these loans, an increase in the provision for loan losses, an increase in loan charge-offs and/or an increase in operating expenses which could have an adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
Our concentration of large depositors may increase our liquidity risk and have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
While no single depositor represented more than 10% of total deposits at December 31, 2024, our ten largest depositors not associated with brokered pass-through relationships represented approximately 23% of total deposits. This high concentration of depositors presents a risk to our liquidity if one or more of these depositors decides to change its relationship with us and to withdraw all or a significant portion of its deposits. If such an event occurs, we may need to seek out alternative sources of funding that may not be on the same terms as the deposits being replaced, including at potentially higher rates, which could negatively impact our net interest margin and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. If we are unable to source alternative sources of funding at attractive rates or at all, we could be required to sell or otherwise monetize securities from our investment securities portfolio, which could have similar adverse consequences.
Our financial condition, earnings and asset quality could be adversely affected if our consumer facing operations do not operate in compliance with applicable regulations.
While all aspects of our operations are subject to detailed and complex compliance regimes, those portions of our lending operations which most directly deal with consumers pose particular risks given the potential financial, reputational and regulatory consequences of failing to satisfy consumer compliance requirements. As a result, despite the education, compliance training, supervision and oversight we exercise in these areas, these compliance efforts could be unsuccessful or individual employees could engage in misconduct, potentially resulting in the Bank being strictly liable for restitution or damages to individual borrowers and subject to regulatory enforcement activity or damage to its reputation.
Changes in interest rates and other factors beyond our control could have an adverse impact on our financial performance and results.
Our liquidity, funding mix, competitive position, business, results of operations and financial condition depend to a great extent on our net interest margin, i.e., the difference between the interest yields we receive on loans, securities and other interest bearing assets and the interest rates we pay on interest bearing deposits and other liabilities. Net interest margin is affected by changes in market interest rates, because different types of assets and liabilities may react differently, and at different times, to market interest rate changes. When interest bearing liabilities mature or re-price more quickly than interest earning assets in a period, an increase in market rates of interest could reduce net interest income, possibly materially. Similarly, when interest earning assets mature or re-price more quickly than interest bearing liabilities, falling interest rates could reduce net interest income, possibly materially. Fluctuations in interest rates have a direct impact on our credit spreads and the cost of our funding. Changes in our credit spreads and funding costs are market driven and may be influenced by market perceptions of our creditworthiness, including changes in our credit ratings or changes in broader financial market and macroeconomic conditions. Changes to interest rates, our credit spreads and funding costs occur continuously and may be unpredictable and highly volatile. Developments affecting other banking institutions or the banking sector generally can also have a significant effect on our funding costs. We may also experience net interest margin compression as a result of offering higher than expected deposit rates in order to attract and maintain deposits.
These rates are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, including competition, general economic conditions and monetary and fiscal policies of various governmental and regulatory authorities, including the FRB. We attempt to manage our risk from changes in market interest rates by adjusting the rates, maturity, re-pricing, and balances of the different types of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, but interest rate risk management techniques are not exact. As a result, a rapid increase or decrease in interest rates could have an adverse effect on our net interest margin and results of operations.
The Company employs an earnings simulation model (immediate parallel shifts along the yield curve) on a quarterly basis to monitor its interest rate sensitivity and risk and to model its balance sheet, cash flows and the related statement of operations effects in different interest rate scenarios. As such, the Company's analysis, assuming a static balance sheet, projects decreases of approximately (0.7)% and (1.5)%, respectively, in projected net interest income and net income over a twelve month period resulting from an instantaneous 100 basis point increase in rates across the yield curve. Conversely, assuming a static balance sheet, we expect increases of approximately 0.9% and 2.0%, respectively, in projected net interest income and net
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income over a twelve month period resulting from an instantaneous 100 basis point decrease in rates across the yield curve. In addition, if interest rates continue to stay elevated or start to rise again, we may continue to experience deposit outflows. The results of our interest rate sensitivity simulation model depend upon a number of assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully manage our interest rate risk.
Fluctuations in inflation rates may also have a number of adverse effects on the Bank and the Company. For example, material increases in inflation rates would likely result in an increase in personnel and other operational costs and an increase in salary and wage expenses, which comprise the Bank’s most significant non-interest expense category. Long periods of high inflation also result in higher interest rates, which will increase the Bank’s deposit costs and overall cost of funds. Higher interest rates will also reduce the value of the Bank’s investment portfolio holdings, and if such reductions are significant, they may materially limit our ability to meet future liquidity shortfalls by selling investments without realizing substantial losses. Higher interest rates can also adversely affect the creditworthiness of the Bank’s borrowers, and the commercial real estate loan portfolio is particularly sensitive to a higher interest rate environment. These and other indirect impacts of inflation on the Bank and the Company could significantly adversely affect the Bank's and the Company's earnings and capital in both the short term and long term.
We may not be able to successfully compete with others for business.
We compete in a highly competitive market for loans and deposit dollars with numerous regional and national banks, online divisions of out-of-market banks and other community banking institutions, as well as other kinds of financial institutions and enterprises, such as securities firms, insurance companies, savings associations, credit unions, mortgage brokers, private lenders and nontraditional competitors such as fintech companies and internet-based lenders, depositories and payment systems. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to successfully compete with traditional and new financial services providers, some of which maintain a physical presence in our market areas and others of which maintain only a virtual presence. Many competitors have substantially greater resources than us, and some operate under less stringent regulatory environments. The differences in resources and regulations may make it harder for us to compete profitably, reduce the rates that we can earn on loans and investments, increase the rates we must offer on deposits and other funds and adversely affect our overall financial condition and earnings.
The Bank has developed and aims to continue to develop new customer relationships. Going forward, should competitive pressures increase, we are subject to the risk that we may not be able to retain the loans and deposits produced by these new relationships. There can be no assurance that our relationship banking model will enable us to keep a significant percentage of new relationships or continue to develop new relationships, that we would be able to maintain appropriate levels in the pricing, margins and asset quality or that we will be able to continue to grow.
Our customers and businesses in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area in general may be adversely impacted as a result of changes in government spending or a government shutdown.
The presidential administration and certain governmental agencies have announced plans to reduce government spending and the size of the federal government workforce. These announcements could have an adverse effect on the economy of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which in turn could adversely affect the Company.
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area is characterized by a significant number of businesses that are federal government contractors or subcontractors, or which depend on such businesses for a significant portion of their revenues. While the Company does not have a significant level of loans to federal government contractors or their subcontractors, which as of December 31, 2024 was $251.9 million, or 3.2% of our loan portfolio, the impact of a shutdown of federal government operations, a decline in federal government spending or workforce, a reallocation of government spending to different industries or different areas of the country or a delay in payments to such contractors, whether as a result of a government shutdown or otherwise, could have a ripple effect and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, including asset quality, financial capital and liquidity levels.
In addition, federal government employees make up a significant proportion of the population of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Layoffs, staffing freezes, salary reductions or furloughs of government employees or government contractors and other impacts from declining government spending, lapses in appropriations, or changes in fiscal appropriations could have adverse impacts on other businesses in the Company’s market and the general economy of the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and may indirectly lead to a loss of revenues by the Company’s customers, including vendors and lessors to the federal government and government contractors or to their employees, as well as a wide variety of commercial and retail businesses. Accordingly, such potential federal government actions could lead to increases in past due loans, nonperforming loans, credit loss reserves and charge-offs and a decline in liquidity.
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We rely upon independent appraisals to determine the value of the real estate that secures a significant portion of our loans, and the values indicated by such appraisals may not be realizable if we are forced to foreclose upon such loans.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio consists of loans secured by real estate. We rely upon independent appraisers at the time of origination to estimate the value of such real estate. Appraisals are only estimates of value, and the soundness of those estimates may be affected by volatility in the real estate market or other changes in market conditions. In addition, the independent appraisers may make mistakes of fact or judgment, which adversely affect the reliability of their appraisals. In addition, events occurring after the initial appraisal may cause the value of the real estate to increase or decrease. For example, since 2020 and in light of the prevalence of hybrid work arrangements and associated lower occupancy rates, the value of commercial real estate secured by office properties has generally declined. As a result of these factors, the real estate securing some of our loans is less valuable than anticipated at the time the loans were made. If a default occurs on a loan secured by real estate that is less valuable than originally estimated, we may not be able to recover the outstanding balance of the loan and will suffer a loss.
We are exposed to risk of environmental liabilities with respect to properties to which we take title.
In the course of our business we lend against, and from time to time foreclose and take title to, real estate, potentially becoming subject to environmental liabilities associated with the properties. We may be held liable to a governmental entity or to third parties for property damage, personal injury, investigation and cleanup costs or we may be required to investigate or clean up hazardous or toxic substances or chemical releases at a property. Costs associated with investigation or remediation activities can be substantial. If the Bank is the lender to, or owner or former owner of, a contaminated site, it may be subject to common law claims by third parties based on damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. These costs and claims could adversely affect our business.
Climate change or government action and societal responses to climate change could adversely affect our results of operations.
Climate change can increase the likelihood of the occurrence and severity of natural disasters and can also result in longer-term shifts in climate patterns such as extreme heat, sea level rise, more frequent and prolonged drought, stronger and more frequent storms and other instances of extreme weather. Such significant climate change effects may negatively impact the Company’s geographic markets, disrupting the operations of the Company, our customers or third parties on which we rely. Damages to real estate underlying mortgage loans or real estate collateral, declines in economic conditions in geographic markets in which the Company’s customers operate and increased premiums for and reduced availability of insurance may impact our customers’ ability to repay loans or maintain deposits due to climate change effects, which could increase our delinquency rates and average credit loss.
Moreover, as the effects of climate change continue to create a level of concern for the state of the global environment, companies are facing increasing scrutiny from customers, regulators, investors and other stakeholders related to their environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices and disclosure. New government regulations could result in more stringent forms of ESG oversight and reporting and diligence and disclosure requirements. Increased ESG related compliance costs, in turn, could result in increases to our overall operational costs. Conversely, there has been increasing anti-ESG sentiment in the U.S., which has led and is likely to continue to lead to new anti-ESG policies and legislative and regulatory requirements discouraging or preventing ESG-related initiatives. As a result, we may face heightened and potentially conflicting regulatory and legal requirements, as well as reputational scrutiny. Failure to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements or investor or stakeholder expectations and standards, including with respect to the Company’s involvement in certain industries or projects associated with causing or exacerbating climate change, may negatively affect the Company’s reputation and commercial relationships, which could adversely affect our business.
Difficulty recruiting or retaining successful bankers, as well as the loss of any of our executive officers or other key personnel, could negatively impact the implementation of our business strategy, impair relationships with our customers and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
In light of macroeconomic factors, human capital management risks are an important component of the Company’s assessment of risk and its enterprise risk management system. Our ability to retain and grow loans, deposits and fee income depends upon the business generation capabilities, reputation and relationship management skills of our bankers. If we are unable to recruit successful bankers, or lose the services of any of our bankers to a new or existing competitor or otherwise, we may be unable to establish and retain valuable relationships and some of our customers or potential customers could choose to use the services of a competitor instead
Moreover, the Company relies significantly on the expertise and experience of our executive officers and senior management, whose skills, years of industry experience and relationships with customers may be difficult for the Company to replace. The loss of service of one or more of these key personnel could reduce the Company’s ability to successfully implement its long-term business strategy, our business could suffer and the value of the Company’s common stock could be
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materially adversely affected. Leadership changes may occur from time to time and the Company cannot predict whether significant resignations will occur or whether the Company will be able to recruit additional qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company can adequately prepare for these risks prior to their occurrence or that they will not have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
RISKS RELATED TO INVESTING IN OUR STOCK
Our ability to make distributions in respect of our securities may be limited.
Our ability to pay a cash dividend on our common stock, to repurchase shares of our common stock or to pay interest on our debt will depend largely upon the ability of the Bank, the Company’s principal operating business, to declare and pay dividends to the Company. Payment of distributions on our securities will also depend upon the Bank’s earnings, financial condition and need for funds, as well as laws, regulations and governmental policies applicable to the Company and the Bank, which limit the amount of distributions that may be made. In addition to the minimum CET1, Tier 1, leverage ratio and total capital ratios, the Company and the Bank each must maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional CET1 capital greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above the required minimum risk-based capital levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends and repurchasing shares. The payment of dividends in any period and the adoption or implementation of a share repurchase program do not mean that the Company will continue to pay dividends at the current level, or at all, or that it will repurchase any shares of common stock. Refer to “Regulation” under Item 1 and to “Market for Common Stock” under Item 5 for additional information.
We may issue additional equity securities or engage in other transactions that could affect the priority of our common stock, which may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
In accordance with our Amended Articles of Incorporation, our Board may determine from time to time that we need to raise additional capital by issuing additional shares of our common stock or other securities. We are not restricted from issuing additional shares of common stock, including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. Because our decision to issue securities in any future offering will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of any future offerings or the prices at which such offerings may be effected. Such offerings could be dilutive to common shareholders. Pursuant to our Amended Articles of Incorporation, the Company’s Board is authorized to issue up to one million shares of preferred stock, on such terms and with such powers, preferences, rights and provisions as it may determine and to divide the preferred stock into one or more classes or series. New investors, and particularly investors in any preferred stock the Company may issue from time to time, will therefore have rights, preferences and privileges that are senior to, and that adversely affect, our then current common shareholders. Additionally, if we raise additional capital by making additional offerings of debt or preferred equity securities, upon liquidation of the Company, holders of our debt securities and shares of preferred stock and lenders with respect to other borrowings will receive distributions of our available assets prior to the holders of our common stock. Also, additional equity offerings may dilute the holdings of our existing shareholders or reduce the market price of our common stock, or both. Holders of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights or other protections against dilution.
Substantial regulatory limitations on changes of control and anti-takeover provisions of Maryland law may make it more difficult for shareholders to receive a change in control premium.
With certain limited exceptions, federal regulations prohibit a person or company or a group of persons deemed to be “acting in concert” from, directly or indirectly, acquiring more than 10% (5% if the acquirer is a bank holding company) of any class of the Company’s voting stock or obtaining the ability to control in any manner the election of a majority of its directors or otherwise direct the management or policies of the Company without prior notice or application to and the approval of the Federal Reserve. There are comparable prior approval requirements for changes in control under Maryland law. Also, the Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended, contains several provisions that may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of the Company without the approval of its Board and may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire a majority of its outstanding common stock.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR LEGAL AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
Our concentrations of loans may require us to maintain higher levels of capital.
Under guidance adopted by the federal banking agencies, banks that have concentrations in construction, land development or commercial real estate loans (other than loans for majority owner occupied properties) are expected to maintain higher levels of risk management policies and processes and, potentially, higher levels of capital. We may be required to maintain higher levels of capital than the minimums and buffers required under the capital regulations applicable to us, including as a result of our levels of construction, development and commercial real estate loans.
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Litigation and regulatory actions, possibly including enforcement actions, could subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments or other requirements resulting in increased expenses or restrictions on our business activities.
In the normal course of our business, we are named as a defendant in various legal actions arising in connection with our current and/or prior business activities or public disclosures. Legal actions could include claims for substantial compensatory or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. Further, we may be subject to regulatory enforcement actions. We are also continually the subject of exams, subpoenas, requests for information, reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by various agencies and other bodies regarding our current and/or prior business activities. Additionally, from time to time we receive demand letters from shareholders, and such letters may lead to these shareholders filing claims or derivative suits against us if our engagement with such shareholders ends in a failure to successfully negotiate a settlement. Any such legal or regulatory actions or investigations may subject us to substantial compensatory or punitive damages, significant fines, penalties, obligations to change our business practices, required changes in our senior officers or other requirements resulting in increased expenses, diminished income and damage to our business. Our involvement in any such matters, whether tangential or otherwise, and even if the matters are ultimately determined in our favor, could also cause significant harm to our reputation and divert management attention from the operation of our business. Further, any settlement, regulatory order or agreement, informal enforcement action or adverse judgment in connection with any formal or informal proceeding or investigation by government agencies may result in adverse audit findings or additional litigation, investigations or proceedings as other parties, including other litigants and/or government agencies begin independent reviews of the same activities. As a result, the outcome of legal and regulatory actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and stock price, including in any particular reporting period.
Further, in litigation and regulatory matters, it is inherently difficult to determine whether any loss is probable or whether it is possible to estimate the amount of any reasonably possible loss. We cannot predict with certainty if, how or when such proceedings will be resolved or what the eventual fine, penalty or other relief, conditions or restrictions, if any, may be, particularly for actions that are in their early stages of investigation. We may be required to pay fines or civil money penalties or make other payments in connection with certain of these issues. This uncertainty makes it difficult to estimate probable losses, which, in turn, can lead to substantial disparities between the reserves we may establish for such proceedings and the eventual settlements, fines or penalties. While the Company and Bank carry insurance to protect us from material outlays (excluding regulatory fees and penalties), such insurance may not always fully or even substantially cover such outlays. The Company maintains director and officer insurance policies (“D&O Insurance Policies”) that provide coverage for legal defense costs. When the D&O Insurance Policies are exhausted, the Company is responsible for paying the defense costs associated with those investigations and litigations (to include unpaid receivables from the insurance carriers) for itself and on behalf of any current and former officers and directors entitled to indemnification from the Company. The Company has incurred and may incur in the future legal costs in connection with current ongoing and any potential future investigations and legal proceedings, as they are dependent on various factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control. In the event such costs are significant, they could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and stock price.
Our operation in our regulatory environment, both current or updated as a result of new or updated laws or rules, may have an adverse impact on our business, our financial condition and our results of operations.
The banking industry is highly regulated and supervised under federal and state laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, the public, the banking system as a whole or the FDIC DIF. The Company and Bank are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC, as well as our state regulator. Compliance with these laws and regulations can be difficult and costly, and we may incur significant expenses to meet supervisory expenses or remediate supervisory findings. In addition, changes to laws and regulations can impose additional compliance costs. The laws and regulations applicable to the Company and Bank govern a variety of matters, including permissible types, amounts and terms of loans and investments they may make, the maximum interest rate that may be charged, the types of deposits that may be accepted and the rates that may be paid on such deposits, maintenance of adequate capital and liquidity, changes in control of the Company and Bank, transactions between the Bank and its affiliates, handling of nonpublic information, restrictions on distributions to shareholders through dividends or share repurchases, dividends and establishment of new offices. The Company’s and the Bank’s regulators have also provided guidance on supervisory expectations relating to risk management and numerous other aspects of our activities. We must obtain approval from our regulators before engaging in certain activities, and there is risk that such approvals may not be granted, either in a timely manner or at all. These requirements may constrain our operations, and the adoption of new laws and changes to or repeal of existing laws may have a further impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, the burden imposed by those laws and regulations may place banks in general, including the Bank in particular, at a competitive disadvantage compared to our non-bank competitors. Our failure to comply with any applicable laws or regulations or regulatory policies and interpretations of such laws and regulations, or our failure to meet supervisory expectations, could result in sanctions by
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regulatory agencies, civil money penalties or damage to our reputation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Applicable federal and state laws, regulations, regulatory guidance, interpretations, enforcement policies and accounting principles have been subject to significant changes in recent years and may be subject to significant future changes. Future changes may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Federal regulatory agencies may adopt changes to their regulations, change the manner in which existing regulations are applied or develop more stringent expectations for the banks they supervise. We cannot predict the substance or effect of future legislation or regulation or the application of laws and regulations to us. Compliance with current and potential regulation, as well as regulatory scrutiny, may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase regulatory capital, to change the size or composition of our funding, loan portfolio or investment securities portfolio, or to limit our ability to pursue business opportunities.
In addition, regulators may elect to alter standards or the interpretation of the standards used to measure regulatory compliance or to determine the adequacy of liquidity, risk management or other operational practices for financial service companies in a manner that impacts our ability to implement our strategy and could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the regulatory agencies have extremely broad discretion in their interpretation of laws and regulations and their assessment of the quality of our loan portfolio, securities portfolio and other assets. If any regulatory agency’s assessment of the quality of our assets, operations, lending practices, investment practices, capital structure or other aspects of our business differs from our assessment, we may be required to take additional charges or undertake, or refrain from taking, actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Increases in FDIC insurance premiums could adversely affect our earnings and results of operations.
The deposits of our bank are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, subject it to the payment of FDIC deposit insurance assessments, determined in accordance with a defined calculation. The FDIC has imposed a special assessment to recover the losses to the DIF resulting from the FDIC’s use, in March 2023, of the systemic risk exception to the least-cost resolution test under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in connection with the receiverships of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Increases in assessment rates or further special assessments may occur in the future, especially if there are significant additional financial institution failures. Any future special assessments, increases in assessment rates or required prepayments in FDIC insurance premiums could reduce our profitability or limit our ability to pursue certain business opportunities, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to laws regarding the privacy, information security and protection of personal information, and any violation of these laws or another incident involving personal, confidential or proprietary information of individuals could damage our reputation and otherwise adversely affect our business.
Our business requires the collection and retention of large volumes of customer data, including personally identifiable information ("PII") in various information systems that we maintain and in those maintained by third party service providers. We also maintain important internal company data such as PII about our employees and information relating to our operations. We are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations governing the privacy and protection of PII of individuals (including customers, employees and other third parties), as well as planning for responding to data security breaches. Various federal and state banking regulators and states have also enacted data breach notification requirements with varying levels of individual, consumer, regulatory or law enforcement notification in the event of a security breach. We have incurred and expect to continue to incur costs in connection with our policies and procedures designed to ensure that our collection, use, transfer, storage and disposal of PII complies with all applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, customers and other third parties may not have appropriate controls in place to protect the confidentiality of the information that they exchange with us, particularly where such information is transmitted by electronic means, which can expose us to risks and potential costs and liabilities. If personal, confidential or proprietary information of customers or others were to be mishandled or misused (in situations where, for example, such information was erroneously provided to parties who are not permitted to have the information or where such information was intercepted or otherwise compromised by third parties), we could be exposed to litigation or regulatory sanctions under privacy and data protection laws and regulations. Concerns regarding the effectiveness of our measures to safeguard PII, or even the perception that such measures are inadequate, could cause us to lose customers or potential customers and thereby reduce our revenues. Accordingly, any failure, or perceived failure, to comply with applicable privacy or data protection laws and regulations may subject us to inquiries, examinations and investigations that could result in requirements to modify or cease certain operations or practices or in significant liabilities, fines or penalties and could damage our reputation and otherwise adversely affect our operations, financial condition and results of operations.
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RISKS RELATED TO ACCOUNTING AND TAXATION
Changes in tax laws could have an adverse effect on us, the banking industry, our customers, the value of collateral securing our loans and demand for loans.
We are subject to the effect of changes in tax laws which could increase the effective tax rate payable by us to federal, state and municipal governments, reduce the value of our beneficial tax attributes or otherwise adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. Additionally, changes in tax laws could have a negative impact on the banking industry, borrowers, the market for single family residential or commercial real estate or business borrowing. To the extent that changes in law discourage borrowing, ownership of real property or business investment, such changes may have an adverse effect on the demand for our loans. Further, the value of the properties securing loans in our portfolio may be adversely impacted as a result of the changing economics of real estate ownership and borrowing, which could require an increase in our ACL, which would reduce our profitability and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, certain borrowers could become less able to service their debts as a result of changes in taxation. Any such changes could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in accounting standards could impact our financial condition and results of operations.
From time to time there are changes in the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can be operationally complex to implement and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some instances, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in the restatement of prior period financial statements. Any such changes could adversely affect the Company’s and Bank’s capital, regulatory capital ratios, ability to make larger loans, earnings and performance metrics.
RISKS RELATED TO THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY
Our operations, including our transactions with customers and the services we receive from third parties, are increasingly conducted via electronic means, and this has increased risks related to cybersecurity.
We are exposed to the risk of cyber-attacks in the normal course of business. In addition, we are exposed to cyber-attacks on vendors and merchants that affect us and our customers. In general, cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. The financial services industry has been affected by, and will in the future continue to be affected by, cyber-attacks that include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. Despite our efforts to develop and implement policies and procedures to identify, protect, detect, respond and recover from the possible security breach of our information systems and cyber-fraud, we may not be able to anticipate, detect or implement effective protective measures against all cyber-attacks, including because the techniques used are increasingly sophisticated, change frequently and are often not recognized until launched. Cyber-attacks can originate from a variety of sources, including third parties affiliated with or sponsored by foreign governments or involved with organized crime or terrorist organizations. While we maintain insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions including significant self-insured deductibles, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses. While we have not incurred any material losses related to cyber-attacks, we may incur substantial costs and suffer other negative consequences as a result of successful cyber-attacks. Such negative consequences could include remediation costs that may include liability for stolen assets or information and repairing system damage that may have been caused; deploying additional personnel and protection technologies, training employees and engaging third-party experts and consultants; lost revenues resulting from unauthorized use of proprietary information or the failure to retain or attract customers following an attack; disruption or failures of physical infrastructure, operating systems or networks that support our business and customers resulting in the loss of customers and business opportunities; additional regulatory scrutiny and possible regulatory penalties; litigation; and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan and other systems. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. Although we maintain insurance coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions including significant self-insured deductibles, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, adversely affect customer or investor confidence, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible regulatory penalties or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Failure to keep up with the rapid technological changes in the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on our competitive position and profitability.
The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, including those based on artificial intelligence technologies. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able to implement new technology-driven products and services effectively or be successful in marketing these products and services to customers. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could harm our ability to compete effectively and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. As these technologies are improved in the future, we may be required to make significant capital expenditures in order to remain competitive, which may increase our overall expenses and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on the use of data and modeling in both management’s decision-making, generally, and in meeting regulatory expectations, in particular.
The use of statistical and quantitative models and other quantitatively-based analyses is endemic to bank decision-making and regulatory compliance processes and the employment of such analyses is common in our operations. Liquidity stress testing, interest rate sensitivity analysis, allowance for credit loss measurement, portfolio stress testing, assessing capital adequacy and the identification of possible violations of anti-money laundering regulations are examples of areas in which we are dependent on models and the data that underlies them. We anticipate that model-derived insights will be used more widely in decision-making in the future, including as the use of artificial intelligence increases. While these quantitative techniques and approaches are intended to improve our decision-making, they also create the possibility that faulty data, flawed quantitative approaches or poorly designed or implemented models could yield adverse or faulty outcomes and decisions, and could result in regulatory scrutiny. In addition, because of the complexity inherent in these approaches, especially those based on artificial intelligence, misunderstanding or misuse of their outputs could similarly result in suboptimal decision-making, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and share price.
GENERAL RISKS
The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for investors to resell shares of common stock at a time or price they find attractive.
Our stock price may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition to those described in “Caution About Forward Looking Statements,” these factors include:
• Actual or anticipated quarterly fluctuations in our operating results and financial condition;
• Changes in financial estimates or publication of research reports and recommendations by financial analysts or actions taken by rating agencies with respect to us or other financial institutions;
• Reports in the press, internet or investment community generally or relating to our reputation or the financial services industry, whether or not those reports are based on accurate, complete or transparent information;
• Uncertainties related to our regulatory relationships or status;
• Strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, restructurings, dispositions or financings;
• Fluctuations in the stock price and operating results of our competitors, or the financial services industry;
• Future sales of our equity or equity-related securities;
• Proposed or adopted regulatory changes or developments;
• Domestic and international economic and political factors unrelated to our performance, including political uncertainty in the United States and its effect on the economy of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area;
• Actions of one or more investors in selling our common stock short; and
• General market conditions and, in particular, developments related to market conditions for the financial services industry, inclusive of the potential adverse impact from:
▪ Terrorism, and current or anticipated military conflicts and other geopolitical events;
▪ Catastrophic events, including natural disasters, and public health crises.
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In addition, the stock market in general has experienced price and volume fluctuations. This volatility has had a significant effect on the market price of securities issued by many companies, including for reasons unrelated to their operating performance. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect our stock price, notwithstanding our operating results. We expect that the market price of our common stock will continue to fluctuate and there can be no assurances about the levels of the market prices for our common stock.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
As a publicly-traded financial institution, we are subject to various cybersecurity risks that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and reputation, including, but not limited to, cyber-attacks against us or our service providers focused on gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, corrupting data or causing operational disruption. As described below, we have risk management and governance practices and processes designed to address these risks.
The Company has established an enterprise risk management framework that outlines the processes and procedures the Company uses to identify, assess, mitigate and monitor the risks faced by the Company, including cybersecurity risk.
Within the overarching enterprise risk management framework, we have an information security program designed to preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information or data on our systems and those of our service providers, as documented in our information security policy.
Our information security program takes a risk-based approach to identifying and assessing the cybersecurity risks that exist within our business and information technology systems. The program addresses the roles and responsibilities of the Board, its committees and management.
The Board is responsible for the oversight of cybersecurity risk management, as well as the selection of a Chief Information Security Officer (“CISO”), the management official responsible for administering and executing the information security program. The Board’s Technology Oversight Committee (the “TOC”) assists the Board in its oversight of the information security program. The TOC reviews information security metrics, oversees significant instances of non-compliance with the information security policy and monitors remediation of those instances, and reviews the appointment of the CISO for recommendation to the Board.
At the management level, the Enterprise Risk Management Committee (the “ERMC”) is primarily responsible for cybersecurity risk management. As it pertains to the information security program, the ERMC assesses and monitors information security risks and approves the information security policy on at least an annual basis. Certain instances of non-compliance with the information security policy are escalated to the EMRC, which may further escalate to the TOC as appropriate. Once escalated to a committee, the committee is responsible for overseeing related remediation.
Our CISO is responsible for the overall administration and execution of the information security program and reports to our Chief Risk Officer (“CRO”). Our CISO has over fifteen years of experience working in information security and risk for a variety of companies and organizations, including multiple financial institutions . The CISO monitors the security of, among other things, systems, applications, tools, databases, computers, websites, cloud infrastructure, vendor tools, and user access systems. The CISO performs an annual information security risk assessment, which, among other things, documents inherent risk levels and controls in place to manage those risks. The information security risk assessment is presented to the Board annually.
We strive to minimize the occurrence of cybersecurity incidents and the risks resulting from such incidents. However, when a cybersecurity incident does occur, the Company has in place an incident response program to guide our assessment of and response to the incident. The CISO coordinates the Company’s response to a cybersecurity incident, including investigating, recording and evaluating any potential, suspected or confirmed incidents involving non-public customer information or Company confidential information.
On a regular basis, the CISO discusses with the CRO information security risk issues, risk mitigation progress and developments and information security enhancement initiatives. The CISO reports to the TOC quarterly on information security developments and emerging risks, both in the industry and specific to the Company. The CISO and CRO report on the information security program, including the status of information security-related key risk indicators, to the TOC and the ERMC. The Information Security Policy is also approved by the TOC on an annual basis.
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The Company employs third parties in certain aspects of its information security and cybersecurity risk management. For example, we utilize third parties to conduct certain security operations and maintain certain information security infrastructure. We have adopted a Third Party Risk Management Policy, which addresses the identification, measurement, monitoring, and management of our third-party service provider relationships, including those related to information security. The Director of Third-Party Risk Management, along with the CISO, assess and monitor information risks posed by third parties and any non-compliance with the controls created to address such risks. With respect to cybersecurity incidents affecting our third-party service providers, the Director of Third-Party Risk Management works with our service providers to understand and document any incidents, along with managing the impact to us and reporting such incidents to the CRO, ERMC, TOC, and, if applicable, the Board.
To date, we have not incurred any material losses related to cybersecurity incidents. However, the risk management and governance processes described above may not be sufficient to prevent cybersecurity incidents, and we could incur substantial costs and suffer other negative consequences from cybersecurity incidents. See “Part 1, Item IA. – Risk Factors” for more information on the cybersecurity risks facing the Company.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our principal office is located in Bethesda, Maryland. All properties out of which the Company operates are leased properties. As of December 31, 2024, the Company and its subsidiaries operated out of 17 different locations (some of which have multiple leases); which include our principal corporate office, branch offices, lending centers and an operations center in Washington, D.C., Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia metropolitan areas. Additional information with respect to premises and equipment and leases is presented in Notes 5 and 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As disclosed in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company and its subsidiaries are involved in various legal proceedings incidental to their business in the ordinary course, and the disclosure set forth in Note 20 relating to certain legal matters is incorporated herein by reference.
Based on information currently available, the Company does not believe that the liabilities (if any) resulting from such legal proceedings will have a material effect on the financial position of the Company. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties involved in such matters, ongoing legal expenses or an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could materially and adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations or cash flows in any particular reporting period, as well as its reputation.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF COMMON EQUITY
Market for Common Stock. The Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “EGBN.” During the year ended December 31, 2024, the average daily trading volume amounted to approximately 310,723 shares, an increase from approximately 302,118 shares during the year ended December 31, 2023. No assurance can be given that a more active trading market will develop or can be maintained. As of February 10, 2025, there were 30,204,202 shares of common stock outstanding, held by approximately 469 shareholders of record. Based on the most recent analysis, the Company believes beneficial shareholders number approximately 18,612. As of February 10, 2025, our directors and executive officers own approximately 3% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Dividends. The Company pays a regular quarterly cash dividend. In 2024, the Company declared three cash dividends with an aggregate value of $1.07 per share, or $32.1 million. The quarterly cash dividend amount was recalibrated to $0.165 in the third quarter of 2024 to reflect the company’s growth plans. Beginning in January 2025, the Company commenced declaring dividends at the time of the quarterly earnings release; previously, it declared dividends at the end of the quarter.
The payment of a cash dividend on common stock will depend largely upon the ability of the Bank, the Company’s principal operating business, to declare and pay dividends to the Company. Payment of dividends on the common stock will also depend upon the Bank’s earnings, financial condition and need for funds, as well as governmental policies and regulations applicable to the Company and the Bank. The payment of dividends in any period does not mean that the Company will continue to pay dividends at the current level, or at any other level.
Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board" or "Federal Reserve") and Maryland law place limits on the amount of dividends the Bank may pay to the Company without prior approval. Prior regulatory approval is required to pay dividends which exceed the Bank’s net profits for the current year plus its retained net profits for the preceding two calendar years, less required transfers to surplus. Under Maryland law, dividends may only be paid out of retained earnings. State and federal bank regulatory agencies also have authority to prohibit a bank from paying dividends if such payment is deemed to be an unsafe or unsound practice, and the Federal Reserve Board has the same authority over bank holding companies. At December 31, 2024, the Bank could pay dividends to the Company to the extent of its earnings so long as it maintained required capital ratios.
The FRB has established requirements with respect to the maintenance of appropriate levels of capital by registered bank holding companies. Compliance with such standards, as presently in effect, or as they may be amended from time to time, could possibly limit the amount of dividends that the Company may pay in the future. The FRB has issued guidance regarding the situations in which a bank holding company should consider eliminating, reducing, or deferring its dividends, including if the net income available to shareholders for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid during that period, is not sufficient to fully fund the dividends; the prospective rate of earnings retention is not consistent with capital needs and the bank holding company’s overall current and prospective financial condition; or the bank holding company will not meet, or is in danger of not meeting, its minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. As a depository institution, the deposits of which are insured by the FDIC, the Bank may not pay dividends or distribute any of its capital assets while it remains in default on any assessment due the FDIC. The Bank currently is not in default under any of its obligations to the FDIC.
Issuer Repurchase of Common Stock. The Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock during the year ended December 31, 2024.
See Item 12 - Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters for “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans.”
Stock Price Performance. The following table compares the cumulative total return on a hypothetical investment of $100 in the Company’s common stock from December 31, 2019 through December 31, 2024, with the hypothetical cumulative total return on the Nasdaq Stock Market Index (U.S. Companies), S&P 500 Index and the KBW Regional Banking Index for the comparable period, including reinvestment of dividends. The KBW Regional Banking Index seeks to reflect the performance of publicly traded companies that do business as regional banks or thrifts listed on all U.S. stock markets.
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Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
Years Ended December 31,
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. $100.00 $87.21 $126.02 $98.41 $71.86 $66.17
Nasdaq Composite Index 100.00 144.92 177.06 119.45 172.77 223.866
S&P 500 Index 100.00 118.40 152.39 124.79 157.59 197.02
KBW Nasdaq Regional Banking Index 100.00 91.29 124.74 116.10 115.64 130.904
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion provides information about the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, and capital resources of the Company as of the dates and periods indicated. The Company’s primary subsidiary is the Bank, and the Company’s other direct and indirect active subsidiaries are Bethesda Leasing, LLC, Eagle Insurance Services, LLC and Landroval Municipal Finance, Inc.
This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this report.
We have omitted discussion of the earliest of the three years covered by our consolidated financial statements presented in this report as that disclosure is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 29, 2024. You can reference the discussion and analysis of our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2022 compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” within that report.
Caution About Forward Looking Statements . This report contains forward looking statements. These forward looking statements represent plans, estimates, objectives, goals, guidelines, expectations, intentions, projections and statements of our beliefs concerning future events, business plans, objectives, expected operating results and the assumptions upon which those statements are based. Forward looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements and are typically identified with words such as “may,” “will,” “can,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” "outlook," “estimates,” “potential,” “assume," "probable," "possible," "continue,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “strive," "seeks,” "deem," "projections," "forecast," "consider," "indicative," "uncertainty," "likely," "unlikely," "likelihood," "unknown," "attributable," "depends," "intends," "generally," "feel," "typically," "judgment," "subjective" and similar words or phrases. These forward looking statements are based largely on our expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on factors which are, in many instances, beyond our control. Actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward looking statements.
The following factors, among others, could cause our financial performance to differ materially from that expressed in such forward looking statements:
• Changes in the general economic, political, social and health conditions, including the macroeconomic and other challenges and uncertainties resulting from the effects of pandemics and natural disasters;
• The timely development of competitive new products and services and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers;
• The willingness of customers to substitute competitors’ products and services for our products and services;
• Our management of liquidity risks in our operations, including, but not limited to, risks related to customer deposits, deposits in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") insurance coverage limits, access to capital markets and securities and market values;
• The effect of acquisitions we may make, including, without limitation, the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such acquisitions;
• Our management of risks inherent in our real estate loan portfolio, and the risk of a prolonged downturn in the real estate market, which could impair the value of, and our ability to sell, properties which stand as collateral for loans we make;
• The growth and profitability of noninterest or fee income being less than expected;
• Changes in the level of our nonperforming assets and charge-offs;
• Changes in consumer spending and savings habits;
• The impact of climate change or government action and societal responses to climate change;
• Difficulty recruiting or retaining successful bankers, executive officers or other key personnel;
• Changing bank regulatory conditions, policies or programs, whether arising as new legislation or regulatory initiatives, that could lead to restrictions on activities of banks generally, or our subsidiary bank in particular, more restrictive regulatory capital requirements, increased costs, including deposit insurance premiums, regulation or prohibition of certain income producing activities or changes in the secondary market for loans and other products;
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• The impact of changes in financial services policies, laws and regulations, including laws, regulations and policies concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance and the application thereof by regulatory bodies;
• The effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve Board," "Federal Reserve" or "FRB"), inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations;
• Results of examinations of us by our regulators, including the possibility that our regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for credit losses, to write-down assets, to hold more capital or to incur costs to remediate supervisory findings;
• The effects or impact of any litigation, governmental investigations and proceedings, including enforcement proceedings and any possibly resulting fines, judgments, expenses or restrictions on our business activities;
• Unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings;
• The effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted from time-to-time by bank regulatory agencies, the SEC, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board ("PCAOB") or the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB");
• Cybersecurity breaches, threats, and cyber-fraud that cause the Bank to sustain financial losses;
• Technological and social media changes;
• Our management of risks inherent in the use of statistical and quantitative data and modeling;
• The strength of the United States economy, in general, and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct operations;
• Changes in trade, immigration, fiscal and monetary policies;
• Political uncertainty in the United States and its effects on the economy of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area;
• Geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad; and
• The factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in this report.
If one or more of the factors affecting our forward looking information and statements proves incorrect, then our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward looking information and statements contained in this report. No undue reliance should be placed on our forward looking information and statements. We will not update the forward looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in the factors affecting the forward looking statements.
GENERAL
The Company provides general commercial and consumer banking services through the Bank, its wholly owned banking subsidiary, a Maryland chartered bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve. The Company was organized in October 1997 and to be the holding company for the Bank. The Bank was organized in 1998 as an independent, community oriented, full service banking alternative to the super regional financial institutions, which dominate the Company’s primary market area. The Company’s philosophy is to provide superior, personalized service to its customers. The Company focuses on relationship banking, providing each customer with a number of services and becoming familiar with and addressing customer needs in a proactive, personalized fashion. The Bank currently has a total of twelve branch offices (six in Suburban Maryland, three in Washington, D.C. and three in Northern Virginia), a principal corporate office, four lending centers (two are co-located with branches and one co-located in the principal corporate office) and one operations center. Refer to the Business Section above, which describes in detail the various banking services offered.
General economic, political, social and health conditions affect financial markets, and therefore, our business. As the economy experienced higher levels of inflation in the recent past, interest rates increased in 2023, however as inflationary pressure during 2024 subsided, the Federal Reserve decreased interest rates three times for a total of 100 basis points. Fiscal and monetary policies have a direct and indirect impact on the level and volatility of interest rates, liquidity of financial markets, the availability and cost of capital, and market conditions of financing. Actual real U.S. GDP growth for 2024 was 3.1%, compared to 3.3% growth in 2023, as the economy continues to grow despite continuing to experience the effects of inflationary pressures and higher interest rates which were raised in 2022 and 2023. Unemployment slightly increased through 2024 as the U.S. unemployment rate ended the year at 4.0%, up from 3.7% at the end of 2023.
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Longer-term U.S. interest rates increased in 2024, with the ten year U.S. Treasury rate averaging 4.21% in 2024 as compared to 3.96% in 2023. The yield curve steepened in 2024 as short-term rates decreased due to Federal Reserve rate cuts while long-term rates increased compared to 2023.
We believe the Company’s primary market, the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, continues to exhibit resilience relative to other parts of the country despite the volatility in the current economic environment. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area maintains a diverse economy which includes the public sector, a large healthcare component, substantial business services and a highly educated work force. The private sector, in particular, the Leisure and Hospitality sector has seen some recovery in recent years following the adverse effects of the pandemic. The multi-family commercial real estate leasing sector, notwithstanding increased supply of units in the Bank’s market area, has held up relatively well, particularly for well-located close-in projects. While commercial real estate office properties continue to experience challenges, the Company has remained focused on monitoring this sector and working with borrowers in order to mitigate credit losses within our loan portfolio. Overall, we believe commercial real estate values have generally decreased and we continue to be cautious of the cap rates at which such assets are trading, resulting in conservative valuations.
At December 31, 2024, the Company had total assets of approximately $11.1 billion, total loans of $7.9 billion, total deposits of $9.1 billion and twelve branches in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We have remained cognizant of the volatility in our industry, capital markets and interest rate markets. While we remain cautious with regard to commercial real estate ("CRE") market conditions, principally office, the strength of the Washington D.C. metro area in certain sectors, particularly multi-family commercial real estate and the housing market, continue to drive premiums for well-located properties.
The Company has the financial resources to meet, and remains committed to meeting, the credit needs of its community. Loan balances increased in the CRE segments in 2024 which, combined with the higher levels of interest rates, resulted in changes in our liquidity mix as increases in interest-bearing deposits offset a decrease in non-interest bearing deposits. The yield on earning assets continued to increase in 2024. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the yield on earning assets increased by 20 basis points (from 5.45% to 5.65%) while cost of funds increased 42 basis points (from 3.17% to 3.59%) which resulted in a decrease of 16 basis points in the net interest margin.
The Company’s capital position remained strong in 2024 as a result of its strong retained earnings position, despite the impact of the goodwill impairment on 2024 net loss. As a result of the Company’s strong capital position, we were able to continue our quarterly dividend in 2024. The quarterly cash dividend amount was recalibrated to $0.165 in the third quarter of 2024 to reflect the company’s growth plans.
The Company believes its strategy of remaining growth-oriented, retaining talented staff and maintaining focus on seeking quality lending and deposit relationships has proven successful. Additionally, the Company believes this strategy of relationship building has fostered future growth opportunities, as the Company’s reputation in the marketplace remains strong.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP and follow general practices within the banking industry. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates, assumptions and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the Consolidated Financial Statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions and judgments. Certain policies, including those identified below for the year ended December 31, 2024, inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and, as such, have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment write-down or a valuation reserve to be established or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility.
Allowance for Credit Losses and Provision for Unfunded Commitments
A consequence of lending activities is that we may incur credit losses, so we record an allowance for credit losses ("ACL") with respect to loan receivables and a reserve for unfunded commitments (“RUC”) as estimates of those losses. The amount of the ACL on loans is based on management's assessment of current expected credit losses in the portfolio.
The amount of such losses will vary depending upon the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio as affected by economic conditions such as changes in interest rates, the financial performance of borrowers and regional unemployment rates, which management estimates by using a national forecast and estimating a regional adjustment based on historical differences between the two.
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Management has significant discretion in making the judgments inherent in the determination of the provisions for credit loss, ACL and the RUC. Our determination of these amounts requires significant reliance on estimates and significant judgment as to the amount and timing of expected future cash flows on loans, significant reliance on historical loss rates on homogenous portfolios, consideration of our quantitative and qualitative evaluation of economic factors and the reliance on our reasonable and supportable forecasts.
We estimate the ACL on loans using a quantitative model that uses a probability of default ("PD") / loss given default ("LGD") cash flow method with an exposure at default ("EAD") model to estimate expected credit losses for our loan segments. The modeling of expected prepayment speeds is based on historical internal data and adjustments to account for loan-specific risk characteristics after pooling our loan portfolio based on similar risk characteristics.
The Company uses regression analysis of historical internal and peer data provided by a third-party service provider (as Company loss data is insufficient) to determine suitable loss drivers to utilize when modeling lifetime PD and LGD. This analysis also determines how expected PD will react to forecasted levels of the loss drivers. During the three months ended March 31, 2024, management enhanced the cash flow model to incorporate three additional macroeconomic variables. The four economic variables selected, national unemployment (original variable used), Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") Price Index, House Price Index and Gross Domestic Product ("GDP"), are incorporated by utilizing a Loss Driver Analysis approach that factors in historical losses, including during the Great Recession, of regional peer banks and the Bank. The updated model incorporates a weighting of three economic scenarios; baseline, upside and downside. The scenarios cover the four economic forecast variables, with each segment of the portfolio linked to two of these variables, depending on the segment. The loss driver analysis is spread over a reasonable and supportable period of 18 months and reverts back to a historical loss rate over twelve months on a straight-line basis over the loan's remaining maturity. Management leverages economic projections from reputable and independent third parties to inform its loss driver forecasts over the forecast period.
Loans that have evidence of credit deterioration are excluded from the loan segments subject to the quantitative model described above and are individually assessed.
The ACL also includes an amount for inherent risks not reflected in the historical analyses. Relevant factors reflected in the qualitative component of the reserve include, but are not limited to, concentrations of credit risk, changes in underwriting standards, experience and depth of lending staff and trends in delinquencies.
Management has developed an analytical process to monitor the adequacy of the ACL. Our methodology for determining our ACL was developed utilizing, among other factors, the guidance from federal banking regulatory agencies and relevant available information from internal and external sources and relating to past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The process is being continually enhanced and refined based on periodic reviews. Material changes to these and other relevant factors may result in greater volatility to the reserve for credit losses, and therefore, greater volatility to our reported earnings. For example, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related hybrid or fully remote working environment has negatively impacted the performance outlook in the central business district office CRE segment of our loan portfolio, which informed our CECL economic forecast and continued to adversely impact our loss reserve as of December 31, 2024. See Notes 1, 3 and 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the “Provision for Credit Losses” and "Allowance for Credit Losses" section in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the risk factors related to our business and economic conditions in Item 1A for more information on the provision for credit losses and ACL for the loan portfolio.
The RUC represents the expected credit losses on off-balance sheet commitments such as unfunded commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. The RUC is determined by estimating future draws and applying the expected loss rates on those draws.
While our methodology in establishing the reserve for credit losses attributes portions of the ACL and RUC to the commercial and consumer portfolio segments, the entire ACL and RUC is available to absorb credit losses expected in the total loan portfolio and total amount of unfunded credit commitments, respectively. Our model may reflect assumptions by management that are not covered by the qualitative and environmental factors, and we reevaluate all of its factors quarterly.
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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following discussion is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024. The information contained in this section should be read together with the December 31, 2024 audited Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying Notes included in Item 8 Financial Statements And Supplementary Data of this Form 10-K.
This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2024 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023. Discussions of 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023.
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Securities - available for sale $ 1,267,404 $ 1,506,388
Securities - held to maturity 938,647 1,015,737
Loans 7,934,888 7,968,695
Allowance for credit losses (114,390) (85,940)
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 16 104,925
Total assets 11,129,508 11,664,538
Deposits 9,131,078 8,808,039
Other short-term borrowings 490,000 1,369,918
Long-term borrowings 76,108 —
Total liabilities 9,903,447 10,390,255
Total shareholders’ equity 1,226,061 1,274,283
Tangible common equity (1)
1,226,045 1,169,358
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands except per share data) 2024 2023 2022
Consolidated Statements of Operations:
Interest income $ 687,563 $ 625,327 $ 424,613
Interest expense 398,875 334,781 91,746
Provision for credit losses
66,360 31,536 266
Noninterest income 19,939 21,536 23,654
Goodwill impairment
104,168 — —
Noninterest expense (including goodwill impairment)
274,634 153,293 165,098
Income (loss) before income tax expense
(30,240) 127,520 189,680
Income tax expense 16,795 26,986 48,750
Net income (loss)
(47,035) 100,534 140,930
Cash dividends declared 32,117 54,293 55,776
Total net revenue (2)
308,627 312,082 356,521
Per Common Share Data:
Net income (loss), basic $ (1.56) $ 3.31 $ 4.40
Net income (loss), diluted (1.56) 3.31 4.39
Dividends declared 1.07 1.80 1.75
Book value 40.60 42.58 39.18
Tangible book value (3)
40.59 39.08 35.86
Common shares outstanding 30,202,003 29,925,612 31,346,903
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic 30,157,051 30,345,504 32,004,251
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted 30,157,051 30,393,100 32,078,070
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Years Ended December 31,
2024 2023 2022
Ratios:
Net interest margin 2.37 % 2.53 % 2.93 %
Efficiency ratio (4)
88.99 % 49.12 % 46.31 %
Return on average assets (0.38) % 0.84 % 1.20 %
Return on average common equity (3.77) % 8.11 % 10.99 %
Return on average tangible common equity (1)
(3.93) % 8.85 % 11.97 %
CET1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 14.63 % 13.90 % 14.03 %
Total capital (to risk weighted assets) 15.86 % 14.79 % 14.94 %
Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 14.63 % 13.90 % 14.03 %
Tier 1 capital (to average assets) 10.74 % 10.73 % 11.63 %
Tangible common equity ratio 11.02 % 10.12 % 10.18 %
Dividend payout ratio (68.28) % 54.00 % 39.58 %
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Asset Quality:
Nonperforming assets and loans 90+ past due $ 211,449 $ 66,632
Nonperforming assets and loans 90+ past due to total assets 1.90 % 0.57 %
Nonperforming loans to total loans 2.63 % 0.82 %
Allowance for credit losses to loans 1.44 % 1.08 %
Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming loans 54.81 % 131.16 %
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Asset Quality Activity:
Net charge-offs $ 38,555 $ 18,850 $ 624
Net charge-offs to average loans 0.48 % 0.24 % 0.01 %
(1) Tangible common equity and return on average tangible common equity are non-GAAP financial measures. Tangible common equity is defined as total common shareholders’ equity reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets.
(2) Total net revenue calculated as net interest income plus noninterest income.
(3) Tangible book value per common share, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined as tangible common shareholders’ equity divided by total common shares outstanding.
(4) Computed by dividing noninterest expense by total net revenue.
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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management uses non-GAAP measures because they provide information to investors about the underlying operational performance and trends of the Company. Additionally, certain non-GAAP measures are monitored by regulators. These disclosures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for results determined in accordance with GAAP and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures which may be presented by other bank holding companies. Management compensates for these limitations by providing detailed reconciliations between GAAP information and the non-GAAP financial measures.
The following tables reconcile the GAAP financial measures to the associated non-GAAP financial measures:
(dollars in thousands except per share data) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Tangible common equity
Common shareholders’ equity $ 1,226,061 $ 1,274,283
Less: Intangible assets (16) (104,925)
Tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) $ 1,226,045 $ 1,169,358
Tangible common equity ratio
Total assets $ 11,129,508 $ 11,664,538
Less: Intangible assets (16) (104,925)
Tangible assets $ 11,129,492 $ 11,559,613
Tangible common equity ratio (Non-GAAP) 11.02 % 10.12 %
Tangible book value per share calculations
Book value per common share $ 40.60 $ 42.58
Less: Intangible book value per common share (0.01) (3.50)
Tangible book value per common share (Non-GAAP) $ 40.59 $ 39.08
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Average tangible common equity
Average common shareholders’ equity $ 1,246,168 $ 1,240,118 $ 1,281,921
Less: Average intangible assets (50,868) (104,534) (104,248)
Average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) $ 1,195,300 $ 1,135,584 $ 1,177,673
Return on average tangible common equity
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders $ (47,035) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Average tangible common equity $ 1,195,300 1,135,584 1,177,673
Return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) (3.93) % 8.85% 11.97%
Operating return on average tangible common equity
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders $ (47,035) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Add back of goodwill impairment 104,168 — —
Operating net income (Non-GAAP) $ 57,133 $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Average tangible common equity $ 1,195,300 1,135,584 1,177,673
Operating return on average tangible common equity (Non-GAAP) 4.78 % 8.85 % 11.97 %
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Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 2022
Efficiency ratio
Net interest income $ 288,688 $ 290,546 $ 332,867
Noninterest income
19,939 21,536 23,654
Total net revenue 308,627 312,082 356,521
Noninterest expense 274,634 153,293 165,098
Exclude goodwill impairment (104,168) — —
Operating noninterest expense (Non-GAAP) 170,466 153,293 165,098
Efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP) 88.99 % 49.12 % 46.31 %
Operating efficiency ratio (Non-GAAP) 55.23 % 49.12 % 46.31 %
Operating net income
Net income (loss) $ (47,035) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Add back of goodwill impairment 104,168 — —
Operating net income (Non-GAAP) $ 57,133 $ 57,133 $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Operating earnings per share (diluted)
Earnings (loss) per share (diluted) (1)
$(1.56) $3.31 $4.39
Add back of goodwill impairment per share (diluted) 3.45 — —
Operating earnings per share (diluted) (Non-GAAP) $1.89 $3.31 $4.39
(1) For periods ended with a net loss, anti-dilutive financial instruments have been excluded from the calculation of earnings per share (diluted). Operating earnings per share (diluted) calculations include the impact of outstanding equity-based awards for all periods.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2023
Overview
Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $47.0 million, as compared to net income of $100.5 million, for the same period in 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to the recognition of goodwill impairment of $104.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 and an increase in provision for credit losses of $34.8 million, partially offset by a reduction of income tax expense of $10.2 million. For more information on the drivers and the components of these changes, see the "Provision for Credit Losses" and "Income Tax Expenses" sections below. Refer to the "Intangible Assets" section below for additional details on goodwill impairment..
Net interest income decreased to $288.7 million for 2024 compared to $290.5 million for 2023. Net interest income decreased primarily due to increased interest expense due to higher rates on deposits and borrowings, which was partially offset by an increase in interest income on loans. Total noninterest income in 2024 was $19.9 million, as compared to $21.5 million in 2023, a 7% decrease. For further information on the components and drivers of these changes, see the "Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin" and "Noninterest Income" sections below. Operating net revenue (non-GAAP) was $308.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $312.1 million for the same period in 2023.
The net interest margin, which measures the difference between interest income and interest expense as a percentage of earning assets, was 2.37% for 2024 and 2.53% for 2023, a decrease of 16 basis points. The drivers of the change are detailed in the "Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin" section below.
The provision for credit losses in 2024 was $66.4 million as compared to $31.5 million in 2023. For information on the components and drivers of these changes see "Provision for Credit Losses" section below.
Noninterest expenses in 2024 totaled $274.6 million, as compared to $153.3 million in 2023, a 79% increase. The increase was primarily attributable to the recognition of goodwill impairment of $104.2 million in the second quarter of 2024 and higher FDIC insurance assessments during the year. Additional details on these expenses and other noninterest expenses are provided in "Noninterest Expense" section below.
The efficiency ratio, inclusive of the goodwill impairment charge, which measures the ratio of noninterest expense to total revenue, was 88.99% for 2024 as compared to 49.12% for 2023. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, the operating efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) was 55.23%.
At December 31, 2024, total loan balances were $7.9 billion, and remained flat as compared to December 31, 2023, and average loans were 2% higher in 2024 as compared to 2023, driven by originations and advances which outpaced payoffs and paydowns.
Total deposits at December 31, 2024 increased by $323.0 million as compared to December 31, 2023. The increase consists of $1.0 billion in interest bearing deposits which was partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 billion in noninterest bearing deposits. This was primarily driven by a significant increase in short term interest rates and related migration to interest-bearing deposit accounts.
In terms of the average asset composition or mix, loans, which generally have higher yields than securities and other earning assets, represented 66% and 68% of average earning assets for 2024 and 2023, respectively. For 2024, as compared to 2023, average loans, excluding loans held for sale, increased by $181.8 million, or 2%, driven by originations and advances that outpaced payoffs and paydowns.
Average investment securities for 2024 were 20% of average earning assets compared to 23% for 2023. The combination of federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits with other banks represented 14% and 9% of average earning assets for 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The ratio of common equity to total assets increased to 11.02% at December 31, 2024 from 10.92% at December 31, 2023, due primarily to a decrease in total assets, in connection with decreases in loans and interest-bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments. For the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had average tangible common equity, a non-GAAP measure, of $1.2 billion and $1.1 billion, respectively. For 2024, the return on average assets (“ROAA”), inclusive of the goodwill impairment charge, was (0.38)%, as compared to 0.84% for 2023. Total shareholders’ equity was $1.23 billion at December 31, 2024 as compared to $1.27 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of 4%. The return on average common equity (“ROACE”) for 2024 was (3.77)% as compared to 8.11% for 2023. The ROATCE for 2024, a non-GAAP financial measure, was (3.93)% as compared to 8.85% for 2023. The adverse change in returns was primarily attributable to the recognition of goodwill impairment of $104.2 million in 2024. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, operating return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) was 4.78%. Refer to the “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” section for additional detail and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.
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Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin
Net interest income is the difference between interest income on earning assets and the cost of funds supporting those assets. Earning assets are composed primarily of loans, investment securities and interest bearing deposits with other banks and other short term investments. The cost of funds represents interest expense on deposits, customer repurchase agreements and other borrowings, which consist primarily of federal funds purchased, advances from secured financing arrangements, including the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta ("FHLB") and Discount Window, and senior notes. Noninterest bearing deposits and capital are other components representing funding sources. Changes in the volume and mix of assets and funding sources, along with the changes in yields earned and rates paid, determine changes in net interest income.
Net interest income in 2024 was $288.7 million compared to $290.5 million in 2023. The 1% decrease for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to increases in average deposit rates (4.25% compared to 4.02%, respectively) and other short-term borrowings (4.90% compared to 4.82%, respectively), which were partially offset by higher average loan balances and yields (6.86% compared to 6.63%, respectively). Net interest income represented 94% and 93% of the Company’s total net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively,
Net interest margin decreased by 16 basis points to 2.37% in 2024 from 2.53% in 2023. The decrease reflects the increase in the cost of funds on deposits, primarily in connection with an increase in rates, and borrowings, in connection with both an increase in volume and rates, offset by an increase in the yield on loans. The cost of funds on interest-bearing liabilities increased 42 basis points from 3.17% in 2023 to 3.59% in 2024, while the yield on interest-earning assets increased by 20 basis points from 5.45% in 2023 to 5.65% in 2024.
Average loans held for investment were $8.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $7.8 billion for the same period in 2023. Average investment securities were $2.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024, compared to $2.6 billion for the same period in 2023. Average interest-bearing deposits with other banks and other short term investments were $1.7 billion for 2024 compared to $1.0 billion for 2023. Interest income on loans, the largest component of interest income on earning assets, had a yield of 6.86% in 2024, compared to 6.63% in 2023, an increase of 23 basis points.
Average interest-bearing deposits increased from $6.4 billion in the year ended December 31, 2023 to $7.5 billion in the year ended December 31, 2024, while average noninterest bearing demand deposits decreased to $2.0 billion for the year ended December 31, 2024 from $2.5 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Average borrowings decreased from $1.6 billion in the year ended December 31, 2023 to $1.5 billion in the year ended December 31, 2024. Refer to the "Deposits and Other Borrowings" section below for further discussion of deposits and borrowings.
The table below presents the average balances and rates of the major categories of the Company's assets and liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022. Included in the table are measurements of interest rate spread and margin. Interest rate spread is the difference (expressed as a percentage) between the interest rate earned on earning assets less the interest rate paid on interest bearing liabilities. While the interest rate spread provides a quick comparison of earnings rates versus cost of funds, management believes that margin, together with net interest income, provides a better measurement of performance. The net interest margin (as compared to net interest spread) includes the effect of noninterest bearing sources in its calculation. Net interest margin is net interest income expressed as a percentage of average earning assets.
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Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
Consolidated Average Balances, Interest Yields And Rates (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands)
Years Ended December 31,
2024
2023 2022
Average
Balance Interest Average
Yield /
Rate Average
Balance Interest Average
Yield /
Rate Average
Balance Interest Average
Yield /
Rate
Assets
Interest earning assets:
Interest bearing deposits with other banks and other short-term investments $ 1,706,439 $ 88,770 5.20 % $ 1,015,199 $ 52,300 5.15 % $ 1,235,768 $ 13,304 1.08 %
Loans held for sale 3,241 101 3.12 % 1,212 73 6.02 % 15,356 650 4.23 %
Loans (1) (2)
7,997,653 548,288 6.86 % 7,815,832 518,007 6.63 % 7,206,158 358,317 4.97 %
Investment securities available-for-sale (2)
1,473,095 28,774 1.95 % 1,584,239 32,074 2.02 % 2,003,475 33,641 1.68 %
Investment securities held-to-maturity 983,309 21,197 2.16 % 1,057,445 22,586 2.14 % 857,584 17,840 2.08 %
Federal funds sold 10,741 433 4.03 % 9,120 287 3.15 % 48,402 861 1.78 %
Total interest earning assets 12,174,478 687,563 5.65 % 11,483,047 625,327 5.45 % 11,366,743 424,613 3.74 %
Noninterest earning assets 449,904 501,722 475,563
Less: allowance for credit losses 104,020 79,218 74,726
Total noninterest earning assets 345,884 422,504 400,837
Total Assets $ 12,520,362 $ 11,905,551 $ 11,767,580
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing transaction $ 1,700,301 $ 60,573 3.56 % $ 1,459,795 $ 46,140 3.16 % $ 893,137 $ 6,721 0.75 %
Savings and money market 3,411,971 139,539 4.09 % 3,176,203 132,374 4.17 % 4,683,850 65,777 1.40 %
Time deposits 2,432,713 120,309 4.95 % 1,774,184 79,030 4.45 % 669,824 10,763 1.61 %
Total interest bearing deposits 7,544,985 320,421 4.25 % 6,410,182 257,544 4.02 % 6,246,811 83,261 1.33 %
Customer repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased 37,872 1,271 3.36 % 36,663 1,218 3.32 % 30,745 356 1.16 %
Other short-term borrowings
1,476,550 72,386 4.90 % 1,521,160 73,253 4.82 % 172,717 3,980 2.30 %
Long-term borrowings 66,321 4,797 7.23 % 69,861 2,766 3.96 % 69,737 4,149 5.95 %
Total interest bearing liabilities 9,125,728 398,875 4.37 % 8,037,866 334,781 4.17 % 6,520,010 91,746 1.41 %
Noninterest bearing liabilities:
Noninterest bearing demand 1,987,886 2,508,687 3,871,773
Other liabilities 160,580 118,880 93,876
Total noninterest bearing liabilities 2,148,466 2,627,567 3,965,649
Shareholders’ equity 1,246,168 1,240,118 1,281,921
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity $ 12,520,362 $ 11,905,551 $ 11,767,580
Net interest income $ 288,688 $ 290,546 $ 332,867
Net interest spread 1.28 % 1.28 % 2.33 %
Net interest margin 2.37 % 2.53 % 2.93 %
Cost of funds (3)
3.59 % 3.17 % 0.88 %
(1) Loans placed on nonaccrual status are included in average balances. Net loan fees and late charges included in interest income on loans totaled $17.2 million, $16.7 million and $15.3 million, for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2) Interest and fees on loans and investments exclude tax equivalent adjustments.
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Rate/Volume Analysis of Net Interest Income
The rate/volume table below presents the composition of the change in net interest income for the periods indicated, as allocated between the change in net interest income due to changes in the volume of average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and the changes in net interest income due to changes in interest rates. As the table shows, the decrease in net interest income in 2024 as compared to 2023 was primarily due to increase in interest bearing liabilities replacing non-interest bearing deposits.
Year Ended December 31, 2024 Compared with
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Year Ended December 31, 2023
Compared with
Year Ended December 31, 2022
(dollars in thousands) Change
Due to
Volume Change
Due to
Rate Total
Increase
(Decrease) Change
Due to
Volume Change
Due to
Rate Total
Increase
(Decrease)
Interest earned on:
Loans $ 12,049 $ 18,232 $ 30,281 $ 30,315 $ 129,375 $ 159,690
Loans held for sale 122 (94) 28 (599) 22 (577)
Investment securities available-for sale (2,250) (1,050) (3,300) (7,040) 5,473 (1,567)
Investment securities held-to-maturity (1,583) 194 (1,389) 4,158 588 4,746
Interest bearing bank deposits 35,611 859 36,470 (2,375) 41,371 38,996
Federal funds sold 51 95 146 (699) 125 (574)
Total interest income 44,000 18,236 62,236 23,760 176,954 200,714
Interest paid on:
Interest bearing transaction 7,602 6,831 14,433 4,264 35,155 39,419
Savings and money market 9,826 (2,661) 7,165 (21,172) 87,769 66,597
Time deposits 29,334 11,945 41,279 17,745 50,522 68,267
Customer repurchase agreements 40 13 53 69 793 862
Borrowings
(2,288) 3,452 1,164 45,216 22,674 67,890
Total interest expense 44,514 19,580 64,094 46,122 196,913 243,035
Net interest income $ (514) $ (1,344) $ (1,858) $ (22,362) $ (19,959) $ (42,321)
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses represents the amount of expense charged to current earnings to record the ACL on loans and the ACL on HTM investment securities. The amount of the ACL on loans is based on management's assessment of current expected credit losses in the portfolio. Those factors include historical losses based on internal and peer data, economic conditions and trends, the value and adequacy of collateral, volume and mix of the portfolio, performance of the portfolio, and internal loan processes of the Company.
Refer to the discussion under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations above and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for an overview of the methodology management employs on a quarterly basis to assess the adequacy of the allowance and the provisions charged to expense. Also, refer to the table in the "Allowance for Credit Losses" section which reflects activity in the ACL.
The total provision for credit losses was $66.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $31.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2023. During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company's provision for credit losses included a provision of $67.0 million on loans and net charge-offs of $38.6 million on loans. The provision for credit losses on loans for the same period in 2023 was $30.3 million and included $18.9 million of net charge offs.
The change in the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2024, was primarily attributable to the following factors: 1) specific reserves on individually evaluated non-performing loans; 2) changes in the qualitative component of the model relating to CRE office properties; and, 3) enhancements to the quantitative model during Q1 to include additional economic factors. Additionally, the change in provision for credit losses during the year ended December 31, 2024 was also impacted by the partial charge off of a CRE office loan after an updated valuation was received in the first quarter of 2025.
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The provision for loan credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023 was driven by adjustments to the qualitative components of the CECL model combined with smaller increases in the quantitative components. The changes in qualitative components were due to perceived weakness in the commercial real estate market, in addition to high inflationary environment offset by a reduction in the quantitative reserves based on a decline in individually evaluated loans. The changes in quantitative components were related to changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio, changes in delinquencies and loss experience.
The provision for credit losses for the held-to-maturity securities portfolio was recorded primarily on several corporate bonds. During the year ended December 31, 2024, there was a reversal of provision for credit losses of $645 thousand for the held-to-maturity securities portfolios, compared to a provision expense of $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.
The provision for credit losses for unfunded commitments is presented separately on the Statement of Operations. This provision considers the probability that unfunded commitments will fund among other factors. There was a reversal of $2.1 million in 2024, compared to $0.3 million reversal in 2023.
Noninterest Income
Noninterest income includes service charges on deposits, gain on sale of loans, gain on sale of investment securities, income from bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) and other income. The following table summarizes the comparative noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 Dollar Change Percent Change
Service charges on deposits $ 6,843 $ 6,455 $ 388 6 %
Gain on sale of loans 57 418 (361) (86) %
Net loss on sale of investment securities 14 (11) 25 (227) %
Increase in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance 2,885 2,659 226 8 %
Other income 10,140 12,015 (1,875) (16) %
Total $ 19,939 $ 21,536 $ (1,597) (7) %
Total noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2024 was $19.9 million as compared to $21.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. The 7% decrease was primarily based on the prior year nonrecurring items including income from Small Business Investment Companies ("SBIC") fund and lower swap fees income during the current year.
Noninterest Expense
Total noninterest expense includes salaries and employee benefits, premises and equipment expenses, marketing and advertising, data processing, legal, accounting and professional fees, FDIC insurance assessments and other expenses. The following table summarizes the comparative noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023 Dollar Change Percent Change
Salaries and employee benefits $ 87,768 $ 86,096 $ 1,672 2 %
Premises and equipment expenses 11,382 12,606 (1,224) (10) %
Marketing and advertising 5,449 3,359 2,090 62 %
Data processing 14,093 13,083 1,010 8 %
Legal, accounting and professional fees 9,286 10,787 (1,501) (14) %
FDIC insurance 29,009 11,853 17,156 145 %
Goodwill impairment
104,168 — 104,168 100 %
Other expenses 13,479 15,509 (2,030) (13) %
Total $ 274,634 $ 153,293 $ 121,341 79 %
Total noninterest expense was $274.6 million for 2024, as compared to $153.3 million for 2023, a 79% increase. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge of $104.2 million to reduce fully the carrying value of the Company's goodwill. Refer to the "Intangible Assets" section below for additional details. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, total operating noninterest expense (non-GAAP) was $170.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2024. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional details and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.
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Marketing expenses were $5.4 million and $3.4 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024 and 2023, a 62% increase. The increase in marketing expenses was primarily due to higher marketing expenses related to our digital banking channel.
FDIC insurance expense was $29.0 million for 2024 as compared to $11.9 million for 2023, an increase of $17.1 million, or 145%. The increases in 2024 compared to 2023 were due to increases in FDIC deposit insurance assessments.
The major components of other expenses include broker fees, franchise taxes, insurance expenses and director compensation. Other expenses were $13.5 million for 2024 as compared to $15.5 million for 2023, a decrease of 13%. The decrease in 2024, as compared to 2023, was primarily due to a reduction in director fees and real estate taxes.
The efficiency ratio, which measures the ratio of noninterest expense to total revenue, was 88.99% for the year ended December 31, 2024, as compared to 49.12% for the same period in 2023. The adverse change in the efficiency ratio for the year ended December 31, 2024 was primarily driven by the recognition of goodwill impairment of $104.2 million. Excluding the goodwill impairment charge, the operating efficiency ratio (non-GAAP) was 55.23% for the year ended December 31, 2024. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional detail and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.
As a percentage of average assets, total noninterest expense (annualized) was 2.19% for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to 1.29% for the same period in 2023. The higher ratio for the current year is attributable to the goodwill impairment discussed above.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $16.8 million for 2024 as compared to $27.0 million for 2023. The decrease in the tax provisions over the comparative years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was primarily driven by the decreases in pre-tax income period over period. The impact of the change in mix of the components noted above can be seen in the reconciliation of statutory federal income tax rate table in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was signed into law by President Biden on August 16, 2022 which made significant changes to the U.S. tax law, including the introduction of a corporate alternative minimum tax of 15% of the “adjusted financial statement income” of certain domestic corporations as well as a 1% excise tax on the fair market value of stock repurchases by certain domestic corporations, effective for tax years beginning in 2023. Effective January 1, 2023, the Company became subject to the tax laws under the Inflation Reduction Act. The Company has not experienced and currently does not expect the tax-related provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act to have a material impact on our financial results.
BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS
Overview
Total assets at December 31, 2024 were $11.1 billion as compared to $11.7 billion at December 31, 2023, a 5% decrease. The decrease in total assets in 2024 was primarily due to decreases in investment securities and interest-bearing deposits with other banks, and the impairment charge of goodwill related to a 2014 acquisition.
The largest component of assets, total loans with an amortized cost basis, were approximately $7.9 billion at December 31, 2024, and remained relatively flat as compared to $8.0 billion at December 31, 2023. There were no loans held for sale at December 31, 2024 and 2023. Refer to the "Loan Portfolio" section below for further discussion on loans.
Investment securities, at amortized cost net of the allowance for credit losses, were $2.3 billion at December 31, 2024 as compared to $2.7 billion at December 31, 2023, a $336.5 million decrease, or 13%. The components and drivers of the change are discussed in the "Investment Securities and Short-Term Investments" section below.
In terms of funding, total deposits at December 31, 2024 were $9.1 billion as compared to $8.8 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of 4%. Total borrowed funds (excluding customer repurchase agreements) were $566.1 million and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The components and drivers of the change are discussed in the "Deposits and Other Borrowings" section below.
Total shareholders’ equity at December 31, 2024 was $1.2 billion as compared to $1.3 billion at December 31, 2023, a 4% decrease. The decrease in shareholders’ equity in 2024 was primarily from the net loss from operations and payment of cash dividends, partially offset by an increase in other comprehensive income and share-based compensation.
In order to be considered well-capitalized, the Bank must have a CET1 risk based capital ratio of 6.5%, a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of 8.0%, a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% and a leverage ratio of 5.0%. The Company and the Bank exceed all these requirements and satisfy the capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of CET1 capital. Failure to maintain the required
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capital conservation buffer would limit the ability of the Company and the Bank to pay dividends, repurchase shares or pay discretionary bonuses.
The Company's capital ratios remain substantially in excess of regulatory minimums and buffer requirements. The total risk based capital ratio was 15.86% at December 31, 2024, as compared to 14.79% at December 31, 2023. The common equity tier one capital ("CET1") risk based capital ratio was 14.63% at December 31, 2024, as compared to 13.90% at December 31, 2023. The tier 1 risk based capital ratio was 14.63% at December 31, 2024, as compared to 13.90% at December 31, 2023. The tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.74% at December 31, 2024, as compared to 10.73% at December 31, 2023.
The ratio of common equity to total assets was 11.02% at December 31, 2024 as compared to 10.92% at December 31, 2023, as common equity levels declined 4% over the year ended December 31, 2024. Book value per share was $40.60 at December 31, 2024, a 4.7% decrease over $42.58 at December 31, 2023. These declines were primarily due to the goodwill impairment charge of $104.2 million.
In addition, the tangible common equity ratio was 11.02% at December 31, 2024, compared to 10.12% at December 31, 2023. Tangible book value per share was $40.59 at December 31, 2024, a 3.9% increase from $39.08 at December 31, 2023. Refer to the "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section for additional detail and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures.
Investment Securities and Short-Term Investments
The tables below and Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements provide additional information regarding the Company’s investment securities categorized as “available-for-sale” or AFS and as "held-to-maturity" or HTM. The Company classifies its investment securities as either AFS or HTM. The AFS classification requires that investment securities be recorded at fair value with any difference between the fair value and amortized cost (the purchase price adjusted by any discount accretion or premium amortization) reported as a component of shareholders’ equity (accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)), net of deferred income taxes, while securities classified as HTM are recorded and presented at their amortized cost. At December 31, 2024, the Company had a net unrealized loss in AFS securities of $141.5 million with a deferred tax asset of $34.8 million, as compared to a net unrealized loss in AFS securities of $161.9 million with a deferred tax asset of $39.8 million at December 31, 2023.
The AFS portfolio comprises U.S. treasury bonds (2.0% of AFS securities), U.S. agency securities (44.1% of AFS securities) with an average duration of 2.5 years, seasoned MBS that are 100% agency issued (49.3% of AFS securities for residential mortgage-backed and 3.9% for commercial mortgage-backed), which have an average duration of 4 years with contractual maturities of the underlying mortgages of up to thirty years, municipal bonds (0.6% of AFS securities), which have an average duration of 6 years, and corporate bonds (0.1% of AFS securities), which have an average duration of 5.6 years.
The HTM portfolio comprises seasoned MBS that are 100% agency issued (64.5% of HTM securities for residential mortgage-backed and 9.4% for commercial mortgage-backed), which have an average duration of 5.4 years with contractual maturities of the underlying mortgages of up to thirty years, municipal bonds (12.1% of HTM securities), which have an average duration of 6.7 years, and corporate bonds (14.0% of HTM securities), which have an average duration of 4.3 years.
At December 31, 2024, the AFS investment portfolio was $1.3 billion as compared to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of 16%. At December 31, 2024, the HTM investment portfolio was $0.9 billion as compared to $1.0 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of 8%. The investment portfolio is managed to achieve goals related to liquidity, income, interest rate risk management and to provide collateral for customer repurchase agreements and other borrowing relationships.
During the first quarter of 2022, we evaluated our securities portfolio and determined that certain securities will be maintained for the life of the instrument and made a decision to transfer $1.1 billion of securities designated as AFS to HTM, including $237.0 million of securities acquired in the first quarter of 2022 for which the intention to hold to maturity was finalized. The transferred securities had unrealized losses of $66.2 million, and, as of December 31, 2024, $44.8 million remains in accumulated other comprehensive loss and will be amortized ratably over the remaining lives of the securities through accumulated other comprehensive loss. The securities transferred were generally municipal bonds, corporate bonds, bonds that qualify for Community Reinvestment Act credit and MBS with longer final maturity dates.
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The following table provides information regarding the composition of the investment securities portfolio at the dates indicated. AFS securities are reported at estimated fair value and HTM securities are reported at amortized cost. At December 31, 2024, the investment portfolio balances for both AFS securities at fair value and HTM securities at amortized cost basis decreased as compared to December 31, 2023, and the composition of portfolio changed, as follows:
December 31,
2024
2023
(dollars in thousands) Fair Value Percent of Total Fair Value Percent of Total
Investment securities available-for-sale:
U.S. treasury bonds $ 24,776 2 % $ 47,901 3 %
U.S. agency securities 558,535 44 % 671,397 45 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities 625,316 49 % 727,353 48 %
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 48,945 4 % 49,564 3 %
Municipal bonds 8,014 1 % 8,490 1 %
Corporate bonds 1,818 — % 1,683 — %
Total $ 1,267,404 100 % $ 1,506,388 100 %
December 31,
2024
2023
(dollars in thousands) Amortized Cost Percent of Total Amortized Cost Percent of Total
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
Residential mortgage-backed securities $ 605,904 65 % $ 670,043 66 %
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 88,575 9 % 90,227 9 %
Municipal bonds 114,060 12 % 125,114 12 %
Corporate bonds 131,414 14 % 132,309 13 %
Total 939,953 100 % 1,017,693 100 %
Allowance for credit losses (1,306) (1,956)
Total held-to-maturity securities, net of ACL $ 938,647 $ 1,015,737
At December 31, 2024, there were no issuers, other than the U.S. Government, U.S. agencies and U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises, whose securities owned by the Company had a book or fair value exceeding 10% of the Company’s shareholders’ equity.
The following tables provide information, on an amortized cost basis, for AFS and HTM portfolios regarding the expected maturity and weighted-average yield of the investment portfolio at December 31, 2024. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Yields on tax exempt securities have not been calculated on a tax equivalent basis.
One Year or Less After One Year
Through Five Years After Five Years
Through Ten Years After Ten Years Total
(dollars in thousands) Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield
Available-for-sale:
U.S. treasury bonds $ 24,988 0.69 % $ — — % $ — — % $ — $ 24,988 0.69 %
U.S. agency securities 163,511 1.18 % 359,242 1.57 % 66,580 1.92 % 10,944 1.25 % 600,277 1.50 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities — — % 4,917 1.83 % 143,010 1.46 % 571,888 1.92 % 719,815 1.83 %
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 5,002 3.33 % 23,220 2.04 % 15,053 2.26 % 9,973 3.58 % 53,248 2.51 %
Municipal bonds — — % — — % — — % 8,607 2.67 % 8,607 2.67 %
Corporate bonds — — % — — % 2,000 5.50 % — — 2,000 5.50 %
Total $ 193,501 1.17 % $ 387,379 1.60 % $ 226,643 1.68 % $ 601,412 1.95 % $ 1,408,935 1.70 %
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One Year or Less After One Year
Through Five Years After Five Years
Through Ten Years After Ten Years Total
(dollars in thousands) Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield Amortized
Cost Weighted
Average
Yield
Held-to-maturity:
Residential mortgage-backed securities $ — — % $ 691 2.70 % $ 16,867 2.28 % $ 588,346 2.63 % $ 605,904 2.62 %
Commercial mortgage-backed securities — — % 11,602 2.76 % 25,337 2.57 % 51,636 2.64 % 88,575 2.64 %
Municipal bonds 6,946 2.86 % 12,605 2.97 % 26,018 3.00 % 68,491 3.46 % 114,060 3.26 %
Corporate bonds — — % 51,456 4.47 % 79,958 3.84 % — — % 131,414 4.09 %
Total $ 6,946 2.86 % $ 76,354 3.95 % $ 148,180 3.30 % $ 708,473 2.71 % 939,953 2.90 %
Allowance for credit losses (1,306)
Total held-to-maturity securities, net of ACL $ 938,647
Federal funds sold were $2.6 million at December 31, 2024, as compared to $3.7 million at December 31, 2023. These funds represent excess daily liquidity which is invested on an unsecured basis with well capitalized banks, in amounts generally limited both in the aggregate and to any one bank.
Interest bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments primarily consist of liquid assets held at the Federal Reserve to meet general liquidity needs of the Company, such as future loan demand and future increases in investment securities, among others. Interest bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments were $619.0 million at December 31, 2024, as compared to $709.9 million at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $90.9 million or 13%, primarily due to decrease in deposits at the Federal Reserve. Refer to the "Deposits and Other Borrowings" section below for further discussion.
The Bank did not hold any time deposits at December 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023.
Loan Portfolio
In its lending activities, the Company seeks to develop and expand relationships with clients whose businesses and individual banking needs will grow with the Bank. We believe superior customer service, local decision making and accelerated turnaround time from application to closing have been significant factors in growing the loan portfolio and meeting the lending needs in the markets served, while maintaining sound asset quality.
Total loan balances remained relatively flat over the past year as loans outstanding were $7.9 billion at December 31, 2024, as compared to $8.0 billion at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $33.8 million or 0.4%. The loan portfolio mix continues to evolve as the Bank has experienced a reduction in commercial loans, offset by an increase in fundings of ongoing construction projects for commercial and residential properties. Market rates year to date in 2024 for our new loan originations on average have been fairly consistent with the market rates at the end of 2023, since short-term interest rates remained unchanged for most of 2024. In September 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2024, the Federal Reserve adjusted short-term interest rates downwards three times for a total decrease of 100 basis points. We continue to see opportunities for growth in the commercial lending market in our focused sectors; our processes for evaluating these opportunities are designed to ensure they are subject to reasonable underwriting standards, including appropriate collateral and cash flow necessary to support debt service. Following origination, we continue to monitor our borrowers' business plans and assess primary and alternative sources for loan repayment and, if necessary, obtain collateral to mitigate credit loss in the event of default.
The Bank has a large portion of its loan portfolio related to real estate, with 83% consisting of commercial real estate and real estate construction loans as of December 31, 2024. Non-owner occupied commercial real estate represented 66% of the loan portfolio while the remaining 17% is represented by the "owner occupied-commercial real estate" and "construction–C&I (owner occupied)" loans.
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The following table shows the trends in the composition of the loan portfolio over the past two years. The table reflects loan balances, net of amortized deferred fees and costs, at December 31, 2024 and 2023 by major category.
December 31,
2024
2023
(dollars in thousands) Amount % Amount %
Commercial $ 1,183,341 15 % $ 1,473,766 18 %
PPP loans 287 — % 528 — %
Income producing - commercial real estate 4,064,846 51 % 4,094,614 51 %
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 1,269,669 16 % 1,172,239 15 %
Real estate mortgage - residential 50,535 1 % 73,396 1 %
Construction - commercial and residential 1,210,763 15 % 969,766 12 %
Construction - C&I (owner occupied) 103,259 1 % 132,021 2 %
Home equity 51,130 1 % 51,964 1 %
Other consumer 1,058 — % 401 — %
Total loans 7,934,888 100 % 7,968,695 100 %
Less: allowance for credit losses (114,390) (85,940)
Loans, net (1)
$ 7,820,498 $ 7,882,755
(1) Excludes accrued interest receivable of $42.9 million and $45.3 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, which is recorded in other assets.
As noted above, a significant portion of the loan portfolio consists of commercial, construction and commercial real estate loans, primarily made in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is secured by real estate or other collateral in that market. While our basic market is the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the Bank has made loans outside that market where the borrower or its key decision makers have a meaningful relationship with the Bank and generally operate in or are based in our market. Although all of these loans are made to a diversified pool of unrelated borrowers across numerous businesses, adverse developments in the real estate market could continue to have an adverse impact on this portfolio of loans and the Company’s earnings and financial position. Management believes that the commercial real estate concentration risk is mitigated by diversification among the types and characteristics of real estate collateral properties, sound underwriting practices and ongoing portfolio monitoring and market analysis.
The Company's concentration in the Washington, D.C. metro area, includes "Washington's Maryland Suburbs," which comprise Frederick, Prince George's and Montgomery counties and "Northern Virginia," which comprises Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. At December 31, 2024, 31.3%, 27.4%, 23.9%, 5.8%, and 11.6% of the loan portfolio, as a percentage of total amortized cost, was concentrated in Washington D.C., Washington's Maryland Suburbs, Northern Virginia, other counties in Maryland and other locations in the United States, respectively. At December 31, 2023, 31.5%, 26.4%, 25.1%, 5.5% and 11.5% of the loan portfolio, as a percentage of total amortized cost, was concentrated in Washington D.C., Washington's Maryland Suburbs, Northern Virginia, other counties in Maryland and other locations in the United States, respectively. While we remain cautious with regard to CRE market conditions, principally office, the strength of the Washington D.C. metro area in certain sectors, particularly multi-family commercial real estate and the housing market, continue to drive premiums for well-located properties.
As part of its lending strategy, the Company maintains a substantial portfolio of CRE loans, with $6.5 billion and $6.1 billion, or 81.5% and 77.0% of total loans, of amortized cost outstanding at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Management meets regularly in order to monitor its existing CRE loan portfolio and to evaluate the pipeline for CRE loan investment. Income producing CRE loans collateralized by office properties comprised approximately $862.2 million and $949.0 million, or 10.9% and 11.9% of total loans, at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
Office loans within Washington D.C., Washington's Maryland Suburbs and Northern Virginia were $795.0 million and $879.0 million, or 10.0% and 11.0% of total loans, at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. As a percentage of total principal balance of income producing - CRE office loans, 39.0%, 35.7%, 15.0%, and 10.3% were located in Washington's Maryland Suburbs, Northern Virginia, the central business district of Washington D.C., and Washington, D.C. (outside the central business district), respectively, at December 31, 2024.
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The following table summarizes the Company's income producing - commercial real estate loans, at principal, by collateral location and type, at December 31, 2024:
December 31, 2024
Maryland
Virginia
(dollars in thousands)
Washington D.C.
Washington Suburbs
Other
Northern Virginia
Other
Other
Total
Percent of Total
Collateral Type:
Hotel & motel
$136,553 $80,445 $82,634 $60,223 $ — $21,545 $ 381,400 10%
Industrial
874 72,209 40,370 17,731 11,258 — 142,442 4%
Mixed use
323,391 44,175 371 54,497 25,687 4,970 453,091 11%
Multifamily
372,756 192,117 313 120,330 84,975 48,173 818,664 20%
Office
220,632 327,187 4,254 248,855 63,023 — 863,951 21%
Retail
78,818 99,962 60,770 74,167 65,162 1,509 380,388 9%
Single / 1-4 Family & Res. Condo
68,968 2,573 2,111 10,239 6,460 4,043 94,394 2%
Other
179,784 181,378 30,435 441,885 8,572 97,168 939,222 23%
Total
$1,381,776 $1,000,046 $221,258 $1,027,927 $265,137 $177,408 $4,073,552 100%
Percent of total
34 % 25 % 5 % 25 % 7 % 4 % 100 %
Percent of Principal by Loan Size:
Less than $1 million
2 % 2 % 3 % 1 % 2 % 1 %
$1 million to $5 million
9 % 10 % 20 % 7 % 11 % 11 %
$5 million to $10 million
7 % 7 % 25 % 5 % 12 % 31 %
$10 million to $25 million
19 % 13 % 32 % 34 % 41 % 8 %
$25 million to $50 million
47 % 28 % 20 % 41 % 34 % 21 %
Greater than $50 million
16 % 40 % — % 12 % — % 28 %
Total
100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 % 100 %
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, $287.0 million and $240.7 million, respectively, of principal of CRE loans collateralized by office properties were criticized or classified.
The federal banking regulators have issued guidance for those institutions which are deemed to have concentrations in commercial real estate lending. Pursuant to the supervisory criteria contained in the guidance for identifying institutions with a potential commercial real estate concentration risk, institutions which have (1) total reported loans for construction, land development and other land acquisitions which represent 100% or more of an institution’s total risk-based capital; or (2) total commercial real estate loans representing 300% or more of the institution’s total risk-based capital and the institution’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased 50% or more during the prior 36 months are identified as having potential commercial real estate concentration risk. Institutions which are deemed to have concentrations in commercial real estate lending are expected to employ heightened levels of risk management with respect to their commercial real estate portfolios and may be required to hold higher levels of capital.
The Company, like many community banks, has a concentration in commercial real estate loans, and the Company has experienced growth in its commercial real estate portfolio in recent years. As of December 31, 2024, non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans (including construction, land and land development loans) represented 372.6% of consolidated risk based capital. Although growth in that segment over the past 36 months at 26.8% did not exceed the 50% threshold laid out in the regulatory guidance, we expect the heightened supervisory expectations to continue to apply to us given the federal banking regulators' general focus on commercial real estate exposures at banks. Construction, land and land development loans represented 122.6% of consolidated risk based capital. Management has extensive experience in commercial real estate lending and has implemented and continues to maintain risk management procedures and underwriting criteria with respect to its commercial real estate portfolio designed to address the risks inherent in that asset class. Loan monitoring practices include but are not limited to periodic stress testing analysis to evaluate changes to cash flows, owing to interest rate increases and declines in net operating income. Nevertheless, we may be required to maintain higher levels of capital as a result of our commercial real estate concentrations, which could require us to raise additional capital, increasing our funding costs or diluting our shareholders, or take other action to retain capital, adversely affecting shareholder returns. The Company seeks to manage the risks relating to commercial real estate and its capital adequacy through the development and implementation of its Capital Policy and Capital Plan, the preparation of pro-forma projections including stress testing and the development of internal minimum targets for regulatory capital ratios that are subject to approval by the Board of Directors (the "Board") and in excess of well capitalized ratio requirements.
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The Company monitors industry and collateral concentrations to avoid loan exposures to a large group of similar industries or similar collateral. An industry for this purpose is defined as a group of businesses that are engaged in similar activities and have similar economic characteristics that would cause their ability to meet contractual obligations to be similarly affected by changes in economic or other conditions.
Certain directors and executive officers have had loan transactions with the Company. Such loans were made in the ordinary course of the Company’s lending business; were made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable loans with third parties; and, in the opinion of management, did not involve more than the normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features. Refer to Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail regarding related party loans.
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Loan Maturity
The following table sets forth the time to contractual maturity of the loan portfolio as of December 31, 2024. Loans are shown in the period based on final contractual maturity. Demand loans, having no contractual maturity, and overdrafts are reported as due in one year or less.
Due In
(dollars in thousands) Total One Year or Less Over One to Five Years Over Five to Fifteen Years Over Fifteen Years
Commercial $ 1,183,341 $ 427,540 $ 636,875 $ 115,432 $ 3,494
PPP loans 287 — 287 — —
Income producing - commercial real estate (1)
4,064,846 1,754,660 2,076,013 234,173 —
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 1,269,669 244,067 463,328 322,976 239,298
Real estate mortgage - residential 50,535 12,566 28,716 376 8,877
Construction - commercial and residential 1,210,763 633,672 543,766 3,584 29,741
Construction - C&I (owner occupied) 103,259 27,561 2,714 9,796 63,188
Home equity 51,130 2,570 740 1,281 46,539
Other consumer 1,058 719 15 — 324
Total $ 7,934,888 $ 3,103,355 $ 3,752,454 $ 687,618 $ 391,461
Loans with:
Predetermined fixed interest rate
Commercial $ 320,770 $ 92,282 $ 152,054 $ 76,434 $ —
PPP loans 287 — 287 — —
Income producing - commercial real estate 1,930,656 702,661 1,077,264 150,731 —
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 663,483 194,330 251,802 159,625 57,726
Real estate mortgage - residential 46,761 11,571 27,572 43 7,575
Construction - commercial and residential 53,573 19,655 33,918 — —
Construction - C&I (owner occupied) 10,283 3,415 1,748 5,120 —
Home equity 404 207 — 197 —
Other consumer 74 44 15 — 15
Total $ 3,026,291 $ 1,024,165 $ 1,544,660 $ 392,150 $ 65,316
Floating or adjustable interest rate
Commercial $ 862,571 $ 335,257 $ 484,821 $ 38,999 $ 3,494
Income producing - commercial real estate 2,134,190 1,052,000 998,748 83,442 —
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 606,186 49,738 211,526 163,350 181,572
Real estate mortgage - residential 3,774 994 1,144 334 1,302
Construction - commercial and residential 1,157,190 614,018 509,848 3,583 29,741
Construction - C&I (owner occupied) 92,976 24,146 966 4,676 63,188
Home equity 50,726 2,362 741 1,084 46,539
Other consumer 984 675 — — 309
Total $ 4,908,597 $ 2,079,190 $ 2,207,794 $ 295,468 $ 326,145
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(1) Income producing CRE office loans with total principal of $864.0 million and multifamily loans with total principal of $818.7 million at December 31, 2024 are included within income producing - commercial real estate. The charts below represent their maturities schedules.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The ACL is an estimate based on many factors which reflect management’s assessment of the risk in the loan portfolio. Those factors include economic conditions and trends, the value and adequacy of collateral, volume and mix of the portfolio, performance of the portfolio and internal loan processes of the Company and Bank. A full discussion of the accounting for ACL is contained in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and activity in the ACL is contained in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Also, please refer to the discussion under the caption “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” within Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation for further discussion of the methodology which management employs to maintain an adequate ACL, as well as the discussion under the caption “Provision for Credit Losses” for a discussion of the Company's calculation of the provision for credit losses during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.
The ACL for loans at December 31, 2024 was $114.4 million, which reflected a $28.5 million increase from $85.9 million at December 31, 2023, reflecting a provision for credit losses of $67.0 million and $38.6 million in net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2024. Net charge-offs of $38.6 million during 2024 represented 0.48% of average loans held for investment, an increase from net charge-offs of $18.9 million during 2023, which represented 0.24% of average loans held for investment. Net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2024, included $29.0 million of charge offs on two CRE office lending relationships. The ACL represented 1.44% of total loans at December 31, 2024 as compared to 1.08% at December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, the allowance represented 55% of nonperforming loans as compared to 131% at December 31, 2023.
As part of its comprehensive loan review process, the Bank’s Risk Committee evaluates loans which are past due 30 days or more. The Committee makes an assessment of the conditions and circumstances surrounding delinquent and potential problem loans. The Bank’s loan policy requires that loans be placed on nonaccrual if they are 90 days past due or if their collection is deemed to be doubtful, unless they are well secured and in the process of collection. The Credit Administration department analyzes the status of development and construction projects, including sales activities and utilization of interest reserves in order to assess potential increased levels of risk which may require additional reserves.
As the loan portfolio and ACL review processes continue to evolve there may be changes to elements of the allowance and this may have an effect on the overall level of the allowance maintained. Management did conduct sensitivity analysis on the CECL model by using Moody's upside and downside scenarios across the forecast period.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $208.7 million and $65.5 million, respectively, of loans classified as nonperforming. Please refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements under the caption “Loans” for a discussion of the Company’s policy regarding individual evaluation of loans to record a provision for expected credit losses. Please refer to the “Nonperforming Assets” section for a discussion of problem and potential problem assets.
As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, loans rated special mention had an amortized cost of $244.8 million and $207.1 million, respectively, and loans rated substandard had an amortized cost of $426.4 million and $335.8 million, respectively. The increases in special mention and substandard loans were primarily attributable to additions in CRE loans in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, particularly in income producing - commercial real estate and commercial loans. The increases in substandard loans were primarily attributable to certain CRE loans in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. At December 31, 2024, 100% and 46% of special mention and substandard loans, respectively, were current. Based upon their status as potential problem loans, loans risk rated special mention or substandard receive heightened scrutiny and ongoing intensive risk
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management. Additionally, the Company's loan loss allowance methodology incorporates increased reserve factors for certain loans considered potential problem loans as compared to the general portfolio.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company's performing office coverage ratio, which calculates the ACL attributable to loans collateralized by performing office properties as a percentage of total loans, was 3.81% and 1.91%, respectively.
Portfolio management and the risk rating process are core parts of the Company’s credit risk management, including for commercial real estate loans. The Bank conducts analysis of credit requests and the management of problem credits. The Bank has developed and implemented analytical procedures for evaluating credit requests, has refined the Company’s risk rating system and has adopted enhanced monitoring of the loan portfolio and the adequacy of the ACL, in particular on its commercial real estate and construction loans (including those collateralized by office properties). These analyses include stress testing. The loan portfolio analysis process is ongoing and proactive to support the Company's objective of maintaining a portfolio of quality credits and quickly identifying weaknesses before they become more severe.
The following table sets forth activity in the allowance for credit losses:
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024
2023 2022
Balance at beginning of year $ 85,940 $ 74,444 $ 74,965
Charge-offs:
Commercial (4,906) (2,020) (1,561)
Income producing - commercial real estate (30,284) (11,817) —
Owner occupied - commercial real estate (3,800) — (1,355)
Construction - commercial and residential (129) (5,636) —
Other consumer (88) (50) (79)
Total charge-offs (39,207) (19,523) (2,995)
Recoveries:
Commercial 373 576 713
Income producing - commercial real estate 185 — —
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 94 55 25
Construction - commercial and residential — 36 1,627
Other consumer — 6 6
Total recoveries 652 673 2,371
Net charge-offs (38,555) (18,850) (624)
Provision for credit losses - loans 67,005 30,346 103
Balance at end of year $ 114,390 $ 85,940 $ 74,444
Ratio of allowance for credit losses to total loans outstanding at year end 1.44 % 1.08 % 0.97 %
Ratio of net charge-offs during the year to average loans outstanding during the year 0.48 % 0.24 % 0.01 %
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The following table reflects the allocation of the ACL at December 31, 2024 and 2023 by loan category and the percentage of allowance in each category. The allocation of the allowance at December 31, 2024 includes allowance for credit losses of $17.1 million against individually assessed loans of $208.7 million, as compared to allowance for credit losses of $0.6 million against individually assessed loans of $66.1 million at December 31, 2023. The allocation of the allowance to each category is not necessarily indicative of future losses or charge-offs and does not restrict the usage of the allowance to absorb losses in any category.
December 31,
2024
2023
(dollars in thousands) Amount % of Total ACL % of Total Loans Amount % of Total ACL % of Total Loans
Commercial $ 19,390 17 % 15 % $ 17,824 21 % 18 %
Income producing - commercial real estate 55,185 48 % 51 % 40,050 47 % 51 %
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 22,654 19 % 16 % 14,333 16 % 15 %
Real estate mortgage - residential 610 1 % 1 % 861 1 % 1 %
Construction - commercial and residential 14,585 13 % 15 % 10,198 12 % 12 %
Construction - C&I (owner occupied) 1,282 1 % 1 % 1,992 2 % 2 %
Home equity 653 1 % 1 % 657 1 % 1 %
Other consumer 31 — % — % 25 — % — %
Total $ 114,390 100 % 100 % $ 85,940 100 % 100 %
Nonperforming Assets
The Company’s level of nonperforming assets, which is comprised of the amortized cost of loans delinquent 90 days or more, and nonaccrual loans, which includes the nonperforming portion of loan modifications, and the carrying value of other real estate owned ("OREO") totaled $211.4 million at December 31, 2024, representing 1.90% of total assets, as compared to $66.6 million at December 31, 2023, representing 0.57% of total assets. The increase is primarily due to the increase in nonperforming loans discussed below.
The Company had no accruing loans that were 90 days or more past due at December 31, 2024 or December 31, 2023. Management prioritizes remaining attentive to early signs of deterioration in borrowers’ financial conditions and to taking action designed to mitigate risk. The Company places loans on nonaccrual status if it deems collection to be doubtful. The Company believes, based on its loan portfolio risk analysis that its ACL at 1.44% of total loans at December 31, 2024, is adequate to absorb expected credit losses within the loan portfolio at that date.
Total nonperforming loans had an amortized cost of $208.7 million at December 31, 2024, representing 2.63% of total loans, compared to $65.5 million at December 31, 2023, representing 0.82% of total loans. The increase was primarily from the addition of four income-producing commercial real estate loans and one owner-occupied commercial real estate loan.
The CECL standard allows for institutions to evaluate individual loans in the event that the asset does not share similar risk characteristics with its original segmentation. This can occur due to credit deterioration, increased collateral dependency or other factors leading to impairment. In particular, the Company individually evaluates loans on nonaccrual, though it may individually evaluate other loans or groups of loans as well if it determines they no longer share similar risk with their assigned segment. Reserves on individually assessed loans are determined by one of two methods: the fair value of collateral or the discounted cash flow. Fair value of collateral is used for loans determined to be collateral dependent, and the fair value represents the net realizable value of the collateral, adjusted for sales costs, commissions, senior liens, etc. Discounted cash flow is used on loans that are not collateral dependent where structural concessions have been made and continuing payments are expected. The continuing payments are discounted over the expected life at the loan’s original contract rate and include adjustments for risk of default.
Nonperforming assets include loans that the Company considers to be individually assessed. Individually assessed loans are defined as those as to which we believe it is probable that we will not collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Loans that do not share risk characteristics consistent with similar loans are evaluated on an individual basis. For collateral dependent financial assets where the Company has determined that foreclosure of the collateral is probable, or where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company expects repayment of the financial asset to be provided substantially through the sale of the collateral, the ACL is measured based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost basis of the asset as of the measurement date. When repayment is expected to be from the operation of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the financial asset exceeds the NPV from the operation of the collateral. When repayment is expected to be from
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the sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the financial asset exceeds the fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated cost to sell. The ACL may be zero if the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date exceeds the amortized cost basis of the financial asset. Generally, all appraisals associated with individually assessed loans are updated on a not less than annual basis.
The Company evaluates all loan modifications according to the accounting guidance to determine if the modification results in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. Loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties that result in a direct change in the timing or amount of contractual cash flows include situations where there is principal forgiveness, interest rate reductions, other-than-insignificant payment delays, term extensions, and combinations of the listed modifications. Modifications with terms not as favorable to the Company as the terms for comparable loans to other customers with similar collection risk who are not refinancing or restructuring a loan with the Company and which have a direct impact on cash flows are considered modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. A loan that is considered a modified loan may be evaluated for disclosure if the commitment is $500 thousand or greater. Management strives to identify borrowers in financial difficulty early and work with them to modify their loan to more affordable terms before their loan reaches nonaccrual status, foreclosure or repossession of the collateral to minimize economic loss to the Company.
Commercial and consumer loans modified are closely monitored for delinquency as an early indicator of possible future default. If loans modified in a loan restructuring subsequently default, the Company evaluates the loan for possible further impairment. The allowance may be increased, adjustments may be made in the allocation of the allowance, or partial charge-offs may be taken to further write-down the carrying value of the loan.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Bank modified 41 loans with a total amortized cost of $401.8 million at December 31, 2024 (5.1% of the loan portfolio). These loans received extended loan terms of between approximately one to 36 months.
As of December 31, 2024, the payment status of six loans that were modified in the preceding twelve months, which totaled $137.1 million of amortized cost basis, including two loans with an amortized cost basis of $5.4 million were 30 to 89 days past due, and the other four loans with a total amortized cost basis of $131.7 million were on nonaccrual status. As of December 31, 2024, additional loans that were modified in the preceding twelve months which were performing under their modified terms totaled $264.7 million of amortized cost basis.
Management, from time-to-time and in the ordinary course of business, implements renewals, modifications, extensions and/or changes in terms of loans to borrowers who have the ability to repay on reasonable market-based terms, as circumstances may warrant, and therefore, such modifications are not considered to be loan restructurings to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty, as the accommodation of a borrower's request does not rise to the level of a concession if the modified transaction is at market rates and terms and/or the borrower is not experiencing financial difficulty. For example: (1) adverse weather conditions may create a short term cash flow issue for an otherwise profitable retail business which suggests a temporary interest only period on an amortizing loan; (2) there may be delays in absorption on a real estate project which reasonably suggests extension of the loan maturity at market terms; or (3) there may be maturing loans to borrowers with demonstrated repayment ability who are not in a position at the time of maturity to obtain alternate long-term financing.
Included in nonperforming assets at December 31, 2024 is OREO of $2.7 million, consisting of five foreclosed properties, compared to OREO of $1.1 million, consisting of three foreclosed properties at December 31, 2023. OREO properties are carried at the lower of cost or at fair value less estimated costs to sell.
It is the Company's policy to generally obtain third party appraisals prior to foreclosure and to obtain updated third party appraisals on OREO properties generally not less frequently than annually. Generally, the Company would obtain updated appraisals or evaluations where it has reason to believe, based upon market indications (such as comparable sales, a scenario in which the Company is considering legitimate offers below carrying value, broker indications and similar factors), that the current appraisal does not accurately reflect current value. There were two OREO sales in 2024 and two in 2023, generating proceeds of $656 thousand and $987 thousand, respectively.
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The following table shows the amounts of nonperforming assets, including loans at amortized cost and OREO at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell, at the dates indicated:
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Nonaccrual Loans:
Commercial $ 2,048 $ 2,049
Income producing - commercial real estate 168,454 40,926
Owner occupied - commercial real estate 37,744 19,836
Real estate mortgage - residential 157 1,946
Construction - commercial and residential — 525
Home equity 303 242
Total nonperforming loans (1)
208,706 65,524
Other real estate owned 2,743 1,108
Total nonperforming assets $ 211,449 $ 66,632
Coverage ratio, allowance for credit losses to total nonperforming loans 55 % 131 %
Ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans 2.63 % 0.82 %
Ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets 1.90 % 0.57 %
(1) Gross interest income of $8.8 million, and $4.2 million would have been recorded for 2024, and 2023, respectively, if nonaccrual loans shown above had been current and in accordance with their original terms, while interest actually recorded on such loans was $4.1 million, and $1.5 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s policy for placing loans on nonaccrual status.
Significant variation in the amount of nonperforming loans may occur from period to period because the amount of nonperforming loans depends largely on the condition of a relatively small number of individual credits and borrowers relative to the total loan portfolio.
At December 31, 2024, there were $426.4 million of Substandard loans. Based upon their status as potential problem loans, loans risk rated special mention or substandard receive heightened scrutiny and ongoing intensive risk management. Additionally, the Company's loan loss allowance methodology incorporates increased reserve factors for certain loans considered potential problem loans as compared to the general portfolio.
Other Earning Assets
Bank owned life insurance at December 31, 2024 amounted to $115.8 million, as compared to $112.9 million at December 31, 2023. Refer to Note 18 to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
Intangible Assets
The Company recognized a servicing asset for the computed value of servicing fees on the sales of multifamily FHA loans prior to selling those in 2024. The Company currently recognizes a servicing asset for the guaranteed portion of Small Business Administration ("SBA") loans and other loans sold with retained servicing which is in excess of the normal servicing fees. Assumptions related to loan term and amortization are made to arrive at the initial recorded value, which is included in intangible assets, net, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the balance of excess servicing fees was $16 thousand and $37 thousand, respectively, and were amortized as a reduction of actual service fees collected, which is a component of other income.
In 2008, the Company recorded an unidentified intangible asset (goodwill) incident to the acquisition of Fidelity of $2.2 million. In 2014, the Company recorded an initial amount of unidentified intangible (goodwill) incident to the acquisition of Virginia Heritage of approximately $102 million.
During the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, Management determined that a triggering event had occurred as a result of the share price trading under book value for more than four quarters due to changes in macroeconomic conditions and market volatility in the financial markets and the banking industry due to the impact from rising interest rates. As a result of the triggering event, the Company engaged a third-party service provider to assist Management with the determination of the fair value of the Company in the second quarter of 2024. The resulting calculations indicated that the fair value did not exceed the carrying amount of the Company's sole reporting unit as of May 31, 2024 which resulted in a determination that goodwill had become fully impaired. The goodwill impairment charge of $104.2 million reduced fully the carrying value of the Company's
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goodwill as of May 31, 2024. The impaired goodwill is primarily related to the acquisition of the Virginia Heritage Bank in October 2014. The impairment charge did not impact our cash flows, liquidity ratios, core operating performance, or regulatory capital ratios.
The method employed to determine the fair value of the reporting unit was a combination of a risk-weighted income and market valuation methodologies, comprised of the discounted cash flow method, the guideline public company method and the guideline transaction method. Significant judgment is necessary in the determination of the fair value of a reporting unit. Refer to "Critical Accounting Policies" for additional details.
Refer to Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for information on the initial and current carrying values as well as additions and amortization.
Deposits and Other Borrowings
The principal sources of funds for the Bank are core deposits, consisting of demand deposits, money market accounts, Negotiable Order of Withdrawal ("NOW") accounts, savings accounts, and certificates of deposits. The deposit base includes transaction accounts, time and savings accounts and accounts which customers use for cash management and which provide the Bank with a source of fee income and cross-marketing opportunities, as well as an attractive source of lower cost funds. To meet funding needs during periods of high loan demand and seasonal variations in core deposits, the Bank regularly utilizes alternative funding sources such as secured borrowings from the FHLB, federal funds purchased lines of credit from correspondent banks and brokered deposits from regional and national brokerage firms. Additionally, the Bank participated in the BTFP established by Federal Reserve Bank in March 2023. The Federal Reserve announced in January 2024 that the BTFP will stop originating new loans on March 11, 2024, as scheduled. In January 2024, the Company borrowed an additional $500.0 million through the BTFP and refinanced $500.0 million under the program, each at an interest rate of 4.76% and a maturity date in January 2025. These loans were repaid in the fourth quarter of 2024.
For the year ended December 31, 2024, deposits were $9.1 billion as compared to $8.8 billion at December 31, 2023, an increase of 4%. The increase was primarily attributable to a $558.2 million increase in interest bearing time deposits and a $285.2 million increase in savings and money market accounts, offset by a $734.7 million reduction in noninterest bearing deposits. These deposit changes were the result of growth in time deposits from the company's digital acquisition channel, partially offset by a decline in deposits from a third party payment processor related to the fluctuations in deposit levels resulting from its business, as well as declines in some public and brokered fundings.
Noninterest bearing deposits decreased $734.7 million or 32% to $1.5 billion at December 31, 2024 as compared to $2.3 billion at December 31, 2023, while interest bearing deposits increased by $499.5 million, or 12%. Within interest bearing deposits, money market and savings accounts collectively amounted to $3.6 billion at December 31, 2024, or 39% of total deposits, as compared to $3.3 billion, or 38% of total deposits, at December 31, 2023, an increase of $285.2 million, or 9%.
No single depositor represented more than 10% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024. The ten largest depositors not associated with brokered pass-through relationships represented approximately 23% of total deposits in the aggregate as of December 31, 2024. The Company maintains a significant deposit relationship with a third-party payments processor, whose business results in deposit inflows and outflows on an ongoing basis, which contributes to variations in period end compared to average deposit balances.
Average total deposits for the year ended December 31, 2024 were $9.5 billion, as compared to $8.9 billion for the same period in 2023, a 7% increase.
Time deposits were $2.8 billion at December 31, 2024, which was 30% of deposits. This was an increase from $2.2 billion at December 31, 2023, which was 25% of deposits. The increase in time deposits was driven by growth in the Company's digital acquisition channel.
The following table summarizes time deposits in excess of $250 thousand by maturity:
(dollars in thousands) December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Three months or less $ 189,817 $ 119,880
More than three months through six months 387,849 318,353
More than three months through twelve months 710,021 368,103
Over twelve months 421,530 726,758
Total $ 1,709,217 $ 1,533,094
Maturities of time deposits with balances of $250 thousand or more represented 19% and 17% of total deposits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information
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regarding the maturities of time deposits and the Average Balances Table in the “Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin” section for the average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits. Time deposits of $250 thousand or more can be more volatile and more expensive than time deposits of less than $250 thousand. However, because the Bank focuses on relationship banking, and its marketplace demographics are favorable, its historical experience has been that large time deposits have not been more volatile or significantly more expensive than smaller denomination certificates.
From time to time, when appropriate in order to fund strong loan demand or account for increased deposit outflow, the Bank accepts brokered time deposits, generally in denominations of less than $250 thousand, from a regional brokerage firm and other national brokerage networks, including IntraFi Network, LLC ("IntraFi"). Additionally, the Bank participates in the CDARS and the ICS products, which provide for reciprocal (“two-way”) transactions among banks facilitated by IntraFi for the purpose of maximizing FDIC insurance. ICS also allows for the sale of deposits into the IntraFI Network (“One-Way Sale”) which provides FDIC insurance for the depositor without reciprocal deposits returned to the Bank. Deposits sold through the IntraFi One-Way Sale process are not included in the Bank’s deposit totals.The sale of ICS deposits allows the Bank to moderate the fluctuation of deposit balances. As of December 31, 2024, the Bank sold $115.3 million through the IntraFi One-Way Sale network. The total of reciprocal deposits at December 31, 2024 was $1.4 billion (16% of total deposits) as compared to $1.7 billion (19% of total deposits) at December 31, 2023. These sources are believed by the Company to represent a reliable and cost efficient alternative funding source for the Bank, but there can be no assurance that they will continue to be adequate or appropriate to meet our liquidity needs. The Bank also is able to obtain one way CDARS deposits and participates in IntraFi’s Insured Network Deposit Program, (“IND”). The Bank had $894.7 million and $786.5 million of IND brokered deposits as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. However, to the extent that the condition or reputation of the Company or Bank deteriorates, or to the extent that there are significant changes in market interest rates which the Company and Bank do not elect to match, or if aggregate funding available to banks change due to changes in the marketplace, we may experience an outflow of brokered deposits or difficulty with obtaining them in the future. In that event we would be required to obtain alternate sources for funding, which may increase our cost of funds and negatively impact our net interest margin.
We have used brokered deposits and intend to continue to use brokered deposits as one of our funding sources to support future growth. At December 31, 2024, total brokered deposits were $4.0 billion, or 43.61% of total deposits, of which $1.4 billion were attributable to CDARS and ICS two-way accounts. At December 31, 2023, total brokered deposits (which did not include the CDARS and ICS two-way) were $2.5 billion, or 28.8% of total deposits. These brokered deposits were comprised of savings, money market and other interest-bearing transaction accounts of $2.7 billion and $1.1 billion, and time deposits of $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in the proportion of total deposits classified as brokered deposits reflected that CDARS and ICS two-way were included in brokered deposits at December 31, 2024. The Company uses the Call Report definitions for regulatory reporting by the Bank to classify its deposits as brokered deposits.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, total deposits included estimated totals of $2.2 billion and $2.8 billion of uninsured deposits, which represented 24% and 31% of total deposits, respectively. The decrease in the percentage of the Bank's deposits that are uninsured was in part due to customers' increased use of the products facilitated by IntraFi that enable customers to maximize FDIC deposit insurance coverage for their deposits.
At December 31, 2024, the Company had $1.5 billion in noninterest bearing demand deposits, representing 17% of total deposits compared to $2.3 billion of noninterest bearing demand deposits at December 31, 2023, or 26% of total deposits. The decrease in noninterest bearing demand deposits was offset by the increase in time deposits during the year ended December 31, 2024, due to continued elevated interest rates in 2024. Average noninterest bearing deposits over total deposits for years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 were 21% and 28%, respectively. The Bank also offers business NOW accounts and business savings accounts to accommodate those customers who may have excess short term cash to deploy in interest earning assets.
As an enhancement to the basic noninterest bearing demand deposit account, the Company offers a sweep account, or “customer repurchase agreement,” allowing qualifying businesses to earn interest on short-term excess funds, which are not suited for either a certificate of deposit or a money market account. The balances in these accounts were $33.2 million at December 31, 2024 compared to $30.6 million at December 31, 2023. Customer repurchase agreements are not deposits and are not insured by the FDIC, but are collateralized by U.S. agency securities and/or U.S. agency backed MBS. These accounts are particularly suitable to businesses with significant fluctuation in the levels of cash flows. Attorney and title company escrow accounts are examples of accounts which can benefit from this product, as are customers who may require collateral for deposits in excess of FDIC insurance limits but do not qualify for other pledging arrangements. This program requires the Company to maintain a sufficient investment securities level to accommodate the fluctuations in balances which may occur in these accounts.
At December 31, 2024, the Company had $2.8 billion in time deposits, an increase of $0.6 billion from year end December 31, 2023. The Bank raises and renews time deposits through its branch network, for its public funds customers, and through brokered certificates of deposits ("CDs") to meet the needs of its community of savers and as part of its interest rate
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risk management and liquidity planning. Throughout the year, the Bank raised rates in most of its time deposit accounts in response to the continued elevated interest rate environment.
The following tables summarize the Company's borrowings at December 31, 2024 and 2023 and activities on borrowings for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023:
(dollars in thousands) Borrowings - Principal Unamortized Deferred Issuance Costs Net Borrowings Outstanding Interest Rates (1)
December 31, 2024
Customer repurchase agreements $ 33,157 $ — $ 33,157 2.67 %
Short-term borrowings:
FHLB 490,000 — 490,000 4.81 %
Long-term borrowings:
Senior notes
77,665 (1,557) 76,108 10.00 %
Total $ 600,822 $ (1,557) $ 599,265
December 31, 2023
Customer repurchase agreements $ 30,587 $ — $ 30,587 3.42 %
Short-term borrowings:
FRB BTFP secured borrowings 1,300,000 — 1,300,000 4.53 %
Subordinated notes 70,000 (82) 69,918 5.75 %
Total $ 1,400,587 $ (82) $ 1,400,505
Years Ended December 31,
2024
2023
(dollars in thousands) Average Daily Balance (2)
Maximum Month-End Balance (2)
Average Daily Balance (2)
Maximum Month-End Balance (2)
Customer repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased $ 37,872 $ 44,454 $ 36,663 $ 54,851
Short-term borrowings:
FHLB secured borrowings
$ 373,544 $ 601,100 $ 549,522 $ 1,770,156
FRB: BTFP secured borrowings
$ 1,103,005 $ 1,800,000 $ 971,507 $ 1,300,000
Subordinated notes, 5.75% $ 47,049 $ 70,000 $ 70,000 $ 70,000
Long-term borrowings:
Senior notes
$ 19,735 $ 77,665 $ — $ —
(1) Represent the weighted average interest rate on customer repurchase agreements, borrowings outstanding and the coupon interest rate on the subordinated notes, which approximates the effective interest rate.
(2) The average daily balance and maximum month-end balance are calculated on the principal balance on the borrowings.
Outstanding short-term advances and borrowings are part of the overall asset liability strategy to support loan growth.
The Company had no outstanding balances under its federal funds lines of credit provided by correspondent banks (which are unsecured) at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
At December 31, 2024 and 2023, the Company had outstanding balances of $490.0 million and $0.0 million, respectively, of FHLB advances borrowed as part of the overall asset liability strategy. Outstanding FHLB advances are secured by collateral consisting of specifically pledged marketable investment securities, a blanket lien on qualifying loans in the Bank’s commercial mortgage, residential mortgage and home equity loan portfolios.
Additionally, at December 31, 2024, the Company had no advances outstanding under the BTFP, and $1.3 billion, outstanding at December 31, 2023. In March, 2023, the Federal Reserve announced that it would make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions through the creation of a new BTFP, which provided eligible depository institutions, including the Company's subsidiary bank, EagleBank, an additional source of liquidity. This program has ended as scheduled.
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The subordinated notes outstanding at December 31, 2023 comprised the Company's August 5, 2014 issuance of $70.0 million of subordinated notes, which matured and were repaid in September 2024.
On September 30, 2024, the Company closed a private placement of its 10.00% senior unsecured debt totaling $77.7 million maturing on September 30, 2029 (the "2029 Senior Notes" or "Original Notes"). At December 31, 2024, the carrying value of these 2029 Senior Notes was $76.1 million which reflected $1.6 million in unamortized deferred financing costs that are being amortized over the life of the 2029 Senior Notes.
In connection with the issuance of the 2029 Senior Notes, the Company also entered into a registration rights agreement dated September 30, 2024 with the purchasers of the 2029 Senior Notes (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company filed an exchange offer registration statement with the SEC to exchange the Senior Notes for substantially identical notes registered under the Securities Act (the "Exchange Notes"). The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical to the terms of the Original Notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights applicable to the Original Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes. The Company completed the exchange offer on January 16, 2025.
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS
The Company has various financial obligations, including contractual obligations and commitments that may require future cash payments. The following table shows details on these fixed and determinable obligations as of December 31, 2024, in the time period indicated.
(dollars in thousands) Within One
Year One to
Three Years Three to
Five Years Over Five
Years Total
Deposits without a stated maturity (1)
$ 6,355,415 $ — $ — $ — $ 6,355,415
Time deposits (1)
2,210,348 522,376 42,939 — 2,775,663
Borrowed funds (2)
523,157 — 76,108 — 599,265
Operating lease obligations 5,060 6,105 5,046 7,604 23,815
Outside data processing (3)
5,857 13,059 7,258 — 26,174
George Mason sponsorship (4)
688 1,400 1,400 3,975 7,463
LIHTC investments (5)
15,110 4,769 665 429 20,973
Total $ 9,115,635 $ 547,709 $ 133,416 $ 12,008 $ 9,808,768
(1) Excludes accrued interest payable at December 31, 2024.
(2) Borrowed funds include customer repurchase agreements and other short-term and long-term borrowings.
(3) The Bank has outstanding obligations under its current core data processing contract that expires in June 2029.
(4) The Bank has the option of terminating the George Mason University ("George Mason") agreement at the end of contract year 15 (that is, effective June 30, 2030). Should the Bank elect to exercise its right to terminate the George Mason contract, its contractual obligation would decrease by $3.6 million for the option period (years 16-20).
(5) Low Income Housing Tax Credits (“LIHTC”) expected payments for unfunded affordable housing commitments.
The Company is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. They involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the balance sheets. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement the Company has in particular classes of financial instruments.
Various commitments to extend credit are made in the normal course of banking business. Letters of credit are also issued for the benefit of customers. These commitments are subject to loan underwriting standards and geographic boundaries consistent with the Company’s loans outstanding.
Unfunded loan commitments are agreements whereby the Bank has made a commitment to lend to a customer as long as there is satisfaction of the terms or conditions established in the contract, and the borrower has accepted the commitment in writing. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee before the commitment period is extended. In many instances, borrowers are required to meet performance milestones in order to draw on a commitment as is the case in construction loans, or to have a required level of collateral in order to draw on a commitment as is the case in asset based lending credit facilities. Collateral obtained varies and may include certificates of deposit, accounts receivable, inventory, property and equipment, residential and CRE. Since commitments may expire without being drawn, the total commitment amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
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Unfunded lines of credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of the terms or conditions established in the contract. Lines of credit generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since lines of credit may expire without being drawn, the total unfunded line of credit amount does not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Letters of credit include standby and commercial letters of credit. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Bank to guarantee the performance by the Bank's customer to a third party. Standby letters of credit generally become payable upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of the underlying contract with the third party. Standby letters of credit are generally not drawn. Commercial letters of credit are issued specifically to facilitate commerce and typically result in the commitment being drawn when the underlying transaction is consummated between the customer and a third party. The contractual amount of these letters of credit represents the maximum potential future payments guaranteed by the Bank. The Bank has recourse against the customer for any amount it is required to pay to a third party under a letter of credit, and holds cash and or other collateral on those standby letters of credit for which collateral is deemed necessary. At December 31, 2024, approximately 71% of the dollar amount of standby letters of credit was collateralized.
Loan commitments outstanding and lines and letters of credit at December 31, 2024 and 2023 were as follows:
(dollars in thousands) 2024 2023
Unfunded loan commitments $ 1,318,133 $ 1,981,334
Unfunded lines of credit 88,305 98,614
Letters of credit 69,051 87,146
Total $ 1,475,489 $ 2,167,094
Unfunded loan commitments declined in 2024 by $663.2 million, as compared to 2023, as previously committed construction projects advanced toward completion, while new construction loan commitments during the year were limited as the Bank advanced its strategic goals.
The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary list of loan commitments at December 31, 2024 and 2023.
In connection with deposit guarantees, the Bank collateralizes certain public funds using qualified investment securities.
With the exception of these off-balance sheet arrangements, the Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, capital expenditures or capital resources, that is material to investors.
LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT
Liquidity is a measure of the Company’s and Bank’s ability to meet loan demand and to satisfy depositor withdrawal requirements in an orderly manner. The Bank’s primary sources of liquidity consist of cash and cash balances due from correspondent banks, excess reserves at the Federal Reserve, loan repayments, federal funds sold and other short-term investments, maturities and sales of investment securities, income from operations and new core deposits into the Bank. Approximately 57% of the Company's investment portfolio of debt securities is held in an available-for-sale status which allows for flexibility, subject to holdings held as collateral for customer repurchase agreements and public funds, to generate cash from sales as needed to meet ongoing loan demand. As of December 31, 2024, the unrealized losses recorded on the available-for-sale securities were acting as a deterrent to any sale of those securities to raise liquidity. However, these securities can be utilized as pledged assets that provide secondary liquidity through the form of additional available borrowings. Investment securities that are classified as held-to-maturity can also be used as collateral to pledge against additional borrowings. These sources of liquidity are considered primary and are supplemented by the ability of the Company and Bank to borrow funds or issue brokered deposits, which are termed secondary sources of liquidity and which are substantial.
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The following table summarizes the Company's secondary sources of liquidity in use and available at December 31, 2024:
(dollars in thousands)
Secondary Sources of Liquidity in Use
Secondary Sources of Remaining Liquidity Available
Unsecured brokered deposits (1)
$ 1,099,075 $ 1,308,598
FHLB secured borrowings
490,000 874,270
FRB:
Discount window secured borrowings
— 1,800,646
Federal funds lines
— 145,000
Customer repurchase agreements
33,151 —
Unpledged assets: (2)
Interest-bearing deposits with banks
N/A 21,406
Investment securities
N/A 1,280,156
Total
$ 1,622,226 $ 5,430,076
(1) The available liquidity from the unsecured brokered deposits represents unsecured funds under one-way CDARS and ICS brokered deposits that would require then current market rates and be dependent on the availability of funds in those networks.
(2) Comprise unencumbered assets that could be liquidated or used as collateral to obtain additional liquidity through debt financing.
The funding mix has continued to change throughout the year ended December 31, 2024. Deposits at year end were $9.1 billion and $8.8 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase was primarily attributable to a $558.2 million increase in interest bearing time deposits, offset by a $734.7 million reduction in noninterest bearing deposits and a $285.2 million reduction in savings and money market accounts. The growth in interest bearing deposits was driven by the increase in time deposit through the digital acquisition channel during the year ended December 31, 2024, as discussed in "Deposits and Other Borrowings" above. Short-term borrowings were $0.5 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The decrease in short-term borrowings was due to the early retirement of BTFP borrowings during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2024 partially offset by an increase in FHLB borrowings.
Additionally, the Bank can purchase up to $145.0 million in federal funds on an unsecured basis from its correspondents, against which there were no amounts outstanding at December 31, 2024 and can borrow unsecured funds under one-way CDARS and ICS brokered deposits in the amount of $1.1 billion, against which there was $73 million outstanding at December 31, 2024. At December 31, 2024, the Bank also has custodial agreements with various broker-dealers through IntraFi's IND program which provided $894.7 million of brokered deposits.
At December 31, 2024, the Bank was also eligible to draw advances from the FHLB up to $1.4 billion based on assets pledged as collateral to the FHLB, against which the Bank borrowed $490.0 million as of December 31, 2024. The Bank posted additional collateral to the FHLB during the year ended December 31, 2024 to increase its availability to meet its ongoing liquidity needs and expects to continue utilizing this source of funding in the future.
In March 2023, the Federal Reserve Board announced that it would make available additional funding to eligible depository institutions through the creation of the BTFP. The BTFP provided eligible depository institutions, including the Bank, an additional source of liquidity. In January 2024, the Company borrowed an additional $500.0 million through the BTFP and refinanced $500.0 million under the program at an interest rate of 4.76% and a maturity in January 2025. The Federal Reserve discontinued the origination of new loans on March 11, 2024, as scheduled. During the year ended December 31, 2024, this alternative source of liquidity was being utilized for balance sheet optimization. The Company repaid $500.0 million in November 2024, and the remaining $500.0 million was repaid in December 2024.
The Bank may enter into repurchase agreements as well as obtain additional borrowing capabilities from the FHLB provided adequate collateral exists to secure these lending relationships. The Bank also has a back-up borrowing facility through the Discount Window at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (“Federal Reserve Bank”). This facility, which can be used to borrow up to $1.8 billion, is collateralized with specific loan assets identified to the Federal Reserve Bank. During the third quarter, additional collateral in the form of acceptable loans was pledged to the Discount Window increasing available contingent capacity. It is anticipated that, except for periodic testing, this facility would be utilized for contingency funding
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only. There can be no assurance, however, that these alternative sources of liquidity will continue to be available or will be sufficient to meet our ongoing liquidity needs.
In total, the Bank's aggregate borrowing capacity at December 31, 2024 was $4.0 billion, which consists of $0.9 billion and $1.8 billion additional aggregate capacity to borrow from the FHLB and the Federal Reserve's Discount Window, respectively, on assets that have been pledged. The Bank's aggregate borrowing capacity also includes unencumbered securities totaling approximately $1.3 billion available for pledging to the FHLB or Federal Reserve for additional borrowing capacity.
The loss of deposits, including through disintermediation, is one of the greater risks to liquidity. Disintermediation occurs most commonly when rates rise and depositors withdraw deposits seeking higher rates in alternative savings and investment sources than the Bank may offer. The Bank makes competitive deposit interest rate comparisons weekly and makes adjustments from time to time to ensure its interest rate offerings are competitive.
There is, however, a risk that the cost of funds will increase significantly as the Bank competes for deposits or that some deposits would be lost if rates were to increase and the Bank elected not to remain competitive with its deposit rates. Under those conditions, the Bank believes that it is well positioned to use other sources of funds such as FHLB borrowings, brokered deposits, repurchase agreements and correspondent banks’ lines of credit to offset a decline in deposits in the short run, but the use of such sources may negatively impact our net interest margin and our earnings. The continuing elevated cost of funding negatively impacted our net interest margin. In September 2024 and the fourth quarter of 2024, the Federal Reserve decreased interest rates by a total of 100 basis points, which had minimal impact on net interest margin for most of the year ended December 31, 2024.
There can be no assurance that the mix of sources of funds available to us at any particular time in the future will be adequate to meet our future liquidity needs. However, the market for customer and brokered deposits is highly competitive and the risk of disintermediation is high, particularly in a high interest rate environment. Most of our noninterest bearing deposits are operating deposits or compensating balances that are held in connection with lending relationships. The potential outflow of such deposits is a risk unless we pay a more competitive rate of interest on them, which could significantly and negatively impact the Bank’s interest expense and net interest margin, as the transfer of some noninterest-bearing deposits to interest-bearing deposits did in 2024. Over the long-term, an adjustment in assets and change in business emphasis could compensate for a potential loss of deposits. The Bank also maintains a marketable investment portfolio to provide flexibility in the event of significant liquidity needs. The Asset Liability Committee ("ALCO") has adopted policy guidelines, which emphasize the importance of core deposits, adequate asset liquidity and a contingency funding plan.
The Company believes it maintains sufficient primary and secondary sources of liquidity to fund its operations. During the year ended December 31, 2024, average short term liquidity was $3.2 billion comprising interest bearing deposits with other banks and other short-term investments and AFS securities, which is above the Bank's average needs. Secondary sources of liquidity at December 31, 2024 were $5.4 billion, which include the FHLB, other insured brokered deposit sweep programs, unpledged securities, Fed funds lines, and the FRB Discount Window. At December 31, 2024, the Company held total securities available to be pledged with an estimated fair value of $1.3 billion. At December 31, 2024, under the Bank’s liquidity formula, it had $6.8 billion of primary and secondary liquidity sources. Management believes the amount is adequate to meet current and projected funding needs.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND ADEQUACY
The assessment of capital adequacy depends on a number of factors such as asset quality and mix, liquidity, earnings performance, changing competitive conditions and economic forces, stress testing, regulatory measures and policy, as well as the overall level of growth and complexity of the balance sheet. The adequacy of the Company’s current and future capital needs is monitored by management on an ongoing basis. Management seeks to maintain a capital structure that will assure an adequate level of capital to support anticipated asset growth and to absorb potential losses.
The federal banking regulators have issued guidance for those institutions, which are deemed to have concentrations in commercial real estate lending. Pursuant to the supervisory criteria contained in the guidance for identifying institutions with a potential commercial real estate concentration risk, institutions which have (1) total reported loans for construction, land development and other land acquisitions which represent 100% or more of an institution’s total risk-based capital; or (2) total commercial real estate loans representing 300% or more of the institution’s total risk-based capital and the institution’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased 50% or more during the prior 36 months are identified as having potential commercial real estate concentration risk. Institutions which are deemed to have concentrations in commercial real estate lending are expected to employ heightened levels of risk management with respect to their commercial real estate portfolios and may be required to hold higher levels of capital. The Company, like many community banks, has commercial real estate loans, and the Company has experienced growth in its commercial real estate portfolio in recent years. Although growth in that segment over the past 36 months at 26.8% did not exceed the 50% threshold laid out in the regulatory guidance, we expect the
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heightened supervisory expectations to continue to apply to us given the federal banking regulators’ general focus on commercial real estate exposures at banks.
At December 31, 2024, we did exceed the construction, land development, and other land acquisitions regulatory concentration threshold, and we continue to monitor our concentration in commercial real estate lending and remain in compliance with the guidance issued by the federal banking regulators. Construction, land and land development loans represent 122.60% of consolidated risk based capital. Management has extensive experience in commercial real estate lending, and has implemented and continues to maintain heightened risk management procedures and strong underwriting criteria with respect to its commercial real estate portfolio.
Loan monitoring practices include but are not limited to periodic stress testing analysis to evaluate changes to cash flows, owing to interest rate increases and declines in net operating income. Nevertheless, as our commercial real estate concentration fluctuates each quarter, we may be required to maintain higher levels of capital as a result of our commercial real estate concentrations, which could require us to obtain additional capital and may adversely affect shareholder returns. The Company seeks to manage the risks relating to commercial real estate and its capital adequacy through the development and implementation of its Capital Policy and Capital Plan, the preparation of pro-forma projections including stress testing and the development of internal minimum targets for regulatory capital ratios that are subject to approval by the Board and in excess of well capitalized ratios (as defined in the section “Regulation” above).
The Company and the Bank are subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by federal banking agencies. Capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors and the regulators can lower classifications in certain cases. Failure to meet various capital requirements can initiate regulatory action that could have a direct material effect on the financial statements.
At December 31, 2024, the capital position of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Bank, continue to exceed regulatory requirements and well-capitalized guidelines. The primary indicators relied on by bank regulators in measuring the capital position are four ratios as follows: Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, Total risk-based capital ratio, the Leverage ratio and the CET1 ratio. Tier 1 capital consists of common and qualifying preferred shareholders’ equity less goodwill and other intangibles. Total risk-based capital consists of Tier 1 capital, plus qualifying subordinated debt and the qualifying portion of the ACL. Risk-based capital ratios are calculated with reference to risk-weighted assets, which are prescribed by regulation. The measure of Tier 1 capital to average assets for the prior quarter is often referred to as the leverage ratio. The CET1 ratio is the Tier 1 capital ratio but excluding preferred stock.
The prompt corrective action regulations provide five categories, including well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If a bank is adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to, among other things, accept, renew or roll-over brokered deposits. If a bank is undercapitalized, capital distributions and growth and expansion are limited, and plans for capital restoration are required. If a bank is not well-capitalized, interest rate restrictions apply.
The FRB and the FDIC have adopted the Basel III Rules implementing the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks. Under the Basel III Rules, the Company and Bank are required to maintain a CET1 ratio of 4.5% and a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets, effectively resulting in a minimum CET1 ratio of 7.0%; a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6.0%, or 8.5% with the fully phased in capital conservation buffer; a minimum total capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 10.5% with the fully phased-in capital conservation buffer; and a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. The Basel III Rules also increased risk weights for certain assets and off-balance-sheet exposures. See the “Regulation” section for additional information regarding regulatory capital requirements. At December 31, 2024, the Company and the Bank met all these requirements.
The Company announced a regular quarterly cash dividend on January 22, 2025 of $0.165 per share to shareholders of record on February 7, 2025 and it was paid on February 21, 2025. Bank and holding company regulations, as well as Maryland law, impose certain restrictions on dividend payments by the Bank, as well as restricting extensions of credit and transfers of assets between the Bank and the Company. See further detail In "Item 5 - Market for Registrant's Common Equity" section.
The ability of the Company to continue to grow is dependent on its earnings and those of the Bank, the ability to obtain additional funds for contribution to the Bank’s capital, through additional borrowings, through the sale of additional common stock or preferred stock or through the issuance of additional qualifying capital instruments, such as subordinated debt. The capital levels required to be maintained by the Company and Bank may be impacted as a result of the Bank’s concentrations in commercial real estate loans. See further detail at the “Regulation” and “Risk Factors” sections.
The Company’s capital ratios were all well in excess of requirements established by the Federal Reserve Board and the Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of those required to be classified as a “well capitalized” institution under the prompt
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corrective action provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The actual capital amounts and ratios for the Company and Bank as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 are presented in the table below:
Company Bank Minimum Required
For Capital
Adequacy Purposes (1)
To Be Well
Capitalized
Under Prompt
Corrective Action
Regulations (2)
(dollars in thousands) Actual
Amount Ratio Actual
Amount Ratio
As of December 31, 2024
CET1 capital (to risk weighted assets) $ 1,369,643 14.63 % $ 1,373,857 14.76 % 7.00 % 6.50 %
Total capital (to risk weighted assets) 1,484,420 15.86 % 1,488,635 16.00 % 10.50 % 10.00 %
Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 1,369,643 14.63 % 1,373,857 14.76 % 8.50 % 8.00 %
Tier 1 capital (to average assets) 1,369,643 10.74 % 1,373,857 10.82 % 4.00 % 5.00 %
As of December 31, 2023
CET1 capital (to risk weighted assets) $ 1,335,967 13.90 % $ 1,330,001 13.92 % 7.00 % 6.50 %
Total capital (to risk weighted assets) 1,421,347 14.79 % 1,415,381 14.81 % 10.50 % 10.00 %
Tier 1 capital (to risk weighted assets) 1,335,967 13.90 % 1,330,001 13.92 % 8.50 % 8.00 %
Tier 1 capital (to average assets) 1,335,967 10.73 % 1,330,001 10.72 % 4.00 % 5.00 %
(1) The risk-based ratios reflect the minimum requirement plus the capital conservation buffer of 2.50 %.
(2) Applies to Bank only
In December 2018, federal banking regulators issued a final rule that provides an optional three-year phase-in period for the adverse regulatory capital effects of adopting the CECL methodology pursuant to new accounting guidance for the recognition of credit losses on certain financial instruments, effective January 1, 2020. In March 2020, the federal banking regulators issued an interim final rule that provides banking organizations with an alternative option to temporarily delay for two years the estimated impact of the adoption of the CECL methodology on regulatory capital, followed by the three-year phase-in period. The cumulative amount that is not recognized in regulatory capital will be phased in at 25 percent per year beginning January 1, 2022. We have elected to adopt the option provided by the March 2020 interim final rule.
IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES
The Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto have been prepared in accordance with GAAP in the United States of America, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering the changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of operations. Unlike most industrial companies, nearly all of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a greater impact on our performance than do the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or to the same extent as the price of goods or services.
NEW AUTHORITATIVE ACCOUNTING GUIDANCE
Refer to Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for New Authoritative Accounting Guidance and their expected impact on the Company’s Financial Statements.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Asset/Liability Management of Interest Rate Risk
A fundamental risk in banking is exposure to market risk, specifically interest rate risk, since a bank’s earnings are largely dependent on net interest income. The Bank’s ALCO formulates and monitors the management of interest rate risk through policies and guidelines established by it and overseen by the Audit Committee and the full Board of Directors and through review of detailed reports discussed quarterly. In its consideration of risk limits, the ALCO considers the impact on earnings and capital, the level and direction of interest rates, liquidity, local economic conditions, outside threats and other factors. Banking is generally a business of managing the maturity and repricing mismatch inherent in its asset and liability cash flows to provide stable net interest income growth consistent with the Company’s profit objectives.
During the year ended December 31, 2024, the Company produced a net interest margin of 2.37% as compared to 2.53% during the same period in 2023 and continues to manage its overall interest rate risk position.
The Company, through its ALCO and ongoing financial management practices, monitors the interest rate environment in which it operates and adjusts the rates and maturities of its assets and liabilities to remain competitive and to achieve its overall financial objectives subject to established risk limits.
During 2024, the yield curve normalized and became less inverted as the short end of the curve came down as the long end increased as compared to the 2023 year end. As compared to the year 2023, the average two year U.S. Treasury rate in 2024 decreased by 21 basis points from 4.58% to 4.37%. The average five year U.S. Treasury rate increased by 7 basis points from 4.06% to 4.13% while the average ten year U.S. Treasury rate increased by 25 basis points from 3.96% to 4.21%. The Company’s cost of interest bearing deposits decreased by 14 basis points across its interest-bearing deposits, which comprise 83% of its total deposits, at December 31, 2024. The Company's result for net interest spread in 2024 was 1.28% unchanged from 2023.
Net interest spread was unchanged with offsetting decreases to interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities. The Company believes that the stable net interest spread for the full year 2024 has been consistent with its risk analysis at December 31, 2023 when accounting for balance sheet volume and mix changes. On an annual basis, the Company back-tests the actual change in its net interest spread against expected change and actual market interest rate movements and other factors impacting actual as compared to projected results.
The loan portfolio remained relatively flat throughout 2024. The re-pricing duration on the loan portfolio was 10.6 months at December 31, 2024 and 12 months at December 31, 2023, with fixed-rate loans amounting to 38.1% and 38.2% of total loans at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Variable and adjustable rate loans comprised 61.9% and 61.8% of total loans at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Variable rate loans are generally indexed to the Secured Overnight Funding Rate ("SOFR") or the Wall Street Journal prime interest rate, while adjustable rate loans are indexed primarily to the five year U.S. Treasury interest rate.
In the current and expected future interest rate environment, the Company has been maintaining its investment portfolio to manage the balance between yield and risk in its portfolio of MBS. Further, the Company has been principally collecting cash flows from the investment portfolio to provide liquidity. At December 31, 2024, the amortized cost less allowance of the investment portfolio decreased by $336.5 million, or 12.5%, as compared to the balance at December 31, 2023.
Based on amortized cost basis, the percentage mix of municipal securities was 6% of total investments at December 31, 2024 and 2023. The portion of the portfolio invested in MBS was 62% and 61% at December 31, 2024 and 2023. The portion of the portfolio invested in U.S. agency investments was 25% at December 31, 2024 and 27% at December 31, 2023. Corporate bonds made up 6% of total investments at December 31, 2024 and 2023. U.S. treasury bonds were 1% of total investments at December 31, 2024 and 2023. The duration of the investment portfolio decreased to 4.2 years at December 31, 2024 from 4.4 years at December 31, 2023.
At December 31, 2024, $79.3 million of corporate bonds were subordinated debt from other financial institutions. Corporate bonds generally, and subordinated debt in particular, pose credit risk such that if any of these issuers were to enter bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, we could experience losses that may be material to operating results and our financial condition. We may also experience increases in provisions for credit losses, adversely affecting our earnings, if the creditworthiness of the issuers declines, whether due to idiosyncratic factors, economic conditions generally or other unforeseen factors or events.
The Company has credit Risk Participation Agreements ("RPAs") with institutional counterparties, under which the Company assumes its pro-rata share of the credit exposure associated with a borrower’s performance related to interest rate derivative contracts. The fair value of RPAs is calculated by determining the total expected asset or liability exposure of the derivatives to the borrowers and applying the borrowers’ credit spread to that exposure. Total expected exposure incorporates
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both the current and potential future exposure of the derivatives, derived from using observable inputs, such as yield curves and volatilities. These derivatives are not designated as hedges, are not speculative and have an asset position with a notional value of $49.5 million as of December 31, 2024. The changes in fair value for these contracts are recognized directly in earnings.
The duration of the deposit portfolio decreased to 11 months at December 31, 2024 from 28 months at December 31, 2023. This decline is attributable to a shift in deposit mix, lower short term interest rates, and modeling assumption updates. The Company experienced a total deposit increase of $323.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2024 as compared to a total loan decrease of $33.8 million for the same period. The funding mix changed throughout the year ended December 31, 2024. Deposits at year end were $9.1 billion and $8.8 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in deposits was primarily attributable to a $558.2 million decrease in noninterest bearing demand deposits, offset by a $734.7 million increase in time deposits. Refer to the "Deposits and Other Borrowings" section below for further discussion of deposits and borrowings.
The net unrealized loss before income tax on the AFS securities portfolio was $141.5 million and $162.0 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. At December 31, 2024, the net unrealized loss position represented 10.04% of the investment portfolio's book value.
Management relies on the use of models in order to measure the expected future impact on interest income of various interest rate environments, as described above. Through its modeling, the Company makes certain estimates that may vary from actual results. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully achieve its optimal asset liability mix, given competitive pressures, customer preferences and the inability to forecast future interest rates and movements with complete accuracy.
In the year ended December 31, 2024, the Federal Reserve instituted 100 basis points of interest rate cuts. Yields on interest-earning assets and interest bearing deposits decreased as a result of the Federal Reserve rate cuts. However a decrease in non-interest bearing deposits replaced with an increase in interest bearing deposits resulted in a decrease in net interest margin as compared to the prior year-end.
Our rate risk modeling showed very modest net interest margin compression in an increased interest rate environment while showing modest net interest margin expansion in a declining interest rate environment. The model's prediction in a rising rate environment is the result of increases in both interest income on variable and adjustable rate loans and interest expense on its deposit liabilities, based on our funding needs, market conditions and certain contractual obligations but with no changes in the mix of assets or liabilities or the spreads we are able to earn. The opposite is true in a falling interest rate environment as decreases in both interest income on variable and adjustable rate loans and interest expense on deposit liabilities drive modest margin expansion. The model also assumes a stable interest rate environment after the programmed changes in the yields, which assumes repricing of assets and liabilities as scheduled in a stable environment, which may be quite different than real world conditions.
Interest rate floors on certain of the Company's variable and adjustable rate loans may provide asset yield protection in a low-interest rate environment; however, they are also expected to delay the impact of increases to market rates on interest income until such floors have been exceeded. In 2024, interest rate floors have not been relevant in the current interest rate environment since most variable rate loans are well above their floor rate. The weighted average rate of the Company's variable rate loans decreased by approximately 76 basis points from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024 in connection with the decrease of 100 basis points for the same period in Fed Funds rate. The most recent interest rate cuts of 100 basis points instituted by the Federal Reserve at the end of September 2024, and in the fourth quarter of 2024 were signs of improvements in the economic outlook. In 2025, the economic outlook continues to evolve and any additional adjustments to interest rates are uncertain.
At December 31, 2024, the Company had a portfolio of $3.0 billion of variable and adjustable rate loans that were subject to interest rate floors with a weighted average rate of 7.24%, which was a 75 bps decrease from December 31, 2023. At December 31, 2024, only $123.6 million or 1.56% of loans held by the Company were earning interest at their floor rate, as compared to $183.9 million or 2.31% at December 31, 2023. The majority of those loans are expected to reset at rates higher than their floor at their next rate reset date.
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The Company employs an earnings simulation model (immediate parallel shifts along the yield curve) on a quarterly basis to monitor its interest rate sensitivity and risk and to model its balance sheet cash flows and the related statement of operations effects in different interest rate scenarios. The model utilizes current balance sheet data and attributes and is adjusted for assumptions as to investment maturities (including prepayments), loan prepayments, interest rates, deposit decay rates, and the level of noninterest income and noninterest expense. Further discussion of the limitations of this analysis are listed below and in Item 1A. Risk Factors, and in other periodic and current reports filed by the Company with the SEC. The data is then subjected to a “shock test” which assumes a simultaneous change in interest rates up 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points or down 100, 200 and 300 basis points, along the entire yield curve, but not below zero. The results are analyzed as to the impact on net interest income, net income and the market equity over the next twelve and twenty-four month periods from December 31, 2024. In addition to analysis of simultaneous changes in interest rates along the yield curve, an analysis of changes based on interest rate “ramps” is also performed. Such analysis represents the impact of a more gradual change in interest rates, as well as yield curve shape changes.
For the analysis presented below, at December 31, 2024, the simulation assumes a 100 basis point change in interest rates on interest bearing deposits for each 100 basis point change in market interest rates in a decreasing interest rate shock scenario with a floor of 10 basis points and assumes a 100 basis point change in interest rates on interest bearing deposits for each 100 basis point change in market interest rates in an increasing interest rate shock scenario. The Bank does have deposits with contractual rate terms which means these deposits will change 100 basis points for every 100 basis points change in market rates. Thus, the overall measure of the correlation between deposit costs and market rate changes is modeled at 100%. The Company utilized the same assumptions for its analysis at December 31, 2023.
Because competitive market behavior does not necessarily track the trend of interest rates but at times moves ahead of financial market influences, the change in the cost of liabilities may be different than anticipated by the interest rate risk model. If this were to occur, the effects of a rising or declining interest rate environment may not be in accordance with management’s expectations.
As quantified in the table below, the Company’s analysis at December 31, 2024 shows a moderate effect on net interest income over the next 12 months, as well as a moderate effect on the economic value of equity when interest rates are shocked down 100, 200 and 300 basis points and up 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points. This moderate impact is due substantially to the significant level of variable rate and repriceable assets and liabilities and related shorter relative durations. At December 31, 2024, the repricing duration of (a) the investment portfolio was 4.2 years, (b) the loan portfolio 0.9 years, (c) the interest bearing deposit portfolio was 0.2 years, and (d) the borrowed funds portfolio was 0.5 years.
The following table reflects the result of the simulation analysis on the December 31, 2024 asset and liability balances:
Change in interest
rates (basis points) Percentage change in 12-month net
interest income
Percentage change in 12-month net income
Percentage change in
economic value of
equity
+400 (2.9)% (6.3)% (14.1)%
+300 (2.2)% (4.8)% (11.0)%
+200 (1.5)% (3.3)% (7.6)%
+100 (0.7)% (1.5)% (3.9)%
— — — —
(100) 0.9% 2.0% 5.0%
(200) 1.7% 3.8% 9.6%
(300) 0.3% 0.5% 10.9%
The results of the simulation are within the relevant policy limits adopted by the Company for percentage change in net interest income. For net interest income, the Company has adopted a policy limit of -10% for a 100 basis point change, -12% for a 200 basis point change, -18% for a 300 basis point change and -24% for a 400 basis point change. For the economic value of equity, the Company has adopted a policy limit of -12% for a 100 basis point change, -15% for a 200 basis point change, -25% for a 300 basis point change and -30% for a 400 basis point change.
The increase in 12-month net interest income and net income of 0.9% and 2.0%, respectively, given a 100 basis point decrease in market interest rates at December 31, 2024 compares to (0.4)% and (0.9)%, respectively, for the same period in 2023.
The analysis at the end of 2024 consistent with the analysis at the end of 2023, showed that in an environment of increasing rates, income decreases. The changes in net interest income, net income and the economic value of equity in higher interest rate shock scenarios at December 31, 2024 are not believed to be excessive and are within policy limits.
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Certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the foregoing table. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or repricing periods, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in market rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable-rate mortgage loans, have features that limit changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the loan. Further, in the event of a change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels could deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the tables. Finally, the ability of many borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of a significant interest rate increase.
While an instantaneous parallel shift in interest rates was used in this analysis to provide an estimate of exposure under these scenarios, we believe that a non-immediate parallel shifts in interest rates would have a more modest impact. Further, the earnings simulation model does not take into account factors such as future balance sheet growth, changes in product mix, changes in yield curve relationships, the various rate indexes do not move in parallel (e.g. SOFR, Fed Funds), hedging activities we might take and changing product spreads that could mitigate any potential beneficial or adverse impact of changes in interest rates.
Another key factor to consider is the behavior of our deposit portfolio in the baseline forecast and in alternate interest rate scenarios set out in the table above is a key assumption in our projected estimates of net interest income. The projected impact on net interest income in the table above assumes no change in deposit portfolio size or mix from the baseline forecast in alternative rate environments. In higher rate scenarios, any customer activity resulting in the replacement of low-cost or noninterest-bearing deposits with higher-yielding deposits or market-based funding would reduce the assumed benefit of those deposits. The projected impact on net interest income in the table above also assumes a "through-the-cycle" non-maturity deposit beta which may not be an accurate predictor of actual deposit rate changes realized in scenarios of smaller and/or non-parallel interest rate movements.
Each of the above analyses may not, on its own, be an accurate indicator of how our net interest income will be affected by current and future changes in interest rates. Income associated with interest-earning assets and costs associated with interest-bearing liabilities may not be affected uniformly by changes in interest rates. In addition, the magnitude and duration of changes in interest rates may have a significant impact on net interest income. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or periods of repricing, they may react to different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities fluctuate in advance of changes in general market rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in general market rates. In addition, certain assets, such as adjustable-rate mortgage loans, have features (generally referred to as interest rate caps and floors) that limit changes in interest rates. Prepayment and early withdrawal levels also could deviate significantly from those assumed in calculating the maturity of certain instruments. The ability of many borrowers to service their debts also may decrease during periods of rising interest rates. ALCO reviews each of the above interest rate sensitivity analyses along with several different interest rate scenarios as part of its responsibility to provide a satisfactory, consistent level of profitability within the framework of established liquidity, loan, investment, borrowing and capital policies.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
1. Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 173 )
Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
Bethesda, Maryland
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2024 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of this critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Allowance and Provision for Credit Losses on Loans
The allowance for credit losses (the “ACL”) is an accounting estimate of the expected credit losses in the HFI loans portfolio over the life of an exposure (or pool of exposures). Expected credit losses are measured on a collective (pooled) basis for financial assets with similar risk characteristics. The ACL is a valuation account that is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans as described in Notes 1 and 4 of the consolidated financial statements. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount.
The Company estimates expected credit losses for loans using a methodology based on a loan-level probability of default (“PD”) and Loss Given Default (“LGD”) cash flow method that is applied using an exposure at default model. Cash flow projections are at the loan level wherein payment expectations are adjusted for estimated prepayment speeds, PD rates, and LGD rates. The expected prepayment speeds are based on historical internal data. These historical loss rates are then modified to incorporate a reasonable and supportable forecast of future losses at the portfolio segment level.
The ACL estimation process for loans applies economic forecast scenarios over a reasonable and supportable period of 18 months and reverts back to a historical loss rate over twelve months on a straight-line basis over the loan's remaining maturity. These historical loss rates are then modified to incorporate a reasonable and supportable forecast of future losses at the portfolio segment level, as well as any necessary qualitative adjustments.
We determined that auditing the allowance for credit losses on loans was a critical audit matter because of the extent of auditor judgment applied and significant audit effort to evaluate the significant subjective and complex judgments made by management throughout the application processes, including the need to involve our valuation services specialists.
The principal considerations resulting in our determination included the following:
• Significant auditor judgment in evaluating the selection and application of the reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic variables and reasonableness of other model assumptions.
• Significant auditor judgment and effort in evaluating the reasonableness of the qualitative adjustments used in the model computation.
• Significant audit effort related to the completeness and accuracy of the high volume of data used to develop assumptions and in the model computation.
Our audit procedures to address the critical audit matter included:
Testing of internal controls over:
• The Company’s significant model assumptions and judgments, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and information systems.
• The Company’s preparation and review of the allowance for credit losses calculation, including the relevance and reliability of data used as the basis for adjustments related to the qualitative factors, the development and reasonableness of qualitative adjustments, and the mathematical accuracy and appropriateness of the overall calculation.
• The completeness and accuracy of historical inputs, loan data used in the development of the PD and LGD assumptions, and the use of third-party data in the computation.
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Substantively testing management’s estimate, which included:
• Assessing the reasonableness of assumptions and judgments related to the PD and LGD rates, with the assistance of our valuation specialists, by comparing the resulting historical loss experience to a group of the Company’s peers.
• Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s judgments in the selection and application of reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic variables.
• Evaluating management’s process for developing the qualitative factors, including evaluating management’s judgments and assumptions for reasonableness.
• Assessing the relevance and reliability of data used to develop qualitative factors.
• Evaluating the mathematical accuracy of the PD and LGD rates on a pooled loan level with the assistance of valuation specialists, including the completeness and accuracy of loan data used in the model.
/s/ Crowe LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2021.
Washington, D.C.
February 27, 2025
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, 2024 December 31, 2023
Assets
Cash and due from banks $ 11,882 $ 9,047
Federal funds sold 2,581 3,740
Interest-bearing deposits with banks and other short-term investments
619,017 709,897
Investment securities available-for-sale (amortized cost of $ 1,408,935 and $ 1,668,316 , respectively, and allowance for credit losses of $ 22 and $ 17 , respectively)
1,267,404 1,506,388
Investment securities held-to-maturity, net of allowance for credit losses of $ 1,306 and $ 1,956 , respectively (fair value of $ 820,382 and $ 901,582 , respectively)
938,647 1,015,737
Federal Reserve and Federal Home Loan Bank stock 51,763 25,748
Loans held for investment, at amortized cost
7,934,888 7,968,695
Less allowance for credit losses ( 114,390 ) ( 85,940 )
Loans held for investment, net of allowance
7,820,498 7,882,755
Premises and equipment, net 7,694 10,189
Right-of-use assets - operating leases 18,494 19,129
Deferred income taxes 91,472 86,620
Bank-owned life insurance
115,806 112,921
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net
16 104,925
Other real estate owned 2,743 1,108
Other assets 181,491 176,334
Total Assets $ 11,129,508 $ 11,664,538
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Liabilities
Deposits:
Noninterest-bearing demand
$ 1,544,403 $ 2,279,081
Interest-bearing transaction
1,211,791 997,448
Savings and money market 3,599,221 3,314,043
Time deposits 2,775,663 2,217,467
Total deposits 9,131,078 8,808,039
Customer repurchase agreements 33,157 30,587
Other short-term borrowings
490,000 1,369,918
Long-term borrowings
76,108 —
Operating lease liabilities 23,815 23,238
Reserve for unfunded commitments 3,463 5,590
Other liabilities 145,826 152,883
Total Liabilities 9,903,447 10,390,255
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, par value $ 0.01 per share; shares authorized 100,000,000 , shares issued and outstanding 30,202,003 and 29,925,612 , respectively
298 296
Additional paid-in capital
384,932 374,888
Retained earnings 982,304 1,061,456
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
( 141,473 ) ( 162,357 )
Total Shareholders’ Equity 1,226,061 1,274,283
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity $ 11,129,508 $ 11,664,538
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
2024 2023 2022
Interest Income
Interest and fees on loans $ 548,389 $ 518,080 $ 358,967
Interest and dividends on investment securities 49,971 54,660 51,481
Interest on balances with other banks and short-term investments 88,770 52,300 13,304
Interest on federal funds sold 433 287 861
Total interest income 687,563 625,327 424,613
Interest Expense
Interest on deposits 320,421 257,544 83,261
Interest on customer repurchase agreements 1,271 1,218 356
Interest on other short-term borrowings
72,386 73,253 3,980
Interest on long-term borrowings
4,797 2,766 4,149
Total interest expense 398,875 334,781 91,746
Net Interest Income 288,688 290,546 332,867
Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses 66,360 31,536 266
Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses for Unfunded Commitments
( 2,127 ) ( 267 ) 1,477
Net Interest Income After Provision for (Reversal of) Credit Losses 224,455 259,277 331,124
Noninterest Income
Service charges on deposits 6,843 6,455 5,399
Gain on sale of loans 57 418 3,702
Net gain (loss) on sale of investment securities
14 ( 11 ) ( 169 )
Increase in the cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance 2,885 2,659 2,547
Other income 10,140 12,015 12,175
Total noninterest income 19,939 21,536 23,654
Noninterest Expense
Salaries and employee benefits 87,768 86,096 84,053
Premises and equipment expenses 11,382 12,606 13,218
Marketing and advertising 5,449 3,359 4,721
Data processing 14,093 13,083 12,171
Legal, accounting and professional fees 9,286 10,787 8,583
FDIC insurance 29,009 11,853 4,969
SEC/FRB penalties — — 22,977
Goodwill impairment
104,168 — —
Other expenses 13,479 15,509 14,406
Total noninterest expense 274,634 153,293 165,098
Income (Loss) Before Income Tax Expense ( 30,240 ) 127,520 189,680
Income Tax Expense 16,795 26,986 48,750
Net Income (Loss) $ ( 47,035 ) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share
Basic $ ( 1.56 ) $ 3.31 $ 4.40
Diluted $ ( 1.56 ) $ 3.31 $ 4.39
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2024 2023 2022
Net Income (Loss)
$ ( 47,035 ) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available-for-sale 15,406 32,519 ( 140,926 )
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)
( 12 ) 8 111
Total unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities available-for-sale
15,394 32,527 ( 140,815 )
Unrealized loss on securities transferred to held-to-maturity — — ( 49,095 )
Amortization of unrealized loss on securities transferred to held-to-maturity 5,290 4,805 4,361
Total unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities held-to-maturity 5,290 4,805 ( 44,734 )
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives 200 ( 182 ) 284
Other comprehensive income (loss) 20,884 37,150 ( 185,265 )
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
$ ( 26,151 ) $ 137,684 $ ( 44,335 )
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
Common Additional Paid-in Capital
Retained
Earnings Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss) Total
Shareholders’
Equity
Shares Amount
Balance at January 1, 2022
31,950,092 $ 316 $ 434,640 $ 930,061 $ ( 14,242 ) $ 1,350,775
Net Income — — — 140,930 — 140,930
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax — — — — ( 185,265 ) ( 185,265 )
Stock-based compensation expense — — 9,899 — — 9,899
Issuance of common stock related to options exercised, net of shares disposed for payroll taxes
3,289 — 97 — — 97
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation arrangements 117,211 2 ( 2 ) — — —
Issuance of common stock related to employee stock purchase plan 14,611 — 748 — — 748
Cash dividends declared ( $ 1.75 per share)
— — — ( 55,776 ) — ( 55,776 )
Common stock repurchased ( 738,300 ) ( 8 ) ( 33,079 ) — — ( 33,087 )
Balance at December 31, 2022 31,346,903 310 412,303 1,015,215 ( 199,507 ) 1,228,321
Net Income — — — 100,534 — 100,534
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
— — — — 37,150 37,150
Stock-based compensation expense — — 10,018 — — 10,018
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation arrangements 157,560 1 ( 1 ) — — —
Issuance of common stock related to employee stock purchase plan 21,149 — 586 — — 586
Cash dividends declared ($ 1.80 per share)
— — — ( 54,293 ) — ( 54,293 )
Common stock repurchased ( 1,600,000 ) ( 15 ) ( 48,018 ) — — ( 48,033 )
Balance at December 31, 2023 29,925,612 296 374,888 1,061,456 ( 162,357 ) 1,274,283
Net Income (Loss)
— — — ( 47,035 ) — ( 47,035 )
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
— — — — 20,884 20,884
Stock-based compensation expense — — 9,561 — — 9,561
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation arrangements 252,576 2 ( 2 ) — — —
Issuance of common stock related to employee stock purchase plan 23,815 — 485 — — 485
Cash dividends declared ($ 1.065 per share)
— — — ( 32,117 ) — ( 32,117 )
Common stock repurchased — — — — — —
Balance at December 31, 2024 30,202,003 $ 298 $ 384,932 $ 982,304 $ ( 141,473 ) $ 1,226,061
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2024 2023 2022
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
Net Income (Loss) $ ( 47,035 ) $ 100,534 $ 140,930
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Provision for credit losses
66,360 31,536 266
Provision for (reversal of) unfunded commitments
( 2,127 ) ( 267 ) 1,477
Goodwill impairment
104,168 — —
Depreciation and amortization 3,198 3,480 3,319
Gains on sale of loans ( 57 ) ( 418 ) ( 3,702 )
Net (gain) loss on mortgage servicing rights
( 1,512 ) 142 ( 837 )
Securities premium amortization, net 5,416 6,189 9,011
Origination of loans held for sale — ( 29,690 ) ( 299,317 )
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale — 36,842 343,503
Deferred income tax (benefit) expense 2,601 ( 3,377 ) 6,560
Net gain on sale of other real estate owned — ( 134 ) ( 248 )
Net increase in cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance ( 2,885 ) ( 2,659 ) ( 2,547 )
Net (gain) loss on call/sale of investment securities
( 14 ) 11 169
Stock-based compensation expense 9,561 10,018 9,899
Increase in other assets
( 7,703 ) ( 14,976 ) ( 26,162 )
Increase (decrease) in other liabilities
( 6,201 ) 58,395 12,581
Net cash provided by operating activities 123,770 195,626 194,902
Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities — — ( 425,263 )
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities 115,404 123,782 261,999
Proceeds from sale/call of available-for-sale investment securities 141,100 8,303 6,225
Purchase of held-to-maturity investment securities — — ( 290,740 )
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investment securities
70,235 78,251 115,777
Proceeds from call of held-to-maturity investment securities 11,868 2,906 8,350
Purchases of Federal Reserve Bank stock
( 2,383 ) ( 299 ) ( 288 )
Net proceeds from (purchases of) Federal Home Loan Bank stock
( 23,633 ) 39,618 ( 30,626 )
Proceeds from sale of mortgage servicing rights
4,798 — —
Net increase in loans
( 6,982 ) ( 351,913 ) ( 570,977 )
Redemption of bank-owned life insurance
— 736 338
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned 656 987 241
Purchases of premises and equipment ( 326 ) ( 70 ) ( 2,113 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
310,737 ( 97,699 ) ( 927,077 )
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in deposits
323,039 94,857 ( 1,268,358 )
Increase (decrease) in customer repurchase agreements
2,570 ( 4,513 ) 11,182
Net Increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
( 880,000 ) 324,999 675,001
Net proceeds from long-term borrowings
75,812 — —
Proceeds from exercise of equity compensation plans — — 97
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan 485 586 748
Common stock repurchased — ( 48,033 ) ( 33,087 )
Cash dividends paid ( 45,617 ) ( 54,993 ) ( 55,776 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ( 523,711 ) 312,903 ( 670,193 )
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents ( 89,204 ) 410,830 ( 1,402,368 )
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 722,684 311,854 1,714,222
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 633,480 $ 722,684 $ 311,854
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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EAGLE BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Continued
Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
2024 2023 2022
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest paid $ 438,222 $ 376,841 $ 90,590
Income taxes paid $ 8,210 $ 21,540 $ 23,453
Supplemental Non-Cash Disclosures:
Initial recognition of operating lease right-of-use assets $ 5,786 $ 418 $ —
Transfers of investment securities from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity $ — $ — $ 922,975
Transfer of loans for investment to loans held for sale $ 5,000 $ — $ —
Transfers from loans to other real estate owned $ 2,370 $ — $ 475
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Eagle Bancorp, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the "Parent") and its subsidiaries (together with the Parent, the “Company”), through EagleBank (the “Bank”), conducts a full service community banking business, primarily in Northern Virginia, Suburban Maryland and Washington, D.C. The primary financial services offered by the Bank include real estate, commercial and consumer lending, as well as traditional deposit and repurchase agreement products. The Bank is also active in the origination of small business loans. The guaranteed portion of small business loans, guaranteed by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"), is typically sold to third party investors in a transaction apart from the loan’s origination.
The Bank offers its products and services through twelve banking offices, four lending centers and various digital capabilities, including PC and smartphone-enabled banking services. Eagle Insurance Services, LLC, a subsidiary of the Bank that previously offered access to insurance products and services through a referral program with a third party insurance broker, continues to receive fee income in connection with such program. Landroval Municipal Finance, Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank, focuses on lending to municipalities by buying debt on the public market as well as direct purchase issuance.
Principles of Consolidation
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company with all significant intercompany transactions eliminated. EagleBank, a Maryland chartered commercial bank, is the Company’s principal subsidiary. The investment in subsidiaries is recorded on the Company’s books (Parent Only) on the basis of its equity in the net assets of the subsidiary (see Note 24 "Parent Company Financial Information" for further detail) .
Basis of Presentation
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and to predominant practices in the banking industry. The Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that in the opinion of management are necessary to present fairly the results for the periods presented. Certain reclassifications have been made to 2023 amounts previously reported to conform to the 2024 presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on net income (loss) or shareholders' equity. The following is a summary of the significant accounting policies.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ from those estimates and such differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements. The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") is a material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant variance in the near-term.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Statements of Cash Flows
For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and interest bearing deposits with other banks that have an original maturity of three months or less. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions, federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements and other borrowings.
Interest Bearing Deposits in Other Financial Institutions
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions mature within one year and are carried at cost.
Investment Securities
The Company recognizes acquired securities on the trade date. Investment securities comprise debt securities, which are classified depending on the Company's intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Debt securities are classified as
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available-for-sale ("AFS") when management may have the intent to sell them prior to maturity. Debt securities are classified as held-to-maturity ("HTM") and carried at amortized cost when management has the positive intent and ability to hold them to maturity.
AFS Securities are acquired as part of the Company’s asset/liability management strategy and may be sold in response to changes in interest rates, current market conditions, loan demand, changes in prepayment risk and other factors. AFS securities are carried at fair value, with unrealized gains or losses, other than impairment losses, being reported as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), a separate component of shareholders’ equity, net of deferred income tax. Realized gains and losses, using the specific identification method, are included as a separate component of noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Premiums and discounts on investment securities are amortized/accreted to the earlier of call or maturity based on expected lives, which lives are adjusted based on prepayment assumptions and call optionality. Declines in the fair value of individual available-for-sale securities below their cost that are other-than-temporary in nature result in write-downs of the individual securities to their fair value. Factors affecting the determination of whether other-than-temporary impairment has occurred include a downgrading of the security by a rating agency or a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the issuer. Management systematically evaluates investment securities for other-than-temporary declines in fair value on a quarterly basis. This analysis requires management to consider various factors, which include the: (1) magnitude of the decline in value; (2) financial condition of the issuer or issuers; and (3) structure of the security.
Premiums and discounts on HTM securities, like AFS securities, are amortized or accreted to the earlier of call or maturity based on expected lives, which include prepayment adjustments and call optionality.
Transfers of Investment Securities from Available-for-Sale to Held-to-Maturity
Transfers of debt securities into the HTM category from the AFS category are made at amortized cost, net of unrealized gain or loss reported in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at the date of transfer. The unrealized holding gain or loss at the date of transfer is retained in other comprehensive income (loss) and in the carrying value of the held-to-maturity securities. Such amounts are amortized over the remaining life of the security.
The Company does not intend to sell the HTM investments, and it is more likely than not that the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis, which may be at maturity.
For the impairment of investment securities please see "Allowance for Credit Losses - AFS Securities" and "Allowance for Credit Losses - HTM Securities" below.
Loans
The Company classifies loans in its portfolio as held for investment (“HFI”) when management has the intent and ability to hold the loans for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff. HFI loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unamortized deferred costs and fees. Interest income on loans is recognized at the contractual rate on the principal amounts outstanding. It is the Company’s policy to discontinue the accrual of interest when circumstances indicate that collection is doubtful. Loan origination fees, net of direct loan origination costs, and commitment fees are deferred and amortized on the interest method over the term of the loan.
Past due loans are placed on nonaccrual status when the contractual payment of principal or interest has become 90 days past due or there is a clear indication that the borrower's cash flow may not be sufficient to meet payments as they become due, even when the loan is currently performing. A loan may remain on accrual status if it is in the process of collection and is well secured. When a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, all previously accrued and unpaid interest is reversed through interest income. Interest income is subsequently recognized on a cash basis as long as the remaining book balance of the asset is deemed to be collectible. If collectability is questionable, then cash payments are applied to principal. A loan is placed back on accrual status when both principal and interest are current and it is probable that we will be able to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the terms of the loan agreement.
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Allowance for Credit Losses
The following table presents a breakdown of the current provision for credit losses included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations for the applicable periods:
For the Years Ended December 31,
(dollars in thousands) 2024
2023
2022
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses - loans
$ 67,005 $ 30,346 $ 103
Provision for credit losses - HTM debt securities ( 645 ) 1,190 766
Provision for (reversal of) credit losses - AFS debt securities
— — ( 603 )
Total Provision for credit losses
$ 66,360 $ 31,536 $ 266
Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans
The ACL - Loans is an estimate of the expected credit losses in the HFI loans portfolio. The Company's ACL on its loan portfolio is deducted from the amortized cost basis of loans to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans, or portions thereof, are charged off against the allowance when they are deemed uncollectible. Expected recoveries are recorded to the extent they do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off.
The ACL - Loans is measured on a collective pool basis when similar risk characteristics are present. Reserves on loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Nonaccrual loans are specifically reviewed for loss potential and when deemed appropriate are assigned a reserve based on an individual evaluation. The remainder of the portfolio, representing all loans not evaluated individually for impairment, is pooled into portfolio segments by call report codes and a loan-level probability of default (“PD”) / Loss Given Default (“LGD”) cash flow method is applied using an exposure at default (“EAD”) model. These historical loss rates are then modified to incorporate our reasonable and supportable forecast of future losses at the portfolio segment level, as well as any necessary qualitative adjustments.
The Company uses regression analysis of historical internal and peer data provided by a third-party provider (as Company loss data is insufficient) to determine suitable credit loss drivers to utilize when modeling lifetime PD and LGD. This analysis also determines how expected PD will be impacted by different forecasted levels of the loss drivers. A similar process is employed to calculate a reserve assigned to off-balance sheet commitments, specifically unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit, and any needed reserve is recorded in reserve for unfunded commitments (“RUC”) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. For periods beyond which we are able to develop reasonable and supportable forecasts, we revert to the historical loss rate on a straight-line basis over a twelve-month period.
The Company uses a loan-level PD/LGD cash flow method with an EAD model to estimate expected credit losses. In accordance with ASC 326, expected credit losses are measured on a collective (pooled) basis for financial assets with similar risk characteristics. The bank groups collectively assessed loans using a call report code. Some unique loan types, such as Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, are grouped separately due to their specific risk characteristics. For each of the loan segments listed below, the Company generates cash flow projections at the instrument level wherein payment expectations are adjusted for estimated prepayment speeds, PD rates and LGD rates. The modeling of expected prepayment speeds is based on historical internal data. EAD is based on each instrument's underlying amortization schedule in order to estimate the bank's expected credit loss exposure at the time of the borrower's potential default.
A summary of our primary portfolio segments is as follows:
Commercial . The commercial loan portfolio comprises lines of credit and term loans for working capital, equipment and other business assets across a variety of industries. These loans are used for general corporate purposes including financing working capital, internal growth and acquisitions; and are generally secured by accounts receivable, inventory, equipment and other assets of our clients’ businesses.
Income producing – commercial real estate . Income producing commercial real estate loans comprise permanent and bridge financing provided to professional real estate owners/managers of commercial and residential real estate projects and properties who generally have a demonstrated record of past success with similar properties. Collateral properties include apartment buildings, office buildings, hotels, mixed-use buildings, retail, data centers, warehouse, and shopping centers. The primary source of repayment on these loans is generally expected to come from lease or operation of the real property collateral. Income producing commercial real estate loans are impacted by fluctuation in collateral values, as well as rental demand and rates.
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Owner occupied – commercial real estate. The owner occupied commercial real estate portfolio comprises permanent financing provided to operating companies and their related entities for the purchase or refinance of real property wherein their business operates. Collateral properties include industrial property, office buildings, religious facilities, mixed-use property, health care and educational facilities.
Real Estate Mortgage – Residential. Real estate mortgage residential loans comprise consumer mortgages for the purpose of purchasing or refinancing first lien real estate loans secured by primary-residence, second-home and rental residential real property.
Construction – commercial and residential . The construction commercial and residential loan portfolio comprises loans made to builders and developers of commercial and residential property, for renovation, new construction and development projects. Collateral properties include apartment buildings, mixed use property, residential condominiums, single and 1-4 residential property and office buildings. The primary source of repayment on these loans is expected to come from the sale, permanent financing or lease of the real property collateral. Construction loans are impacted by fluctuations in collateral values and the ability of the borrower or ultimate purchaser to obtain permanent financing.
Construction – commercial and industrial ("C&I") (owner occupied) . The construction C&I (owner occupied) portfolio comprises loans to operating companies and their related entities for new construction or renovation of the real or leased property in which they operate. Generally these loans contain provisions for conversion to an owner occupied commercial real estate loan or to a commercial loan after completion of construction. Collateral properties include industrial, healthcare, religious facilities, restaurants and office buildings.
Home Equity . The home equity portfolio comprises consumer lines of credit and loans secured by subordinate liens on residential real property.
Other Consumer . The other consumer portfolio comprises consumer loans not secured by real property, including personal lines of credit and loans, overdraft lines and vehicle loans. This category also includes other loan items such as overdrawn deposit accounts as well as loans and loan payments in process.
The ACL also includes a qualitative adjustment for inherent risks not reflected in the historical quantitative analysis associated with the reasonable and supportable forecast. Relevant factors include, but are not limited to, concentrations of credit risk, changes in underwriting standards, experience and depth of lending staff and trends in delinquencies. While our methodology in establishing the reserve for credit losses attributes portions of the ACL and RUC to the commercial and consumer portfolio segments, the entire ACL and RUC is available to absorb credit losses expected in the total loan portfolio and total amount of unfunded credit commitments, respectively. Our model may reflect assumptions by management that are not covered by the qualitative and environmental factors, and we reevaluate all of its factors quarterly.
For our cash flow model, management historically forecasted regional unemployment. During the first quarter of 2024, management enhanced the cash flow model to incorporate three macroeconomic variables in addition to national unemployment. The four economic variables selected, national unemployment, which was the original variable used, Commercial Real Estate ("CRE") Price Index, House Price Index and Gross Domestic Product ("GDP"), are incorporated by utilizing a Loss Driver Analysis approach that factors in historical losses, including during the Great Recession, of regional peer banks and the Bank. The update
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