11 unchanged sentences
First Troy SPE, LLC is a holding entity for certain foreclosed properties.
−Removed: During 2021, the Bank sold substantially all of the assets of its insurance agency subsidiary, First Bank Insurance.
The Company is the parent of a series of statutory business trusts organized for the purpose of issuing trust preferred debt securities that qualify as regulatory capital.
2 unchanged sentences
Recent Developments and Acquisitions
−Removed: On June 21, 2022, we announced an agreement to acquire GrandSouth Bancorporation ("GrandSouth"), headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, in an all-stock transaction.
−Removed: The terms of the agreement provided that each share of GrandSouth common and preferred stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the acquisition would be converted into 0.91 shares of the Company's common stock.
−Removed: The transaction closed on January 1, 2023, adding eight branches throughout South Carolina and approximately $1.2 billion in total assets, $1.0 billion in loans, and $1.1 billion in deposits to the Company's balance sheet as of the acquisition date.
+Added: In January, 2023, we acquired GrandSouth, a community bank headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina with $1.2 billion in total assets, $1.0 billion in loans, and $1.1 billion in deposits.
+Added: GrandSouth operated from eight branches located throughout South Carolina, all of which we have continued to operate.
+Added: The acquisition accomplished the Company's strategic initiative to expand its presence in South Carolina, specifically in the high-growth markets of the state including Greenville, Charleston and Columbia.
In October 2021, we acquired Select, a community bank headquartered in Dunn, North Carolina with $1.8 billion in assets, $1.3 billion in loans, and $1.6 billion in deposits.
14 unchanged sentences
Through Magnolia Financial we provide accounts receivable financing and factoring, inventory financing, and purchase order financing.
−Removed: Through a network of specialized Bank loan officers, our SBA Lending Division, and as supported by SBA Complete, we offer SBA loans to small business owners across the nation.
−Removed: We typically sell the portion of each loan that is guaranteed by the SBA at a premium and record the non-guaranteed portion to our balance sheet.
+Added: Through a network of specialized Bank loan officers in our SBA Lending Division, we offer SBA loans to small business owners across the nation.
+Added: We typically sell the portion of each loan that is guaranteed by the SBA at a premium and retain the non-guaranteed portion on our balance sheet.
+Added: We also provide used car floor-plan financing through our CarBucks division.
+Added: These lines of credit are typically offered to small used car dealers and are subject to traditional floor-plan administration procedures.
We generally do not buy loan participations or portions of national credits, but we may acquire balances subject to participation agreements through acquisition.
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Conservative lending policies and procedures and appropriate underwriting standards are high priorities of the Bank.
−Removed: We have sought to maintain a comprehensive lending policy that meets the credit needs of each of the communities served by the Bank, including low- and moderate-income customers, and to employ lending procedures and policies consistent with this approach.
−Removed: All loans are subject to our corporate loan policy and financing guide, which are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
+Added: We seek to maintain a comprehensive lending policy that meets the credit needs of each of the communities served by the Bank, including low- and moderate-income customers, and to employ lending procedures and policies consistent with this approach.
+Added: All loans are subject to our loan policy and financing guide, which are reviewed annually and updated as needed.
Our lending policy requires, among other things, an analysis of the borrower's projected cash flow and ability to service the debt.
Individual lending authority is assigned by the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer.
−Removed: Loans are approved under our written loan policy, which provides that lending officers have sole authority to approve loans of various amounts commensurate with their seniority, experience and needs within the market.
+Added: Loans are approved under our loan policy, which provides that lending officers have sole authority to approve loans of various amounts commensurate with their seniority, experience and needs within the market.
All requests for extensions of credit in excess of any individual lending officer's authority are reviewed by one of our regional credit officers, who can approve loans up to their respective lending authorities which are generally between $10 million and $15 million.
−Removed: When the request for approval exceeds the authority level of the regional credit officer, the request is then reviewed for approval by the Bank’s Senior Credit Officer who has a lending authority of $20 million.
−Removed: For loans in excess of this amount, each of the Bank’s President and Chief Credit Officer have individual authority to approve loans up to $25 million, while the President and the Chief Credit Officer have joint authority to approve loans up to the in-house limit of $75 million.
+Added: When the request for approval exceeds the authority level of the regional credit officer, the request is then reviewed for approval by the Bank’s Chief Credit Officer who has $25 million in lending authority.
+Added: For loans in excess of this amount, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Credit Officer have joint authority to approve loans up to the in-house limit of $75 million.
The Board, generally through its Executive Loan Committee, approves loans in excess of the in-house limit.
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Our commercial loan portfolio consists predominately of owner-occupied real estate and non-owner occupied income-producing real estate and land development loans, which are primarily secured by real estate located in North Carolina and South Carolina.
−Removed: We categorize these commercial loans by industry according to the North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) to monitor the portfolio for possible concentrations in one or more industries.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, we had loans outstanding in one such industry group classification that exceeded 10% of total loans, with total loans of approximately $1.6 billion, or 23.4% of the portfolio, in the classification "lessors of nonresidential buildings".
−Removed: These loans are generally secured by real estate and are therefore susceptible to changes in real estate valuations and other market disruptions in this sector.
+Added: In order to monitor the portfolio for possible concentrations, we categorize our CRE loans by regulatory categories, including multi-family, retail, warehouse, office, healthcare, hotel/motel, and other commercial real estate.
+Added: As of December 31, 2023, the largest category of CRE loans, which totaled approximately of 10% of total loans, was retail followed by warehouse and multifamily, both at approximately 7% of total loans.
+Added: These CRE categories are within management's guidelines as a percent of total capital.
+Added: The loans within these categories are generally secured by real estate and are therefore susceptible to changes in real estate valuations and other market disruptions in this sector.
The loans were originated using underwriting standards as set forth by management.
Our loan policies are focused on the risk characteristics of the loan portfolio, including commercial real estate loans, in terms of loan approval and credit quality.
−Removed: It is the opinion of management that these loans do not pose any unusual risks and that adequate consideration has been given to the above loans in establishing the allowance for loan losses.
+Added: It is the opinion of management that these loans do not pose any unusual risks and that adequate consideration has been given to the above loans in establishing the ACL.
Most of our business activity is with customers located within the markets where we have banking operations.
−Removed: The following table presents the total lending exposure for the counties with the largest percentage of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2022.
−Removed: Percentage of Total Loan Portfolio
+Added: The following table presents the total lending exposure for the counties with the largest percentage of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
Wake County, North Carolina 10.1 % 11.6 %
3 unchanged sentences
Guilford County, North Carolina 5.0 % 5.0 %
−Removed: No other markets had total loans outstanding in excess of 5% of the total portfolio at year end.
−Removed: There have been no significant change in the the largest lending markets from the prior year.
+Added: No other market (as defined by county) had total loans outstanding in excess of 5% of the total portfolio at either period presented.
We have no concentrations of individual borrowers.
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government bonds, GSEs, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, commercial mortgage-backed securities, state and municipal obligations, public housing authority bonds, and, to a limited extent, corporate bonds.
+Added: Investments are subject to concentration and maturity limits to avoid unnecessary risks.
We may also invest in time deposits with other financial institutions up to a defined limit.
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Prior to purchasing a corporate bond, the Bank’s management performs due diligence on the issuer of the bond, and the purchase is not made unless we believe that the purchase of the bond bears no more risk to the Bank than would an unsecured loan to the same company.
−Removed: On a periodic basis, we review the financial statements of the issuers of the corporate bonds that we own for any signs of deterioration so that we can take timely action if deemed necessary.
−Removed: Our Chief Investment Officer implements the investment policy, monitors the investment portfolio, recommends portfolio strategies, and reports to the Bank’s Investment Committee.
−Removed: The Investment Committee generally meets on a quarterly basis to review investment activity and to assess the overall position of the securities portfolio.
+Added: On a periodic basis, as determined based on materiality and other relevant factors, we review the financial statements of the issuers of the corporate bonds that we own for any signs of deterioration so that we can take timely action if deemed necessary.
+Added: Our Chief Investment Officer implements the investment policy, monitors the investment portfolio, recommends portfolio strategies, and reports to the Bank’s Asset Liability Committee ("ALCO"), which also has oversight of the Bank's investment activities.
+Added: ALCO generally meets on a quarterly basis and reviews investment activity, portfolio composition, portfolio tenure, and other elements as necessary to assess the overall position of the securities portfolio and risk of the portfolio relative to the overall balance sheet.
In addition, reports of all purchases, sales, issuer calls, net profits or losses and market appreciation or depreciation of the securities portfolio are reviewed by the Board.
−Removed: Once a quarter, our interest rate risk exposure is evaluated by the Board.
+Added: Once a quarter, our interest rate risk exposure is evaluated by ALCO and a summary report is presented to the Board.
Each year, our written investment policy is reviewed by the Board and appropriate changes are made.
6 unchanged sentences
The FHLB allows us to obtain advances through its credit program.
−Removed: These advances are secured by securities owned by the Bank and held in safekeeping by the FHLB, FHLB stock owned by the Bank and certain qualifying loans secured by real estate, including residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and commercial real estate loans.
−Removed: As additional sources of funding, we maintain credit arrangements with various other financial institutions to purchase federal funds and participate in the Federal Reserve discount window borrowings program.
+Added: These advances are secured by select securities owned by the Bank and held in safekeeping by the FHLB, FHLB stock owned by the Bank, and certain qualifying loans secured by real estate, including residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit and commercial real estate loans.
+Added: As additional sources of funding, we maintain credit arrangements with various other financial institutions to purchase federal funds and participate in the Federal Reserve's Bank Term Funding Program and discount window borrowings program.
+Added: On January 24, 2024, the Federal Reserve announced that no new loans will be made under the Bank Term Funding Program on or after March 11, 2024.
Other Services
6 unchanged sentences
We are a community-oriented commercial bank offering a wide variety of financial services to meet the needs of the communities we serve.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2022, we conducted business from 108 branches, with 101 branch offices located across North Carolina and seven branches in South Carolina, primarily in the Pee Dee area.
+Added: As of December 31, 2023, we conducted business from 118 branches, with 101 branch offices located across North Carolina and 17 branches in South Carolina.
Historically, our branches and facilities have been located in small- to medium-sized communities with economies based primarily on a variety of industries, including services and manufacturing.
−Removed: In more recent years, through both new branches and acquisitions, we have expanded in larger North Carolina cities, including Charlotte, Raleigh (Triangle region), and Greensboro/Winston-Salem (Triad region).
+Added: In more recent years, through both new branches and acquisitions, we have expanded in larger North Carolina cities, including Charlotte, Raleigh (Triangle region), Greensboro/Winston-Salem (Triad region), Asheville and Wilmington.
Our expansion into higher growth markets was significantly enhanced by several strategic transactions discussed previously.
−Removed: Our most recent acquisition of GrandSouth, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, has moved us into the desirable Upstate market of that state as well as all its primary growth markets including Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina.
+Added: Our most recent acquisition of GrandSouth, headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, has moved us into the desirable Upstate South Carolina market as well as all its primary growth markets including Charleston and Columbia, South Carolina.
Our primary loan markets were previously presented in the Loan Concentrations section above.
−Removed: The following table presents the the counties with the largest share of our deposit base as of December 31, 2022.
−Removed: Percentage of Total Deposits
+Added: The following table presents the counties with the largest share of our deposit base as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
+Added: No other market area (as defined by county) comprises more than 5% of our deposit base at either period presented.
Moore County, North Carolina 10.8 % 10.9 %
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Guilford County, North Carolina 5.0 % 6.0 %
−Removed: No other market area comprise more than 5% of our deposit base at year end and there has been no significant change in markets that hold the most significant share of our deposits from the prior year.
We experience strong competition in all aspects of the businesses in which we engage, including both making loans and attracting deposits, from both bank and non-bank competitors.
−Removed: Broadly speaking, we compete with national banks, super-regional banks, smaller community banks, credit unions, non-traditional internet-based banks and insurance companies and agencies, and other financial intermediaries and investment alternatives, including mortgage companies, credit card issuers, leasing companies, finance companies, money market mutual funds, brokerage firms, governmental and corporate bond issuers, and other securities firms.
+Added: Broadly speaking, we compete with national banks, super-regional banks, smaller community banks, non-traditional internet-based banks, insurance companies and agencies, and other financial intermediaries and investment alternatives, including mortgage companies, credit card issuers, leasing companies, finance companies, credit unions, money market mutual funds, brokerage firms, governmental and corporate bond issuers, and other securities firms.
Many of these non-bank competitors are not subject to the same regulatory oversight, which can provide them a competitive advantage in some instances, such as operational flexibility and lower cost structures.
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We expect competition in the industry to continue to increase mainly as a result of the improvement in financial technology used by both existing and new banking and financial services firms.
−Removed: Competition may further intensify as additional companies (both banks and non-banks) enter the markets where we conduct business, competitors combine to present more formidable challengers, and we enter mature markets consistent with our expansion strategy.
+Added: Competition may further intensify as
+Added: additional companies (both banks and non-banks) enter the markets where we conduct business, competitors combine to present more formidable challengers, and we enter mature markets consistent with our expansion strategy.
Human Capital Resources
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None of these associates are represented by any collective bargaining agreements, and we consider our employee relations to be good.
−Removed: Our human capital management strategy focuses on attracting, developing and retaining top quality talent regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, national origin, age, religion, and physical ability.
+Added: Our human capital management strategy focuses on attracting, developing and retaining top quality talent regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, color, national origin, age, religion, or physical ability.
We strive to identify and select the best candidates for all open positions based on the qualifying factors for each job.
3 unchanged sentences
Our workforce consists of approximately 73% females and 18% minorities.
−Removed: Of our officer population, 61% are female and 8% are minorities, while our executive management team consists of 35% female or minority executives.
+Added: Of our officer population, 64% are female or minorities, while our executive management team consists of 39% female or minority executives.
In 2020, we formed a Diversity Council, which is chaired by our CEO and meets regularly.
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Providing associates with meaningful, competitive and supportive benefits to care for their lives and families is a top priority for the Company.
−Removed: We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, paid time-off, 401(k) profit-sharing plan participation and an employee stock purchase
−Removed: The Company’s 401(k) plan matches 100% of each employee’s elective deferral amount, up to the first 6% of the contribution.
+Added: We are proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision and life insurance, paid time-off, 401(k) profit-sharing plan participation and an employee stock purchase plan.
+Added: The Company’s 401(k) plan has historically matched 100% of each employee’s elective deferral amount, up to the first 6% of the contribution.
To augment our health insurance plans, we offer EZaccessMD which provides free access to medical professionals 24/7 for all associates and immediate family members living at their residence, regardless of their participation in our health insurance program.
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Transactions with Affiliates.
−Removed: Bank subsidiaries of a bank holding company are subject to restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Act on extensions of credit to the holding company or its subsidiaries, on investments in securities, and on the use of securities as collateral for loans to any borrower.
+Added: Bank subsidiaries of a bank holding company are subject to restrictions imposed by the Federal Reserve Act on extensions of credit to the holding company or its subsidiaries, on investments in securities,
+Added: and on the use of securities as collateral for loans to any borrower.
The Dodd-Frank Act further extends the definition of an “affiliate” and treats credit exposure arising from derivative transactions, securities lending and borrowing transactions as covered transactions under applicable regulations.
−Removed: It also (1) expands the scope of
−Removed: covered transactions required to be collateralized;
+Added: It also (1) expands the scope of covered transactions required to be collateralized;
(2) requires collateral to be maintained at all times for covered transactions required to be collateralized;
25 unchanged sentences
The Commissioner also has cease and desist powers over state-chartered banks for violations of state banking laws or regulations and for unsafe or unsound conduct that is likely to jeopardize the interest of depositors.
−Removed: The Federal Reserve is authorized to approve conversions, mergers, and assumptions of deposit liability transactions between insured banks and uninsured banks or institutions, and to prevent capital or surplus diminution in such transactions if the resulting, continuing, or assumed bank is an insured member bank.
+Added: The Federal Reserve is authorized to approve mergers and assumptions of deposit liability transactions by member banks, and to prevent capital or surplus diminution in such transactions if the resulting, continuing, or assumed bank is an insured member bank.
The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve, and accordingly the Federal Reserve also conducts periodic examinations of the Bank to assess its safety and soundness and its compliance with banking laws and regulations, and it has the power to implement changes to, or restrictions on, the Bank’s operations if it finds that a violation is occurring or is threatened.
3 unchanged sentences
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may subject the Bank to various penalties.
−Removed: Failure to comply with
−Removed: consumer protection requirements may also result in failure to obtain any required regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue.
+Added: Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in failure to obtain any required regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue.
Community Reinvestment.
29 unchanged sentences
As a general rule, regulatory authorities may prohibit banks and bank holding companies from paying dividends in a manner that would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice.
−Removed: For example, paying dividends that deplete an institution's capital base to an inadequate level is typically deemed an unsafe and unsound banking
+Added: For example, paying dividends that deplete an institution's capital base to an inadequate level is typically deemed an unsafe and unsound banking practice.
In addition, a bank may not pay cash dividends that would reduce the amount of its capital to less than minimum applicable regulatory capital requirements.
18 unchanged sentences
The Dodd-Frank Act established the CFPB and empowered it to exercise broad rule making, supervision, and enforcement authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws.
−Removed: The Bank is subject to the direct supervision of the CFPB as its total assets exceed $10 billion.
+Added: The Bank is subject to the direct supervision of the CFPB.
The CFPB focuses on (1) risks to consumers and compliance with federal consumer financial laws;
9 unchanged sentences
Interchange Fees .
−Removed: Prior to December 31, 2021, the Bank qualified for the small issuer exemption from the Federal Reserve’s interchange fees rules issued under the Durbin Amendment.
−Removed: As of December 31, 2021, the Bank exceeded $10 billion in total consolidated assets, and as such, became subject to limitations of a maximum permissible interchange fee for an electronic debt transaction equal to the sum of $0.21 per transaction and five basis points multiplied by the value of the transaction.
−Removed: The rules also allow for an upward adjustment of no more than $0.01 to an issuer’s debit card interchange fee if the issuer develops and implements policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve certain fraud-prevention standards.
+Added: The Bank is subject to limitations on interchange fees under the Durbin Amendment.
+Added: The Durbin Amendment rules establish a maximum permissible interchange fee for an electronic debt transaction equal to the sum of $0.21 per transaction and five basis points multiplied by the value of the transaction.
+Added: The rules also allow for
+Added: an upward adjustment of no more than $0.01 to an issuer’s debit card interchange fee if the issuer develops and implements policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve certain fraud-prevention standards.
FDIC Insurance
6 unchanged sentences
Accordingly, the Bank's premiums may increase from time to time if the FDIC needs to increase assessments in order to replenish the fund and restore the DIF reserve ratio to 1.35%.
+Added: In December 2023, the FDIC approved a final rule implementing a special assessment to replenish the DIF reserve ratio.
+Added: The special assessment will be collected at a quarterly rate of 3.36 basis points for a projected total of eight quarters.
+Added: The assessment will be applied to an institution's estimated uninsured deposits as of December 31, 2022, adjusted to exclude the first $5 billion of uninsured deposits.
+Added: The Bank's estimated uninsured deposits as of the measurement date were $3.5 billion.
Legislative and Regulatory Guidance and Developments
2 unchanged sentences
Under Basel III, CET1 is comprised of common stock and related surplus, plus retained earnings, and is reduced by goodwill and other intangible assets, net of associated deferred tax liabilities.
−Removed: Tier I capital is comprised of CET1 capital plus additional elements eligible for inclusion in Tier I capital, which for the Company includes its trust preferred securities.
+Added: Tier I capital is comprised of CET1 capital plus additional elements, such as trust preferred securities, which the Company includes in Tier 1 capital.
Total capital is comprised of Tier I capital plus certain adjustments, the largest of which for the Company and the Bank is the ACL.
19 unchanged sentences
In addition, consumers may also prevent disclosure of certain information among affiliated companies that is assembled or used to determine eligibility for a product or service, such as that shown on consumer credit reports and asset and income information from applications.
−Removed: Consumers also have the option to direct banks and other
−Removed: financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products or services.
+Added: Consumers also have the option to direct banks and other financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products or services.
Under various policy statements, financial institutions should design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing internet-based services of the financial institution.
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While to date we have not detected a significant compromise, the risks of significant data loss or any material financial losses related to cybersecurity attacks are expected to remain high for the foreseeable future due to the rapidly evolving nature and sophistication of these threats, as well as due to the expanding use of internet banking, mobile banking, and other technology-based products and services used by us and our customers.
+Added: Additional discussion of our cybersecurity risk management process and strategy are contained in Item 1C of this Report.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA Patriot Act.
7 unchanged sentences
Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions.
−Removed: Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with these obligations, and failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious financial, legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
+Added: Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with these obligations, and failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the
+Added: relevant laws or regulations, could have serious financial, legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.
−Removed: The AML, which amends the BSA, is intended to be a comprehensive reform and modernization to United States bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws.
+Added: The AML, which amended the BSA, is intended to be a comprehensive reform and modernization to United States bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws.
Among other things, it codifies a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions;
−Removed: requires the development of standards for evaluating technology
−Removed: and internal processes for BSA compliance;
+Added: requires the development of standards for evaluating technology and internal processes for BSA compliance;
and expands enforcement- and investigation-related authority, including increasing available sanctions for certain BSA violations and instituting BSA whistleblower incentives and protections.
29 unchanged sentences
The SEC and NASDAQ have adopted regulations under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the Dodd-Frank Act that apply to the Company as a NASDAQ-traded, public company, which seek to improve corporate governance, provide enhanced penalties for financial reporting improprieties and improve the reliability of disclosures in SEC filings.
+Added: Climate-Related Risk Management and Regulation
+Added: In recent years the federal banking agencies have increased their focus on climate-related risks impacting the operations of banks, the communities they serve and the broader financial system.
+Added: Accordingly, the agencies have begun to enhance their supervisory expectations regarding the climate risk management practices of larger banking organizations.
+Added: On October 24, 2023, the OCC, the FDIC and the Federal Reserve jointly finalized principles for climate-related financial risk management for national banks with more than $100 billion in total assets.
+Added: Although these risk management principles do not apply to the Bank directly based upon our current size, regulators indicated that all banks, regardless of their size, may have material exposures to climate-related financial and other risks that require prudent management.
+Added: As climate-related supervisory guidance is formalized, and relevant risk areas and corresponding control expectations are further refined, we may be required to expend significant capital and incur compliance, operating, maintenance and remediation costs in order to conform to such requirements.
+Added: Additionally, in March of 2022, the SEC proposed new climate-related disclosure rules, the Proposed Rules for The Enhancement and Standardization of the Climate-Related Disclosure for Investors File No.
+Added: If adopted as expected, the rules would require new climate-related disclosures in SEC filings and audited financial statements, including certain climate-related metrics and GHG emissions data, information about climate-related targets and goals, transition plans, if any, and attestation requirements.
+Added: Digital Asset Regulation
+Added: The federal banking agencies have issued interpretive guidance and statements regarding the engagement by banking organizations in certain digital asset activities.
+Added: In August 2022, the Federal Reserve released supervisory guidance encouraging each banking organization supervised by the agency to notify its lead supervisory point of contact at the Federal Reserve prior to engaging in any digital asset-related activity.
+Added: Prior to engaging in any such activities, banking organizations are expected to ensure their proposed activities are legally permissible under relevant state and federal laws, and ensure they have implemented adequate systems, risk management, and internal controls to ensure that the activities are conducted in a safe and sound manner consistent with applicable laws, including consumer protection laws.
+Added: On January 3, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued additional guidance in the form of a joint statement addressing digital asset-related risks to banking organizations.
+Added: That statement noted the recent volatility and exposure of vulnerabilities in the digital asset sector and indicated that the agencies are continuing to assess whether or how the digital asset-related activities of banking organizations can be conducted in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
+Added: The statement stressed that each agency has developed, and expects banking organizations to follow, supervisory processes for evaluating proposed and existing digital asset activities.
+Added: On February 23, 2023, the federal banking agencies issued a joint statement addressing liquidity risks to banking organizations resulting from crypto-asset market vulnerabilities.
+Added: The joint statement noted that deposits placed by a crypto-asset-related entity and deposits that constitute stablecoin-related reserves may pose heightened liquidity risks to banking organizations due to the unpredictability of the scale and timing of deposit inflows and outflows.
+Added: The statement stressed that banking organizations should establish and maintain effective risk management and controls commensurate with the level of liquidity risks from such funding sources.
+Added: Although the federal banking agencies have not developed formal regulations governing the digital asset activities of banking organizations, the supervisory framework summarized above dictates that, in order to effectively identify and manage digital asset-related risks and obtain supervisory non-objection to the proposed engagement in digital asset activities, banking organizations must implement appropriate risk management practices, including with respect to board and management oversight, policies and procedures, risk assessments, internal controls and monitoring.
Future Legislation and Regulation
8 unchanged sentences
Compared sentence by sentence after normalising whitespace, quotation marks, case and digits, so re-formatting and restated figures do not read as changed language. Wording changes appear as one removal and one addition. The current filing and the prior one are authoritative.