FULTON FINANCIAL CORP 10-K

Item 1. Business General Fulton Financial Corporation was incorporated under the laws of Pennsylvania on February 8, 1982 and became a bank holding company through the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Fulton Bank on June 30, 1982. In 2000, the Corporation became a financial holding company as defined in the GLBA, which gave the Corporation the ability to expand its financial services activities under its holding company structure. See "Competition" and "Supervision and Regulation." The Corporation directly owns 100% of the common stock of Fulton Bank and eight non-bank entities. The Corporation's Internet address is www.fultonbank.com . Electronic copies of the Corporation's 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K are available free of charge by visiting "Investor Relations" at www.fultonbank.com . Electronic copies of quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K are also available at this Internet address. These reports, as well as any amendments thereto, are posted on the Corporation's website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with the SEC. Banking and Financial Services Subsidiary The Corporation, through its banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank, delivers financial services within its five-state market area (Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia) in a personalized, community-oriented style that emphasizes relationship banking. The Corporation operates in areas that are home to a wide range of manufacturing, distribution, health care and other service companies. The Corporation is not dependent upon one or a few customers or any one industry, and the loss of any single customer or a few customers would not have a material adverse impact on the Corporation. However, a large portion of the Corporation's loan portfolio is comprised of commercial loans, commercial mortgage loans and construction loans. See Item 1A. "Risk Factors - Economic and Credit Risks - The Corporation's loan portfolio composition and competition for loans subject the Corporation to credit risk." The Corporation offers a full range of consumer and commercial banking products and services in its market area. Consumer banking services include various checking account and savings deposit products, certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. The Corporation offers a variety of consumer lending products to customers in its market areas. Secured consumer loan products include home equity loans and lines of credit, which are underwritten based on loan-to-value limits specified in the Corporation's lending policy. The Corporation also offers a variety of fixed, variable and adjustable rate products, including construction loans and jumbo residential mortgage loans. Residential mortgages are offered through Fulton Mortgage Company, an operating division of Fulton Bank. Consumer loan products also include automobile loans, personal lines of credit and checking account overdraft protection. Commercial banking services are provided primarily to small and medium sized businesses (generally with sales of less than $150 million) in the Corporation's market area. The Corporation's policies limit the maximum total lending commitment to a single borrower to $55.0 million as of December 31, 2021, an amount that is significantly below the Corporation's regulatory lending limit. In addition, the Corporation has established lower total lending limits based on the Corporation's internal risk rating of the borrower and for certain types of lending commitments. Commercial lending products include commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans, construction loans and equipment lease financing loans. Variable, adjustable and fixed rate loans are provided, with variable and adjustable rate loans generally tied to an index, such as the Prime Rate or LIBOR, as well as interest rate swaps. See Item 1A. "Risk Factors - Market Risks - The replacement of LIBOR as a financial benchmark presents risks to the financial instruments originated or held by the Corporation." The Corporation's commercial lending policy encourages relationship banking and provides strict guidelines related to customer creditworthiness and collateral requirements for secured loans. In addition, equipment lease financing, letters of credit, cash management services and traditional deposit products are offered to commercial customers. Wealth management services, which include investment management, trust, brokerage, insurance and investment advisory services, are offered to consumer and commercial customers in the Corporation's market area by Fulton Financial Advisors, a division of Fulton Bank. The Corporation delivers products and services through traditional financial center banking, with a network of financial center offices. Electronic delivery channels include a network of automated teller machines and telephone, mobile and online banking. The variety of available delivery channels allows customers to access their account information and perform certain transactions, such as depositing checks, transferring funds and paying bills, at any time of the day. As of December 31, 2021, Fulton Bank had 205 financial centers, not including remote service facilities (mainly stand-alone automated teller machines), 6 and its main office located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. On October 1, 2020, the Corporation announced that Fulton Bank had approved a plan to close 21 financial center offices and consolidate the operations of those offices into nearby financial centers operated by the Fulton Bank. The closure and consolidation of those financial center offices was completed on January 8, 2021. Non-Bank Subsidiaries The Corporation owns 100% of the common stock of five non-bank subsidiaries, which are consolidated for financial reporting purposes: (i) Fulton Financial Realty Company, which holds title to or leases certain properties where Corporation financial centers and other facilities are located; (ii) Central Pennsylvania Financial Corp., which owns limited partnership interests in partnerships invested primarily in low- and moderate-income housing projects; (iii) FFC Management, Inc., which owns certain passive investments; (iv) FFC Penn Square, Inc., which owns TruPS issued by a subsidiary of Fulton Bank; and (v) Fulton Insurance Services Group, Inc., which engages in the sale of various life insurance products. The Corporation also owns 100% of the common stock of three non-bank subsidiaries that are not consolidated for financial reporting purposes. The following table provides information for these non-bank subsidiaries, incorporated in the state of Delaware, whose sole assets consist of junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures issued by the Corporation, as of December 31, 2021: Subsidiary Total Assets (in thousands) Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust $ 6,186 Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust II 4,124 Columbia Bancorp Statutory Trust III 6,186 Competition The banking and financial services industries are highly competitive. Within its geographic region, the Corporation faces direct competition from other commercial banks, varying in size from local community banks to regional and national banks, credit unions and non-bank entities. As a result of the wide availability of electronic delivery channels, the Corporation also faces competition from financial institutions that do not have a physical presence in the Corporation's geographic markets. The industry is also highly competitive due to the various types of entities that now compete aggressively for customers that were traditionally served only by the banking industry. Under the current financial services regulatory framework, banks, insurance companies and securities firms may affiliate under a financial holding company structure, allowing their expansion into non-banking financial services activities that had previously been restricted. These activities include a full range of banking, securities and insurance activities, including securities and insurance underwriting, issuing and selling annuities and merchant banking activities. Moreover, the Corporation faces increased competition from certain non-bank entities, such as Fintechs and marketplace lenders that in many cases are not subject to the same regulatory compliance requirements as the Corporation. While the Corporation does not currently engage in many of the activities described above, entry into these businesses may enhance the Corporation's competitive position in the future. Supervision and Regulation The Corporation operates in an industry that is subject to laws and regulations that are enforced by a number of federal and state agencies. Changes in these laws and regulations, including interpretation and enforcement activities, could impact the cost of operating in the financial services industry, limit or expand permissible activities or affect competition among banks and other financial institutions. The Corporation is a registered bank holding company that has elected to be treated as a financial holding company under the BHCA. The Corporation is regulated, supervised and examined by the Federal Reserve Board. Fulton Bank is a national banking association chartered under the laws of the United States and is primarily regulated by the OCC. In addition, the CFPB examines Fulton Bank for compliance with most federal consumer financial protection laws, including the laws relating to fair lending and prohibiting unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices in connection with the offer, sale or provision of consumer financial products or services and for enforcing such laws with respect to Fulton Bank and its affiliates. Federal statutes that apply to the Corporation and its subsidiaries include the GLBA, the BHCA, the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve Act, the National Bank Act and the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, among others. In general, these statutes, regulations promulgated thereunder, and related interpretations establish the eligible business activities of the Corporation, certain acquisition and merger restrictions, limitations on intercompany transactions (such as loans and dividends), cash reserve requirements, lending limitations, compliance with unfair, deceptive and abusive acts and practices prohibitions, limitations on 7 investments, and capital adequacy requirements, among other things. Such laws and regulations are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers and the DIF, as well as to minimize risk to the banking system as a whole, and, as a result, these laws and regulations are not for the protection of the Corporation's shareholders or non-depository creditors. The following discussion is general in nature and seeks to highlight some of the more significant regulatory requirements to which the Corporation is subject but does not purport to be complete or to describe all applicable laws and regulations. Governmental and Regulatory Actions to Mitigate the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic - The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to cause extensive disruptions to the global economy, to businesses, and to the lives of individuals throughout the world. On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was signed into law. The CARES Act was a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill that was intended to provide relief in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. There have also been several regulatory and legislative actions intended to help mitigate the adverse economic impact of COVID-19 on individuals, including several mandates from the federal bank regulatory agencies requiring financial institutions to work constructively with borrowers affected by COVID-19 and mandatory loan forbearances. The bank regulatory agencies have indicated that adequate flexibility will be given to financial institutions who work with borrowers affected by COVID-19, and they have indicated that they will not criticize institutions who do so in a safe and sound manner. The federal bank regulatory agencies have also encouraged financial institutions to report accurate information to credit bureaus regarding relief provided to borrowers and have urged financial institutions to continue to assist those borrowers impacted by COVID-19. On April 2, 2020, the bank regulatory agencies issued a joint policy statement to facilitate mortgage servicers' ability to place consumers in short-term payment forbearance programs. This policy statement was followed by an interim final rule, on June 23, 2020, that was intended to make it easier for consumers to transition out of financial hardship caused by COVID-19. The rule provides that servicers do not violate Regulation X (which places restrictions and requirements upon lenders, mortgage brokers, or servicers of home loans related to consumers when they apply for and receive mortgage loans) by offering certain COVID-19-related loss mitigation options based on an evaluation of limited application information collected from the borrower. A final rule issued by the federal bank regulatory agencies on June 28, 2021, permits servicers to also offer certain COVID-19-related loan modification options based on the evaluation of an incomplete application. Federal and state moratoria on evictions and foreclosures that were implemented during 2020 in response to COVID-19 were extended late into 2021. Although these programs generally have expired, governmental authorities may take additional actions in the future to limit the adverse impact of COVID-19 on borrowers and tenants. The PPP, originally established under the CARES Act and extended under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021, authorized financial institutions to make federally-guaranteed loans to qualifying small businesses and non-profit organizations. These loans carry an interest rate of 1% per annum and a maturity of 2 years for loans originated prior to June 5, 2020 and 5 years for loans originated on or after that date. The PPP provides that such loans may be forgiven if the borrowers meet certain requirements with respect to maintaining employee headcount and payroll and the use of the loan proceeds after the loan is originated. Although the PPP program ended in accordance with its terms on May 31, 2021, outstanding PPP loans continue to go through the process of either being forgiven by the SBA or having claims pursued under the SBA guaranty. The Federal Reserve Board, in cooperation with the Department of the Treasury, has established a number of financing and liquidity programs to support the participation by banks in COVID-19-related relief programs. The Main Street Lending Program, which terminated on January 8, 2021, was implemented with the objective of keeping credit flowing to small and mid-sized businesses that were in sound financial condition before the coronavirus pandemic but needed financing to maintain operations. The Paycheck Protection Liquidity Facility, which was terminated on July 30, 2021, supplied liquidity to PPP participating financial institutions through term financing backed by PPP loans, and the Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility, which expired on March 31, 2021, was intended to assist money market funds in meeting demands for redemptions by households and other investors, enhancing overall market functioning and credit provision to the broader economy. Further, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued several interim final rules throughout the course of 2020 to neutralize the regulatory capital and liquidity effects for banks that participated in the Federal Reserve Board liquidity facilities and/or government relief programs. The treatment of PPP loans as liquid assets, as provided by these rules, was effective until July 30, 2021. BHCA - The Corporation is subject to regulation and examination by the Federal Reserve Board and is required to file periodic reports and to provide additional information that the Federal Reserve Board may require. The BHCA regulates activities of bank holding companies, including requirements and limitations relating to capital, transactions with officers, directors and affiliates, securities issuances, dividend payments and extensions of credit, among others. The BHCA permits the Federal Reserve Board, in certain circumstances, to issue cease and desist orders and other enforcement actions against bank holding companies (and their non-banking affiliates) to correct or curtail unsafe or unsound banking practices. In addition, the Federal Reserve Board must approve certain proposed changes in organizational structure or other business activities before they occur. The BHCA imposes certain restrictions upon the Corporation regarding the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of, or direct or indirect ownership or control of, any bank for which it is not already the majority owner. 8 Source of Strength - Federal banking law requires bank holding companies such as the Corporation to act as a source of financial strength and to commit capital and other financial resources to each of their banking subsidiaries. This support may be required at times when the Corporation may not be able to provide such support without adversely affecting its ability to meet other obligations or when, absent such requirements, the Corporation might not otherwise choose to provide such support. If the Corporation is unable to provide such support, the Federal Reserve Board could instead require the divestiture of the Corporation's subsidiaries and impose operating restrictions pending the divestiture. If a bank holding company commits to a federal bank regulator that it will maintain the capital of its bank subsidiary, whether in response to the Federal Reserve Board's invoking its source of strength authority or in response to other regulatory measures, that commitment will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee, and the bank will be entitled to priority payment in respect of that commitment. The Economic Growth Act - In May 2018, the Economic Growth Act became law. Among other things, the Economic Growth Act amended certain provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act to raise the total asset threshold for mandatory applicability of enhanced prudential standards for bank holding companies to $250 billion and to allow the Federal Reserve Board to apply enhanced prudential standards to bank holding companies with between $100 billion and $250 billion in total assets to address financial stability risks or safety and soundness concerns. The Economic Growth Act's increased threshold took effect immediately for bank holding companies with total assets of less than $100 billion, including the Corporation. The Economic Growth Act also enacted other important changes, for which the banking agencies issued certain corresponding guidance documents and implementing regulations, including: • Raising the total asset threshold for Dodd-Frank Act company-run stress tests from $10 billion to $250 billion; • Prohibiting federal banking agencies from imposing higher capital requirements for High Volatility Commercial Real Estate exposures unless such exposures meet the statutory definition for high volatility acquisition, development or construction loans in the Economic Growth Act; • Exempting from appraisal requirements certain transactions involving real property in rural areas and valued at less than $400,000; • Providing that reciprocal deposits are not treated as brokered deposits in the case of a "well capitalized" institution that received an "outstanding" or "good" rating on its most recent examination to the extent the amount of such deposits does not exceed the lesser of $5 billion or 20% of the bank's total liabilities; and • Directing the CFPB to provide guidance on the applicability of the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rule to mortgage assumption transactions and construction-to-permanent home loans, as well the extent to which lenders can rely on model disclosures that do not reflect recent regulatory changes. Given Fulton Bank's size, a number of additional benefits afforded to community banks under applicable asset thresholds are not available to Fulton Bank. Consumer Financial Protection Laws and Enforcement - The CFPB and the federal banking agencies continue to focus attention on consumer protection laws and regulations. The CFPB is responsible for promoting fairness and transparency for mortgages, credit cards, deposit accounts and other consumer financial products and services and for interpreting and enforcing the federal consumer financial laws that govern the provision of such products and services. Federal consumer financial laws enforced by the CFPB include, but are not limited to, the ECOA, TILA, the Truth in Savings Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, RESPA, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB is also authorized to prevent any institution under its authority from engaging in an unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice in connection with consumer financial products and services. As a residential mortgage lender, the Corporation is subject to multiple federal consumer protection statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to, those statutes and regulations referenced above. In particular, fair lending laws prohibit discrimination in the provision of banking services. Fair lending laws include ECOA and the Fair Housing Act, both of which outlaw discrimination in credit and residential real estate transactions on the basis of prohibited factors including, among others, race, color, national origin, gender, and religion. A lender may be liable for policies that result in a disparate treatment of, or have a disparate impact on, a protected class of applicants or borrowers. If a pattern or practice of lending discrimination is alleged by a regulator, then that agency may refer the matter to the DOJ for investigation. Failure to comply with these and similar statutes and regulations can result in the Corporation becoming subject to formal or informal enforcement actions, the imposition of civil money penalties and consumer litigation. The CFPB has exclusive examination and primary enforcement authority with respect to compliance with federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations by institutions under its supervision and is authorized, individually or jointly with the federal banking agencies, to conduct investigations to determine whether any person is, or has, engaged in conduct that violates such laws or regulations. The CFPB may bring an administrative enforcement proceeding or civil action in federal district court. In addition, in accordance with a memorandum of understanding entered into between the CFPB and the DOJ, the two agencies have agreed to coordinate efforts related to enforcing the fair lending laws, which includes information sharing and conducting joint investigations; however, the extent to which such coordination may actually occur is unpredictable and may change over time as the result of a number of factors, including changes in leadership at the DOJ and CFPB, as well as changes in the 9 enforcement policies and priorities of each agency. As an independent bureau funded by the Federal Reserve Board, the CFPB may impose requirements that are more stringent than those of the other bank regulatory agencies. As an IDI with total assets of more than $10 billion, Fulton Bank is subject to the CFPB's supervisory and enforcement authorities. The Dodd-Frank Act also permits states to adopt stricter consumer protection laws and authorizes state attorneys general to enforce consumer protection rules issued by the CFPB. As a result, Fulton Bank operates in a stringent consumer compliance environment. Ability-to-pay rules and qualified mortgages - Under CFPB rules that implement TILA, mortgage lenders are required to make a reasonable and good faith determination, based on verified and documented information, that a consumer applying for a residential mortgage loan has a reasonable ability to repay the loan according to its terms. These rules prohibit creditors, such as Fulton Bank, from extending residential mortgage loans without regard for the consumer's ability to repay and add restrictions and requirements to residential mortgage origination and servicing practices. In addition, these rules restrict the imposition of prepayment penalties and compensation practices relating to residential mortgage loan origination. Mortgage lenders are required to determine consumers' ability to repay in one of two ways. The first alternative requires the mortgage lender to consider eight underwriting factors when making the credit decision. The mortgage lender may also originate "qualified mortgages," which are entitled to a presumption that the creditor making the loan satisfied the ability-to-repay requirements. In general, a QM is a residential mortgage loan that does not have certain high-risk features, such as negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, or a term exceeding 30 years. In addition, to be a QM loan, the points and fees paid by a consumer cannot exceed 3% of the total loan amount, and the borrower's total debt-to-income ratio must be no higher than 43% (subject to certain limited exceptions for loans eligible for purchase, guarantee or insurance by a government sponsored enterprise or a federal agency). In December 2020, the CFPB issued two final rules related to QM loans. The first rule replaces the strict debt-to-income (DTI) threshold for QM loans and provides that, in addition to existing requirements, a loan receives a conclusive presumption that the consumer had the ability to repay if the APR does not exceed the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction by 1.5 percentage points or more as of the date the interest rate is set. Further, a loan receives a rebuttable presumption that the consumer had the ability to repay if the APR exceeds the average prime offer rate for a comparable transaction by 1.5 percentage points or more but by less than 2.25 percentage points. The second rule creates a new category of "seasoned" QM loans for those that meet certain performance requirements. Specifically, that rule allows a non-QM loan or a "rebuttable presumption" QM loan to receive a safe harbor from APR liability at the end of a "seasoning" period of at least 36 months as a "seasoned QM" if it satisfies certain product restrictions, points-and-fees limits, and underwriting requirements, and the loan meets the designated performance and portfolio requirements during the "seasoning period." The mandatory compliance date under the first final rule was July 1, 2021, but was subsequently delayed by the CFPB to October 1, 2022. The second final rule will apply to covered transactions for which institutions receive an application after the compliance date for the first final rule Integrated disclosures under the RESPA and the TILA - Under CFPB rules, mortgage lenders are required to provide a loan estimate, not later than the third business day after submission of a loan application, and a closing disclosure at least three days prior to the loan closing. The loan estimate must detail the terms of the loan, including, among other things, expenses, projected monthly mortgage payments and estimated closing costs. The closing disclosure must include, among other things, closing costs and a comparison of costs reported on the loan estimate to actual charges to be applied at closing. Volcker Rule - Provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly known as the "Volcker Rule," prohibit banks and their affiliates from engaging in proprietary trading and investing in and sponsoring hedge funds and private equity funds and other private funds that are, among other things, offered within specified exemptions to the Investment Company Act, known as "covered funds," subject to certain exemptions. In October 2019, the Volcker Rule Regulators finalized amendments, effective on January 1, 2020, but with a required compliance date of January 1, 2021, to their regulations implementing the Volcker Rule, tailoring compliance requirements based on the size and scope of a banking entity's trading activities and clarifying and amending certain definitions, requirements and exemptions. In June 2020, the Volcker Rule Regulators issued a final rule that modified the Volcker Rule's prohibition on banking entities' investing in or sponsoring "covered funds." The final rule (1) streamlined the covered funds portion of the rule; (2) addressed the extraterritorial treatment of certain foreign funds; and (3) permitted banking entities to offer financial services and engage in other activities that do not raise concerns that the Volcker Rule was intended to address. The Corporation's investing and trading activities have and will continue to depend on, among other things, further rulemaking and guidance that may be issued by the Volcker Rule Regulators and the development of market practices and standards. Capital Requirements - The Corporation and Fulton Bank are subject to risk-based requirements and rules issued by the federal banking agencies (the "Basel III Rules") that are based upon the final framework of the Basel Committee for strengthening capital and liquidity regulation. Under the Basel III Rules, the Corporation and Fulton Bank apply the standardized approach in measuring their RWA and regulatory capital. 10 Under the Basel III Rules, the Corporation and Fulton Bank are subject to the following minimum capital ratios: • A minimum CET1 capital ratio of 4.50% of RWA; • A minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.00% of RWA; • A minimum Total capital ratio of 8.00% of RWA; and • A minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio (Tier 1 capital to a quarterly average of non-risk weighted total assets) of 4.00%. The Basel III Rules also included a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.5%, composed entirely of CET1 capital, in addition to the minimum capital to RWA ratios outlined above, resulting in effective minimum CET1, Tier 1 and total capital ratios of 7.0%, 8.5% and 10.5%, respectively. The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a capital ratio above the minimum, but below the conservation buffer, will face restrictions on dividends, equity repurchases, and executive compensation based on the amount of the shortfall and the institution's "eligible retained income" (that is, four quarter trailing net income, net of distributions and tax effects not reflected in net income). If Fulton Bank fails to maintain the required minimum capital conservation buffer, the Corporation will be subject to limits, and possibly prohibitions, on its ability to obtain capital distributions from Fulton Bank. If the Corporation does not receive sufficient cash dividends from Fulton Bank, it may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends on its capital stock, service its debt obligations or repurchase its common stock. In addition, the restrictions on payments of discretionary cash bonuses to executive officers may make it more difficult for the Corporation to retain key personnel. As of December 31, 2021, the Corporation and Fulton Bank exceeded the minimum capital requirements, including the capital conservation buffer, as prescribed in the Basel III Rules. The Basel III Rules also provide that the largest banking institutions must adhere to additional countercyclical buffer and supplementary leverage ratio requirements. The Corporation and Fulton Bank are not presently subject to these requirements. The Basel III Rules provide for a number of required deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These deductions and adjustments include, for example, goodwill, other intangible assets, and DTAs that arise from net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards net of any related valuation allowance. MSRs, DTAs arising from temporary differences that could not be realized through net operating loss carrybacks and investments in non-consolidated financial institutions must also be deducted from CET1 to the extent that they exceed certain thresholds. Through subsequent rulemaking, the federal banking agencies provided certain forms of relief to banking organizations, such as the Corporation and Fulton Bank, that are not subject to the advanced approaches framework. The Corporation and Fulton Bank, as non-advanced approaches banking organizations, made a one-time, permanent election under the Basel III Rules to exclude the effects of certain components of AOCI included in shareholders' equity under GAAP in determining regulatory capital ratios. Under the Basel III Rules, certain off-balance sheet commitments and obligations are converted into RWA, that together with on-balance sheet assets, are the base against which regulatory capital is measured. The Basel III Rules defined the risk-weighting categories for bank holding companies and banks that follow the standardized approach, such as the Corporation and Fulton Bank, based on a risk-sensitive analysis, depending on the nature of the exposure. The Capital Simplifications Rules eliminated the standalone prior approval requirement in the Basel III Capital Rules for any repurchase of common stock. In certain circumstances, the Corporation's repurchases of its common stock may be subject to a prior approval or notice requirement under other regulations or policies of the Federal Reserve Board. Any redemption or repurchase of preferred stock or subordinated debt remains subject to the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. The Basel Committee published the last version of the Basel III accord in 2017, generally referred to as "Basel IV." Among other things, these standards revise the Basel Committee's standardized approach for credit risk (including by recalibrating risk weights and introducing new capital requirements for certain "unconditionally cancellable commitments," such as unused credit card and home equity lines of credit) and provides a new standardized approach for operational risk capital. Under the Basel framework, these standards will generally be effective on January 1, 2022, with an aggregate output floor phasing in through January 1, 2027. Under the current U.S. capital rules, operational risk capital requirements and a capital floor apply only to advanced approaches institutions, and not the Corporation or Fulton Bank. The impact of Basel IV on the Corporation and Fulton Bank will depend on the manner in which it is implemented by the federal banking agencies. As of December 31, 2021, the Corporation and Fulton Bank exceed all capital requirements necessary to be deemed “well-capitalized” for all regulatory purposes under the capital rules. Stress Testing and Capital Planning - As a result of the Economic Growth Act and implementing regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve Board and OCC, the Corporation and Fulton Bank are no longer subject to company-run stress testing requirements under the Dodd-Frank Act. The Federal Reserve Board continues to supervise the Corporation's capital planning and risk management practices through its regular supervisory process. 11 CECL Transitional Provisions - In June 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update, "Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," which replaces the existing "incurred loss" model for recognizing credit losses with an "expected loss" model referred to as the CECL model. Under the CECL model, the Corporation is required to present certain financial assets carried at amortized cost, such as loans held for investment and HTM debt securities, at the net amount expected to be collected. 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. In December 2018, the federal banking agencies approved a final rule modifying their regulatory capital rules and providing an option to phase in over a period of three years the day-one regulatory capital effects of the CECL model. The final rule also revised the agencies' other rules to reflect the update to the accounting standards. The new CECL standard became effective for the Corporation on January 1, 2020. On August 26, 2020, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a rule that allows institutions that adopted the CECL accounting standard in 2020 the option to mitigate the estimated capital effects of CECL for two years, followed by a three-year transition period. Taken together, these measures offer institutions a transition period of up to five years. The Corporation has elected to avail itself of the transition relief permitted under applicable regulations. Prompt Corrective Action - The FDICIA established a system of prompt corrective action to attempt to resolve the problems of undercapitalized institutions. The FDICIA, among other things, establishes five capital categories for FDIC-insured banks: "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" and "critically undercapitalized." An IDI is treated as well capitalized if its total risk-based capital ratio is 10.00% or greater, its Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio is 8.00% or greater, its CET1 risk-based capital ratio is 6.50% or greater and its Tier 1 leverage capital ratio is 5.00% or greater, and it is not subject to any order or directive to meet a specific capital level. As of December 31, 2021, Fulton Bank's capital ratios were above the minimum levels required to be considered "well capitalized" by the OCC. Under this system, the federal banking agencies are required to take certain, and authorized to take other, prompt corrective actions against undercapitalized institutions, the severity of which increase as the capital category of an institution declines, including restrictions on growth of assets and other forms of expansion. Generally, a capital restoration plan must be filed with the institution's primary federal regulator within 45 days of the date an institution receives notice that it is "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" or "critically undercapitalized." Although prompt corrective action regulations apply only to depository institutions and not to bank holding companies, the bank holding company must guarantee any such capital restoration plan in certain circumstances. The liability of the bank holding company under any such guarantee is limited to the lesser of five percent of the bank's assets at the time it became "undercapitalized" or the amount needed to comply. The bank holding company might also be liable for civil money damages for failure to fulfill that guarantee. In the event of the bankruptcy of the bank holding company, such guarantee would take priority over the bank holding company's general unsecured creditors. In addition, regulators consider both risk-based capital ratios and other factors that can affect a bank's financial condition, including (i) concentrations of credit risk, (ii) interest rate risk, and (iii) risks from non-traditional activities, along with an institution's ability to manage those risks, when determining capital adequacy. This evaluation is made during the institution's safety and soundness examination. An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than is indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. Brokered Deposits - The FDICIA and FDIC regulations limit the ability of an IDI, such as Fulton Bank, to accept, renew or roll over brokered deposits unless the institution is well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action framework described above, or unless it is adequately capitalized and obtains a waiver from the FDIC. In addition, less than well-capitalized banks are subject to restrictions on the interest rates they may pay on deposits. The characterization of deposits as "brokered" may result in the imposition of higher deposit assessments on such deposits. As mandated by the Economic Growth Act, the FDIC adopted a final rule in February 2019 to include a limited exception for reciprocal deposits for FDIC-IDIs that are well-rated and well-capitalized (or adequately capitalized and for which the FDIC-IDI has obtained a waiver from the FDIC as mentioned above). Under the limited exception, qualified FDIC-IDIs, like Fulton Bank, are able to except from treatment as "brokered" deposits the lesser of up to $5 billion, or 20% of the institution's total liabilities, in reciprocal deposits. In December 2020, the FDIC issued a final rule amending its brokered deposits regulation. The rule sought to clarify and modernize the FDIC's regulatory framework for brokered deposits. Notable aspects of the rule included (i) the establishment of bright-line standards for determining whether an entity meets the statutory definition of "deposit broker"; (ii) the identification of a number of business relationships in which the agent or nominee is automatically not deemed to be a "deposit broker' because their primary purpose is not the placement of funds with depository institutions (the "primary purpose exception"); (iii) the establishment of a "more transparent" application process for entities that seek to rely upon the "primary purpose exception", but do not qualify for one of the identified business relationships to which the exception is automatically applicable; and (iv) the clarification that third parties that have an exclusive deposit-placement arrangement with one IDI is not considered a "deposit broker." The final rule took effect on April 1, 2021, and full compliance was required by January 1, 2022. 12 Loans and Dividends from Bank Subsidiary - There are various restrictions on the extent to which Fulton Bank can make loans and other extensions of credit (including credit exposure arising from repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, securities borrowing and derivative transactions) to, or enter into certain transactions with, its affiliates, which include the Corporation and its non-bank subsidiaries. In general, these restrictions require that such transactions: (i) are limited, as to any one of the Corporation or its non-bank subsidiaries, to 10% of Fulton Bank's regulatory capital (20% in the aggregate to all such entities); (ii) satisfy certain qualitative limitations, including that any covered transaction be made on an arm's length basis; and (iii) in the case of extensions of credit, be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral. For safety and soundness reasons, banking regulations also limit the amount of cash that can be transferred from Fulton Bank to the Parent Company in the form of dividends. Generally, dividends are limited to the lesser of the amounts calculated under an earnings retention test and an undivided profits test. Under the earnings retention test, without the prior approval of the OCC, a dividend may not be paid if the total of all dividends declared by a bank in any calendar year is in excess of the current year's net income combined with the retained net income of the two preceding years. Under the undivided profits test, a dividend may not be paid in excess of a bank's undivided profits. In addition, banks are prohibited from paying dividends when doing so would cause them to fall below the regulatory minimum capital levels. See "Note 11 - Regulatory Matters," in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for additional information regarding regulatory capital and dividend and loan limitations. Federal Deposit Insurance - The deposits of Fulton Bank are insured up to the applicable limits by the DIF, generally up to $250,000 per insured depositor. Fulton Bank pays deposit insurance premiums based on assessment rates established by the FDIC. The FDIC has established a risk-based assessment system under which institutions are classified and pay premiums according to their perceived risk to the DIF. In addition, the FDIC possesses backup enforcement authority over a depository institution holding company, such as the Corporation, if the conduct or threatened conduct of such bank holding company poses a risk to the DIF, although such authority may not be used if the bank holding company is generally in sound condition and does not pose a foreseeable and material risk to the DIF. FDIC assessment rates for large institutions that have more than $10 billion in assets, such as Fulton Bank, are calculated based on a "scorecard" methodology that seeks to capture both the probability that an individual large institution will fail and the magnitude of the impact on the DIF if such a failure occurs that is based primarily on the difference between the institution's average of total assets and average tangible equity. The FDIC has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score, up or down, based upon significant risk factors that are not adequately captured in the scorecard. For large institutions, including Fulton Bank, after accounting for potential base-rate adjustments, the total assessment rate could range from 1.5 to 40 basis points on an annualized basis. An institution's assessment is determined by multiplying its assessment rate by its assessment base, which is asset based. The Tax Act disallows the deduction of FDIC deposit insurance premium payments for banking organizations with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more. For banks with less than $50 billion in total consolidated assets, such as Fulton Bank, the premium deduction is phased out based on the proportion of the bank's assets exceeding $10 billion. AML Requirements and the Patriot Act - The Patriot Act amended the BSA and other AML laws and regulations and imposed affirmative obligations on a wide range of financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing. Among other requirements, the Patriot Act and related regulations impose the following requirements on financial institutions: • Establishment of AML programs; • Establishment of a program specifying procedures for obtaining identifying information from customers seeking to open new accounts, including verifying the identity of customers within a reasonable period of time; • Establishment of enhanced due diligence policies, procedures and controls designed to detect and report money laundering; and • Prohibition on correspondent accounts for foreign shell banks and compliance with recordkeeping obligations with respect to correspondent accounts of foreign banks. Failure to comply with the requirements of the Patriot Act and other AML laws and regulations could have serious legal, financial, regulatory and reputational consequences. In addition, bank regulators will consider a bank holding company's effectiveness in combating money laundering when ruling on BHCA and Bank Merger Act applications. In addition, financial institutions are subject to customer due diligence requirements, issued by the FinCEN, to identify and verify the identity of natural persons, known as beneficial owners, who own, control, and profit from legal entity customers when those customers open accounts. The Corporation has adopted policies, procedures and controls to address compliance with the Patriot Act and other AML laws and regulations, and it will continue to revise and update its policies, procedures and controls to reflect required changes. See Item 1A. "Risk Factors - Legal, Compliance and Reputational Risks - Failure to comply with the BSA, the Patriot Act and related AML requirements, or with sanctions laws, could subject the Corporation to enforcement actions, fines, penalties, sanctions and other remedial actions." 13 On January 1, 2021, the NDAA was signed into law, which enacted the most significant overhaul of the BSA and other AML-related laws since the Patriot Act. Notable aspects of the NDAA include: (i) significant changes to the collection of beneficial ownership and the establishment of a beneficial ownership registry that requires corporate entities (generally, any corporation, limited liability company, or other similar entity with 20 or fewer employees and annual gross income of $5 million or less) to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN (which will be maintained by FinCEN and made available upon request to financial institutions); (ii) enhanced whistleblower provisions that provide that one or more whistleblowers who voluntarily provide original information leading to the successful enforcement of violations of the BSA or other AML-related laws in any judicial or administrative action brought by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Attorney General resulting in monetary sanctions exceeding $1 million (including disgorgement and interest but excluding forfeiture, restitution, or compensation to victims) will receive not more than 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected and will receive increased protections; (iii) increased penalties for violations of the BSA; (iv) improvements to existing information sharing provisions that permit financial institutions to share information relating to suspicious activity reports with foreign branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates (except those located in China, Russia, or certain other jurisdictions) for the purpose of combating illicit finance risks; and (v) expanded duties and powers of FinCEN. Many of the new provisions, including those with respect to beneficial ownership, require the Department of Treasury and FinCEN to promulgate rules. On December 8, 2021, FinCEN issued proposed regulations that would implement the amendments with respect to beneficial ownership. Commercial Real Estate Guidance - Under guidance issued by the federal banking agencies, the agencies have expressed concerns with institutions that ease commercial real estate underwriting standards and have directed financial institutions to maintain underwriting discipline and exercise risk management practices to identify, measure and monitor lending risks. The agencies have also issued guidance that requires a financial institution to employ enhanced risk management practices if the institution is exposed to significant concentration risk. Under that guidance, an institution is potentially exposed to significant concentration risk if: (i) total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land represent 100% or more of total capital or (ii) total reported loans secured by multi-family and non-farm residential properties, loans for construction, land development, and other land loans otherwise sensitive to the general commercial real estate market, including loans to commercial real estate related entities, represent 300% or more of total capital, and the outstanding balance of the institution's commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased by 50% or more during the prior 36 months. Community Reinvestment - Under the CRA, Fulton Bank has a continuing and affirmative obligation, consistent with its safe and sound operation, to ascertain and meet the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income areas. The CRA does not establish specific lending requirements or programs for financial institutions, nor does it limit an institution's discretion to develop the types of products and services that it believes are best suited to its particular community. The CRA requires an institution's primary federal regulator, in connection with its examination of the institution, to assess the institution's record of meeting the credit needs of its community and to take such record into account in its evaluation of certain applications by such institution. The assessment focuses on three tests: (i) a lending test, to evaluate the institution's record of making loans, including community development loans, in its designated assessment areas; (ii) an investment test, to evaluate the institution's record of investing in community development projects, affordable housing, and programs benefiting low- or moderate-income individuals and areas and small businesses; and (iii) a service test, to evaluate the institution's delivery of banking services throughout its CRA assessment area, including low- and moderate-income areas. The CRA also requires all institutions to make public disclosure of their CRA ratings. As of December 31, 2021, Fulton Bank was rated as "outstanding." Regulations require that Fulton Bank publicly disclose certain agreements that are in fulfillment of CRA. Fulton Bank is not a party to any such agreements at this time. The federal banking agencies have expressed interest in, and the OCC has taken certain steps toward, reform of the CRA's implementing regulations; however, the agencies have not yet agreed upon a common framework for reform. Standards for Safety and Soundness - Pursuant to the requirements of FDICIA, as amended by the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, the federal bank regulatory agencies adopted guidelines establishing general standards relating to internal controls, information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, compensation, fees and benefits. In general, the guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risks and exposures specified in the guidelines. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If the institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an accepted compliance plan, the regulator must issue an order directing corrective actions and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which a significantly undercapitalized institution is subject under the "prompt corrective action" provisions of FDICIA. If the institution fails to comply with such an order, the regulator may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties. The guidelines prohibit excessive compensation to any executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder as an unsafe and unsound practice. The guidelines provide that compensation will be considered excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder. The federal banking agencies have issued guidance that provides that, to be consistent with safety and soundness 14 principles, a banking organization's incentive compensation arrangements should: (i) provide employees with incentives that appropriately balance risk and reward; (ii) be compatible with effective controls and risk management; and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the banking organization's board of directors. Monitoring methods and processes used by a banking organization should be commensurate with the size and complexity of the organization and its use of incentive compensation. The Dodd-Frank Act requires federal banking agencies and the SEC to establish joint regulations or guidelines for specified entities, including the Corporation and Fulton Bank, that have at least $1 billion in total assets, prohibiting incentive-based compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk-taking by an executive officer, employee, director or principal shareholder that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. In addition, these regulations or guidelines must require enhanced disclosure with respect to incentive-based compensation arrangements. The agencies have not yet finalized these rules; however, on October 14, 2021, the SEC signaled a renewed interest in this rulemaking initiative by re-opening the comment period on a proposed rule issued originally in 2015 regarding clawbacks of incentive-based executive compensation. On January 27, 2022, the SEC extended this comment period until March 4, 2022. The scope and content of the federal banking agencies' policies on executive compensation may continue to evolve in the near future. Privacy Protection and Cybersecurity - Fulton Bank is subject to regulations implementing the privacy protection provisions of the GLBA. These regulations require Fulton Bank to disclose its privacy policy, including identifying with whom it shares "nonpublic personal information," to customers at the time of establishing the customer relationship and annually thereafter. The regulations also require Fulton Bank to provide its customers with initial and annual notices that accurately reflect its privacy policies and practices. In addition, to the extent its sharing of such information is not covered by an exception, Fulton Bank is required to provide its customers with the ability to "opt-out" of having Fulton Bank share a customer's nonpublic personal information with unaffiliated third parties. Fulton Bank is also subject to regulatory guidelines establishing standards for safeguarding customer information. These regulations implement certain provisions of the GLBA. The guidelines describe the federal bank regulatory agencies' expectations for the creation, implementation and maintenance of an information security program, that includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards appropriate to the size and complexity of the institution and the nature and scope of its activities. The standards set forth in the guidelines are intended to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer records and information, protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such records and protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records or information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. These guidelines, along with related regulatory materials, increasingly focus on risk management and processes related to information security and the use of third parties in the provision of financial services. Certain states have enacted laws establishing consumer privacy protections and data security requirements in their respective states. For example, the CCPA gives California residents new rights to receive certain disclosures regarding the collection, use, and sharing of "Personal Information," as well as rights to access, delete, and restrict the sale of certain personal information. The CCPA, which was amended in November 2020 by a ballot initiative titled the California Privacy Rights Act, went into effect on January 1, 2020, and Fulton Bank is required to comply with the CCPA in serving the small number of its customers that are residents of California. Privacy and data security legislation remained a priority issue in 2021. Attempts by state and local governments to regulate consumer privacy have the potential to create a patchwork of differing and/or conflicting state regulations. In addition, Congress and federal regulatory agencies are considering similar laws or regulations that could create new individual privacy rights and impose increased obligations on companies handling personal data. For example, on November 23, 2021, the federal financial regulatory agencies published a final rule that will impose on banking organizations and their service providers new notification requirements for significant cybersecurity incidents. Specifically, the final rule requires banking organizations to promptly notify their primary federal regulator as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after the discovery of a "computer security incident" that rises to the level of a "notification incident" within the meaning attributed to those terms by the final rule. Banks’ services providers are required under the final rule to notify any affected bank to or on behalf of which the service provider provides services "as soon as possible" after determining that it has experienced an incident that materially disrupts or degrades, or is reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, covered services provided to such bank for four or more hours. The final rule will take effect on April 1, 2022, and banks and their service providers must be in compliance with the requirements of the rule by May 1, 2022. Federal Reserve System - Federal Reserve Board regulations require depository institutions to maintain cash reserves against specified deposit liabilities. The dollar amount of a depository institution's reserve requirement is determined by applying the reserve ratios specified in the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation D to an institution's reservable liabilities (primarily net transaction accounts such as negotiable order of withdrawal and demand deposit accounts). A reserve of 3% must be maintained against aggregate transaction account balances of between $16.9 million and $127.5 million (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board) plus a reserve of 10% (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board within a range of between 8% and 14%) against that portion of total transaction account balances in excess of $127.5 million. The first $16.9 million of otherwise reservable balances (subject to adjustment by the Federal Reserve Board) are exempt from the reserve requirements. Fulton Bank is in compliance with the foregoing requirements. 15 Required reserves must be maintained in the form of either vault cash, an account at a FRB or a pass-through account as defined by the Federal Reserve Board. Pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the FRB pays interest on depository institutions' required and excess reserve balances. The interest rate paid on required reserve balances is currently the average target federal funds rate over the reserve maintenance period. The rate on excess balances will be set equal to the lowest target federal funds rate in effect during the reserve maintenance period. On December 22, 2020, the Federal Reserve Board issued a final rule that amends Regulation D by lowering the reserve requirement ratios on transaction accounts maintained at depository institutions to 0%. It is currently unclear if the reduction of the reserve requirements on transaction accounts is permanent. Any potential impact of the rule on the Bank's lending activities is also unclear. Acquisitions - The BHCA requires a bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board before: • the company may acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank or savings and loan association, if after such acquisition the bank holding company will directly or indirectly own or control more than five percent of any class of voting securities of the institution; • the company may acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank or savings and loan association, if after such acquisition the bank holding company will directly or indirectly own or control more than five percent of any class of voting securities of the institution; or • the company may merge or consolidate with any other bank or financial holding company. Prior regulatory approval is also generally required for mergers, acquisitions and consolidations involving other IDIs. In reviewing acquisition and merger applications, the bank regulatory authorities will consider, among other things, the competitive effect of the transaction, financial and managerial issues, the capital position of the combined organization, convenience and needs factors, including the applicant's CRA record, the effectiveness of the subject organizations in combating money laundering activities, and the transaction's effect on the stability of the U.S. banking or financial system. On July 9, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy. Among other initiatives, the Executive Order encouraged the federal banking agencies to review their current merger oversight practices under the BHCA and the Bank Merger Act and adopt a plan for revitalization of such practices. There are many steps that must be taken by the agencies before any formal changes to the framework for evaluating bank mergers can be finalized and the prospects for such action are uncertain at this time. The adoption of more expansive or prescriptive standards may have an impact on the Corporation's acquisition activities. The Change in Bank Control Act prohibits a person, entity or group of persons or entities acting in concert, from acquiring "control" of a bank holding company or bank unless the Federal Reserve Board has been given prior notice and has not objected to the transaction. Under Federal Reserve Board regulations, the acquisition of 10% or more (but less than 25%) of the voting stock of a corporation would, under the circumstances set forth in the regulations, create a rebuttable presumption of acquisition of control of the corporation. Effective September 30, 2020, the Federal Reserve finalized a rule that simplifies and increases the transparency of its rules for determining when one company controls another company for purposes of the BHCA and, on March 31, 2021, the Federal Reserve Board published interpretive guidance regarding the final rule and related regulatory control matters. The amended control rule has had, and will likely continue to have, a meaningful impact on control determinations related to investments in banks and bank holding companies and investments by bank holding companies in nonbank companies. Permissible Activities - As a bank holding company, the Corporation may engage in the business of banking, managing or controlling banks, performing servicing activities for subsidiaries, and engaging in activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined, by order or regulation, are so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. As a financial holding company, the Corporation may also engage in or acquire and retain the shares of a company engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental or complementary to activities that are financial in nature as long as the Corporation continues to meet the eligibility requirements for financial holding companies, including that the Corporation and each of its U.S. depository institution subsidiaries remain "well-capitalized" and "well-managed." A depository institution is considered "well-capitalized" if it satisfies the requirements of the Prompt Corrective Action framework described above. A depository institution is considered "well-managed" if it received a composite rating and management rating of at least "satisfactory" in its most recent examination. If a financial holding company ceases to be well-capitalized and well-managed, the financial holding company must enter into a non-public confidential agreement with the Federal Reserve Board to comply with all applicable capital and management requirements. Until the financial holding company returns to compliance, the Federal Reserve Board may impose limitations or conditions on the conduct of its activities, and the company may not commence any new non-banking financial activities permissible for financial holding companies or acquire a company engaged in such financial activities without prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board. If the company does not timely return to compliance, the Federal Reserve Board may require divestiture of the financial holding 16 company's banking subsidiaries. Bank holding companies and banks must also be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to acquire banks located outside their home state. A financial holding company will also be limited in its ability to commence non-banking financial activities or acquire a company engaged in such financial activities if any of its IDI subsidiaries fails to maintain a "satisfactory" rating under the CRA. Activities that are "financial in nature" include securities underwriting, dealing and market making, advising mutual funds and investment companies, insurance underwriting and agency, merchant banking, and activities that the Federal Reserve Board, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines to be financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity. "Complementary activities" are activities that the Federal Reserve Board determines upon application to be complementary to a financial activity and that do not pose a safety and soundness issue. Enforcement Powers of Federal Banking Regulators - The Federal Reserve Board and other U.S. banking agencies have broad enforcement powers with respect to an IDI and its holding company, including the power to (i) impose cease and desist orders, substantial fines and other civil penalties, (ii) terminate deposit insurance, and (iii) appoint a conservator or receiver. Failure to comply with applicable laws or regulations could subject the Corporation or Fulton Bank, as well as their officers and directors, to administrative sanctions and potentially substantial civil and criminal penalties. In addition, under the BHCA, the Federal Reserve Board has the authority to require a bank holding company to terminate any activity or to relinquish control of a non-bank subsidiary upon the Federal Reserve Board's determination that such activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness and stability of a depository institution subsidiary of the bank holding company. Federal Securities Laws - The Corporation is subject to the periodic reporting, proxy solicitation, tender offer, insider trading, corporate governance and other requirements under the Exchange Act. Among other things, the federal securities laws require management to issue a report on the effectiveness of its internal controls over financial reporting. In addition, the Corporation's independent registered public accountants are required to issue an opinion on the effectiveness of the Corporation's internal control over financial reporting. These reports can be found in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the resulting SEC rules can be found in the "Signatures" and "Exhibits" sections. Climate-Related Risk Management and Regulation 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. Accordingly, the agencies have begun to enhance their supervisory expectations regarding the climate risk management practices of larger banking organizations, including by encouraging such banks to: (i)ensure that management of climate-related risk exposures has been incorporated into existing governance structures; (ii) evaluate the potential impact of climate-related risks on the bank’s financial condition, operations and business objectives as part of its strategic planning process; (iii) account for the effects of climate change in stress testing scenarios and systemic risk assessments; (iv) revise expectations for credit portfolio concentrations based on climate-related factors; (v) consider investments in climate-related initiatives and lending to communities disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change; (vi) evaluate the impact of climate change on the bank’s borrowers and consider possible changes to underwriting criteria to account for climate-related risks to mortgaged properties; (vii) incorporate climate-related financial risk into the bank’s internal reporting, monitoring and escalation processes; (viii) and prepare for the transition risks associated with the adjustment to a low-carbon economy as well as related changes in laws, regulations, governmental policies, technology, and consumer behavior and expectations. On October 21, 2021, the FSOC published a report identifying climate-related financial risks as an "emerging threat" to financial stability. On December 16, 2021, the OCC issued proposed principles for climate-related financial risk management for national banks with more than $100 billion in total assets. Although these risk management principles, if adopted as proposed, would not apply to Fulton Bank based upon its current size, the OCC has indicated that all banks, regardless of their size, may have material exposures to climate-related financial and other risks that require prudent management. The federal banking agencies, either independently or on an interagency basis, are expected to adopt a more formal climate risk management framework for larger banking organizations in the coming months. As climate-related supervisory guidance is formalized, and relevant risk areas and corresponding control expectations are further refined, the Corporation may be required to expend significant capital and incur compliance, operating, maintenance and remediation costs in order to conform to such requirements. In addition, states are considering taking similar actions on climate-related financial risks, including certain states in which the Corporation operates. For example, the Governor of Pennsylvania has announced the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan of 2021 that will, in part, focus on the negative impact businesses have on greenhouse gas emissions. Further, Virginia’s omnibus Virginia Clean Economy Act enacted provisions with the goal of the Commonwealth being carbon-free by 2045; and, after the Governor of Maryland reauthorized the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Act of 2016, the Maryland Department of 17 Environment released the 2030 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act Plan. Once fully implemented, these measures will, at least in part, focus on the greenhouse gases impact that businesses have in the respective states in which they operate. Human Capital The Corporation’s workforce at December 31, 2021 consisted of approximately 3,200 full-time equivalent employees, compared to approximately 3,300 full-time equivalent employees at December 31, 2020. Workforce numbers can fluctuate over time, and employee attrition is a function of many factors. In 2021, the Corporation experienced slightly higher vacancy and turnover than in 2020, similar to many companies. Employee Engagement and Retention The Corporation places a premium on having a highly engaged workforce because engaged employees tend to perform at a higher level, support the Corporation’s success, and are more likely to remain with the organization. The Corporation conducts an annual survey of its workforce to measure employee engagement, assess employee morale, and help to identify areas of the employee experience that could be improved. The Corporation then tasks its leaders to develop and implement communication and action plans aimed at engaging with their respective teams to gain a better understanding of the results of the assessment, and to foster enhanced future engagement. Leaders at the Corporation are held accountable for employee engagement scores for the teams they lead as each leader’s engagement score is included in their annual performance review. Additionally, aggregated employee engagement assessment results are reported to the Corporation’s Board of Directors, as a key indicator to the health and well-being of the workforce. Culture, Diversity and Inclusion The Corporation believes that building relationships matters. This belief includes relationships with clients and customers and relationships among employees. In recent years, the Corporation has placed significant emphasis on developing its corporate culture, and now considers its culture to be one of the primary components of its continuing success. The Corporation’s culture-shaping program, The Fulton Experience , is a highly engaging program that is intended to spark new ways of thinking about employees’ individual roles, how employees collaborate, and how employees and the Corporation grow together. The Corporation believes that it succeeds as a company because it values the teamwork of its employees and fosters a culture around that belief. More recently, the Corporation has been applying that same emphasis to the development of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. The Corporation recognizes that having a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and workforce encourages employees to share their opinions and different perspectives, fosters a culture of respect, and are crucial elements of a successful organization. In 2021, the Corporation undertook many initiatives to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion including, but not limited to, providing allyship training to leaders, conducting senior leader listening tours on diversity, equity and inclusion topics, and supporting the launch of several employee resource groups. Compensation and Rewards The Corporation invests in its workforce by offering competitive salaries, incentives, and benefits that are part of the Corporation’s pay for performance culture. This is implemented through a number of incentive programs that are tailored to drive performance in the business units as well as at the corporate level. Workforce Recruitment and Development The Corporation recruits its workforce, filling both vacant and new positions, largely through the posting of such positions on its own website, on social media platforms, and through talent recruiting efforts by internal and third- party recruiters. The Corporation provides for professional development of new and existing employees largely through the efforts of its Center for Learning and Talent Development that develops and administers a wide variety of training programs for professional development. The Corporation also provides for a number of off-site, third-party offerings in which employees can further enhance their skills, knowledge and leadership potential. One such example, afforded to employees with future leadership potential, is through the Corporation’s participation in the Stonier School of Banking sponsored by the American Bankers Association. COVID-19 Response During 2021, the Corporation continued to navigate the COVID-19 environment. From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Corporation has been committed to supporting its employees, customers, and communities. The Corporation adheres to the Centers for Disease Control and states’ guidance in supporting the safety of employees and customers, and the Corporation continues to encourage, and provides incentives, to employees to get vaccinated. The safety, health and wellness of the Corporation’s employees remains a top priority. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a unique challenge with regard to maintaining workforce safety while continuing successful operations, particularly at financial center locations where employees routinely interact with the public. 18 Executive Officers The executive officers of the Corporation are as follows: Name Age (1) Office Held and Term of Office E. Philip Wenger 64 Director of the Corporation since 2009 and Director of Fulton Bank, N.A since 2019. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation since January 2013. Mr. Wenger previously served as President of the Corporation from 2008 to 2017, Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation from 2008 to 2012, a Director of Fulton Bank, N.A. from 2003 to 2009, Chairman of Fulton Bank, N.A. from 2006 to 2009 and has been employed by the Corporation in a number of positions since 1979. Mark R. McCollom 57 Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation since March of 2018. Mr. McCollom joined the Corporation in November 2017 as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Designee. Before joining the Corporation he was a Senior Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer and COO of Griffin Financial Group, LLC. Prior to his role at Griffin Financial Group, Mr. McCollom was the Chief Financial Officer of Sovereign Bancorp, Inc. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Curtis J. Myers 53 Director of the Corporation since 2019 and Director of Fulton Bank, N.A. since 2009. President and Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation since January 1, 2018. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fulton Bank, N.A. since May 2018. Mr. Myers served as Senior Executive Vice President of the Corporation from July 2013 to December 2017. President and Chief Operating Officer of Fulton Bank, N.A. since February 2009. He served as Executive Vice President of the Corporation since August 2011. Mr. Myers has been employed by Fulton Bank, N.A. in a number of positions since 1990. David M. Campbell 60 Senior Executive Vice President, and Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations since December 2014. Mr. Campbell joined the Corporation as Chief Administrative Officer of Fulton Financial Advisors, a division of Fulton Bank, N.A. in 2009, and was promoted to President of Fulton Financial Advisors in 2010. He has more than 30 years of experience in financial services. Beth Ann L. Chivinski 61 Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Corporation effective June 1, 2016. Previously, she served as the Corporation’s Chief Audit Executive April 2013 to June 2016 and was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of the Corporation in 2014. Prior to that, she served as the Corporation’s Executive Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from June 2004 to March 31, 2013. Ms. Chivinski has worked in various positions with the Corporation since 1994. 19 Name Age (1) Office Held and Term of Office Natasha R. Luddington 47 Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary effective December 31, 2021. Ms. Luddington became the Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary (Designee) of the Corporation in October 2021. Prior to joining the Corporation, Ms. Luddington served as Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Interim General Counsel at Pacific Western Bank. Ms. Luddington has more than 20 years of experience Working in financial services law beginning with work at several law firms, including Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in Washington, D.C. Meg R. Mueller 57 Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Business since January 1, 2018. Ms. Mueller served as Chief Credit Officer of the Corporation from 2010 - 2017 and was promoted to Senior Executive Vice President of the Corporation in 2013. Ms. Mueller has been employed by the Corporation in a number of positions since 1996. Angela M. Sargent 54 Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer of the Corporation since July 2013. Ms. Sargent served as Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer from 2002 to 2013 and has been employed by the Corporation in a number of positions since 1992. Angela M. Snyder 57 Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Consumer Banking since January 1, 2018. She heads the Corporation's Consumer Banking line of business. Ms. Snyder joined the Corporation in 2002 as President of Woodstown National Bank she then served as Chairwoman, President and CEO of Fulton Bank of New Jersey until 2019, when the Corporation consolidated that bank into Fulton Bank, N.A. She has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. Daniel R. Stolzer 65 Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2021 when he retired as a member of the Corporation's senior management team. Mr. Stolzer joined the Corporation in 2013 as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining the Corporation, Mr. Stolzer served as Chief Counsel - Special Projects at PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, PA and Deputy General Counsel at KeyCorp in Cleveland, OH. He has more than 30 years of experience working in financial services law beginning with work at several law firms, including Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in New York City where he was a member of the Corporate Securities and Capital Markets practice groups. . Bernadette M. Taylor 60 Senior Executive Vice President, and Chief Human Resource Officer since May 2015. In 2001, she was promoted to Senior Vice President of employee services. She served as Executive Vice President of employee services, employment, and director of human resources before her promotion in 2015 to Chief Human Resources Officer. Dr. Taylor joined the Corporation in 1994 as Corporate Training Director at Fulton Financial Corporation. (1) As of December 31, 2021 20