HAWTHORN BANCSHARES, INC. 10-K

Item 7A . Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk . The Company's exposure to market risk is reviewed on a regular basis by our Bank's asset/liability committee and board of directors. Interest rate risk is the potential of economic losses due to future interest rate changes. These economic losses can be reflected as a loss of future net interest income and/or a loss of current fair market values. The objective is to measure the effect on net interest income and to adjust the balance sheet to minimize the inherent risk while at the same time maximizing income. Management realizes certain risks are inherent and that the goal is to identify and minimize those risks. Tools used by the Bank's management include modeling the effects on net interest income under different rate shock scenarios. At December 31, 2023, the Company's rate shock scenario models indicated that annual net interest income could change by as much as 5.92% or 7.05% should interest rates rise or fall, respectively, 200 basis points from their current level over a one-year period. These levels of interest rate risk are within limits set by the board in the Company's Funds Management, Investment Asset Liability Policy and management believes this is an acceptable level of interest rate risk. However, there are no assurances that the change will not be more or less than this estimate. Pursuant to General Instruction G(2) to Form 10-K, the information required by this Item, other than that provided above, is incorporated herein by reference to the information under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" in the Company's 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders (included as Exhibit 13 hereto).