Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM
1A. Risk Factors
The
information below updates, and should be read in conjunction with, the risk factors disclosed in Part I, “Item 1A-
Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2020 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on September 30, 2019. These risk factors could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks
described are not the only risks that we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently
deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results. Except
as presented below, there have been no material changes in the risk factors as discussed in our Form 10-K.
The
recent global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to periods of significant volatility in financial, commodities and other
markets and could harm our business and results of operations.
In
December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, COVID-19
infections have spread to additional countries including the United States. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared
COVID-19 to be a pandemic. Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is difficult to predict the impact of
the coronavirus pandemic on our business, and there is no guarantee that our efforts to address or mitigate the adverse impacts
of the coronavirus will be effective. The impact to date has included periods of significant volatility in financial, commodities
and other markets. This volatility, if it continues, could have an adverse impact on our customers and on our business, financial
condition and results of operations as well as our growth strategy.
Our
business is dependent upon the willingness and ability of our customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions. The
spread of COVID-19 has caused and could continue to cause severe disruptions in the U.S. economy at large, and has resulted and
may continue to result in disruptions to our customers’ businesses, and a decrease in consumer confidence and business generally.
In addition, recent actions by US federal, state and local governments to address the pandemic, including travel bans, stay-at-home
orders and school, business and entertainment venue closures, may have a significant adverse effect on our customers and the markets
in which we conduct our business. The extent of impacts resulting from the coronavirus pandemic and other events beyond our control
will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge
concerning the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and actions taken to contain the coronavirus or its impact, among others.
Disruptions
to our customers could result in increased risk of delinquencies, defaults, and foreclosures and losses on our loans. The escalation
of the pandemic may also negatively impact regional economic conditions for a period of time, resulting in declines in local loan
demand, liquidity of loan guarantors, loan collateral (particularly in real estate), loan originations and deposit availability.
If the global response to contain COVID-19 escalates or is unsuccessful, we could experience a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The
spread of the COVID-19 outbreak and the governmental responses may disrupt banking and other financial activity in the areas in
which we operate and could potentially create widespread business continuity issues for us.
The
outbreak of COVID-19 and the US federal, state and local governmental responses may result in a disruption in the services we
provide. We rely on our third-party vendors to conduct business and to process, record, and monitor transactions. If any of these
vendors are unable to continue to provide us with these services or experience interruptions in their ability to provide us with
these services, it could negatively impact our ability to serve our customers. Furthermore, the coronavirus pandemic could negatively
impact the ability of our employees and customers to engage in banking and other financial transactions in the geographic areas
in which we operate and could create widespread business continuity issues for us. We also could be adversely affected if key
personnel or a significant number of employees were to become unavailable due to infection, quarantine or other effects and restrictions
of a COVID-19 outbreak in our market areas. Although we have business continuity plans and other safeguards in place, there is
no assurance that such plans and safeguards will be effective. If we are unable to promptly recover from such business disruptions,
our business, financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected. We also may incur additional costs to
remedy damages caused by such disruptions, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
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