Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
For information regarding risk factors, please refer to Part I. Item 1A in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by the Company's periodic filings with the SEC. Other than the risk factors set forth below, the risk factors set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,2022 have not changed materially as of March 31, 2023.
Recent negative developments affecting the banking industry, and resulting media coverage, may affect our results of operations and financial condition .
The recent high-profile bank failures involving Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank have generated significant market volatility among publicly traded bank holding companies and, in particular, regional banks like the Company. These market developments have negatively impacted customer confidence in the safety and soundness of regional banks. As a result, customers may choose to maintain deposits with larger financial institutions or invest in higher yielding short-term fixed income securities, all of which could materially adversely impact our liquidity, loan funding capacity, net interest margin, capital and results of operations. While the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve, and the FDIC have made statements ensuring that depositors of these recently failed banks would have access to their deposits, including uninsured deposit accounts, there is no guarantee that such actions will be successful in restoring customer confidence in regional banks and the banking system more broadly.
Rising interest rates have decreased the value of our held-to-maturity securities portfolio, and we would realize losses if we were required to sell such securities to meet liquidity needs.
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As a result of inflationary pressures and the resulting rapid increases in interest rates over the last year, the trading value of previously issued government and other fixed income securities has declined significantly. These securities make up a majority of the securities portfolio of most banks in the U.S., including ours, resulting in unrealized losses embedded in the held-to-maturity portion of U.S. banks’ securities portfolios. While we do not currently intend to sell these securities, if we were required to sell such securities to meet liquidity needs, we may incur losses, which could impair our capital, financial condition, and results of operations and, in the event that our other funding sources are insufficient, could require us to raise additional capital. While we have taken actions to maximize our funding sources, there is no guarantee that such actions will be successful or sufficient in the event of sudden liquidity needs. Furthermore, while the Federal Reserve Board has created the Bank Term Funding Program available to eligible depository institutions secured by U.S. treasuries, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities, and other qualifying assets as collateral at par, to mitigate the risk of potential losses on the sale of such instruments, there is no guarantee that such programs will be effective in addressing liquidity needs as they arise.
Any regulatory examination scrutiny or new regulatory requirements arising from the recent events in the banking industry could increase our expenses and affect our operations.
We anticipate increased regulatory scrutiny and new regulations directed towards regional banks similar in size to us, designed to address the recent negative developments in the banking industry, all of which may increase our costs of doing business and reduce our profitability.
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