Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
OUR COMPANY
Red River Bancshares, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, was founded in 1998 and is a bank holding company headquartered in Alexandria, Louisiana. Through our wholly owned subsidiary, Red River Bank, a Louisiana state-chartered bank, we provide a fully integrated suite of banking products and services tailored to the needs of our commercial and retail customers. Our mission is to be the premier statewide banking organization in Louisiana.
We completed an initial public offering of our common stock in May 2019 as an emerging growth company under the JOBS Act. Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “RRBI.”
As of December 31, 2023, we were the sixth largest financial institution headquartered in Louisiana based on assets, with total assets of $3.13 billion, loans HFI of $1.99 billion, total deposits of $2.80 billion, and total stockholders’ equity of $303.9 million.
OUR MARKETS
As of December 31, 2023, we operated from a network of 27 banking centers throughout Louisiana and one combined LDPO in New Orleans, Louisiana. Banking centers are located in the following Louisiana markets: Central, which includes the Alexandria MSA; Northwest, which includes the Shreveport-Bossier City MSA; Capital, which includes the Baton Rouge MSA; Southwest, which includes the Lake Charles MSA; the Northshore, which includes Covington; Acadiana, which includes the Lafayette MSA; and New Orleans.
We believe our markets offer us an attractive combination of growth opportunities and core deposit stability, as well as loan diversity. We operate nine banking centers, including our main office, in the Central Louisiana market, which we define to include Rapides and Avoyelles Parishes. We operate seven banking centers in our Northwest Louisiana market, which we define to include Caddo, Bossier, and DeSoto Parishes. In our Capital market, which we define to include East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes, we operate six banking centers. We operate two banking centers in our Southwest Louisiana market, which we define to include Calcasieu Parish. In our Northshore Louisiana market, which we define to include St. Tammany Parish, we operate one banking center. We operate one banking center in our Acadiana market, which we define to include Lafayette Parish. In our New Orleans market, which we define to include Orleans Parish, we operate one banking center and one combined LDPO.
We believe our current markets provide ample opportunities for the continued growth of our customer base, loans, and deposits, as well as the expansion of our overall market share in each area. Our goal is to replicate this growth in new markets as we continue to expand and implement our growth and expansion strategy. We believe our current markets, which are in diverse parts of Louisiana, are economic centers that provide for natural credit diversification and a hedge against industry downturns.
We are purposeful in choosing banking center locations and have sought out key locations in Louisiana through de novo development, as well as through two whole-bank acquisitions. Our emphasis on having a strategic network of banking centers, staffed by experienced bankers, differentiates us from our national and regional bank competitors, who are increasingly moving their customers to digital-only banking platforms with limited personal service.
GROWTH AND EXPANSION STRATEGY
We have concentrated our efforts on building our market presence in key metropolitan markets within the state of Louisiana where our target customers are underserved and well-suited for the commercial, retail, and private banking products and services that we provide. We serve our customers’ needs within the markets where we have operations and in other areas where our customers operate. We also promote our business to potential customers in markets contiguous to Louisiana. We intend to leverage our competitive strengths to take advantage of what we believe are significant growth opportunities within our existing footprint and other strategic market areas that we believe complement our strategic plan. Our growth strategy includes the following:
Expand Market Share in Existing Markets
We want to be the market leader and have a significant market share in all of the communities we serve. Organic growth is our primary focus, which may be supplemented with strategic, targeted acquisitions when and if appropriate. We intend to expand our banking center network by opening additional banking centers in our existing markets to provide our customers with more convenient banking locations. We understand that relationships are our strategic advantage, and we continually seek to identify and recruit experienced bankers with broad relationship networks within our existing markets. We then strengthen those relationships by offering personalized products and services. We attract new customers through personal outreach by our bankers, targeted marketing campaigns, advertising in a variety of traditional and social media, and by filling the void left by competitors who are closing banking offices. Other outreach activities include helping our communities during times of need and having a presence at community events.
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Opportunistic New Market Expansion
When evaluating potential new market opportunities, our standard due diligence includes both an assessment of the local economy as well as analysis of the local banking landscape. As part of our new market expansion plan, we expanded operations to four new markets between 2017 and 2022. In 2017, we began operations in the Southwest Louisiana market, which includes the Lake Charles, Louisiana MSA. During 2018 and 2019, we entered the Northshore market, located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, near New Orleans, Louisiana. In 2020, we entered the Acadiana market, which includes the Lafayette, Louisiana MSA, by opening a combined LDPO in Lafayette. We also entered the New Orleans market in 2021 by opening a combined LDPO in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana. In Lafayette, Louisiana, in the first quarter of 2022, we opened our first full-service banking center, which we purchased in 2020. In the second quarter of 2022, we relocated the staff and services from the Lafayette LDPO to the new banking center and closed the LDPO located there. In the New Orleans market, we remodeled and received regulatory approval on a leased banking center location in downtown New Orleans, which we opened as the Bank’s first full-service banking center in New Orleans in the third quarter of 2022. In the third quarter of 2023, we held a groundbreaking ceremony for our third banking location in the New Orleans market. Construction of this banking center is in process, and it is projected to open for business in the third quarter of 2024.
Disciplined Acquisition Strategy
Our primary focus continues to be on organic expansion; however, we will identify and evaluate acquisition opportunities that we believe are consistent with our mission and can provide opportunities for improved profitability and increased market share. Our historic approach to potential acquisitions has been strategic and disciplined. Since inception, we completed two whole-bank acquisitions of institutions with customer-oriented, compatible philosophies in desirable geographic areas. These acquisitions provided us the opportunity to expand the delivery of our relationship-driven brand of banking.
BANKING SERVICES
We are primarily a business-focused banking organization, delivering specialized services to our customers. We target privately-owned commercial and industrial operating companies for both credit and treasury management services, while also providing owners and key employees with the same customized, personal service for their individual financial needs. Our personal banking business supports our commercial banking focus, provides attractive customer diversification, and enhances our growing base of core deposits. We offer each of these customers sophisticated products and services similar to those of much larger banks but delivered by bankers who can provide local and responsive decision-making, personal assistance, and an interest in our customers’ personal goals and the success of their businesses.
Lending
Lending activities originate from the efforts of our bankers, with an emphasis on lending to small and medium-sized businesses, commercial companies, individuals, and professionals.
Real Estate Loans
Commercial Real Estate Loans (Owner Occupied) . We focus on the banking needs of established operating companies, which includes owner occupied office and industrial real estate loans. Risks associated with owner occupied commercial real estate include fluctuations in the value of real estate, the overall strength of the economy, new job creation trends, environmental contamination, and the quality of the borrower’s management. In addition to a proven management team and track record, we focus on businesses with a history of strong, recurring cash flows. In particular, we target wholesale and professional service companies, as well as businesses with unique strengths in niche markets. Loans are conservatively underwritten and typically carry the personal guarantee of the business owners. We believe this portfolio segment is well-diversified by industry type. As of December 31, 2023, our owner occupied commercial real estate loans were 20.7% of loans HFI.
Commercial Real Estate Loans (Non-Owner Occupied) . Our pursuit of non-owner occupied commercial real estate properties is reserved primarily for developers and other persons or entities of influence who present additional business and personal relationship opportunities. This strategy is evidenced by our modest level of these loans relative to our capital, which has been consistent for many years. Risks associated with non-owner occupied commercial real estate include fluctuations in the value of real estate, the overall strength of the economy, new job creation trends, tenant vacancy rates, environmental contamination, and the quality of the borrower’s management. We target property types with a greater ability to withstand changes in market forces. Our underwriting criteria for non-owner occupied properties is even more conservative than our underwriting criteria for owner occupied properties due to the higher inherent risks generally associated with the former. Our target rate of return is also higher for non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans. As of December 31, 2023, our non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans were 22.0% of loans HFI.
One-to-Four Family Residential Loans. We offer primary and secondary liens on one-to-four family mortgage loans, as well as home equity lines of credit, in each case primarily on owner occupied primary residences. Our retail consumer real estate lending products are offered primarily to consumer customers. Although our consumer real estate loan portfolio presents lower levels of risk than our commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, and construction and
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development loan portfolios, we are exposed to risks based on fluctuations in the value of the real estate collateral securing the loan, as well as changes in the borrower’s financial condition, which could be affected by numerous factors, including divorce, job loss, illness, or other personal hardship. As of December 31, 2023, our one-to-four family residential loans were 30.1% of loans HFI.
Construction and Development Loans. Our construction and development portfolio includes loans to small and medium-sized businesses to construct owner occupied facilities, loans to developers of commercial real estate investment properties and residential developments, and, to a lesser extent, loans to individual clients for construction of single-family homes. Risks associated with construction loans include fluctuations in the value of real estate, project completion risk, and change in market trends. We are also exposed to risk based on the ability of the construction loan borrower to finance the loan or sell the property upon completion of the project, which may be affected by changes in secondary market terms and criteria for permanent financing since the time that we funded the construction loan. As of December 31, 2023, our construction and development loans were 6.3% of loans HFI.
Commercial and Industrial Loans
We have expertise in meeting the financing needs of commercial operating companies. Our specialists in these areas understand the cash cycle, working capital, and the fixed asset acquisition needs of businesses, which allows us to deliver customizable and effective financing solutions. The risks associated with commercial and industrial loans are derived from the expectation that the loans are generally serviced from the operations of the business, and those operations may not be successful. In addition, the collateral securing commercial and industrial loans generally includes movable property, which may decline in value more rapidly than anticipated. We recommend and utilize sound commercial and industrial loan structures that limit our risks as a lender, while also helping to drive the success of our clients’ businesses. Commercial and industrial loans comprised 15.8% of loans HFI as of December 31, 2023.
Tax-Exempt Loans
We make tax-exempt loans to political subdivisions of the State of Louisiana including parishes, municipalities, utility districts, school districts, and development authorities. These loans undergo the same underwriting as any of our other loans and are typically secured by and paid for by ad valorem taxes. As of December 31, 2023, our tax-exempt loans were 3.7% of loans HFI.
Consumer Loans
We also make a variety of loans to individuals for personal, family, and household purposes, including secured and unsecured installment and term loans. We offer consumer loans as an accommodation to our existing customers and do not market consumer loans to persons who do not have a pre-existing relationship with us. Our consumer loans, which are underwritten primarily based on the borrower’s financial condition and, in some cases, are unsecured credits, subject us to risk based on changes in the borrower’s financial condition, which could be affected by numerous factors, including divorce, job loss, illness or other personal hardship, and fluctuations in the value of the real estate or personal property securing the consumer loan, if any. As of December 31, 2023, our consumer loans were 1.4% of loans HFI.
Loans Held for Sale
Our mortgage lending group originates home mortgage loans that are sold to investors on the secondary market. Loan types include conventional, VA, FHA, and Rural Development. In addition, the mortgage lending department plays a critical role in meeting our community reinvestment and fair lending goals. The mortgage group has a community specialist in each major market focused on low-income and first-time home buyers, and we participate in various down payment assistance and low-income home loan programs to ensure the needs of our entire banking community are satisfied.
Commitments to Extend Credit
We had outstanding commitments to extend credit in the forms of lines of credit and standby letters of credit of approximately $387.4 million as of December 31, 2023. We use the same credit policies in making these commitments as we do for our other loans.
Deposits
An important aspect of our business franchise is the ability to gather deposits. We offer a wide range of deposit products, including checking, savings, money market accounts, and time deposits. We obtain most of our deposits from individuals, partnerships, corporations, and public entities primarily in our market areas. We do not have brokered deposits. Our bankers are experienced business developers with extensive contacts and connections with targeted clients and centers of influence throughout our communities. Our team is focused on driving relationships and noninterest-bearing accounts. We believe that the rates we offer for core deposits are competitive with those offered by other financial institutions in our market areas.
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Treasury Management Services
Many of our clients and prospective clients have sophisticated depository needs. Our full array of commercial treasury services is designed to be competitive with banks of all sizes. Treasury management services include ways to help our business customers manage accounts payable, accounts receivable, account fraud risk, and information reporting. Treasury management deposit products consist of remote deposit capture, automated clearing house origination, merchant services, positive pay and automated fraud detection tools, account reconciliation services, zero balance accounts, and sweep accounts, including loan and investment sweep accounts. We have dedicated teams who partner with our commercial and private bankers to meet those needs. Our TMSOs analyze clients’ account activity and cash utilization and then recommend and implement solutions that enhance our clients’ efficiency, mitigate risks to their businesses, and maximize their earnings on available liquidity. Our TMSOs provide in-person assistance with the initial setup of treasury services, as well as client support post-implementation.
Private Banking Services
Our private banking group provides specialized deposit and loan products and services to high net worth individuals, business owners, and professionals. Consistent with our overall business philosophy, we seek to develop long-term relationships with our private banking clients through an emphasis on personal service and products tailored to their specific needs. From checking and savings products to sophisticated financing structures, we work to meet our clients’ changing needs.
Brokerage Services
We offer a broad range of products and services designed to meet the investment needs of all of our customers through our investment group and LPL Financial LLC, our registered broker-dealer. Our investment group executives, who are available to serve clients in each of our markets, strive to fully understand each client’s unique financial situation, deliver a comprehensive plan, and provide the appropriate products to meet their needs. Our investment products include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, alternative investments, annuities, and insurance products. Through our partnership with registered investment advisors, our investment group also provides investment advisory services, financial planning services, and a comprehensive suite of retirement plans. As of December 31, 2023, our investment group had $1.04 billion of assets under management.
Other Banking Services
We offer banking products and services that are attractively priced with a focus on customer convenience and accessibility. We offer a full suite of online banking services, including access to account balances, online transfers, online bill payment, and electronic delivery of customer statements. In addition, we offer banking services in person, through ATMs, drive-through facilities, night deposits, telephone, mail, and mobile banking. We also offer debit cards, credit cards, cashier’s checks, wire transfer services, and safe deposit boxes.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
We continue to make investments in our IT systems supporting our deposit and lending operations and treasury management initiatives. In 2021, we invested in the JAM FINTOP Banktech, L.P. fund to strategically develop technology partnerships as we expand the Bank’s digital offerings. We believe these investments are essential to enhancing our capabilities for offering new products and services, improving the overall customer experience, providing scale for future growth and acquisitions, and increasing controls and efficiencies in corporate support areas. We utilize a core data processing platform from a nationally recognized bank software vendor providing us with capabilities to support the continued growth of the Bank. While we operate and manage our internal network infrastructure, we leverage the capabilities of third-party service providers to provide technical expertise around network design, architecture, and cybersecurity services required for us to operate as an effective and efficient organization.
The majority of our systems used to conduct day-to-day banking operations are operated by a third-party service provider. Also, certain key transaction processing platforms, such as debit card processing, credit card processing, mobile banking, online banking, telephone banking, and website services, are outsourced to third-party service providers. We believe these third-party providers provide the scalability, infrastructure, and disaster recovery capabilities to support our operating strategy.
HUMAN CAPITAL
As of December 31, 2023, we had 362 employees, including 353 full-time employees. None of our employees are represented by any collective bargaining unit or are parties to a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that our relations with our employees are very good.
We believe that we maintain employment and benefit programs that are appropriate with respect to position responsibilities, competitive with the external market, and capable of attracting, retaining, and motivating competent employees. We recognize the importance of our employee’s financial health and well-being and strive to provide comprehensive compensation and benefits packages to help meet those needs. Compensation and benefits include
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market-competitive pay, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, employer paid and voluntary life insurance, health and dependent care flexible spending accounts, paid holidays, paid vacation and sick time, and other insurance and benefit options. We also offer a 401(k) Plan, which includes our stock as an investment option, and we make matching contributions to that plan. In addition, we offer stock-based compensation to key employees as a way to attract and retain talent. For more information on our benefit plans and stock-based compensation, see “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Note 9. Employee Benefits” and “- Note 10. Stock-Based Compensation Plans,” respectively, in this Report.
We seek to engage personnel at all levels by offering opportunities for learning, growth, and the achievement of career objectives. We strive, to the extent possible, to promote from within to fill open positions. Additionally, we encourage our employees to volunteer in community service activities in the markets that we serve.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We employ people based upon merit, ability and qualifications. No qualified applicant or employee is to be discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, religion, disability, age, veteran status, citizenship, genetic characteristics, or other status protected by federal, state, local, or other law. Our equal employment opportunity commitment applies to all areas of employment including hiring, training, placement, promotion, compensation, and benefits.
CORPORATE INFORMATION
Our principal executive offices are located at 1412 Centre Court Drive, Suite 301, Alexandria, Louisiana 71301, and our telephone number is (318) 561-4000. Our website is www.redriverbank.net. All of our periodic reports filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) and 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available through our website free of charge, including our annual reports on Form 10-K, our annual reports to shareholders, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. These documents are also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The information contained on or accessible from our website does not constitute a part of this Report and is not incorporated by reference herein.
SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
General
The U.S. banking industry is highly regulated under federal and state law. Consequently, our growth and earnings performance will be affected not only by management decisions and general and local economic conditions, but also by the statutes administered by, and the regulations and policies of, various governmental regulatory authorities. These authorities include the Federal Reserve, FDIC, OFI, CFPB, SEC, Internal Revenue Service, and state taxing authorities. The effect of these statutes, regulations, and policies and any changes to such statutes, regulations, and policies can be significant and cannot be predicted.
The primary goals of the U.S. bank regulatory framework are to maintain a safe and sound banking system, facilitate the conduct of sound monetary policy, and promote fairness and transparency for financial products and services. The system of supervision and regulation applicable to us and the Bank establishes a comprehensive framework for their respective operations and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund, the Bank’s depositors, and the public, rather than our shareholders or creditors. The description below summarizes certain elements of the applicable bank regulatory framework. This description is not intended to describe all laws and regulations applicable to us and the Bank, and the description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations, policies, interpretive letters, and other written guidance that are described herein.
Bank Holding Company Regulation
As a bank holding company, we are subject to regulation under the BHCA and to supervision, examination, and enforcement by the Federal Reserve as well as the OFI. The BHCA and other federal laws subject bank holding companies to particular restrictions on the types of activities in which they may engage, and to a range of supervisory requirements and activities, including regulatory enforcement actions for violations of laws and regulations. The Federal Reserve’s jurisdiction also extends to any company that we directly or indirectly control, such as any nonbank subsidiaries and other companies in which we own a controlling interest.
Financial Services Industry Reform
As final rules and regulations implementing the Dodd-Frank Act have been adopted, and may continue to be adopted and/or modified, this law has changed the bank regulatory framework and has affected the lending, deposit, investment, trading, and operating activities of banks and their holding companies.
A number of the effects of the Dodd-Frank Act are described or otherwise accounted for in various parts of this “Supervision and Regulation” section. In addition to those requirements, the Dodd-Frank Act addresses many investor protection, corporate governance, and executive compensation matters that affect most U.S. publicly traded companies. The Dodd-Frank Act (1) requires certain publicly traded companies to give shareholders a non-binding vote on executive
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compensation and golden parachute payments; (2) enhances independence requirements for compensation committee members; (3) requires national securities exchanges to require listed companies to adopt incentive-based compensation clawback policies for executive officers; (4) requires certain publicly traded companies to disclose the relationship between the executive compensation actually paid by the company and the financial performance of the company; and (5) authorizes the SEC to promulgate rules that would allow shareholders to nominate their own director candidates using a company’s proxy materials. While much of the Dodd-Frank Act has been implemented in the form of final rules from the banking agencies, certain aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act remain in proposed form or have not been implemented. Accordingly, it is possible that existing rules may still be modified or repealed or that new rules may be implemented that may impact our operations.
The Economic Growth Act, which was signed into law in May 2018, provides certain limited amendments to the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as certain targeted modifications to prior financial services reform regulatory requirements. Provisions in the Economic Growth Act generally address access to mortgage credit; consumer access to credit; protections for veterans, consumers, and homeowners; and protections for student borrowers. One of the Economic Growth Act’s highlights, with implications for us, was the asset threshold under the Policy Statement being increased from $1.0 billion to $3.0 billion, which benefits bank holding companies by, among various other items, allowing for an 18-month safety and soundness examination cycle as opposed to a 12-month examination cycle, changing to scaled biannual regulatory reporting requirements as opposed to quarterly regulatory reporting requirements, and not subjecting bank holding companies to capital adequacy guidelines on a consolidated basis. Because we had less than $3.0 billion in assets as of each of the June 30th measurement dates starting with the Economic Growth Act’s enactment and going through June 30, 2021, we have received benefits under the Policy Statement through 2022, except with regard to the timing of the Red River Bank safety and soundness exam by the FDIC and the OFI. Due to the timing of the asset balance determination for the Red River Bank safety and soundness examination, a 12-month examination cycle began in the second half of 2022. As of June 30, 2022 and 2023, the last applicable measurement dates, we had more than $3.0 billion in assets. Therefore, effective January 1, 2023, we no longer receive any benefits under the Policy Statement and became subject to consolidated capital requirements. Another significant provision was the Economic Growth Act’s directive that federal bank regulatory agencies adopt a threshold for a CBLR framework. The CBLR framework and its implications for us are discussed in more detail below under the heading “- Bank Regulation - Capital Adequacy Requirements.”
On March 30, 2023, the CFPB issued a final rule implementing Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The final rule requires financial institutions to collect and report data to the CFPB on small business loan applicants, including demographic data, lending decisions, and the price and terms of credit. The purpose of the rule is to increase transparency and combat discrimination in small business lending. Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case challenging the constitutionality of the CFPB’s funding mechanism. As of the date of this Report, implementation and enforcement of the rule has been delayed until the U.S. Supreme Court renders its decision on the constitutionality of such funding mechanism.
At this time, it is difficult to anticipate the continued impact the above-described legislation may have on our business, our customers, and the financial industry generally. Changes resulting from further implementation of, changes to, or repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act and other regulations may impact the profitability of our business activities; require changes to certain of our business practices; impose upon us more stringent capital, liquidity, and leverage requirements; or otherwise adversely affect our business. These changes may also require us to invest significant management attention and resources to evaluate and make any changes necessary to comply with new statutory and regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with any new requirements may negatively impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Holding Company Capital Requirements
As previously referenced in “- Financial Services Industry Reform,” effective January 1, 2023, we became subject to, on a consolidated basis, the same minimum capital ratios under Basel III as Red River Bank. These minimum capital requirements are set forth below under the heading “- Bank Regulation - Capital Adequacy Requirements.”
Imposition of Liability for Undercapitalized Subsidiaries
Federal banking regulations require FDIC-insured banks that become undercapitalized to submit a capital restoration plan. The capital restoration plan of a bank controlled by a bank holding company will not be accepted by the regulators unless such bank holding company guarantees the subsidiary’s compliance with the capital restoration plan up to a certain specified amount. Any such guarantee from a bank holding company is entitled to a priority of payment in bankruptcy.
The aggregate liability of the holding company of an undercapitalized bank in such a guarantee is limited to the lesser of 5.0% of the bank’s assets at the time it became undercapitalized or the amount necessary to cause the institution to be adequately capitalized. The bank regulatory agencies have greater power in situations where a bank becomes significantly or critically undercapitalized or fails to submit a capital restoration plan. For example, a bank holding company controlling such a bank can be required to obtain prior Federal Reserve approval of proposed dividends, or might be required to divest the bank or other affiliates.
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Acquisitions by Bank Holding Companies
We must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before (1) acquiring more than 5.0% of the voting stock of any bank or other bank holding company, (2) acquiring all or substantially all of the assets of any bank or bank holding company, or (3) merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company. In evaluating applications with respect to these transactions, the Federal Reserve is required to consider, among other things, the effect of the acquisition on competition; the financial condition, managerial resources, and future prospects of the bank holding company and the bank(s) concerned; the convenience and needs of the communities to be served (including the record of performance under the CRA); the effectiveness of the applicant in combating money laundering activities; and the extent to which the proposed acquisition would result in greater or more concentrated risks to the stability of the U.S. banking or financial system. The Federal Reserve can deny an application based on the above criteria or other considerations. In addition, as a condition to receiving regulatory approval, the Federal Reserve can impose conditions on the acquiror or the business to be acquired, which may not be acceptable or, if acceptable, may reduce the benefit of a proposed acquisition.
Control Acquisitions
Subject to various exceptions, the BHCA and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with related regulations, require Federal Reserve approval or non-objection prior to any person or company (or group acting in concert) acquiring “control” of a bank holding company. Although “control” is based on all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the investment, control is conclusively presumed to exist if a person or company (or group acting in concert) acquires 25.0% or more of any class of voting securities of the bank holding company. Control of a bank holding company is rebuttably presumed to exist under the Change in Bank Control Act if the acquiring person or entity (or group acting in concert) will own 10.0% or more of any class of voting securities immediately following the transaction and either no other person will hold a greater percentage of that class of voting securities after the acquisition or the bank holding company has publicly registered securities. The BHCA’s definition of “control” can also be triggered when a company acquires 5.0% or more of any class of voting securities and certain other factors are present.
Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends; Source of Strength
As a bank holding company, we are subject to certain restrictions on dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations. The Federal Reserve has issued a supervisory letter on the payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies, which expresses the Federal Reserve’s view that a bank holding company should pay cash dividends only to the extent that: (1) the holding company’s net income for the past four quarters, net of any dividends previously paid during that period, is sufficient to fully fund the dividends; (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention is consistent with the bank holding company’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition; and (3) the bank holding company will continue to meet, and is not in danger of failing to meet, minimum regulatory capital adequacy ratios. Failure to comply with the supervisory letter could result in a supervisory finding that the bank holding company is operating in an unsafe and unsound manner. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may also be limited as a result of the CCB under the Basel III regulatory capital framework. In the current financial and economic environment, the Federal Reserve has indicated that bank holding companies should carefully review their dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong. The Federal Reserve may further restrict the payment of dividends by engaging in supervisory action to restrict dividends or by requiring us to maintain a higher level of capital than would otherwise be required under any applicable minimum capital requirements. Our ability to pay dividends and make other distributions depends in part upon the receipt of dividends from our subsidiary bank, which is subject to certain restrictions on dividends as discussed in more detail below.
Under longstanding Federal Reserve policy, which has been codified by the Dodd-Frank Act, we are expected to act as a source of financial strength to, and to commit resources to support, Red River Bank. This support may be required at times when we may not be inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans that we make to Red River Bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of Red River Bank. As discussed above, in certain circumstances, we could also be required to guarantee the capital restoration plan of Red River Bank, if the Bank became undercapitalized for purposes of the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of Red River Bank under a capital restoration plan would be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to a priority of payment.
Scope of Permissible Activities
In general, the BHCA limits the activities permissible for bank holding companies to the business of banking, managing, or controlling banks, and such other activities as the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be properly incidental thereto. Permissible activities for a bank holding company include, among others, operating a mortgage, finance, credit card, or factoring company; performing certain data processing operations; providing investment and financial advice; acting as an insurance agent for certain types of insurance; leasing personal property on a full-payout, nonoperating basis; and providing certain stock brokerage services. A bank holding company may also make an investment of up to 5.0% of any class of voting securities of any company that is otherwise a non-controlling investment.
If a bank holding company has elected to become a financial holding company, it may engage in activities that are (1) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity, or (2) complementary to a financial activity and which do not
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pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of a depository institution or to the financial system generally. These activities include securities dealing, underwriting and market making, insurance underwriting and agency activities, merchant banking, and insurance company portfolio investments. Expanded financial activities of financial holding companies generally will be regulated according to the type of such financial activity: banking activities by banking regulators, securities activities by securities regulators, and insurance activities by insurance regulators. A bank holding company may elect to be treated as a financial holding company if all of its depository institution subsidiaries are “well-capitalized” and “well-managed,” and have received a rating of not less than “Satisfactory” on its most recent examination under the CRA. We currently have no plans to make a financial holding company election, although we may make a financial holding company election in the future if we engage in any lines of business that are impermissible for bank holding companies but permissible for financial holding companies.
Volcker Rule
Section 13 of the BHCA, commonly known as the “Volcker Rule,” has generally prohibited insured depository institutions and their affiliates from sponsoring or acquiring an ownership interest in certain investment funds, including hedge funds and private equity funds. The Volcker Rule also places restrictions on proprietary trading. The Economic Growth Act exempts from the Volcker Rule insured depository institutions with (1) $10.0 billion or less in total consolidated assets and (2) whose total trading assets and trading liabilities are 5.0% or less of total consolidated assets. The Federal Reserve has effectively extended the exemption to bank holding companies with $10.0 billion or less in total consolidated assets. Since we meet the criteria listed above, we are exempt from the Volcker Rule.
Safe and Sound Banking Practices
Bank holding companies are not permitted to engage in unsafe and unsound banking practices. For example, the Federal Reserve’s Regulation Y generally requires a bank holding company to provide the Federal Reserve with prior notice of any redemption or repurchase of its own equity securities, if the consideration to be paid, together with the consideration paid for any repurchases or redemptions in the preceding year, is equal to 10.0% or more of the bank holding company’s consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve may oppose the transaction if it believes that the transaction would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice or would violate any law or regulation. In certain circumstances, the Federal Reserve could take the position that paying a dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. The Federal Reserve has broad authority to prohibit activities of bank holding companies and their nonbanking subsidiaries that represent unsafe and unsound banking practices, result in breaches of fiduciary duty, or which constitute violations of laws or regulations, and can assess civil money penalties or impose enforcement actions for such activities.
Bank Regulation
Red River Bank is a commercial bank chartered under the laws of the State of Louisiana. As such, Red River Bank is subject to extensive regulation, supervision, and examination by the OFI and the FDIC. In addition, Red River Bank’s deposits are insured to the maximum extent permitted by law by the FDIC. The bank regulatory agencies have the power to enforce compliance with applicable banking laws and regulations. These requirements and restrictions include requirements to maintain reserves against deposits, restrictions on the nature and amount of loans that may be made and the interest that may be charged thereon, and restrictions relating to investments and other activities of Red River Bank.
Capital Adequacy Requirements
The FDIC and OFI monitor the capital adequacy of Red River Bank by using a combination of risk-based guidelines and leverage ratios. These agencies consider the Bank’s capital levels when taking action on various types of applications and when conducting supervisory activities related to the safety and soundness of the Bank and the banking system. Due to the full phase-in of the CCB, the required ratios are 2.50% higher than the year ended December 31, 2022 and prior years. The CCB is designed to ensure that banks build up capital buffers outside periods of stress, which can be drawn down as losses are incurred. An institution that does not satisfy the CCB will be subject to restrictions on certain activities including payment of dividends, stock repurchases, and discretionary bonuses to executive officers. Under the Basel III capital rules, Red River Bank is required to maintain four minimum capital standards: (1) a leverage ratio of at least 4.00%, (2) a common equity Tier I risk-based capital ratio of at least 7.00%, (3) a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.50%, and (4) a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.50%.
These capital requirements are minimum requirements. The FDIC or OFI may also set higher capital requirements if warranted by the risk profile of Red River Bank, economic conditions impacting its markets, or other circumstances particular to the Bank. For example, FDIC guidance provides that higher capital may be required to take adequate account of, among other things, interest rate risk and the risks posed by concentrations of credit, nontraditional activities, or securities trading activities. In addition, the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations discussed below also apply to the Bank. Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject Red River Bank to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, restrictions on business activities, and other measures under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations.
As part of the directive under the Economic Growth Act, in September 2019, the FDIC and other federal bank regulatory agencies approved the CBLR framework. This optional framework became effective January 1, 2020, and is available to
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the Company and the Bank as an alternative to the Basel III risk-based capital framework. The CBLR framework provides for a simple measure of capital adequacy for certain community banking organizations. Specifically, depository institutions and depository institution holding companies that have less than $10.0 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a Tier I leverage ratio of greater than 9.00%, are considered qualifying community banking organizations eligible to opt into the CBLR framework and replace the applicable Basel III risk-based capital requirements.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company and the Bank qualify for the CBLR framework. Management does not intend to utilize the CBLR framework.
Corrective Measures for Capital Deficiencies
The federal banking regulators are required by the FDIA to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to capital-deficient banks that are FDIC-insured. For this purpose, a bank is placed in one of the following five capital tiers: “well-capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” and “critically undercapitalized.” A bank’s capital tier depends upon how its capital levels compare with various relevant capital measures and certain other regulatory factors.
To be well-capitalized, a bank must have a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.00%, a Tier I risk-based capital ratio of at least 8.00%, a common equity Tier I risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.50%, and a leverage ratio of at least 5.00%, and must not be subject to any written agreement, order, or directive requiring it to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure. We believe that, as of December 31, 2023, the Bank is well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.
Banks that are adequately capitalized, but not well-capitalized, may not accept, renew, or rollover brokered deposits without a waiver from the FDIC and are subject to restrictions on the interest rates that can be paid on deposits. The FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations also generally prohibit a bank from making any capital distributions (including payment of a dividend) or paying any management fee to its parent holding company if the bank would thereafter be undercapitalized. Undercapitalized banks are also subject to growth limitations, may not accept, renew, or rollover brokered deposits, and are required to submit a capital restoration plan. The FDIC may not accept such a plan without determining, among other things, that the plan is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the bank’s capital. Significantly undercapitalized banks may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient shares or obligations to become adequately capitalized, limitations on asset growth, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, the FDIC must appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized. The capital classification of a bank also affects the bank’s ability to engage in certain activities and the deposit insurance premiums paid by the bank.
Bank Mergers
Section 18(c) of the FDIA, known as the “Bank Merger Act,” requires the written approval of a bank’s primary federal regulator before the bank may (1) acquire through merger or consolidation, (2) purchase or otherwise acquire the assets of, or (3) assume the deposit liabilities of, another bank. The Bank Merger Act prohibits the reviewing agency from approving any proposed merger transaction that would result in certain significant anti-competitive effects. In every proposed merger transaction, the reviewing agency must also consider the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the existing and proposed institutions, the convenience and needs of the community to be served, the bank’s CRA performance, and the effectiveness of each insured depository institution involved in the proposed merger transaction in combating money-laundering activities. In addition to FDIC approval, the Bank must also obtain the prior approval of the OFI before acquiring or merging with another bank. The OFI will consider similar criteria when reviewing an application.
Branching
Under Louisiana law, Red River Bank is permitted to establish additional branch offices within Louisiana, subject to the approval of the OFI. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Bank may also establish additional branch offices outside of Louisiana, subject to prior regulatory approval, provided that the laws of the state where the branch is to be located would permit a state bank chartered in that state to establish a branch. Any new branch, whether located inside or outside of Louisiana, must also be approved by the FDIC, as the Bank’s primary federal regulator. Red River Bank may also establish offices in other states by merging with banks or by purchasing branches of banks in other states, subject to certain restrictions.
Restrictions on Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders
Federal law strictly limits the ability of banks to engage in transactions with their affiliates, including their parent bank holding companies. Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, and the Federal Reserve’s Regulation W, impose quantitative limits, qualitative standards, and collateral requirements on certain transactions by a bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B (1) limit the extent to which the bank or its subsidiaries may engage in “covered transactions” with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10.0% of such bank’s capital stock and surplus, and limit the aggregate of all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20.0% of such capital stock and surplus, and (2) require that all such transactions be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable, to the
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bank or subsidiary as those that would be provided to a non-affiliate. The term “covered transaction” includes the making of loans to the affiliate, purchase of assets from the affiliate, issuance of a guarantee on behalf of the affiliate, and several other types of transactions.
The Dodd-Frank Act expanded the coverage and scope of the limitations on affiliate transactions within a banking organization, including an expansion of what types of transactions are covered transactions to include credit exposures related to derivatives, repurchase agreements, and securities lending arrangements, and an increase in the amount of time for which collateral requirements regarding covered transactions must be satisfied.
Federal law also limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers, and 10.0% or greater shareholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. Also, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the bank’s capital. Insiders, as well as the Bank, may be subject to enforcement actions, including civil money penalties, for loans in violation of applicable restrictions.
Regulatory Restrictions on Dividends
Red River Bank is subject to certain restrictions on dividends under federal and state laws, regulations, and policies. In general, Louisiana law provides that Red River Bank may not pay any dividends to the Company unless the Bank has surplus at least equal to 50.0% of its capital stock and such surplus will not be reduced below 50.0% following payment of the dividend. Prior approval of the OFI is required for Red River Bank to pay any dividend that would exceed its net profits earned during the current year combined with its retained net profits of the immediately preceding year.
In addition, under federal law, Red River Bank may not pay any dividend to the Company if it is undercapitalized or the payment of the dividend would cause it to become undercapitalized. The FDIC and the OFI may further restrict the payment of dividends by engaging in supervisory action to restrict dividends or by requiring the Bank to maintain a higher level of capital than would otherwise be required to be adequately capitalized for regulatory purposes. Under the Basel III regulatory capital framework, the failure to maintain an adequate CCB, as discussed above, may also result in dividend restrictions. Moreover, if, in the opinion of the FDIC and the OFI, Red River Bank is engaged in an unsound practice (which could include the payment of dividends), the FDIC may require, generally after notice and hearing, the Bank to cease such practice. The FDIC has indicated that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe banking practice. The FDIC has also issued guidance providing that a bank generally should pay dividends only when (1) the bank’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends, and (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the bank’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition.
Incentive Compensation Guidance
The federal banking agencies have issued comprehensive guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of those organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The incentive compensation guidance sets expectations for banking organizations concerning their incentive compensation arrangements and related risk-management, control, and governance processes. The incentive compensation guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or as part of a group, is based upon three primary principles: (1) balanced risk-taking incentives, (2) compatibility with effective controls and risk management, and (3) strong corporate governance. Any deficiencies in compensation practices that are identified may be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect its ability to make acquisitions or take other actions. In addition, under the incentive compensation guidance, a banking organization’s primary federal regulator may initiate enforcement action if the organization’s incentive compensation arrangements pose a risk to the safety and soundness of the organization. Further, the CCB described above would limit discretionary bonus payments to bank executives if the institution’s regulatory capital ratios fail to exceed certain thresholds. The scope and content of the U.S. banking regulators’ policies on executive compensation are continuing to develop and evolve.
Deposit Insurance Assessments
FDIC-insured banks are required to pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC. The amount of the assessment is based on the size of the bank’s assessment base, which is equal to its average consolidated total assets less its average tangible equity, and its risk classification under an FDIC risk-based assessment system. Institutions assigned to higher risk classifications (that is, institutions that pose a higher risk of loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund) pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern that the institution poses to the regulators. At least semi-annually, the FDIC updates its loss and income projections for the Deposit Insurance Fund and, if needed, increases or decreases assessment rates, following notice-and-comment rulemaking, if required. The FDIC issued a final rule in October 2022 increasing deposit insurance assessments on all financial institutions beginning in the first quarterly assessment period of 2023.
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The FDIC can also impose special assessments in certain instances. On November 16, 2023, the FDIC Board of Directors approved a final rule to implement a special assessment from banking organizations with $5.0 billion or more in total assets to recover the loss to the Deposit Insurance Fund associated with protecting uninsured depositors following the closures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The FDIA requires the FDIC to take this action in connection with the systemic risk determination announced on March 12, 2023. While Red River Bank is not subject to this special assessment, Red River Bank may be required to pay higher FDIC insurance premiums if there are additional bank or financial institution failures or if the FDIC otherwise determines to increase assessment rates.
Concentrated Commercial Real Estate Lending Regulations
The federal banking regulatory agencies have promulgated guidance governing financial institutions with concentrations in commercial real estate lending. The guidance provides that a bank may have a concentration in commercial real estate lending if (1) total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land represent 100.0% or more of total risk-based capital, or (2) total non-owner occupied commercial real estate loans, excluding owner occupied properties, represent 300.0% or more of the bank’s total risk-based capital and the outstanding balance of the bank’s commercial real estate loan portfolio has increased 50.0% or more during the prior 36 months. If a concentration is present, the bank will be subject to further regulatory scrutiny with respect to its risk management practices for commercial real estate lending. As of December 31, 2023, Red River Bank’s total reported loans for construction, land development, and other land represented less than 100.0% of the Bank’s total risk-based capital, and its total commercial real estate loans, excluding owner occupied properties, represented less than 300.0% of the Bank’s total risk-based capital. As a result, the Bank does not have a concentration in commercial real estate lending.
Community Reinvestment Act
The CRA and the related regulations are intended to encourage banks to help meet the credit needs of their entire assessment area, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operations of such banks. These regulations also provide for regulatory assessment of a bank’s CRA performance record when considering applications to establish branches, merger applications, and applications to acquire the assets and assume the liabilities of another bank. The CRA requires federal banking agencies to make public their ratings of banks’ performance under the CRA. In the case of a bank holding company transaction, the CRA performance record of the subsidiary banks of the bank holding companies involved in the transaction are reviewed in connection with the filing of an application to acquire ownership or control of shares or assets of a bank or to merge with any other bank holding company. An unsatisfactory CRA record could substantially delay approval or result in denial of an application. Red River Bank received a “Satisfactory” rating in its most recent CRA examination in 2022.
On October 24, 2023, the federal banking agencies adopted a final rule to modernize the CRA regulations. Under the final rule, (1) the federal banking agencies will evaluate bank performance across the varied activities they conduct and communities in which they operate in order to encourage banks to expand access to credit, investment, and banking services in low- and moderate-income communities, (2) the CRA regulations are updated to evaluate lending outside traditional assessment areas generated by the growth of non-branch delivery systems, such as online and mobile banking, branchless banking, and hybrid models, (3) a new metrics-based approach was adopted to evaluate bank retail lending and community development financing, using benchmarks based on peer and demographic data, and (4) CRA evaluations and data collection are tailored according to bank size and type. In addition, the final rule also exempts small and intermediate sized banks from new data requirements that apply to banks with assets of at least $2.0 billion and limits certain new data requirements to large banks with assets greater than $10.0 billion. Asset size is determined based on assets being at or above the specified thresholds as of December 31 in both of the prior two calendar years and are indexed for inflation. Most of the rule's requirements will be applicable beginning January 1, 2026. The remaining requirements, including the data reporting requirements, will be applicable on January 1, 2027. We continue to evaluate the new rule and its effects on our operations going forward.
Consumer Laws and Regulations
Red River Bank is subject to numerous laws and regulations intended to protect consumers in transactions with the Bank. These laws include, among others, laws regarding unfair, deceptive, and abusive acts and practices, and other federal consumer protection statutes. These federal laws include the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, RESPA, the S.A.F.E. Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008, TILA, and the Truth in Savings Act, among others. Many states and local jurisdictions have consumer protection laws analogous, and in addition, to those enacted under federal law. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions must deal with customers when taking deposits, making loans, and conducting other types of transactions. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations could give rise to regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by state and local attorneys general, and civil or criminal liability.
There has been an enhanced focus by certain bank regulatory agencies with respect to industry practices relating to overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds fees. For example, the CFPB issued a Request for Information in January 2022 seeking public input with respect to financial institution practices relating to, among other areas, credit card fees, overdraft fees and non-sufficient funds fees and stated its intent to reduce these types of fees through crafting rules, issuing
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industry guidance, and focusing supervision and enforcement resources to achieve this goal. In August 2022, the FDIC issued guidance with respect to banking practices involving charging multiple non-sufficient funds fees on the representment of the same unpaid transaction on a deposit account. In October 2022, the CFPB issued guidance with respect to certain practices relating to overdraft fees, and it included overdraft fees in its fall 2023 rulemaking agenda. In February 2023, the CFPB issued a proposed rule seeking to impose certain restrictions on credit card late fee practices.
The Dodd-Frank Act created the CFPB, which has broad authority to regulate the offering and provision of consumer financial products. The CFPB has authority to promulgate regulations; issue orders, guidance, interpretations, and policy statements; conduct examinations; and bring enforcement actions with regard to consumer financial products and services. In general, banks with assets of $10.0 billion or less, such as Red River Bank, will continue to be examined for consumer compliance, and subject to enforcement actions, by their primary federal regulator. However, the CFPB may participate in examinations of these smaller institutions on a “sampling basis” and may refer potential enforcement actions against such institutions to their primary federal regulators. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act permits states to adopt consumer protection laws and regulations that are stricter than those regulations promulgated by the CFPB, and state attorneys general are permitted to enforce certain consumer protection rules adopted by the CFPB against certain institutions.
Mortgage Lending Rules
The Dodd-Frank Act authorized the CFPB to establish certain minimum standards for the origination of residential mortgages, including a determination of the borrower’s ability to repay. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, financial institutions may not make a residential mortgage loan unless they make a “reasonable and good faith determination” that the consumer has a “reasonable ability” to repay the loan. The Dodd-Frank Act allows borrowers to raise certain defenses to foreclosure but provides a presumption or rebuttable presumption of compliance for loans that are “qualified mortgages.” The CFPB has also issued regulations that, among other things, specify the types of income and assets that may be considered in the ability-to-repay determination, the permissible sources for income verification, and the required methods of calculating the loan’s monthly payments. These regulations extend the requirement that creditors verify and document a borrower’s income and assets to include a requirement to verify all information that creditors rely on in determining repayment ability. The rules also define “qualified mortgages” based on adherence to certain underwriting standards and certain restrictions on loan terms. Points and fees are subject to a relatively stringent cap, and the terms include a wide array of payments that may be made in the course of closing a loan. Certain loans, including interest-only loans and negative amortization loans, cannot be “qualified mortgages.” Also, the Dodd-Frank Act and the CFPB’s final rule on loan originator compensation prohibit certain compensation payments to loan originators and the steering of consumers to loans not in their interest, particularly if the loans will result in greater compensation for a loan originator. The Dodd-Frank Act and the CFPB’s implementing regulations, including the TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure rules, also impose disclosure requirements with respect to the origination and sale of residential mortgages.
Anti-Money Laundering and OFAC
Under federal law, financial institutions are required to maintain anti-money laundering programs that include established internal policies, procedures, and controls; a designated compliance officer; an ongoing employee training program; testing of the program by an independent audit function; and a customer due diligence program. Financial institutions are also prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and account relationships and must meet enhanced standards for due diligence and customer identification, especially in their dealings with foreign financial institutions and foreign customers. Financial institutions must take reasonable steps to conduct enhanced scrutiny of account relationships to guard against money laundering and to report any suspicious transactions, and law enforcement authorities have been granted increased access to financial information maintained by financial institutions.
OFAC administers laws and Executive Orders that prohibit U.S. entities from engaging in transactions with certain prohibited parties. OFAC publishes lists of persons and organizations suspected of aiding, harboring, or engaging in terrorist acts, known as Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Generally, if a bank identifies a transaction, account, or wire transfer relating to a person or entity on an OFAC list, it must freeze the account or block the transaction, file a suspicious activity report, and notify the appropriate authorities.
Bank regulators routinely examine institutions for compliance with these obligations, and they must consider an institution’s compliance in connection with the regulatory review of applications, including applications for bank mergers and acquisitions. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing and comply with OFAC sanctions, or to comply with relevant laws and regulations, could have serious legal, reputational, and financial consequences for the institution.
Privacy
Federal laws and regulations limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose non-public information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. These limitations require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to a non-affiliated third party. These regulations affect how consumer information is transmitted through financial services companies and conveyed to outside vendors. In addition, consumers may also prevent disclosure of certain information among affiliated
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companies that is assembled or used to determine eligibility for a product or service, such as that shown on consumer credit reports and asset and income information from applications. Consumers also have the option to direct banks and other financial institutions not to share information about transactions and experiences with affiliated companies for the purpose of marketing products or services. In addition to applicable federal privacy regulations, Red River Bank is subject to certain state privacy laws.
Federal laws and regulations also include certain information security guidelines that require a bank, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its board of directors or an appropriate committee of the board, to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, to protect against anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information, and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer. Federal banking regulators regularly issue guidance regarding cybersecurity intended to enhance cybersecurity risk management. A financial institution is expected to implement multiple lines of defense against cyber-attacks. Under Federal guidance, banks are required to provide notice to affected customers of a data breach under certain circumstances, and the agencies recently adopted a rule requiring notice to the primary federal regulator within certain timeframes for certain data security incidents.
Federal Home Loan Bank System
Red River Bank is a member of the FHLB of Dallas, which is one of the 11 regional FHLBs composing the FHLB system. The Federal Housing Finance Agency regulates the FHLBs. It is responsible for ensuring that the FHLBs operate in a safe and sound manner, are adequately capitalized, and are held accountable to the FHLBs’ mission. The FHLBs make loans to their member banks in accordance with policies and procedures established by the FHLB system and the board of directors of each regional FHLB. Any advances from a FHLB must be secured by specified types of collateral, and all long-term advances may be obtained only for the purpose of providing funds for the financing of residential housing. As a member of the FHLB of Dallas, Red River Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB of Dallas. All loans, advances, letters of credit, and other extensions of credit made by the FHLB of Dallas to Red River Bank are secured by a portion of Red River Bank’s loan portfolio, as well as capital stock of the FHLB of Dallas held by Red River Bank. Additionally, in the event that a member financial institution defaults on its debt, the right of the FHLB to seek repayment of this debt will take priority over the rights of all other creditors.
Enforcement Powers
The bank regulatory agencies have broad enforcement powers, including the power to terminate deposit insurance and impose substantial fines and other civil and criminal penalties. Failure to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and supervisory agreements, breaches of fiduciary duty, or the maintenance of unsafe and unsound conditions or practices, could subject us or our subsidiaries, including Red River Bank, as well as their respective officers, directors, and other institution-affiliated parties, to administrative sanctions and potentially substantial civil money penalties.
FDIC Conservatorship or Receivership
The bank regulatory agencies may appoint the FDIC as conservator or receiver for a bank (or the FDIC may appoint itself, under certain circumstances) if any one or more of a number of circumstances exist, including, without limitation, the fact that the bank is undercapitalized and has no reasonable prospect of becoming adequately capitalized, fails to become adequately capitalized when required to do so, fails to submit a timely and acceptable capital restoration plan, or materially fails to implement an accepted capital restoration plan.
Effect of Governmental Monetary Policies
The commercial banking business is affected not only by general economic conditions but also by U.S. fiscal policy and the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve. Some of the instruments of monetary policy available to the Federal Reserve include changes in the discount rate on member bank borrowings, the fluctuating availability of borrowings at the “discount window,” open market operations, and the imposition of, and changes in reserve requirements against member banks’ deposits and certain borrowings by banks and their affiliates and assets of foreign branches. These policies have a significant influence on the overall growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits, and the interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits. We cannot predict the nature of future fiscal and monetary policies or the effect of these policies on our operations and activities, financial condition, results of operations, growth plans, or future prospects.
Impact of Current Laws and Regulations
The cumulative effect of these laws and regulations, while providing certain benefits, adds significantly to the cost of our operations and thus has a negative impact on our profitability. There has also been a notable expansion in recent years of financial service providers that are not subject to the examination, oversight, and other rules and regulations to which we are subject. Those providers, because they are not so highly regulated, may have a competitive advantage over us and may continue to draw customers away from traditional banking institutions, with a continuing adverse effect on the banking industry in general.
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Future Legislation and Regulatory Reform
In light of current economic conditions and the market outlook, regulators may increase their focus on the regulation of financial institutions. From time to time, various legislative and regulatory initiatives are introduced in Congress and state legislatures. New regulations and statutes are regularly proposed that contain wide-ranging proposals for altering the structures, regulations, and competitive relationships of financial institutions operating in the U.S. We cannot predict whether or in what form any proposed regulation or statute will be adopted or the extent to which our business may be affected by any new regulation or statute. Future legislation, regulation, and policies, and the effects of such legislation, regulation, and policies, may have a significant influence on our operations and activities, financial condition, results of operations, growth plans, or future prospects, and the overall growth and distribution of loans, investments, and deposits. Such legislation, regulation, and policies have had a significant effect on the operations and activities, financial condition, results of operations, growth plans, and future prospects of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so.
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