Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Information
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contains certain forward-looking statements
that are provided to assist in the understanding of anticipated future financial performance. Forward-looking statements provide current
expectations or forecasts of future events and are not guarantees of future performance. Examples of forward-looking statements include:
(a) projections of income or expense, earnings per share, the payment or non-payment of dividends, capital structure and other financial
items; (b) statements of plans and objectives of the Company or our management or Board of Directors, including those relating to products
or services; (c) statements of future economic performance; (d) statements regarding future customer attraction or retention; and (e)
statements of assumptions underlying such statements. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”,
“intends”, “expects”, “projects”, “estimates”, “should”, “may”,
“would be”, “will allow”, “will likely result”, “will continue”, “will remain”,
or other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying those
statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties.
Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results may differ
materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
include, without limitation:
● current and future economic
and financial market conditions, either nationally or in the states in which we do business, including conditions such as inflation, recession,
unemployment, changes in interest rates, fiscal and monetary policy, an increasing federal government budget deficit, the failure of the
federal government to raise the federal debt ceiling and/or possible future U.S. government shutdowns over budget disagreements, slowing
gross domestic product, tariffs, a U.S. withdrawal from or significant renegotiation of trade agreements, trade wars, and other factors
beyond our control, any of which may result in adverse impacts on our deposit levels and composition, the quality of investment securities
available for purchase, demand for loans, the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, and the value of the collateral securing
loans made by us;
● recent and future bank
failures may reduce customer confidence, affect sources of funding and liquidity, increase regulatory requirements and costs, adversely
affect financial markets and/or have a negative reputational ramification for the banking industry as a whole, any of which could adversely
affect the Company’s business, earnings and financial condition;
● instability in global economic
conditions and geopolitical matters (including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the recent conflicts involving Israel and Hamas), and
volatility in financial markets, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition;
● changes in interest rates
resulting from national and local economic conditions and the policies of regulatory authorities, including monetary policies of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which may adversely affect interest rates, interest margins, loan demand and interest rate
sensitivity;
● the impacts and duration of the continuing recovery
from the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on national, regional and local economies, supply chains, labor markets and on our customers,
counterparties, employees and third-party service providers;
● the volatility of mortgage
banking income, whether due to interest rates, demand, the fair value of mortgage loans, or other factors;
● factors that can impact
the performance of our loan portfolio, including changes in real estate values and liquidity in our primary market areas, the financial
health of our borrowers and the success of construction projects that we finance;
● the transition away from LIBOR as a reference
rate for financial contracts, which could negatively impact our income and expenses and the value of various financial contracts;
● changes in customers’, suppliers’,
and other counterparties’ performance and creditworthiness may be different than anticipated due to the continuing inflationary
pressures and other economic and financial market conditions;
● operational risks, reputational
risks, legal and compliance risks, and other risks related to potential fraud or theft by employees or outsiders, unauthorized transactions
by employees or operational errors, or failures, disruptions or breaches in security of our systems, including those resulting from computer
viruses or cyber-attacks;
35
● our ability to secure sensitive
or confidential client information against unauthorized disclose or access through computer systems and telecommunication networks, including
those of our third-party vendors and other service providers, which may prove inadequate;
● a failure in or breach of our operational or
security systems or infrastructure, or those of our third-party vendors and other service providers, resulting in failures or disruptions
in customer account management, general ledger, deposit, loan, or other systems, including as a result of cyber-attacks;
● competitive pressures and factors among financial
services organizations could increase significantly, including product and pricing pressures, changes to third-party relationships and
our ability to recruit and retain qualified management and banking personnel;
● unexpected losses of services of our key management personnel, or the inability
to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future;
● risks inherent in pursuing strategic growth initiatives,
including integration and other risks involved in past and possible future acquisitions;
● uncertainty regarding the nature, timing, cost
and effect of legislative or regulatory changes in the banking industry or otherwise affecting the Company, including major reform of
the regulatory oversight structure of the financial services industry and changes in laws and regulations concerning taxes, FDIC insurance
premium levels, pensions, bankruptcy, consumer protection, rent regulation and housing, financial accounting and reporting, environmental
protection, insurance, bank products and services, bank and bank holding company capital and liquidity standards, fiduciary standards,
securities and other aspects of the financial services industry;
● changes in federal, state and/or local tax laws
may adversely affect our reported financial condition or results of operations;
● changes in accounting standards, policies and
practices may adversely affect our reported financial condition or results of operations;
● litigation and regulatory compliance exposure,
including the costs and effects of any adverse developments in legal proceedings or other claims and the costs and effects of unfavorable
resolution of regulatory and other governmental examinations or inquiries;
● continued availability of earnings and dividends
from State Bank and excess capital sufficient for us to service our debt and pay dividends to our shareholders in compliance with applicable
legal and regulatory requirements;
● our ability to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements and increasing
scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors and other stakeholders with respect to the Company’s environmental,
social and governance (ESG) practices, which could affect our reputation and business and operating results;
● our ability to anticipate and successfully keep
pace with technological changes affecting the financial services industry;
● and unexpected inability to obtain needed liquidity
which could adversely affect our business, profitability, and viability as a going concern; and
● other risks identified from time to time in the
Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risks identified under the heading “Item
1A. Risk Factors” of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as supplemented
by “Item IA. Risk Factors” of Part II of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
March 31, 2023, and June 30, 2023.
Undue reliance should
not be placed on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as may be required by law, the Company
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect unanticipated events or circumstances after the date on which
the statement is made.
36
Overview of SB Financial
SB Financial Group, Inc. (“SB Financial”)
is an Ohio corporation and a financial holding company registered with the Federal Reserve Board. SB Financial’s wholly-owned subsidiary,
The State Bank and Trust Company (“State Bank”), is an Ohio-chartered bank engaged in commercial banking.
Rurban Statutory Trust II (“RST II”)
was established in August 2005. In September 2005, RST II completed a pooled private offering of 10,000 Trust Preferred Securities with
a liquidation amount of $1,000 per security. The proceeds of the offering were loaned to SB Financial in exchange for junior subordinated
debentures of SB Financial with terms substantially similar to the Trust Preferred Securities. The sole assets of RST II are the junior
subordinated debentures, and the back-up obligations, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by SB Financial
of the obligations of RST II.
RFCBC, Inc. (“RFCBC”) is an Ohio corporation
and wholly-owned subsidiary of SB Financial that was incorporated in August 2004. RFCBC operates as a loan subsidiary in servicing and
working out problem loans.
State Bank Insurance, LLC (“SBI”)
is an Ohio corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of State Bank incorporated in June of 2010. SBI is an insurance company that engages
in the sale of insurance products to retail and commercial customers of State Bank.
SBFG Title, LLC (“SBFG Title”) is
an Ohio corporation that was formed in March 2019. SBFG Title engages in the sale of title insurance services.
SB Captive, Inc. (“SB Captive”) is
a Nevada corporation that was formed in March 2019. SB Captive pools insurance risk among like sized banking institutions.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references
herein to “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company” refer to SB Financial and its consolidated
subsidiaries.
Critical Accounting Policies
Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements
included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 describes the significant accounting
policies used in the development and presentation of the Company’s financial statements. The accounting and reporting policies of
the Company are in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and conform to general practices within
the banking industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management
to make estimates and assumptions. The Company’s financial position and results of operations can be affected by these estimates
and assumptions and are integral to the understanding of reported results. Critical accounting policies are those policies that management
believes are the most important to the portrayal of the Company’s financial condition and results, and they require management to
make estimates that are difficult, subjective, and/or complex.
Allowance for Credit Losses – The
Company believes the determination of the allowance for credit losses involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity than its other
significant accounting policies. The allowance for credit losses is calculated with the objective of maintaining a reserve level believed
by management to be sufficient to absorb estimated credit losses over the life of an asset or an off-balance sheet credit exposure. Management’s
determination of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is based on periodic evaluations of past events, including historical
credit loss experience on financial assets with similar risk characteristics, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts
that affect the collectability of the remaining cash flows over the contractual term of the financial assets. However, this evaluation
has subjective components requiring material estimates, including expected default probabilities, the expected loss given default (“LGD”),
the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on individually evaluated loans, and estimated losses based on historical loss experience
and forecasted economic conditions. All of these factors may be susceptible to significant change. To the extent that actual results differ
from management estimates, additional provisions for credit losses may be required that would adversely impact earnings in future periods.
37
Goodwill and Other Intangibles - The
Company records all assets and liabilities acquired in purchase acquisitions, including goodwill and other intangibles, at fair value
as required. Goodwill is subject, at a minimum, to annual tests for impairment. Other intangible assets are amortized over their estimated
useful lives using straight-line or accelerated methods, and are subject to impairment if events or circumstances indicate a possible
inability to realize the carrying amount. The initial goodwill and other intangibles recorded and subsequent impairment analysis requires
management to make subjective judgments concerning estimates of how the acquired asset will perform in the future. Events and factors
that may significantly affect the estimates include, among others, customer attrition, changes in revenue growth trends, specific industry
conditions and changes in competition. A decrease in earnings resulting from these or other factors could lead to an impairment of goodwill
that could adversely impact earnings for future periods.
Three Months Ended September 30,
2023 compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2022
Net Income: Net income
for the third quarter of 2023 was $2.7 million compared to net income of $3.3 million for the third quarter of 2022, a decrease of 19.6
percent. Diluted earnings per share (“DEPS”) of $0.39 were down 17.0 percent from DEPS of $0.47 for the third quarter of 2022.
Net income for the third quarter of 2023 was positively impacted by higher loan income, which was offset by significantly higher interest
expense cost on deposits and wholesale borrowings. Mortgage loan volume was down 10.7 percent compared to the prior year third quarter,
but sales of originated loans were up 38.1 percent when compared to the third quarter of 2022.
Provision for Credit Losses: The
third quarter provision for credit losses was a credit of $6 thousand driven by a reduction in the balance of unfunded commitments as
compared to no ($0) provision for the prior year quarter. Net charge-offs for the quarter were $5,000 compared to net recoveries of $23,000
for the year-ago quarter. Total delinquent loans ended the quarter at $3.3 million, or 0.33 percent of total loans. The Company adopted
ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, which increased the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) by $1.4 million.
Asset
Quality Review – For the Period Ended
($
in thousands)
September 30,
2023
September 30,
2022
Net charge-offs – QTD/YTD
$5/$88
($23)/($19 )
Nonaccruing loans
3,329
3,746
OREO / Other Assets Owned (OAO)
629
756
Nonperforming assets
3,958
4,502
Nonperforming assets/Total assets
0.30 %
0.35 %
Allowance for credit losses/Total loans
1.60 %
1.49 %
Allowance for credit losses/Nonperforming loans
474.3 %
369.0 %
Consolidated Revenue: Total revenue,
consisting of net interest income and noninterest income, was $13.7 million for the third quarter of 2023, a decrease of $0.8 million,
or 5.3 percent, from the $14.5 million generated during the third quarter of 2022.
Net interest income (“NII”) for the
third quarter of 2023 was $9.5 million, which was down $0.9 million from the prior year third quarter’s $10.4 million. Comparing
the third quarter of 2023 to the prior year third quarter, the Company’s earning assets increased $29.2 million, and the average
yield on earning assets increased by 89 basis points. The net interest margin for the third quarter of 2023 was 3.08 percent compared
to 3.45 percent for the third quarter of 2022. Funding costs (interest paid to consumers and other entities) for interest bearing liabilities
for the third quarter of 2023 were 2.18 percent compared to 0.58 percent for the prior year second quarter. The increase in funding costs
has been driven by the rapid increase in the Federal Funds borrowing rate and the increased competition among banks for funding sources.
38
Noninterest income was $4.2 million for the third
quarter of 2023, which was up $0.1 million, or 3.0 percent from the prior year third quarter’s $4.0 million. In addition to the
mortgage revenue detailed below, wealth management revenue was $0.8 million for the third quarter of 2023. Impairment of our mortgage
servicing rights decreased noninterest income by $0.1 million in the quarter, compared to a recapture of $0.1 million in the prior year
third quarter. Our title agency contributed revenue of $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2023, down $0.05 million from the prior year.
Noninterest income as a percentage of average assets for the third quarter of 2023 was 1.24 percent compared to 1.24 percent for the prior
year third quarter.
State Bank originated $61.2 million of mortgage
loans during the third quarter of 2023, of which $54.1 million were sold with the remainder of loans held for investment. This compares
to $68.6 million originated for the third quarter of 2022, of which $39.2 million were sold with the remainder of loans held for investment.
These third quarter 2023 originations and subsequent sales resulted in $1.2 million of gains, up $0.3 million from the gains for the third
quarter of 2022. Net mortgage banking revenue was $1.6 million for the third quarter of 2023 compared to $1.4 million for the third quarter
of 2022. The economic headwinds of higher interest rates and limited housing supply in our markets has kept overall production down below
historical levels.
Consolidated Noninterest Expense:
Noninterest expense for the third quarter of 2023 was $10.5 million, which was up $0.1 million compared to $10.4 million in the prior-year
third quarter. Overall head count is down from the prior year quarter by 6.0 percent as we continue to right size the mortgage business
line. Commission expense for both mortgage and Small Business Administration (“SBA”) is down compared to the prior year due
to the lower total origination volume. We had several non-recurring items in the quarter that elevated other operating expense including
a check fraud and a contingent liability from a portfolio review.
Income Taxes: Income taxes
for the third quarter of 2023 were $0.5 million (effective rate of 16.7 percent) compared to $0.7 million (effective rate of 18.2 percent)
for the third quarter of 2022.
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2023 compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022
Net Income: Net income
for the first nine months of 2023 was $8.2 million compared to net income of $9.0 million for the prior year nine months, a decrease of
8.6 percent. DEPS of $1.18 were down from the DEPS of $1.27 for the first nine months of 2022. Net income for the first nine months of
2023 was negatively impacted by the Company’s temporary impairment of mortgage servicing rights of $0.04 million, while net income
for the 2022 first nine months was positively impacted by a recapture of mortgage servicing rights of $1.19 million. Mortgage loan volume
was down over 32 percent during the first nine months of 2023, and sold loans on those originations were down $33.4 million or 21 percent
compared to the prior year nine-month period. Funding costs for the first nine months of 2023 are up over 400 percent as compared to the
prior year first nine months.
Provision for Credit Losses: The
first nine months of 2023 provision for credit losses was $0.4 million as compared to no ($0) provision for the prior year first nine
months. Net charge-offs for the current year were $88,000 compared to net recoveries of $19,000 for the year-ago first nine months.
Consolidated Revenue: Total revenue,
consisting of net interest income and noninterest income, was $41.9 million for the first nine months of 2023, a decrease of $1.1 million,
or 2.6 percent, from the $43.0 million generated during the first nine months of 2022.
Net interest income (“NII”) for the
first nine months of 2023 was $29.7 million, which was up $1.2 million from the prior year first nine months $28.5 million. The net interest
margin for the first nine months of 2023 was 3.18 percent compared to 3.08 percent for the first nine months of 2022 as the yield on earnings
assets increased at a slower pace than funding costs. Funding costs (interest paid to consumers and other entities) for interest bearing
liabilities for the first nine months of 2023 were 1.85 percent compared to 0.45 percent for the prior year first nine months.
Noninterest income was $12.2 million for the first
nine months of 2023, which was down $2.3 million from the prior year first nine months $14.5 million. In addition to the mortgage revenue
detailed below, recapture of our mortgage servicing rights impairment increased noninterest income in the prior year first nine months
by over $1.1 million compared to the 2023 first nine months. Our title agency contributed revenue of $1.3 million in the first nine months
of 2023, down $0.5 million from the prior year first nine months level of $1.8 million.
39
State Bank originated $176.0 million of mortgage
loans during the first nine months of 2023, of which $127.8 million was sold with the remainder of loans held for investment. This compares
to $261.4 million originated for the first nine months of 2022, of which $161.2 million was sold with the remainder of loans held for
investment. These 2023 year-to-date originations and subsequent sales resulted in $2.9 million of gains, down $0.9 million from the $3.7
million in gains for the first nine months of 2022. Net mortgage banking revenue was $4.4 million for the first nine months of 2023 compared
to $6.1 million for the first nine months of 2022.
Consolidated Noninterest Expense:
Noninterest expense for the first nine months of 2023 was $31.6 million, which was down $0.5 million compared to $32.0 million in the
prior-year first nine months. Commission and benefit expense continues to be lower compared to the prior year due to lower staffing levels
and compressed volume in Residential Mortgage and SBA.
Income Taxes: Income
taxes for the first nine months of 2023 were $1.7 million (effective rate of 17.0 percent) compared to $2.0 million (effective rate of
18.1 percent) for the first nine months of 2022.
Changes in Financial Condition
Total assets at September 30, 2023 were $1.33
billion, a decrease of $9.2 million, or 0.7 percent, since December 31, 2022. Total loans, net of unearned income, were $989.0 million
as of September 30, 2023, up $26.9 million, or 2.8 percent, from year-end.
Total deposits at September 30, 2023 were $1.09
billion, a decrease of $1.3 million, or 0.1 percent, since 2022 year end. The Company had approximately $180.2 million and $220.1 million
of uninsured deposits as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Uninsured deposit amounts are estimated based on the
portions of customer account balances that exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000.
Borrowed funds (consisting of FHLB advances, repurchase
(“REPO”) agreements, trust preferred securities and subordinated debt) totaled $106.0 million at September 30, 2023. This
is up from year-end 2022 when borrowed funds totaled $104.8 million due to slightly higher levels of REPOS. Total equity for the Company
of $112.3 million now stands at 8.5 percent of total assets compared to the December 31, 2022, level of $118.4 million and 8.9 percent
of total assets. Adjusting for the temporary impairment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, total equity would increase to $151.9
million or 11.5% of total assets.
The allowance for credit losses of $15.8 million
is up $2.0 million from the December 2022 year-end level due to adding $1.4 million for the adoption of CECL, and $0.4 million for the
first nine months of provision net of charge-offs. The Company has had stable to slightly improving asset quality through the first nine
months of 2023 with the non-performing asset ratio at 30 basis points and coverage on non-performing loans at 474 percent.
Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2023, based on the
computations for the FFIEC 041 Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income filed by State Bank with the Federal Reserve Board, State
Bank was classified as “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as
well capitalized, State Bank must maintain capital ratios as set forth in the table below. There are no conditions or events since September
30, 2023 that management believes have changed State Bank’s capital classification. The Company adopted CECL on January 1, 2023,
which reduced capital levels by $2.0 million. The Company elected to not phase in the impact of CECL as the reduction in capital did not
have a material impact to tangible and regulatory capital levels.
40
State Bank’s actual capital levels
and ratios as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 are presented in the following table. Capital levels are presented for State
Bank only as the Company is exempt from quarterly reporting on capital levels at the holding company level:
To Be Well
Capitalized Under
For Capital Adequacy
Prompt Corrective
Actual
Purposes
Action Procedures
($ in thousands)
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
As of September 30, 2023
Tier I Capital to average assets
$ 148,908
10.99 %
$ 54,199
4.0 %
$ 67,749
5.0 %
Tier I Common equity capital to risk-weighted assets
148,908
13.56 %
49,416
4.5 %
71,379
6.5 %
Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets
148,908
13.56 %
65,888
6.0 %
87,851
8.0 %
Total Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets
162,670
14.81 %
87,851
8.0 %
109,814
10.0 %
As of December 31, 2022
Tier I Capital to average assets
$ 146,678
11.06 %
$ 53,069
4.0 %
$ 66,336
5.0 %
Tier I Common equity capital to risk-weighted assets
146,678
13.42 %
49,200
4.5 %
71,067
6.5 %
Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets
146,678
13.42 %
65,600
6.0 %
87,466
8.0 %
Total Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets
160,346
14.67 %
87,466
8.0 %
109,333
10.0 %
Regulatory capital requirements commonly
referred to as “Basel III” were fully phased in as of January 1, 2019 and are reflected in the September 30, 2023 capital
table above. Management opted out of the accumulated other comprehensive income treatment under the new requirements and, as such, unrealized
gains and losses from available-for-sale securities will continue to be excluded from State Bank’s regulatory capital.
Liquidity
Liquidity relates primarily to the Company’s
ability to fund loan demand, meet deposit customers’ withdrawal requirements and provide for operating expenses. Assets used to
satisfy these needs consist of cash and due from banks, federal funds sold, interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions,
securities available-for-sale and loans held for sale. These assets are commonly referred to as liquid assets. Liquid assets totaled $236.2
million at September 30, 2023, compared to $270.8 million at December 31, 2022.
Liquidity risk arises from the possibility
that the Company may not be able to meet the Company’s financial obligations and operating cash needs or may become overly reliant
upon external funding sources. In order to manage this risk, the Board of Directors of the Company has established a Liquidity Policy
that identifies primary sources of liquidity, establishes procedures for monitoring and measuring liquidity and quantifies minimum liquidity
requirements. This policy designates the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) as the body responsible for meeting these objectives.
The ALCO reviews liquidity regularly and evaluates significant changes in strategies that affect balance sheet or cash flow positions.
Liquidity is centrally managed on a daily basis by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Asset Liability Manager.
The Company’s commercial real
estate, first mortgage residential, agricultural and multi-family mortgage portfolio of $803.0 million at September 30, 2023 and $730.9
million at December 31, 2022, which can and has been used to collateralize borrowings, is an additional source of liquidity. Management
believes the Company’s current liquidity level, without these borrowings, is sufficient to meet its liquidity needs. At September
30, 2023, all eligible commercial real estate, first mortgage residential and multi-family mortgage loans were pledged under an FHLB blanket
lien.
The cash flow statements for the periods
presented provide an indication of the Company’s sources and uses of cash, as well as an indication of the ability of the Company
to maintain an adequate level of liquidity. A discussion of the cash flow statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and
2022 follows.
41
The Company experienced positive cash
flows from operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Net cash provided by operating activities
was $7.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $12.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Highlights
for the current year include $127.8 million in proceeds from the sale of loans, which is down $37.5 million from the prior year. Originations
of loans held for sale was a use of cash of $127.2 million, which is down from the prior year by $31.1 million. For the nine months ended
September 30, 2023, there was a gain on sale of loans of $3.1 million, and depreciation and amortization on premises and equipment of
$1.7 million.
The Company experienced negative cash
flows from investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Net cash used in investing activities
was $10.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $133.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Highlights
for the current year include an increase of $27.1 million in loans, which is down $75.6 million from the prior year nine-month period.
These cash payments were offset by $17.0 million in proceeds from maturities and sales of securities, which is down $12.9 million from
the prior year nine-month period.
The Company experienced negative cash
flows from financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and September 30, 2022. Net cash used by financing activities
was $5.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and $1.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Highlights
for the current period include a $54.2 million decrease in transaction deposits and a $52.9 million increase in time deposits for the
nine months ended September 30, 2023. This compares to the prior year nine-month period where transaction deposits decreased by $45.9
million and time deposits increased by $18.7 million. Net repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances for the nine months ended September
30, 2023 were $0.5 million, compared to net proceeds of $29.5 million for the prior year nine-month period.
Off-Balance-Sheet Borrowing Arrangements:
Significant additional off-balance-sheet
liquidity is available in the form of FHLB advances and unused federal funds lines from correspondent banks. Management expects the risk
of changes in off-balance-sheet arrangements to be immaterial to earnings.
The Company’s
commercial real estate, first mortgage residential, agricultural and multi-family mortgage portfolios in the total amount of $803.0 million
were pledged to meet FHLB collateralization requirements as of September 30, 2023. Based on the current collateralization requirements
of the FHLB, the Company had approximately $100.5 million of additional borrowing capacity at September 30, 2023. The Company also had
$110.5 million in unpledged securities available to pledge for additional borrowings.
The Company has contractual obligations consisting
of long-term debt obligations and operating lease obligations. In addition, as of September 30, 2023, the Company had commitments to sell
mortgage loans totaling $9.3 million. The Company believes that it has adequate resources to fund commitments as they arise and that it
can adjust the rate on savings and time deposits to retain deposits in changing interest rate environments. If the Company requires funds
beyond its internal funding capabilities, advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati and other financial institutions are available.
Asset Liability Management
Asset liability management involves developing,
executing and monitoring strategies to maintain appropriate liquidity, maximize net interest income and minimize the impact that significant
fluctuations in market interest rates would have on current and future earnings. The business of the Company and the composition of its
balance sheet consist of investments in interest-earning assets (primarily loans, mortgage-backed securities, and securities available
for sale) which are primarily funded by interest-bearing liabilities (deposits and borrowings). With the exception of specific loans which
are originated and held for sale, all of the financial instruments of the Company are for other than trading purposes. All of the Company’s
transactions are denominated in U.S. dollars with no specific foreign exchange exposure. In addition, the Company has limited exposure
to commodity prices related to agricultural loans. The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates and commodity prices on interest rates
are assumed to be insignificant. The Company’s financial instruments have varying levels of sensitivity to changes in market interest
rates resulting in market risk. Interest rate risk is the Company’s primary market risk exposure; to a lesser extent, liquidity
risk also impacts market risk exposure.
42
Interest rate risk is the exposure of a
banking institution’s financial condition to adverse movements in interest rates. Accepting this risk can be an important source
of profitability and shareholder value; however, excessive levels of interest rate risk could pose a significant threat to the Company’s
earnings and capital base. Accordingly, effective risk management that maintains interest rate risks at prudent levels is essential to
the Company’s safety and soundness.
Evaluating a financial institution’s
exposure to changes in interest rates includes assessing both the adequacy of the management process used to control interest rate
risk and the organization’s quantitative level of exposure. When assessing the interest rate risk management process, the Company
seeks to ensure that appropriate policies, procedures, management information systems and internal controls are in place to maintain interest
rate risks at prudent levels of consistency and continuity. Evaluating the quantitative level of interest rate risk exposure requires
the Company to assess the existing and potential future effects of changes in interest rates on its consolidated financial condition,
including capital adequacy, earnings, liquidity and asset quality (when appropriate).
The Federal Reserve Board together with
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation adopted a Joint Agency Policy Statement on
Interest Rate Risk effective June 26, 1996. The policy statement provides guidance to examiners and bankers on sound practices for managing
interest rate risk, which will form the basis for ongoing evaluation of the adequacy of interest rate risk management at supervised institutions.
The policy statement also outlines fundamental elements of sound management that have been identified in prior Federal Reserve Board guidance
and discusses the importance of these elements in the context of managing interest rate risk. Specifically, the guidance emphasizes the
need for active board of director and senior management oversight and a comprehensive risk management process that effectively identifies,
measures and controls interest rate risk.
Financial institutions derive their income
primarily from the excess of interest collected over interest paid. The rates of interest an institution earns on its assets and owes
on its liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Since market interest rates change over time, an institution
is exposed to lower profit margins (or losses) if it cannot adapt to interest rate changes. For example, assume that an institution’s
assets carry intermediate or long-term fixed rates and that those assets are funded with short-term liabilities. If market interest rates
rise by the time the short-term liabilities must be refinanced, the increase in the institution’s interest expense on its liabilities
may not be sufficiently offset if assets continue to earn at the long-term fixed rates. Accordingly, an institution’s profits could
decrease on existing assets because the institution will either have lower net interest income or possibly, net interest expense. Similar
risks exist when assets are subject to contractual interest rate ceilings, or rate-sensitive assets are funded by longer-term, fixed-rate
liabilities in a declining rate environment.
There are several ways an institution can
manage interest rate risk including: 1) matching repricing periods for new assets and liabilities, for example, by shortening or lengthening
terms of new loans, investments, or liabilities; 2) selling existing assets or repaying certain liabilities; and 3) hedging existing assets,
liabilities, or anticipated transactions. An institution might also invest in more complex financial instruments intended to hedge or
otherwise change interest rate risk. Interest rate swaps, futures contracts, options on futures contracts, and other such derivative financial
instruments can be used for this purpose. Because these instruments are sensitive to interest rate changes, they require management’s
expertise to be effective. The Company does not currently utilize any derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate risk. As
market conditions warrant, the Company may implement various interest rate risk management strategies, including the use of derivative
financial instruments.
43
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Management believes there has been no
material change in the Company’s market risk from the information contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.