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;
33
● 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 military conflicts
in Ukraine and the Middle East), 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
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;
● 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;
● our
ability to secure sensitive or confidential client information against unauthorized disclosure
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;
34
● 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;
● an
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, 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.
Overview
of SB Financial
SB
Financial Group, Inc. (“SB Financial”) is an Ohio corporation and a financial holding company registered with the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“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.
35
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, 2023, 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.
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 in future periods.
Three
Months Ended June 30, 2024, compared to Three Months Ended June 30, 2023
Net
Income: Net income for the second quarter of 2024 was $3.1 million compared to net income of $3.1 million for the second quarter
of 2023, an increase of 1.2 percent. Diluted earnings per share (“DEPS”) of $0.47 for the second quarter of 2024 were slightly
higher compared to the DEPS of $0.44 for the second quarter of 2023. Net income for the second quarter of 2024 was positively impacted
by higher loan income, which was offset by higher interest expense on deposits and wholesale borrowings. Interest income continues to
improve and was up 2.3% compared to the linked quarter. Mortgage loan volume was up 14.9 percent compared to the prior year second quarter,
while sales of originated loans were up 16.5 percent when compared to the second quarter of 2023.
Provision
for Credit Losses: The second quarter provision for credit losses was zero as compared to $145,000 provision for the prior year
quarter. The Company had net recoveries of $16,000 for the second quarter of 2024 compared to net charge-offs of $22,000 for the year-ago
quarter. Total delinquent loans (consisting of nonaccruing loans and loans greater than 30 days past due) ended the quarter at $5.3 million,
or 0.52 percent of total loans. The Company adopted ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, which increased the allowance for credit losses (“ACL”)
by $1.4 million.
36
Asset Quality Review – For the Period Ended
($ in thousands)
June
30,
2024
June
30,
2023
Net charge-offs (recoveries) –
QTD/YTD
$ (16)/41
$ 22/83
Nonaccruing loans
4,734
2,910
OREO / Other Assets Owned (OAO)
510
625
Nonperforming assets
5,244
3,535
Nonperforming assets/Total assets
0.39 %
0.26 %
Allowance for credit losses/Total loans
1.55 %
1.60 %
Allowance for credit losses/Nonperforming loans
329.8 %
542.8 %
Consolidated
Revenue: Total revenue, consisting of net interest income and noninterest income, was $14.0 million for the second quarter of
2024, a decrease of $0.2 million, or 1.0 percent, from the $14.2 million generated during the second quarter of 2023.
Net
interest income (“NII”) for the second quarter of 2024 was $9.7 million, which was down $0.2 million from the prior year
second quarter’s $9.8 million. Comparing the second quarter of 2024 to the prior year second quarter, the Company’s earning
assets decreased $2.7 million, and the average yield on earning assets increased by 41 basis points. The net interest margin for the
second quarter of 2024 was 3.11 percent compared to 3.16 percent for the second quarter of 2023. Funding costs (interest paid to consumers
and other entities) for deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities for the second quarter of 2024 were 2.47 percent compared to
1.90 percent for the prior year second quarter. The increase in funding costs has been driven by the increased competition among banks
for funding sources, although interest expense did decline from the linked quarter for the first time in over two years.
Noninterest
income was $4.4 million for the second quarter of 2024, which was level to the prior year second quarter. In addition to the mortgage
revenue detailed below, wealth management revenue was slightly down from the prior year. Recapture of mortgage servicing rights increased
noninterest income by $0.04 million in the quarter, compared to an impairment of $0.02 million in the prior year second quarter. SBFG
Title contributed revenue of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2024, down $0.05 million from the prior year. Noninterest income as
a percentage of average assets for the second quarter of 2024 was 1.31 percent compared to 1.30 percent for the prior year second quarter.
State
Bank originated $75.1 million of mortgage loans during the second quarter of 2024, of which $55.8 million were sold with the remainder
of loans held for investment. This compares to $65.4 million originated for the second quarter of 2023, of which $47.9 million were sold
with the remainder of loans held for investment. These second quarter 2024 originations and subsequent sales resulted in $1.3 million
of gains, up $0.2 million from the gains for the second quarter of 2023. Net mortgage banking revenue was $1.84 million for the second
quarter of 2024 compared to $1.55 million for the second quarter of 2023. 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 second quarter of 2024 was $10.7 million, which was up $0.4 million compared
to $10.3 million in the prior-year second quarter. Commission expense for both mortgage and Small Business Administration (“SBA”)
is higher compared to the prior year due to the total origination volume.
Income
Taxes: Income taxes for the second quarter of 2024 were $0.3 million compared to $0.6 million for the second quarter of 2023.
This quarter included a recapture of a prior period over accrual and the higher impact of our captive insurance agency, SB Captive.
Six
Months Ended June 30, 2024, compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2023
Net
Income: Net income for the first six months of 2024 was $5.5 million compared to net income of $5.5 million for the first six
months of 2023, a decrease of 0.8 percent. Diluted earnings per share (“DEPS”) of $0.82 were up 6.8 percent compared to the
DEPS of $0.79 for the first six months of 2023. Net income for the first six months of 2024 was positively impacted by the Company’s
recapture of temporary impairment of $0.2 million on its mortgage servicing rights, while net income for the 2023 first six months was
positively impacted by a recapture of mortgage servicing rights of $0.04 million. Mortgage loan volume was up 2.9 percent during the
first six months of 2024, with a higher percentage of originated volume sold on the secondary market, as compared to the same period
in 2023. Funding costs for the first six months of 2024 were up nearly 50 percent as compared to the prior year first six months.
37
Provision
for Credit Losses: The first six months of 2024 provision for credit losses was zero as compared to $0.4 million in provision
for the prior year first six months. Net charge-offs for the current year were $41,000 compared to net charge-offs of $83,000 for the
year-ago first six months.
Consolidated
Revenue: Total revenue, consisting of net interest income and noninterest income, was $27.2 million for the first six months
of 2024, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 3.6 percent, from the $28.2 million generated during the first six months of 2023.
NII
for the first six months of 2024 was $18.8 million, which was down $1.3 million from the prior year first six months $20.2 million. The
net interest margin for the first six months of 2024 was 3.02 percent compared to 3.24 percent for the first six months of 2023 as funding
costs increased faster than the yield on earnings assets. Funding costs (interest paid to consumers and other entities) for interest
bearing liabilities for the first six months of 2024 were 2.51 percent compared to 1.69 percent for the prior year first six months.
Noninterest
income was $8.3 million for the first six months of 2024, which was up $0.3 million from the prior year first six months $8.0 million.
In addition to the mortgage revenue detailed below, recapture of our mortgage servicing rights impairment increased noninterest income
in the first six months by nearly $0.2 million compared to the first six months of 2023. Our title agency contributed revenue
of $0.7 million in the first six months of 2024, down $0.1 million from the prior year first six months level of $0.8 million.
State
Bank originated $118.0 million of mortgage loans during the first six months of 2024, of which $92.5 million was sold with the remainder
of loans held for investment. This compares to $114.8 million originated for the first six months of 2023, of which $73.7 million was
sold with the remainder of loans held for investment. These 2024 year-to-date mortgage originations and subsequent sales resulted in
$2.1 million of gains, up $0.4 million from the $1.7 million in gains for the first six months of 2023. Net mortgage banking revenue
was $3.4 million for the first six months of 2024 compared to $2.8 million for the first six months of 2023.
Consolidated
Noninterest Expense: Noninterest expense for the first six months of 2024 was $21.0 million, which was down $0.1 million compared
to $21.1 million in the prior-year first six months. Commission and benefit expense was down compared to the prior year due to lower
staffing levels and lower medical costs.
Income
Taxes: Income taxes for the first six months of 2024 were $0.7 million (effective rate of 11.9 percent) compared to $1.1 million
(effective rate of 17.2 percent) for the first six months of 2023.
Changes
in Financial Condition
Total
assets at June 30, 2024, were $1.34 billion, still largely unchanged since December 31, 2023. Total loans, net of unearned income, were
$1.01 billion as of June 30, 2024, up $5.2 million, or 0.5 percent, from year-end. Total deposits at June 30, 2024, were $1.11 billion,
an increase of $45.0 million, or 3.9 percent, since 2023 year end.
Borrowed
funds (consisting of FHLB advances, repurchase (“REPO”) agreements, trust preferred securities and subordinated debt) totaled
$80.2 million at June 30, 2024. This is down from year-end 2023 when borrowed funds totaled $126.9 million due to the paydown of FHLB
advances. Total equity for the Company of $125.5 million now stands at 9.4 percent of total assets compared to the December 31, 2023,
level of $124.3 million or 9.3 percent of total assets. Adjusting for the temporary impairment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss,
total equity would increase to $157.3 million or 11.7% of total assets.
38
The
allowance for credit losses of $15.6 million is down $0.2 million from the December 2023 year-end level due to $0.04 million of net charge-offs
and zero provision for the year. The Company has had stable to slightly weaker asset quality through the first six months of 2024, with
the non-performing asset ratio at 39 basis points and coverage on non-performing loans at 330 percent.
Capital
Resources
As
of June 30, 2024, 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 June 30, 2024, that management believes have changed State Bank’s capital classification. The Company
adopted CECL on January 1, 2023, which reduced capital levels by $2.0 million. The Company elected to not phase in the impact of CECL
as the reduction in capital did not have a material impact to tangible and regulatory capital levels.
State
Bank’s actual capital levels and ratios as of June 30, 2024, and December 31, 2023, are presented in the following table. Capital
levels are presented for State Bank only as the Company is exempt from quarterly reporting on capital levels at the holding company level:
Actual
For Capital Adequacy
Purposes
To Be Well Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective Action
Procedures
($ in thousands)
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
Amount
Ratio
As of June 30, 2024
Tier I Capital to average assets
$ 154,330
11.31 %
$ 54,573
4.0 %
$ 68,216
5.0 %
Tier I Common equity capital to risk-weighted assets
154,330
13.98 %
49,661
4.5 %
71,732
6.5 %
Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets
154,330
13.98 %
66,214
6.0 %
88,286
8.0 %
Total Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets
168,158
15.24 %
88,286
8.0 %
110,357
10.0 %
As of December 31, 2023
Tier I Capital to average assets
$ 148,049
10.93 %
$ 54,185
4.0 %
$ 67,732
5.0 %
Tier I Common equity capital to risk-weighted assets
148,049
13.42 %
49,640
4.5 %
71,702
6.5 %
Tier I Capital to risk-weighted assets
148,049
13.42 %
66,186
6.0 %
88,249
8.0 %
Total Risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets
161,872
14.67 %
88,249
8.0 %
110,311
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 June 30, 2024, 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 $240.1 million at June 30, 2024, compared to $246.7 million at December 31, 2023.
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.
39
The
Company’s commercial real estate, first mortgage residential, agricultural and multi-family mortgage portfolio of $815.5 million
at June 30, 2024, and $807.8 million at December 31, 2023, 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 June 30, 2024, all eligible commercial real estate, first mortgage residential, agricultural 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 six months
ended June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2023 follows.
The
Company experienced negative cash flows from operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024, and June 30, 2023. Net cash
used in operating activities was $.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, and $.9 million for the six months ended June 30,
2023. Highlights for the current year include $92.5 million in proceeds from the sale of loans, which is up $18.8 million from the prior
year. Originations of loans held for sale was a use of cash of $96.7 million, which is up $20.4 million from the prior year . For the
six months ended June 30, 2024, there was a gain on sale of loans of $2.2 million, and depreciation and amortization on premises and
equipment of $1.1 million.
The
Company experienced positive cash flows from investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024, and negative cash flows from
investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Net cash provided by investing activities was $3.7 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2024, and net cash used in investing activities was $14.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Highlights for
the current year include an increase of $5.2 million in loans, which is down $17.7 million from the prior year six-month period. These
cash payments were offset by $9.1 million in proceeds from maturities and sales of securities, which is down $1.2 million from the prior
year six-month period.
The
Company experienced negative cash flows from financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2024, and positive cash flows from
financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Net cash used by financing activities was $4.6 million for the six months
ended June 30, 2024, and net cash provided by financing activities was $8.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. Highlights
for the current period include a $41.9 million increase in transaction deposits and a $3.1 million increase in time deposits for the
six months ended June 30, 2024. This compares to the prior year six-month period where transaction deposits decreased by $64.3 million
and time deposits increased by $48.8 million. Net repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances for the six months ended June 30, 2024,
were $48.6 million, compared to net proceeds of $21.3 million for the prior year six-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 $815.5 million were pledged to meet FHLB collateralization requirements as of June 30, 2024. Based on the current collateralization
requirements of the FHLB, the Company had approximately $144.7 million of additional borrowing capacity at June 30, 2024. The Company
also had $62.0 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 June
30, 2024, the Company had commitments to sell mortgage loans totaling $18.1 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.
40
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.
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.
41
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.
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, 2023.
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.