ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 10-Q

sfbs20220630_10q.htm   UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 _________________________ FORM 10-Q     (Mark one) ☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2022   ☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _______to_______   Commission file number 001-36452   SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)   Delaware   26-0734029 (State or Other Jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation or Organization)   Identification No.)   2500 Woodcrest Place , Birmingham , Alabama   35209 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)   ( 205 ) 949-0302 (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)   Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Title of each class Trading symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered Common stock, par value $.001 per share SFBS New York Stock Exchange   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  ☒ No ☐   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes  ☒ No ☐   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):   Large accelerated filer  ☒ Accelerated filer ☐ Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company  ☐ Emerging growth company ☐         If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act ☐   Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ☐ No ☒   Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.   Class   Outstanding as of July 25, 2022 Common stock, $.001 par value   54,308,895                                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS   PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 4 Item 1.   Financial Statements 4 Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 27 Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 43 Item 4.   Controls and Procedures 44         PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 44 Item 1.   Legal Proceedings 44 Item 1A.   Risk Factors 45 Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 45 Item 3.   Defaults Upon Senior Securities 45 Item 4.   Mine Safety Disclosures 45 Item 5.   Other Information 45 Item 6.   Exhibits 45   EX-3.01 FIRST AMENDMENT TO RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION EX-3.02 AMENDED RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION EX-31.01 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO EX-31.02 SECTION 302 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO EX-32.01 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CEO EX-32.02 SECTION 906 CERTIFICATION OF THE CFO                   3       PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS   (In thousands, except share and per share amounts)                         June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021       (Unaudited)       (1)   ASSETS                 Cash and due from banks   $ 252,638     $ 56,934   Interest-bearing balances due from depository institutions     1,334,511       4,106,790   Federal funds sold     101,447       58,372   Cash and cash equivalents     1,688,596       4,222,096   Available for sale debt securities, at fair value     724,463       842,570   Held to maturity debt securities (fair value of $ 1,003,840 at June 30, 2022 and $ 466,286 at December 31, 2021)     1,065,755       462,957   Restricted equity securities     7,734       7,311   Mortgage loans held for sale     3,451       1,114   Loans     10,617,320       9,532,934   Less allowance for credit losses     ( 128,387 )     ( 116,660 ) Loans, net     10,488,933       9,416,274   Premises and equipment, net     59,482       60,300   Accrued interest and dividends receivable     36,557       34,831   Deferred tax asset, net     48,874       37,772   Other real estate owned and repossessed assets     1,207       1,208   Bank owned life insurance contracts     286,315       283,074   Goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets     13,615       13,638   Other assets     69,335       65,661   Total assets   $ 14,494,317     $ 15,448,806   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                 Liabilities:                 Deposits:                 Non-interest-bearing demand   $ 4,686,511     $ 4,799,767   Interest-bearing     7,085,826       7,653,069   Total deposits     11,772,337       12,452,836   Federal funds purchased     1,389,167       1,711,777   Other borrowings     64,716       64,706   Accrued interest and dividends payable     13,515       13,619   Other liabilities     42,664       53,853   Total liabilities     13,282,399       14,296,791   Stockholders' equity:                 Preferred stock, par value $ 0.001 per share; 1,000,000 authorized and undesignated at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021     -       -   Common stock, par value $ 0.001 per share; 200,000,000 shares authorized, 54,306,875 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2022; and 100,000,000 shares authorized, 54,227,060 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021     54       54   Additional paid-in capital     227,906       226,397   Retained earnings     1,005,815       911,008   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income     ( 22,357 )     14,056   Total stockholders' equity attributable to ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc.     1,211,418       1,151,515   Noncontrolling interest     500       500   Total stockholders' equity     1,211,918       1,152,015   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 14,494,317     $ 15,448,806     (1) Derived from audited financial statements.   See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.   4       SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited)                                         Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended       June 30,     June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021   Interest income:                                 Interest and fees on loans   $ 111,287     $ 95,451     $ 214,392     $ 189,254   Taxable securities     10,515       6,315       18,738       12,122   Nontaxable securities     37       86       80       193   Federal funds sold     93       4       106       7   Other interest and dividends     4,623       863       6,427       1,539   Total interest income     126,555       102,719       239,743       203,115   Interest expense:                                 Deposits     6,427       6,836       12,270       13,717   Borrowed funds     3,760       1,215       5,383       2,365   Total interest expense     10,187       8,051       17,653       16,082   Net interest income     116,368       94,668       222,090       187,033   Provision for credit losses     9,507       9,652       14,869       17,103   Net interest income after provision for credit losses     106,861       85,016       207,221       169,930   Noninterest income:                                 Service charges on deposit accounts     2,133       1,907       4,275       3,815   Mortgage banking     614       2,699       1,140       5,446   Credit card income     2,672       1,912       5,044       3,104   Securities (losses) gains     ( 2,833 )     620       ( 6,168 )     620   Increase in cash surrender value life insurance     1,633       1,683       3,241       3,341   Other operating income     5,287       777       9,922       1,735   Total noninterest income     9,506       9,598       17,454       18,061   Noninterest expenses:                                 Salaries and employee benefits     20,734       16,887       39,035       32,430   Equipment and occupancy expense     2,983       2,844       5,916       5,498   Third party processing and other services     6,345       3,946       11,950       7,362   Professional services     1,327       1,107       2,319       2,030   FDIC and other regulatory assessments     1,147       1,425       2,279       3,007   OREO expense     32       540       35       697   Other operating expenses     7,253       4,560       15,505       9,199   Total noninterest expenses     39,821       31,309       77,039       60,223   Income before income taxes     76,546       63,305       147,636       127,768   Provision for income taxes     14,410       13,278       27,887       26,286   Net income     62,136       50,027       119,749       101,482   Preferred stock dividends     31       31       31       31   Net income available to common stockholders   $ 62,105     $ 49,996     $ 119,718     $ 101,451                                     Basic earnings per common share   $ 1.14     $ 0.92     $ 2.21     $ 1.87   Diluted earnings per common share   $ 1.14     $ 0.92     $ 2.20     $ 1.86      See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                                   5       SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME   (In thousands)   (Unaudited)                                         Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended       June 30,     June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021   Net income   $ 62,136     $ 50,027     $ 119,749     $ 101,482   Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:                                 Unrealized net holding (losses) gains arising during period from securities available for sale, net of tax of $ (5,557) and $ (12,572) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and net of tax of $ 877 and $ (40) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively     ( 13,344 )     3,291       ( 40,340 )     ( 173 ) Amortization of net unrealized gains on securities transferred from available-for-sale to held-to-maturity, net of tax of $ 100 and $ 250 for three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively     ( 377 )     -       ( 946 )     -   Net losses on sales of securities, net of tax of $ 595 and $ 1,295 for three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and net (gain) on call of securities, net of tax of $ (130) for three and six months ended June 30, 2021 reclassified from other comprehensive income into net income     2,238       ( 490 )     4,873       ( 490 ) Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax     ( 11,482 )     2,801       ( 36,413 )     ( 663 ) Comprehensive income   $ 50,654     $ 52,828     $ 83,336     $ 100,819     See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                         6       SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (In thousands, except share amounts)(Unaudited)       Three Months Ended June 30,       Common Shares     Preferred Stock     Common Stock     Additional Paid-in Capital     Retained Earnings     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)     Noncontrolling interest     Total Stockholders' Equity   Balance, April 1, 2021     54,137,650     $ -     $ 54     $ 224,302     $ 788,875     $ 16,754     $ 500     $ 1,030,485   Common dividends declared, $ 0.20 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 10,849 )     -       -       ( 10,849 ) Preferred dividends paid     -       -       -       -       ( 31 )     -       -       ( 31 ) Dividends on nonvested restricted stock recognized as compensation expense     -       -       -       -       26       -       -       26   Issue restricted shares pursuant to stock incentives, net of forfeitures     14,582       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Issue shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options     48,972       -       -       1,195       -       -       -       1,195   13,528 shares of common stock withheld in net settlement upon exercise of stock options     -       -       -       ( 928 )     -       -       -       ( 928 ) Stock-based compensation expense     -       -       -       558       -       -       -       558   Other comprehensive income, net of tax     -       -       -       -       -       2,801       -       2,801   Net income     -       -       -       -       50,027       -       -       50,027   Balance, June 30, 2021     54,201,204     $ -     $ 54     $ 225,127     $ 828,048     $ 19,555     $ 500     $ 1,073,284                                                                     Balance, April 1, 2022     54,282,132     $ -     $ 54     $ 227,127     $ 956,169     $ ( 10,875 )   $ 500     $ 1,172,975   Common dividends declared, $ 0.23 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 12,491 )     -       -       ( 12,491 ) Preferred dividends paid     -       -       -       -       ( 31 )     -       -       ( 31 ) Dividends on nonvested restricted stock recognized as compensation expense     -       -       -       -       32       -       -       32   Issue restricted shares pursuant to stock incentives, net of forfeitures     15,794       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Issue shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options     8,949       -       -       308       -       -       -       308   2,551 shares of common stock withheld in net settlement upon exercise of stock options     -       -       -       ( 326 )     -       -       -       ( 326 ) Stock-based compensation expense     -       -       -       797       -       -       -       797   Other comprehensive loss, net of tax     -       -       -       -       -       ( 11,482 )     -       ( 11,482 ) Net income     -       -       -       -       62,136       -       -       62,136   Balance, June 30, 2022     54,306,875     $ -     $ 54     $ 227,906     $ 1,005,815     $ ( 22,357 )   $ 500     $ 1,211,918     7         Six Months Ended June 30,       Common Shares     Preferred Stock     Common Stock     Additional Paid-in Capital     Retained Earnings     Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)     Noncontrolling interest     Total Stockholders' Equity   Balance, January 1, 2021     53,943,751     $ -     $ 54     $ 223,856     $ 748,224     $ 20,218     $ 500     $ 992,852   Common dividends paid, $ 0.20 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 10,829 )     -       -       ( 10,829 ) Common dividends declared, $ 0.20 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 10,849 )     -       -       ( 10,849 ) Preferred dividends paid     -       -       -       -       ( 31 )     -       -       ( 31 ) Dividends on nonvested restricted stock recognized as compensation expense     -       -       -       -       51       -       -       51   Issue restricted shares pursuant to stock incentives, net of forfeitures     57,224       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Issue shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options     200,229       -       -       3,060       -       -       -       3,060   49,771 shares of common stock withheld in net settlement upon exercise of stock options     -       -       -       ( 2,638 )     -       -       -       ( 2,638 ) Stock-based compensation expense     -       -       -       849       -       -       -       849   Other comprehensive loss, net of tax     -       -       -       -       -       ( 663 )     -       ( 663 ) Net income     -       -       -       -       101,482       -       -       101,482   Balance, June 30, 2021     54,201,204     $ -     $ 54     $ 225,127     $ 828,048     $ 19,555     $ 500     $ 1,073,284                                                                     Balance, January 1, 2022     54,227,060     $ -     $ 54     $ 226,397     $ 911,008     $ 14,056     $ 500     $ 1,152,015   Common dividends paid, $ 0.23 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 12,485 )     -       -       ( 12,485 ) Common dividends declared, $ 0.23 per share     -       -       -       -       ( 12,491 )     -       -       ( 12,491 ) Preferred dividends paid     -       -       -       -       ( 31 )     -       -       ( 31 ) Dividends on nonvested restricted stock recognized as compensation expense     -       -       -       -       65       -       -       65   Issue restricted shares pursuant to stock incentives, net of forfeitures     42,768       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Issue shares of common stock upon exercise of stock options     37,047       -       -       862       -       -       -       862   10,953 shares of common stock withheld in net settlement upon exercise of stock options     -       -       -       ( 940 )     -       -       -       ( 940 ) Stock-based compensation expense     -       -       -       1,587       -       -       -       1,587   Other comprehensive loss, net of tax     -       -       -       -       -       ( 36,413 )     -       ( 36,413 ) Net income     -       -       -       -       119,749       -       -       119,749   Balance, June 30, 2022     54,306,875     $ -     $ 54     $ 227,906     $ 1,005,815     $ ( 22,357 )   $ 500     $ 1,211,918      See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                                                                         8       SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited)       Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021   OPERATING ACTIVITIES                 Net income   $ 119,749     $ 101,482   Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by                 Deferred tax     424       12   Provision for credit losses     14,869       17,103   Depreciation     2,098       2,030   Accretion on acquired loans     70       69   Amortization of core deposit intangible     23       135   Amortization of investments in tax credit partnerships     5,857       243   Net amortization of debt securities available for sale     2,062       2,635   (Increase) decrease in accrued interest and dividends receivable     ( 1,726 )     3,711   Stock-based compensation expense     1,587       849   Decrease in accrued interest payable     ( 104 )     ( 232 ) Proceeds from sale of mortgage loans held for sale     17,835       171,592   Originations of mortgage loans held for sale     ( 19,032 )     ( 157,868 ) Loss (gain) on sale of securities available for sale     6,168       ( 620 ) Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale     ( 1,140 )     ( 5,446 ) Net (gain) loss on sale of other real estate owned and repossessed assets     ( 239 )     282   Write down of other real estate owned and repossessed assets     6       761   Operating losses of tax credit partnerships     -       4   Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance contracts     ( 3,241 )     ( 3,341 ) Net change in other assets, liabilities, and other operating activities     ( 19,267 )     ( 3,948 ) Net cash provided by operating activities     125,999       129,453   INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES                 Purchases of debt securities available for sale     ( 76,360 )     ( 263,647 ) Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of debt securities available for sale     64,459       133,954   Proceeds from sale of debt securities available for sale     75,036       -   Purchases of debt securities held to maturity     ( 648,266 )     -   Proceeds from maturities, calls and paydowns of debt securities held to maturity     44,271       -   Purchases of restricted equity securities     ( 423 )     -   Investment in tax credit partnership and SBIC     ( 1,646 )     ( 56 ) Return of capital from TC Partnerships and SBIC     249       -   Increase in loans     ( 1,088,455 )     ( 185,506 ) Purchases of premises and equipment     ( 1,280 )     ( 14,799 ) Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned and repossessed assets     1,091       761   Net cash used in investing activities     ( 1,631,324 )     ( 329,293 ) FINANCING ACTIVITIES                 Net (decrease) increase in non-interest-bearing deposits     ( 113,256 )     507,657   Net (decrease) increase in interest-bearing deposits     ( 567,243 )     474,855   Net (decrease) increase in federal funds purchased     ( 322,610 )     207,929   Proceeds from exercise of stock options     862       3,060   Taxes paid in net settlement of tax obligation upon exercise of stock options     ( 940 )     ( 2,638 ) Dividends paid on common stock     ( 24,957 )     ( 21,627 ) Dividends paid on preferred stock     ( 31 )     ( 31 ) Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities     ( 1,028,175 )     1,169,205   Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents     ( 2,533,500 )     969,365   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period     4,222,096       2,211,411   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $ 1,688,596     $ 3,180,776   SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE                 Cash paid/(received) for:                 Interest   $ 10,291     $ 16,314   Income taxes     3,241       5,428   Income tax refund     ( 142 )     ( 3 ) Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                 Other real estate acquired in settlement of loans   $ 857     $ 364   Internally financed sale of other real estate owned     -       3,779   Dividends on nonvested restricted stock reclassified as compensation expense     65       25   Dividends declared     12,491       10,849     See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.   9     SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS June 30, 2022 (Unaudited)     NOTE 1 - GENERAL   The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in this report have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Regulation S- X and the instructions for Form 10 -Q, and have not been audited. These consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position and the consolidated results of operations for the interim periods have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The consolidated results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations which ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and its consolidated subsidiaries, including ServisFirst Bank (the “Bank”), may achieve for future interim periods or the entire year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in the Company’s Form 10 -K for the year ended December 31, 2021.   All reported amounts are in thousands except share and per share data.     NOTE 2 - CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS   Cash on hand, cash items in process of collection, amounts due from banks, and federal funds sold are included in cash and cash equivalents.     NOTE 3 - EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE   Basic earnings per common share are computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share include the dilutive effect of additional potential common shares issuable under stock options. The difference in earnings per share under the two -class method was not significant for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.                       10         Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021       (In Thousands, Except Shares and Per Share Data)   Earnings per common share                                 Weighted average common shares outstanding     54,295,789       54,173,034       54,279,574       54,112,190   Net income available to common stockholders   $ 62,105     $ 49,996     $ 119,718     $ 101,451   Basic earnings per common share   $ 1.14     $ 0.92     $ 2.21     $ 1.87                                     Weighted average common shares outstanding     54,295,789       54,173,034       54,279,574       54,112,190   Dilutive effects of assumed exercise of stock options and vesting of performance shares     236,596       287,196       247,668       309,137   Weighted average common and dilutive potential common shares outstanding     54,532,385       54,460,230       54,527,242       54,421,327   Net income available to common stockholders   $ 62,105     $ 49,996     $ 119,718     $ 101,451   Diluted earnings per common share   $ 1.14     $ 0.92     $ 2.20     $ 1.86       NOTE 4 - SECURITIES   The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are summarized as follows:               Gross     Gross               Amortized     Unrealized     Unrealized     Fair       Cost     Gain     Loss     Value   June 30, 2022   (In Thousands)   Debt Securities Available for Sale                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ 6,004     $ -     $ ( 38 )   $ 5,966   Government Agency Securities     14       -       -       14   Mortgage-backed securities     308,033       43       ( 22,648 )     285,428   State and municipal securities     17,446       5       ( 1,171 )     16,280   Corporate debt     427,688       618       ( 11,531 )     416,775   Total   $ 759,185     $ 666     $ ( 35,388 )   $ 724,463   Debt Securities Held to Maturity                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ 506,246     $ -     $ ( 22,750 )   $ 483,496   Mortgage-backed securities     551,480       56       ( 38,538 )     512,998   State and municipal securities     8,030       -       ( 683 )     7,347   Total   $ 1,065,755     $ 56     $ ( 61,971 )   $ 1,003,840                                     December 31, 2021                                 Debt Securities Available for Sale                                 U.S Treasury Securities   $ 9,003     $ 101     $ -     $ 9,104   Government Agency Securities     6,022       19       -       6,041   Mortgage-backed securities     424,372       3,474       ( 2,685 )     425,161   State and municipal securities     21,531       173       ( 70 )     21,634   Corporate debt     369,618       11,659       ( 647 )     380,630   Total   $ 830,546     $ 15,425     $ ( 3,402 )   $ 842,570   Debt Securities Held to Maturity                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ 149,263     $ 25     $ ( 668 )   $ 148,620   Mortgage-backed securities     310,641       5,251       ( 1,271 )     314,621   State and municipal securities     3,053       2       ( 10 )     3,045   Total   $ 462,957     $ 5,278     $ ( 1,949 )   $ 466,286     The amortized cost and fair value of debt securities as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities of mortgage-backed securities since the mortgages underlying the securities may be called or prepaid with or without penalty. Therefore, these securities are not included in the maturity categories along with the other categories of debt securities.   11         June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021       Amortized Cost     Fair Value     Amortized Cost     Fair Value       (In thousands)   Debt securities available for sale                                 Due within one year   $ 24,683     $ 24,590     $ 32,913     $ 33,232   Due from one to five years     62,123       61,391       31,760       32,307   Due from five to ten years     361,346       350,109       338,407       348,594   Due after ten years     3,000       2,945       3,094       3,276   Mortgage-backed securities     308,033       285,428       424,372       425,161       $ 759,185     $ 724,463     $ 830,546     $ 842,570                                     Debt securities held to maturity                                 Due within one year   $ 250     $ 250     $ 250     $ 250   Due from one to five years     385,593       373,926       49,663       49,419   Due from five to ten years     128,432       116,667       102,403       101,996   Mortgage-backed securities     551,480       512,998       310,641       314,621       $ 1,065,755     $ 1,003,840     $ 462,957     $ 466,286     All mortgage-backed securities are with government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) such as Federal National Mortgage Association, Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Bank, and Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.   The carrying value of debt securities pledged to secure public funds on deposit and for other purposes as required by law as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was $ 666.7 million and $ 463.1 million, respectively.   The following table identifies, as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company’s investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months and those that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 or more months.       Less Than Twelve Months     Twelve Months or More     Total       Gross             Gross             Gross               Unrealized             Unrealized             Unrealized               Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value     Losses     Fair Value   June 30, 2022   (In Thousands)   Debt Securities available for sale                                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ ( 38 )   $ 5,966     $ -     $ -     $ ( 38 )   $ 5,966   Mortgage-backed securities     ( 20,147 )     261,595       ( 2,501 )     22,005       ( 22,648 )     283,600   State and municipal securities     ( 1,112 )     11,613       ( 59 )     410       ( 1,171 )     12,023   Corporate debt     ( 11,366 )     327,226       ( 165 )     1,335       ( 11,531 )     328,561   Total   $ ( 32,664 )   $ 606,400     $ ( 2,724 )   $ 23,751     $ ( 35,388 )   $ 630,151                                                     Debt Securities held to maturity                                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ ( 22,750 )   $ 483,496     $ -     $ -     $ ( 22,750 )   $ 483,496   Mortgage-backed securities     ( 34,900 )     481,201       ( 3,639 )     21,918       ( 38,538 )     503,119   State and municipal securities     ( 683 )     7,097       -       -       ( 683 )     7,097   Total   $ ( 58,333 )   $ 971,794     $ ( 3,639 )   $ 21,918     $ ( 61,971 )   $ 993,712                                                     December 31, 2021                                                 Debt Securities available for sale                                                 Mortgage-backed securities   $ ( 2,685 )   $ 303,297     $ -     $ -     $ ( 2,685 )   $ 303,297   State and municipal securities     ( 61 )     5,198       ( 9 )     228       ( 70 )     5,426   Corporate debt     ( 647 )     61,677       -       -       ( 647 )     61,677   Total   $ ( 3,393 )   $ 370,172     $ ( 9 )   $ 228     $ ( 3,402 )   $ 370,400                                                     Debt Securities held to maturity                                                 U.S. Treasury Securities   $ ( 668 )   $ 123,698     $ -     $ -     $ ( 668 )   $ 123,698   Mortgage-backed securities     ( 1,271 )     134,192       -       -       ( 1,271 )     134,192   State and municipal securities     ( 10 )     482       -       -       ( 10 )     482   Total   $ ( 1,950 )   $ 258,372     $ -     $ -     $ ( 1,949 )   $ 258,372       12     The following table summarizes information about sales and calls of debt securities available for sale.       Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021       (In Thousands)   Sale and call proceeds   $ 33,425     $ 6,272     $ 75,036     $ 6,272   Gross realized gains   $ -     $ 620     $ -     $ 620   Gross realized losses     ( 2,833 )     -       ( 6,168 )     -   Net realized gain (loss)   $ ( 2,833 )   $ 620     $ ( 6,168 )   $ 620     At June 30, 2022, no allowance for credit losses has been recognized on available for sale debt securities in an unrealized loss position as the Company does not believe any of the debt securities are credit impaired. This is based on the Company’s analysis of the risk characteristics, including credit ratings, and other qualitative factors related to available for sale debt securities. The issuers of these debt securities continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. The Company does not intend to sell these debt securities and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the debt securities before recovery of their amortized cost, which may be at maturity. The unrealized losses are due to increases in market interest rates over the yields available at the time the debt securities were purchased. Furthermore, the Company performed an analysis that determined that the following held-to-maturity securities have a zero expected credit loss: U.S. Treasury Securities; State and Municipal Securities and, Agency-Backed Securities, including securities issued by GNMA, FNMA, FHLB, FFCB and SBA. All of the U.S. Treasury and Agency-Backed Securities have the full faith and credit backing of the United States Government or one of its agencies. All debt securities in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2022, continue to perform as scheduled and the Company does not believe there is a possible credit loss or that an allowance for credit loss on these debt securities is necessary.   Restricted equity securities are comprised entirely of a restricted investment in Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta stock for membership requirement.     NOTE 5 – LOANS   The loan portfolio is classified based on the underlying collateral utilized to secure each loan for financial reporting purposes. This classification is consistent with the Quarterly Report of Condition and Income filed by the Bank with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).   Commercial, financial and agricultural - Includes loans to business enterprises issued for commercial, industrial, agricultural production and/or other professional purposes. These loans are generally secured by equipment, inventory, and accounts receivable of the borrower and repayment is primarily dependent on business cash flows.   Real estate – construction – Includes loans secured by real estate to finance land development or the construction of industrial, commercial or residential buildings. Repayment is dependent upon the completion and eventual sale, refinance or operation of the related real estate project.   Owner-occupied commercial real estate mortgage – Includes loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties for which the primary source of repayment is the cash flow from the ongoing operations conducted by the party that owns the property.   1 - 4 family real estate mortgage – Includes loans secured by residential properties, including home equity lines of credit. Repayment is primarily dependent on the personal cash flow of the borrower.   Other real estate mortgage – Includes loans secured by nonowner-occupied properties, including office buildings, industrial buildings, warehouses, retail buildings, multifamily residential properties and farmland. Repayment is primarily dependent on income generated from the underlying collateral.   Consumer – Includes loans to individuals not secured by real estate. Repayment is dependent upon the personal cash flow of the borrower.   The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) provided for Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans made by banks to employers with less than  500  employees if they continued to employ their existing workers. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law on March 21, 2021, provides additional relief for businesses, states, municipalities and individuals by, among other things, allocating additional funds for the PPP. Effective May 28, 2021, the PPP was closed to new applications. The Company funded approximately  7,400 loans for a total amount of $ 1.5  billion for clients under the PPP since April 2020. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021,  unaccreted deferred loan origination fees, net of costs, related to PPP loans were $ 513,000 and $ 7.2  million, respectively. PPP loan origination fees recorded to interest income totaled $ 2.8 million and $ 8.0 million for the  three months ended  June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and totaled $ 7.2 million and $ 17.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. PPP loans outstanding totaled $ 23.0 million and $ 595.0 million at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. PPP loans are included within the commercial, financial and agricultural loan category in the table below.   13     The following table details the Company’s loans at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:       June 30,     December 31,       2022     2021       (Dollars In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 2,966,040     $ 2,984,053   Real estate - construction     1,383,155       1,103,076   Real estate - mortgage:                 Owner-occupied commercial     2,026,807       1,874,103   1-4 family mortgage     1,015,698       826,765   Other mortgage     3,160,510       2,678,084   Subtotal: Real estate - mortgage     6,203,015       5,378,952   Consumer     65,110       66,853   Total Loans     10,617,320       9,532,934   Less: Allowance for credit losses     ( 128,387 )     ( 116,660 ) Net Loans   $ 10,488,933     $ 9,416,274                                       Commercial, financial and agricultural     27.94 %     31.30 % Real estate - construction     13.03 %     11.57 % Real estate - mortgage:                 Owner-occupied commercial     19.09 %     19.66 % 1-4 family mortgage     9.57 %     8.67 % Other mortgage     29.77 %     28.10 % Subtotal: Real estate - mortgage     58.42 %     56.42 % Consumer     0.61 %     0.70 % Total Loans     100.00 %     100.00 %   The credit quality of the loan portfolio is summarized no less frequently than quarterly using categories similar to the standard asset classification system used by the federal banking agencies. The following table presents credit quality indicators for the loan credit portfolio segments and classes. These categories are utilized to develop the associated allowance for credit losses using historical losses adjusted for current economic conditions defined as follows:     ● Pass – loans which are well protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the borrower (or guarantors, if any) or by the fair value, less cost to acquire and sell, of any underlying collateral.   ● Special Mention – loans with potential weakness that may, if not reversed or corrected, weaken the credit or inadequately protect the Company’s position at some future date. These loans are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant an adverse classification.   ● Substandard – loans that exhibit well-defined weakness or weaknesses that currently jeopardize debt repayment. These loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the company will sustain some loss if the weaknesses are not corrected.   ● Doubtful – loans that have all the weaknesses inherent in loans classified substandard, plus the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values highly questionable and improbable.   14     The table below presents loan balances classified by credit quality indicator, loan type and based on year of origination as of June 30, 2022 :                                                       Revolving           June 30, 2022   2022     2021     2020     2019     2018     Prior     Loans     Total       (In thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural                                                                 Pass   $ 295,183     $ 671,693     $ 257,345     $ 227,787     $ 164,947     $ 514,106     $ 748,747     $ 2,880,087   Special Mention     100       6,717       1,276       2,277       3,444       4,950       21,344       40,108   Substandard     1       -       408       11,071       343       3,610       30,691       45,845   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 295,284     $ 678,410     $ 259,029     $ 241,135     $ 168,734     $ 522,666     $ 800,782     $ 2,966,040   Real estate - construction                                                                 Pass   $ 237,946     $ 600,567     $ 226,083     $ 17,895     $ 8,644     $ 29,479     $ 257,920     $ 1,378,534   Special Mention     2,500       -       -       -       -       894       -       3,394   Substandard     -       -       -       -       1,227       -       -       1,227   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Real estate - construction   $ 240,446     $ 600,567     $ 226,083     $ 17,895     $ 9,871     $ 30,373     $ 257,920     $ 1,383,155   Owner-occupied commercial                                                                 Pass   $ 174,174     $ 426,742     $ 257,264     $ 159,595     $ 148,669     $ 386,045     $ 455,962     $ 2,010,500   Special Mention     291       1,625       -       2,382       633       5,500       1,777       12,208   Substandard     -       -       -       -       -       1,866       4,283       4,099   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Owner-occupied commercial   $ 174,465     $ 428,367     $ 257,264     $ 161,977     $ 149,302     $ 393,411     $ 462,022     $ 2,026,807   1-4 family mortgage                                                                 Pass   $ 210,144     $ 246,092     $ 76,469     $ 40,022     $ 24,584     $ 76,334     $ 333,600     $ 1,007,245   Special Mention     101       1,503       839       161       -       585       2,695       5,884   Substandard     -       -       -       233       -       342       1,994       2,569   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total 1-4 family mortgage   $ 210,245     $ 247,595     $ 77,308     $ 40,416     $ 24,584     $ 77,261     $ 338,289     $ 1,015,698   Other mortgage                                                                 Pass   $ 423,306     $ 798,502     $ 449,472     $ 370,182     $ 123,724     $ 398,486     $ 573,799     $ 3,137,471   Special Mention     -       -       -       130       376       2,681       7,151       10,338   Substandard     -       -       -       -       4,449       928       7,324       12,701   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Other mortgage   $ 423,306     $ 798,502     $ 449,472     $ 370,312     $ 128,549     $ 402,095     $ 588,274     $ 3,160,510   Consumer                                                                 Pass   $ 5,857     $ 7,083     $ 2,982     $ 1,862     $ 402     $ 22,535     $ 24,370     $ 65,091   Special Mention     -       -       -       -       -       19       -       19   Substandard     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Consumer   $ 5,857     $ 7,083     $ 2,982     $ 1,862     $ 402     $ 22,554     $ 24,370     $ 65,110   Total Loans                                                                 Pass   $ 1,346,610     $ 2,750,679     $ 1,269,615     $ 817,343     $ 470,970     $ 1,426,985     $ 2,393,868     $ 10,478,928   Special Mention     2,992       9,845       2,115       4,950       4,453       14,629       32,967       71,951   Substandard     1       -       408       11,303       6,019       6,746       44,940       66,441   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Loans   $ 1,349,603     $ 2,760,524     $ 1,272,138     $ 833,596     $ 481,442     $ 1,448,360     $ 2,471,657     $ 10,617,320       15     The table below presents loan balances classified by credit quality indicator, loan type and based on year of origination as of December 31, 2021:                                                       Revolving           December 31, 2021   2021     2020     2019     2018     2017     Prior     Loans     Total       (In thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural                                                                 Pass   $ 800,822     $ 294,841     $ 209,086     $ 130,579     $ 114,870     $ 127,572     $ 1,216,153     $ 2,893,923   Special Mention     1,245       1,323       942       846       915       784       19,801       25,856   Substandard     -       387       10,039       1,741       1,501       7,966       42,640       64,274   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 802,067     $ 296,551     $ 220,067     $ 133,166     $ 117,286     $ 136,322     $ 1,278,594     $ 2,984,053   Real estate - construction                                                                 Pass   $ 597,497     $ 260,723     $ 110,671     $ 16,452     $ 13,704     $ 17,356     $ 76,662     $ 1,093,065   Special Mention     -       -       6,594       2,500       -       917       -       10,011   Substandard     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Real estate - construction   $ 597,497     $ 260,723     $ 117,265     $ 18,952     $ 13,704     $ 18,273     $ 76,662     $ 1,103,076   Owner-occupied commercial                                                                 Pass   $ 406,473     $ 352,642     $ 231,197     $ 182,812     $ 162,648     $ 430,638     $ 96,860     $ 1,863,270   Special Mention     101       -       2,417       779       476       2,688       -       6,461   Substandard     -       -       -       -       -       4,372       -       4,372   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Owner-occupied commercial   $ 406,574     $ 352,642     $ 233,614     $ 183,591     $ 163,124     $ 437,698     $ 96,860     $ 1,874,103   1-4 family mortgage                                                                 Pass   $ 299,686     $ 117,579     $ 68,044     $ 46,954     $ 37,374     $ 37,970     $ 210,338     $ 817,945   Special Mention     -       1,000       517       116       260       912       3,033       5,838   Substandard     -       150       593       241       231       611       1,156       2,982   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total 1-4 family mortgage   $ 299,686     $ 118,729     $ 69,154     $ 47,311     $ 37,865     $ 39,493     $ 214,527     $ 826,765   Other mortgage                                                                 Pass   $ 882,849     $ 481,012     $ 411,426     $ 174,700     $ 272,555     $ 353,621     $ 81,202     $ 2,657,365   Special Mention     -       -       130       376       2,720       4,656       -       7,882   Substandard     -       -       -       4,497       8,340       -       -       12,837   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Other mortgage   $ 882,849     $ 481,012     $ 411,556     $ 179,573     $ 283,615     $ 358,277     $ 81,202     $ 2,678,084   Consumer                                                                 Pass   $ 16,303     $ 4,845     $ 2,896     $ 983     $ 903     $ 3,649     $ 37,250     $ 66,829   Special Mention     -       -       -       -       -       24       -       24   Substandard     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Consumer   $ 16,303     $ 4,845     $ 2,896     $ 983     $ 903     $ 3,673     $ 37,250     $ 66,853   Total Loans                                                                 Pass   $ 3,003,630     $ 1,511,642     $ 1,033,320     $ 552,480     $ 602,054     $ 970,806     $ 1,718,465     $ 9,392,397   Special Mention     1,346       2,323       10,600       4,617       4,371       9,981       22,834       56,072   Substandard     -       537       10,632       6,479       10,072       12,949       43,796       84,465   Doubtful     -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -   Total Loans   $ 3,004,976     $ 1,514,502     $ 1,054,552     $ 563,576     $ 616,497     $ 993,736     $ 1,785,095     $ 9,532,934     Loans by performance status as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were as follows:   June 30, 2022   Performing     Nonperforming     Total                                 (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 2,960,589     $ 5,451     $ 2,966,040   Real estate - construction     1,383,155       -       1,383,155   Real estate - mortgage:                         Owner-occupied commercial     2,023,628       3,179       2,026,807   1-4 family mortgage     1,014,336       1,362       1,015,698   Other mortgage     3,154,993       5,517       3,160,510   Total real estate mortgage     6,192,957       10,058       6,203,015   Consumer     65,088       22       65,110   Total   $ 10,601,789     $ 15,531     $ 10,617,320     16     December 31, 2021   Performing     Nonperforming     Total                                 (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 2,979,671     $ 4,382     $ 2,984,053   Real estate - construction     1,103,076       -       1,103,076   Real estate - mortgage:                         Owner-occupied commercial     1,873,082       1,021       1,874,103   1-4 family mortgage     824,756       2,009       826,765   Other mortgage     2,673,428       4,656       2,678,084   Total real estate mortgage     5,371,266       7,686       5,378,952   Consumer     66,824       29       66,853   Total   $ 9,520,837     $ 12,097     $ 9,532,934     Loans by past due status as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were as follows:   June 30, 2022   Past Due Status (Accruing Loans)                                                               Total Past     Total                     Nonaccrual       30-59 Days     60-89 Days     90+ Days     Due     Nonaccrual     Current     Total Loans     With no ACL                                                                         (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 2,810     $ 885     $ 249     $ 3,944     $ 5,202     $ 2,956,894     $ 2,966,040     $ 2,595   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -       -       1,383,155       1,383,155       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                                                 Owner-occupied commercial     -       -       -       -       3,179       2,023,628       2,026,807       5,515   1-4 family mortgage     402       1,332       134       1,868       1,228       1,012,602       1,015,698       102   Other mortgage     376       -       4,586       4,962       931       3,154,617       3,160,510       -   Total real estate - mortgage     778       1,332       4,720       6,830       5,338       6,190,847       6,203,015       5,617   Consumer     53       27       22       102       -       65,008       65,110       -   Total   $ 3,641     $ 2,244     $ 4,991     $ 10,876     $ 10,540     $ 10,595,904     $ 10,617,320     $ 8,212     December 31, 2021   Past Due Status (Accruing Loans)                                                               Total Past     Total                     Nonaccrual       30-59 Days     60-89 Days     90+ Days     Due     Nonaccrual     Current     Total Loans     With no ACL                                                                         (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 516     $ 77     $ 39     $ 632     $ 4,343     $ 2,979,078     $ 2,984,053     $ 2,059   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -       -       1,103,076       1,103,076       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                                                 Owner-occupied commercial     143       -       -       143       1,021       1,872,939       1,874,103       1,021   1-4 family mortgage     -       703       611       1,314       1,398       824,053       826,765       483   Other mortgage     -       -       4,656       4,656       -       2,673,428       2,678,084       -   Total real estate - mortgage     143       703       5,267       6,113       2,419       5,370,420       5,378,952       1,504   Consumer     93       23       29       145       -       66,708       66,853       -   Total   $ 752     $ 803     $ 5,335     $ 6,890     $ 6,762     $ 9,519,282     $ 9,532,934     $ 3,563     Under the current expected credit losses (“CECL”) methodology, the allowance for credit losses ("ACL") is measured on a collective basis for pools of loans with similar risk characteristics. For loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with the collectively evaluated pools, evaluations are performed on an individual basis. For all loan segments collectively evaluated, losses are predicted over a period of time determined to be reasonable and supportable, and at the end of the reasonable and supportable forecast period losses are reverted to long-term historical averages. The estimated loan losses for all loan segments are adjusted for changes in qualitative factors not inherently considered in the quantitative analyses.            17     The Company uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) method to estimate ACL for all loan pools except for commercial and industrial ("C&I") revolving lines of credit and credit cards.  For all loan pools utilizing the DCF method, the Company utilizes and forecasts national unemployment rate as a loss driver. The Company also utilizes and forecasts GDP growth as a second loss driver for its agricultural and consumer loan pools.  Consistent forecasts of the loss drivers are used across the loan segments.  At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company utilized a reasonable and supportable forecast period of twelve months followed by a six -month straight-line reversion to long term averages.  The Company leveraged economic projections from reputable and independent sources to inform its loss driver forecasts.  The Company expects the national unemployment to rise during the forecast period with a declining national GDP growth rate compared to December 31, 2021.   The Company uses a loss-rate method to estimate expected credit losses for its C&I revolving lines of credit and credit card pools.  The C&I revolving lines of credit pool incorporates a probability of default (“PD”) and loss given default (“LGD”) modeling approach.  This approach involves estimating the pool average life and then using historical correlations of default and loss experience over time to calculate the lifetime PD and LGD.  These two inputs are then applied to the outstanding pool balance.  The credit card pool incorporates a remaining life modeling approach, which utilizes an attrition-based method to estimate the remaining life of the pool.  A quarterly average loss rate is then calculated using the Company’s historical loss data. The model reduces the pool balance quarterly on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the pool. The quarterly loss rate is multiplied by the outstanding balance at each period-end resulting in an estimated loss for each quarter. The sum of estimated loss for all quarters is the total calculated reserve for the pool.  Management has applied the loss-rate method to C&I lines of credit and to credit cards due to their generally short-term nature.  An expected loss ratio is applied based on internal and peer historical losses.   Each loan pool is adjusted for qualitative factors not inherently considered in the quantitative analyses. The qualitative adjustments either increase or decrease the quantitative model estimation.  The Company considers factors that are relevant within the qualitative framework which include the following:  lending policy, changes in nature and volume of loans, staff experience, changes in volume and trends of problem loans, concentration risk, trends in underlying collateral values, external factors, quality of loan review system and other economic conditions.   Inherent risks in the loan portfolio will differ based on type of loan. Specific risk characteristics by loan portfolio segment are listed below:   Commercial, financial and agricultural loans include risks associated with the  borrower’s cash flow, debt service coverage, and management’s expertise.  These loans are subject to the risk that the Company may have difficulty converting collateral to a liquid asset if necessary, as well as risks associated with the  degree of specialization, mobility, and general collectability in a default situation. These commercial loans may be subject to many different types of risks, including fraud, bankruptcy, economic downturn, deteriorated or non-existent collateral, and changes in interest rates.   Real estate construction loans include risks associated with the borrower’s credit-worthiness, contractor’s qualifications, borrower and contractor performance, and the overall risk and complexity of the proposed project.  Construction lending is also subject to risks associated with sub-market dynamics, including population, employment trends and household income.  During times of economic stress, this type of loan has typically had a greater degree of risk than other loan types.     Real estate mortgage loans consist of loans secured by commercial and residential real estate.  Commercial real estate lending is dependent upon successful management, marketing and expense supervision necessary to maintain the property.  Repayment of these loans may be adversely affected by conditions in the real estate market or the general economy.  Also, commercial real estate loans typically involve relatively large loan balances to a single borrower.  Residential real estate lending risks are generally less significant than those of other loans.  Real estate lending risks include fluctuations in the value of real estate, bankruptcies, economic downturn and customer financial problems.   Consumer loans carry a moderate degree of risk compared to other loans.  They are generally more risky than traditional residential real estate loans but less risky than commercial loans.  Risk of default is usually determined by the well-being of the local economies.  During times of economic stress, there is usually some level of job loss both nationally and locally, which directly affects the ability of the consumer to repay debt.   18     The following table presents changes in the allowance for credit losses, segregated by loan type, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021.       Commercial,                                       financial and     Real estate -     Real estate -                       agricultural     construction     mortgage     Consumer     Total                                                 (In Thousands)       Three Months Ended June 30, 2022   Allowance for credit losses:                                         Balance at March 1, 2022   $ 41,417     $ 27,821     $ 48,548     $ 1,677     $ 119,463   Charge-offs     ( 1,666 )     -       ( 23 )     ( 124 )     ( 1,813 ) Recoveries     1,217       -       -       13       1,230   Provision     642       8,172       268       426       9,507   Balance at June 30, 2022   $ 41,610     $ 35,993     $ 48,793     $ 1,992     $ 128,387         Three Months Ended March June 30, 2021   Allowance for credit losses:                                         Balance at March 1, 2021   $ 38,232     $ 19,391     $ 35,607     $ 1,676     $ 94,906   Charge-offs     ( 150 )     -       ( 59 )     ( 54 )     ( 263 ) Recoveries     298       2       62       13       375   Provision     4,053       3,020       2,920       ( 341 )     9,652   Balance at June 30, 2021   $ 42,433     $ 22,413     $ 38,530     $ 1,294     $ 104,670         Six Months Ended June 30, 2022   Allowance for credit losses:                                         Balance at January 1, 2022   $ 41,869     $ 26,994     $ 45,829     $ 1,968     $ 116,660   Charge-offs     ( 4,240 )     -       ( 51 )     ( 199 )     ( 4,489 ) Recoveries     1,322       -       -       25       1,347   Provision     2,659       8,999       3,014       198       14,869   Balance at June 30, 2022   $ 41,610     $ 35,993     $ 48,793     $ 1,992     $ 128,387         Six Months Ended June 30, 2021   Allowance for credit losses:                                         Balance at January 1, 2021   $ 36,370     $ 16,057     $ 33,722     $ 1,793     $ 87,942   Charge-offs     ( 627 )     -       ( 71 )     ( 141 )     ( 839 ) Recoveries     324       52       64       24       464   Provision     6,366       6,304       4,815       ( 382 )     17,103   Balance at June 30, 2021   $ 42,433     $ 22,413     $ 38,530     $ 1,294     $ 104,670     We maintain an allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending commitments and letters of credit to provide for the risk of loss inherent in these arrangements. The allowance is computed using a methodology similar to that used to determine the allowance for credit losses for loans, modified to take into account the probability of a drawdown on the commitment. The allowance for credit losses on unfunded loan commitments is classified as a liability account on the Consolidated Balance Sheet within other liabilities, while the corresponding provision for these credit losses is recorded as a component of other expense. The allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitments was $ 1.6 million at June 30, 2022 and $ 1.3 million at December 31, 2021. The provision expense for unfunded commitments was $ 0 and $ 300,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and was $ 600,000 and $ 1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.   Loans that no longer share similar risk characteristics with collectively evaluated pools are estimated on an individual basis. A loan is considered collateral-dependent when the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral. The following table summarizes collateral-dependent gross loans held for investment by collateral type as follows:               Accounts                             ACL   June 30, 2022   Real Estate     Receivable     Equipment     Other     Total     Allocation       (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 12,330     $ 5,174     $ 3,246     $ 25,094     $ 45,844     $ 8,264   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       1,227       1,227       96   Real estate - mortgage:                                                 Owner-occupied commercial     4,100       -       -       -       4,100       1,837   1-4 family mortgage     3,226       -       -       -       3,226       231   Other mortgage     12,704       -       -       -       12,704       -   Total real estate - mortgage     20,030       -       -       -       20,030       2,068   Consumer     -       -       -       -       -       -   Total   $ 32,360     $ 5,174     $ 3,246     $ 26,321     $ 67,101     $ 10,428     19                 Accounts                             ACL   December 31, 2021   Real Estate     Receivable     Equipment     Other     Total     Allocation       (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 13,067     $ 5,075     $ 18,533     $ 27,599     $ 64,274     $ 9,727   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                                 Owner-occupied commercial     4,372       -       -       -       4,372       1,371   1-4 family mortgage     2,982       -       -       -       2,982       163   Other mortgage     12,837       -       -       -       12,837       31   Total real estate - mortgage     20,191       -       -       -       20,191       1,565   Consumer     -       -       -       -       -       -   Total   $ 33,258     $ 5,075     $ 18,533     $ 27,599     $ 84,465     $ 11,292     Troubled Debt Restructuring (“TDR”) at June 30, 2022, December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 totaled $‐‐2.4 million, $ 2.6 million and $ 2.9 million, respectively. The portion of those TDRs accruing interest at June 30, 2022, December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021 totaled $ 421,000 , $ 431,000 and $ 441,000 , respectively. There were no modifications made to new TDRs or renewals of existing TDRs for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022. The following tables present loans modified in a TDR during three and six months ended June 30, 2021 by portfolio segment and the financial impact of those modifications. The tables include modifications made to new TDRs, as well as renewals of existing TDRs.       Three Months Ended June 30, 2022     Six Months Ended June 30, 2022               Pre-     Post-             Pre-     Post-               Modification     Modification             Modification     Modification               Outstanding     Outstanding             Outstanding     Outstanding       Number of     Recorded     Recorded     Number of     Recorded     Recorded       Contracts     Investment     Investment     Contracts     Investment     Investment       (In Thousands)   Troubled Debt Restructurings                                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural     2     $ 1,155     $ 1,155       2     $ 1,155     $ 1,155   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                                 Owner-occupied commercial     1       991       991       1       991       991   1-4 family mortgage     -       -       -       -       -       -   Other mortgage     -       -       -       -       -       -   Total real estate mortgage     1       991       991       1       991       991   Consumer     -       -       -       -       -       -         3     $ 2,146     $ 2,146       3     $ 2,146     $ 2,146     There were  no  loans which were modified in the previous  twelve  months (i.e., the  twelve  months prior to default) that defaulted during the  three and six months ended  June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. For purposes of this disclosure, default is defined as  90  days past due and still accruing or placement on nonaccrual status.     NOTE 6 - LEASES   The Company leases space under non-cancelable operating leases for several of its banking offices and certain office equipment. The leases have remaining terms up to 9.4 years. At June 30, 2022, the Company had lease right-of-use assets and lease liabilities totaling $ 16.3 million and $ 17.0 million, respectively, compared to $ 17.9 million and $ 18.5 million, respectively, at December 31, 2021 which are reflected in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets.   20     Maturities of operating lease liabilities as of June 30, 2022 are as follows:       June 30, 2022       (In Thousands)   2022 (remaining)   $ 2,086   2023     3,598   2024     2,626   2025     2,500   2026     1,929   thereafter     5,511   Total lease payments     18,250   Less: imputed interest     ( 1,298 ) Present value of operating lease liabilities   $ 16,952     As of June 30, 2022, the weighted average remaining term of operating leases is 6.5 years and the weighted average discount rate used in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was 2.39 %.   Operating cash flows related to leases were $ 1.1 million and $ 2.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $ 829,000 and $ 1.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.   Lease costs during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):       Three Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021   Operating lease cost   $ 1,051     $ 1,011   Short-term lease cost     17       -   Variable lease cost     151       140   Sublease income     ( 5 )     ( 24 ) Net lease cost   $ 1,214     $ 1,127         Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021   Operating lease cost   $ 2,095     $ 1,911   Short-term lease cost     25       -   Variable lease cost     300       212   Sublease income     ( 29 )     ( 47 ) Net lease cost   $ 2,391     $ 2,076       NOTE 7 - EMPLOYEE AND DIRECTOR BENEFITS   Stock Options   The Company has a stock incentive plan as described below. The compensation cost that has been charged to earnings for the plan was approximately $ 797,000 and $ 1.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $ 558,000 and $ 849,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.   The Company’s 2009 Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of up to 5,550,000 shares and allows for the issuance of Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Stock Options, Non-stock Share Equivalents, Performance Shares or Performance Units. The plan allows for the grant of incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options, and option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. The maximum term of the options granted under the plan is ten years.   The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option award using a Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model which incorporates the assumptions noted in the following table. Expected volatilities are based on an index of southeastern United States publicly traded banks. The expected term for options granted is based on the simplified method and represents the period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life of the option is based on the U. S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant.   21         2022   Expected volatility     40.00 % Expected dividends     1.78 % Expected term (in years)     7.5   Risk-free rate     2.43 %   There were no grants of stock options during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2021 was $ 12.73 .   The following table summarizes stock option activity during the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021:                       Weighted                       Weighted     Average                       Average     Remaining     Aggregate               Exercise     Contractual     Intrinsic       Shares     Price     Term (years)     Value                               (In Thousands)   Six Months Ended June 30, 2022:                                 Outstanding at January 1, 2022     353,250     $ 19.28       3.8     $ 23,525   Exercised     ( 48,000 )     17.85       2.8       2,931   Outstanding at June 30, 2022     305,250       19.51       3.4     $ 18,431                                     Exercisable at June 30, 2022     243,500     $ 14.77       2.5     $ 15,924                                     Six Months Ended June 30, 2021:                                 Outstanding at January 1, 2021     640,950     $ 18.14       4.6     $ 16,981   Granted     500       32.60       8.0       18   Exercised     ( 197,200 )     10.31       3.1       11,574   Forfeited     ( 6,000 )     5.82       0.7       106   Outstanding at June 30, 2021     438,250     $ 19.68       4.4     $ 22,121                                     Exercisable at June 30, 2021     337,000     $ 13.84       3.5     $ 18,841     As of June 30, 2022, there was $ 296,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options. The cost is expected to be recognized on the straight-line method over the next 1.6 years.   Restricted Stock and Performance Shares   The Company periodically grants restricted stock awards that vest upon time-based service conditions. Dividend payments are made during the vesting period. The value of restricted stock is determined to be the current value of the Company’s stock, and this total value will be recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period. As of June 30, 2022, there was $ 5.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested time-based restricted stock. The cost is expected to be recognized evenly over the remaining 2.3 years of the restricted stock’s vesting period.   The Company periodically grants performance shares that give plan participants the opportunity to earn between 0 % and 150 % of the number of performance shares granted based on achieving certain performance metrics. The number of performance shares earned is determined by reference to the Company’s total shareholder return relative to a peer group of other publicly traded banks and bank holding companies during the performance period. The performance period is generally three years starting on the grant date. The fair value of the performance shares is determined using a Monte Carlo simulation model on the grant date. As of June 30, 2022, there was $ 809,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested performance shares. As of June 30, 2022, non-vested performance shares had a weighted average remaining time to vest of 2.0 years.       Restricted Stock     Performance Shares       Shares     Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value     Shares     Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value   Six Months Ended June 30, 2022:                                 Non-vested at January 1, 2022     127,602     $ 42.27       12,437     $ 37.05   Granted     46,266       83.06       9,165       69.68   Vested     ( 23,507 )     44.85       -       -   Forfeited     ( 3,498 )     53.25       -       -   Non-vested at June 30, 2022     146,863     $ 54.45       21,602     $ 50.89                                     Six Months Ended June 30, 2021:                                 Non-vested at January 1, 2021     84,307     $ 34.92       -     $ -   Granted     64,199       46.37       12,437       37.05   Vested     ( 11,778 )     27.99       -       -   Forfeited     ( 6,975 )     38.81       -       -   Non-vested at June 30, 2021     129,753     $ 41.01       12,437     $ 37.05     22       NOTE 8 - DERIVATIVES   The Company periodically enters into derivative contracts to manage exposures to movements in interest rates. The Company purchased an interest rate cap in May of 2020 to limit exposures to increases in interest rates. The interest rate cap is not designated as a hedging instrument. The interest rate cap has an original term of 3 years, a notional amount of $ 300 million and is tied to the one -month LIBOR rate with a strike rate of 0.50 %. The fair value of the interest rate cap is carried on the Consolidated Balance Sheet in other assets and the change in fair value is recognized in noninterest income each quarter. At June 30, 2022 the interest rate cap had a fair value of $ 6.5 million and remaining term of 0.8 years. If LIBOR is deemed unrepresentative at any time, the reference rate for the cap would be governed by the fallback protocol where LIBOR will be adjusted to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus the five -year median spread.   The Company has entered into forward loan sale commitments with secondary market investors to deliver loans on a “best efforts delivery” basis, which do not meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When a rate is committed to a borrower, it is based on the best price that day and locked with the investor for the customer for a 30 -day period. In the event the loan is not delivered to the investor, the Company has no risk or exposure with the investor. Interest rate lock commitments with customers related to loans that are originated for later sale are classified as derivatives. The fair values of the Company’s rate lock commitments to customers as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were not material.     NOTE 9 – RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS   In   July 2021,  the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”)  2021 - 05 ,   Leases (Topic   842 ) :  Lessors-Certain Leases with Variable Lease Payments , which amends guidance so that lessors are  no  longer required to record a selling loss at lease commencement for a lease with any variable lease payments that do  not  depend on an index or rate. A lessor would classify such leases as an operating lease rather than a sales-type or direct financing lease. The update was effective for the Company as of January 1, 2022. The adoption of ASU  2021 - 05  did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.     NOTE 10 - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS   In March 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022 - 02, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses (Topic 326 ): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures. The update eliminates the TDR recognition and measurement guidance and, instead, requires that an entity evaluates whether all modifications represent a new loan or a continuation of an existing loan. The amendments also enhance existing disclosure requirements and introduce new requirements related to certain modifications of receivables made to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. These amendments also require disclosure of current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investment in leases within the scope of Subtopic 326 - 20. The update is effective for entities that have adopted ASU No. 2016 - 13 (the CECL model) for fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. These amendments should be applied prospectively, except that an entity has the option to apply a modified retrospective transition method to the recognition and measurement of TDRs. Early adoption is permitted if an entity has adopted ASU No. 2016 - 13, including adoption in an interim period as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes the interim period. An entity may elect to early adopt the amendments about TDRs and related disclosure enhancements separately from the amendments related to vintage disclosures. The Company is assessing the impact of adopting the update on its financial statements and disclosures and is currently planning to adopt effective January 1, 2023.     NOTE 11 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT   Measurement of fair value under U.S. GAAP establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes observable and unobservable inputs used to measure fair value, as of the measurement date, into three broad levels, which are described below:   23     Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for assets or liabilities. The fair value hierarchy gives the highest priority to Level 1 inputs. Level 2: Observable prices that are based on inputs not quoted on active markets, but corroborated by market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs are used when little or no market data is available. The fair value hierarchy gives the lowest priority to Level 3 inputs.   In determining fair value, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible and also considers counterparty credit risk in its assessment of fair value.   Debt Securities. Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the hierarchy. Level 1 securities include highly liquid government securities such as U.S. Treasuries and exchange-traded equity securities. For securities traded in secondary markets for which quoted market prices are not available, the Company generally relies on pricing services provided by independent vendors. Such independent pricing services are to advise the Company on the carrying value of the securities available for sale portfolio. As part of the Company’s procedures, the price provided from the service is evaluated for reasonableness given market changes. When a questionable price exists, the Company investigates further to determine if the price is valid. If needed, other market participants may be utilized to determine the correct fair value. The Company has also reviewed and confirmed its determinations in discussions with the pricing source regarding their methods of price discovery. Securities measured with these techniques are classified within Level 2 of the hierarchy and often involve using quoted market prices for similar securities, pricing models or discounted cash flow calculations using inputs observable in the market where available. Examples include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and certain corporate, asset-backed and other securities. The Company periodically buys corporate debt securities in private placement transactions.  Level 2 inputs are not available for these securities.  The Company uses average observable prices of similar corporate securities owned by the Company to value such securities and are classified in Level 3 of the hierarchy.    Derivative instruments. The fair values of derivatives are determined based on a valuation pricing model using readily available observable market parameters such as interest rate curves, adjusted for counterparty credit risk. These measurements are classified as level 2 within the valuation hierarchy.   Loans Individually Evaluated. Loans individually evaluated are measured and reported at fair value when full payment under the loan terms is not probable. Loans individually evaluated are carried at the present value of expected future cash flows using a discounted cash flow calculation, or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral-dependent. Expected cash flows are based on internal inputs reflecting expected default rates on contractual cash flows. For loans measured using the estimated fair value of collateral less costs to sell, fair value is generally determined based on appraisals performed by certified and licensed appraisers using inputs such as absorption rates, capitalization rates and market comparables, adjusted for estimated costs to sell. Management modifies the appraised values, if needed, to take into account recent developments in the market or other factors, such as changes in absorption rates or market conditions from the time of valuation, and anticipated sales values considering management’s plans for disposition. Such modifications to the appraised values could result in lower valuations of such collateral. Estimated costs to sell are based on current amounts of disposal costs for similar assets. These measurements are classified as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy. Loans individually evaluated are subject to nonrecurring fair value adjustment upon initial recognition or subsequent individual evaluation. A portion of the allowance for credit losses is allocated to loans individually evaluated if the value of such loans is deemed to be less than the unpaid balance. The range of fair value adjustments and weighted average adjustment as of June 30, 2022 was 0 % to 75 % and 21.2 %, respectively. The range of fair value adjustments and weighted average adjustment as of December 31, 2021 was 0 % to 75 % and 24.1 % respectively. Loans individually evaluated are reviewed and evaluated on at least a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly based on the same factors identified above. The amount recognized to write-down individually evaluated loans that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis was $ 1.2 million and $ 1.8 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $ 1.4 million and $ 3.3 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively.   Other Real Estate Owned . Other real estate assets (“OREO”) acquired through, or in lieu of, foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, less selling costs. Any write-downs to fair value at the time of transfer to OREO are charged to the allowance for credit losses subsequent to foreclosure. Values are derived from appraisals of underlying collateral and discounted cash flow analysis. Appraisals are performed by certified and licensed appraisers. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are updated periodically and assets are marked to current fair value, not to exceed the new cost basis. In the determination of fair value subsequent to foreclosure, management also considers other factors or recent developments, such as changes in absorption rates and market conditions from the time of valuation, and anticipated sales values considering management’s plans for disposition, which could result in adjustment to lower the property value estimates indicated in the appraisals. The range of fair value adjustments and weighted average adjustment as of June 30, 2022 was 10 % to 100 % and 57 %, respectively. The range of fair value adjustments and weighted average adjustment as of December 31, 2021 was 0 % to 100 % and 40.6 %, respectively. These measurements are classified as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy. A loss on the sale and write-downs of OREO and repossessed assets of $ 125,000 and $ 119,000 was recognized for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, and $ 540,000 and $ 697,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. These charges were for write-downs in the value of OREO subsequent to foreclosure and losses on the disposal of OREO. OREO is classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.   24     There was one residential real estate loan with a balance of $ 60,000 foreclosed and classified as OREO as of June 30, 2022, compared to one residential real estate loan foreclosure for $ 50,000 as of December 31, 2021.   Two residential real estate loans for $ 212,000 was in the process of being foreclosed as of June 30, 2022. There were one residential real estate loan for $ 299,000 in process of foreclosure as of December 31, 2021.   The following table presents the Company’s financial assets carried at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.       Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2022 Using               Quoted Prices in                               Active Markets     Significant Other     Significant               for Identical     Observable Inputs     Unobservable               Assets (Level 1)     (Level 2)     Inputs (Level 3)     Total   Assets Measured on a Recurring Basis:   (In Thousands)   Available-for-sale debt securities:                                 U.S. Treasury securities   $ 5,966     $ -     $ -     $ 5,966   Government agencies     -       14       -       14   Mortgage-backed securities     -       285,428       -       285,428   State and municipal securities     -       16,280       -       16,280   Corporate debt     -       410,775       6,000       416,775   Total available-for-sale debt securities     5,966       712,497       6,000       724,463   Interest rate cap derivative     -       6,446       -       6,446   Total assets at fair value   $ 5,966     $ 718,943     $ 6,000     $ 730,909         Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021 Using               Quoted Prices in                               Active Markets     Significant Other     Significant               for Identical     Observable Inputs     Unobservable               Assets (Level 1)     (Level 2)     Inputs (Level 3)     Total   Assets Measured on a Recurring Basis:   (In Thousands)   Available-for-sale debt securities:                                 U.S. Treasury securities   $ 9,104     $ -     $ -     $ 9,104   Government agencies     -       6,041       -       6,041   Mortgage-backed securities     -       425,161       -       425,161   State and municipal securities     -       21,634       -       21,634   Corporate debt     -       363,638       16,992       380,630   Total available-for-sale debt securities     9,104       816,474       16,992       842,570   Interest rate cap derivative     -       1,152       -       1,152   Total assets at fair value   $ 9,104     $ 817,626     $ 16,992     $ 843,722     The following table presents the Company’s financial assets carried at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:       Fair Value Measurements at June 30, 2022               Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)     Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)     Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)     Total   Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis:   (In Thousands)   Loans individually evaluated   $ -     $ -     $ 56,673     $ 56,673   Other real estate owned and repossessed assets     -       -       1,207       1,207   Total assets at fair value   $ -     $ -     $ 57,880     $ 57,880     25         Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021               Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)     Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)     Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)     Total   Assets Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis:   (In Thousands)   Loans individually evaluated   $ -     $ -     $ 73,173     $ 73,173   Other real estate owned and repossessed assets     -       -       1,208       1,208   Total assets at fair value   $ -     $ -     $ 74,381     $ 74,381     There were no liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2022, and December 31, 2021.   In the case of the investment securities portfolio, the Company monitors the portfolio to ascertain when transfers between levels have been affected.  The nature of the remaining assets and liabilities is such that transfers in and out of any level are expected to be rare.  For the six months ended June 30, 2022, there was three transfers between Levels 1, 2 or 3.   The table below includes a rollforward of the balance sheet amounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021 ( including the change in fair value) for financial instruments classified by the Company within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy measured at fair value on a recurring basis including changes in fair value due in part to observable factors that are part of the valuation methodology:       For the three months ended June 30,     For the six months ended June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021       Available-for-sale Securities     Available-for-sale Securities     Available-for-sale Securities     Available-for-sale Securities       (In Thousands)   Fair value, beginning of period   $ 11,500     $ 10,301     $ 16,992     $ -   Transfers into Level 3     -       -       -       6,000   Total realized gains included in income     -       -       -       -   Changes in unrealized gains/losses included in other comprehensive income for assets and liabilities still held at period-end     ( 462 )     193       ( 805 )     494   Purchases     -       8,500       -       12,500   Transfers out of Level 3     ( 5,038 )     ( 4,000 )     ( 10,187 )     ( 4,000 ) Fair value, end of period   $ 6,000     $ 14,994     $ 6,000     $ 14,994     The fair value of a financial instrument is the current amount that would be exchanged in a sale between willing parties, other than in a forced liquidation. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Company’s various financial instruments. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument. Current U.S. GAAP excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments from its fair value disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented may not necessarily represent the underlying fair value of the Company.   The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments not measured at fair value on a recurring or non-recurring basis as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were as follows:       June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021       Carrying             Carrying               Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value       (In Thousands)   Financial Assets:                                 Level 1 inputs:                                 Cash and due from banks   $ 1,587,149     $ 1,587,149     $ 4,163,724     $ 4,163,724                                     Level 2 inputs:                                 Federal funds sold     101,447       101,447       58,372       58,372   Held to maturity debt securities     1,065,505       1,003,590       462,707       466,036   Mortgage loans held for sale     3,451       3,390       1,114       1,111                                     Level 3 inputs:                                 Held to maturity debt securities     250       250       250       250   Loans, net     10,432,260       10,432,260       9,416,274       9,403,012                                     Financial liabilities:                                 Level 2 inputs:                                 Deposits   $ 11,772,337     $ 11,777,719     $ 12,452,836     $ 12,454,140   Federal funds purchased     1,389,167       1,389,167       1,711,777       1,711,777   Other borrowings     64,716       65,457       64,706       65,476     26       ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT ’ S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS   The following discussion and analysis is designed to provide a better understanding of various factors relating to the results of operations and financial condition of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ServisFirst Bank. This discussion is intended to supplement and highlight information contained in the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021.   Forward-Looking Statements   Statements in this document that are not historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements concerning future operations, results or performance, are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “might” and similar expressions often signify forward-looking statements. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions that such forward-looking statements, wherever they occur in this quarterly report or in other statements attributable to the Company, are necessarily estimates reflecting the judgment of the Company’s senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various factors that could affect the accuracy of such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the global health and economic crisis precipitated by the COVID-19 outbreak; general economic conditions, especially in the credit markets and in the Southeast; the performance of the capital markets; changes in interest rates, yield curves and interest rate spread relationships; changes in accounting and tax principles, policies or guidelines; changes in legislation or regulatory requirements; changes as a result of our reclassification as a large financial institution by the FDIC; changes in our loan portfolio and the deposit base; economic crisis and associated credit issues in industries most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, including but not limited to, the restaurant, hospitality and retail sectors; possible changes in laws and regulations and governmental monetary and fiscal policies, including, but not limited to, economic stimulus initiatives and the ability of the U.S. Congress to increase the U.S. statutory debt limit as needed; the cost and other effects of legal and administrative cases and similar contingencies; possible changes in the creditworthiness of customers and the possible impairment of the collectability of loans and the value of collateral; the effect of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tornados, in our geographic markets; and increased competition from both banks and non-bank financial institutions. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for fiscal year 2022 and our other SEC filings. If one or more of the factors affecting our forward-looking information and statements proves incorrect, then our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, forward-looking information and statements contained herein. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements that are made from time to time.   Business   We are a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and are headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, ServisFirst Bank, an Alabama banking corporation, provides commercial banking services through full-service banking offices located in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. We also operate loan production offices in Florida. Through the bank, we originate commercial, consumer and other loans and accept deposits, provide electronic banking services, such as online and mobile banking, including remote deposit capture, deliver treasury and cash management services and provide correspondent banking services to other financial institutions.   27     Our principal business is to accept deposits from the public and to make loans and other investments. Our principal sources of funds for loans and investments are demand, time, savings, and other deposits. Our principal sources of income are interest and fees collected on loans, interest and dividends collected on other investments and service charges. Our principal expenses are interest paid on savings and other deposits, interest paid on our other borrowings, employee compensation, office expenses and other overhead expenses.   Second quarter highlights     ● Diluted earnings per common share of $1.14 for the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 24%, from the second quarter 2021.   ● Average loans of $10.2 billion for the second quarter of 2022 increased $1.54 billion, or 18%, from a year ago.   ● Average deposits of $12.04 billion for the second quarter of 2022 increased $1.31 billion, or 12%, from a year ago.   ● Net interest income of $116.4 million for the second quarter of 2022, an increase $21.7 million, or 23%, from the second quarter of 2021. Net interest margin of 3.26% for the second quarter of 2022 increased 20 bps from 3.06% in the second quarter of 2021. The increase primarily resulted from increased yields in 2022 and increases in average non-interest-bearing deposits and equity.   Overview   As of June 30, 2022, we had consolidated total assets of $14.49 billion, down $95.4 million, or 6.2%, from total assets of $15.45 billion at December 31, 2021. Total loans were $10.62 billion at June 30, 2022, up $1.08 billion, or 11.4%, from $9.53 billion at December 31, 2021. Total deposits were $11.77 billion at June 30, 2022, down $680.50 million, or 5.5%, from $12.45 billion at December 31, 2021.   Net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $62.1 million, up $12.1 million, or 24.2%, from $50.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per common share were both $1.14 for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $0.92 for both in the corresponding period in 2021.   Net income available to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $119.7 million, up $18.3 million, or 18.0%, from $101.5 million for the corresponding period in 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per common share were $2.21 and $2.20, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $1.87 and $1.86, respectively, for the corresponding period in 2021.   Performance Ratios   The following table presents selected ratios of our results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, and 2021.       Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021   Return on average assets     1.67 %     1.56 %     1.60 %     1.63 % Return on average stockholders' equity     20.93 %     18.99 %     20.52 %     19.74 % Dividend payout ratio     20.19 %     21.79 %     20.95 %     21.46 % Net interest margin (1)     3.26 %     3.06 %     3.07 %     3.14 % Efficiency ratio (2)     31.64 %     30.03 %     32.16 %     29.36 % Average stockholders' equity to average total assets     8.09 %     8.06 %     7.82 %     8.10 %   (1) Net interest margin in the net yield on interest earning assets and is the difference between the interest yield earned on    interest-earning assets and interest rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities, divided by average earning assets. (2) Efficiency ratio is the result of noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.   28     Financial Condition   Cash and Cash Equivalents   At June 30, 2022, we had $101.4 million in federal funds sold, compared to $58.4 million at December 31, 2021. We also maintain balances at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, which earn interest. At June 30, 2022, we had $1.32 billion in balances at the Federal Reserve, compared to $4.07 billion at December 31, 2021.   Investment Securities   Debt securities available for sale totaled $724.5 million at June 30, 2022 and $842.6 million at December 31, 2021. Investment securities held to maturity totaled $1.07 billion at June 30, 2022 and $463.0 million at December 31, 2021. We had paydowns of $77.4 million on mortgage-backed securities and government agencies, maturities of $22.0 million on municipal bonds, corporate securities and treasury securities, and calls of $10.3 million on U.S. government agencies and municipal securities during the six months ended June 30, 2022. We recognized a $2.8 million loss on the sale of available for sale debt securities during the second quarter of 2022. We sold seven debt securities available for sale for $33.4 million that were yielding less than 1.00%. We purchased $360.5 million in US Treasuries, $286.7 million in mortgage-backed securities, and $76.4 million in corporate securities during the six months ended June 30, 2022. For a tabular presentation of debt securities available for sale and held to maturity at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, see “Note 4 – Securities” in our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.   The objective of our investment policy is to invest funds not otherwise needed to meet our loan demand to earn the maximum return, yet still maintain sufficient liquidity to meet fluctuations in our loan demand and deposit structure. In doing so, we balance the market and credit risks against the potential investment return, make investments compatible with the pledge requirements of any deposits of public funds, maintain compliance with regulatory investment requirements, and assist certain public entities with their financial needs. The investment committee has full authority over the investment portfolio and makes decisions on purchases and sales of securities. The entire portfolio, along with all investment transactions occurring since the previous board of directors meeting, is reviewed by the board at each monthly meeting. The investment policy allows portfolio holdings to include short-term securities purchased to provide us with needed liquidity and longer-term securities purchased to generate level income for us over periods of interest rate fluctuations.   All investment securities in an unrealized loss position as of June 30, 2022 continue to perform as scheduled. We have evaluated the securities and have determined that the decline in fair value, relative to its amortized cost, is not due to credit-related factors. In addition, we have the ability to hold these securities within the portfolio until maturity or until the value recovers, and we believe that it is not likely that we will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery. We continue to monitor all of our securities with a high degree of scrutiny. There can be no assurance that we will not conclude in future periods that conditions existing at that time indicate some or all of its securities may be sold or would require a charge to earnings as a provision for credit losses in such periods.   The Company does not invest in collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”). As of June 30, 2022, we had $416.8 million of bank holding company subordinated notes. If rated, all such bonds were rated BBB or better by Kroll Bond Rating Agency at the time of our initial investment. All other corporate bonds had a Standard and Poor’s or Moody’s rating of A-1 or better when purchased. The total investment portfolio has a combined average credit rating of AA as of June 30, 2022.   The carrying value of investment securities pledged to secure public funds on deposit and for other purposes as required by law was $666.7 million and $481.3 million as of June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.   Loans   We had total loans of $10.62 billion at June 30, 2022, up $1.08 billion, or 11.4%, compared to $9.53 billion at December 31, 2021. We originated approximately 7,400 PPP loans totaling $1.5 billion during the COVID-19 pandemic. Total remaining PPP loans outstanding were $23.0 million and $230.2 million at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.   Asset Quality   The Company assesses the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses ("ACL") at the end of each calendar quarter. The level of ACL is based on the Company’s evaluation of historical default and loss experience, current and projected economic conditions, asset quality trends, known and inherent risks in the portfolio, adverse situations that may affect the borrowers’ ability to repay a loan, the estimated value of any underlying collateral, composition of the loan portfolio and other relevant factors. The ACL is increased by a provision for credit losses, which is charged to expense, and reduced by charge-offs, net of recoveries. The ACL is believed adequate to absorb all expected future losses to be recognized over the contractual life of the loans in the portfolio.   29     Loans with similar risk characteristics are evaluated in pools and, depending on the nature of each identified pool, the Company utilizes a discounted cash flow (“DCF”), probability of default / loss given default (“PD/LGD”) or remaining life method. The historical loss experience estimate by pool is then adjusted by forecast factors that are quantitatively related to the Company’s historical credit loss experience, such as national unemployment rates and gross domestic product. Losses are predicted over a period of time determined to be reasonable and supportable, and at the end of the reasonable and supportable period losses are reverted to long term historical averages. The reasonable and supportable period and reversion period are re-evaluated each quarter by the Company and are dependent on the current economic environment among other factors. See “Note 1 – General” and “Note 5 – Loans” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1. Consolidated Financial Statements elsewhere in this report.   The expected credit losses for each loan pool are then adjusted for changes in qualitative factors not inherently considered in the quantitative analyses. The qualitative adjustments either increase or decrease the quantitative model estimation. The Company considers factors that are relevant within the qualitative framework which include the following: lending policy, changes in nature and volume of loans, staff experience, changes in volume and trends of problem loans, concentration risk, trends in underlying collateral values, external factors, quality of loan review system and other economic conditions.   Expected credit losses for loans that no longer share similar risk characteristics with the collectively evaluated pools are excluded from the collective evaluation and estimated on an individual basis. Individual evaluations are performed for nonaccrual loans, loans rated substandard, and modified loans classified as TDRs. Specific allocations of the ACL for credit losses are estimated on one of several methods, including the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, observable market value of similar debt or the present value of expected cash flows.       As of and for the Three Months Ended     As of and for the Six Months Ended       June 30,     June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021       (Dollars in thousands)   Total loans outstanding, net of unearned income   $ 10,617,320     $ 8,649,694     $ 10,617,320     $ 8,649,694   Average loans outstanding, net of unearned income   $ 10,189,086     $ 8,644,993     $ 9,919,381     $ 8,579,116   Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period     119,463       94,906       116,660       87,942   Charge-offs:                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural loans     1,667       150       4,241       627   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage     23       59       50       71   Consumer loans     123       54       198       141   Total charge-offs     1,813       263       4,489       839   Recoveries:                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural loans     1,217       298       1,322       324   Real estate - construction     -       2       -       52   Real estate - mortgage     -       62       -       64   Consumer loans     13       13       25       24   Total recoveries     1,230       375       1,347       464   Net charge-offs     583       (112 )     3,142       375   Provision for credit losses     9,507       9,652       14,869       17,103   Allowance for credit losses at period end   $ 128,387     $ 104,670     $ 128,387     $ 104,670   Allowance for credit losses to period end loans     1.21 %     1.21 %     1.21 %     1.21 % Net charge-offs to average loans     0.02 %     (0.01 )%     0.04 %     0.01 %               Percentage of loans               in each category   June 30, 2022   Amount     to total loans       (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 41,610       33.22 % Real estate - construction     35,993       10.08 % Real estate - mortgage     48,793       55.97 % Consumer     1,992       0.73 % Total   $ 128,387       100.00 %   30                 Percentage of loans               in each category   December 31, 2021   Amount     to total loans       (In Thousands)   Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 41,869       31.30 % Real estate - construction     26,994       11.57 % Real estate - mortgage     45,829       56.43 % Consumer     1,968       0.70 % Total   $ 116,660       100.00 %   Nonperforming Assets   Total nonperforming loans, which include nonaccrual loans and loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing, increased to $15.5 million at June 30, 2022, compared to $12.1 million at December 31, 2021. Of this total, nonaccrual loans of $10.5 million at June 30, 2022 represented a net increase of $3.7 million from nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2021. Excluding credit card accounts, there were three loans 90 or more days past due and still accruing totaling $4.9 million at June 30, 2022, compared to four loans totaling $5.3 million at December 31, 2021. TDRs at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 were $2.4 million and $2.6 million, respectively. There were no loans newly classified as TDR or renewals of existing TDRs for the three months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021.   The following table summarizes our nonperforming assets and TDRs at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:       June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021               Number of             Number of       Balance     Loans     Balance     Loans       (Dollar Amounts In Thousands)   Nonaccrual loans:                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 5,202       20     $ 4,343       17   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                 Owner-occupied commercial     3,179       2       1,021       2   1-4 family mortgage     1,228       12       1,398       12   Other mortgage     931       1       -       -   Total real estate - mortgage     5,338       15       2,419       14   Consumer     -       -       -       -   Total Nonaccrual loans:   $ 10,540       35     $ 6,762       31                                     90+ days past due and accruing:                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 249       4     $ 39       4   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                 Owner-occupied commercial     -       -       -       -   1-4 family mortgage     134       1       611       3   Other mortgage     4,586       1       4,656       1   Total real estate - mortgage     4,720       2       5,267       4   Consumer     22       9       29       22   Total 90+ days past due and accruing:   $ 4,991       15     $ 5,335       30                                     Total Nonperforming Loans:   $ 15,531       50     $ 12,097       61                                     Plus: Other real estate owned and repossessions     1,207       7       1,208       5   Total Nonperforming Assets   $ 16,738       57     $ 13,305       66                                     Restructured accruing loans:                                 Commercial, financial and agricultural   $ 421       2     $ 431       2   Real estate - construction     -       -       -       -   Real estate - mortgage:                                 Owner-occupied commercial     -       -       -       -   1-4 family mortgage     -       -       -       -   Other mortgage     -       -       -       -   Total real estate - mortgage     -       -       -       -   Consumer     -       -       -       -   Total restructured accruing loans:   $ 421       2     $ 431       2                                     Total Nonperforming assets and restructured accruing loans   $ 17,159       59     $ 13,736       68                                     Ratios:                                 Nonperforming loans to total loans     0.15 %             0.13 %         Nonperforming assets to total loans plus other real estate owned and repossessions     0.16 %             0.14 %         Nonperforming assets plus restructured accruing loans to total loans plus other real estate owned and repossessions     0.16 %             0.14 %           31     OREO and repossessed assets remained unchanged at $1.2 million at June 30, 2022, from December 31, 2021. The following table summarizes OREO and repossessed asset activity for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021:       Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021       (In thousands)   Balance at beginning of period   $ 1,208     $ 6,497   Transfers from loans and capitalized expenses     857       1,125   Proceeds from sales     (1,091 )     (761 ) Internally financed sales     -       (3,779 ) Write-downs / net gain (loss) on sales     233       (1,043 ) Balance at end of period   $ 1,207     $ 2,039     The balance of nonperforming assets can fluctuate due to changes in economic conditions. We have established a policy to discontinue accruing interest on a loan (i.e., place the loan on nonaccrual status) after it has become 90 days delinquent as to payment of principal or interest, unless the loan is considered to be well-collateralized and is actively in the process of collection. In addition, a loan will be placed on nonaccrual status before it becomes 90 days delinquent if management believes that the collection of interest is not expected. Interest previously accrued but uncollected on such loans is reversed and charged against current income when the receivable is determined to be uncollectible. Interest income on nonaccrual loans is recognized only as received. If we believe that a loan will not be collected in full, we will increase the allowance for credit losses to reflect management’s estimate of any potential exposure or loss. Generally, payments received on nonaccrual loans are applied directly to principal.   In keeping with guidance from regulators, the Company continues to work with COVID-19 affected borrowers to defer their payments and interest. While interest continues to accrue to income, through normal GAAP accounting, should eventual credit losses on these deferred payments emerge, the related loans would be placed on nonaccrual status and interest income accrued would be reversed. In such a scenario, interest income in future periods could be negatively impacted. As of June 30, 2022, the Company carries $3.2 million of accrued interest income on deferrals made to COVID-19 affected borrowers compared to $4.0 million at December 31, 2021. At this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of such an impact on future deferrals to COVID-19 affected borrowers but recognizes the breadth of the economic impact may affect its borrowers’ ability to repay in future periods.   Deposits   We rely on increasing our deposit base to fund loan and other asset growth. Each of our markets is highly competitive. We compete for local deposits by offering attractive products with competitive rates. We expect to have a higher average cost of funds for local deposits than competitor banks due to our lack of an extensive branch network. Our management’s strategy is to offset the higher cost of funding with a lower level of operating expense and firm pricing discipline for loan products. We have promoted electronic banking services by providing them without charge and by offering in-bank customer training. Total deposits were $11.77 billion at June 30, 2022, a decrease of $680.50 million, or 5.5%, from $12.45 billion at December 31, 2021. We anticipate long-term sustainable growth in deposits through continued development of market share in our less mature markets and through organic growth in our mature markets. A significant amount of federal and state stimulus money resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic remains on deposit at our bank. We are currently taking measures to deploy these excess funds out of cash into higher-earning assets.   32     For amounts and rates of our deposits by category, see the table “Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis on a Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis” under the subheading “Net Interest Income.”   The following table summarizes balances of our deposits and the percentage of each type to the total at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:       June 30, 2022     December 31, 2021   Noninterest-bearing demand   $ 4,686,511       39.81 %   $ 4,799,767       38.54 % Interest-bearing demand     2,053,575       17.44 %     1,652,710       13.27 % Money market     4,139,443       35.16 %     5,094,313       40.91 % Savings     133,975       1.14 %     97,946       0.79 % Time deposits , $250,000 and under     248,042       2.11 %     267,164       2.15 % Time deposits, over $250,000     460,792       3.91 %     490,936       3.94 % Brokered time deposits     50,000       0.42 %     50,000       0.40 %     $ 11,772,337       100.00 %   $ 12,452,836       100.00 %   At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we estimate that we had approximately $9.62 billion and $10.65 billion, respectively, in uninsured deposits, which are the portion of deposit accounts that exceed the FDIC insurance limit.   The following table presents the maturities of our time deposits in excess of insurance limit as of June 30, 2022.       Portion of time deposits in excess of insurance limit       June 30, 2022   Time deposits otherwise uninsured with a maturity of:   (In Thousands)   3 months or less   $ 70,760   Over 3 through 6 months     84,770   Over 6 months through 12 months     71,089   Over 12 months     77,172   Total   $ 303,791     The uninsured deposit data for 2022 and 2021 reflect the deposit insurance impact of “combined ownership segregation” of escrow and other accounts at an aggregate level but do not reflect an evaluation of all of the account styling distinctions that would determine the availability of deposit insurance to individual accounts based on FDIC regulations.   Other Borrowings   Our borrowings consist of federal funds purchased and subordinated notes payable. We had $1.39 billion and $1.71 billion at June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, in federal funds purchased from correspondent banks that are clients of our correspondent banking unit. The average rate paid on these borrowings was 0.79% for the quarter ended June 30, 2022. Other borrowings consist of the following:     ● $34.75 million of the Company’s 4% Subordinated Notes due October 21, 2030, which were issued in a private placement in October 2020 and pay interest semi-annually. The Notes may not be prepaid by the Company prior to October 21, 2025.   ● $30.0 million of 4.5% Subordinated Notes due November 8, 2027, which were issued in a private placement in November 2017 and pay interest semi-annually.   Liquidity   Liquidity is defined as our ability to generate sufficient cash to fund current loan demand, deposit withdrawals, and other cash demands and disbursement needs, and otherwise to operate on an ongoing basis.   33     The retention of existing deposits and attraction of new deposit sources through new and existing customers is critical to our liquidity position. If our liquidity were to decline due to a run-off in deposits, we have procedures that provide for certain actions under varying liquidity conditions. These actions include borrowing from existing correspondent banks, selling or participating loans, and curtailing loan commitments and funding. At June 30, 2022, liquid assets, which are represented by cash and due from banks, federal funds sold and unpledged available-for-sale securities, totaled $2.87 billion. At June 30, 2022, the Bank had borrowing availability of approximately $1.04 billion in unused federal funds lines of credit with regional banks, subject to certain restrictions and collateral requirements. We believe these sources of funding are adequate to meet our anticipated funding needs.   Our management meets on a quarterly basis to review sources and uses of funding to determine the appropriate strategy to ensure an appropriate level of liquidity. At the current time, our long-term liquidity needs primarily relate to funds required to support loan originations and commitments and deposit withdrawals. Our regular sources of funding are from the growth of our deposit base, correspondent banking relationships and related federal funds purchased, repayment of principal and interest on loans, the sale of loans and the renewal of time deposits.  In addition, we have issued debt as described above under “Other Borrowings”. We believe these sources of funding are adequate to meet both our immediate (within the next 12 months) and our longer term anticipated funding needs. However, we may need additional funding in order to maintain our current growth rate into the future.   We are subject to general FDIC guidelines that require a minimum level of liquidity. Management believes our liquidity ratios meet or exceed these guidelines. However, uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic may adversely affect our ability to obtain funding or may increase the cost of funding.   The following table illustrates, during the periods presented, the mix of our funding sources and the assets in which those funds are invested as a percentage of our average total assets for the period indicated. Average assets totaled $14.96 billion and $15.01 billion for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively       For the Three Months Ended June 30,     For the Six Months Ended June 30,       2022     2021     2022     2021   Sources of Funds:                                 Deposits:                                 Non-interest-bearing     32.3 %     24.6 %     32.1 %     24.2 % Interest-bearing     48.4       58.9       48.8       59.1   Federal funds purchased     10.4       7.5       10.5       7.3   Long term debt and other borrowings     0.4       0.5       0.4       0.5   Other liabilities     0.4       0.4       0.4       0.8   Equity capital     8.1       8.1       7.8       8.1   Total sources     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %                                   Uses of Funds:                                 Loans     68.4 %     67.2 %     65.7 %     68.3 % Securities     12.0       7.4       11.0       7.5   Interest-bearing balances with banks     15.7       21.7       19.8       20.1   Federal funds sold     0.2       0.1       0.2       0.1   Other assets     3.7       3.6       3.3       4.0   Total uses     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %   Capital Adequacy   Total stockholders’ equity attributable to us at June 30, 2022 was $1.21 billion, or 8.36% of total assets. At December 31, 2021, total stockholders’ equity attributable to us was $1.15 billion, or 7.45% of total assets.   As of June 30, 2022, our most recent notification from the FDIC categorized us as well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To remain categorized as well-capitalized, we must maintain minimum common equity Tier 1, Tier 1 risk-based, total risk-based, and Tier 1 leverage ratios as disclosed in the table below. Our management believes that we are well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action provisions as of June 30, 2022.   Based on the recommendation of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the federal banking agencies issued final rules ("Basel III Final Rules") establishing a comprehensive regulatory capital framework. The Basel III Final Rules require the Company to maintain a capital conservation buffer of 2.5% designed to absorb losses during economic downturns.   The following table sets forth (i) the capital ratios required by the FDIC and the Alabama Banking Department’s leverage ratio requirement and (ii) our actual ratios, not including the applicable 2.5% capital conservation buffer, of capital to total regulatory or risk-weighted assets, as of June 30, 2022, December 31, 2021 and June 30, 2021:   34                                         To Be Well Capitalized                       For Capital Adequacy     Under Prompt Corrective       Actual     Purposes     Action Provisions       Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio     Amount     Ratio   As of June 30, 2022   (Dollars in Thousands)   CET 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated   $ 1,220,160       9.64 %   $ 569,638       4.50 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,281,780       10.13 %     569,564       4.50 %   $ 822,703       6.50 % Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,220,660       9.64 %     759,517       6.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,282,280       10.13 %     759,419       6.00 %     1,012,558       8.00 % Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,415,363       11.18 %     1,012,690       8.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,412,267       11.16 %     1,012,558       8.00 %     1,265,698       10.00   Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,220,660       8.19 %     596,323       4.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,282,280       8.60 %     596,224       4.00 %     745,280       5.00 %                                                   As of December 31, 2021                                                 CET 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated   $ 1,123,826       9.95 %   $ 508,027       4.50 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,185,161       10.50 %     507,969       4.50 %   $ 733,733       6.50 % Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,124,326       9.96 %     677,370       6.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,185,661       10.50 %     677,292       6.00 %     903,056       8.00 % Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,306,992       11.58 %     903,160       8.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,303,621       11.55 %     903,056       8.00 %     1,128,821       10.00 % Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,124,326       7.39 %     608,883       4.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,185,661       7.79 %     608,826       4.00 %     761,033       5.00 %                                                   As of June 30, 2021                                                 CET 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated   $ 1,039,496       10.60 %   $ 441,379       4.50 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,102,211       11.24 %     441,322       4.50 %   $ 637,465       6.50 % Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,039,996       10.60 %     588,506       6.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,102,711       11.24 %     588,430       6.00 %     784,573       8.00 % Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,212,662       12.36 %     784,674       8.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,210,681       12.34 %     784,573       8.00 %     980,716       10.00 % Tier 1 Capital to Average Assets:                                                 Consolidated     1,039,996       8.10 %     513,758       4.00 %     N/A       N/A   ServisFirst Bank     1,102,711       8.59 %     513,706       4.00 %     642,133       5.00 %   We are a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Our principal source of cash flow, including cash flow to pay dividends to our stockholders, is dividends the Bank pays to us as the Bank’s sole shareholder. Statutory and regulatory limitations apply to the Bank’s payment of dividends to us as well as to our payment of dividends to our stockholders. The requirement that a bank holding company must serve as a source of strength to its subsidiary banks also results in the position of the Federal Reserve that a bank holding company should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its stockholders that places undue pressure on the capital of its bank subsidiaries or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the Bank holding company’s ability to serve as such a source of strength. Our ability to pay dividends is also subject to the provisions of Delaware corporate law.   35     The Alabama Banking Department also regulates the Bank’s dividend payments. Under Alabama law, a state-chartered bank may not pay a dividend in excess of 90% of its net earnings until the Bank’s surplus is equal to at least 20% of its capital (our Bank’s surplus currently exceeds 20% of its capital). Moreover, our Bank is also required by Alabama law to obtain the prior approval of the Superintendent of Banks (“Superintendent”) for its payment of dividends if the total of all dividends declared by the Bank in any calendar year will exceed the total of (i) the Bank’s net earnings (as defined by statute) for that year, plus (ii) its retained net earnings for the preceding two years, less any required transfers to surplus. In addition, no dividends, withdrawals or transfers may be made from the Bank’s surplus without the prior written approval of the Superintendent.   The Bank’s payment of dividends may also be affected or limited by other factors, such as the requirement to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines. The federal banking agencies have indicated that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, a depository institution may not pay any dividends if payment would cause it to become undercapitalized or if it already is undercapitalized. Moreover, the federal agencies have issued policy statements that provide that bank holding companies and insured banks should generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. If, in the opinion of the federal banking regulators, the Bank were engaged in or about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice, the federal banking regulators could require, after notice and a hearing, that the Bank stop or refrain from engaging in the questioned practice.   Commitments and Contingencies   In the normal course of business, we are a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit beyond current fundings, credit card arrangements, standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees. Those instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in our balance sheet. The contract or notional amounts of those instruments reflect the extent of involvement we have in those particular financial arrangements. All such credit arrangements bear interest at variable rates and we have no such credit arrangements which bear interest at fixed rates.   Our exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to such financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, credit card arrangements and standby letters of credit is represented by the contractual or notional amount of these instruments. We use the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as we do for on-balance sheet instruments.   As part of our mortgage operations, we originate and sell certain loans to investors in the secondary market. We continue to experience a manageable level of investor repurchase demands. For loans sold, we have an obligation to either repurchase the outstanding principal balance of a loan or make the purchaser whole for the economic benefits of a loan if it is determined that the loans sold were in violation of representations and warranties made by the Bank at the time of the sale. Representations and warranties typically include those made regarding loans that had missing or insufficient file documentation or loans obtained through fraud by borrowers or other third parties such as appraisers.   Financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk at June 30, 2022 are as follows:       June 30, 2022       (In Thousands)   Commitments to extend credit   $ 3,828,912   Credit card arrangements     387,115   Standby letters of credit     71,400       $ 4,287,427     Commitments to extend credit beyond current funded amounts are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the applicable loan agreement. Such commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. We evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained if deemed necessary by us upon extension of credit is based on our management’s credit evaluation. Collateral held varies but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment and income-producing commercial properties.   Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by us to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper, bond financing, and similar transactions. All letters of credit are due within one year or less of the original commitment date. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loan facilities to customers.   36     Federal funds lines of credit are uncommitted lines issued to downstream correspondent banks for the purpose of providing liquidity to them. The lines are unsecured, and we have no obligation to sell federal funds to the correspondent, nor does the correspondent have any obligation to request or accept purchases of federal funds from us.   Results of Operations   Summary of Net Income   Net income and net income available to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was $62.1 million compared to net income and net income available to common stockholders of $50 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021. Net income and net income available to common stockholders for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was $119.7 million compared to net income and net income available to common stockholders of $101.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 2021 net interest income increased $21.7 million, and $35.1 million, respectively. The increase in net interest income for the three and six-month periods is primarily attributable to growth in average earning assets and non-interest-bearing deposit balances. Increases in non-interest expense of $8.5 million and $16.8 million and increases in income tax expense of $1.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 2021 partially offset increases in net interest income.   Basic and diluted earnings per common share were both $1.14, for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $0.92 for the corresponding period in 2021. Basic and diluted earnings per common share were $2.21 and $2.20, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $1.87 and $1.86, respectively, for the corresponding period in 2021. Return on average assets for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was 1.67% and 1.60% compared to 1.56% and 1.63%, respectively, for the corresponding periods in 2021. Return on average common stockholders’ equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was 20.93% and 20.52%, respectively, compared to 18.98% and 19.73%, respectively, for the corresponding periods in 2021.   Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin Analysis   Net interest income is the difference between the income earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities used to support such assets. The major factors which affect net interest income are changes in volumes, the yield on interest-earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. Our management’s ability to respond to changes in interest rates by effective asset-liability management techniques is critical to maintaining the stability of the net interest margin and the momentum of our primary source of earnings.   Taxable-equivalent net interest income increased $21.8 million, or 23.0%, to $116.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $94.7 million for the corresponding period in 2021, and increased $35.2 million, or 18.8%, to $222.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $187.2 million for the corresponding period in 2021. This increase was primarily attributable to growth in average earning assets, which increased $1.93 billion, or 15.6%, from the second quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of 2022, and $2.53 billion, or 21.0%, from the six months ended June 30, 2021 to the same period in 2022. The taxable-equivalent yield on interest-earning assets increased to 3.54% for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from 3.32% for the corresponding period in 2021, and decreased to 3.32% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from 3.41% for the corresponding period in 2021. The yield on loans for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was 4.38% compared to 4.43% for the corresponding period in 2021, and 4.36% compared to 4.46% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, respectively. The cost of total interest-bearing liabilities increased to 0.46% for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 0.37% for the corresponding period in 2021, and increased to 0.40% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from 0.39% for the corresponding period in 2021. Net interest margin for the three months ended June 30, 2022 was 3.26% compared to 3.06% for the corresponding period in 2021, and 3.07% for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to 3.14% for the corresponding period in 2021. On June 17, 2022 the Federal Reserve Bank increased their targeted federal funds rate from 0.75 – 1.00% to 1.50 - 1.75%. We believe our net interest income will benefit from this and future rate increases as we anticipate a lag in deposit pricing increases to loan pricing increases.   37     The following tables show, for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2021, the average balances of each principal category of our assets, liabilities and stockholders’ equity, and an analysis of net interest revenue. The accompanying tables reflect changes in our net interest margin as a result of changes in the volume and rate of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the same periods. Changes as a result of mix or the number of days in the periods have been allocated to the volume and rate changes in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the change in each. The tables are presented on a taxable-equivalent basis where applicable:   Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis On a Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis For the Three Months Ended June 30, (In thousands, except Average Yields and Rates)       2022     2021               Interest     Average             Interest     Average       Average     Earned /     Yield /     Average     Earned /     Yield /       Balance     Paid     Rate     Balance     Paid     Rate   Assets:                                                 Interest-earning assets:                                                 Loans, net of unearned income (1)                                                 Taxable   $ 10,165,470     $ 111,086       4.38 %   $ 8,618,139     $ 95,173       4.43 % Tax-exempt (2)     23,616       241       4.09       26,854       271       4.05   Total loans, net of unearned income     10,189,086       111,327       4.38       8,644,993       95,444       4.43   Mortgage loans held for sale     471       4       3.41       11,470       55       1.92   Investment securities:                                                 Taxable     1,775,425       10,516       2.37       936,863       6,315       2.70   Tax-exempt (2)     7,148       42       2.35       16,872       104       2.47   Total investment securities (3)     1,782,573       10,558       2.37       953,735       6,419       2.69   Federal funds sold     30,721       93       1.21       8,224       4       0.20   Restricted equity securities     7,724       72       3.74       -       -       -   Interest-bearing balances with banks     2,332,412       4,623       0.80       2,790,524       863       0.12   Total interest-earning assets   $ 14,342,987     $ 126,677       3.54     $ 12,408,946     $ 102,785       3.32   Non-interest-earning assets:                                                 Cash and due from banks     204,994                       85,478                   Net fixed assets and equipment     60,673                       61,240                   Allowance for credit losses, accrued interest and other assets     297,893                       320,729                   Total assets   $ 14,906,547                     $ 12,876,393                                                                     Liabilities and stockholders' equity:                                           Interest-bearing liabilities:                                                 Interest-bearing demand deposits   $ 1,699,602     $ 891       0.21 %   $ 1,350,098     $ 639       0.19 % Savings deposits     134,469       61       0.18       104,283       46       0.18   Money market accounts     4,617,021       3,831       0.33       5,321,338       3,499       0.26   Time deposits     766,225       1,644       0.86       801,928       2,652       1.33   Total interest-bearing deposits     7,217,317       6,427       0.36       7,577,647       6,836       0.36   Federal funds purchased     1,550,805       3,070       0.79       970,708       525       0.22   Other borrowings     64,713       690       4.28       64,694       690       4.28   Total interest-bearing liabilities   $ 8,832,835     $ 10,187       0.46 %   $ 8,613,049     $ 8,051       0.37 % Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                                                 Non-interest-bearing demand deposits     4,824,521                       3,154,605                   Other liabilities     58,784                       52,027                   Stockholders' equity     1,205,551                       1,038,012                   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income     (15,144 )                     18,700                   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 14,906,547                     $ 12,876,393                   Net interest income           $ 116,490                     $ 94,734           Net interest spread                     3.08 %                     2.95 % Net interest margin                     3.26 %                     3.06 %   (1) Non-accrual loans are included in average loan balances in all periods. Loan fees of $3,303 and $9,915 are included in interest income in the second quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively. Loan fees include accretion of PPP loan fees. (2) Interest income and yields are presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21%. (3) Unrealized (losses) gains of $(25,730) and $23,614 are excluded from the yield calculation in the second quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively.     38         For the Three Months Ended June 30,       2022 Compared to 2021 Increase (Decrease) in Interest Income and Expense Due to Changes in:       Volume     Rate     Total       (In Thousands)   Interest-earning assets:                         Loans, net of unearned income                         Taxable   $ 16,919     $ (1,006 )   $ 15,913   Tax-exempt     (33 )     3       (30 ) Total loans, net of unearned income     16,886       (1,003 )     15,883   Mortgages held for sale     (75 )     24       (51 ) Debt securities:                         Taxable     5,049       (848 )     4,201   Tax-exempt     (57 )     (5 )     (62 ) Total debt securities     4,992       (853 )     4,139   Federal funds sold     31       58       89   Restricted equity securities     72       -       72   Interest-bearing balances with banks     (165 )     3,925       3,760   Total interest-earning assets   $ 21,741     $ 2,151     $ 23,892                             Interest-bearing liabilities:                         Interest-bearing demand deposits   $ 178     $ 74     $ 252   Savings     14       1       15   Money market accounts     (504 )     836       332   Time deposits     (113 )     (895 )     (1,008 ) Total interest-bearing deposits     (425 )     16       (409 ) Federal funds purchased     467       2,078       2,545   Other borrowed funds     -       -       -   Total interest-bearing liabilities     42       2,094       2,136   Increase in net interest income   $ 21,699     $ 57     $ 21,756     Our growth in loans continues to drive favorable volume component change and overall change. The rate component was unfavorable as loan yields decreased five basis points and average rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased nine basis points. Growth in non-interest-bearing deposits and equity also contributed to the increase in net interest revenue during the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.     39     Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Analysis On a Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis For the Six Months Ended June 30, (In thousands, except Average Yields and Rates)       2022     2021               Interest                     Interest               Average     Earned /     Average     Average     Earned /     Average       Balance     Paid     Yield / Rate     Balance     Paid     Yield / Rate   Assets:                                                 Interest-earning assets:                                                 Loans, net of unearned income (1)(2):                                                 Taxable   $ 9,894,980     $ 213,978       4.36 %   $ 8,551,895     $ 188,678       4.46 % Tax-exempt (3)     24,401       502       4.15       27,221       555       4.12   Total loans, net of unearned income     9,919,381       214,480       4.36       8,579,116       189,233       4.46   Mortgage loans held for sale     698       9       2.60       12,529       120       1.94   Investment securities:                                                 Taxable     1,647,709       18,739       2.29       907,653       12,122       2.70   Tax-exempt (3)     7,975       97       2.45       18,966       234       2.49   Total debt securities (4)     1,655,684       18,836       2.29       926,619       12,356       2.70   Federal funds sold     23,719       106       0.90       10,070       7       0.14   Restricted equity securities     7,548       140       4       -       -       -   Interest-bearing balances with banks     2,981,541       6,427       -       2,527,838       1,539       3.41   Total interest-earning assets   $ 14,588,571     $ 239,998       3.32 %   $ 12,056,172     $ 203,255       3.41 % Non-interest-earning assets:                                                 Cash and due from banks     140,124                       128,416                   Net fixed assets and equipment     60,940                       59,230                   Allowance for credit losses, accrued interest and other assets     305,683                       320,569                   Total assets   $ 15,095,318                     $ 12,564,387                                                                     Liabilities and stockholders' equity:                                                 Interest-bearing liabilities:                                                 Interest-bearing demand deposits   $ 1,647,414     $ 1,668       0.20 %   $ 1,322,509     $ 1,260       0.19 % Savings deposits     135,004       120       0.18       98,859       88       0.18   Money market accounts     4,800,106       7,035       0.30       5,190,311       6,856       0.27   Time deposits     779,503       3,447       0.89       805,226       5,513       1.38   Total interest-bearing deposits     7,362,027       12,270       0.34       7,416,905       13,717       0.37   Federal funds purchased     1,585,217       4,003       0.51       910,574       985       0.22   Other borrowings     64,711       1,380       4.30       64,691       1,380       4.31   Total interest-bearing liabilities   $ 9,011,955     $ 17,653       0.40 %   $ 8,392,170     $ 16,082       0.39 % Non-interest-bearing liabilities:                                                 Non-interest-bearing demand deposits     4,847,484                       3,039,463                   Other liabilities     59,199                       95,824                   Stockholders' equity     1,181,005                       1,017,491                   Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income     (4,325 )                     19,439                   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 15,095,318                     $ 12,564,387                   Net interest income           $ 222,345                     $ 187,173           Net interest spread                     2.92 %                     3.02 % Net interest margin                     3.07 %                     3.14 %   (1) Non-accrual loans are included in average loan balances in all periods. Loan fees of $12,126, $20,316 are included in interest income in 2022 and 2021, respectively. (2) Accretion on acquired loan discounts of $70 and $100 is included in interest income in 2022 and 2021, respectively. (3) Interest income and yields are presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21%. (4) Unrealized (losses) gains of $(6,411) and $24,547 are excluded from the yield calculation in 2022 and 2021, respectively.   40         For the Six Months Ended June 30,       2022 Compared to 2021 Increase (Decrease) in Interest Income and Expense Due to Changes in:       Volume     Rate     Total       (In Thousands)   Interest-earning assets:                         Loans, net of unearned income                         Taxable   $ 29,110     $ (3,810 )   $ 25,300   Tax-exempt     (58 )     5       (53 ) Total loans, net of unearned income     29,052       (3,805 )     25,247   Mortgages held for sale     (142 )     31       (111 ) Debt securities:                         Taxable     8,642       (2,025 )     6,617   Tax-exempt     (134 )     (3 )     (137 ) Total debt securities     8,508       (2,028 )     6,480   Federal funds sold     19       80       99   Restricted equity securities     140       -       140   Interest-bearing balances with banks     322       4,566       4,888   Total interest-earning assets   $ 37,899     $ (1,156 )   $ 36,743                             Interest-bearing liabilities:                         Interest-bearing demand deposits   $ 325     $ 83     $ 408   Savings     32       -       32   Money market accounts     (538 )     717       179   Time deposits     (171 )     (1,895 )     (2,066 ) Total interest-bearing deposits     (352 )     (1,095 )     (1,447 ) Federal funds purchased     1,078       1,940       3,018   Other borrowed funds     -       -       -   Total interest-bearing liabilities     726       845       1,571   Increase in net interest income   $ 37,173     $ (2,001 )   $ 35,172     Our growth in loans continues to drive favorable volume component change and overall change. The rate component was unfavorable as loan yields decreased 10 basis points while average rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities increased one basis point. Growth in non-interest-bearing deposits and equity also contributed to the increase in net interest revenue during the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021.   Provision for Credit Losses   The provision for credit losses was $9.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, a decrease of $145,000 from $9.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2021, and was $14.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, a $2.2 million decrease compared to $17.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021. The decrease in provision expense is primarily the result of improvement in economic projections used to inform loss driver forecasts within the ACL model. The ACL for June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 was $128.4 million and $116.7 million, or 1.21% and 1.22% of loans, net of unearned income, respectively. Annualized net credit charge-offs to quarter-to-date average loans were 0.02% for the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to annualized net credit recoveries to quarter-to-date average loans of 0.01% for the same period in 2021. Annualized net credit charge-offs to year-to-date average loans were 0.04% for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to 0.01% for the corresponding period in 2021. Nonperforming loans increased to $15.5 million, or 0.15% of total loans, at June 30, 2022 from $12.1 million, or 0.13% of total loans, at December 31, 2021, and were $17.2 million, or 0.20% of total loans, at June 30, 2021. See the section captioned “Asset Quality” located elsewhere in this item for additional discussion related to provision for credit losses.   Noninterest Income       Three Months Ended June 30,                     Six Months Ended June 30,                   (dollars in thousands)   2022     2021     $ change     % change     2022     2021     $ change     % change   Noninterest income:                                                                 Service charges on deposit accounts   $ 2,133     $ 1,907     $ 226       11.9 %   $ 4,275     $ 3,815     $ 460       12.1 % Mortgage banking     614       2,699       (2,085 )     (77.3 )%     1,140       5,446       (4,306 )     (79.1 )% Credit card income     2,672       1,912       760       39.7 %     5,044       3,104       1,940       62.5 % Securities gains     (2,833 )     620       (3,453 )     - %     (6,168 )     620       (6,788 )     (1,094.8 )% Increase in cash surrender value life insurance     1,633       1,683       (50 )     (3.0 )%     3,241       3,341       (100 )     (3.0 )% Other operating income     5,287       777       4,510       580.4 %     9,922       1,735       8,187       471.9 % Total non-interest income   $ 9,506     $ 9,598     $ (92 )     (1.0 )%   $ 17,454     $ 18,061     $ (607 )     (3.4 )%     41     Noninterest income totaled $9.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, a decrease of $92,000 compared to the corresponding period in 2021, and totaled $17.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, a decrease of $607,000, or 3.4%, compared to the corresponding period in 2021. Mortgage banking income decreased $2.1 million, or 77.3%, to $614,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $2.7 million for the same period in 2021, and decreased $4.3 million, or 79.1%, to $1.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $5.4 million for the same period in 2021. We started retaining our mortgage loans in the second quarter of 2021 to increase earning assets and use excess liquidity. As of June 30, 2022, we had retained a total of 405 1-4 family mortgages for an aggregate balance of $151.1 million. Net credit card income increased $760,000 to $2.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021, and increased $1.9 million to $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The number of credit card accounts increased approximately 20.2% and the aggregate amount of spend on all credit card accounts increased 33.4% during the second quarter of 2022 compared to the second quarter of 2021. Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance decreased $50,000, or 3.0%, to $1.6 million during the three months ended June 30, 2022, compared to the corresponding period in 2021, and decreased $100,000, or 3.0%, to $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $3.3 million for the same period in 2021. Other income increased $4.5 million, or 580.4%, to $5.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $777,000 for the same period in 2021, and increased $8.2 million, or 471.9%, to $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $1.7 million for the same period in 2021. We wrote up the value of our interest rate cap by $1.9 million during the second quarter of 2022 and $5.3 million year-to-date 2022 compared to a write down of $2,000 during the second quarter of 2021 and a write-up of $273,000 year-to-date 2021. Merchant service revenue increased from $289,000 during the second quarter of 2021 to $471,000, or 63%, during the second quarter of 2022. We recognized a $2.1 million death benefit related to a former employee in our bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) program during the second quarter of 2022. We recognized a $2.8 million loss on the sale of available for sale debt securities during the second quarter of 2022 and $6.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to a $620,000 gain on the call of a corporate bond during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2021. During 2022 we sold available for sale debt securities that were yielding less than 1.00%.   Noninterest Expense       Three Months Ended June 30,                     Six Months Ended June 30,                   (dollars in thousands)   2022     2021     $ change     % change     2022     2021     $ change     % change   Noninterest expense:                                                                 Salaries and employee benefits   $ 20,734     $ 16,887     $ 3,847       22.8 %   $ 39,035     $ 32,430     $ 6,605       20.4 % Equipment and occupancy expense     2,983       2,844       139       4.9 %     5,916       5,498       418       7.6 % Third party processing and other services     6,345       3,946       2,399       60.8 %     11,950       7,362       4,588       62.3 % Professional services     1,327       1,107       220       19.9 %     2,319       2,030       289       14.2 % FDIC and other regulatory assessments     1,147       1,425       (278 )     (19.5 )%     2,279       3,007       (728 )     (24.2 )% OREO expense     32       540       (508 )     (94.1 )%     35       697       (662 )     (95.0 )% Other operating expense     7,253       4,560       2,693       59.1 %     15,505       9,199       6,306       68.6 % Total non-interest expense   $ 39,821     $ 31,309     $ 8,512       27.2 %   $ 77,039     $ 60,223     $ 16,816       27.9 %   Noninterest expense totaled $39.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $8.5 million, or 27.2%, compared to $31.3 million for the same period in 2021, and totaled $77.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, an increase of $16.8 million, or 27.9%, compared to $60.2 million for the same period in 2021.   Details of expense are as follows:     ● Salary and benefit expense increased $3.8 million, or 22.8%, to $20.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, from $16.9 million for the same period in 2021, and increased $6.6 million, or 20.4%, to $39 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 from $32.4 million for the same period in 2021. Total employees increased from 527 as of June 30, 2021, to 540 as of June 30, 2022. We accrued an additional $1.8 million in our annual incentive program during the second quarter of 2022 based on loan growth and entry into new markets.   ● Equipment and occupancy expense increased $139,000, or 4.9%, to $3.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from $2.8 million for the corresponding period in 2021, and increased $418,000, or 7.6%, to $5.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $5.5 million for the corresponding period in 2021.     42       ● Third party processing and other services increased $2.4 million, or 60.8%, to $6.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, from $3.9 million for the corresponding period in 2021, and increased $4.6 million, or 62.3%, to $12 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $7.4 million for the corresponding period in 2021. This increase in third party processing includes Federal Reserve Bank charges related to correspondent bank settlement activities. These charges increased by $1.7 million year-over-year to $2.3 million during the second quarter of 2022.   ● FDIC and other regulatory assessments decreased $278,000, or 19.5%, to $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from $1.4 million for the corresponding period in 2021, and decreased $728,000, or 24.2%, to $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $3.0 million for the corresponding period in 2021.   ● OREO expense decreased $508,000, or 94.1%, to $32,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2022 from $540,000 for the corresponding period in 2021, and decreased $662,000, or 95.0%, to $35,000 from $697,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the corresponding period in 2021.   ● Other operating expenses increased $2.7 million, or 59.1%, to $7.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022, from $4.6 million for the corresponding period in 2021, and increased $6.3 million, or 68.6%, to $15.5 million from $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022 compared to the corresponding period in 2021. We accrued $250,000 for potential uninsured check fraud losses during the second quarter of 2022 and $750,000 year-to-date. We recognized core system deconversion expenses of $3.0 million during the fourth quarter of 2021 and $873,000 during the first quarter of 2022 through other operating expenses.   Income Tax Expense   Income tax expense was $14.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2022 compared to $13.3 million for the same period in 2021, and was $27.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2022, compared to $26.3 million for the same period in 2021. Our effective tax rate for the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 was 18.83% and 18.89%, respectively, compared to 20.97% and 20.57% for the corresponding periods in 2021, respectively. We recognized $3.1 million and $6.3 million in federal new markets tax credits during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022, respectively, compared to $141,000 and $281,000 during the same periods in 2021, respectively. We recognized excess tax benefits as an income tax credit to our income tax expense from the exercise and vesting of stock options and restricted stock during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022 of $352,000 and $924,000, respectively, compared to $724,000 and $2.4 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2021, respectively. Our primary permanent differences are related to tax exempt income on securities, state income tax benefit on real estate investment trust dividends, various qualifying tax credits and change in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance.   We own real estate investment trusts for the purpose of holding and managing participations in residential mortgages and commercial real estate loans originated by the Bank. The trusts are wholly-owned subsidiaries of a trust holding company, which in turn is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bank. The trusts earn interest income on the loans they hold and incur operating expenses related to their activities. They pay their net earnings, in the form of dividends, to the Bank, which receives a deduction for state income taxes.   Critical Accounting Estimates   The accounting and financial policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and to general practices within the banking industry. To prepare consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP, management makes estimates and assumptions based on available information. These estimates and assumptions affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the disclosures provided, and future results could differ. In management’s opinion, certain accounting policies have a more significant impact than others on the Company’s financial reporting. The allowance for credit losses and income taxes are particularly significant for the Company’s financial reporting.  Information concerning our accounting policies and critical accounting estimates with respect to these items is available in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021. There were no changes to the accounting policies for the allowance for credit losses or income taxes during the three and six months ended June 30, 2022.   ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK   Like all financial institutions, we are subject to market risk from changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk is inherent in the balance sheet due to the mismatch between the maturities of rate-sensitive assets and rate-sensitive liabilities. If rates are rising, and the level of rate-sensitive liabilities exceeds the level of rate-sensitive assets, the net interest margin will be negatively impacted. Conversely, if rates are falling, and the level of rate-sensitive liabilities is greater than the level of rate-sensitive assets, the impact on the net interest margin will be favorable. Managing interest rate risk is further complicated by the fact that all rates do not change at the same pace; in other words, short-term rates may be rising while longer-term rates remain stable. In addition, different types of rate-sensitive assets and rate-sensitive liabilities react differently to changes in rates.   43     To manage interest rate risk, we must take a position on the expected future trend of interest rates. Rates may rise, fall or remain the same. Our asset-liability committee develops its view of future rate trends and strives to manage rate risk within a targeted range by monitoring economic indicators, examining the views of economists and other experts, and understanding the current status of our balance sheet. Our annual budget reflects the anticipated rate environment for the next 12 months. The asset-liability committee conducts a quarterly analysis of the rate sensitivity position and reports its results to our board of directors.   The asset-liability committee thoroughly analyzes the maturities of rate-sensitive assets and liabilities. This analysis measures the “gap”, which is defined as the difference between the dollar amount of rate-sensitive assets repricing during a period and the volume of rate-sensitive liabilities repricing during the same period. The gap is also expressed as the ratio of rate-sensitive assets divided by rate-sensitive liabilities. If the ratio is greater than one, the dollar value of assets exceeds the dollar value of liabilities; the balance sheet is “asset-sensitive.” Conversely, if the value of liabilities exceeds the value of assets, the ratio is less than one and the balance sheet is “liability-sensitive.” Our internal policy requires management to maintain the gap such that net interest margins will not change more than 10% if interest rates change 100 basis points or more than 15% if interest rates change 200 basis points. There have been no changes to our policies or procedures for analyzing our interest rate risk since December 31, 2021, and there have been no material changes to our sensitivity to changes in interest rates since December 31, 2021, as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.   ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES   CEO and CFO Certification .   Appearing as exhibits to this report are Certifications of our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”). The Certifications are required to be made by Rule 13a-14 or Rule 15d-14 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This item contains the information about the evaluation that is referred to in the Certifications, and the information set forth below in this Item 4 should be read in conjunction with the Certifications for a more complete understanding of the Certifications.   Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.   We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.   We conducted an evaluation (the "Evaluation") of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our CEO and CFO, as of June 30, 2022. Based upon the Evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that, as of June 30, 2022, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company. and its subsidiaries is made known to management, including the CEO and CFO, particularly during the period when our periodic reports are being prepared.   Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting   There have not been any changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.   PART II. OTHER INFORMATION   ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS   From time to time we may be a party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management does not believe the Company or the Bank is currently a party to any material legal proceedings.   44     ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS   Our business is influenced by many factors that are difficult to predict, involve uncertainties that may materially affect actual results and are often beyond our control. We have identified a number of these risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which should be taken into consideration when reviewing the information contained in this report. There have been no material changes in the Company’s risk factors from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021.   ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS   None.   ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES   None.   ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES   Not applicable.   ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION   On May 6, 2022, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders. At this meeting, the stockholders approved an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”) to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company’s common stock from 100 million shares, par value $0.001, to 200 million shares, par value $0.001 (the “Authorized Share Increase”). On May 17, 2022, the Company filed a First Certificate of Amendment to its Restated Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, reflecting the Authorized Share Increase.   ITEM 6. EXHIBITS   Exhibit: Description 3.01 First Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. 3.02 Amended Restated Certificate of Incorporation of ServisFirst Bancshares, Inc. (reflecting all amendments filed with the Delaware Secretary of State) [for SEC reporting compliance only – not filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware]. 31.01 Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). 31.02 Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a). 32.01 Certification of principal executive officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. 32.02 Certification of principal financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. 101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document – the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document 101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document 101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document 101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document 101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document 101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document 104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)   * denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement     45     SIGNATURES   Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.     SERVISFIRST BANCSHARES, INC.           Date: July 29, 2022 By    /s/ Thomas A. Broughton III       Thomas A. Broughton III       President and Chief Executive Officer           Date: July 29, 2022 By /s/ William M. Foshee       William M. Foshee       Chief Financial Officer                           46