ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations are subject to various risks inherent in its business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Corporation are described below. If any of these risks actually occur, the Corporation’s business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. The following risks together with all of the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be considered.
Economic Risks
Economic conditions could adversely affect our business and financial results.
The Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations are impacted by global markets and economic conditions over which the Corporation has no control. Inflation has significantly increased since the start of 2021 and continues to remain at elevated levels compared to recent years prior to 2021, which has led to increased costs for businesses and consumers. An economic downturn or recession, including deterioration in the economic conditions in the U.S., or a slowing or stalled recovery therefrom, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Poor economic conditions have in the past adversely affected, and may in the future affect, the demand for the Corporation’s products, the creditworthiness of the Corporation’s borrowers and the value of the Corporation’s investment securities and other interest-earning assets. In particular, the Corporation may face the following risks in connection with the economic or market environment:
•The Corporation’s and the Bank’s ability to borrow from other financial institutions or to access the debt or equity capital markets on favorable terms or at all could be adversely affected by disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including actions by rating agencies and deteriorating investor expectations.
•The Corporation faces increased regulation of the banking and financial services industry. Compliance with such regulation may increase its costs and limit its ability to pursue business opportunities.
•Market developments may affect customer confidence levels and may cause increases in loan delinquencies and default rates, which management expects would adversely impact the Bank’s charge-offs and provision for credit losses.
•Market developments may adversely affect the Bank’s securities portfolio by causing other-than-temporary-impairments, prompting write-downs and securities losses.
•Competition in the banking and financial services industry could intensify as a result of the consolidation of financial services companies in connection with current market conditions.
12
Table of Contents
The Corporation may not be able to meet its cash flow needs on a timely basis at a reasonable cost, and the Corporation’s cost of funds for banking operations may significantly increase as a result of general economic conditions, interest rates and competitive pressures.
Liquidity is the ability to meet cash flow obligations as they come due and cash flow needs on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. The liquidity of the Bank is used to make loans and to repay deposit and borrowing liabilities as they become due, or are demanded by customers and creditors. Many factors affect the Bank’s ability to meet liquidity needs, including variations in the markets served by its network of offices, its mix of assets and liabilities, reputation and standing in the marketplace, and general economic conditions.
The Bank’s primary source of funding is customer deposits, gathered throughout its network of banking offices. Periodically, the Corporation utilizes term borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank (the "FHLB") of Pittsburgh, of which the Bank is a member, and other lenders to meet funding obligations. In addition, the Bank also maintains borrowing capacity with the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Bank’s securities and loan portfolios provide a source of contingent liquidity that could be accessed in a reasonable time period through sales.
Significant changes in general economic conditions, market interest rates, competitive pressures or otherwise, could cause the Bank’s deposits to decrease relative to overall banking operations, and it would have to rely more heavily on brokered funds and borrowings in the future, which are typically more expensive than deposits.
The Corporation's management and Board of Directors, through the Asset-Liability Committee (the "ALCO"), monitor liquidity and the ALCO establishes and monitors acceptable liquidity ranges. The Bank actively manages its liquidity position through target ratios. Continual monitoring of these ratios, both historical and through forecasts under multiple rate scenarios, allows the Bank to employ strategies necessary to maintain adequate liquidity.
Changes in economic conditions, including consumer savings habits and availability of or access to capital, could potentially have a significant impact on the Bank’s liquidity position, which in turn could materially impact the Corporation’s financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Credit and Interest Rate Risks
The Bank’s allowance for credit losses may not be adequate to cover loan losses which could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
A significant source of risk for the Corporation arises from the possibility that losses will be sustained because borrowers, guarantors and related parties may fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loan agreements. Most loans originated by the Bank are secured, but some loans are unsecured based upon management’s evaluation of the creditworthiness of the borrowers. With respect to secured loans, the collateral securing the repayment of these loans principally includes a wide variety of real estate, and to a lesser extent commercial and personal property, either of which may be insufficient to cover the obligations owed under such loans.
Collateral values and the financial performance of borrowers may be adversely affected by changes in prevailing economic, environmental and other conditions, including declines in the value of real estate, changes in interest rates and debt service levels, changes in oil and gas prices, changes in monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government, widespread disease, terrorist activity, environmental contamination and other external events, which are beyond the control of the Bank. In addition, collateral appraisals that are out of date or that do not meet industry recognized standards might create the impression that a loan is adequately collateralized when in fact it is not. Although the Bank may acquire any real estate or other assets that secure defaulted loans through foreclosures or other similar remedies, the amounts owed under the defaulted loans may exceed the value of the assets acquired.
13
Table of Contents
The allowance for credit losses is subject to a formal analysis by the Credit Administration and Finance Departments of the Corporation. Following the issuance by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-13, "Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments," the Corporation adjusted its loan allowance methodology to reflect the new standard, which requires periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on financial assets and categorizes expected credit losses as allowances for credit losses under the current expected credit loss ("CECL") methodology. The Corporation measures expected credit losses of financial assets on a collective (pool) basis, when the financial assets share similar risk characteristics. Depending on the nature of the pool of financial assets with similar risk characteristics, the models utilized by the Corporation to estimate expected credit losses include a discounted cash flow ("DCF") model that discounts instrument-level contractual cash flows, adjusted for prepayments and curtailments, incorporating loss expectations, and a weighted average remaining maturity model which contemplates expected losses at a pool-level, utilizing historic loss information. The Corporation's models for estimating the allowance for credit losses consider available relevant information about the collectability of cash flows, including information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts.
The Bank monitors delinquencies and losses on a monthly basis. The Bank has adopted underwriting and credit monitoring policies and procedures, including the review of borrower financial statements and collateral appraisals, which management believes are appropriate to mitigate the risk of loss by assessing the likelihood of borrower nonperformance and the value of available collateral. The Bank also manages credit risk by diversifying its loan portfolio. An ongoing independent review, subsequent to management’s review, of individual credits is performed by an independent loan review function, which reports to the Loan Committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors.
The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires the Corporation to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Although management believes that the processes in place for assessing the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses are robust, such policies and procedures have limitations, including judgment errors in management’s risk analysis, and may not prevent unexpected losses in the future. Moreover, the CECL methodology may create more volatility in the level of our allowance for credit losses from quarter to quarter as changes in the level of allowance for credit losses will be dependent upon, among other things, macroeconomic forecasts and conditions, loan portfolio volumes and credit quality. These factors could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Interest rate volatility could significantly reduce the Corporation’s profitability.
The Corporation’s earnings largely depend on the relationship between the yield on its earning assets, primarily loans and investment securities, and the cost of funds, primarily deposits and borrowings. This relationship, commonly known as the net interest margin, is susceptible to significant fluctuation and is affected by economic and competitive factors that influence the yields and rates, and the volume and mix of the Bank’s interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities.
Interest rate risk can be defined as the sensitivity of net interest income and of the market value of financial instruments to the direction and frequency of changes in interest rates. Interest rate risk arises from the imbalance in the re-pricing, maturity, and/or cash flow characteristics of assets and liabilities. The Corporation is subject to interest rate risk to the degree that its interest bearing liabilities re-price or mature more slowly or more rapidly or on a different basis than its interest earning assets. Changes in interest rates, including those due to federal monetary policy, will affect the levels of income and expense recorded on a large portion of the Bank’s assets and liabilities, and fluctuations in interest rates will impact the market value of all interest sensitive assets. Significant fluctuations in interest rates could have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
In response to high inflation, the Federal Reserve significantly increased the benchmark federal funds rate since early 2022. These actions have significantly increased interest rates. As interest rates rise, we experience competitive pressures to increase the rates we pay on deposits, which may decrease our net interest income. Furthermore, these increases in interest rates increase our cost of new debt or preferred capital.
The Bank’s interest rate risk measurement and management techniques incorporate the re-pricing and cash flow attributes of its balance sheet and off-balance sheet instruments as they relate to current and potential changes in interest rates. The level of interest rate risk, measured in terms of the potential future effect on earnings, is determined through the use of static gap analysis and earnings simulation modeling under multiple interest rate scenarios. Management’s objectives are to measure, monitor, and develop strategies in response to the interest rate risk profile inherent in the Bank’s balance sheet in order to preserve the sensitivity of net interest income to actual or potential changes in interest rates. For further information on risk relating to interest rates, refer to Part I, Item 7a, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk," herein.
14
Table of Contents
The Corporation’s investment securities portfolio is subject to credit risk, market risk, and liquidity risk, and declines in value in its investment securities portfolio may require it to record impairment charges that could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations and financial condition.
The Corporation’s investment securities portfolio has risks beyond its control that can significantly influence the portfolio’s fair value. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in prepayment speeds, changes in general economic conditions, rating agency downgrades of the securities, defaults of the issuers of the securities and market liquidity. Any change in current accounting principles or interpretations of these principles could impact the Corporation’s assessment of fair value and thus its determination of other-than-temporary impairment of the securities in its investment securities portfolio.
The Bank may be required to record other-than-temporary impairment charges on its investment securities if they suffer declines in value that are considered other-than-temporary. Numerous factors, including collateral deterioration underlying certain private label mortgage-backed securities, lack of liquidity for re-sales of certain investment securities, absence of reliable pricing information for certain investment securities, adverse changes in business climate, adverse actions by regulators, or unanticipated changes in the competitive environment could negatively affect the Bank’s securities portfolio in future periods. An other-than-temporary impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s results of operations and financial condition.
A substantial decline in the value of the Bank’s FHLB common stock may adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations, liquidity and financial condition.
As a requirement of membership in the FHLB of Pittsburgh, the Bank must own a minimum required amount of FHLB stock, calculated periodically based primarily on its level of borrowings from the FHLB. Borrowings from the FHLB represent the Bank’s primary source of short-term and long-term wholesale funding.
In an extreme situation, it is possible that the capitalization of an FHLB, including the FHLB of Pittsburgh, could be substantially diminished or reduced to zero. Consequently, given that there is no trading market for the Bank’s FHLB common stock, the Corporation’s management believes that there is a risk that the Corporation’s investment could be deemed impaired at some time in the future. If this occurs, it may adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations and financial condition.
If the capitalization of the FHLB of Pittsburgh is substantially diminished, the Bank’s liquidity may be adversely impacted if it is not able to obtain alternative sources of funding.
There are 11 FHLB banks, including the FHLB of Pittsburgh, in the FHLB system. The 11 FHLB banks are jointly liable for the consolidated obligations of the FHLB system. To the extent that one FHLB bank cannot meet its obligations to pay its share of the system’s debt, other FHLB banks can be called upon to make the payment. The Corporation cannot assure you, however, that the FHLB system will be able to meet these obligations.
The Bank could be held responsible for environmental liabilities relating to properties acquired through foreclosure, resulting in significant financial loss.
In the event the Bank forecloses on a defaulted commercial or residential mortgage loan to recover its investment, it may be subject to environmental liabilities in connection with the underlying real property, which could significantly exceed the value of the real property. Although the Bank exercises due diligence to discover potential environmental liabilities prior to acquiring any property through foreclosure, hazardous substances or wastes, contaminants, pollutants, or their sources may be discovered on properties during its ownership or after a sale to a third party. The Corporation cannot assure you that the Bank would not incur full recourse liability for the entire cost of any removal and cleanup on an acquired property, that the cost of removal and cleanup would not exceed the value of the property, or that the Bank could recover any of the costs from any third party. Losses arising from environmental liabilities could have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
15
Table of Contents
Replacement of the LIBOR benchmark interest rate could adversely affect our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In March 2021, the United Kingdom’s Financing Conduct Authority and the Intercontinental Exchange Benchmark Administration, the administrator for the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), concurrently announced that certain settings of LIBOR would no longer be published on a representative basis after December 31, 2021, and the most commonly used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings would no longer be published on a representative basis after June 30, 2023. The Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York organized the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, which identified the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR") as its preferred alternative to LIBOR in derivatives and other financial contracts.
We have a number of loans, derivative contracts, borrowings, and other financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly dependent on LIBOR. With the transition from LIBOR to SOFR as the preferred alternative to LIBOR, we have transitioned and amended our contracts and financial instruments to reference the SOFR rate where required. Since proposed alternative rates (including SOFR) are calculated differently, payments under contracts referencing new rates will differ from those referencing LIBOR. The future performance of SOFR, including how changes in SOFR rates may differ from other rates during different economic conditions, cannot be predicted based on the limited historical performance. Further, we cannot predict how SOFR will perform in comparison to LIBOR in changing market conditions, what the effect of such rate’s implementation may be on the markets for floating-rate financial instruments or whether such rates will be vulnerable to manipulation. The transition will change our market risk profiles, requiring changes to risk and pricing models, valuation tools, product design, and hedging strategies. Furthermore, failure to adequately manage this transition process with our customers could adversely impact our reputation and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in the Corporation’s Securities
Some provisions contained in the Corporation’s articles of incorporation and its bylaws and under Pennsylvania law could deter a takeover attempt or delay changes in control or management of the Corporation.
Certain anti-takeover provisions of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended, apply to Pennsylvania registered corporations (e.g., publicly traded companies) including, but not limited to, those relating to (1) control share acquisitions, (2) disgorgement of profits by certain controlling persons, (3) business combination transactions with interested shareholders, and (4) the rights of shareholders to demand fair value for their stock following a control transaction. Pennsylvania law permits corporations to opt-out of these anti-takeover provisions, but the Corporation has not done so. Such provisions could have the effect of deterring takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of the Corporation. Additionally, such provisions could limit the price that some investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of the Corporation’s common stock.
For example, the Corporation’s amended and restated articles of incorporation require the affirmative vote of 66% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote to effect a business combination. In addition, the Corporation’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, subject to the limitations prescribed in such articles and subject to limitations prescribed by Pennsylvania law, authorize the Corporation’s Board of Directors, from time to time by resolution and without further shareholder action, to provide for the issuance of shares of preferred stock, in one or more series, and to fix the designation, powers, preferences and other rights of the shares and to fix the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof. As a result of its broad discretion with respect to the creation and issuance of preferred stock without shareholder approval, the Corporation's Board of Directors could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock and, by issuing shares of preferred stock with certain voting, conversion and/or redemption rights, could discourage any attempt to obtain control of the Corporation.
The Corporation’s bylaws, as amended and restated, provide for the division of the Corporation’s Board of Directors into three classes of directors, with each serving staggered terms. In addition, any amendment to the Corporation’s bylaws must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by all shareholders entitled to vote thereon and, if any shareholders are entitled to vote thereon as a class, upon receiving the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the shareholders entitled to vote as a class.
Any of the foregoing provisions may have the effect of deterring takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of the Corporation.
16
Table of Contents
The price of the Corporation’s common stock may fluctuate significantly, and this may make it difficult for you to resell shares of common stock owned by you at times or at prices you find attractive.
The price of the Corporation’s common stock on the Global Select Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ") constantly changes. The Corporation expects that the market price of its common stock will continue to fluctuate, and the Corporation cannot give you any assurances regarding any trends in the market prices for its common stock.
The Corporation’s stock price may fluctuate as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond its control. These factors include the Corporation’s:
•past and future dividend practice;
•financial condition, performance, creditworthiness, and prospects;
•quarterly variations in the Corporation’s operating results or the quality of the Corporation’s assets;
•operating results that vary from the expectations of management, securities analysts, and investors;
•changes in expectations as to the Corporation’s future financial performance;
•announcements of innovations, new products, strategic developments, significant contracts, acquisitions, and other material events by the Corporation or its competitors;
•the operating and securities price performance of other companies that investors believe are comparable to the Corporation;
•future sales of the Corporation’s equity or equity-related securities;
•the credit, mortgage and housing markets, the markets for securities relating to mortgages or housing, and developments with respect to financial institutions generally; and
•instability in global financial markets and global economies and general market conditions, such as interest or foreign exchange rates, stock, commodity or real estate valuations or volatility, budget deficits or sovereign debt level concerns and other geopolitical, regulatory or judicial events.
The Corporation’s ability to pay dividends is limited by law and regulations.
The future declaration of dividends by the Corporation’s Board of Directors will depend on a number of factors, including capital requirements, regulatory limitations, the Corporation’s operating results and financial condition and general economic conditions. As a bank holding company, the Corporation’s principal assets and sources of income are derived from the Bank and, as a result, the Corporation’s ability to pay dividends depends primarily on the receipt of dividends from the Bank. Dividend payments from the Bank are subject to legal and regulatory limitations, generally based on retained earnings, imposed by bank regulatory agencies. The ability of the Bank to pay dividends is also subject to financial condition, regulatory capital requirements, capital expenditures, and other cash flow requirements. The Corporation cannot assure you that the Bank will be able to pay dividends to the Corporation in the future. If the Corporation were unable to receive dividends from the Bank, it would materially and adversely affects the Corporation’s liquidity and its ability to service its debt, pay its other obligations, or pay cash dividends on its common stock. The Corporation may decide to limit the payment of dividends to its stockholders even when the Corporation has the legal ability to pay them in order to retain earnings for use in the Corporation’s business.
Operational and Strategic Risks
The Bank’s loans are principally concentrated in certain areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and Virginia, and adverse economic conditions in those markets could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Corporation’s success is dependent to a significant extent upon general economic conditions in the United States and, in particular, the local economies in Central and Northwest Pennsylvania, Central and Northeast Ohio, Western New York and Southwest Virginia - the primary markets served by the Bank. The Bank is particularly exposed to real estate and economic factors in these geographic areas, as most of its loan portfolio is concentrated among borrowers in these markets. Furthermore, because a substantial portion of the Bank’s loan portfolio is secured by real estate in these areas, the value of the associated collateral is also subject to regional real estate market conditions.
17
Table of Contents
The Bank is not immune to negative consequences arising from overall economic weakness and, in particular, a sharp downturn in the local real estate markets served by the Bank. While the Bank’s loan portfolio has not shown significant signs of credit quality deterioration despite continued challenges in the U.S. economy, we cannot assure you that no deterioration will occur. An economic recession in the markets served by the Bank, and the nation as a whole, could negatively impact household and corporate incomes. This impact could lead to decreased loan demand and increase the number of borrowers who fail to pay the Bank interest or principal on their loans, and accordingly, could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
Severe weather, flooding and other effects of climate change and other natural disasters, such as earthquakes, could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Our branch locations and our customers’ properties may be adversely impacted by flooding, wildfires, prolonged periods of extreme temperature, high winds and other effects of severe weather conditions that may be caused or exacerbated by climate change. These events can force property closures, result in property damage and/or result in delays in expansion, development or renovation of our properties and those of our customers. Even if these events do not directly impact our properties or our customers’ properties, they may impact us and our customers through increased insurance, energy or other costs. In addition, changes in laws or regulations, including federal, state or city laws, relating to climate change could result in increased capital expenditures to improve the energy efficiency of our branch locations and/or our customers’ properties. We also face investor-related climate risks. Investors are increasingly taking into account environmental, social, and governance factors, including climate risks, in determining whether to invest in companies. Our reputation and investor relationships could be damaged as a result of our involvement with activities perceived to be causing or exacerbating climate change, as well as any decisions we make to continue to conduct or change our activities in response to considerations relating to climate change.
The Corporation depends on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with customers and counterparties, we rely on information furnished to us by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also rely on representations of customers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information and, with respect to financial statements, on reports of independent auditors. For example, in deciding whether to extend credit to clients, we may assume that a customer's audited financial statements conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the customer. Our earnings are significantly affected by our ability to properly originate, underwrite and service loans. Our financial condition, results of operations and capital could be negatively impacted to the extent we incorrectly assess the creditworthiness of our borrowers, fail to detect or respond to deterioration in asset quality in a timely manner, or rely on financial statements that do not comply with GAAP or are materially misleading.
The risks presented by acquisitions could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Any acquisitions will be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in acquisitions including, among other things: our ability to realize anticipated cost savings and avoid unanticipated costs relating to the merger, the difficulty of integrating operations and personnel, the potential disruption of our or the acquired company’s ongoing business, the inability of our management to maximize our financial and strategic position, the inability to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies, and the impairment of relationships with the acquired company’s employees and customers as a result of changes in ownership and management. These risks may prevent the Corporation from fully realizing the anticipated benefits of an acquisition or cause the realization of such benefits to take longer than expected.
18
Table of Contents
Strong competition within the Corporation’s markets and technological change may have a material adverse impact on its profitability.
The Corporation competes with an ever-increasing array of financial service providers. As noted above, as a financial holding company and state-chartered financial institution, respectively, the Corporation and the Bank are subject to extensive regulation and supervision, including, in many cases, regulations that limit the type and scope of activities. The non-bank financial service providers that compete with the Corporation and the Bank may not be subject to such extensive regulation, supervision, and tax burden. Competition from nationwide banks, as well as local institutions, is strong in the Corporation’s markets.
The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological change and technological advances are likely to intensify competition. In addition to improving customer services, effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Accordingly, the Corporation’s future success will depend in part on its ability to address customer needs by using technology. The Corporation cannot assure you that it will be able to successfully take advantage of technological changes or advances or develop and market new technology driven products and services to its customers. Failure to keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation's financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity.
Many regional, national, and international competitors have far greater assets and capitalization than the Corporation has and greater resources to invest in technology and access to capital markets and can consequently offer a broader array of financial services than the Corporation can. We cannot assure you that we will continue to be able to compete effectively with other financial institutions in the future. Developments increasing the nature or level of competition could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. For further information on competition, refer to Part I, Item 1, "Competition," herein.
The soundness of other financial institutions with which the Corporation does business could adversely affect the Corporation’s business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, investment or other relationships. The Corporation routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry such as commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and other institutional clients for a range of transactions including loan participations, derivatives, and hedging transactions. In addition, the Corporation invests in securities or loans originated or issued by financial institutions or supported by the loans they originate. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial institutions, or the financial industry generally, have led to, or could in the future lead to, market-wide liquidity problems and could lead to losses or defaults by us or other institutions. Many of these transactions expose the Corporation to credit or investment risk in the event of default by the Corporation’s counterparty. In addition, the Corporation’s credit risk may be exacerbated if the collateral it holds cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the loan or other exposure to the Corporation. The Corporation could incur losses to its securities portfolio as a result of these issues. These types of losses may have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition or results of operation.
The Corporation’s operations may be adversely affected if its external vendors do not perform as expected or if its access to third-party services is interrupted.
The Corporation relies on certain external vendors to provide products and services necessary to maintain the day-to-day operations of the Corporation. Some of the products and services provided by vendors include key components of our business infrastructure including data processing and storage and internet connections and network access, among other products and services. Accordingly, the Corporation’s operations are exposed to the risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements or under service level agreements. The failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements or under service level agreements, because of changes in the vendor’s organizational structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason, could disrupt the Corporation’s operations. If we are unable to find alternative sources for our vendors’ services and products quickly and cost-effectively, the failures of our vendors could have a material adverse impact on the Corporation’s business and, in turn, the Corporation’s financial condition and results of operations.
19
Table of Contents
Additionally, our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third-party systems, and we could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third-party systems fail or experience interruptions. If sustained or repeated, a system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to process new and renewal loans, gather deposits and provide customer service, compromise our ability to operate effectively, damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business and subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
A failure in or breach of the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ information technology network and systems, or those of third party vendors and other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks, could disrupt the Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ businesses, result in the unauthorized disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage its reputation, increase its costs, or cause losses.
The Corporation, primarily through the Bank, depends on its information technology networks and systems to continuously process, record and monitor a large number of customer transactions and to process, transmit and store proprietary and confidential information, including personal information of employees and customers. Accordingly, the Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology networks and systems must continue to be safeguarded and monitored for potential failures, vulnerabilities, disruptions and breakdowns. We face cybersecurity threats, including system, network or internet failures, cyber-attacks, ransomware and other malware, social engineering, phishing schemes and workforce member error, negligence, or fraud. Although the Corporation has business continuity plans and other safeguards in place, any such cybersecurity incident, including those impacting personal information, could result in customer attrition, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs, any of which could materially adversely affect the Corporation’s results of operations or financial condition. Furthermore, increased regulation of data collection, use and retention practices, including self-regulation and industry standards, changes in existing laws and regulations, enactment of new laws and regulations, increased enforcement activity, and changes in interpretation of laws, could increase our cost of compliance and operation, limit our ability to grow our business or otherwise harm the Corporation.
In addition, significant disruptions of our third party vendors’ and/or service providers’ security systems or infrastructure, or other similar data security incidents, could adversely affect our business operations and/or result in the loss, misappropriation, and/or unauthorized access, use or disclosure of, or the prevention of access to, regulated personal or confidential information, which could harm our business. While we may be entitled to damages if our third party service providers fail to satisfy their security-related obligations to us, any award may be insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award.
Although to date the Corporation has not experienced any material losses relating to cyber attacks or cybersecurity incidents, there can be no assurance that it or its subsidiaries will not suffer such losses in the future and our information systems remain a target of cyber attacks. Given the evolving nature of security threats and evolving safeguards, there can be no assurance that any preventive, protective, or remedial data security measures that we or our third party service providers implement are or will be adequate to detect or prevent all cybersecurity incidents. Additionally, while we have implemented security measures that we believe are appropriate, a regulator could deem our security measures not to be appropriate given the lack of prescriptive measures in certain data protection laws. The Corporation continues to enhance its data security systems, technology platforms, employee education and risk management processes, in an effort to underpin its business strategy as well as in response to the evolving threat landscape and any incidents we experience. In connection with these efforts, we have incurred costs and expect to incur additional costs as we continue to enhance our data security infrastructure and take further steps to prevent unauthorized access to our systems and the data we maintain. In addition, any actual or perceived failure by the Corporation or our vendors or business partners to comply with our privacy, confidentiality, or data security-related legal or other obligations to third parties may result in claims by third parties that we have breached our privacy- or confidentiality-related obligations, which could materially and adversely affect our business and prospects.
The Corporation’s risk and exposure to these matters, including future "phishing" attempts like the 2020 incident, which was disclosed in the Corporation's Annual Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, remain heightened because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats, our plans to continue to implement our Internet banking and mobile banking channel strategies and develop additional remote connectivity solutions to serve our customers when and how they want to be served. As a result, cybersecurity and the continued development and enhancement of the Corporation’s controls, processes and practices designed to protect its and its subsidiaries systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for the Corporation. As cyber threats continue to evolve, the Corporation may be required to expend further significant resources to continue to modify or enhance its protective measures or to investigate and remediate future information security vulnerabilities.
20
Table of Contents
While we have purchased cybersecurity insurance, there are no assurances that the coverage would be adequate in relation to any incurred losses. Moreover, as cyber attacks increase in frequency and magnitude, we may be unable to obtain cybersecurity insurance in amounts and on terms we view as adequate for our operations. Further information relating to cybersecurity risk management is discussed in Item 1C. “Cybersecurity” of this report.
A pandemic and measures intended to prevent its spread, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition.
A pandemic, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and emergence of new variants could negatively impact the global economy, disrupt financial markets and international trade, and result in varying unemployment levels, all of which could negatively impact our business, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition. Pandemic outbreaks could lead (and the outbreak of COVID-19 led) governments and other authorities around the world, including federal, state and local authorities in the United States, to impose measures intended to mitigate its spread, including restrictions on freedom of movement and business operations such as issuing guidelines, travel bans, border closings, business closures and quarantine orders.
Our business and financial performance could be adversely affected, directly or indirectly, by terrorist activities, international hostilities or domestic civil unrest.
Neither the occurrence nor the potential impact of geopolitical instabilities, terrorist activities, international hostilities or other extraordinary events beyond the Corporation’s control can be predicted. However, these occurrences could adversely impact us, for example, by preventing us from conducting our business in the ordinary course. Also, their impact on our borrowers, depositors, other customers, suppliers or other counterparties could result in indirect adverse effects on us. Other indirect adverse consequences from these occurrences could result from impacts to the financial markets, the economy in general or in any region, or key parts of the infrastructure (such as the power grid) on which we and our customers rely. These types of indirect effects, whether specific to our counterparties or more generally applicable, could lead, for example, to an increase in delinquencies, bankruptcies or defaults that could result in the Corporation experiencing higher levels of nonperforming assets, net charge-offs and provisions for credit losses. They could also cause a reduction in demand for lending or other services that we provide.
Risks Related to Legal and Compliance Matters
The Corporation is subject to extensive government regulation and supervision, which may affect its ability to conduct its business and may negatively impact its financial results.
The Corporation, primarily through the Bank and its non-bank subsidiary, is subject to extensive federal and state regulation and supervision. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, the Federal Deposit Insurance Fund and the safety and soundness of the banking system as a whole, not stockholders. These regulations affect the Corporation’s lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy and growth, among other things. Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect the Corporation in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject it to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products the Corporation may offer, and/or limit the pricing it may charge on certain banking services, among other things.
Failure to comply with laws, including the Bank Secrecy Act and USA Patriot Act, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, restrictions, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on the Corporation’s business, financial condition and results of operations and/or cause the Corporation to lose its financial holding company status. While the Corporation has policies and procedures designed to prevent any such violations, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur. See the section captioned "Supervision and Regulation" in Part I, Item 1 of this report for further information.
21
Table of Contents
Federal and state governments could pass legislation responsive to current credit conditions which could cause the Corporation to experience higher credit losses.
The Corporation could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that reduces the amount the Bank’s borrowers are otherwise contractually required to pay under existing loan contracts. Also, the Corporation could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that limits the Bank’s ability to foreclose on property or other collateral or makes foreclosure less economically feasible. The Corporation cannot assure you that future legislation will not significantly and adversely impact its ability to collect on its current loans or foreclose on collateral.
General Risk Factors
The Corporation relies on its management and other key personnel, and the loss of any of them may adversely affect its operations.
The Corporation is and will continue to be dependent upon the services of its executive management team. In addition, it will continue to depend on its ability to retain and recruit key client relationship managers. The unexpected loss of services of any key management personnel, or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future, could have an adverse effect on its business and financial condition.
The Corporation's risk management framework may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss.
The Corporation maintains an enterprise risk management program that is designed to identify, quantify, monitor, report, and control the risks that it faces. These risks include, but are not limited to: strategic, interest-rate, credit, liquidity, operations, pricing, reputation, compliance, litigation, and cybersecurity. While the Corporation assesses and improves this program on an ongoing basis, there can be no assurance that its approach and framework for risk management and related controls will effectively mitigate all risk and limit losses in its business. If conditions or circumstances arise that expose flaws or gaps in the Corporation's risk-management program, or if its controls break down, the Corporation's results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
Risk Management and Strategy
The Corporation maintains robust processes for assessing, identifying, and managing material risks from cybersecurity threats. The Corporation’s cybersecurity program is based on the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”) framework which tailors the National Institute of Standards and Technology (“NIST”) Cybersecurity Framework to be more financial services focused. The risk of cybersecurity threats is integrated into its Enterprise Risk Management (“ERM”) program, led by the Corporation’s Chief Risk Officer. The ERM program includes an annual risk prioritization process to identify key enterprise risks. Each key risk is assigned a risk owner to establish action plans and implement risk mitigation strategies. The cybersecurity threat risk action plan is managed at the enterprise level by the Chief Information Technology & Security Officer (the “CITSO”), the VP of Information Technology, and the VP of Information Security. Each quarter, the risk owners review and update the cybersecurity threat risk action plan to provide the status on specific risk mitigation actions and to identify new threats. To oversee and identify cybersecurity threat risks on a day-to-day basis, including from third party service providers, the Corporation maintains a third-party security operations center with round-the-clock monitoring, and the CITSO receives regular reports on industry activity. Management also assesses the cybersecurity proficiency of potential third-party suppliers before utilizing their services. The assessment identifies cybersecurity-related risks and makes recommendations to enhance the security of all new computing services. The Corporation reassesses all suppliers on a regular interval.
22
Table of Contents
The Corporation works closely with its internal auditors to assess, identify, and manage cybersecurity risks. In addition, the Corporation engages with third party cybersecurity specialists to provide an independent assessment of the Corporation’s cybersecurity programs and to prepare a 3-year plan to maintain compliance and operational excellence. Management periodically reviews the 3-year plan and modifies it in response to changes in the threat landscape or otherwise as needed. Management has not identified risks from cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any previous cybersecurity incidents, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Corporation, including its business strategy, results of operations or financial condition. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” above for more information.
Governance
The Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the assessment and management of enterprise-level risks that may impact the Corporation. The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for overseeing risk management, including oversight of risks from cybersecurity threats. Management, including the CITSO, reports on cybersecurity matters regularly to the Board, primarily through the Audit and IT Committees, including an annual report regarding specific risks and mitigation efforts within the Bank and a 3-year cybersecurity threat assessment conducted by third party experts. Management provides benchmarking information and updates on key operational and compliance metrics to the Board. In addition, cybersecurity training is provided to the full Board of Directors to educate directors on the current cyber threat environment and measures companies can take to mitigate risk and impact of cyber attacks.
The Corporation maintains a Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (the “CSIRP”), which establishes an organizational framework and guidelines intended to facilitate an effective response and handling of cybersecurity incidents that could jeopardize the availability, integrity, or confidentiality of the Corporation’s assets. The CSIRP outlines roles and responsibilities, criteria for measuring the severity of a cybersecurity incident, and an escalation framework, including processes for informing the General Counsel and the Board of Directors of material cybersecurity incidents. As described above, management is actively involved in assessing and managing the Bank’s material cybersecurity risks. The CITSO and the VP of Information Security primarily lead these efforts. The CITSO, who reports directly to the CEO, is responsible for the oversight of the Corporation’s IT operation, including the cybersecurity program, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology and Security and a Master of Science in Information Security and Assurance. He also holds 20 industry recognized Technology and Security certifications. The VP of Information Security reports directly to the CITSO and has responsibility for leadership of the Bank’s cybersecurity program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and computer science, as well as several industry recognized information security certifications.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The headquarters of the Corporation and the Bank are located at 1 South Second Street, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, in a building owned by the Corporation. The Bank operates 51 full-service offices at December 31, 2023. Of these 51 offices, 24 are owned and 26 are leased from independent owners and one is leased from the Corporation. Holiday has nine full-service offices, of which eight are leased from independent owners and one is leased from the Corporation. The CNB Bank franchise's primary market areas are the Pennsylvania counties of Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, and McKean. ERIEBANK, a division of the Bank, operates in the Pennsylvania counties of Crawford, Erie, and Warren and in the Ohio counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain. FCBank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Ohio counties of Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Marion, Morrow and Richland. BankOnBuffalo, a division of the Bank, operates in the New York counties of Erie and Niagara. Ridge View Bank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Virginia counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke. Impressia Bank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Bank’s primary market areas. There are no encumbrances on the offices owned and the rental expense on the leased property is immaterial in relation to operating expenses. The initial lease terms range from two to twenty years.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or of which any of their properties is the subject, except ordinary routine proceedings which are incidental to the business.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None.
23
Table of Contents
PART II.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the Global Select Market of NASDAQ under the symbol "CCNE." As of December 31, 2023, the number of shareholders of record of the Corporation’s common stock was 7,184.
Dividends
As discussed under "The Corporation’s ability to pay dividends is limited by law and regulations" included in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Part I, the amount and timing of dividends is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and depends upon business conditions and regulatory requirements. The Board of Directors has the discretion to change the dividend at any time for any reason. The Board of Directors presently intends to continue the policy of paying quarterly cash dividends. The amount of any future dividends will depend on economic and market conditions, the Corporation's financial condition and operating results and other factors, including applicable government regulations and policies.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides information with respect to any purchase of shares of the Corporation’s common stock made by or on behalf of the Corporation for the quarter ended December 31, 2023.
(1) On May 17, 2022, the Corporation's Board of Directors authorized a common stock repurchase plan (the "Repurchase Plan") pursuant to which the Corporation is authorized to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of common stock, provided that the aggregate purchase price of shares of common stock repurchased does not exceed $15 million. The repurchases of common stock, if any, were originally authorized to be made during the period beginning on June 2, 2022 (the date on which the Corporation received acknowledgement of the repurchase program from the Federal Reserve Bank) through and including May 17, 2023. On May 9, 2023, the Corporation's Board of Directors amended the Repurchase Plan to extend its duration to May 17, 2024. Common stock repurchases under the Repurchase Plan may be conducted through open market purchases or, privately negotiated transactions. Depending on market conditions and other factors, these repurchases may be commenced or suspended without prior notice. As of December 31, 2023, there were 173,541 shares remaining for repurchase under the program.
Additionally, during the quarter ended December 31, 2023, certain employees surrendered shares of common stock owned by them to satisfy their statutory minimum U.S. federal and state tax obligations associated with the vesting of shares of restricted common stock issued under the CNB Financial Corporation 2019 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
24
Table of Contents
Share Return Performance
Set forth below is a chart comparing the Corporation’s cumulative return to stockholders against the cumulative return of the NASDAQ Composite Index and a peer group index of banking organizations for the five-year period commencing December 31, 2018 and ending December 31, 2023.
CNB Financial Corporation
Period Ending
Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence
© 2024
ITEM 6. RESERVED
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is presented to provide insight into management’s assessment of financial results and should be read in conjunction with the following parts of this Annual Report on Form 10-K: Part I, Item 1 "Business," Part II, Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk," and Part II, Item 8 "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." This section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K generally discusses 2023 and 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022. Discussions of 2021 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
25
Table of Contents
Dollar amounts in tables are stated in thousands, except for per share amounts.
Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results
The information below includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to CNB’s financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, future performance and business. These forward-looking statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are those that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond CNB’s control). Forward-looking statements often include the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions or future conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." CNB’s actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements, which are neither statements of historical fact nor guarantees or assurances of future performance.
Such known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the statements, include, but are not limited to, (i) adverse changes or conditions in capital and financial markets, including actual or potential stresses in the banking industry; (ii) changes in the interest rate environment; (iii) the credit risks of lending activities, including our ability to estimate credit losses and the allowance for credit losses, as well as the effects of changes in the level of, and trends in, loan delinquencies and write-offs; (iv) effectiveness of our data security controls in the face of cyber attacks and any reputational risks following a cybersecurity incident; (v) the duration and scope of a pandemic, and the local, national and global impact of a pandemic; (vi) changes in general business, industry or economic conditions or competition; (vii) changes in any applicable law, rule, regulation, policy, guideline or practice governing or affecting financial holding companies and their subsidiaries or with respect to tax or accounting principles or otherwise; (viii) higher than expected costs or other difficulties related to integration of combined or merged businesses; (ix) the effects of business combinations and other acquisition transactions, including the inability to realize our loan and investment portfolios; (x) changes in the quality or composition of our loan and investment portfolios; (xi) adequacy of loan loss reserves; (xii) increased competition; (xiii) loss of certain key officers; (xiv) deposit attrition; (xv) rapidly changing technology; (xvi) unanticipated regulatory or judicial proceedings and liabilities and other costs; (xvii) changes in the cost of funds, demand for loan products or demand for financial services; and (xviii) other economic, competitive, governmental or technological factors affecting our operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such developments could have an adverse impact on CNB's financial position and results of operations.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are based upon management’s beliefs and assumptions. Any forward-looking statement made herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. CNB undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed might not occur and you should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Overview
The Corporation is a financial holding company registered under the BHC Act. It was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1983 for the purpose of engaging in the business of a financial holding company. The Corporation’s subsidiary, the Bank, provides financial services to individuals and businesses. The CNB Bank franchise's primary market areas are the Pennsylvania counties of Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Elk, Indiana, Jefferson, and McKean. ERIEBANK, a division of the Bank, operates in the Pennsylvania counties of Crawford, Erie, and Warren and in the Ohio counties of Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain. FCBank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Ohio counties of Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, Knox, Marion, Morrow and Richland. BankOnBuffalo, a division of the Bank, operates in the New York counties of Erie and Niagara. Ridge View Bank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Virginia counties of Botetourt, Craig, Franklin, and Roanoke. Impressia Bank, a division of the Bank, operates in the Bank’s primary market areas. Although the Corporation’s strategies, through its Bank subsidiary, are executed based on the divisions discussed above, the Bank is a single Pennsylvania-chartered bank whereby all divisions of the Bank conduct their business on a doing business as basis.
26
Table of Contents
In addition to the Bank, the Corporation has four other subsidiaries. CNB Securities Corporation is incorporated in Delaware and currently maintains investments in debt and equity securities. CNB Insurance Agency, incorporated in Pennsylvania, provides for the sale of nonproprietary annuities and other insurance products. CNB Risk Management, Inc., incorporated in Delaware, is a captive insurance company that insures against certain risks unique to the operations of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and for which insurance may not be currently available or economically feasible in today's insurance marketplace. Holiday, incorporated in Pennsylvania, offers small balance unsecured loans and secured loans, primarily collateralized by automobiles and equipment, to borrowers with higher risk characteristics.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
This report contains references to financial measures that are not defined in GAAP. Management uses non-GAAP financial information in its analysis of the Corporation’s performance. Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide a greater understanding of ongoing operations, enhance comparability of results of operations with prior periods and show the effects of significant gains and charges in the periods presented. The Corporation’s management believes that investors may use these non-GAAP measures to analyze the Corporation’s financial performance without the impact of unusual items or events that may obscure trends in the Corporation’s underlying performance. This non-GAAP data should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, and is not a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results. Limitations associated with non-GAAP financial measures include the risks that persons might disagree as to the appropriateness of items included in these measures and that different companies might calculate these measures differently.
Non-GAAP measures reflected within the discussion below include:
•Tangible book value per common share;
•Tangible common equity/tangible assets;
•Net interest margin (fully tax equivalent basis);
•Efficiency ratio;
•Pre-provision net revenue ("PPNR");
•Return on average tangible common equity; and
•Non-interest income excluding realized gains on available-for-sale ("AFS") securities.
A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided below in the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section.
Primary Factors Used To Evaluate Performance
Management considers return on average assets, return on average equity, return on average tangible common equity, earnings per common share, tangible book value per common share, asset quality, net interest margin, and other metrics as key measures of the financial performance of the Corporation. The interest rate environment will continue to play an important role in the future earnings of the Corporation. To address the challenging interest rate and competitive environments, the Corporation continues to evaluate, develop and implement strategies necessary to support its ongoing financial performance objectives and future growth goals. Additionally, management frequently evaluates the potential impact of economic and geopolitical events that may have an impact on the credit risk profile of its customers and develops proactive strategies to mitigate such potential impacts on the Corporation’s loan portfolio.
Financial Condition
The following table presents ending balances, growth, and the percentage change of certain measures of our financial condition for specified years (dollars in millions):
2023Balance 2022Balance $ Changevs. prioryear % Changevs. prioryear
27
Table of Contents
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents totaled $222.0 million at December 31, 2023, including $164.4 million held at the Federal Reserve. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $106.3 million at December 31, 2022. The increase in cash and cash equivalents from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in deposits coupled with a decrease in the production of the loan portfolio, offset by a decrease in the paydowns and maturities on the securities portfolio. The increase in deposits was primarily driven by the impact of competitive pricing pressures due to the rapid increase in interest rates.
Management believes the liquidity needs of the Corporation are satisfied primarily by the current balance of cash and cash equivalents, customer deposits, FHLB financing, other funding sources and the portions of the securities and loan portfolios that mature within one year. The Corporation currently expects that these sources of funds will enable it to meet cash obligations and off-balance sheet commitments as they come due. In addition to the above noted liquidity sources, the Corporation maintains access to the Federal Reserve discount window.
Securities
AFS debt securities and equity securities totaled $351.3 million and $381.0 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Investments classified as held-to-maturity ("HTM") securities totaled $389.0 million and $404.8 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. During 2022, as a result of the Corporation’s asset/liability and capital management strategies, securities with a combined amortized cost of $220.8 million and a fair value of $213.7 million were transferred from AFS to HTM. These HTM portfolio bonds continue to support liquidity through pledging and can be utilized as collateral against borrowings. In addition to these internal portfolio transfers, some of the investment purchases made by the Corporation during 2022 were also classified as HTM debt securities.
The Corporation’s objective is to maintain the investment securities portfolio at an appropriate level to balance the earnings and liquidity provided by the portfolio. Note 2, "Securities," in the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning the composition of the Corporation’s investment securities portfolio and the process for evaluating securities for impairment.
The following table summarizes the maturity distribution schedule with corresponding weighted-average yields of AFS debt securities as of December 31, 2023. Weighted-average yields have been computed on a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a tax rate of 21%. Mortgage-backed securities are included in maturity categories based on their stated maturity date.
$ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield
28
Table of Contents
The following table summarizes the maturity distribution schedule with corresponding weighted-average yields of HTM debt securities as of December 31, 2023.
$ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield $ Amt. Yield
The following table summarizes the weighted average modified duration of AFS debt securities as of December 31, 2023.
Weighted Average Modified Duration (in Years)
U.S. Government Sponsored Entities 0.37
State and Political Subdivisions 5.70
Residential and multi-family mortgage 6.00
Corporate notes and bonds 4.38
The following table summarizes the weighted average modified duration of HTM debt securities as of December 31, 2023.
Weighted Average Modified Duration (in Years)
U.S. Government Sponsored Entities 2.54
Residential and multi-family mortgage 6.42
The portfolio contains no holdings of a single issuer that exceeds 10% of shareholders’ equity other than U.S. government sponsored entities.
The Corporation generally purchases debt securities over time and does not attempt to "time" its transactions, which allows for more efficient management of fluctuations in the interest rate environment. The Corporation's strategy given the current environment is to focus on lower risk securities and shorter durations that complement the current portfolio investment ladder, coupled with consistent reinvestment of cash flows to replace lower earning assets.
The Corporation monitors the earnings performance and the effectiveness of the liquidity of the securities portfolio on a regular basis through meetings of the Asset/Liability Committee ("ALCO"). The ALCO also reviews and manages interest rate risk for the Corporation. Through active balance sheet management and analysis of the securities portfolio, a sufficient level of liquidity is maintained to satisfy depositor requirements and various credit needs of our customers.
Loans Receivable
Note 3, "Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses," to the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning the loan portfolio of the Corporation.
At December 31, 2023, loans totaled $4.4 billion, excluding the balances of (i) syndicated loans, and (ii) any remaining balances on Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans, net of PPP-related fees (such loans being referred to as the "PPP-related loans"). This adjusted total of $4.4 billion in loans represented an increase of $241.3 million, or 5.86%, compared to the same adjusted total loans measured as of December 31, 2022. Loan growth for the year ended December 31, 2023 primarily resulted from growth in the Corporation's recent expansion markets of Cleveland, Ohio, Roanoke, Virginia, and Buffalo, New York combined with growth in the portfolios related to the Columbus, Ohio market and CNB Bank’s Private Banking division.
29
Table of Contents
At December 31, 2023, the Corporation's balance sheet reflected a decrease in syndicated lending balances of $49.9 million compared to December 31, 2022, reflecting scheduled paydowns or early payoffs of certain syndicated credits during 2023. The syndicated loan portfolio totaled $108.7 million, or 2.43% of total loans, excluding PPP-related loans, at December 31, 2023, compared to $156.6 million, or 3.66% of total loans, excluding PPP-related loans at December 31, 2022.
Loan Origination/Risk Management
The Corporation has certain lending policies and procedures in place that are designed to maximize loan income within an acceptable level of risk. Management reviews and approves these policies and procedures on a regular basis. A reporting system supplements the review process by providing management with frequent reports related to loan production, loan quality, concentrations of credit, loan delinquencies and nonperforming and potential problem loans. Diversification in the loan portfolio is a means of managing risk associated with fluctuations in economic conditions. The Corporation has not underwritten any hybrid loans, payment option loans, or low documentation/no documentation loans. Variable rate loans are generally underwritten at the fully indexed rate. Loan underwriting policies and procedures have not changed materially between any periods presented. As discussed more fully above, syndicated loan purchases are underwritten utilizing the same process as the Corporation’s originated loans.
The Corporation continues to explore the credit and reputational risks associated with climate change and their potential impact on the foregoing, while closely monitoring regulatory developments on climate risk. This includes, among other things, researching and developing a formalized approach to considering climate change related risks in the Corporation's underwriting processes. This approach will be impacted, in part, by the accessibility and reliability of both customer climate risk data and climate risk data in general. One of the objectives of these efforts is to enable the Corporation to better understand the climate change related risks associated with the Corporation's customers' business activities and to be able to monitor their response to those risks and their ultimate impact on the Corporation's customers.
Loan Portfolio Profile
As part of our lending policy and risk management activities, the Corporation tracks lending exposure by industry classification and type to determine potential risks associated with industry concentrations, and if any risk issues could lead to additional credit loss exposure. In the current post-pandemic and inflationary economic environment, the Corporation has determined that office commercial real estate ("commercial office") inherently could pose a higher level of credit risk, even given the historical high credit quality ratings and structures applied to the Corporation's outstanding commercial office credit extensions when initially underwritten and when funding or commitments were made. The Corporation monitors numerous relevant sensitivity elements at both underwriting and through and beyond the funding period, including projects occupancy, loan-to-value, absorption and cap rates, debt service coverage and covenant compliance, and developer/lessor financial strength both in the project and globally. At December 31, 2023, the Corporation had the following key metrics related to its commercial office portfolio:
•Commercial office loans outstanding consisted of 118 loans, totaling $114.7 million, or 2.57% of total loans outstanding;
•Nonaccrual commercial office loans (one customer relationship) totaled $508 thousand, or 0.44% of total office loans outstanding. One customer relationship had a related specific loss reserve of $289 thousand, at December 31, 2023; and
•The average outstanding balance per commercial office loan was $972 thousand.
The Corporation had no commercial office loan relationships considered by the banking regulators to be a high volatility commercial real estate credit.
30
Table of Contents
Maturities and Sensitivities of Loans Receivable to Changes in Interest Rate
The following table presents the maturity distribution of the Corporation's loans receivable at December 31, 2023. The table also presents the portion of loans receivable that have fixed interest rates or variable interest rates that fluctuate over the life of the loans in accordance with changes in an interest rate index.
Loans Receivable with Fixed Interest Rate
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers 9 135 — — 144
Other revolving credit plans 6 7 19 — 32
Credit cards — — — — —
Overdrafts — — — — —
Loans Receivable with Variable or Floating Interest Rate
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers 674 157 677 — 1,508
Automobile — — — — —
31
Table of Contents
Loan Concentration
At December 31, 2023, no industry concentration existed which exceeded 10% of the total loan portfolio.
Loan Quality
The following table presents information concerning the loan portfolio delinquency and other nonperforming assets at December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Accrual loans greater than 90 days past due 55 1,121
Nonaccrual loans as a percentage of loans 0.66 % 0.49 %
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets 0.55 % 0.43 %
Allowance for credit losses on loans $ 45,832 $ 43,436
Allowance for credit losses / Total loans 1.03 % 1.02 %
Total nonperforming assets were approximately $31.8 million, or 0.55% of total assets, as of December 31, 2023, compared to $23.5 million, or 0.43% of total assets, as of December 31, 2022. The increase in nonperforming assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to one commercial and industrial relationship consisting of 12 loans totaling $3.2 million being placed on nonaccrual status during the fourth quarter of 2023, coupled with one commercial real estate relationship consisting of two loans totaling $6.6 million being placed on nonaccrual status during the third quarter of 2023, as previously disclosed by the Corporation. The commercial relationship with two loans placed on nonaccrual status in the third quarter has a related combined specific loss reserve of $472 thousand at December 31, 2023. While this loan relationship was placed on non-accrual status during the third quarter of 2023, based on collateral value support coupled with the specific reserve recorded against this loan relationship, management currently does not believe there is risk of significant additional loss exposure beyond the specific reserve related to this loan relationship.
The Corporation has established written lending policies and procedures that require underwriting standards, loan documentation, and credit analysis standards to be met prior to funding a loan. Subsequent to the funding of a loan, ongoing review of credits is required. Credit reviews are performed quarterly by an outsourced loan review firm and cover approximately 65% of the commercial loan portfolio on an annual basis. In addition, the external independent loan review firm reviews past due loans and all significant classified assets and nonaccrual loans annually.
Potential problem loans consist of loans that are performing in accordance with contractual terms but for which management has concerns about the ability of a borrower to continue to comply with contractual repayment terms because of the borrower’s potential operating or financial difficulties. Management monitors these "watchlist" loans monthly to determine potential losses within the commercial loan portfolio. The "watchlist" is comprised of all credits risk rated special mention, substandard and doubtful.
32
Table of Contents
Allowance for Credit Losses
The amount of each allowance for credit losses account represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on these financial instruments considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing exposure to credit loss over the contractual term of the instrument. Relevant available information includes historical credit loss experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, adjustments to historical loss information may be made for differences in current portfolio-specific risk characteristics, environmental conditions or other relevant internal and external factors. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of the Corporation's allowance for credit losses account is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond the Corporation's control, including the performance of the Corporation's loan portfolios, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets. The adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is subject to a formal analysis by the Credit Administration and Finance Departments of the Corporation. For additional information regarding the Corporation's accounting policies related to credit losses, refer to Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and Note 3, "Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses" to these consolidated financial statements.
The table below provides an allocation of the allowance for credit losses on loans by loan portfolio segment at December 31, 2023 and 2022; however, allocation of a portion of the allowance to one segment does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other segments.
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers 7 — 1,652 0.42
33
Table of Contents
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers 6 — 1,198 0.50
The allowance for credit losses measured as a percentage of total loans was 1.03% as of December 31, 2023, compared to 1.02% as of December 31, 2022.
The Corporation's allowance for credit losses is influenced by loan volumes, risk rating migration, delinquency status and other internal and external conditions influencing loss expectations, such as reasonable and supportable forecasts of economic conditions and other external factors.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the allowance for credit losses increased primarily due to the growth in the Corporation's loan portfolio, including growth in new market areas. This was partially offset by improvements in the Corporation's historical loss rates, as well as the impact of net charge-offs. The year-over-year increase in reserves experienced in 2022 was primarily due to loan growth, the impact of net charge-offs, and the provision for credit losses recorded in 2022. There is still a significant amount of uncertainty related to the domestic and global economy, tightening credit conditions, persistent inflation, and higher interest rates. Management will continue to proactively evaluate its estimate of expected credit losses as new information becomes available.
Note 3, "Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses," to the consolidated financial statements provides further disclosure of loan balances by portfolio segment as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as the nature and scope of loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and loans modified in a troubled debt restructuring during 2023 and 2022, respectively, and the related effect on provision for credit expense and allowance for credit losses.
34
Table of Contents
Additional information related to credit loss expense and net (charge-offs) recoveries at December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 is presented in the tables below.
Owner-occupied, nonfarm nonresidential properties 1,041 3 502,925 —
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers 1 — 1,255 —
Residential Mortgages secured by junior liens 441 — 84,803 —
(1) Excludes provision for credit losses totaling $759 thousand related to unfunded commitments. Note 18, "Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Contingencies," in the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning the provision for credit losses related to unfunded commitments of the Corporation.
35
Table of Contents
Owner-occupied, nonfarm nonresidential properties (428) (6) 467,606 —
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers (3) — 1,254 —
Multifamily (5 or more) residential properties 64 — 227,715 —
Non-owner occupied, nonfarm nonresidential properties 1,171 1 697,930 —
Residential Mortgages secured by first liens 1,564 (23) 874,675 —
Residential Mortgages secured by junior liens 489 — 63,362 —
(1) Excludes provision for credit losses totaling $603 thousand related to unfunded commitments. Note 18, "Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Contingencies," in the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning the provision for credit losses related to unfunded commitments of the Corporation.
Agricultural production and other loans to farmers (15) — 2,245 —
Multifamily (5 or more) residential properties (435) — 218,285 —
Residential Mortgages secured by first liens 2,436 (32) 795,747 —
Residential Mortgages secured by junior liens 308 (3) 55,063 (0.01)
36
Table of Contents
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Corporation recorded a provision for credit losses of $6.0 million compared to $8.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Included in the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023, was a $156 thousand expense related to the allowance for unfunded commitments compared to a $603 thousand expense for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $2.6 million reduction in the provision expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily a result of the decrease in loan portfolio growth. Net charge-offs during the year ended December 31, 2023 were $3.4 million, or 0.08% of average total loans and loans held for sale, compared to $2.1 million, or 0.05% of average total loans and loans held for sale, during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Premises and Equipment
During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Corporation invested $10.8 million and $12.3 million, respectively, in its physical infrastructure through the purchase of land, buildings, and equipment.
Bank Owned Life Insurance
The Corporation has periodically purchased Bank Owned Life Insurance ("BOLI"). The policies cover executive officers and a select group of other employees with the Bank being named as beneficiary. Earnings from BOLI assist the Corporation in offsetting its benefit costs. The Corporation made no purchases of BOLI during the year ended December 31, 2023, while the Corporation made $11.6 million purchases of BOLI during the year ended December 31, 2022.
Funding Sources
Deposits
The Corporation’s sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, amortization and repayment of loan principal, interest earned on or maturation of investment securities and funds provided from operations. The Corporation considers deposits to be its primary source of funding in support of growth in assets.
At December 31, 2023, total deposits were $5.0 billion, reflecting an increase of $376.3 million, or 8.1%, from December 31, 2022. The increase in deposits was due to continued growth in the Corporation's treasury management customer base and resulting increases in municipal and institutional/corporate deposits, including new wealth and asset management deposit relationships resulting from CNB's participation in deposit insurance sharing programs.
The following table sets forth the average balances of and the average rates paid on deposits for the period indicated.
Year Ended December 31,
AverageAmount AnnualRate AverageAmount AnnualRate AverageAmount AnnualRate
37
Table of Contents
At December 31, 2023, the average deposit balance per account for CNB Bank was approximately $33 thousand.
The following table presents additional information about our December 31, 2023 and 2022 deposits:
Time deposits not covered by deposit insurance $ 44,665 $ 69,874
At December 31, 2023, the total estimated uninsured deposits for CNB Bank were approximately $1.4 billion, or approximately 28.2% of total CNB Bank deposits. However, when excluding affiliate company deposits of $101.3 million and pledged-investment collateralized deposits of $400.5 million, the adjusted amount and percentage of total estimated uninsured deposits was approximately $937.1 million, or approximately 18.37% of total CNB Bank deposits as of December 31, 2023.
At December 31, 2022, the total estimated uninsured deposits for CNB Bank were approximately $1.9 billion, or approximately 39.1% of total CNB Bank deposits. However, when excluding affiliate company deposits of $143.1 million and pledged-investment collateralized deposits of $396.2 million, the adjusted amount and percentage of total estimated uninsured deposits was approximately $1.3 billion, or approximately 27.8% of total CNB Bank deposits as of December 31, 2022.
Scheduled maturities of time deposits not covered by deposit insurance at December 31, 2023 were as follows:
Borrowings
Periodically, the Corporation utilizes term borrowings from the FHLB and other lenders to meet funding obligations or match fund certain loan assets. The terms of these borrowings are detailed in Note 10, "Borrowings," to the consolidated financial statements. There were zero in short-term FHLB borrowings as of December 31, 2023, compared to $132.4 million at December 31, 2022.
On October 18, 2021, the Corporation announced that it had completed the redemption of $50 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due October 15, 2026 (the "2026 Notes"), representing all outstanding 2026 Notes. The 2026 Notes were redeemed pursuant to their terms at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, October 15, 2021. The Corporation financed the redemption of the 2026 Notes with cash on hand, including net proceeds from the issuance and sale of $85.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Corporation’s 3.25% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2031 completed in June 2021. Additional details about our subordinated debentures and notes are included in Note 10, "Borrowings" in the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Liquidity measures an organization’s ability to meet its cash obligations as they come due. The liquidity of a financial institution reflects its ability to meet loan requests, to accommodate possible outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. The ability of a financial institution to meet its current financial obligations is a function of its balance sheet structure, its ability to liquidate assets and its access to alternative sources of funds.
The Corporation’s expected material cash requirements for the year ended December 31, 2024 and thereafter consist of withdrawals by depositors, credit commitments to borrowers, shareholder dividends, share repurchases, operating expenses and capital expenditures that are pursuant to the Corporation's strategic initiatives. The Corporation expects to satisfy these short-term and long-term cash requirements through deposit growth, principal and interest payments from loans and investment securities, maturing loans and investment securities, as well as by maintaining access to wholesale funding sources.
38
Table of Contents
The objective of the Corporation's liquidity management is to manage cash flow and liquidity reserves so that they are adequate to fund the Corporation's operations and to meet cash obligations and other commitments on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. The Corporation seeks to achieve this objective and ensure that funding needs are met by maintaining an appropriate level of liquid funds through asset/liability management, which includes managing the mix and time to maturity of financial assets and financial liabilities on its balance sheet. The Corporation's liquidity position is enhanced by its ability to raise additional funds as needed in the wholesale markets.
Asset liquidity is provided by liquid assets which are readily marketable or pledgeable or which will mature in the near future. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits in banks, including the Federal Reserve, and AFS debt securities. Liability liquidity is provided by access to funding sources which include core deposits, correspondent banks and other wholesale funding sources.
The Corporation's liquidity position is continuously monitored and adjustments are made to the balance between sources and uses of funds as deemed appropriate. Liquidity risk management is an important element in the Corporation's asset/liability management process. The Corporation regularly models liquidity stress scenarios to assess potential liquidity outflows or potential funding shortfalls resulting from economic disruptions, volatility in the financial markets, unexpected credit events or other significant occurrences deemed problematic by management. These scenarios are incorporated into the Corporation's contingency funding plan, which provides the basis for the identification of its liquidity needs.
At December 31, 2023, the Corporation’s cash and cash equivalents position was approximately $222.0 million, including liquidity of $164.4 million held at the Federal Reserve. These excess funds, when combined with (i) available borrowing capacity of $3.6 billion from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh ("FHLB") and the Federal Reserve, and (ii) available unused commitments from brokered deposit sources and other third-party funding channels, including previously established lines of credit from correspondent banks, resulted in the total on-hand and contingent liquidity sources for the Corporation being approximately 4.0 times the estimated amount of adjusted uninsured deposit balances discussed above.
The following table summarizes the Corporation's net available liquidity and borrowing capacities as of December 31, 2023:
Net Available
FHLB borrowing capacity (1) $ 993,798
Federal Reserve borrowing capacity (2) 463,547
Other third-party funding channels (3) (4) 243,790
Total net available liquidity and borrowing capacity $ 3,572,424
(1) Availability contingent on the FHLB activity-based stock ownership requirement
(2) Includes access to discount window, BIC program and Bank Term Funding Program
(3) Availability contingent on internal borrowing guidelines
(4) Availability contingent on correspondent bank approvals at time of borrowing
As of December 31, 2023, management is not aware of any events that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Corporation's liquidity, capital resources or operations. In addition, management is not aware of any regulatory recommendations regarding liquidity that would have a material adverse effect on the Corporation.
In the ordinary course of business the Corporation has entered into contractual obligations and have made other commitments to make future payments. Refer to the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements elsewhere in this report for the expected timing of such payments as of December 31, 2023. The Corporation’s material contractual obligations as of December 31, 2023 consist of (i) long-term borrowings - Note 10, "Borrowings," (ii) operating leases - Note 7, "Leases," (iii) time deposits with stated maturity dates - Note 9, "Deposits," and (iv) commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit - Note 18, "Off-Balance Sheet Activities."
39
Table of Contents
Shareholders’ Equity, Capital Ratios and Metrics
Shareholders' Equity
On September 21, 2022, the Corporation successfully completed a common stock offering resulting in the issuance of 4,257,446 shares of common stock at $23.50 per share and net proceeds of $94.1 million after deducting the underwriting discount and customary offering expenses. The net proceeds from the capital raise will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital and funding the Corporation's organic growth across its multiple geographic markets, or evaluating potential acquisition opportunities.
As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation’s total shareholders’ equity was $571.2 million, representing an increase of $40.5 million, or 7.6%, from December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily due to (i) improvements in accumulated other comprehensive losses resulting primarily from a reduction in after-tax temporary unrealized losses in the AFS investment portfolio, and (ii) an increase in the Corporation's retained earnings (quarterly net income, partially offset by the common and preferred dividends paid in the quarter). These were partially offset by an increase in the Corporation's treasury stock as a result of the Corporation's repurchase of 326,459 common shares during the twelve months of 2023.
Preferred Stock
During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Corporation raised $57.8 million, net of issuance costs, from the issuance of depositary shares, each representing a 1/40th ownership interest in a share of the Corporation's 7.125% Series A fixed rate non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock, no par value, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share of preferred stock. The $57.8 million qualifies as Tier 1 capital for regulatory capital purposes.
Capital Ratios and Metrics
The Corporation has complied with the standards of capital adequacy mandated by government regulations. Bank regulators have established "risk-based" capital requirements designed to measure capital adequacy. Risk-based capital ratios reflect the relative risks of various assets banks hold in their portfolios. A weight category (0% for the lowest risk assets and increasing for each tier of higher risk assets) is assigned to each asset on the balance sheet.
As of December 31, 2023, all of the Corporation's capital ratios exceeded regulatory "well-capitalized" levels. The Corporation’s capital ratios and book value per common share at December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:
Total risk-based capital ratio 15.99 % 16.08 %
Common shareholders' equity/total assets 8.93 % 8.64 %
Tangible common equity/tangible assets (1) 8.22 % 7.90 %
Book value per common share $ 24.57 $ 22.39
Tangible book value per common share (1) $ 22.46 $ 20.30
(1) Tangible common equity, tangible assets and tangible book value per common share are non-GAAP financial measures calculated using GAAP amounts. Tangible common equity is calculated by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets and preferred equity from the calculation of shareholders’ equity. Tangible assets is calculated by excluding the balance of goodwill and other intangible assets from the calculation of total assets. Tangible book value per common share is calculated by dividing tangible common equity by the number of shares outstanding. The Corporation believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide information to investors that is useful in understanding its financial condition. Because not all companies use the same calculation of tangible common equity and tangible assets, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures calculated by other companies. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures is provided in the "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
40
Table of Contents
Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields
The loan categories used to monitor and analyze interest income and yields are different than the portfolio segments used to determine the allowance for credit losses for loans. The allowance for credit losses was calculated by pooling loans of similar credit risk characteristics and credit monitoring procedures. See Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," and Note 3, "Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses," to the consolidated financial statements for more information about pooling of loans for the allowance for credit losses.
The following table presents average balances of certain measures of our financial condition and net interest margin for the specified years.
ASSETS:
Securities:
Loans receivable:
Noninterest-bearing assets:
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
(1) Includes unamortized discounts and premiums.
41
Table of Contents
(2) Average yields are stated on a fully taxable equivalent basis (calculated using statutory rates of 21%) resulting from tax-free municipal securities in the investment portfolio and tax-free municipal loans in the commercial loan portfolio. The taxable equivalent adjustment to net interest income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were $997 thousand, $1.2 million and $953 thousand, respectively.
(3) Average loans receivable outstanding includes the average balance outstanding of all nonaccrual loans. Loans receivable consist of the average of total loans receivable less average unearned income. In addition, loans receivable interest income consists of loans receivable fees, including PPP deferred processing fees.
(4) Average balance is computed using the fair value of AFS debt securities and amortized cost of HTM debt securities. Average yield has been computed using amortized cost average balance for AFS and HTM debt securities. The adjustment to the average balance for securities in the calculation of average yield for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021 were $(61.1) million, $(40.3) million and $9.9 million, respectively.
(5) Includes loans held for sale.
Volume Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income
The following table presents the change in net interest income for the years specified.
Analysis of Year-to-Year Changes in Net Interest Income
Increase (Decrease)Due to Change in (1) Increase (Decrease)Due to Change in (1)
Volume Rate Net Volume Rate Net
Assets
Securities:
Loans:
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Interest Bearing Deposits
Finance Lease Liabilities — — — (4) 1 (3)
(1) The change in interest due to both volume and rate have been allocated entirely to volume changes.
(2) Changes in interest income on tax-exempt securities and loans are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, using the Corporation’s marginal federal income tax rate of 21% for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022.
42
Table of Contents
Results of Operations
Year Ended December 31, 2023 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2022
Overview of the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
Net income available to common shareholders ("earnings") was $53.7 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to earnings of $58.9 million, or $3.26 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in diluted earnings per share in the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to the rise in deposit costs year over year, as well as the dilutive effect of the Corporation's common stock offering completed in September 2022, which resulted in the issuance of over 4.2 million shares of common stock, an increase of approximately 25% in total common shares outstanding. In addition, during the year ended December 31, 2023, the Corporation repurchased 326,459 common shares at a weighted average price per share of $20.08, compared to repurchases of 50,166 common shares at a weighted average price per share of $26.75 during the year ended December 31, 2022. PPNR, a non-GAAP measure, was $77.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $86.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The decrease in PPNR for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily driven by the increase in deposit costs combined with the growth in technology expenses due to investments in applications aimed at enhancing both customer relationship management and customer online experience, as well as expanding service delivery channels. In addition, the Corporation had a year-over-year decrease in non-interest income as a result of lower pass-through income from small business investment companies ("SBICs").
Return on average equity was 10.54% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 13.86% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Return on average tangible common equity, a non-GAAP measure, was 11.98% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 16.64% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
The Corporation's efficiency ratio was 65.13% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 61.32% for the year ended December 31, 2022. The efficiency ratio on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP ratio, was 64.45% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 60.87% the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily the result of rising deposit costs coupled with higher occupancy costs and technology expenses.
Interest Income and Expense
Net interest income of $189.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $189.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $170 thousand, or 0.09%, was primarily due to loan growth and the benefits of the impact of rising interest rates resulting in greater income on variable-rate loans and new loan production, which was substantially offset by an increase in the Corporation's interest expense as a result of both (i) targeted interest-bearing deposit rate increases to ensure both deposit growth and retention, and (ii) a year-over-year increase in the average balance of short-term borrowings through the FHLB. In addition, as previously mentioned, net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2023 included $1.4 million in nonrecurring interest income related primarily to payoffs in the syndicated loan portfolio.
Net interest margin was 3.63% and 3.83% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was 3.61% and 3.82% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Included in the net interest margin and the net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis for the year ended December 31, 2023 was approximately $1.4 million, or three basis points, in one-time realized interest income related primarily to payoffs in the syndicated loan portfolio.
The yield on earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 was 5.57%, an increase of 127 basis points from December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily a result of loan growth and the net benefit of higher interest rates on both variable-rate loans and new loan production. The yield on earning assets for the year ended December 31, 2023 included the previously mentioned $1.4 million, or three basis points, in one-time syndicated loan interest income.
43
Table of Contents
Provision for Credit Losses
The Corporation recorded a provision for credit losses of $6.0 million in 2023 compared to $8.6 million in 2022. Included in the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2023, was a $156 thousand expense related to the allowance for unfunded commitments compared to $603 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2022. The $2.6 million reduction in the provision expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily a result of the lower loan portfolio growth. Net loan charge-offs were $3.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. As disclosed in "Allowance for Credit Losses" discussion above, management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors.
Management believes the charges to the provision for credit losses in 2023 were appropriate and the allowance for credit losses was adequate to absorb losses in the loan portfolio at December 31, 2023.
Non-Interest Income
Total non-interest income was $33.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $34.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2023, notable changes compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 included lower net realized gains on the sale of AFS debt securities, lower mortgage banking income from reduced mortgage loan production volume in the higher-rate environment, lower level of full-year bank owned life insurance income and pass-through income from SBICs, partially offset by an increase in card processing and interchange income and a favorable variance in unrealized losses on equity securities.
Non-Interest Expense
For the year ended December 31, 2023, total non-interest expense was $145.3 million, compared to $137.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increase of $7.7 million, or 5.61%, from the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily a result of higher occupancy costs combined with higher technology expenses. In addition, other non-interest expenses increased primarily due to business generation related expenses and consulting fees. Furthermore, full-year base-salary and related benefit increases, intended to account for inflationary merit increases and the addition of personnel to staff new offices in 2023, were substantially offset by an approximately $8.1 million reduction in incentive-related expenses.
44
Table of Contents
Year Ended December 31, 2022 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2021
Overview of the Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income
Earnings were $58.9 million, or $3.26 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $53.4 million, or $3.16 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2021, reflecting increases of $5.5 million, or 10.3%, and $0.10 per diluted share, or 3.2%. The 2022 full-year earnings per share was partially impacted by the effect of the Corporation's common stock offering completed in September 2022, resulting in the issuance of 4,257,446 shares of common stock at $23.50 per share and net proceeds of $94.1 million after deducting the underwriting discount and customary offering expenses. PPNR, a non-GAAP measure, was $86.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $76.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, reflecting an increase of $10.0 million, or 13.1%. The increase in PPNR for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily driven by growth in loans and expansion of the Corporation's net interest margin.
Return on average equity was 13.86% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 13.39% for the year ended December 31, 2021. Return on average tangible common equity, a non-GAAP measure, was 16.64% and 16.23% for the same periods in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The Corporation's efficiency ratio was 61.32% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 60.26% for the year ended December 31, 2021, respectively. The efficiency ratio on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP ratio, was 60.87% for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to 59.76% for the year ended December 31, 2021, respectively. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2022 was primarily a result of expected increasing costs associated with the Corporation’s expanding franchise investments into the Cleveland, Ohio and Southwest Virginia markets, coupled with its continued strategic investments in technologies focused on customer sales management and connectivity capabilities.
Interest Income and Expense
Net interest income of $189.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased $29.9 million, or 18.7%, from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of loan growth throughout 2022 and the benefits of the impact of rising interest rates in 2022 resulting in greater income on variable-rate loans, coupled with net growth in the Corporation's investment portfolio. Included in net interest income were PPP-related fees, which totaled approximately $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $8.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Net interest margin was 3.83% and 3.35% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Net interest margin on a fully tax-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, was 3.82% and 3.38% for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The yield on earning assets of 4.30% for the year ended December 31, 2022 increased 51 basis points from 3.79% for the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of loan growth, the repricing of variable rate loans, and the Corporation's redeployment of excess cash at the Federal Reserve to investment securities, partially offset by lower PPP-related fees in 2022 compared to 2021. The cost of interesting-bearing liabilities increased 10 basis points from 0.52% for the year ended December 31, 2021 to 0.62% for the year ended December 31, 2022, primarily as a result of the Corporation's targeted interest-bearing deposit rate increases.
Provision for Credit Losses
The Corporation recorded a provision for credit losses of $8.6 million in 2022 compared to $6.0 million in 2021. Included in the provision for credit losses for the year ended December 31, 2022 was $603 thousand expense related to the allowance for unfunded commitments compared to no accrual towards the allowance for unfunded commitments for the year ended December 31, 2021. Net loan charge-offs were $2.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2022, compared to $2.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2021. As disclosed in "Allowance for Credit Losses" discussion above, management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts, and other significant qualitative and quantitative factors.
Management believes the charges to the provision for credit losses in 2022 were appropriate and the allowance for credit losses was adequate to absorb losses in the loan portfolio at December 31, 2022.
45
Table of Contents
Non-Interest Income
Total non-interest income was $34.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, representing an increase of $1.3 million, or 4.0%, from the same period in 2021. Included in non-interest income for the years ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 was $651 thousand and $783 thousand, respectively, in net realized gains on AFS debt securities. Non-interest income excluding net realized gains on AFS debt securities, a non-GAAP measure, for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the year ended December 31, 2021, increased $1.5 million, or 4.5%, from the same period in 2021. During the year ended December 31, 2022, Wealth and Asset Management fees increased $432 thousand, or 6.4%, compared to the year ended December 31, 2021, as the Corporation benefited from an increased number of wealth management relationships. Other notable increases during the year ended December 31, 2022 included increased income from service charges on deposits, other service charges and fees, pass-through income from SBICs and bank owned life insurance mostly due to an $883 thousand gain resulting from death benefit proceeds. These were partially offset by unrealized losses on equity securities and decreased mortgage banking activity.
Non-Interest Expense
For the year ended December 31, 2022, total non-interest expense was $137.6 million, reflecting an increase of $21.2 million, or 18.2%, from the year ended December 31, 2021, primarily as a result of (i) expansion of the Corporation's workforce in its growth regions of Cleveland, Ohio, Southwest Virginia, and Rochester, New York, (ii) increased investments in technology aimed at both enhancing customer experience and expanding service delivery channels, and (iii) the Corporation's sales management and increased legal and professional expenses.
Income Tax Expense
Income tax expense was $13.8 million in 2023, compared to $15.0 million in 2022 and $13.1 million in 2021. The effective tax rates were 19.2%, 19.2%, and 18.5% for 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively. The effective tax rate for the periods differed from the federal statutory rate of 21.0% principally as a result of tax-exempt income from securities and loans as well as earnings from bank owned life insurance.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Assets under management and assets under custody are held in fiduciary or custodial capacity for the Corporation's clients. In accordance with GAAP, these assets are not included on the Corporation's balance sheet.
The Corporation is also party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of the Corporation's clients. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Further discussion of these commitments is included Note 18, "Off-Balance Sheet Commitments and Contingencies."
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The Corporation's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles GAAP and follow general practices within the industries in which the Corporation operates. The most significant accounting policies used by the Corporation are presented in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," to the consolidated financial statements. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates or judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates or judgments. In management’s opinion, some of these estimates and assumptions have a more significant impact than others on the Corporation's financial reporting. For the Corporation, these estimates and assumptions include accounting for the allowance for credit losses and goodwill.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Corporation's allowance for credit losses is a critical accounting policy that requires the most significant judgments and estimates used in preparation of its consolidated financial statements. In determining the appropriate estimate for the allowance for credit losses, management considers a number of factors relative to both individually evaluated credits in the loan portfolio and macro-economic factors relative to the economy of the U.S. as a whole and the economies of the areas in which the Corporation does business.
46
Table of Contents
Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. Management considers a variety of factors in establishing this estimate. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates by management that may be susceptible to significant change based on changes in economic and real estate market conditions.
The evaluation is comprised of specific and pooled components. The specific component is the Corporation's evaluation of credit loss on individually evaluated loans based on the fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs if collateral dependent or based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's initial effective interest rate if not collateral dependent. The majority of the Corporation's loans subject to individual evaluation are considered collateral dependent. All other loans are evaluated collectively for credit loss by pooling loans based on similar risk characteristics.
As a significant percentage of the Corporation's loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, appraisals of the underlying value of property securing loans are critical in determining the charge-offs for specific loans. Assumptions are instrumental in determining the value of properties. Overly optimistic assumptions or negative changes to assumptions could significantly affect the valuation of a property securing a loan and the related allowance determined. Management carefully reviews the assumptions supporting such appraisals to determine that the resulting values reasonably reflect amounts realizable on the related loans.
The pooled component of the evaluation is determined by applying reasonable and supportable economic forecasts and historical averages to the remaining loans segmented by similar risk characteristics. The key assumptions used in projecting future loss rates include the economic forecast, the forecast and reversion to mean time periods, and prepayment and curtailment assumptions. The assumptions are used to calculate and aggregate estimated cash flows for the time period that remains in each loan's contractual life. The cash flows are discounted back to the balance sheet date using each loan's effective yield, to arrive at a present value of future cash flows, which is compared to the amortized cost basis of the loan pool to determine the amount of allowance for credit loss required by the calculation.
One of the most significant judgments used in projecting loss rates when estimating the allowance for credit loss is the macro-economic forecast provided by a third party. The economic indices sourced from the macro-economic forecast and used in projecting loss rates are national unemployment rate and changes in home values. The economic index used in the calculation to which the calculation is most sensitive is the national unemployment rate. Changes in the macro-economic forecast, especially for the national unemployment rate, could significantly impact the calculated estimated credit losses between reporting periods.
Other key assumptions in the calculation of the allowance for credit loss include the forecast and reversion to mean time periods and prepayment and curtailment assumptions. The macro-economic forecast is applied for a reasonable and supportable time period before reverting to long-term historical averages for each economic index. The forecast and reversion to mean time period used for each economic index at December 31, 2023 were four quarters and eight quarters, respectively. Prepayment and curtailment assumptions are based on the Corporation's historical experience over the trailing 12 months and are adjusted by management as deemed necessary. The prepayment and curtailment assumptions vary based on segment.
The quantitative estimated losses are supplemented by more qualitative factors that impact potential losses. Qualitative factors include changes in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency level, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors. The allowance for credit loss may be materially affected by these qualitative factors, especially during periods of economic uncertainty, for items not reflected in the lifetime credit loss calculation, but which are deemed appropriate by management's current assessment of the risks related to the loan portfolio and/or external factors. The qualitative factors applied at December 31, 2023, and the importance and levels of the qualitative factors applied, may change in future periods depending on the level of changes to items such as the uncertainty of economic conditions and management's assessment of the level of credit risk within the loan portfolio as a result of such changes, compared to the amount of allowance for credit loss calculated by the model. The evaluation of qualitative factors is inherently imprecise and requires significant management judgment.
While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the adequacy of the allowance for credit loss is determined by certain factors outside of the Corporation's control, such as the performance of the Corporation's portfolios, changes in the economic environment including economic uncertainty, changes in interest rates, and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets and the level of allowance for credit loss. Additionally, the level of allowance for credit loss may fluctuate based on the balance and mix of the loan portfolio. If actual results differ significantly from management's assumptions, the Corporation's allowance for credit loss may not be sufficient to cover inherent losses in the Corporation's loan portfolio, resulting in additions to the Corporation's allowance for credit loss and an increase in the provision for credit losses.
47
Table of Contents
Fair Value Measurements
The Corporation uses fair value measurements to record certain financial instruments and to determine fair value disclosures. Equity securities, AFS debt securities, mortgage loans held for sale, and interest rate swap agreements are financial instruments recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Additionally, from time to time, the Corporation may be required to record at fair value other financial assets on a nonrecurring basis. These nonrecurring fair value adjustments typically involve write-downs of, or specific reserves against, individual assets. GAAP establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of assets and liabilities recorded at fair value. The classification of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy is based on whether the inputs to the valuation methodology used in the measurement are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market-driven or market-based information obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect our estimates about market data.
The degree of management judgment involved in determining the fair value of a financial instrument is dependent upon the availability of quoted market prices or observable market data. For financial instruments that trade actively and have quoted market prices or observable market data, there is minimal subjectivity involved in measuring fair value. When observable market prices and data are not fully available, management judgment is necessary to estimate fair value. In addition, changes in the market conditions may reduce the availability of quoted prices or observable data. For example, reduced liquidity in the capital markets or changes in secondary market activities could result in observable market inputs becoming unavailable. Therefore, when market data is not available, we use valuation techniques that require more management judgment to estimate the appropriate fair value measurement. Fair value is discussed further in Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" and in Note 4, "Fair Value".
Goodwill
Certain intangible assets generated in connection with acquisitions are periodically assessed for impairment. Goodwill is tested at least annually for impairment, and if certain events occur which indicate goodwill might be impaired between annual tests, goodwill must be tested when such events occur. In making this assessment, the Corporation considers a number of factors including operating results, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows, current market data, stock price, etc. There are inherent uncertainties related to these factors and the Corporation's judgment in applying them to the analysis of goodwill impairment. Future changes in economic and operating conditions could result in goodwill impairment in subsequent periods.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The following tables reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable measures under GAAP.
December 31, December 31,
Less: core deposit intangible 280 364
Less: core deposit intangible 280 364
Book value per common share (GAAP) $ 24.57 $ 22.39
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP) $ 22.46 $ 20.30
Common shareholders' equity / Total assets (GAAP) 8.93 % 8.64 %
Tangible common equity / Tangible assets (non-GAAP) 8.22 % 7.90 %
48
Table of Contents
Years Ended
December 31,
Calculation of net interest margin:
Net interest margin (GAAP) 3.63 % 3.83 %
Calculation of net interest margin (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP):
Tax equivalent adjustment (non-GAAP) 997 1,235
Adjusted interest income (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP) 294,693 214,973
Net interest income (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP) $ 190,826 $ 190,894
Net interest margin, fully tax equivalent basis (non-GAAP) 3.61 % 3.82 %
Years Ended
December 31,
Calculation of PPNR (non-GAAP): (1)
49
Table of Contents
Years Ended
December 31,
Calculation of efficiency ratio:
Calculation of efficiency ratio (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP):
Less: core deposit intangible amortization 84 96
Less: tax exempt investment and loan income, net of TEFRA (non-GAAP) 5,425 5,011
Adjusted net revenue (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP) $ 225,374 $ 225,923
Efficiency ratio (fully tax equivalent basis) (non-GAAP) 64.45 % 60.87 %
Years Ended
December 31,
Calculation of return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP):
Less: preferred stock dividends 4,302 4,302
Net income available to common shareholders $ 53,718 $ 58,886
Tangible common shareholders' equity (non-GAAP) $ 448,355 $ 353,800
Return on average equity (GAAP) 10.54 % 13.86 %
Return on average common equity (GAAP) 9.76 % 12.92 %
Return on average tangible common equity (non-GAAP) 11.98 % 16.64 %
Years Ended
December 31,
Less: net realized gains on available-for-sale securities 52 651
Adjusted non-interest income (non-GAAP) $ 33,283 $ 34,115
50
Table of Contents
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The disclosures set forth in this item are qualified by Item 1A. Risk Factors and the section captioned “Forward-Looking Statements and Factors that Could Affect Future Results” included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of this report, and other cautionary statements set forth elsewhere in this report.
As a financial institution, the Corporation's primary source of market risk exposure is interest rate risk, which influences fluctuations in the Corporation's future earnings due to changes in interest rates. This risk is closely correlated to the repricing characteristics of the Corporation's portfolio of assets and liabilities, with each asset or liability repricing either at maturity or during the instrument's life cycle.
The Corporation’s interest rate risk measurement philosophy focuses on maintaining an appropriate balance between the theoretical and the practical, especially given that the primary objective of the Corporation’s overall asset/liability management process is to assess the level of interest rate risk in the Corporation’s balance sheet. Therefore, the Corporation models a set of interest rate scenarios capturing the financial effects of a range of plausible rate scenarios. The collective impact of these scenarios is designed to enable the Corporation to understand the nature and extent of its sensitivity to interest rate changes. Doing so necessitates an assessment of rate changes over varying time horizons and of varying/sufficient degrees such that the impact of embedded options within the balance sheet are sufficiently examined.
The Corporation has designed its interest rate risk measurement activities to include the following core elements: (i) interest rate ramps and shocks, (ii) parallel and non-parallel yield curve shifts, and (iii) a set of alternative rate scenarios, the nature of which change based upon prevailing market conditions.
The Corporation’s primary tools in managing Interest Rate Risk (“IRR”) are income simulation models. The income simulation models are utilized to quantify the potential impact of changing interest rates on earnings and to identify expected earnings trends given longer-term rate cycles. Standard gap reports are also utilized to provide supporting detailed information.
The Corporation also recognizes that a sustained environment of higher/lower interest rates will affect the underlying value of the Corporation’s assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments since the present value of their future cash flows (and the cash flows themselves) change when interest rates change. In order to monitor the long-term structural and economic position of the balance sheet, the ALCO reviews the Economic Value of Equity measure on a quarterly basis.
IRR considerations include inherent assumptions and estimates, including the maturity and repricing characteristics of assets and liabilities, prepayments on amortizing assets, non-maturing deposit sensitivity, and loan and deposit pricing. These assumptions are subject to uncertainty due to the timing, magnitude, and frequency of rate changes, market conditions, and management strategies.
The following table demonstrate the annualized result of an interest rate simulation and the estimated effect that a parallel interest rate shift, or “shock,” in the yield curve and subjective adjustments in deposit pricing might have on the Corporation’s projected net interest income over the next 12 months. This simulation assumes that there is no growth in interest-earning assets or interest-bearing liabilities over the next 12 months. The changes to net interest income shown below are in compliance with the Corporation’s policy guidelines.
At December 31, 2023, the Corporation has approximately $2.1 billion in outstanding loan balances that are rate sensitive over the next twelve months.
51
Table of Contents
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee
CNB Financial Corporation
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CNB Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”) as of December 31, 2023, the related consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Corporation as of December 31, 2023, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 7, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’s financial statements based on our audits.
We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Corporation in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures include examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
52
Table of Contents
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
As described in Notes 1 and 3 to the financial statements, the Corporation establishes an allowance representing the estimate of expected credit losses over the estimated life of the existing portfolio of loans. The Corporation measures expected credit losses based on a pooled loan basis when similar risk characteristics exist by primarily applying a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model. The DCF model discounts instrument-level contractual cash flows, adjusting for prepayments and curtailments, and incorporates loss expectations based on past events, current conditions, and forecasted macroeconomic indicators using reasonable and supportable forecasts. The quantitative estimated losses provided by the DCF model are supplemented by qualitative factors that include changes related to relevant data, such as differences in underwriting standards, changes in environmental conditions, delinquency levels, segment growth rates and changes in duration within new markets, or other relevant factors not considered in the DCF model.
We identified the allowance for credit losses on loans as a critical audit matter. Auditing management’s estimate of the allowance involved a high degree of subjectivity due to the significant judgment required in determining the (1) significant assumptions within the DCF model and (2) measurement of the qualitative factors applied to the loan portfolio.
The primary procedures performed to address the critical audit matter included:
•We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design, and tested the operating effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal controls over the allowance for credit losses process, including controls over the qualitative elements of the allowance. This included controls over the review of the relevance and reliability of data used to determine the estimates and the review of the appropriateness of the key assumptions and judgments used in the determination of the qualitative factors.
•We evaluated the completeness and accuracy of data used in the development of qualitative factors and the reasonableness of management’s judgments and the relevance of data used in applying the qualitative factors.
•We evaluated the current and expected qualitative adjustments, including assessing the basis for the adjustments and the reasonableness of the significant assumptions.
•We tested of the loan review function and the accuracy of loan grades determined. Specifically, utilizing internal professionals to assist us in evaluating the appropriateness of loan grades.
Goodwill Impairment Assessment
The Corporation has recorded goodwill of $43.7 million as of December 31, 2023. The determination of the annual goodwill impairment assessment has been identified by the Corporation as a critical accounting policy. As further described in Notes 1 and 8 to the consolidated financial statements, goodwill is tested for impairment at least annually, occurring as of November 30, or more frequently if events or circumstances warrant. At November 30, 2023, the Corporation elected to perform a quantitative assessment to determine if it was more likely than not that the fair value exceeded its carrying value, including goodwill. The Corporation engaged a third-party valuation firm to assist in performing the quantitative analysis using multiple approaches that were weighted by management. Based upon the valuation prepared, the quantitative assessment indicated that it was more likely than not that the fair value exceeded its carrying value, resulting in no impairment.
We identified the Corporation’s quantitative goodwill impairment assessment, as of November 30, as a critical audit matter. The principal considerations for that determination were the degree of subjectivity and judgment required to audit management’s goodwill impairment assessment. Specifically, evaluating the valuation approaches selected and key assumptions used by management in performing its assessment, such as the selection of comparable publicly-traded companies and control premium utilized in the valuation approaches.
The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following:
•We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls related to management’s goodwill impairment assessment, including controls over management’s review of the quantitative analysis performed, including the key assumptions used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit.
•We tested key financial data used within the valuation approaches by agreeing key inputs to internal and external sources.
53
Table of Contents
•We evaluated, with the assistance of our internal valuation specialists, appropriateness of valuation approaches selected by management, the selection of a control premium and of comparable publicly-traded companies, and the overall reasonableness of the estimated fair value of the reporting unit.
Other Matter
The 2021 financial statements were audited by other auditors whose unqualified reports on those statements thereon, dated March 3, 2022, included an emphasis paragraph that described the change in accounting principle discussed in Note 1.
/s/ FORVIS, LLP
We have served as the Corporation’s auditor since 2022.
Indianapolis, Indiana
March 7, 2024
54
Table of Contents
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders, Board of Directors, and Audit Committee
CNB Financial Corporation
Clearfield, Pennsylvania
Opinion on the Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited CNB Financial Corporation’s (the “Corporation”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework: (2013) issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation as of December 31, 2023, and the related consolidated statement of income and comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the year ended December 31, 2023, and our report dated March 7, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financing Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Corporation in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definitions and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting