chco-20221231
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
☒Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022
OR
☐Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the Transition Period From ____________To_____________.
Commission File Number 0-11733
CITY HOLDING COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
25 Gatewater Road
Charleston West Virginia 25313
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(304) 769-1100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, $2.50 par value CHCO NASDAQ Global Select Market
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act:
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act:
Yes [ ] No [X]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer","smaller reporting company", and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☒ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.☒
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).
Yes ☐ No ☒
As of June 30, 2022, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second quarter, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates, based upon the closing price per share of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, was approximately $1.2 billion. (Registrant has assumed that all of its executive officers and directors are affiliates. Such assumption shall not be deemed to be conclusive for any other purpose.)
As of February 17, 2023, there were 14,739,549 shares of the Company’s common stock, $2.50 par value, outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2023 annual shareholders’ meeting to be held on April 26, 2023 are incorporated by reference into Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.
FORM 10-K INDEX
PART I Pages
Item 1. Business 1
Item 1A. Risk Factors 13
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments 24
Item 2. Properties 24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 24
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 24
PART II
Item 6. Reserved 27
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 51
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 53
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures 111
Item 9B. Other Information 111
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections 111
Part III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 112
Item 11. Executive Compensation 112
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services 113
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules 114
Exhibit Index 115
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains certain forward-looking statements that are included pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements express only management's beliefs regarding future results or events and are subject to inherent uncertainty, risks and changes in circumstances, many of which are outside of management's control. Uncertainty, risks, changes in circumstances and other factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to those set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under "ITEM 1A Risk Factors" and the following: (1) general economic conditions, especially in the communities and markets in which we conduct our business; (2) ongoing uncertainties on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition caused by the scope of the recovery of the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) credit risk, including risk that negative credit quality trends may lead to a deterioration of asset quality, risk that our allowance for credit losses may not be sufficient to absorb actual losses in our loan portfolio, and risk from concentrations within our loan portfolio; (4) changes in the real estate market, including the value of collateral securing portions of our loan portfolio; (5) changes in the interest rate environment; (6) operational risk, including cybersecurity risk and risk of fraud, data processing system failures, and network breaches; (7) changes in technology and increased competition, including competition from non-bank financial institutions; (8) changes in consumer preferences, spending and borrowing habits, demand for our products and services, and customers' performance and creditworthiness; (9) difficulty growing loan and deposit balances; (10) our ability to effectively execute our business plan, including with respect to future acquisitions; (11) changes in regulations, laws, taxes, government policies, monetary policies and accounting policies affecting bank holding companies and their subsidiaries; (12) deterioration in the financial condition of the U.S. banking system may impact the valuations of investments the Company has made in the securities of other financial institutions; (13) regulatory enforcement actions and adverse legal actions; (14) difficulty attracting and retaining key employees; and (15) other economic, competitive, technological, operational, governmental, regulatory, and market factors affecting our operations. Forward-looking statements made herein reflect management's expectations as of the date such statements are made. Such information is provided to assist stockholders and potential investors in understanding current and anticipated financial operations of the Company and is included pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date such statements are made.
PART I
Item 1.Business
City Holding Company (the "Company" or "City Holding" or the "Parent Company") is a financial holding company headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia. The Company conducts its principal activities through its wholly-owned subsidiary, City National Bank of West Virginia ("City National"). City National provides banking, trust and investment management and other financial solutions through its network of 94 bank branches and 909 full-time equivalent associates located in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and southeastern Ohio. The Company’s business activities are currently limited to one reportable business segment, which is community banking.
The principal products produced and services rendered by City National include:
•Commercial Banking - City National offers a full range of commercial banking services to corporations and other business customers. Loans are provided for a variety of business purposes, including financing for commercial and industrial projects, income producing commercial real estate, owner-occupied real estate and construction and land development. City National also provides deposit services for commercial customers, including treasury management, lockbox and other cash management services. City National provides merchant credit card services through an agreement with a third party vendor.
•Consumer Banking - City National provides banking services to consumers, including checking, savings and money market accounts as well as certificates of deposit and individual retirement accounts. In addition, City National provides consumers with installment and real estate loans and lines of credit. City National also offers credit cards through an agreement with a third party vendor.
•Mortgage Banking - City National provides mortgage banking services, including fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages, construction financing, land loans, production of conventional and government insured mortgages, secondary marketing and mortgage servicing.
•Wealth Management and Trust Services - City National offers specialized services and expertise in the areas of wealth management, trust, investment and custodial services for commercial and individual customers. These services include the administration of personal trusts and estates, as well as the management of investment accounts for individuals, employee benefit plans and charitable foundations. City National also provides corporate trust and institutional custody, financial and estate planning and retirement plan services.
City National’s customer base is diverse and no single depositor could have a material adverse effect on liquidity, capital, or other elements of financial performance. Although no portion of City National’s loan portfolio is concentrated within a single industry or group of related industries in excess of City National's internally designated limit, residential mortgage loans have historically comprised a significant portion of its loan portfolio. At December 31, 2022, approximately 50% of the Company’s loan portfolio was categorized as residential mortgage and home equity loans. However, due to the fractured nature of residential mortgage lending, there is no concentration of credits that would be considered materially detrimental to the Company’s financial position or operating results. At December 31, 2022, approximately 48% of the Company’s loan portfolio was categorized as commercial and industrial and commercial real estate. However, there is no concentration of credits that would be considered materially detrimental to the Company’s financial position or operating results.
City National’s loan portfolio is comprised of commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, residential real estate, home equity, consumer loans and demand deposit account ("DDA") overdrafts.
City National's commercial and industrial loan portfolio consists of loans to corporate and other legal entity borrowers, primarily small to mid-size industrial and commercial companies. Commercial and industrial loans typically involve a higher level of risk than other loan types, including industry specific risks such as the pertinent economy, new technology, labor rates and cyclicality, as well as customer specific factors, such as cash flow, financial structure, operating controls and asset quality. Collateral securing these loans includes equipment, machinery, inventory, receivables and vehicles. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $374 million of loans classified as "Commercial and Industrial".
Commercial real estate loans consist of commercial mortgages, which generally are secured by nonresidential and multi-family residential properties, including hotel/motel and apartment lending. Commercial real estate loans are provided to many of the same customers and carry similar industry and customer specific risks as the commercial and industrial loans, but have different collateral risks. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $1.39 billion of loans classified as "Commercial Real Estate."
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In order to group loans with similar risk characteristics, the portfolio is further segmented by product types:
•Commercial 1-4 Family loans consist of residential single-family, duplex, triplex, and fourplex rental properties and totaled $116.2 million as of December 31, 2022. Risk characteristics are driven by rental housing demand as well as economic and employment conditions. These properties exhibit greater risk than multi-family properties due to fewer income sources.
•The Hotel portfolio is comprised of all lodging establishments and totaled $340.4 million as of December 31, 2022. Risk characteristics relate to the demand for travel.
•Multi-family consists of 5 or more family residential apartment lending. The portfolio totaled $174.8 million as of December 31, 2022. Risk characteristics are driven by rental housing demand as well as economic and employment conditions.
•Non-residential commercial real estate includes properties such as retail, office, warehouse, storage, healthcare, entertainment, religious, and other nonresidential commercial properties. The non-residential product type is further segmented into owner- and non-owner occupied properties. Nonresidential non-owner occupied commercial real estate totaled $586.0 million while nonresidential owner-occupied commercial real estate totaled $175.0 million as of December 31, 2022. Risk characteristics relate to levels of consumer spending and overall economic conditions.
City National diversifies risk within the commercial and industrial and commercial real estate portfolios by closely monitoring industry concentrations (against internally established risk-based capital thresholds) and portfolios to ensure that it does not exceed established lending guidelines. Diversification is intended to limit the risk of loss from any single unexpected economic event or trend. Underwriting standards require a comprehensive credit analysis and independent evaluation of all larger balance commercial loans by the loan committee prior to approval.
City National categorizes commercial loans by industry according to the North American Industry Classification System ("NAICS") to monitor its portfolio for possible concentrations in one or more industries. Management monitors industry concentrations against internally established risk-based capital thresholds. As of December 31, 2022, City National was within its internally designated concentration limits. Furthermore, with the exception of loans to borrowers within the "Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings" category, no other NAICS industry classification exceeded 10% of total loans at December 31, 2022. Loans to "Lessors of Nonresidential Buildings" were 14% of total loans at December 31, 2022. Management also monitors non-owner occupied commercial real estate as a percent of risk-based capital (based upon regulatory guidance). At December 31, 2022, the Company had $1.2 billion of commercial loans classified as non-owner occupied, which was within its designated concentration threshold.
Residential real estate loans represent loans to consumers that are secured by a first priority lien on residential real property. Residential real estate loans include loans for the purchase or refinance of consumers' residences and first-priority home equity loans allow consumers to borrow against the equity in their home. These loans primarily consist of single family three- and five-year adjustable rate mortgages with terms that amortize up to 30 years. City National also offers fixed-rate residential real estate loans. Residential purchase real estate loans are generally underwritten to comply with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, while first priority lien home equity loans are underwritten with typically less documentation, lower loan-to-value ratios and shorter maturities. Additionally, the Company periodically purchases residential mortgage loans. The credit and collateral documents for each potential purchased loan are reviewed to ensure the credit metrics are acceptable to management. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $1.69 billion of loans classified as "Residential Real Estate."
City National's home equity loans represent loans to consumers that are secured by a second (or junior) priority lien on residential real property. Home equity loans allow consumers to borrow against the equity in their home without paying off an existing first priority lien. These loans include home equity lines of credit ("HELOC") and amortized home equity loans that require monthly installment payments. Second priority lien home equity loans are underwritten with less documentation than first priority lien residential real estate loans but typically have similar loan-to-value ratios and other terms as first priority lien residential real estate loans. The amount of credit extended under these loans is directly related to the value of the real estate securing the loan at the time the loan is made. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $134.3 million of loans classified as "Home Equity."
All mortgage loans, whether fixed rate or adjustable rate, are originated in accordance with acceptable industry standards and comply with regulatory requirements. Fixed rate mortgage loans are processed and underwritten in accordance with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines, while adjustable rate mortgage loans are underwritten in accordance with City National's internal loan policy.
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Consumer loans may be secured by automobiles, boats, recreational vehicles, certificates of deposit and other personal property, or they may be unsecured. The Company manages the risk associated with consumer loans by monitoring factors such as portfolio size and growth, internal lending policies, and pertinent economic conditions. City National's underwriting standards for consumer loans are continually evaluated and modified based upon these factors. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $48.8 million of loans classified as "Consumer."
DDA overdraft balances reflect demand deposit accounts that have been overdrawn by deposit customers and have been reclassified as loans. As of December 31, 2022, City National reported $3.4 million of loans classified as "DDA Overdrafts."
City National’s loan underwriting guidelines and standards are updated periodically with suggested revisions presented to City National's Board of Directors for approval. The purposes of the underwriting guidelines and standards is to grant loans on a sound and collectible basis; to invest available funds in a safe and profitable manner; to serve the legitimate credit needs of the communities in City National's primary market area; and to ensure that all loan applicants receive fair and equal treatment throughout the lending process. The underwriting guidelines and standards are intended to: (i) minimize credit losses by carefully investigating the credit history and creditworthiness of each applicant; (ii) verify the source of repayment and the ability of the applicant to repay; (iii) adequately collateralize those loans in which collateral is deemed to be required; (iv) exercise appropriate care in the documentation of the application, review, approval, and origination processes; and (v) administer a comprehensive loan collection program. The underwriting guidelines are adhered to by the loan officer assigned to the loan application and are subject to his or her experience, background and personal judgment.
Market Area and Competition
City National operates a network of 94 bank branches primarily along the I-64 corridor from Lexington, Kentucky through Lexington, Virginia and along the I-81 corridor through the Shenandoah Valley from Lexington, Virginia to Martinsburg, West Virginia. City National's branch network includes 58 branches in West Virginia, 19 branches in Kentucky, 13 branches in Virginia and 4 branches in Ohio. City National provides credit, deposit and investment advisory products and services to a broad geographical area that includes many rural and small community markets in addition to larger cities including Charleston (WV), Huntington (WV), Martinsburg (WV), Ashland (KY), Lexington (KY), Winchester (VA) and Staunton (VA). In addition to its branch network, City National's delivery channels include automated-teller-machines ("ATMs"), interactive-teller machines ("ITMs"), mobile banking, debit cards, interactive voice response systems, and Internet technology.
As noted previously, the Company’s principal markets are located in West Virginia and contiguous markets in the surrounding states of Kentucky, Virginia and Southeastern Ohio. The majority of the Company’s bank branches are located in the areas of Charleston (WV), Huntington (WV), Beckley (WV), Lewisburg (WV), Martinsburg (WV), Lexington (KY), and along the I-81 corridor in Virginia where there is a significant presence of other financial service providers. Within its markets, the Company competes with national, regional, and local community banks for deposits, credit and trust and investment management customers. In addition to traditional banking organizations, the Company competes with credit unions, finance companies, financial technology "fintech" companies, mutual funds, insurance companies, and other financial service providers, many of which are able to provide specialty financial products and services to targeted customer groups. As further discussed below, changes in laws and regulations enacted in recent years have increased the competitive environment the Company and its subsidiaries face to retain and attract customers.
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City National also provides commercial products and services to customers that are outside of its branches' geographical footprint. These loans are diversified across a broad base of industry types, including multi-family housing properties, properties leased to government agencies, nursing homes, grocery and retail stores, and other commercial and industrial loans. At December 31, 2022, the outstanding balance of commercial loans to markets outside of the geographical footprint of the bank's branches was approximately $372 million, or 21% of City National's outstanding commercial loan balances.
City National has approximately 15% of the deposit market share in the counties of West Virginia where its bank branches are located. In eastern Kentucky, City National has approximately 21% of the deposit market share in the counties where its bank branches are located. In Virginia, City National has approximately 8% of the deposit market share in the counties along the I-81 corridor where its bank branches are located. In Lawrence County, Ohio, where City National has three bank branches, City National has approximately 17% of the deposit market share.
According to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates (2021), in the West Virginia counties where City National's bank branches are located, the population was approximately 1.0 million and has decreased 1.5% since 2010. The population in the counties that City National serves in Kentucky has increased 4.9% since 2010 and the population in the counties City National serves in Virginia along the I-81 corridor has increased 10.9% since 2010, which are more comparable to the national average increase of approximately 7.5%. In Lawrence County, Ohio, the population has decreased 8.0% since 2010.
On October 18, 2022, the Company announced that City Holding had signed a definitive agreement in which City Holding will acquire Citizens Commerce Bancshares, Inc., ("Citizens") the parent company of Citizens Commerce Bank, Inc., Versailles, Kentucky (the “Merger” and the agreement the “Merger Agreement”). Upon completion of the merger, the subsidiary bank of Citizens will merge with and into City National (the “Bank Merger”). The Boards of Directors of City and Citizens have approved the Merger, Bank Merger and the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, Citizens shareholders will have the right to receive 0.1666 City common shares, par value of $2.50 per share for each Citizens common share, no par value. Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares and for unexercised Citizens options at closing. The Merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, pending customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval by the shareholders of Citizens.
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Human Capital
We care about our employees and provide not only competitive compensation and benefit packages, but a work environment our employees characterize as "family." We are committed to integrity and the highest ethical standards in regard to how we treat both our customers and our employees. To bring out the best in our employees and our company, we introduced the "Integrity in Action" program that gives all employees additional resources to help protect our company and uphold our high standards. We support all of the communities in which we serve, and our employees embrace this opportunity. Our success is a testament to the quality of financial products and services we provide, but more importantly, to our team and our culture.
Employee Demographics: As of December 31, 2022, we employed 929 full and part time employees (909 FTEs) across our 94 branches throughout West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Southeastern Ohio. Our average quarterly employee turnover rate in 2022 was under 7%. As of December 31, 2022, approximately 82% of our current workforce is female, 18% is male, our average tenure is approximately 10 years and approximately 25% of our workforce has a college degree.
Compensation and Benefits Programs: We provide competitive compensation and benefits programs to our employees. In addition to base salaries, these programs include annual incentive compensation for certain employees, periodic production compensation, a 401(k) Plan with an employer matching contribution (in which employees are 100% vested on the day the employee is eligible to participate), health and insurance benefits, flexible spending accounts, vacation and sick time and various employee assistance programs (Education Assistance Program, Tuition Loan Program, etc.).
The Company is subject to regulatory rules and guidance regarding employee incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that incentive-based compensation does not undermine the safety and soundness of the institution by encouraging excess risk-taking. The Company's incentive compensation arrangements must provide employees with incentives that appropriately balance risk and reward and do not encourage imprudent risk, be compatible with effective controls and risk managements, and be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the Company's board of directors.
Employee Development: We invest in the growth and development of our employees by providing various on-site and off-site training opportunities for them. These training opportunities focus on topics that are relevant to the employee’s job function and the banking industry.
We evaluate our employees on at least an annual basis. Those evaluations focus on job performance, achievement of goals, and employee development, among other topics.
Regulation and Supervision
Overview: The Company, as a registered financial holding company, and City National, as an insured depository institution, operate in a highly regulated environment and are regularly examined by federal regulators. The following description briefly discusses certain provisions of federal and state laws and regulations to which the Company and City National are subject and the potential impact of such provisions. These federal and state laws and regulations are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of depository institutions and to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s insurance fund; they are not intended to protect the Company’s shareholders. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the banking industry are frequently raised in Congress, in state legislatures, and before the various bank regulatory agencies. The likelihood and timing of any changes and the impact such changes might have on the Company are impossible to determine with any certainty. A change in applicable laws or regulations, or a change in the way such laws or regulations are interpreted by regulatory agencies or courts, may have a material impact on the business, operations and earnings of the Company. To the extent that the following information describes statutory or regulatory provisions, it is qualified entirely by reference to the particular statute and/or regulation.
As a financial holding company, the Company is regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA"), and is subject to inspection, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Board. The BHCA provides generally for "umbrella" regulation of bank holding companies such as the Company by the Federal Reserve Board, and for functional regulation of banking activities by bank regulators, securities activities by securities regulators, and insurance activities by insurance regulators. The Company is also under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and is subject to the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as administered by the SEC. The Company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market ("NASDAQ") under the trading symbol "CHCO" and is subject to the rules of the NASDAQ for listed companies.
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City National is organized as a national banking association under the National Bank Act of 1863, as amended (the "National Bank Act"). It is subject to regulation and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The OCC's supervision and regulation of banks is primarily intended to protect the interests of depositors of the banks and FDIC's insurance fund. The National Bank Act generally requires each national bank to maintain reserves against deposits, restricts the nature and amount of loans that the bank may make and the interest the bank may charge on such loans, and restricts investments and other activities of the bank.
There are no anticipated material capital expenditures, or any expected material effects on earnings or the Company’s competitive position as a result of compliance with federal, state and local provisions enacted or adopted relating to environmental protection.
Bank Holding Company Activities: In general, the BHCA limits the business of bank holding companies to banking, managing or controlling banks and certain other activities that the Federal Reserve Board has determined to be so closely related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies that qualify and elect to be financial holding companies may engage in any activity, or acquire and retain the equity of a company engaged in any activity, that is either (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity (as determined by the Federal Reserve Board in consultation with the OCC) or (ii) complementary to a financial activity and does not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally (as determined solely by the Federal Reserve Board). Activities that are financial in nature include, among other things, securities underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments.
The Company has elected and qualifies as a financial holding company. In order for the Company to maintain its financial holding company status, both the Company and City National must be categorized as "well-capitalized" and "well-managed" under applicable regulatory guidelines. If the Company or City National fails to meet these requirements, the Federal Reserve Board may impose corrective capital requirements or place limitations on the Company's ability to conduct the broader activities permissible for financial holding companies. The Federal Reserve Board also has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve Board has reasonable grounds to believe that continuation of such activity or such ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.
The BHCA, the Bank Merger Act, and other federal and state laws and regulations regulate mergers and acquisitions of commercial banks and bank holding companies. The prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board is typically required for City Holding Company to acquire more than 5% of the voting shares of a commercial bank or bank holding company. Mergers and acquisitions by the Company of national banks, state-chartered banks, federal and state savings associations, and certain other types of entities require prior approval from various regulators. In reviewing applications seeking approval of merger and acquisition transactions, the bank regulatory authorities will consider, among other things, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transaction, the capital position of the combined institution, and the applicant's previous adherence to various banking regulations, including the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 and anti-money laundering requirements.
Federal Reserve Board policy and federal law require that bank holding companies must serve as a source of financial strength to their subsidiary banks. The Company is expected to commit resources to City National, even at times when the Company may not be inclined to do so. For example, if bank regulatory agencies determine that City National's capital levels are impaired, the Company may be required to restore City National's capital levels with a special assessment.
Banking Operations: The Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 ("BSA") and the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 ("Patriot Act") require financial institutions to develop programs to help prevent them from being used for money laundering, terrorist or other illegal activities. The rules under the BSA and the Patriot Act include the following: (a) require financial institutions to keep records and report on transactions or accounts at issue; (b) require financial institutions to obtain and retain information related to the beneficial ownership of any account opened or maintained by foreign persons; (c) require financial institutions to identify each customer who is permitted to use a payable-through or correspondent account and obtain certain information from each customer permitted to use the account; and (d) prohibit or impose conditions on the opening or maintaining of correspondent or payable-through accounts. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution.
The Company and its subsidiary bank and other subsidiaries are "affiliates" within the meaning of the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Act imposes limitations on a bank with respect to extensions of credit to, investments in, and certain other transactions with, its parent bank holding company and the holding company’s other subsidiaries. Loans and extensions of credit from the bank to its affiliates are also subject to various collateral requirements. Further, City
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National's authority to extend credit to the Company's directors, executive officers and principal shareholders, including their immediate family members, corporations and other entities that they control, is subject to the restrictions and additional requirements of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O promulgated thereafter. These statutes and regulations impose specific limits on the amount of loans City National may make to directors and other insiders, and specify approval procedures that must be followed in making loans that exceed certain amounts.
The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 ("CRA") requires depository institutions to assist in meeting the credit needs of their market areas consistent with safe and sound banking practice. Under the CRA, each depository institution is required to help meet the credit needs of its market areas by, among other things, providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. Depository institutions are periodically examined for compliance with the CRA and are assigned ratings. In order for a financial holding company to commence any new activity permitted by the BHCA, or to acquire any company engaged in any new activity permitted by the BHCA, each insured depository institution subsidiary of the financial holding company must have received a rating of at least "satisfactory" in its most recent examination under the CRA. Banking regulators also take into account CRA ratings when considering approval of a proposed merger or acquisition transaction. Depository institutions are typically examined for CRA compliance every three years, although the frequency is at the OCC's discretion. City National received a "satisfactory" rating on its most recent CRA examination in 2022.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the "Dodd-Frank Act") was enacted in July 2010 and implemented far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that impact the Company's operations and regulation of the Company in the following ways, among others:
•Centralize responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has rule making authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all banks and has broad powers to supervise and enforce consumer protection laws;
•Require the OCC to seek to make its capital requirements for national banks countercyclical so that capital requirements increase in times of economic expansion and decrease in times of economic contraction;
•Require financial holding companies, such as the Company, to be well-capitalized and well-managed;
•Provide for an increase in the minimum reserve ratio for the FDIC deposit insurance fund from 1.15% to 1.35% and changes in the basis for determining FDIC premiums from deposits to assets;
•Repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits;
•Amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act ("EFTA");
•Enhance the requirements for certain transactions with affiliates under the Federal Reserve Act;
•Strengthen the existing limits on a depository institution’s credit exposure to one borrower;
•Strengthen loan restrictions to insiders; and
•Increase the authority of the Federal Reserve Board to examine the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries.
The Volcker Rule was adopted under the Dodd-Frank Act and prohibits certain entities, including the Company and its affiliates, from owning, sponsoring, or having certain relationships with hedge funds and private equity funds and engaging in short-term proprietary trading of securities, derivatives, commodity futures and options on these instruments.
Since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the "CFPB") has issued several regulations governing mainly consumer mortgage lending. These regulations include the Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage Rule, which imposes additional requirements on banks designed to ensure borrowers' ability to repay their mortgage loans, a rule on escrow accounts for higher priced mortgage loans, a rule expanding the scope of the high-cost mortgage provision in the Truth in Lending Act, rules related to mortgage servicing, and an interagency rule on appraisals for higher-priced mortgage loans. The CFPB has also promulgated rules under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth in Lending Act, and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, all of which impact the Company's loan origination and servicing operations. The CFPB also has broad authority to supervise unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices related to banking.
The Company is also subject to the Gramm-Leach Bliley Act of 1999, which governs the distribution and protection of information about its customers, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which ensures fair and nondiscriminatory lending practices, the Truth in Lending Act and Truth in Savings Act, which makes it easier for customers to compare products and services offered by financial institutions, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, which imposes additional disclosure requirements on the Company related to information about its mortgage lending, and other federal and state laws and regulations.
The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (the "Regulatory Relief Act") was signed into law on May 24, 2018. The Regulatory Relief Act scales back certain aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act and provides other regulatory relief for financial institutions. Certain provisions affecting the Company include:
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•Simplifying regulatory capital requirements by providing that banks with less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets that meet a leverage ratio of tangible equity to average consolidated assets between eight and nine percent will be deemed to be in compliance with risk-based capital and leverage requirements.
•Changing how federal financial institution regulators classify certain municipal securities assets under the liquidity coverage ratio rule;
•Exempting certain reciprocal deposits from treatment as brokered deposits under the FDIC's brokered deposits rule;
•Exempting banks with less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets from certain provisions under the Volcker Rule; and
•Authorizing new banking procedures to better facilitate online transactions.
Capital Adequacy: Federal banking regulations set forth capital adequacy guidelines, which are used by regulatory authorities to assess the adequacy of capital in examining and supervising a bank holding company and its insured depository institutions.
In July 2013, the Federal Reserve published the final rules that established a comprehensive capital framework for banking organizations, commonly referred to as Basel III. These final rules substantially revised the risk-based capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies and depository institutions. The final rule became effective January 1, 2015 for smaller, non-complex banking organizations with full implementation by January 1, 2019.
The Basel III Capital Rules require City Holding and City National to maintain minimum Common Equity Tier 1 ("CET 1"), Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios, along with a capital conservation buffer, effectively resulting in minimum capital ratios (which are shown in the table below). The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall. The Basel III Capital Rules also provide for a "countercyclical capital buffer" that is applicable to only certain covered institutions and does not have any current applicability to City Holding Company or City National Bank.
The Company’s regulatory capital ratios for both City Holding and City National include the 2.5% capital conservation buffer and are illustrated in the following tables (dollars in thousands):
Capital Amount Ratio Capital Amount Ratio Capital Amount Ratio
CET 1 Capital
Tier 1 Capital
Total Capital
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
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Capital Amount Ratio Capital Amount Ratio Capital Amount Ratio
CET 1 Capital
Tier 1 Capital
Total Capital
Tier 1 Leverage Ratio
Management believes that, as of December 31, 2022, City Holding and City National meet all capital adequacy requirements under Basel III. In November 2019, the federal banking regulators published final rules implementing a simplified measure of capital adequacy for certain banking organizations that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets. Under the final rules, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, depository institutions and depository institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, off–balance–sheet exposures of 25% or less of total consolidated assets and trading assets plus trading liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets, are deemed "qualifying community banking organizations" and are eligible to opt into the "community bank leverage ratio framework." A qualifying community banking organization that elects to use the community bank leverage ratio framework and that maintains a leverage ratio of greater than 9% is considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk–based and leverage capital requirements under the Basel III Rules and, if applicable, is considered to have met the "well capitalized" ratio requirements for purposes of its primary federal regulator’s prompt corrective action rules, discussed below. The final rules include a two–quarter grace period during which a qualifying community banking organization that temporarily fails to meet any of the qualifying criteria, including the greater–than–9% leverage capital ratio requirement, is generally still deemed "well capitalized" so long as the banking organization maintains a leverage capital ratio greater than 8%. A banking organization that fails to maintain a leverage capital ratio greater than 8% is not permitted to use the grace period and must comply with the generally applicable requirements under the Basel III Rules and file the appropriate regulatory reports. The Company and our subsidiary bank do not have any immediate plans to elect to use the community bank leverage ratio framework but may make such an election in the future.
Additionally, federal banking laws require regulatory authorities to take "prompt corrective action" with respect to depository institutions that do not satisfy minimum capital requirements. The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institutions in question are "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized," or "critically undercapitalized," as such terms are defined under federal banking agency regulations. Depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements will face constraints on payment of dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of shortfall. A depository institution that is not well capitalized is generally prohibited from accepting brokered deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market, may be subject to asset growth limitations, and may be required to submit capital restoration plans.
Dividends and Other Payments: The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from City National. Dividends from City National are essentially the sole source of cash for the Company. The right of the Company, and the shareholders of the Company, to participate in any distribution of the assets or earnings of City National, through the payment of dividends or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of City National, except to the extent that claims of the Company in its capacity as a creditor may be recognized. Moreover, there are various legal limitations applicable to the payment of dividends by City National to the Company as well as the payment of dividends by the Company to its shareholders.
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City National is subject to various statutory restrictions on its ability to pay dividends to the Company. Specifically, the approval of the OCC is required prior to the payment of dividends by City National in excess of its earnings retained in the current year plus retained net profits for the preceding two years. At December 31, 2022, City National could pay dividends up to $59.2 million without prior regulatory permission. No dividends were paid in 2022 or 2021 that required regulatory approval. The payment of dividends by the Company and City National may also be limited by other factors, such as requirements to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines. The OCC also has the authority to prohibit any bank under its jurisdiction from engaging in an unsafe or unsound practice in conducting its business. Depending upon the financial condition of City National, the payment of dividends could be deemed to constitute such an unsafe or unsound practice. The Federal Reserve Board and the OCC have indicated their view that it generally would be an unsafe and unsound practice to pay dividends except out of current operating earnings. The Federal Reserve Board has stated that, as a matter of prudent banking, a bank or bank holding company should not maintain its existing rate of cash dividends on common stock unless (1) the organization’s net income available to common shareholders over the past year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends and (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board has indicated that bank holding companies should serve as a source of managerial and financial strength to their subsidiary banks. Accordingly, the Federal Reserve Board has stated that a bank holding company should not maintain a level of cash dividends to its shareholders that places undue pressure on the capital of its bank subsidiaries, or that can be funded only through additional borrowings or other arrangements that may undermine the bank holding company’s ability to serve as a source of financial strength.
Under federal law, City National may not, subject to certain limited exceptions, make loans or extensions of credit to, or invest in the securities of, or take securities of the Company as collateral for loans to any borrower. City National is also subject to collateral security requirements for any loans or extensions of credit permitted by such exceptions.
Governmental Policies
The Federal Reserve Board regulates money and credit and interest rates in the United States in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall economic growth, demand and distribution of bank loans, investments and deposits, and interest rates charged on loans or paid for time and savings deposits. Federal Reserve Board monetary policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of banks and bank holding companies in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.
In view of changing conditions in the national economy and in money markets, as well as the effect of credit policies by monetary and fiscal authorities, including the Federal Reserve Board, it is difficult to predict the impact of possible future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, and loan demand, or their effect on the Company's business and earnings or on the financial condition of the Company's various customers.
Deposit Insurance
Substantially all of the deposits of City National are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF") of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. Deposit insurance assessments are based on average total assets minus average tangible equity. In October 2010, the FDIC adopted a DIF restoration plan to ensure that the fund reserve ratio reached 1.35% by September 30, 2020, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act. In March 2016, the FDIC adopted a final rule permanently increasing the reserve ratio for the DIF to 1.35% of total insured deposits.
The Company's FDIC insurance expense for deposit assessments for the past three years is shown in the table below (in thousands).
For the year ended December 31,
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On January 24, 2019, the Company was notified by the FDIC that it was eligible for small bank assessment credits. On September 30, 2018, the DIF reserve ratio reached 1.36%. Because the reserve ratio exceeded 1.35%, two deposit assessment changes occurred under the FDIC regulations: (i) surcharges on large banks (total consolidated assets of $10 billion or more) ended and (ii) small banks (total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion) were awarded assessment credits for the portion of their assessments that contributed to the growth in the reserve ratio from 1.15% to 1.35%, to be applied when the reserve ratio is at least 1.38%. The credit will be applied automatically each quarter that the reserve ratio is at least 1.38%, up to the full amount of the bank's credit or assessment, whichever is less. The Company fully utilized the credit during the third and fourth quarters of 2019 and during the first and second quarters of 2020.
Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended ("FDIA") the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.
Cybersecurity
Federal regulators issued two statements regarding cybersecurity: (i) a statement indicating that financial institutions should design multiple layers of security controls to establish lines of defense and to ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, including security measures to reliably authenticate customers accessing internet-based services of the financial institutions; and (ii) a statement indicating the expectation of a financial institution's management to maintain a sufficient business continuity planning process to ensure rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the financial institution's operations after a cyber-attack involving destructive malware. A financial institution is also expected to develop appropriate processes to: (a) enable recovery of data and business operations, (b) address rebuilding network capabilities, and (c) restore data if the financial institution or any of its critical service providers fall victim to this type of cyber-attack. If the Company does not comply with this regulatory guidance, it could be subject to various regulatory sanctions, as well as financial penalties.
In November 2021, federal banking agencies approved a final rule requiring banking agencies to notify regulators of any “significant computer-security incident” as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after a determination that such an incident occurred, with compliance required by May 2022. In addition, banks will have to notify at least one designated point of contact at any affected customer as soon as possible when the bank experiences any computer-security incident that has disrupted or degraded, or is reasonably likely to materially disrupt or degrade, covered services provided to such customer for four or more hours. The bank and holding company are required to determine whether an incident arises to the level of requiring notification.
Future Legislation
Various other legislative and regulatory initiatives, including proposals to overhaul the banking regulatory system and to limit the investments that a depository institution may make with insured funds, are from time to time introduced in Congress and state legislatures, as well as regulatory agencies. Such legislation may change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company and its subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways, and could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities, or affect the competitive balance in the financial services industry generally. The Company cannot predict whether any such legislation will be enacted, and, if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. A change in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company or our subsidiaries could have a material effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
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Executive Officers of the Registrant
At December 31, 2022, the executive officers of the Company were as follows:
Name Age Positions Held with Registrant
Available Information
The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document the Company files at the SEC Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N. E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The Company's SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
The Company’s Internet website address is www.bankatcity.com. The Company makes available free of charge through its website its annual report, quarterly reports, current reports and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after such documents are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information on the Company’s website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this report or incorporated into any other filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the Company’s annual report will be made available, free of charge, upon written request.
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Item 1A.Risk Factors
An investment in the Company’s common stock is subject to risks inherent to the Company’s business. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect the Company are described below. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that management is not aware of or focused on or that management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations. You should carefully consider the risks described below, as well as the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, before making an investment in the Company’s common stock. If any of the following risks occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected, and you could lose all or part of your investment. In this section, the term "Company" includes City National unless the circumstances dictate otherwise.
Economic Risks
The results of the ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and financial results remain unknown.
The COVID-19 pandemic created extensive disruptions to the global economy and to the lives of individuals throughout the world. Business and consumer customers of the Company continue to experiencing varying degrees of financial distress as a result of the unprecedented uncertainty, volatility and disruption in the financial markets and in governmental, commercial and consumer activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Though recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is underway, given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is not possible to accurately predict the extent, severity or duration of these conditions or when or if normal economic conditions will resume. For this reason, the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic affects our business, operations and financial condition, as well as our regulatory capital and liquidity ratios, remains uncertain and unpredictable and depends on, among other things, new information that may emerge concerning the scope, duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. The adverse impact on the markets in which we operate and on our business, operations and financial condition is expected to remain elevated until the pandemic fully subsides. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, it will likely take time for the U.S. economy to recover, and the length of the recovery period is unknown. The Company's business could be materially and adversely affected during any such recovery period. To the extent the effects of COVID-19 adversely impact the Company's business and financial results, it might also have a heightening effect of the other risks described in this section.
Economic Conditions in the Company's Market Areas Could Negatively Impact the Company's Business and Financial Condition.
The Company’s business is concentrated in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and southeastern Ohio. As a result, the Company’s results of operation, cash flows and financial condition are affected by local and regional economic conditions. A downturn in the economies within the Company’s market areas, or in any one of them, could negatively impact the Company’s results of operation and financial condition. Some examples of economic deterioration include declines in economic growth, declines in consumer and business confidence, increases in inflation, increases in the cost of capital and credit, and limitations in the availability of credit. The Company’s financial performance generally, and the ability of its customers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans to City National, is highly dependent on the strength of the economic and business environment in the market areas where the Company operates and in the United States as a whole. Additionally, the value of collateral securing loans made and held by City National is impacted by the strength of the economy. Deteriorating economic conditions in the Company’s market areas could cause declines in the overall quality of the loan portfolio requiring charge-off of a greater percentage of loans and/or an increase in the allowance for credit losses, which could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
While the economic and business environments in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and southeastern Ohio have shown resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and have shown improvement since the brief recession of 2020, there can be no assurance that such resilience and improvement will continue or that the economies in the Company’s market areas, or the United States as a whole, will not slip into another recession. A lack of continued economic improvement or economic recession could adversely affect the Company’s results of operation and financial condition. An economic slowdown could have the following consequences:
•Loan delinquencies may increase;
•Problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
•Demand for City National's products and services may decline; and
•Collateral (including real estate) that secures loans made by City National may decline in value, in turn reducing customers’ borrowing power and making existing loans less secure.
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The oil, natural gas and coal industries, and businesses ancillary thereto, play an important role in the economies of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and southeastern Ohio. Ongoing volatility in oil and gas prices since 2014 has negatively impacted oil and gas and other businesses in the Company’s market areas. Additionally, the coal industry continues to be in decline as a result of increased environmental and safety regulatory burden, increased competition from alternative energy sources and a decline in demand for coal. The Company has limited direct exposure to coal industry specific loans. Prolonged low oil and gas prices, and continued decline in the coal industry, could result in downward pressure on businesses in the Company’s market area which could negatively affect City National’s customers (both individuals and businesses). As a result, the Company’s operating results and financial condition could be negatively impacted.
Credit and Interest Rate Risks
The Value of Real Estate Collateral May Fluctuate Significantly Resulting in an Under-Collateralized Loan Portfolio.
The market value of real estate, particularly real estate held for investment, can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the geographic area in which the real estate is located. If the value of the real estate serving as collateral for the Company's loan portfolio were to decline materially, a significant part of the Company's loan portfolio could become under-collateralized. If the loans that are collateralized by real estate become troubled during a time when market conditions are declining or have declined, then, in the event of foreclosure, we may not be able to realize the amount of collateral that we anticipated at the time of originating the loan. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company's provision for credit losses and the Company's operating results and financial condition.
The Company Is Subject to Lending Risk, and the Impacts of Interest Rate Changes Could Adversely Impact the Company.
There are inherent risks associated with the Company’s lending activities. These risks include, among other things, the impact of changes in interest rates and changes in the economic conditions in the markets where the Company operates. Increases in interest rates and/or weakening economic conditions could adversely impact the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans or the value of the collateral securing these loans. The Company is also subject to various laws and regulations that affect its lending activities. Failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject the Company to regulatory enforcement action that could result in restrictions of the Company's activities or the assessment of significant civil money penalties against the Company.
A substantial portion of the Company's loan portfolio is comprised of residential and commercial real estate loans. The Company's concentration of real estate loans may subject the Company to additional risk, such as fluctuations in market value of collateral, environmental liability associated with hazardous or toxic substances found on, in or around the collateral, and difficulty monitoring income-producing property serving as a source of repayment and collateral. Any of these or other risks relating to real estate loans could adversely affect the collection by the Company of the outstanding loan balances.
Default on the Repayment of Loans May Impact Operating Expenses and Earnings.
The Company’s customers may default on the repayment of loans, which may negatively impact the Company’s earnings due to loss of principal and interest income. Increased operating expenses may result from management's allocation of time and resources to the collection and work-out of the loan. Collection efforts may or may not be successful causing the Company to write off the loan or repossess the collateral securing the loan, which may or may not exceed the balance of the loan.
Remediation Costs for Real Property Could Impact the Financial Outcomes of the Company.
A significant portion of the Company’s loan portfolio is secured by real property. In the ordinary course of the Company's business, it sometimes takes title to real property collateral through foreclosure after a borrower defaults on the loan for which the real property is collateral. There is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be present on properties that the Company acquires by way of foreclosure. Though the Company conducts regular remediation evaluations in the ordinary course of business, the Company may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage relating to any hazardous or toxic substances present on the properties it acquires in foreclosure. Environmental laws may require the Company to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit the Company’s ability to use or sell the affected property. Furthermore, remediation costs and financial and other liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
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Changes to Interest Rates Could Impact the Financial Outcomes of the Company.
Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest income the Company receives on loans and securities and the amount of interest it pays on deposits and borrowings, but such changes could also affect (i) the Company’s ability to originate loans and obtain deposits, (ii) the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, and (iii) the average duration of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities portfolio. The Company’s earnings and cash flows are largely dependent upon its net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest income earned on interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and interest expense paid on interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowed funds. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other investments, the Company’s net interest income, and therefore its earnings and net profit, could be adversely affected. Earnings also could be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments fall more quickly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings. Changes in interest rates may also negatively affect the ability of the Company's borrowers to repay their loans, particularly as interest rates rise and adjustable-rate loans become more expensive.
Although management believes it has implemented effective asset and liability management strategies, including the use of derivatives as hedging instruments, to reduce the potential effects of changes in interest rates on the Company’s results of operations, any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. See the section in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s management of interest rate risk.
The Company’s Allowance for Credit Losses May Not be Sufficient.
The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses, which is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics, such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level, or term as well as for changes in environmental conditions, such as changes in unemployment rates, property values, or other relevant factors. These evaluations are conducted at least quarterly and more frequently if deemed necessary.
The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires the Company to make significant estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors, both within and outside of the Company’s control, may require an increase in the allowance for credit losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review the Company’s allowance for credit losses and may require an increase in the provision for credit losses or the recognition of further loan charge-offs based on judgments different than those of management. Any increases in the allowance for credit losses will result in a decrease in net income and capital, and may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
See the section captioned "Allowance for Credit Losses" in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations located elsewhere in this report for further discussion related to the Company’s process for determining the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses.
The Company May Be Adversely Impacted By The Transition From LIBOR As A Reference Rate.
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority and the administrator of LIBOR announced that the publication of the most commonly used U.S. dollar London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) settings will cease to be published or cease to be representative after June 30, 2023. The Company discontinued originating LIBOR-based loans effective December 31, 2021 and is in the process of negotiating loans using its preferred replacement index, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”).
The transition from LIBOR has resulted in and could continue to result in added costs and employee efforts and could present additional risk. Though many contracts have already been re-negotiated, the Company is subject to litigation
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and reputational risks if it is unable to renegotiate and amend existing contracts with counterparties that are dependent on LIBOR, including contracts that do not have fallback language. The timing and manner in which each customer’s contract transitions to AMERIBOR, SOFR or BSBY has varied on a case-by-case basis. Since AMERIBOR, SOFR and BSBY rates are calculated differently, payments under contracts referencing new rates will differ from those referencing LIBOR, which may lead to increased volatility as compared to LIBOR. The transition has impacted the Company’s market risk profiles and required changes to its risk and pricing models, valuation tools, product design and hedging strategies, and the full impacts to the market risk profile changes are not yet known. Although the transition has been underway, the Company is currently unable to assess what the ultimate impact of the transition from LIBOR will be.
As described in Note Two of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, management has reviewed all contracts, identified those that will be affected, and is in the process of transitioning the LIBOR based loans to SOFR, or another index, by June 30, 2023.
Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities
The Value of the Company’s Common Stock Fluctuates.
The market for the Company’s common stock may experience significant price and volume fluctuations in response to a number of factors including actual or anticipated variations in operating results, changes in expectations of future financial performance, changes in estimates by securities analysts, governmental regulatory action, banking industry reform measures, customer relationship developments and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control.
Furthermore, the stock market in general, and the market for financial institutions in particular, have experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of the Company’s common stock, regardless of actual operating performance.
The Trading Volume in the Company’s Common Stock Is Less Than That of Other Larger Financial Services Companies.
Although the Company’s common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the trading volume in its common stock is less than that of other financial services companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of the Company’s common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which the Company has no control. Given the lower trading volume of the Company’s common stock, significant sales of the Company’s common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause the Company’s stock price to fall.
Future Sales or the Issuance of Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Could Negatively Affect its Market Price.
Future sales of substantial amounts of the Company’s common stock, , agreements for the issuance of additional shares of the Company’s common stock (such as the issuance of shares as consideration in connection with the Merger), or the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of the Company’s common stock in the open market. We make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that future sales of shares, the issuance of shares as consideration in the Merger, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price of the Company’s common stock.
Shares of the Company’s Common Stock Are Not FDIC Insured.
Neither the FDIC nor any other governmental agency insures the shares of the Company’s common stock. Therefore, the value of common stock of the Company will be based on market value and may decline.
Strategic Risks
Due to Increased Competition, the Company May Not be Able to Attract and Retain Banking Customers.
The Company faces substantial and intense competition in all areas of its operation, including interest rates and other terms for loans and deposits and the range and quality of services provided. Competition comes from a variety of different competitors, many of which have competitive advantages over the Company. The Company faces competition from:
•local, regional and national banks;
•savings and loans associations;
•Internet banks;
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•credit unions;
•mutual funds;
•mortgage banking firms;
•finance companies;
•financial technology ("fin-tech") companies;
•brokerage firms;
•investment advisory and wealth management firms;
•investment banking firms; and
•other entities.
In particular, many of City National’s competitors are larger banks and financial institutions whose greater resources may afford them a marketplace advantage by enabling them to maintain numerous banking locations and mount extensive promotional and advertising campaigns. Additionally, the Company’s competitors may have products and services not offered by the Company, which may cause current and potential customers to choose those institutions over the Company. The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory, and technological changes and the continued consolidation within the banking industry. Consumer preferences and expectations continue to evolve, and technology and regulatory changes have lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for banks to expand their geographic reach by providing services over the internet and for non-banks to offer products and services typically provided by banks. Many of our non-bank competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and expenses associated with regulatory compliance and may have lower cost structures, such as credit unions that are not subject to federal income tax.
The Company’s ability to compete successfully depends on a number of factors, including our ability to develop, maintain, and build long-term customer relationships; our ability to expand our market area and range of services and products offered; our ability to keep up-to-date with technological advancements, both with respect to new and existing products and with respect to cybersecurity; customer satisfaction with our products and services; and general industry and economic trends. Failure to perform successfully in any of these areas could significantly weaken our competitive position. If the Company is unable to attract new customers and retain current customers, loan and deposit growth could decrease, causing the Company’s results of operations and financial condition to be negatively impacted.
New Lines of Business or New Products and Services May Subject the Company to Additional Risks.
From time to time, the Company may implement new lines of business or offer new products and services within existing lines of business. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or products and services, the Company may invest significant time and resources. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of a new line of business or a new product or service. If we are unable to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or new products or services, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and result of operations.
The Company Faces Technological Change and the Emergence of Nonbank Alternatives to the Financial System.
Consumers may decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions or invest or deposit their funds. Technology and other changes, including the emergence of fin-tech companies are allowing parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can pay bills and transfer funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as "disintermediation," could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the lower cost of deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The banking and financial services industry continually undergoes technological change, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The Company’s future success depends on its ability to address the needs and preferences of its customers by using technology to provide products and services that enhance customer convenience and that create additional efficiencies in the Company’s operations. Many of the Company’s competitors have greater resources to invest in technological improvements, and the Company may not be able to implement new technology-driven products and services as quickly and effectively as its competitors. In addition, the necessary process of updating technology can itself lead to disruptions in the availability or function of systems. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.
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The Value of the Company's Investments Could Decline.
The Company holds available-for-sale investment securities, which are carried at fair value. The determination of fair value for certain of these securities requires significant judgment of the Company’s management. Therefore, the market price the Company receives for its investment securities could be less than the carrying value for such securities. Further, the value of the Company’s investment portfolio could decline for numerous reasons, many of which are outside the Company’s control, including general market conditions, volatility in the securities market, and inflation rates or expectations of inflation. A portion of the Company’s investment portfolio consists of municipal securities. The value of these securities is subject to additional factors, including the financial condition of the government issuer and general demand for municipal securities.
The Company May Be Required to Write Down Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, Causing Its Financial Condition and Results to Be Negatively Affected.
When the Company acquires a business, a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition is allocated to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired determines the amount of the purchase price that is allocated to goodwill acquired. At December 31, 2022, the Company’s goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets were approximately $116 million. Under current accounting standards, if the Company determines goodwill or intangible assets are impaired, it would be required to write down the value of these assets. The Company conducts an annual review to determine whether goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets are impaired. The Company recently completed such an impairment analysis and concluded that no impairment charge was necessary for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company cannot provide assurance whether it will be required to take an impairment charge in the future. Any impairment charge would have a negative effect on its shareholders’ equity and financial results and may cause a decline in the Company's stock price.
The Company May Require Additional Capital in the Future, But That Capital May Not Be Available or May Be Dilutive.
The Company faces liquidity risk, which is the possibility that the Company may not be able to meet its obligations as they come due, both to creditors and customers, or capitalize on growth opportunities because of a lack of liquidity. Lack of liquidity can be caused by an inability to liquidate assets or obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, at a reasonable cost and on other reasonable terms, and within acceptable risk tolerances. The Company is also required by its regulators to maintain specified levels of capital to maintain its operations. The Company’s business needs and future growth, including future acquisitions or organic growth into new markets and business lines, may require it to raise additional capital.
One of the Company’s main sources for liquidity is customer deposits. Increased competition and the availability of alternative products may reduce the Company’s ability to attract and retain core deposits. If customers move money out of bank deposits into other investments, we could lose a relatively low cost source of funds.
The Company’s ability to raise additional capital, whether in the form of debt or equity, is dependent on several factors, including the condition of capital markets, investment demand, and the Company’s financial condition and performance. We cannot assure that we will be able to raise additional capital in the future on terms that are favorable or acceptable to us, or at all.
The issuance of debt may increase our capital costs and reduce our liquidity. The issuance of equity securities, including common stock or one or more series of preferred stock, of the Company may reduce the value of our common stock and have a dilutive effect on holders of our common stock. The Company may issue debt or equity securities that are senior in priority to our common stock as to distributions and liquidation, which could negatively affect the value of our common stock.
Acquisition and Other Growth Opportunities May Present Challenges.
Any future acquisitions may result in unforeseen difficulties, which could require significant time and attention from the Company’s management that would otherwise be directed at developing its existing business and managing expenses. In addition, the Company could discover undisclosed liabilities resulting from any acquisitions for which it may become responsible. Further, the benefits that the Company anticipates from these acquisitions may not develop. We may experience difficulty integrating businesses acquired through mergers and acquisitions and may fail to realize the expected revenue increases, cost savings, increases in market presence, and other projected benefits from acquisition activity. Acquisitions utilizing the Company’s common stock as consideration may dilute the value of the Company’s common stock, which dilution may not be recouped or recovered for a significant amount of time after the acquisition, if ever.
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Any merger or acquisition opportunity that we decide to pursue will ultimately be subject to regulatory approval and other closing conditions. We may expend significant time and resources pursing potential acquisitions that are never consummated due to lack of regulatory approval or other issues. Competition for acquisition candidates in the banking industry is intense. We may expend significant time and resources evaluating acquisition candidates and conducting due diligence that does not lead to an acquisition opportunity.
The Company may implement new lines of business, enter new market areas, or offer new products and services from time to time. There can be substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts. The Company may invest significant time and resources in developing and marketing new lines of business, but the benefits that the Company anticipates from these activities may not develop as expected. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives, and shifting market preferences may impact the Company’s ability to successfully implement organic growth strategies. Failure to successfully manage these risks could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
Operational Risks
The Company May be Adversely Affected by the Soundness of Third Parties, Including Other Financial Institutions.
The Company's business is highly dependent on third party vendors, especially with respect to information technology and telecommunication systems, payment processing system, and mobile and online banking systems. Our operations rely heavily on the secure processing, storage, transmission, and monitoring of information and transactions, and many of these services are outsourced to third party vendors. The failure of these systems or the inability of a third party vendor to continue providing these services on a reliable basis could adversely affect our operations. In addition, the failure of third parties to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or fraud or misconduct on the part of any of these third parties, could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our reputation. It may be difficult for us to replace some of our critical third party vendors, particularly vendors providing our core banking, debit card services and information services, in a timely manner and on terms that are favorable or acceptable to us. Any of these events could increase our expenses and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Financial services institutions are interrelated with one another as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, and other relationships. The Company has exposure to many different industries and counterparties, and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks, and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be exacerbated when the collateral held by the Company cannot be realized upon or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the credit or derivative exposure due to the Company. Any such losses could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, as a result of financial entities and technology systems becoming more interdependent and complex, a cybersecurity incident, information breach or loss, or technology failure that comprises the systems or data of one financial entity could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including the Company.
The Company Depends on the Accuracy and Completeness of Information About Our Customers and Counterparties.
The Company relies on information provided to us by or on behalf of customers and other third parties, including financial statements, credit reports, and other financial information, in deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions and in evaluating and monitoring our loan portfolio. The Company also relies on representations from our customers, counterparties, and other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate, incomplete, fraudulent or misleading financial or business information could result in credit losses, reputational damage, or other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operation.
The Company's Risk Management Practices May Prove to be Inadequate or Not Fully Effective.
The Company's risk management framework seeks to mitigate risk and appropriately balance risk and return. The Company has established policies and procedures intended to identify, monitor and manage the types of risk which it is subject to, including credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk and reputational risk. Although the Company has devoted significant resources to develop its risk management policies and procedures and expects to continue to do so in the future, these policies and procedures, as well as its risk management techniques, may not be fully effective. In addition, as regulations and markets in which the Company operates continue to evolve, its risk management framework may not always keep sufficient pace with those changes. If the Company's risk management framework does not effectively identify or
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mitigate its risks, the Company could suffer unexpected losses and could be materially adversely affected. Management of the Company's risks in some cases depends upon the use of analytical and/or forecasting models. If the models the Company uses to mitigate these risks are inadequate, it may incur increased losses. In addition, there may be risks that exist, or that develop in the future, that the Company has not appropriately anticipated, identified or mitigated.
The Company May Not Be Able to Attract and Retain Skilled Key Employees.
The Company’s success depends, in in large part, on its ability to attract, retain, motivate and develop key employees. Competition for key employees is ongoing and the Company may not be able to attract, retain or hire the key employees who are wanted or needed, which may also negatively impact the Company’s ability to execute identified business strategies. Because the Company operates primarily in specific geographic markets, its hiring pool is also limited by those markets. Competition for key employees may require the Company to offer higher compensation to attract or retain key employees, which may adversely affect the salaries and employee benefit costs of the Company.
Various restrictions on the compensation which may be paid to certain executive officers were imposed under the Dodd-Frank Act and other legislation and regulations. In addition, the Company’s incentive compensation structure is subject to review by regulators, who may identify deficiencies in the structure or issue additional guidance on the Company’s compensation practices, causing the Company to make changes that may affect its ability to offer competitive compensation to these individuals or that place it at a disadvantage to non-financial service competitors. The Company’s ability to attract and retain talented employees may be affected by these restrictions, or any new executive compensation limits or regulations.
Risks Related to Legal, Reputational and Compliance Matters
Certain Banking Laws May Have an Anti–Takeover Effect.
Application of certain federal banking laws and regulations applicable to the Company and City National, including regulatory approval requirements for change in control, merger or other business combination transactions, could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire the Company or City National, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to the Company's shareholders. These laws and regulations effectively inhibit a non–negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock.
The Company’s Ability to Pay Dividends Is Limited.
Although the Board of Directors has declared cash dividends in the past, the Company's current ability to pay dividends is largely dependent upon the receipt of dividends from City National. Federal laws impose restrictions on the ability of City National to pay dividends. Holders of shares of the Company’s common stock are entitled to dividends if, and when, they are declared by the Company’s Board of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. Additional restrictions are placed upon the Company by the policies of federal regulators, including the Federal Reserve Board’s November 14, 1985 policy statement, which provides that bank holding companies should pay dividends only out of the past year’s net income, and then only if their prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with their capital needs, asset quality, and overall financial condition. In general, future dividend policy is subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon a number of factors, including the Company’s and City National’s future earnings, capital requirements, regulatory constraints and financial condition. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to pay dividends to its shareholders in the future.
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The Company and City National Are Extensively Regulated.
The Company operates in a highly regulated environment and is subject to supervision and regulation by a number of governmental regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board, the OCC and the FDIC. Regulations adopted by these agencies, which are generally intended to provide protection for depositors and customers rather than for the benefit of shareholders, govern a comprehensive range of matters including but not limited to (i) ownership and control of the Company's equity, (ii) acquisition of other companies and businesses, (iii) permissible activities and investments, (iv) maintenance of adequate capital levels and (v) other operational aspects. Compliance with banking regulations is costly and restricts certain of our activities, including the payment of dividends, mergers and acquisitions, investments, loan amounts and concentrations, interest rates, opening and closing branch locations, and other activities. The bank regulatory agencies also possess broad authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of law. These agencies have significant discretion in their ability to enforce penalties and further limit the Company's activities if the Company fails to comply with applicable regulations.
The Dodd-Frank Act instituted major changes to the bank and financial institutions regulatory regimes, and additional changes continue to be proposed and implemented by various regulatory agencies. Other changes to statutes, regulations or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations or policies, could affect the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject the Company to reduced revenues, additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products the Company may offer and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. The burden and expenses associated with regulatory compliance have been increasing and may continue to increase. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or reputation damage, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing financial institutions are frequently raised in Congress and before bank regulatory authorities. Changes in applicable laws or regulations could materially affect the Company’s business, and the likelihood of any major changes in the future and their effects are impossible to determine. Moreover, it is impossible to predict the ultimate form any proposed legislation might take or how it might affect the Company.
The Company’s Controls and Procedures May Fail or Be Circumvented.
Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, no matter how well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met.
Significant Legal Actions Could Result in Substantial Liabilities.
From time to time, the Company is subject to claims related to its operations. These claims and legal actions, including supervisory actions by its regulators, could involve large monetary claims and cause the Company to incur significant defense expenses. As a result, the Company may be exposed to substantial liabilities, which could negatively affect its shareholders’ equity and financial results.
The Company Faces Reputational Risk.
The Company faces threats to its reputation from many sources, including adverse sentiment about financial institutions generally, unethical practices, employee misconduct, failure to deliver expected standards of service or quality, regulatory compliance deficiencies, and questionable or fraudulent activities of the Company’s employees and customers. Negative publicity may arise regarding the Company’s business, employees, or customers, with or without merit, and could result in the loss of customers, investors and employees, costly litigation, a decline in revenue, and increased regulatory oversight.
The Company Is Subject to Possible Claims and Litigation Relating to Fiduciary Activities.
A significant portion of the business conducted in the Company's trust division involves the Company assuming the special role of a fiduciary to its customers and to the beneficiaries of its customers' assets. Customers or beneficiaries could make claims and take legal action relating to the Company’s fiduciary activities. Whether such claims and legal action related to the Company's performance of its fiduciary responsibilities are founded or unfounded, if such matters are not resolved in a
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manner favorable to the Company, they may result in significant financial liability. Furthermore, the mere existence of a claim or legal action related to the Company’s fiduciary activities could adversely affect the Company’s reputation among customers and prospective customers. Any financial liability or reputation damage could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.
Changes in Tax Law and Accounting Standards Could Materially Affect the Company's Operations.
Changes in tax laws, or changes in the interpretation of existing tax laws, could materially adversely affect the Company’s operations. Similarly, new accounting standards, changes to existing accounting standards, and changes to the methods of preparing financial statements could impact the Company’s reported financial condition and results of operations. These factors are outside the Company’s control and it is impossible to predict changes that may occur and the effect of such changes.
Risks Related to Privacy and Technology
System Failure, Cybersecurity Breaches, Fraud and Employee Misconduct Could Subject the Company to Increased Operating Costs, as Well as Litigation and Other Potential Losses.
The computer systems and network infrastructure that the Company uses could be vulnerable to unforeseen hardware and cybersecurity issues, including "hacking" and "identity theft." The Company’s operations are dependent upon its ability to protect its computer equipment against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failure or a similar catastrophic event. Any damage or failure that causes an interruption in the Company’s operations could have an adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company’s operations are dependent upon its ability to protect the computer systems and network infrastructure utilized by the Company, including its mobile and Internet banking activities, against damage from physical break-ins, cybersecurity breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, theft of information, misplaced or lost data, programming and/or human errors, and other disruptive problems. The Company is further exposed to the risk that its third-party service providers may be unable to fulfill their contractual obligations with respect to managing the Company’s information and systems. Any cybersecurity breach or other disruptions, whether by the Company or its third-party vendors, would jeopardize the security of information stored in and transmitted through the Company’s computer systems and network infrastructure, which may result in significant liability to the Company, damage its reputation and inhibit current and potential customers from its using Internet banking services. The Company could incur substantial costs and suffer other negative consequences, such as: remediation costs, such as liability for stolen assets or information, repairs of system damage, and incentives to customers in an effort to maintain relationships after an attack; increased cybersecurity protection costs, such as organizational changes, deploying additional personnel and protection technologies, training employees, and engaging third party experts and consultants; and damage to the Company's competitiveness, stock price, and long-term shareholder values.
Despite efforts to ensure the integrity of the Company's systems, the Company will not be able to anticipate all security breaches of these types, nor will it be able to implement guaranteed preventive measures against such security breaches. Persistent attackers may succeed in penetrating defenses given enough resources, time and motive. The techniques used by cyber criminals change frequently, may not be recognized until launched, and can originate from a wide variety of sources, including outside groups such as external service providers, organized crime affiliates, terrorist organizations or hostile foreign governments. These risks may increase in the future as the Company continues to increase its mobile payment and other Internet-based product offerings and expand its internal usage of web-based products and applications.
A successful attack to the Company's system security or the system security of one of its critical third-party vendors could cause it serious negative consequences, including significant disruption of operations, misappropriation of confidential information, and damage to its computers or systems or those of its customers and counterparties. A successful security breach could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, financial loss to the Company or to its customers, loss of confidence in its security measures, significant litigation exposure, and harm to its reputation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Criminals are committing fraud at an increasing rate and are using more sophisticated techniques. The Company faces risk of fraudulent activity in many forms, including online payment transfer fraud, debit card fraud, check fraud, mechanical devices attached to ATMs or ITMs, phishing attacks to obtain personal information, email-related frauds and the impersonation of Company executives or vendors, and impersonation of clients through the use of falsified or stolen credentials. The Company may suffer losses as a result of fraudulent activity committed against it, its customers, and other counterparties.
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The Company could be adversely affected if one of its employees causes a significant operational breakdown or failure, either as a result of human error or where an individual purposefully sabotages or fraudulently manipulates the Company’s operations or systems. Misconduct by employees could include fraudulent, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of customers or improper use of confidential information. Employee errors or misconduct could subject the Company to regulatory enforcement action, legal action, reputational damage, and other losses.
General Risk Factors
The Company Relies Heavily on Its Management Team, and the Unexpected Loss of Key Management May Adversely Affect Its Operations.
The Company's success to date has been strongly influenced by its ability to attract and to retain senior management personnel experienced in banking in the markets it serves. Competition for key personnel is intense. The Company's ability to retain executive officers and the current management teams will continue to be important to the successful implementation of its strategies. The Company has employment agreements with these key employees in the event of a change of control, as well as confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements related to its stock options. 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 the Company's business and financial results.
Severe Weather, Natural Disasters, Acts of War or Terrorism, and Other External Events Could Significantly Impact the Company's Business.
Severe weather, natural disasters, health emergencies, acts of war or terrorism, and other adverse external events, especially those that directly affect the Company’s market areas, could have a significant impact on the Company’s ability to conduct business. These events could adversely affect the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, decrease the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property and infrastructure damage, and affect the stability of the Company’s deposit base. The Company may experience decreased revenue, increased charge-offs, and other expenses.
Climate Change Could Materially Impact the Company’s Underlying Customers or the General Economic Conditions, Resulting in Impacts on the Company.
The Company’s business, as well as the operations and activities of its customers, could be negatively impacted by climate change. Climate change presents both immediate and long-term risks to the Company and its customers, and these risks are expected to increase over time. Climate change presents multi-faceted risks, including: operational risk from the physical effects of climate events on the Company and its customers’ facilities and other assets; credit risk from borrowers with significant exposure to climate risk; transition risks associated with the transition to a less carbon-dependent economy; and reputational risk from stakeholder concerns about the Company’s practices related to climate change, the Company’s carbon footprint, and the Company’s business relationships with clients who operate in carbon-intensive industries. The Company’s success depends on its relationships with customers and general economic conditions. Because the Company’s customer base is geographically concentrated in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio, if the customers in those geographies are physically impacted by climate change, the Company may be financially impacted as well. In addition, an economic transition to mitigate climate change on a broader scale could have a negative or destabilizing impact on the general economic conditions of the country, which could also have a negative impact on the financial outcomes of the Company.
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Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.Properties
City National owns the Company’s executive office, located at 25 Gatewater Road, Charleston, West Virginia. This facility has approximately 60,000 square feet and houses the Company's executive and administrative personnel.
City National owns seventy-five bank branch locations and leases nineteen bank branch locations, pursuant to operating leases. All of the properties are suitable and adequate for their current operations. City National also operates a loan production office leased in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Company also owns parcels of real estate for potential future branch development.
Item 3.Legal Proceedings
The Company is engaged in various legal actions that it deems to be in the ordinary course of business. As these legal actions are resolved, the Company could realize positive and/or negative impact to its financial performance in the period in which these legal actions are ultimately decided. There can be no assurance that current actions will have immaterial results, either positive or negative, or that no material actions may be presented in the future.
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
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PART II
Item 5.Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Common Stock Market and Dividends
The Company’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "CHCO". This table sets forth the cash dividends declared per share and information regarding the closing market prices per share of the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated. The price ranges are based on transactions as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. At February 17, 2023, there were 2,432 shareholders of record.
The Company generally pays dividends on a quarterly basis. As noted in the section captioned "Dividends and Other Payments" included in Item 1. Business, the section captioned "Liquidity and Capital Resources" included in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note Sixteen of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is dependent upon the ability of City National to pay dividends to the Company. At December 31, 2022, City National could pay $59.2 million in dividends without prior regulatory permission.
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Stock Performance
The following graph sets forth the cumulative total shareholder return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) to the Company’s shareholders during the five-year period ended December 31, 2022, as well as the Nasdaq Composite Index and the KBW Nasdaq Bank Index.
This graph shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless the Company specifically incorporates this report by reference. It will not be otherwise filed under such Acts.
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Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On May 25, 2022, the Board of Directors of the Company authorized the Company to buy back up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock (approximately 7% of outstanding shares) in open market transactions at prices that are accretive to the earnings per share of continuing shareholders. No time limit was placed on the duration of the share repurchase program. As part of this authorization, the Company terminated its previous repurchase program that was approved in March 2021. The following table sets forth information regarding the Company's common stock repurchases transacted during the quarter ended December 31, 2022:
Total Number Maximum Number
of Shares Purchased of Shares that May
as Part of Publicly Yet Be Purchased
Total Number of Average Price Announced Plans Under the Plans
Period Shares Purchased Paid per Share or Programs or Programs
*There were no common stock repurchases in October or November 2022.
Item 6. Reserved
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Item 7.Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Statistical Information
The information noted below is provided pursuant to Guide 3 -- Statistical Disclosure by Bank Holding Companies.
Description of Information PageReference
Item I. Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity; Interest Rates and Interest Differential
a. Average Balance Sheets 33
b. Analysis of Net Interest Earnings 34
c. Rate Volume Analysis of Changes in Interest Income and Expense 34
II. Investment Portfolio
a. Maturity Schedule of Investments 43
III. Loan Portfolio
a. Types of Loans 43
b. Maturities and Sensitivity to Changes in Interest Rates 43
c. Other Interest Bearing Assets None
d. Risk Elements 73
V. Deposits
a. Breakdown of Deposits by Categories, Average Balance and Average Rate Paid 33
b. Maturity Schedule of Uninsured Time Certificates of Deposit 49
VI. Return on Equity and Assets 31
VII. Short-term Borrowings 39
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CITY HOLDING COMPANY
City Holding Company (the "Company"), a West Virginia corporation headquartered in Charleston, West Virginia, is a registered financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act and conducts its principal activities through its wholly owned subsidiary, City National Bank of West Virginia ("City National"). City National is a retail and consumer-oriented community bank with 94 bank branches in West Virginia (58), Kentucky (19), Virginia (13) and Ohio (4). City National provides credit, deposit, and trust and investment management services to its customers in a broad geographical area that includes many rural and small community markets in addition to larger cities including Charleston (WV), Huntington (WV), Martinsburg (WV), Ashland (KY), Lexington (KY), Winchester (VA) and Staunton (VA). In the Company's key markets, the Company's primary subsidiary, City National, often ranks in the top three relative to deposit market share and the top two relative to branch share (Charleston/Huntington MSA, Beckley/Lewisburg counties, Staunton MSA and Winchester, VA/WV Eastern Panhandle counties). In addition to its branch network, City National's delivery channels include automated-teller-machines ("ATMs"), interactive-teller-machines ("ITMs"), mobile banking, debit cards, interactive voice response systems, and Internet technology. The Company’s business activities are currently limited to one reportable business segment, which is community banking.
On October 18, 2022, the Company announced that City Holding had signed a definitive agreement in which City Holding will acquire Citizens Commerce Bancshares, Inc., ("Citizens") the parent company of Citizens Commerce Bank, Inc., Versailles, Kentucky. Upon completion of the merger, the subsidiary bank of Citizens will merge with and into City National. The Boards of Directors of City and Citizens have approved the Merger, Bank Merger and the Merger Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, Citizens shareholders will have the right to receive 0.1666 City common shares, par value of $2.50 per share for each Citizens common share, no par value. Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional shares and for unexercised Citizens options at closing. The Merger is expected to close in the first quarter of 2023, pending customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and the approval by the shareholders of Citizens.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The accounting policies of the Company conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and require management to make estimates and develop assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and related footnotes. These estimates and assumptions are based on information available to management as of the date of the financial statements. Actual results could differ significantly from management’s estimates. As this information changes, management’s estimates and assumptions used to prepare the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures may also change. The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note One of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, management has identified: (i) the determination of the allowance for credit losses and (ii) income taxes to be the accounting areas that require the most subjective or complex judgments and, as such, could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available.
Allowance for Credit Losses
The Allowance for Credit Losses section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K provides management’s analysis of the Company’s allowance for credit losses and related provision. The allowance for credit losses is a valuation account that is deducted from the loans' amortized cost basis to present the net amount expected to be collected on the loans. Loans are charged off against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of a loan balance is confirmed. Expected recoveries do not exceed the aggregate of amounts previously charged-off and expected to be charged-off. Management estimates the allowance balance using relevant available information, from internal and external sources, relating to past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses. Adjustments to historical loss information are made for differences in current loan-specific risk characteristics, such as differences in underwriting standards, portfolio mix, delinquency level, or term as well as for changes in environmental conditions, such as changes in unemployment rates, property values, or other relevant factors. These evaluations are conducted at least quarterly and more frequently if deemed necessary. Additionally, all commercial loans within the portfolio are subject to internal risk grading. Risk grades are generally assigned by the primary lending officer and are periodically evaluated by the Company’s internal loan review process.
In evaluating the appropriateness of its allowance for credit losses, the Company stratifies the loan portfolio into six major groupings. The Company has identified the following portfolio segments and measures the allowance for credit losses using the following methods:
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Portfolio Segment Measurement Method
Commercial and industrial Migration
Commercial real estate:
1-4 family Migration
Hotels Migration
Multi-family Migration
Non Residential Non-Owner Occupied Migration
Non Residential Owner Occupied Migration
Residential real estate Vintage
Home equity Vintage
Consumer Vintage
Migration is an analysis that tracks a closed pool of loans for a configurable period of time and calculates a loss ratio on only those loans in the pool at the start date based on outstanding balance. Vintage is a predictive loss model that includes a reasonable approximation of probable and estimable future losses by tracking each loan's net losses over the life of the loan as compared to its original balance. For demand deposit overdrafts, the allowance for credit losses is measured using the historical loss rate. Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. Loans evaluated individually are not included in the collective evaluation. When management determines that foreclosure is probable, the expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the reporting date, adjusted for selling costs as appropriate.
Expected credit losses are estimated over the contractual term of the loan, adjusted for expected prepayments when appropriate. The contractual term excludes expected extensions, renewals, and modifications unless either of the following applies: management has a reasonable expectation at the reporting date that a troubled-debt restructuring will be executed with an individual borrower or the extension or renewal options are included in the original or modified contract at the reporting date and are not unconditionally cancellable by the Company.
The Company uses a number of economic variables in its scenarios to estimate the allowance for credit losses, with the most significant drivers being an unemployment rate forecast and qualitative adjustments. In the December 31, 2022 estimate, the Company assumed an unemployment forecast range of 3.7% to 4.9%, compared to a range of 3.5% to 5.2% utilized in the December 31, 2021 estimate. Historical loss rates from periods where the average unemployment rate matches the forecast range are considered when calculating the forecast period loss rate. The impact of the changes in the unemployment forecast range between December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022 resulted in a decrease in the ACL of approximately $0.2 million.
Based on sensitivity analysis of all portfolios, a 0.0050% change (slight improvement or decline on bank's scale) in all 11 qualitative risk factors (where assigned) would have a $1.9 million impact on the reserve allocation. Changing each factor by 0.01% (moderate improvement or decline) would have a $3.8 million impact. Management recognizes that these are extreme scenarios and it is very unlikely that all risk factors would change by 0.005% or 0.01% simultaneously. Between December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2022, management assigned a "decline," or 1.5 basis point increase, to the interest rate risk factor for all pools due to the rising rate environment. In total, the qualitative changes increased the ACL by approximately $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.
Income Taxes
The Income Taxes section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K provides management’s analysis of the Company’s income taxes. The Company is subject to federal and state income taxes in the jurisdictions in which it conducts business. In computing the provision for income taxes, management must make judgments regarding interpretation of laws in those jurisdictions. Because the application of tax laws and regulations for many types of transactions is susceptible to varying interpretations, amounts reported in the financial statements could be changed at a later date upon final determinations by taxing authorities. On a quarterly basis, the Company estimates its annual effective tax rate for the year and uses that rate to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis. The Company's unrecognized tax benefits could change over the next twelve months as a result of various factors. The Company is currently open to audit under the statute of limitations by the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing authorities for the years ended December 31, 2019 and forward.
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The effective tax rate is calculated by taking the statutory rate and adjusting for permanent and discrete items. The discrete items can vary between periods but historically have remained consistent.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The Company’s financial performance over the previous three years is summarized in the following table:
Earnings per common share, basic $ 6.81 $ 5.67 $ 5.55
Earnings per common share, diluted $ 6.80 $ 5.66 $ 5.55
*ROA (Return on Average Assets) is a measure of the effectiveness of asset utilization. ROE (Return on Average Equity) is a measure of the return on shareholders’ investment. ROATCE (Return on Average Tangible Common Equity) is a measure of the return on shareholders’ equity less intangible assets.
BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS
Select balance sheet fluctuations and ratios are summarized in the following table (in millions):
December 31,
Tangible equity to tangible assets 8.02 % 9.58 %
Cash and cash equivalents decreased $434.6 million, from $634.6 million at December 31, 2021, to $200.0 million at December 31, 2022 primarily due to an increase in loans and investment securities and a decrease in deposits.
Investment securities increased $95.6 million, from $1.43 billion at December 31, 2021, to $1.53 billion at December 31, 2022 as the Company has put its excess funding to work.
Loans increased $102.4 million (2.9%) from December 31, 2021 to $3.64 billion at December 31, 2022. PPP loans of $6.6 million at December 31, 2021 were fully repaid during 2022. Excluding outstanding PPP loans (included in the commercial and industrial loan category), total loans increased $109.0 million, (3.1%), from December 31, 2021 to $3.64 billion at December 31, 2022. Residential real estate loans increased $144.6 million (9.3%); commercial and industrial loans increased $34.3 million (10.1%) (excluding PPP loans); home equity loans increased $12.0 million (9.8%); and consumer loans increased $7.9 million (19.3%). These increases were partially offset by decreases in commercial real estate loans ($86.6 million, or 5.9%).
Total deposits decreased $55.4 million from December 31, 2021 to $4.87 billion at December 31, 2022. Time deposits decreased $180.8 million and noninterest bearing demand deposits decreased $21.7 million. These decreases were
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partially offset by an increase in interest bearing demand deposits of $97.6 million and an increase in savings deposits of $49.4 million.
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TABLE ONE
AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS AND NET INTEREST INCOME
(In thousands)
Assets
Loan portfolio(1):
Previously securitized loans(5) — 373 — — 568 — — 599 —
Securities:
Liabilities
Net yield on earning assets 3.33 % 2.89 % 3.16 %
1.For purposes of this table, non-accruing loans have been included in average balances and the following net loan fees (in thousands) have been included in interest income:
2.Includes the Company's residential real estate and home equity loan categories.
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3.Included in the above table are the following amounts (in thousands) for the accretion of the fair value adjustments related to the Company's acquisitions:
Installment loans to individuals 45 87 143
4.Includes the Company’s consumer and DDA overdrafts loan categories.
5.Effective January 1, 2012, the carrying value of the Company's previously securitized loans was reduced to $0.
6.Computed on a fully federal tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of approximately 21%.
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TABLE TWO
RATE/VOLUME ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN INTEREST INCOME AND INTEREST EXPENSE
(In thousands)
Volume Rate Net Volume Rate Net
Interest-earning assets:
Loan portfolio
Previously securitized loans — (195) (195) — (31) (31)
Securities:
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Long-term debt — — — (100) — (100)
1.Fully federal taxable equivalent using a tax rate of approximately 21%.
NET INTEREST INCOME
2022 vs. 2021
The Company’s net interest income increased from $155.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $180.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company’s tax equivalent net interest income increased $24.4 million, or 15.6%, from $156.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $181.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net interest income increased by $12.0 million, $7.3 million and $3.4 million, respectively, due to increases in the yields on loans (net of loan fees and accretion), investments, and deposits in depository institutions, of 35 basis points, 47 basis points and 94 basis points, respectively, all due primarily to increases in the Federal Funds rate during 2022. In addition, higher average investment and loan balances ($189.2 million and $37.5 million, respectively) increased net interest income by $3.9 million and $1.8 million, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in loan fees associated with PPP loans of $3.5 million from 2021 and a decrease in accretion from fair value adjustments of $1.0 million. The Company’s reported net interest margin increased from 2.89% for the year ended December 31, 2021 to 3.33% for the year ended December 31, 2022.
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2021 vs. 2020
The Company’s net interest income increased from $154.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $155.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company’s tax equivalent net interest income increased $1.2 million, or 0.8%, from $155.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $156.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company recognized $4.0 million of loan fees associated with PPP loans during 2021 as compared to $1.6 million during 2020. However, lower loan yields (which fell 29 basis points) decreased net interest income by $10.0 million. Additionally, lower average loan balances ($95.6 million) lowered net interest income by $4.2 million and a decrease in accretion from fair value adjustments decreased interest income by $1.7 million. Higher investment balances (which increased $262.2 million) increased net interest income by $7.2 million, while investment yields (which decreased by 45 basis points) decreased net interest income by $6.0 million. Lower rates paid on interest bearing liabilities (40 basis points) and lower average time deposit balances (down $172.3 million) increased net interest income by $11.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively. The Company’s reported net interest margin declined from 3.16% for the year ended December 31, 2020 to 2.89% for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management of the Company uses measures in its analysis of the Company's performance other than those in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"). These measures are useful when evaluating the underlying performance of the Company's operations. The Company's management believes that these non-GAAP measures enhance comparability of results with prior periods and demonstrate the effects of significant gains and charges in the current period. The Company's management believes that investors may use these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate the Company's financial performance without the impact of those items that may obscure trends in the Company's performance. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP, nor are they comparable to non-GAAP financial measures that may be presented by other companies.
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TABLE THREE
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands)
Accretion related to fair value adjustments (0.02) (0.04) (0.08)
Net interest margin (excluding accretion) 3.31 % 2.85 % 3.08 %
Effect of goodwill and other intangibles, net (1.81) (1.76) (1.85)
Tangible common equity to tangible assets 8.02 % 9.58 % 10.33 %
Return on tangible equity ("GAAP") 20.3 % 15.3 % 15.6 %
Impact of sale of VISA shares — — (2.4)
Return on tangible equity, excluding the above items 20.3 % 15.3 % 13.2 %
Return on assets ("GAAP") 1.71 % 1.49 % 1.66 %
Impact of sale of VISA shares — — (0.24)
Return on assets, excluding the above items 1.71 % 1.49 % 1.42 %
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NON-INTEREST INCOME AND NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
2022 vs. 2021
Selected income statement fluctuations and ratios are summarized in the following table (dollars in millions):
For the year ended December 31,
Full-time equivalent employees 909 905
Non-interest income was $72.1 million for 2022 as compared to $69.6 million for 2021. The Company reported $1.6 million of unrealized fair value losses on the Company’s equity securities during 2022 compared to $0.3 million of realized security gains on the sale of investments and $0.5 million of unrealized fair value gains on the Company’s equity securities during 2021. Exclusive of these realized and unrealized gains and losses, non-interest income increased from $68.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 to $73.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was largely attributable to an increase of $2.8 million, or 10.9%, in service charges and a $1.7 million, or 42.7%, increase in bank owned life insurance due to higher death benefit proceeds received in 2022 compared to 2021. In addition, trust and investment management fee income and bankcard revenues each increased $0.4 million from the year ended December 31, 2021. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.4 million in other income.
Non-interest expenses increased from $117.2 million for 2021 to $124.3 million for 2022. This increase was primarily due to an increase in salaries and employee benefit expenses ($4.7 million, due to higher salary adjustments during 2022, increased incentive compensation, and increased health insurance) and equipment and software related expenses ($1.3 million). In addition, occupancy related expenses increased $0.6 million, advertising increased $0.3 million, and merger-related expenses increased $0.3 million.
2021 vs. 2020
Selected income statement fluctuations are summarized in the following table (dollars in millions):
For the year ended December 31,
Full-time equivalent employees 905 926
Non-interest income was $69.6 million for 2021 as compared to $82.7 million for 2020. During 2020, the Company sold the entirety of its Visa Inc. Class B common shares (86,605 shares) in a cash transaction that resulted in a pre-tax gain of $17.8 million, or $0.84 diluted per share on an after-tax basis. Additionally, the Company reported $0.3 million of realized security gains on the sale of investment securities and $0.5 million of unrealized fair value gains on the Company’s equity securities during 2021 compared to $0.9 million of unrealized fair value losses on the Company’s equity securities during 2020. Exclusive of these items, non-interest income increased from $65.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to $68.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. This increase was largely attributable to an increase of $3.9 million, or 17.0%, in bankcard revenues and a $0.7 million, or 8.8%, increase in trust and investment
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management fee income. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million, or 15.0%, in other income and a decrease of $0.5 million in bank owned life insurance due to lower death benefit proceeds received during 2021 compared to 2020.
Non-interest expenses increased from $115.3 million for 2020 to $117.2 million for 2021. This increase was primarily due to an increase in telecommunication expenses ($0.7 million), FDIC insurance expense ($0.7 million), bankcard expenses ($0.6 million), occupancy related expenses ($0.3 million), advertising expenses ($0.3 million), and equipment and software related expense ($0.3 million). These increases were partially offset by a decrease in other expenses ($0.6 million) and repossessed asset gains ($0.3 million).
INCOME TAXES
Selected information regarding the Company's income taxes is presented in the table below (dollars in millions):
For the year ended December 31,
A reconciliation of the effective tax rate to the statutory rate is included in Note Eleven of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The Company was in a net deferred tax asset position ($44.9 million) at December 31, 2022 and a net deferred tax asset position ($0.1 million) at December 31, 2021. The increase in net deferred tax asset was largely due to a decrease in the Company's investment valuation, primarily in the mortgage-backed security portfolio.
The components of the Company’s net deferred tax assets are disclosed in Note Eleven of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Realization of the most significant net deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on future events taking place that will reverse the current deferred tax assets. The deferred tax asset associated with unrealized securities losses is the tax impact of the unrealized losses on the Company’s available-for-sale security portfolio. The impact of the Company’s unrealized losses is noted in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity as an adjustment to Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income. This deferred tax asset would be realized if the unrealized securities losses on the Company's securities were realized from the sales of the related securities. The Company believes that it is more likely than not that each of the deferred tax assets will be realized and that no significant valuation allowances were necessary as of December 31, 2022 or 2021.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Liquidity
The Company evaluates the adequacy of liquidity at both the Parent Company level and at the banking subsidiary level. At the Parent Company level, the principal source of cash is dividends from its banking subsidiary, City National. Dividends paid by City National to the Parent Company are subject to certain legal and regulatory limitations. Generally, any dividends in amounts that exceed the earnings retained by City National in the current year plus retained net profits for the preceding two years must be approved by regulatory authorities. At December 31, 2022, City National could pay dividends up to $59.2 million without prior regulatory permission.
During 2022, the Parent Company used cash obtained from the dividends received primarily to: (1) pay common dividends to shareholders and (2) fund repurchases of the Company's common shares. Additional information concerning sources and uses of cash by the Parent Company is discussed in Note Eighteen of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Parent Company anticipates continuing the payment of dividends, which are expected to approximate $38.4 million on an annualized basis for 2023 based on common shareholders of record at December 31, 2022 at a dividend rate of $2.60 per share for 2023. However, dividends to shareholders can, if necessary, be suspended. In addition to these
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anticipated cash needs, the Parent Company has operating expenses and other contractual obligations, which are estimated to require $1.5 million of additional cash over the next 12 months. As of December 31, 2022, the Parent Company reported a cash balance of $54.6 million and management believes that the Parent Company’s available cash balance, together with cash dividends from City National, will be adequate to satisfy its funding and cash needs over the next twelve months. Excluding the dividend payments discussed above, the Parent Company has no significant commitments or obligations in years after 2023.
City National manages its liquidity position in an effort to effectively and economically satisfy the funding needs of its customers and to accommodate the scheduled repayment of borrowings. Funds are available to City National from a number of sources, including depository relationships, sales and maturities within the investment securities portfolio, and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and other financial institutions. As of December 31, 2022, City National’s assets are significantly funded by deposits and capital. City National maintains borrowing facilities with the FHLB and other financial institutions that can be accessed as necessary to fund operations and to provide contingency funding mechanisms. As of December 31, 2022, City National had the capacity to borrow an additional $2.0 billion from the FHLB and other financial institutions under existing borrowing facilities. City National maintains a contingency funding plan, incorporating these borrowing facilities, to address liquidity needs in the event of an institution-specific or systemic financial industry crisis. Also, although it has no current intention to do so, City National could liquidate its unpledged securities, if necessary, to provide an additional funding source. City National also segregates certain mortgage loans, mortgage-backed securities, and other investment securities in a separate subsidiary so that it can separately monitor the asset quality of these primarily mortgage-related assets, which could be used to raise cash through securitization transactions or obtain additional equity or debt financing if necessary.
The Company manages its asset and liability mix to balance its desire to maximize net interest income against its desire to minimize risks associated with capitalization, interest rate volatility, and liquidity. With respect to liquidity, the Company has chosen a conservative posture and believes that its liquidity position is strong. As illustrated in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, the Company generated $115.8 million of cash from operating activities during 2022, primarily from interest income received on loans and investments, net of interest expense paid on deposits and borrowings.
The Company has obligations to extend credit, but these obligations are primarily associated with existing home equity loans that have predictable borrowing patterns across the portfolio. The Company has investment security balances with carrying values that totaled $1.53 billion at December 31, 2022, and that greatly exceeded the Company’s non-deposit sources of borrowing, which totaled $291 million.
The Company’s net loan to asset ratio is 61.7% as of December 31, 2022 and deposit balances fund 82.8% of total assets as compared to 79.8% for its peers (Bank Holding Company Peer Group, as of the most recent data available as of September 30, 2022, which includes commercial banks with assets ranging from $3 billion to $10 billion). Further, the Company’s deposit mix has a very high proportion of transaction and savings accounts that fund 67.7% of the Company’s total assets and the Company uses time deposits over $250,000 to fund 4.6% of total assets compared to its peers, which fund 8.9% of total assets with such deposits.
Capital Resources
During 2022, Shareholders’ Equity decreased $103 million, or 15.2%, from $681 million at December 31, 2021 to $578 million at December 31, 2022. This decrease was primarily due to other comprehensive loss of $146 million (due to a decrease in the Company's investment valuation), cash dividends declared of $37 million, and common share repurchases of $26 million, partially offset by net income of $102 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased approximately 325,000 common shares at a weighted average price of $81.50 per share as part of a one million share repurchase plan authorized by the Board of Directors in May 2022. At December 31, 2022, the Company could repurchase approximately 817,000 shares under the current plan.
The Basel III Capital Rules require City Holding and City National to maintain minimum CET 1, Tier 1 and Total Capital ratios, along with a capital conservation buffer, effectively resulting in minimum capital ratios (which are shown in the table below). The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall. The Basel III Capital
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Rules also provide for a "countercyclical capital buffer" that is applicable to only certain covered institutions and does not have any current applicability to City Holding Company or City National Bank.