Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management's Discussion relates to the Corporation, a financial holding company registered under the BHCA and corporation incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Management's Discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and other financial information presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
The Corporation is a financial holding company, which, through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, provides a full range of retail and commercial financial services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.
The Corporation generates the majority of its revenue through net interest income, or the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Growth in net interest income is dependent upon balance sheet growth and maintaining or increasing the NIM, which is FTE net interest income as a percentage of average interest-earning assets. The Corporation also generates revenue through fees earned on the various services and products offered to its customers and through gains on sales of assets, such as loans, investments and properties. Offsetting these revenue sources are provisions for credit losses on loans and OBS credit risks, non-interest expenses and income taxes.
The following table presents a summary of the Corporation's earnings and selected performance ratios:
(dollars in thousands, except per share)
Operating return on average assets(1) 1.08 % 1.16 % 1.05 %
Return on average common shareholders' equity 11.24 % 11.69 % 10.64 %
Non-performing assets to total assets 0.56 % 0.66 % 0.60 %
Net charge-offs (recoveries) to average loans 0.14 % 0.04 % 0.07 %
(1)Ratio represents a financial measure derived by methods other than GAAP. See reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP measure under the "Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Based Financial Measures" section of Management's Discussion.
(2)Presented on a FTE basis using a 21% federal tax rate and statutory interest expense disallowances.
Fed Funds Rate
Since March 15, 2022, the FOMC increased the target rate for the Fed Funds Rate eleven times to address elevated levels of inflation, placing the target range at 5.25% - 5.50% as of February 29, 2024.
LIBOR Transition
U.S. dollar LIBOR ceased as of June 30, 2023. The Corporation has transitioned all of its products away from LIBOR. For most financial products, the most common alternative reference rates have been SOFR-based benchmarks. This is true for both new originations and legacy LIBOR contracts that were subject to amendment or a transition by their terms.
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Financial Highlights
Following is a summary of the financial highlights for the year ended December 31, 2023:
•Net Income Available to Common Shareholders and Net Income Per Share - Net income available to common shareholders was $274.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, a $2.7 million decrease compared to $276.7 million for the same period in 2022.
•Net Interest Income - Net interest income was $854.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $72.7 million, or 9.3%, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase was driven by higher interest rates and higher average loan balances.
◦Net Interest Margin- For the year ended December 31, 2023, NIM increased to 3.42%, or 15 bps compared to the same period in 2022, driven by a 157 bps increase in the yield on net loans, a 16 bps increase in the yield on investment securities and a 298 bps increase in the yield on other interest-earning assets, partially offset by a 139 bps increase in the cost of total interest-bearing liabilities and noninterest-bearing deposits.
◦Net Loans- Average net loans increased $1.8 billion, or 9.3%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in average net loans was largely driven by increases in average residential mortgage loans, average commercial and industrial loans, average commercial mortgage loans, average consumer loans, and average real estate construction loans of $818.2 million, $366.6 million, $352.3 million, $178.8 million, and $68.8 million, respectively.
◦Deposits - Average deposits decreased $297.7 million, or 1.4%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The decrease in average deposits was largely due to a decrease in average noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $1.6 billion, partially offset by increases in average brokered deposits, average time deposits and average savings and money market deposits of $585.4 million, $552.4 million and $157.9 million, respectively.
◦Borrowings and Other Interest-Bearing Liabilities - Average borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities was primarily due to increases in average FHLB advances and Federal funds purchased of $727.9 million and $475.3 million, respectively.
•Asset Quality - Non-performing assets decreased $23.5 million, or 13.2%, as of December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022, and were 0.56% and 0.66% of total assets as of those dates, respectively. Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding was 0.14% for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to net charge-offs to average loans outstanding of 0.04% for the same period in 2022. Net charge-offs of $29.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 included a charge-off of $13.3 million during the first quarter of 2023 for a commercial office loan. The provision for credit losses was $54.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $28.0 million for the same period of 2022. Included in the December 31, 2022 provision for credit losses was the CECL Day 1 Provision of $8.0 million for the acquired Prudential Bancorp loan portfolio.
•Non-Interest Income - Non-interest income, excluding investment securities losses, for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased $1.3 million, or 0.6%, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in non-interest income, excluding investment securities losses, was primarily due to an increase in commercial banking revenues of $5.4 million, driven by an increase in commercial customer interest rate swap fee income reflected in capital markets and an increase in wealth management of $2.7 million, partially offset by decreases in mortgage banking income of $3.8 million and in consumer banking fees of $2.3 million, largely due to a decline in overdraft fees.
•Non-Interest Expense- Non-interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2023 increased $45.5 million, or 7.2%, compared to the same period in 2022. Excluding merger-related expenses of $10.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2022, non-interest expense increased $55.8 million, or 9.0%, for the year ended December 31, 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in non-interest expense, excluding merger-related expenses, was largely driven by increases of $20.5 million in salaries and employee benefits expense, $13.0 million in FDIC insurance expense, primarily due to the adoption of a final rule to increase base deposit insurance assessment rates effective January 1, 2023 and the special assessment of $6.5 million charged to recover the loss to the DIF in
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connection with the closures of certain banks in 2023, $10.6 million in other outside services expense, $6.2 million in data processing and software expense and $2.1 million in marketing expense. The $20.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was primarily driven by annual merit increases, an increase in the number of employees, higher healthcare claims expenses and higher pension expense.
•Income Taxes - The Corporation's ETR was 18.5% for the year ended 2023, compared to 17.3% for the same period in 2022. The ETR is generally lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to tax-exempt interest income earned on loans, investments in tax-free municipal securities and investments in community development projects that generate tax credits under various programs.
Supplemental Reporting of Non-GAAP Based Financial Measures
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains supplemental financial information, as detailed below, that has been derived by methods other than GAAP. The Corporation has presented these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes that these measures provide useful and comparative information to assess trends in the Corporation's results of operations. Presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is consistent with how the Corporation evaluates its performance internally and these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the Corporation's industry. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP measures, are also useful to investors to evaluate the Corporation's results. Investors should recognize that the Corporation's presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures might not be comparable to similarly-titled measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for GAAP basis measures, and the Corporation strongly encourages a review of its consolidated financial statements in their entirety.
Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure follow:
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Operating net income available to common shareholders
Plus: Core deposit intangible amortization 2,308 1,029 —
Plus: Merger-related expenses — 10,328 —
Plus: CECL Day 1 Provision expense — 7,954 —
Plus: Interest rate derivative transition valuation(1) 1,855 — —
Plus: FDIC special assessment 6,494 — —
Plus: FultonFirst initiative expenses 3,197 — —
Less: Tax impact of adjustments (2,909) (4,055) —
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(dollars in thousands)
Operating return on average assets
Plus: Core deposit intangible amortization 2,308 1,029 —
Plus: Merger-related expenses — 10,328 —
Plus: CECL Day 1 Provision expense — 7,954 —
Plus: Interest rate derivative transition valuation(1) 1,855 — —
Plus: FDIC special assessment 6,494 — —
Plus: FultonFirst initiative expenses 3,197 — —
Less: Tax impact of adjustments (2,909) (4,055) —
Less: Average net core deposit intangible (5,996) (3,915) —
Operating return on average assets 1.08 % 1.16 % 1.05 %
Return on average common shareholders' equity (tangible)
Plus: Merger-related expenses — 10,328 —
Plus: CECL Day 1 Provision expense — 7,954 —
Plus: Interest rate derivative transition valuation(1) 1,855 — —
Plus: FDIC special assessment 6,494 — —
Plus: FultonFirst initiative expenses 3,197 — —
Return on average common shareholders' equity (tangible) 15.21 % 16.08 % 13.58 %
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(dollars in thousands)
Efficiency ratio
Less: Amortization of tax credit investments — (2,783) (6,187)
Less: Merger-related expenses — (10,328) —
Less: Debt extinguishment gain (cost) 720 — (33,249)
Less: FDIC special assessment (6,494) — —
Less: FultonFirst initiative expenses (3,197) — —
Plus: Interest rate derivative transition valuation(1) 1,855 — —
Less: Investment securities losses (gains), net 733 27 (33,516)
(1)Resulting from the reference rate transition from LIBOR to SOFR in the Corporation's commercial customer interest rate swap program.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The following is a summary of those accounting policies that the Corporation considers to be most important to the presentation of its financial condition and results of operations, because they require management's most difficult judgments as a result of the need to make estimates about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. See additional information regarding these critical accounting policies in "Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Allowance for Credit Losses - The ACL is based on estimated losses over the remaining expected life of loans. Management's determination of the appropriateness of the reserve is based on periodic evaluations of the loan portfolio, lending-related commitments, current and forecasted economic factors and other relevant factors.
Loans Evaluated Collectively: Loans evaluated collectively for expected credit losses include all accruing loans and non-accrual loans where the total commitment amount is less than $1 million. In determining the ACL, the Corporation uses three inputs to model the estimate. These inputs are the PD rate which estimates the likelihood that a borrower will be unable to meet its debt obligations, the LGD rate which estimates the percentage of an asset that is lost if a borrower defaults, and the EAD balance which estimates the gross exposure under a facility upon default. The PD models were developed based on historical default data. Both internal and external variables are evaluated in the process. The main internal variables are risk rating or delinquency history and indicators of default. The external variables are economic variables obtained from third-party forecasts.
The PD models are transition matrix models that utilize historical credit observations and incorporate economic forecasts to project future default rates using a linear regression methodology for each loan segment. The LGD model uses a vintage loss approach that estimates LGD rates based on the bank’s historical loss experience for each loan segment. The EAD incorporates a prepayment rate and applies the PD rates to estimate the projected exposure at default across the life of each loan. The ACL is calculated by applying the LGD to the EAD at each period across the life of each loan.
The ACL incorporates the Corporation’s historical credit observations, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that are based on the projected performance of specific economic variables that are statistically correlated with historical PD rates. The reasonable and supportable forecast extends to 24 months and reverts back to an average PD rate using a straight-line reversion methodology over a 12 month period.
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The ACL is highly sensitive to the economic forecasts used to develop the reserve. As such, the calculation of the ACL is inherently subjective and requires management to exercise judgment.
The ACL may include qualitative adjustments intended to capture the impact of uncertainties not reflected in the quantitative models. In determining qualitative adjustments, management considers changes in national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and their impact on the lending environment, including underwriting standards and other factors affecting credit losses over the remaining life of each loan.
The ACL for loans was $293.4 million and $269.4 million on December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.The increase of $24.0 million was primarily a result of increased loan growth, changes to the macroeconomic outlook and risk migration.
The Corporation performs loan loss sensitivity analysis on a quarterly basis to determine the impact of varying economic conditions based on third-party forecasts. Our sensitivity analysis does not represent management's view of expected credit losses at the balance sheet date. One scenario identified includes a slowdown in near-term economic growth. This scenario resulted in a hypothetical increase to the ACL of approximately $21.6 million.
For further discussion of the methodology used in the determination of the ACL, refer to Note 1, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Income Taxes - Income tax expense is based upon income before taxes, adjusted for the effect of certain tax-exempt income, non-deductible expenses and credits. In addition, certain items of income and expense are reported in different periods for financial reporting and tax return purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recognized currently in the deferred income tax provision or benefit. DTAs or deferred tax liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the applicable enacted marginal tax rate.
The Corporation must also evaluate the likelihood that DTAs will be recovered through future taxable income. If any such assets are determined to be more likely than not unrecoverable, then a valuation allowance must be recognized. The assessment of the carrying value of DTAs is based on certain assumptions, the changes of which could have a material impact on the Corporation's consolidated financial statements.
On a periodic basis, the Corporation evaluates its income tax expense based on tax laws, regulations and financial reporting considerations and records adjustments as appropriate. Recognition and measurement of tax positions is based upon management's evaluations of current taxing authorities' examinations of the Corporation's tax returns, recent positions taken by the taxing authorities on similar transactions and the overall tax environment.
Income tax expense was $64.4 million and $60.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
For a description of accounting standards recently issued, but not yet adopted by the Corporation, see "Recently Issued Accounting Standards," in "Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the most significant component of the Corporation's net income. The Corporation manages the risk associated with changes in interest rates through the techniques described within Item "7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk." The following table provides a comparative average balance sheet and net interest income analysis for 2023 compared to 2022 and 2021. Interest income and yields are presented on an FTE basis using a 21% federal tax rate as well as statutory interest expense disallowances. The discussion following this table is based on these tax-equivalent amounts.
(dollars in thousands)
ASSETS
Interest-earning assets:
Noninterest-earning assets:
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Interest-bearing liabilities:
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
(1)Presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis using a 21% federal tax rate and statutory interest expense disallowances.
(2) Average balances include non-performing loans.
(3) Average balances include amortized historical cost for AFS securities; the related unrealized holding gains (losses) are included in other assets.
(4) ACL - loans relates to the ACL for net loans and does not include the ACL for OBS credit exposures, which is included in other liabilities.
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Comparison of 2023 to 2022
The following table summarizes the changes in FTE interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in average balances (volumes) and changes in yields and rates:
2023 vs. 2022 Increase (decrease) due to change in
Volume Yield/Rate Net
(dollars in thousands)
Interest income on:
Interest expense on:
(1) Average balance includes non-performing loans.
Compared to 2022, FTE total interest income for 2023 increased $411.2 million due to increases of $344.7 million attributable to changes in yield and $66.5 million attributable to changes in volume. The increase due to changes in yield was largely due to an increase in net loans. The increase due to changes in volume was due to an increase in average net loans, partially offset by decreases in average other interest-earning assets and investment securities.
The yield on average interest-earning assets increased 145 bps in 2023 compared to 2022.
In 2023, interest expense increased $335.7 million compared to 2022, primarily driven by an increase in rate on interest-bearing liabilities resulting in a $252.9 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest expense attributable to rate was driven by the increases in savings and money market deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits, time deposits, borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities and brokered deposits. The increase in interest expense attributable to volume was $82.9 million primarily driven by increases in borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities and brokered deposits.
The rate on average interest-bearing liabilities increased 178 bps in 2023 compared to 2022.
Average loans and average FTE yields, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Yield Balance Yield $ %
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Consists of equipment lease financing, overdrafts and net origination fees and costs.
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During 2023, average loans increased $1.8 billion, or 9.3%,compared to 2022. The increase was largely driven by increases in average residential mortgage loans, average commercial and industrial loans, average commercial mortgage loans, average consumer loans and average construction loans of $818.2 million, $366.6 million,$352.3 million, $178.8 million and $68.8 million,respectively. The yield on total loans increased157 bps to5.57% in 2023 compared to4.00% in 2022.
Average deposits and interest rates, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Rate Balance Rate $ %
(dollars in thousands)
The cost of total deposits increased 118 bps to 1.38% in 2023 compared to 0.20% in 2022, primarily due to rising interest rates and a change in mix of deposits. Average deposits decreased $297.7 million driven by a $1.6 billion decrease in average noninterest-bearing demand deposits, partially offset by increases in average brokered deposits, average time deposits and average savings and money market deposits of $585.4 million, $552.4 million and $157.9 million, respectively.
Average borrowings and interest rates, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Rate Balance Rate $ %
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Includes repurchase agreements, short-term promissory notes, capital leases and interest-bearing collateral.
Average borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.4 billion during 2023 compared to 2022, primarily as a result of an increase in average net loans and a decrease in average total deposits. Average FHLB advances, average Federal funds purchased and average other borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities increased $727.9 million, $475.3 million and $234.5 million, respectively. See "Note 10 - Borrowings" of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
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Non-Interest Income
The following table presents the components of non-interest income:
Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial banking:
Consumer banking:
Investment securities gains (losses), net (733) (27) (706) N/M
Non-interest income before investment securities gains (losses) increased $1.3 million, or 0.6%, during 2023 compared to 2022. The increase in non-interest income was primarily due to increases in commercial banking revenues of $5.4 million, largely driven by an increase in commercial customer interest rate swap fee income reflected in capital markets, an increase in wealth management of $2.7 million, due to an increase in assets under management, and an increase in the cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance agreements of $1.7 million, reflected in other non-interest income, partially offset by decreases in mortgage banking income of $3.8 million, mainly due to lower sales volumes and lower gains on sales margins, consumer banking income of $2.3 million, driven largely by decreases in overdraft fees, and an $1.8 million reduction in other non-interest income to reflect market valuation movement in certain of the Corporation's legacy commercial customer back-to-back interest rate swap transactions resulting from the transition from LIBOR to SOFR.
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Non-Interest Expense
The following table presents the components of non-interest expense:
Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Non-interest expense in 2023 increased $45.5 million, or 7.2%, compared to 2022. Excluding merger-related expenses of $10.3 million in 2022, non-interest expense increased $55.8 million, or 9.0%, in 2023 compared to 2022. The increase in non-interest expense, excluding merger-related expenses, was primarily due to increases of $20.5 million in salaries and employee benefits expense, $13.0 million in FDIC insurance expense, primarily due to the adoption of a final rule to increase base deposit insurance assessment rates effective January 1, 2023, and the special assessment of $6.5 million charged to recover the loss to the DIF in connection with the closures of certain banks in 2023, $10.6 million in other outside services expense largely due to a number of corporate initiatives, $6.2 million in data processing and software expense due to ongoing investment in technology and customer growth and $2.1 million in marketing expense primarily due to a targeted customer deposit acquisition program and brand marketing campaigns. The $20.5 million increase in salaries and employee benefits expense was largely due to annual merit increases, an increase in the number of employees, higher healthcare claims expense and higher pension expense.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense for 2023 was $64.4 million, a $4.4 million increase compared to 2022. The ETR was 18.5% in 2023 compared to 17.3% in 2022. The increase in income tax expense in 2023 resulted primarily from the higher ETR.The ETR is generally lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to tax-exempt interest income earned on loans, investments in tax-free municipal securities and TCIs that generate tax credits under various federal programs.
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Comparison of 2022 to 2021
The following table summarizes the changes in FTE interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in average balances (volumes) and changes in yields and rates:
Increase (decrease) due to change in
Volume Yield/Rate Net
(dollars in thousands)
Interest income on:
Interest expense on:
(1) Average balance includes non-performing loans.
Compared to 2021, FTE total interest income for 2022 increased $144.1 million, or 19.6%, primarily due to an increase of $113.2 million attributable to changes in yield, of which $102.7 million related to net loans. The yield on average interest-earning assets increased 59 bps in 2022 compared to 2021.
In 2022, interest expense increased $23.5 million compared to 2021, primarily driven by increases in rate on interest-bearing liabilities resulting in a $25.4 million increase in interest expense. The increase in interest expense attributable to rate was primarily driven by the increases in savings and money market deposits, borrowings, interest-bearing demand deposits and brokered deposits.
Average loans and average FTE yields, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Yield Balance Yield $ %
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Consists of overdrafts and net origination fees and costs.
Average loans increased $525.0 million, or 2.8%, compared to 2021. The increase was largely driven by increases in average residential mortgage loans,average commercial mortgage loans, average consumer loans and average construction loans of $760.5 million, $374.1 million,$112.9 million and $100.2 million, respectively, partially offset by decreases in average commercial and industrial loans of $822.7 million primarily due to the repayment of Paycheck Protection Program loans upon forgiveness by the SBA.
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Average investment securities increased $691.4 million, or 18.8%, in comparison to 2021, which contributed a $16.8 million increase in FTE interest income. The yield on investment securities increased 8 bps in comparison to 2021, resulting in a $3.0 million increase in FTE interest income.
Yield on other interest-earning assets increased 74 bps in comparison to 2021, contributing $7.5 million to FTE interest income, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of other interest-earning assets of $1.2 billion, contributing a $4.4 million decrease to FTE interest income.
Average deposits and interest rates, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Rate Balance Rate $ %
(dollars in thousands)
The cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 10 bps, to 0.31%, from 0.21% in 2021, due to an increase in rates. The rate on total demand deposits and savings and money market deposits increased to 0.13%, compared to 0.04% for 2021. Average interest-bearing demand deposits and average time deposits decreased $385.5 million and $321.6 million, respectively, during 2022. Average noninterest-bearing demand deposits and average savings and money market deposits increased $311.2 million and $151.2 million, respectively, during 2022 compared to 2021.
Average borrowings and interest rates, by type, are summarized in the following table:
Balance Rate Balance Rate $ %
(dollars in thousands)
Borrowings:
(1) Includes repurchase agreements, short-term promissory notes and capital leases.
Total average borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities increased $60.4 million, or 4.7%, and the rate on total average borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities increased 60 bps, to 2.89%, compared to 2021. Borrowings increased primarily as a result of the decrease in deposits. Short-term Federal funds purchased and FHLB advances increased $91.1 million and $67.6 million, respectively. Senior debt and subordinated debt decreased $93.0 million primarily due to the $65.0 million repayment of senior notes on March 16, 2022 and the redemption of $17.0 million of TruPS in September 2022. See "Note 10 - Borrowings" of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.
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Non-Interest Income
The following table presents the components of non-interest income:
Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial banking:
Consumer banking:
Non-interest income before investment securities gains (losses) decreased $13.1 million, or 5.4%, in 2022, as compared to 2021. The primary contributors to this net decrease were as follows:
•Mortgage banking income decreased $19.4 million, or 57.7%, compared to 2021, mainly due to reduced gains on sales of mortgage loans.
•Other non-interest income decreased $5.8 million, or 28.1%, compared to 2021, primarily due to a decline in income from equity method investments.
•Total commercial banking income increased $7.1 million, or 10.3%, compared to 2021, driven mainly by increases in commercial customer interest rate swap fees reflected in capital markets, cash management fees and merchant and card revenues.
•Total consumer banking income increased $4.0 million, or 8.7%, compared to 2021, driven primarily by increases in overdraft fees and card income.
•Investment securities gains decreased $33.5 million, primarily due to the gain on sale of Visa Shares, as part of the balance sheet restructuring undertaken in 2021.
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Non-Interest Expense
The following table presents the components of non-interest expense:
Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Non-interest expense increased $15.9 million, or 2.6% compared to 2021. Non-interest expense, excluding merger-related expenses of $10.3 million, was $623.4 million, an increase of $5.6 million, or 0.9% compared to non-interest expense of $617.8 million in 2021. Excluding merger-related expenses, the increase in non-interest expense compared to 2021 was primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits of $27.7 million, attributable to higher employee base salaries of $20.2 million and deferred loan origination expense of $14.3 million, partially offset by lower commissions expense of $8.8 million. Increases in data processing and software expenses, other outside services and net occupancy expense in 2022 of $3.8 million, $3.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively, also contributed to the increase in non-interest expense compared to 2021. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $33.2 million in debt extinguishment expense in 2021.
Income Taxes
Income tax expense for 2022 was $60.0 million, a $1.3 million increase compared to 2021. The Corporation's ETR was 17.3% for the year ended 2022, compared to 17.6% for the same period in 2021. The ETR is generally lower than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to tax-exempt interest income earned on loans, investments in tax-free municipal securities and investments in community development projects that generate tax credits under various programs.
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FINANCIAL CONDITION
The table below presents condensed consolidated ending balance sheets.
December 31, Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
Investment Securities
The table below presents the carrying amount of investment securities:
December 31, Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities 1,010 1,008 2 0.2
Held to Maturity
Compared to December 31, 2022, total AFS securities at December 31, 2023 decreased $248.4 million, or 9.4%, primarily due to decreases in U.S. Government securities, state and municipal securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, commercial
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mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities of $176.3 million $33.7 million, $22.6 million, $18.1 million and $15.9 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2023, total HTM securities decreased $53.3 million, or 4.0%, primarily driven by a decrease in residential mortgage-backed securities of $50.3 million due to payments.
Loans
The following table presents ending loans outstanding, by type:
December 31, Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Includes unearned income of $41.0 thousand and $4.5 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
(2) Includes unearned income of $38.0 million and $24.8 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
During 2023, net loans increased $1.1 billion, or 5.3%, compared to December 31, 2022, primarily due to increases in residential mortgage loans, commercial mortgage loans and commercial and industrial loans of $588.6 million, $433.9 million and $72.5 million, respectively, partially offset by decreases in home equity loans and construction loans of $55.7 million and $30.9 million, respectively.
The Corporation does not have a significant concentration of credit risk with any single borrower. As of December 31, 2023, approximately $9.4 billion, or 43.9%, of the loan portfolio was comprised of commercial mortgage loans and construction loans. The Corporation has established lower total lending limits for certain types of lending commitments and lower total lending limits based on the Corporation's internal risk rating of an individual borrower at the time the lending commitment is approved.
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The following table summarizes the industry concentrations within the commercial mortgage and the commercial and industrial loan portfolios:
December 31,
Manufacturing 6.1 6.8
Other services 4.5 4.7
Hospitality and food services 3.6 3.6
Wholesale trade 3.2 3.1
Educational services 2.9 2.8
Professional, scientific and technical services 2.2 1.8
Arts, entertainment and recreation 1.9 2.0
Transportation and warehousing 1.7 1.3
Finance and Insurance 1.3 0.9
Administrative and Support 1.1 1.1
Public administration 1.0 1.2
(1) Includes commercial loans to borrowers engaged in the business of: renting, leasing or managing real estate for others; selling and/or buying real estate for
others; and appraising real estate. Real estate commercial office represents 3% of total loans.
(2) Includes commercial loans to borrowers engaged in the construction industry.
The following table presents the changes in non-accrual loans for the years ended December 31:
(dollars in thousands)
Transfers to OREO — — — (1,793) — — (1,793)
During 2023, non-accrual loans decreased $22.8 million, or 15.8%, largely due to payments and charge-offs, partially offset by additions to non-accrual loans. During 2023, non-accrual loans as a percentage of net loans decreased to 0.57%, compared to 0.71% as of December 31, 2022.
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The following table presents non-performing assets:
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Non-accrual loans to total loans 0.57 % 0.71 % 0.78 %
Non-performing loans to total loans 0.72 % 0.85 % 0.83 %
Non-performing assets to total assets 0.56 % 0.66 % 0.60 %
(1) The amount of interest income on non-accrual loans that was recognized in 2023, 2022 and 2021was approximately $1.5 million, $2.2 million and $1.3
million, respectively.
(2) Accrual of interest is generally discontinued when a loan becomes 90 days past due. In certain cases a loan may be placed on non-accrual status prior to being
90 days delinquent if there is an indication that the borrower is having difficulty making payments or the Corporation believes it is probable that all amounts
will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the agreement. When interest accruals are discontinued, unpaid interest previously credited to
income is reversed. Non-accrual loans may be restored to accrual status when all delinquent principal and interest has been paid currently for six consecutive
months or the loan is considered to be adequately secured and in the process of collection. Certain loans, primarily adequately collateralized residential
mortgage loans, may continue to accrue interest after reaching 90 days past due.
(3) Excludes $10.9 million, $6.0 million and $6.4 million of residential mortgage properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process as of
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The following table presents non-performing loans:
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Non-performing loans to total loans 0.72 % 0.85 % 0.83 %
The following table presents the amortized cost basis of loans modified to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty:
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
Real estate - commercial mortgage $ 2,944
Commercial and industrial 11,970
Real estate - residential mortgage 9,092
There were no loans modified due to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty that defaulted during 2023.
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The following table summarizes OREO, by property type:
December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
The Corporation's ability to identify potential problem loans in a timely manner is important to maintaining an adequate ACL. For commercial and industrial loans, commercial mortgage loans and construction loans to commercial borrowers, an internal risk rating process is used to monitor credit quality. The evaluation of credit risk for residential mortgages, home equity loans, construction loans to individuals, consumer loans and leases and other loans is based on payment history through the monitoring of delinquency levels and trends.
Total internally risk-rated loans were $13.7 billion and $13.2 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, of which $0.9 million and $0.8 million were criticized and classified loans, respectively. The following table presents criticized and classified loans, or those with internal risk ratings of special mention(1) or substandard or lower(2) for commercial mortgages, commercial and industrial loans and construction loans to commercial borrowers, by class segment:
December 31, December 31, December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Considered "criticized" loans by banking regulators.
(2) Considered "classified" loans by banking regulators.
(3) Excludes construction - other.
Total loans risk-rated special mention increased by $15.0 million, or 3.2%, compared to December 31, 2022. Total loans risk- rated substandard or lower increased by $157.9 million, or 54.4%, compared to December 31, 2022, primarily due to borrower performance in both commercial and industrial loans and commercial real estate loans. Total criticized and classified loans increased $172.9 million, or 23.0%, compared to December 31, 2022.
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The following table presents, by class segment, a summary of delinquency status and rates, as a percentage of total loans that do not have internal risk ratings:
Delinquent(1) Non-performing(2) Total
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
$ % $ % $ % $ % $ % $ %
(dollars in thousands)
(1) Includes accruing loans 30 days to 89 days past due.
(2) Includes accruing loans 90 days or more past due and non-accrual loans and leases.
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Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses
The Corporation accounts for the credit risk associated with lending activities through the ACL and the provision for credit losses.
The following table presents the activity in the ACL:
December 31, December 31, December 31,
(dollars in thousands)
CECL Day 1 provision expense — 7,954 —
Initial purchased credit deteriorated loans — 1,135 —
Loans charged off:
Consumer and real estate - home equity (7,514) (4,412) (3,309)
Real estate - residential mortgage (62) (66) (1,290)
Real estate - construction — — (39)
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Real estate - residential mortgage 421 425 375
Provision for OBS credit exposures $ 926 $ 1,411 $ 160
Selected Asset Quality Ratios %:
Net charge-offs to average loans 0.14 % 0.04 % 0.07 %
Non-performing assets(3) to total assets 0.56 0.66 0.60
Non-accrual loans to total net loans 0.57 0.71 0.78
ACL - loans to non-performing loans 191 157 164
(1) Provision for credit losses includes only the portion related to net loans.
(2) Reserve for OBS credit exposures is recorded within other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
(3) Includes accruing loans past due 90 days or more.
The provision for credit losses, specific to loans, for 2023 was $53.1 million, compared to a provision for credit losses, specific to loans, of $26.6 million, which included an $8.0 million CECL Day 1 Provision recorded in 2022. The increase in the provision for credit losses for net loans was primarily driven by loan growth, changes to the macroeconomic outlook, higher net loan charge-offs and migration of internally risk-rated loans into special mention and substandard or lower categories.
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The following table summarizes the allocation of the ACL - loans:
(dollars in thousands)
(1)Ending ACL - loan portfolio segment balance as a % of total ACL - loans.
(2)Ending loan portfolio segment balances as a % of total net loans for the periods presented.
Management believes that the $293.4 million ACL - loans as of December 31, 2023 is sufficient to cover expected credit losses in the loan portfolio.
Deposits and Borrowings
The following table presents ending deposits, by type:
December 31, Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
During 2023, total deposits increased by $888.1 million, or 4.3%, compared to December 31, 2022. The increase in total deposits was primarily due to increases in time deposits, brokered deposits, interest-bearing demand deposits and savings and money market deposits of $1.2 billion, $936.3 million, $311.8 million and $182.3 million, respectively, partially offset by a decrease in noninterest-bearing demand deposits $1.7 billion. The shift from noninterest-bearing demand deposits to interest-bearing deposits was mainly due to rising interest rates.
Total uninsured deposits (excluding intra-Company deposits) were estimated to be $7.2 billion and $7.8 billion at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.
The following table presents ending borrowings, by type:
December 31, Increase (Decrease)
(dollars in thousands)
(1)Includes repurchase agreements, short-term promissory notes and capital leases.
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During 2023, total borrowings decreased $383.7 million, or 13.4%, compared to December 31, 2022. The decrease in total borrowings was due to decreases in other borrowings of $278.4 million, FHLB advances of $150.0 million and senior and subordinated debt of $4.3 million, partially offset by an increase in Federal funds purchased of $49.0 million.
Other Liabilities
During 2023, other liabilities decreased $69.5 million, or 8.5%, compared to December 31, 2022, primarily due to a decrease in derivative related liabilities.
Shareholders' Equity
During 2023, total shareholders' equity increased $180.4 million, or 7.0%, to $2.8 billion, or 10.0% of total assets, as of December 31, 2023. The increase was due primarily to an increase of $168.5 million in retained earnings and a reduction of $73.2 million in accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by a $75.3 million increase in treasury stock largely due to common stock repurchases. See "Note 15 - Shareholders' Equity" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for details of accumulated comprehensive loss.
Regulatory Capital
The Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Fulton Bank, are subject to the Capital Rules administered by banking regulators. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can trigger certain actions by regulators that could have a material effect on the Corporation's financial statements.
The Capital Rules require the Corporation and Fulton Bank to:
•Meet a minimum Common Equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.50% of risk-weighted assets;
•Meet a minimum Tier 1 Leverage capital ratio of 4.00% of average assets;
•Meet a minimum Total capital ratio of 8.00% of risk-weighted assets and a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.00% of risk-weighted assets;
•Maintain a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.50% above the minimum risk-based capital requirements, which must be maintained to avoid restrictions on capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments; and
•Comply with a revised definition of capital to improve the ability of regulatory capital instruments to absorb losses. Certain non-qualifying capital instruments, including cumulative preferred stock and TruPS, are excluded as a component of Tier 1 capital for institutions of the Corporation's size.
As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation's capital levels met the minimum capital requirements, including the capital conservation buffers, as prescribed in the Capital Rules.
As of December 31, 2023, Fulton Bank met the well-capitalized requirements under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well-capitalized, a bank must maintain minimum Total risk-based, Tier I risk-based, Common Equity Tier I risk-based and Tier I leverage ratios as set forth in the Capital Rules. There were no other conditions or events since December 31, 2023 that management believes have changed the Corporation's capital categories.
The following table summarizes the Corporation's capital ratios in comparison to regulatory requirements:
Total Risk-Based Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) 14.0% 13.6% 8.0% 10.5%
Tier I Risk-Based Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets) 11.2% 10.9% 6.0% 8.5%
Common Equity Tier I (to Risk-Weighted Assets) 10.3% 10.0% 4.5% 7.0%
Tier I Leverage Capital (to Average Assets) 9.5% 9.5% 4.0% 4.0%
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Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Corporation has various financial obligations that require future cash payments. These obligations include payments for liabilities recorded on the Corporation's consolidated balance sheets as well as contractual obligations for purchased services.
Contractual purchase obligations to third parties that were fixed and determinable of approximately $125 million and $93 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, include information technology, telecommunication and data processing outsourcing contracts. The increase is primarily due to the renewals of large multi-year contracts.
The Corporation is a party to financial instruments with OBS risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby and commercial letters of credit, which involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk that are not recognized on the consolidated balance sheets. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the financial or performance obligation of a customer to a third party. Commercial letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to facilitate foreign or domestic trade transactions for customers. Commitments and standby and commercial letters of credit do not necessarily represent future cash needs, as they may expire without being drawn.
The following table presents the Corporation's commitments to extend credit and letters of credit as of December 31, 2023 (dollars in thousands):
Commercial and industrial $ 4,929,981
Real estate - commercial mortgage and real estate - construction 1,867,830
Total commitments to extend credit $ 8,790,511
Standby letters of credit $ 264,440
Commercial letters of credit 67,396
Total letters of credit $ 331,836
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the exposure to economic loss that arises from changes in the values of certain financial instruments. The types of market risk exposures generally faced by financial institutions include interest rate risk, equity market price risk, debt security market price risk, foreign currency price risk and commodity price risk. Due to the nature of its operations, foreign currency price risk and commodity price risk are not significant to the Corporation.
Interest Rate Risk, Asset/Liability Management and Liquidity
Interest rate risk creates exposure in two primary areas. First, changes in rates have an impact on the Corporation's liquidity position and could affect its ability to meet obligations and continue to grow. Second, movements in interest rates can create fluctuations in the Corporation's net interest income and changes in its economic value of its equity.
The Corporation employs various management techniques to minimize its exposure to interest rate risk. The Corporation's ALCO is responsible for reviewing the interest rate sensitivity and liquidity positions of the Corporation, approving asset and liability management policies, and overseeing the formulation and implementation of strategies regarding balance sheet positions.
The Corporation uses two complementary methods to measure and manage interest rate risk. They are simulation of net interest income and estimates of economic value of equity. Using these measurements in tandem provides a reasonably comprehensive summary of the magnitude of the Corporation's interest rate risk, level of risk as time evolves, and exposure to changes in interest rates.
Simulation of net interest income is performed for the next 12-month period. A variety of interest rate scenarios are used to measure the effects of sudden and gradual movements upward and downward in the yield curve. These results are compared to the results obtained in a flat or unchanged interest rate scenario. Simulation of net interest income is used primarily to measure the Corporation's short-term earnings exposure to rate movements. The Corporation's policy limits the potential exposure of net interest income, in a non-parallel instantaneous shock, to 10% of the base case net interest income for a 100 bps shock in interest rates, 15% for a 200 bps shock, 20% for a 300 bps shock and 25% for a 400 bps shock. A "shock" is an immediate upward or downward movement of interest rates. The shocks do not take into account changes in customer behavior that could result in changes to mix and/or volumes in the balance sheet, nor does it take into account the potential effects of competition on the pricing of deposits and loans over the forward 12-month period.
Contractual maturities and repricing opportunities of loans are incorporated in the simulation model as are prepayment assumptions, maturity data and call options within the investment portfolio. Assumptions based on past experience are incorporated into the model for non-maturity deposit accounts. The assumptions used are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the model cannot precisely measure future net interest income or precisely predict the impact of fluctuations in market interest rates on net interest income. Actual results will differ from the model's simulated results due to timing, amount and frequency of interest rate changes as well as changes in market conditions and the application and timing of various management strategies.
The following table summarizes the expected impact of abrupt interest rate changes, i.e. a non-parallel instantaneous shock, on net interest income as of December 31, 2023:
(1) These results include the effect of implicit and explicit interest rate floors that limit further reduction in interest rates.
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Economic value of equity estimates the discounted present value of asset and liability cash flows. Discount rates are based upon market prices for like assets and liabilities. Abrupt changes or "shocks" in interest rates, both upward and downward, are used to determine the comparative effect of such interest rate movements relative to the unchanged environment. This measurement tool is used primarily to evaluate the longer-term repricing risks and options in the Corporation's balance sheet. The Corporation's policy limits the economic value of equity that may be at risk, in a non-parallel instantaneous shock, to 10% of the base case economic value of equity for a 100 bps shock in interest rates, 20% for a 200 bps shock, 30% for a 300 bps shock and 40% for a 400 bps shock. As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation was within economic value of equity policy limits for every 100 bps shock.
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives with certain qualifying commercial loan customers to meet their interest rate risk management needs. The Corporation simultaneously enters into interest rate derivatives with dealer counterparties, with identical notional amounts and terms. The net result of these interest rate derivatives is that the customer pays a fixed rate of interest and the Corporation receives a floating rate. These interest rate derivatives are derivative financial instruments, and the gross fair values are recorded in other assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, with changes in fair value during the period recorded in other non-interest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Cash Flow Hedges
The Corporation's objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to reduce volatility in net interest income and net interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Corporation primarily uses interest rate derivatives as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. The Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing floating rate loans and borrowings.
For derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk, the unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in AOCI and subsequently reclassified into interest income or interest expense in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Amounts reported in AOCI related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest income as interest payments are made on the Corporation's variable-rate liabilities.
In January 2023, the Corporation terminated interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges with a combined notional amount of $1.0 billion. As the hedged transaction continues to be probable, the unrealized losses that have been recorded in AOCI will be recognized as reduction to interest income when the previously forecasted hedged item affects earnings in future periods. During 2023, $22.1 million of these unrealized losses have been reclassified as a reduction of interest income on loans, including fees, on the consolidated statements of income.
Liquidity
The Corporation must maintain a sufficient level of liquid assets to meet the cash needs of its customers, who, as depositors, may want to withdraw funds or who, as borrowers, need credit availability. Liquidity is provided on a continuous basis through scheduled and unscheduled principal and interest payments on investments and outstanding loans and through the availability of deposits and borrowings. The Corporation also maintains secondary sources that provide liquidity on a secured and unsecured basis to meet short- and long-term needs.
The Corporation maintains liquidity sources in the form of interest-bearing deposits and customer funding (short-term promissory notes). The Corporation can access additional liquidity from these sources, if necessary, by increasing the rates of interest paid on those instruments. The positive impact to liquidity resulting from paying higher interest rates could have a detrimental impact on NIM and net interest income if rates on interest-earning assets do not experience a proportionate increase. Borrowing availability with the FHLB and the FRB, along with federal funds lines at various correspondent banks, provides the Corporation with additional liquidity.
Fulton Bank is a member of the FHLB and has access to FHLB overnight and term credit facilities. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank had total borrowing capacity of approximately $8.2 billion with $3.3 billion of advances and letters of credit outstanding, for a remaining available borrowing capacity of approximately $4.9 billion. Advances from the FHLB, when utilized, are secured by qualifying commercial real estate and residential mortgage loans, investments and other assets.
As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation had aggregate federal funds lines borrowing capacity of $2.6 billion, with $0.2 billion of outstanding borrowings against that amount.As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation had $1.3 billion of
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collateralized borrowing capacity at the discount window and $1.9 billion of borrowing capacity at the Bank Term Funding Program facility with no amounts outstanding under these programs.
A combination of commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, consumer loans and securities are pledged to the FRB of Philadelphia to provide access to FRB discount window borrowings. Securities carried at $0.4 billion at December 31, 2023 and $1.1 billion at December 31, 2022 were pledged as collateral to secure public and trust deposits.
The Corporation has commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. As of December 31, 2023, the balance of commitments to extend credit was $8.8 billion and total letters of credit were $0.3 billion.
Liquidity must also be managed at the Parent Company level. For safety and soundness reasons, banking regulations limit the amount of cash that can be transferred from subsidiary banks to the parent company in the form of loans and dividends. Generally, these limitations are based on the subsidiary banks’ regulatory capital levels and their net income. Management continues to monitor the liquidity and capital needs of the Parent Company including monitoring the granularity of the deposit portfolio and level of uninsured deposits. Management will implement appropriate strategies, as necessary, to remain adequately capitalized and to meet its cash needs.
The consolidated statements of cash flows provide additional information. The Corporation's operating activities during 2023 generated $363.0 million of cash, mainly due to net income of $284.3 million. Cash used in investing activities was $809.2 million, primarily due to $1.1 billion net increase in loans. Net cash provided by financing activities was $314.0 million, due largely to the increases in time and brokered deposits, partially offset by decreases in demand and savings deposits and other borrowings.
The following table presents the expected maturities of government, state and municipal and corporate AFS investment securities, at estimated fair value, as of December 31, 2023 and the weighted average yields on such securities (calculated based on historical cost):
Maturing
Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield Amount Yield
Available for sale (dollars in thousands)
U.S. Government securities $ 42,161 2.40 % $ — — % $ — — % $ — — %
U.S. Government-sponsored agency securities — — 1,010 3.10 — — — —
(1) Weighted average yields on tax-exempt securities have been computed on a FTE basis assuming a federal tax rate of 21% and statutory interest expense
disallowances.
The Corporation's investment portfolio consists mainly of state and municipal securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, corporate debt securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. Commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations have stated maturities that may differ from actual maturities due to borrowers' ability to prepay obligations. Cash flows from such investments are dependent upon the performance of the underlying mortgage loans and are generally influenced by the level of interest rates. As rates increase, cash flows generally decrease as prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans decrease. As rates decrease, cash flows generally increase as prepayments increase.
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The following table presents AFS residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, at estimated fair value, and HTM residential mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities, at amortized cost, as of December 31, 2023, without stated maturities, including the weighted average yields and estimated weighted average lives based on prepayment speeds on such securities:
Weighted
Amount Yield Average Life
(dollars in thousands) (in years)
Available for sale
Residential mortgage-backed securities $ 196,795 2.79 % 6.6
Held to maturity
Residential mortgage-backed securities $ 407,075 2.01 % 6.6
The following table presents the contractual maturities of fixed rate loans and loan types subject to changes in interest rates as of December 31, 2023:
One Yearor Less OneThroughFive Years More ThanFive Years Total
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial and industrial:
Real estate - mortgage(1):
Real estate - construction:
Consumer, leases and other:
(1) Includes commercial and residential mortgages and home equity loans.
Contractual maturities of time deposits as of December 31, 2023 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Year
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Contractual maturities of the portion of time deposits estimated to be in excess of the FDIC insurance limit as of December 31, 2023 included in the table above, were as follows (dollars in thousands):
Three months or less $ 46,709
Over three through six months 63,171
Over six through twelve months 65,705
Total uninsured deposits (excluding intra-Company deposits) were estimated to be $7.2 billion at December 31, 2023 compared with $7.8 billion at December 31, 2022.
Debt Security Market Price Risk
Debt security market price risk is the risk that changes in the values of debt securities, unrelated to interest rate changes, could have a material impact on the financial position or results of operations of the Corporation. The Corporation's debt security investments consist primarily of U.S. government-sponsored agency issued residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations; as well as, state and municipal securities and corporate debt securities. All of the Corporation's investments in residential mortgage-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations have principal payments that are guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored agencies.
State and Municipal Securities
As of December 31, 2023, the Corporation owned securities issued by various states and municipalities with a total fair value of $1.1 billion. Uncertainty with respect to the financial strength of state and municipal bond insurers places emphasis on the underlying strength of issuers. Pressure on local tax revenues of issuers due to adverse economic conditions could have an adverse impact on the underlying credit quality of issuers. The Corporation evaluates existing and potential holdings primarily based on the underlying creditworthiness of the issuing state or municipality and then, to a lesser extent, on any credit enhancement. State and municipal securities can be supported by the general obligation of the issuing state or municipality, allowing the securities to be repaid by any means available to the issuing state or municipality. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 100% of state and municipal securities were supported by the general obligation of corresponding states or municipalities. Approximately 74% of these securities were school district issuances, which are also supported by the states of the issuing municipalities.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)
December 31,
ASSETS
Investment securities:
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
Borrowings:
Other borrowings and interest-bearing liabilities 612,142 890,573
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per-share data)
Interest Income
Interest Expense
Other borrowings and interest-bearing liabilities 28,002 6,817 607
Non-Interest Income
Investment securities gains (losses), net (733) (27) 33,516
Non-Interest Expense
Debt extinguishment cost — — 33,249
Merger-related expenses — 10,328 —
PER SHARE:
Net income available to common shareholders (basic) $ 1.66 $ 1.69 $ 1.63
Net income available to common shareholders (diluted) 1.64 1.67 1.62
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in thousands)
Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss), net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on AFS investment securities:
Unrealized (losses) gains on interest rate derivatives used in cash flow hedges:
Net unrealized holding losses arising during the period 6,998 (62,963) (2,670)
Defined benefit pension plan and postretirement benefits:
Unrecognized pension and postretirement income (cost) 4,777 644 7,144
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(in thousands, except per share data)
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment 30,055 30,201 28,802
Investment securities losses (gains), net 733 27 (33,516)
Gain on sales of mortgage loans held for sale (5,094) (8,816) (24,379)
Debt extinguishment costs — — 33,249
Net change in accrued salaries and benefits (5,868) 12,826 (1,226)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Sale of Visa Shares — — 33,962
Net cash paid for acquisition — (21,811) (1,982)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:
Cash paid during the period for:
Supplemental Schedule of Certain Noncash Activities:
Transfer of AFS securities to HTM securities $ — $ 479,008 $ 376,165
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business: The Corporation is a financial holding company that provides a full range of banking and financial services to businesses and consumers through its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Fulton Bank. In addition, the Parent Company owns the following non-bank subsidiaries: Fulton Financial Realty Company, Central Pennsylvania Financial Corp., FFC Penn Square, Inc., Fulton Insurance Services Group, Inc. and Fulton Community Partner, LLC. Collectively, the Parent Company and its subsidiaries are referred to as the Corporation.
The Corporation's primary sources of revenue are interest income on loans, investment securities and other interest-earning assets and fee income earned on its products and services. Its expenses consist of interest expense on deposits and borrowed funds, provision for credit losses, other operating expenses and income taxes. The Corporation's primary competition is other financial services providers operating in its region. Competitors also include financial services providers located outside the Corporation's geographic market as a result of the growth in electronic delivery channels. The Corporation is subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by such regulatory agencies.
The Corporation offers, through its banking subsidiary, a full range of retail and commercial banking services in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Virginia.
Basis of Financial Statement Presentation: The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and include the accounts of the Parent Company and all wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosed amount of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Corporation evaluates subsequent events through the date of the filing of this report with the SEC.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash: Cash and cash equivalents consists of cash and due from banks and interest-bearing deposits with other banks, which includes restricted cash. Restricted cash comprises cash balances required to be maintained with the FRB, based on customer transaction deposit account levels, and cash balances provided as collateral on derivative contracts and other contracts. See "Note 3 - Restrictions on Cash and Cash Equivalents" for additional information.
FRB and FHLBStock: The Bank is a member of the FRB and FHLB and is required by federal law to hold stock in these institutions according to predetermined formulas. These restricted investments are carried at cost on the consolidated balance sheets and are periodically evaluated for impairment.
Investments: Debt securities are classified as HTM at the time of purchase when the Corporation has both the intent and ability to hold these investments until they mature. Such debt securities are carried at cost, adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the effective yield method. The Corporation does not engage in trading activities; however, since the investment portfolio serves as a source of liquidity, most debt securities are classified as AFS. AFS securities are carried at estimated fair value with the related unrealized holding gains and losses reported in shareholders' equity as a component of OCI, net of tax. Realized securities gains and losses are computed using the specific identification method and are recorded on a trade date basis.
HTM Debt Securities:Expected credit losses on HTM debt securities would be recorded in the ACL on HTM debt securities. As of December 31, 2023, no HTM debt securities required an ACL as these investments consist solely of Agency guaranteed residential mortgage-backed and commercial mortgage-backed securities.
AFS Debt Securities: The Bank's AFS rated debt securities are investment grade. In evaluating credit losses on debt securities, management considers factors such as the credit quality of the investments, the credit rating of the security, and the delinquency history of the security. As of December 31, 2023, no AFS debt securities required an ACL.
Fair Value Option: The Corporation has elected to measure mortgage loans held for sale at fair value. Derivative financial instruments related to mortgage banking activities are also recorded at fair value, as detailed under the heading "Derivative Financial Instruments," below. The Corporation determines fair value for its mortgage loans held for sale based on the price that secondary market investors would pay for loans with similar characteristics, including interest rate and term, as of the date fair value is measured. Changes in fair values during the period are recorded as components of mortgage banking income on the
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consolidated statements of income. Interest income earned on mortgage loans held for sale is classified in interest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Loans: Loans are stated at amortized cost, except for mortgage loans held for sale, which are carried at fair value. Interest income on loans is accrued as earned.
In general, loans are placed on non-accrual status once they become 90 days delinquent as to principal or interest. In certain cases a loan may be placed on non-accrual status prior to being 90 days delinquent if there is an indication that the borrower is having difficulty making payments, or the Corporation believes it is probable that all amounts will not be collected according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. When interest accruals are discontinued, unpaid interest previously credited to income is reversed. Non-accrual loans may be restored to accrual status when all delinquent principal and interest has been paid currently for six consecutive months or the loan is considered adequately secured and in the process of collection. The Corporation generally applies payments received on non-accruing loans to principal until such time as the principal is paid off, after which time any payments received are recognized as interest income. If the Corporation believes that all amounts outstanding on a non-accrual loan will ultimately be collected, payments received subsequent to its classification as a non-accrual loan are allocated between interest income and principal.
A loan that is 90 days delinquent may continue to accrue interest if the loan is both adequately secured and is in the process of collection. Past due status is determined based on contractual due dates for loan payments. An adequately secured loan is one that has collateral with a supported fair value that is sufficient to discharge the debt, and/or has an enforceable guarantee from a financially responsible party. A loan is considered to be in the process of collection if collection is proceeding through legal action or through other activities that are reasonably expected to result in repayment of the debt or restoration to current status in the near future.
Loans deemed to be a loss are written off through a charge against the ACL. Closed-end consumer loans are generally charged- off when they become 120 days past due (180 days for open-end consumer loans) if they are not adequately secured by real estate. All other loans are evaluated for possible charge-off when it is probable that the balance will not be collected, based on the ability of the borrower to pay and the value of the underlying collateral, if any. Principal recoveries of loans previously charged-off are recorded as increases to the ACL.
Loan Origination Fees and Costs: Loan origination fees and the related direct origination costs are deferred and amortized over the life of the loan as an adjustment to interest income using the effective yield method. For mortgage loans sold, net loan origination fees and costs are included in the gain or loss on sale of the related loan, as components of mortgage banking.
Loan Modifications: Loans are accounted for and reported as modified when, for economic or legal reasons, the Corporation grants a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty that it would not otherwise consider. Concessions, whether negotiated or imposed by bankruptcy, granted under a loan modification typically involve a more than insignificant deferral of scheduled loan payments, an extension of a loan's stated maturity date, a reduction in the interest rate or a forgiveness of principal.
Because the effect of most modifications made to loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty is already included in the ACL, a change to the ACL is generally not recorded upon modification. When principal forgiveness is provided, the amortized cost basis of the forgiven portion of the loan is written off against the ACL.
Allowance for Credit Losses:
The Corporation follows ASU 2016-13Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (ASC Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The measurement of expected credit losses under CECL is applicable to financial assets measured at amortized cost, including loans and HTM debt securities. It also applies to OBS credit exposures, such as loan commitments, standby letters of credit, financial guarantees, and other similar instruments, and net investments in leases recognized by a lessor in accordance with ASC Topic 842.
The Corporation has elected to exclude accrued interest receivable from the measurement of its ACL. When a loan is placed on non-accrual status, any outstanding accrued interest is reversed against interest income.
The ACL consists of loans evaluated collectively and individually for expected credit losses. The ACL represents an estimate of expected credit losses over the expected life of the loans as of the balance sheet date and is recorded as a reduction to net loans. The ACL is increased or decreased (when the provision for credit losses is negative) through the provision for credit losses and increased or decreased (when recoveries of loans previously charged off exceed loans charged off) by charge-offs, net of
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recoveries. The reserve for OBS credit exposures includes estimated losses on unfunded loan commitments, letters of credit and other OBS credit exposures.
Loans: The ACL is an estimate of the expected losses to be realized over the life of the loans in the portfolio. The ACL is determined for two distinct categories of loans: 1) loans evaluated collectively for expected credit losses and 2) loans evaluated individually for expected credit losses.
Loans Evaluated Collectively: Loans evaluated collectively for expected credit losses include accruing loans and non-accrual loans where the total commitment amount is less than $1 million. In determining the ACL, the Corporation uses three inputs to model the estimate. These inputs are the PD rate which estimates the likelihood that a borrower will be unable to meet its debt obligations, the LGD rate which estimates the percentage of an asset that is lost if a borrower defaults, and the EAD balance which estimates the gross exposure under a facility upon default. The PD models were developed based on historical default data. Both internal and external variables are evaluated in the process. The main internal variables are risk rating or delinquency history and indicators of default. The external variables are economic variables obtained from third-party forecasts.
The PD models are transition matrix models that utilize historical credit observations and incorporate economic forecasts to project future default rates using a linear regression methodology for each loan segment. The LGD model uses a vintage loss approach that estimates LGD rates based on the bank’s historical loss experience for each loan segment. The EAD incorporates a prepayment rate and applies the PD rates to estimate the projected exposure at default across the life of each loan. The ACL is calculated by applying the LGD to the EAD at each period across the life of each loan.
The ACL incorporates the Corporation’s historical credit observations, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that are based on the projected performance of specific economic variables that are statistically correlated with historical PD rates. The reasonable and supportable forecast extends to 24 months and reverts back to an average PD rate using a straight-line reversion methodology over a 12 month period.
The ACL is highly sensitive to the economic forecasts used to develop the reserve. As such, the calculation of the ACL is inherently subjective and requires management to exercise judgment.
The ACL may include qualitative adjustments intended to capture the impact of uncertainties not reflected in the quantitative models. In determining qualitative adjustments, management considers changes in national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and their impact on the lending environment, including underwriting standards and other factors affecting credit losses over the remaining life of each loan.
Loans Evaluated Individually: Loans evaluated individually for expected credit losses include loans on non-accrual status where the commitment amount equals or exceeds $1.0 million. The required ACL for such loans is determined using either the present value of expected future cash flows, observable market price or the fair value of collateral.
Loans evaluated individually may have specific allocations of the ACL assigned if the measured value of the loan using one of the noted techniques is less than its current carrying value. For loans measured using the fair value of collateral, if the analysis determines that sufficient collateral value would be available for repayment of the debt, then no allocations would be assigned to those loans. Collateral could be in the form of real estate or business assets, such as accounts receivable or inventory, in the case of commercial and industrial loans. Commercial and industrial loans may also be secured by real estate.
For loans secured by real estate, estimated fair values are determined primarily through appraisals performed by third-party appraisers, discounted to arrive at expected net sale proceeds. For collateral dependent loans, estimated real estate fair values are also net of estimated selling costs. When a real estate secured loan is impaired, a decision is made regarding whether an updated appraisal of the real estate is necessary. This decision is based on various considerations, including: the age of the most recent appraisal; the loan-to-value ratio based on the original appraisal; the condition of the property; the Corporation's experience and knowledge of the real estate market; the purpose of the loan; market factors; payment status; the strength of any guarantors; and the existence and age of other indications of value such as broker price opinions, among others. The Corporation generally obtains updated appraisals performed by third-party appraisers for impaired loans secured predominantly by real estate every 12 months.
When updated appraisals are not obtained for loans secured by real estate, fair values are estimated based on the original appraisal values, as long as the original appraisal indicated an acceptable loan-to-value position and there has not been a significant deterioration in the collateral value since the original appraisal was performed.
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For loans with principal balances greater than or equal to $1.0 million secured by non-real estate collateral, such as accounts receivable or inventory, estimated fair values are determined based on borrower financial statements, inventory listings, accounts receivable agings or borrowing base certificates provided by the borrower. Indications of value from these sources are generally discounted based on the age of the financial information or the quality of the assets. Liquidation or collection discounts are applied to these assets based upon existing loan evaluation policies.
Management regularly reviews loans in the portfolio to assess credit quality indicators and to determine appropriate loan classification. For commercial loans, commercial mortgages and construction loans to commercial borrowers, an internal risk rating process is used. The Corporation believes that internal risk ratings are the most relevant credit quality indicator for these types of loans. The migration of loans through the various internal risk rating categories is a significant component of the ACL methodology for these loans, which bases the PD on this migration. Assigning risk ratings involves judgment. Risk ratings may be changed based on ongoing monitoring procedures, or if specific loan review assessments identify a deterioration or an improvement in the loan.
The following is a summary of the Corporation's internal risk rating categories:
•Pass: These loans do not currently pose undue credit risk and can range from the highest to average quality, depending on the degree of potential risk.
•Special Mention: These loans have a heightened credit risk, but not to the point of justifying a classification of Substandard. Loans in this category are currently acceptable but, are nevertheless potentially weak.
•Substandard or Lower: These loans are inadequately protected by current sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower. There exists a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the normal repayment of the debt.
The Corporation considers risk factors such as: local and national economic conditions; trends in delinquencies and non-accrual loans; the diversity of borrower industry types; and the composition of the portfolio by loan type.
OBS Credit Exposures:The reserve for OBS credit exposures is recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, and represents management's estimate of expected losses in its unfunded loan commitments and other OBS credit exposures. The reserve for OBS credit exposures specific to unfunded commitments is determined by estimating future draws and applying the expected loss rates on those draws. Future draws are based on historical averages of utilization rates (i.e., the likelihood of draws taken). The reserve for OBS credit exposures is increased or decreased by charges or reductions to expense, through the provision for credit losses.
Premises and Equipment: Premises and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. The provision for depreciation and amortization is generally computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which are a maximum of 50 years for buildings and improvements, 8 years for furniture and 7 years for equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the useful life or the non-cancelable lease term.
Premises and equipment acquired in a business combination are initially recorded at fair value and subsequently carried at cost less depreciation and amortization. See "Note 6 - Premises and Equipment" for additional information.
OREO: Assets acquired in settlement of mortgage loan indebtedness are recorded as OREO and are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets, initially at the lower of the estimated fair value of the asset, less estimated selling costs, or the carrying amount of the loan. Costs to maintain the assets and subsequent gains and losses on sales are included in other non-interest expense on the consolidated statements of income.
MSRs: The estimated fair value of MSRs related to residential mortgage loans sold and serviced by the Corporation is recorded as an asset upon the sale of such loans. MSRs are amortized as a reduction to mortgage servicing income, included as a component of mortgage banking income on the consolidated statements of income, over the estimated lives of the underlying loans.
MSRs are stratified and evaluated for impairment by comparing each stratum's carrying amount to its estimated fair value. Fair values are determined through a discounted cash flows valuation completed by a third-party valuation expert. Significant inputs to the valuation include expected net servicing income, the discount rate and the expected lives of the underlying loans. Expected life is based on the contractual terms of the loans, as adjusted for prepayment projections. To the extent the amortized cost of the MSRs exceeds their estimated fair value, a valuation allowance is established through a charge against servicing income. If subsequent valuations indicate that impairment no longer exists, the valuation allowance is reduced through an increase to servicing income. See "Note 8 - Mortgage Servicing Rights" for additional information.
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Derivative Financial Instruments: The Corporation manages its exposure to certain interest rate risk through the use of derivatives. Certain of the Corporation's outstanding derivative contracts are designated as hedges, and none are entered into for speculative purposes. The Corporation enters into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risks, even if hedge accounting does not apply or the Corporation elects not to apply hedge accounting.
The Corporation records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Corporation has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. The Corporation does not have any derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges where hedge accounting is applied, changes in fair value are recognized in OCI, net of tax. For derivatives where hedge accounting does not apply, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings as components of non-interest income or non-interest expense on the consolidated statements of income.
Derivative contracts create counterparty credit risk with both the Corporation's customers and with institutional derivative counterparties. The Corporation manages counterparty credit risk through its credit approval processes, monitoring procedures and obtaining adequate collateral, when the Corporation determines it is appropriate to do so and in accordance with counterparty contracts.
For each of the derivatives, gross derivative assets and liabilities are recorded in other assets and other liabilities, respectively, on the consolidated balance sheets. Related gains and losses on these derivative instruments are recorded in other changes, net on the consolidated statements of cash flows.
Mortgage Banking Derivatives
In connection with its mortgage banking activities, the Corporation enters into commitments to originate certain fixed-rate residential mortgage loans for customers, also referred to as interest rate locks. In addition, the Corporation enters into forward commitments for the future sales or purchases of mortgage-backed securities to or from third-party counterparties to hedge the effect of changes in interest rates on the values of both the interest rate locks and mortgage loans held for sale. Forward sales commitments may also be in the form of commitments to sell individual mortgage loans at a fixed price at a future date. The amount necessary to settle each interest rate lock is based on the price that secondary market investors would pay for loans with similar characteristics, including interest rate and term, as of the date fair value is measured.
Interest Rate Derivatives - Non-Designated Hedges
The Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives with certain qualifying commercial loan customers to meet their interest rate risk management needs. The Corporation simultaneously enters into interest rate derivatives with dealer counterparties, with identical notional amounts and terms. The net result of these interest rate derivatives is that the customer pays a fixed rate of interest and the Corporation receives a floating rate. As the interest rate derivatives associated with this program do not meet hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer derivatives and the offsetting derivatives are recognized directly in earnings.
The Corporation's existing OBS credit exposures result from participation in interest rate derivatives provided by external lenders as part of loan participation arrangements and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Corporation's assets or liabilities.
The Corporation is required to clear all eligible interest rate derivative contracts with a clearing agent and is subject to the regulations of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
The Corporation's objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to reduce volatility in net interest income and interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Corporation primarily uses interest rate derivatives as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. The Corporation enters into interest rate derivatives designated as cash flow hedges to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing floating rate loans and borrowings.
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For derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges of interest rate risk, the unrealized gain or loss on the derivative is recorded in OCI, net of tax, and subsequently reclassified into interest income or interest expense in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Amounts reported in OCI related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest income or interest expense as interest payments are made on the Corporation's variable-rate loans and borrowings.
Foreign Exchange Contracts
The Corporation enters into foreign exchange contracts to accommodate the needs of its customers. Foreign exchange contracts are commitments to buy or sell foreign currency on a specific date at a contractual price. The Corporation limits its foreign exchange exposure with customers by entering into contracts with institutional counterparties to mitigate its foreign exchange risk. The Corporation also holds certain amounts of Foreign Currency Nostro Accounts. The Corporation limits the total overnight net foreign currency open positions, which is defined as an aggregate of all outstanding contracts, to $0.5 million. See "Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments" for additional information.
Balance Sheet Offsetting: Certain financial assets and liabilities may be eligible for offset on the consolidated balance sheets because they are subject to master netting arrangements or similar agreements. The Corporation has elected to net its financial assets and liabilities designated as cash flow hedges when offsetting is permitted. The Corporation has elected not to offset the remaining assets and liabilities subject to such arrangements on the consolidated financial statements.
The Corporation is a party to interest rate derivatives with financial institution counterparties and customers. Under these agreements, the Corporation has the right to net-settle multiple contracts with the same counterparty in the event of default on, or termination of, any one contract. Cash collateral is posted by the party with a net liability position in accordance with contract thresholds and can be used to settle the fair value of the interest rate derivatives in the event of default. A daily settlement occurs through a clearing agent for changes in the fair value of centrally cleared derivatives. Not all derivatives are required to be cleared through a daily clearing agent. As a result, the total fair values of interest rate derivative assets and derivative liabilities recognized on the consolidated balance sheets are not equal and offsetting.
The Corporation is also a party to foreign exchange contracts with financial institution counterparties under which the Corporation has the right to net-settle multiple contracts with the same counterparty in the event of default on, or termination of, any one contract. As with interest rate derivatives, cash collateral is posted by the party with a net liability position in accordance with contract thresholds and can be used to settle the fair value of the foreign exchange contracts in the event of default.
For additional information on balance sheet offsetting, see "Note 11 - Derivative Financial Instruments."
Income Taxes: The Corporation utilizes the asset and liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this method, DTAs and deferred tax liabilities are determined based upon the difference between the values of the assets and liabilities as reflected in the financial statements and their related tax basis using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to be recovered or settled. As changes in tax law or rates are enacted, DTAs and deferred tax liabilities are adjusted through income tax expense. In assessing the realizability of DTAs, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the DTAs will not be realized. The ultimate realization of DTAs is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income and tax planning strategies which will create taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, the amount of taxes paid in available carryback years, projected future taxable income, and, if necessary, tax planning strategies in making this assessment. A valuation allowance is provided against DTAs unless it is more likely than not that such DTAs will be realized.
ASC Topic 740, "Income Taxes" creates a single model to address uncertainty in tax positions, and clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise's financial statements by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in an enterprise's financial statements. It also provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. The liability for unrecognized tax benefits is included in other liabilities within the consolidated balance sheets.
See "Note 13 - Income Taxes" for additional information.
Stock-Based Compensation: The Corporation grants equity awards to employees, consisting of stock options, restricted stock, RSUs and PSUs under its Employee Equity Plan. In addition, employees may purchase stock under the Corporation's ESPP.
The Corporation also grants equity awards to non-employee members of its Board of Directors and Fulton Bank's Board of Directors under the Directors' Plan. Under the Directors' Plan, the Corporation can grant equity awards to non-employee
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holding company and subsidiary bank directors in the form of stock options, restricted stock, RSUs or common stock. Recent grants of equity awards under the Directors' Plan have been limited to RSUs.
Equity awards issued under the Employee Equity Plan are generally granted annually and become fully vested over or after a three-year vesting period. The vesting period for non-performance-based awards represents the period during which employees are required to provide service in exchange for such awards. Equity awards under the Directors' Plan are generally granted annually and fully vest after a one-year vesting period. Certain events, as defined in the Employee Equity Plan and the Directors' Plan, result in the acceleration of the vesting of equity awards. Restricted stock, RSUs and PSUs earn dividends during the vesting period, which are forfeitable if the awards do not vest.
The fair value of stock options, restricted stock and RSUs granted to employees or directors is recognized as compensation expense over the vesting period for such awards. Compensation expense for PSUs is also recognized over the vesting period and service period, however, compensation expense for PSUs may vary based on the expectations for actual performance relative to defined performance measures.
The fair value of restricted stock, RSUs and a majority of PSUs are based on the trading price of the Corporation's stock on the date of grant. The fair value of certain PSUs are estimated through the use of the Monte Carlo valuation methodology as of the date of grant. See "Note 16 - Stock-Based Compensation Plans" for additional information. The Corporation has not issued stock options since 2014 and accordingly, there is no compensation expense for this instrument.
Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information: The Corporation does not have any operating segments which require disclosure of additional information.
Financial Guarantees: Financial guarantees, which consist primarily of standby and commercial letters of credit, are accounted for by recognizing a liability equal to the fair value of the guarantees and crediting the liability to income over the term of the guarantee. Fair value is estimated based on the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements with similar terms.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets: The Corporation accounts for its acquisitions using the purchase accounting method. Purchase accounting requires that all assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including certain intangible assets that must be recognized, be recorded at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Any purchase price exceeding the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Goodwill is not amortized to expense, but is evaluated for impairment at least annually. Write-downs of the balance, if necessary as a result of the impairment test, are charged to expense in the period in which goodwill is determined to be impaired. The Corporation performs its annual assessment of goodwill impairment in the fourth quarter of each year. If certain events occur which indicate goodwill might be impaired between annual assessments, goodwill would be evaluated when such events occur.
Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated lives. Some intangible assets have indefinite lives and are, therefore, not amortized. All intangible assets must be evaluated for impairment if certain events occur. Any impairment write-downs are recognized as non-interest expense on the consolidated statements of income. See "Note 7 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets," for additional information.
VIEs: ASC Topic 810 provides guidance on when to consolidate certain VIEs in the financial statements of the Corporation. VIEs are entities in which equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance activities without additional financial support from other parties. VIEs are assessed for consolidation under ASC Topic 810 when the Corporation holds variable interests in these entities. The Corporation consolidates VIEs when it is deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is determined to be the party that has the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE.
The Corporation makes investments in certain community development projects, the majority of which generate tax credits under various federal programs, including TCIs. These investments are made throughout the Corporation's market area as a means of supporting the communities it serves. The Corporation typically acts as a limited partner or member of a limited liability company in its TCIs and does not exert control over the operating or financial policies of the partnership or limited liability company. Tax credits earned are subject to recapture by federal taxing authorities based upon compliance requirements to be met at the project level.
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Because the Corporation owns 100% of the equity interests in its NMTC investments, these investments were consolidated based on ASC Topic 810 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Investments in affordable housing projects were not consolidated based on management's assessment of the provisions of ASC Topic 810.
TCIs are tested for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of the investment will not be realized. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the current carrying value exceeds its aggregated remaining value of the tax benefits of the investment. There were no impairment losses recognized for the Corporation's TCIs in 2023, 2022 or 2021. For additional information, see "Note 13 - Income Taxes."
Fair Value Measurements: Assets and liabilities are categorized in a fair value hierarchy for the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value using the following three categories (from highest to lowest priority):
•Level 1 - Inputs that represent quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.
•Level 2 - Inputs that represent quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, or quoted prices for identical instruments in non-active markets. Also included are valuation techniques whose inputs are derived principally from observable market data other than quoted prices, such as interest rates or other market-corroborated means.
•Level 3 - Inputs that are largely unobservable, as little or no market data exists for the instrument being valued.
The Corporation has categorized all assets and liabilities required to be measured at fair value on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis into the above three levels. See "Note 19 - Fair Value Measurements" for additional information.
Revenue Recognition: The sources of revenue for the Corporation are interest income from loans, leases and investments and non-interest income. Non-interest income is earned from various banking and financial services that the Corporation offers through its subsidiaries. Revenue is recognized as earned based on contractual terms, as transactions occur, or as services are provided. Following is further detail of the various types of revenue the Corporation earns and when it is recognized:
Interest income: Interest income is recognized on an accrual basis according to loan and lease agreements, investment securities contracts or other written contracts.
Wealth management services: Consists of income from trust commissions, brokerage, money market and insurance commissions. Trust commissions consists of advisory fees that are based on market values of clients' managed portfolios and transaction fees for fiduciary services performed, both of which are recognized when earned. Brokerage income includes advisory fees which are recognized when earned on a monthly basis and transaction fees that are recognized when transactions occur. Money market income is based on the balances held in trust accounts and is recognized monthly. Insurance commissions are earned and recognized when policies are originated. Currently, no investment management and trust service income is based on performance or investment results.
Commercial and consumer banking income: Consists of cash management, overdraft and other service charges on deposit accounts as well as branch fees, ATM fees, debit and credit card income and merchant services fees. Also included are letter of credit fees, foreign exchange income and interest rate derivative fees. Revenue is primarily transactional and recognized when earned at the time the transactions occur.