ITEM 1A – RISK FACTORS
The material risks that management believes affect the Company are described below. You should carefully consider the risks, together with all of the information included herein. The risks described below are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks not presently known or that the Company believes are immaterial also may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
Credit Risks
A decline in general business and economic conditions and any regulatory responses to such conditions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our business and operations are sensitive to business and economic conditions in the United States, generally, and particularly the state of Illinois and the St. Louis metropolitan area. If the national, regional and local economies experience worsening economic conditions, including high levels of unemployment, our growth and profitability could be constrained. Weak economic conditions are characterized by, among other indicators, deflation, elevated levels of unemployment, fluctuations in debt and equity capital markets, increased delinquencies on mortgage, commercial and consumer loans, residential and commercial real estate price declines, and lower home sales and commercial activity. All of these factors are generally detrimental to our business. Our business is significantly affected by monetary and other regulatory policies of the U.S. federal government, its agencies and government-sponsored entities. Changes in any of these policies are influenced by macroeconomic conditions and other factors that are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and growth prospects.
If we do not effectively manage our credit risk, we may experience increased levels of nonperforming loans, charge-offs and delinquencies, which could require increases in our provision for credit losses on loans.
There are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers, risks of nonpayment, risks resulting from uncertainties as to the future value of collateral and cash flows available to service debt and risks resulting from changes in economic and market conditions. We cannot guarantee that our credit underwriting and monitoring procedures will reduce these credit risks, and they cannot be expected to completely eliminate our credit risks. If the overall economic climate in the United States, generally, or our market areas, specifically, declines, our borrowers may experience difficulties in repaying their loans, and the level of nonperforming loans, charge-offs and delinquencies could rise and require further increases in the provision for credit losses on loans, which would cause our net income, return on equity and capital to decrease.
Our allowance for credit losses on loans may prove to be insufficient to absorb potential losses in our loan portfolio.
We maintain our allowance for credit losses on loans at a level that management considers adequate to absorb expected credit losses on loans based on an analysis of our portfolio and market environment. The allowance for credit losses on loans represents our estimate of expected losses in the portfolio at each balance sheet date and is based upon relevant information available to us. The actual amount of credit losses on loans is affected by changes in economic, operating and other conditions within our markets, which may be beyond our control, and such losses may exceed current estimates.
As of December 31, 2020, our allowance for credit losses on loans as a percentage of total loans was 1.18% and as a percentage of total nonperforming loans was 111.79%. Although management believed, as of such date, that the allowance
for credit losses on loans was adequate to absorb losses on any existing loans that may become uncollectible, we may be required to take additional provisions for credit losses on loans in the future to further supplement the allowance for credit losses on loans, either due to management’s decision to do so or because our banking regulators require us to do so. Our bank regulatory agencies will periodically review our allowance for credit losses on loans and the value attributed to nonaccrual loans or to real estate acquired through foreclosure and may require us to adjust our determination of the value for these items. These adjustments may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Because a significant portion of our loan portfolio is comprised of real estate loans, negative changes in the economy affecting real estate values and liquidity could impair the value of collateral securing our real estate loans and result in loan and other losses.
At December 31, 2020, approximately 42.0% of our loan portfolio was comprised of loans with real estate as a primary or secondary component of collateral. As a result, adverse developments affecting real estate values in our market areas could increase the credit risk associated with our real estate loan portfolio. The market value of real estate can fluctuate significantly in a short period of time as a result of market conditions in the area in which the real estate is located. Adverse changes affecting real estate values and the liquidity of real estate in one or more of our markets could increase the credit risk associated with our loan portfolio, significantly impair the value of property pledged as collateral on loans and affect our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure without a loss or additional losses, which could result in losses that would adversely affect
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profitability. Such declines and losses would have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, if hazardous or toxic substances are found on properties pledged as collateral, the value of the real estate could be impaired. If we foreclose on and take title to such properties, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses to address unknown liabilities and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property.
Many of our loans are to commercial borrowers, which have a higher degree of risk than other types of loans.
Commercial loans represented 66.3% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2020. Commercial loans are often larger and involve greater risks than other types of lending. Because payments on such loans often depend on the successful operation or development of the property or business involved, repayment of such loans is often more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the general business climate and economy. Accordingly, a downturn in the real estate market and a challenging business and economic environment may increase our risk related to commercial loans, particularly commercial real estate loans. Unlike residential mortgage loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrowers’ ability to make repayment from their employment and other income and which are secured by real property, the value of which tends to be more easily ascertainable, commercial loans typically are made on the basis of the borrowers’ ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the commercial venture. Our operating commercial loans are primarily made based on the identified cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the collateral underlying the loans. Most often, this collateral consists of accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Inventory and equipment may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. If the cash flow from business operations is reduced, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Due to the larger average size of each commercial loan as
compared with other loans such as residential loans, as well as collateral that is generally less readily-marketable, losses incurred on a small number of commercial loans could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
The small to midsized businesses that we lend to may have fewer resources to weather adverse business developments, which may impair a borrower’s ability to repay a loan, and such impairment could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
We target our business development and marketing strategy primarily to serve the banking and financial services needs of small to midsized businesses. These businesses generally have fewer financial resources in terms of capital or borrowing capacity than larger entities, frequently have smaller market shares than their competition, may be more vulnerable to economic downturns, often need substantial additional capital to expand or compete and may experience substantial volatility in operating results, any of which may impair a borrower’s ability to repay a loan. In addition, the success of a small or midsized business often depends on the management talents and efforts of one or two people or a small group of people, and the death, disability or resignation of one or more of these people could have a material adverse impact on the business and its ability to repay its loan. If general economic conditions negatively impact the markets in which we operate and small to midsized businesses are adversely affected or our borrowers are otherwise affected by adverse business developments, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Real estate construction loans are based upon estimates of costs and values associated with the complete project. These estimates may be inaccurate, and we may be exposed to significant losses on loans for these projects.
Real estate construction loans comprised approximately 3.4% of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2020, and such lending involves additional risks because funds are advanced upon the security of the project, which is of uncertain value prior to its completion, and costs may exceed realizable values in declining real estate markets. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs and the realizable market value of the completed project and the effects of governmental regulation of real property, it is relatively difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the related loan-to-value ratio. As a result, construction loans often involve the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent, in part, on the success of the ultimate project and the ability of the borrower to sell or lease the property, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If our appraisal of the value of the completed project proves to be overstated or market values or rental rates decline, we may have inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project. If we are forced to foreclose on a project prior to or at completion due to a default, we may not be able to recover all of the unpaid balance of, and accrued interest on, the loan as well as related foreclosure and holding costs. In addition, we may be required to fund additional amounts to complete the project and may have to hold the property for an unspecified period of time while we attempt to dispose of it.
Real estate market volatility and future changes in our disposition strategies could result in net proceeds that differ significantly from our other real estate owned fair value appraisals.
As of December 31, 2020, we had $20.2 million of other real estate owned. Our other real estate owned portfolio consists of properties that we obtained through foreclosure or through an in-substance foreclosure in satisfaction of loans.
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Properties in our other real estate owned portfolio are recorded at the lower of the recorded investment in the loans for which the properties previously served as collateral or the “fair value,” which represents the estimated sales price of the properties on the date acquired less estimated selling costs.
In response to market conditions and other economic factors, we may utilize alternative sale strategies other than orderly disposition as part of our other real estate owned disposition strategy, such as immediate liquidation sales. In this event, as a result of the significant judgments required in estimating fair value and the variables involved in different methods of disposition, the net proceeds realized from such sales transactions could differ significantly from appraisals, comparable sales and other estimates used to determine the fair value of our other real estate owned properties.
Nonperforming assets take significant time to resolve and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and could result in further losses in the future.
Our nonperforming assets adversely affect our net income in various ways. We do not record interest income on nonaccrual loans or other real estate owned, thereby adversely affecting our net income and returns on assets and equity, increasing our loan administration costs and adversely affecting our efficiency ratio. When we take collateral in foreclosure and similar proceedings, we are required to mark the collateral to its then-fair market value, which may result in a loss. These nonperforming loans and other real estate owned also increase our risk profile and the level of capital our regulators believe is appropriate for us to maintain in light of such risks. The resolution of nonperforming assets requires significant time commitments from management and can be detrimental to the performance of their other responsibilities. If we experience increases in nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets, our net interest income may be negatively impacted and our loan administration costs could increase, each of which could have an adverse effect on our net income and related ratios, such as return on assets and equity.
Operational, Strategic and Reputational Risks
The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to an economic recession, had other adverse effects on the U.S. economy, and has disrupted our operations. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also adversely impacted certain industries in which our clients operate and impaired their ability to fulfill their financial obligations to us. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business remains uncertain but may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to negatively impact the United States and the world. The spread of COVID-19 has negatively impacted the U.S. economy at large, and small businesses in particular, and has affected our operations. The responses on the part of the U.S. and global governments and populations have created a recessionary environment, reduced economic activity and caused significant volatility in the global stock markets. We have experienced significant disruptions across our business due to these effects, which may in future periods lead to decreased earnings, significant loan defaults and slowdowns in our loan collections. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business remains uncertain but may have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in a decline in the businesses of certain of our clients, a decrease in consumer confidence, an increase in unemployment, and a disruption in the services provided by our vendors. Continued disruptions to our clients’ businesses could result in increased risk of delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, and losses on our loans, negatively impact regional economic conditions, result in declines in local loan demand, liquidity of loan guarantors, the value of loan collateral (particularly in real estate), loan originations, and deposit availability and negatively impact the implementation of our growth strategy. Although the U.S. government introduced, and may introduce in the future, programs designed to soften the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses or provide stimulus checks to individuals, our borrowers may still not be able to satisfy their financial obligations to us.
In addition, COVID-19 has impacted and likely will continue to impact the financial ability of businesses and consumers to borrow money, which would negatively impact loan volumes. Certain of our borrowers are in, or have exposure to, the hospitality, hotel, restaurant, ground transportation, long-term healthcare and retail industries and are located in areas that are, or were, quarantined or under stay-at-home orders. COVID-19 may also have an adverse effect on our commercial real estate portfolio, particularly with respect to real estate with exposure to these industries, and our consumer loan portfolios. As COVID-19 cases have begun to surge in recent months, any new or prolonged quarantine or stay-at-home orders would have a negative adverse impact on these borrowers and their revenue streams, which consequently impacts their ability to meet their financial obligations to us and could result in loan defaults.
The ultimate extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on our business will depend on many factors, primarily including the speed and extent of any recovery from the related economic recession. Among other things, this will depend on the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in our Illinois and St. Louis markets, the development, distribution and
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supply of vaccines, therapies and other public health initiatives to control the spread of the disease, the nature and size of federal economic stimulus and other governmental efforts, and the possibility of additional state lockdown or stay-at-home orders in our markets in response to the recent surge in the number of COVID-19 cases.
The initial distribution of vaccines has been slow, and there may continue to be challenges with producing and distributing sufficient quantities of the vaccines. If the general public is unwilling or unable to access effective vaccines and therapies, this may also prolong the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, new variants of COVID-19 may increase the spread or severity of COVID-19 and previously developed vaccines and therapies may not be as effective against new COVID-19 variants.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we may experience adverse financial consequences due to a number of other factors, including but not limited to:
•a further and sustained decline in our stock price or the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause management to perform impairment testing on our goodwill and other intangible assets that could result in an impairment charge being recorded for that period, and adversely impact our results of operations and the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us;
•increased demand on our liquidity as we meet borrowers’ needs, experience significant credit deterioration, and cover expenses related to our business continuity plan;
•the potential for reduced liquidity and its negative affect on our capital and leverage ratios;
•the negative effect on earnings resulting from the Bank modifying loans and agreeing to loan payment deferrals due to the COVID-19 crisis;
•the modification of our business practices, including with respect to branch operations, employee travel, employee work locations, participation in meetings, events and conferences, and related changes for our vendors and other business partners;
•a decline in demand for our products and services;
•a potential increase in loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures if the economic downturn or high levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time;
•a potential decline in the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors;
•the yield on our assets declining to a greater extent than the decline in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities as a result of the decline in the Federal Reserve’s target federal funds rate to near 0% (or possibly below 0% in the future);
•uncertainties created by the pandemic, combined with the disruptions to our own business, that could negatively affect our ability to execute our acquisition strategy for the foreseeable future, limiting or delaying our future growth plans;
•increases in federal and state taxes as a result of the effects of the pandemic and stimulus programs on governmental budgets;
•an increase in FDIC premiums if the agency experiences additional resolution costs relating to bank failures;
•increased cyber and payment fraud risk due to increased online and remote activity; and
•other operational failures due to changes in our normal business practices because of the pandemic and governmental actions to contain it.
Overall, we believe that the economic impact from COVID-19 could have a material and adverse impact on our business and result in significant losses in our loan portfolio, all of which would adversely and materially impact our earnings and capital. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, we may continue to experience materially adverse impacts to our business as a result of the global economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the availability of credit, adverse impacts on liquidity and any recession that has occurred or may occur in the future. There are no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate impact of the pandemic is highly uncertain and subject to change.
The U.S. government and banking regulators, including the Federal Reserve, have taken a number of unprecedented actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could ultimately have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, which established a $2.0 trillion economic stimulus package, including cash payments to individuals, supplemental unemployment insurance benefits and a $349.0 billion loan program administered through the SBA referred to as the PPP. In addition, on December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, a $900.0 billion COVID-19 relief package that includes an additional $284.5 billion in PPP funding. Congress is also in the process of negotiating additional stimulus bills and other actions in response to COVID-19. In addition to implementing the programs contemplated by these acts, the federal bank regulatory agencies have issued a steady stream of guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have taken a number of unprecedented steps to help banks navigate the pandemic and mitigate its impact. These include, without limitation:
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•requiring banks to focus on business continuity and pandemic planning;
•adding pandemic scenarios to stress testing;
•encouraging bank use of capital conservation buffers and reserves in lending programs;
•permitting certain regulatory reporting extensions;
•reducing margin requirements on swaps;
•permitting certain otherwise prohibited investments in investment funds;
•issuing guidance to encourage banks to work with customers affected by the pandemic and encourage loan workouts; and
•providing credit under the CRA for certain pandemic-related loans, investments, and public service.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the financial markets and the Federal Reserve has taken a number of actions in response. In March 2020, the Federal Reserve dramatically reduced the target federal funds rate and announced a $700 billion quantitative easing program in response to the expected economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, the Federal Reserve reduced the interest that it pays on excess reserves. We expect that these reductions in interest rates, especially if prolonged, could adversely affect our net interest income, our net interest margin and our profitability. The Federal Reserve also launched the Main Street Lending Program, which offers deferred interest on four-year loans to small and mid-sized businesses. The Main Street Lending Program terminated on January 8, 2021. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business activities as a result of new government and regulatory laws, policies, programs, and guidelines, as well as market reactions to such activities, remains uncertain but may ultimately have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
COVID-19 has disrupted banking and other financial activities in the areas in which we operate and could potentially create widespread business continuity issues for us.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the ability of our employees and clients to engage in banking and other financial transactions in the geographic areas in which we operate and could create widespread business continuity issues for us. We also could be adversely affected if key personnel or a significant number of employees were to become unavailable due to the effects and restrictions of an outbreak or escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in our market areas, including because of illness, quarantines, government actions or other restrictions in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we have a business continuity plan and other safeguards in place, there is no assurance that such plan and safeguards will be effective. Further, we rely upon third-party vendors to conduct business and to process, record, and monitor transactions. If any of these vendors are unable to continue to provide us with these services, it could negatively impact our ability to serve our clients.
We are subject to potential litigation, regulatory enforcement risk and reputation risk regarding the Bank’s participation in the PPP and the risk that the SBA may not fund some or all PPP loan guaranties.
The CARES Act included a $349 billion loan program administered through the SBA referred to as the PPP. After the $349 billion in funds for the PPP were exhausted, the program was reopened with an additional $310 billion. In addition, on December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, a $900.0 billion COVID-19 relief package that includes an additional $284.5 billion in PPP funding. Under the PPP, small businesses and other entities and individuals could apply for loans from existing SBA lenders and other approved regulated lenders that enroll in the program, subject to detailed qualifications and eligibility criteria. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had $184.4 million of PPP loans outstanding to 1,541 borrowers.
Because of the short timeframe between the passing of the CARES Act and implementation of the PPP, some of the rules and guidance relating to PPP were issued after lenders began processing PPP applications. Also, there was and continues to be uncertainty in the laws, rules and guidance relating to the PPP. Since the opening of the PPP, several banks have been subject to litigation regarding the procedures used in processing PPP applications or litigation from agents with respect to agent fees. In addition, some banks and borrowers have received negative media attention associated with PPP loans. Although we believe that we have administered the PPP in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and guidance, we may be exposed to litigation risk and negative media attention our participation in the PPP. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP-related litigation or media attention could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Also, it has been reported that many borrowers fraudulently obtained PPP loans through the program. We may be subject to regulatory and litigation risk if any of our PPP borrowers used fraudulent means to obtain a PPP loan.
The PPP has also attracted interest from federal and state enforcement authorities, oversight agencies, regulators, and Congressional committees. State Attorneys General and other federal and state agencies may assert that they are not subject to the provisions of the CARES Act and the PPP regulations entitling the Bank to rely on borrower certifications and take more aggressive action against the Bank for alleged violations of the provisions governing the Bank’s participation in the PPP.
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Federal and state regulators can impose or request that we consent to substantial sanctions, restrictions and requirements if they determine there are violations of laws, rules or regulations or weaknesses or failures with respect to general standards of safety and soundness, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operation and financial condition.
The Bank also has credit risk on PPP loans if the SBA determines that there is a deficiency in the manner in which any loans were originated, funded or serviced by the Bank, including any issue with the eligibility of a borrower to receive a PPP loan. In the event of a loss resulting from a default on a PPP loan and a determination by the SBA that there was a deficiency in the manner in which the PPP loan was originated, funded or serviced by the Bank, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty or, if the SBA has already paid under the guaranty, seek recovery of any loss related to the deficiency from the Bank.
The occurrence of fraudulent activity, breaches or failures of our information security controls or cybersecurity-related incidents could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
As a bank, we are susceptible to fraudulent activity, information security breaches and cybersecurity-related incidents that may be committed against us or our clients, which may result in financial losses or increased costs to us or our clients, disclosure or misuse of our information or our client information, misappropriation of assets, privacy breaches against our clients, litigation or damage to our reputation. Such fraudulent activity may take many forms, including check fraud, electronic fraud, wire fraud, phishing, social engineering and other dishonest acts. Information security breaches and cybersecurity-related incidents may include fraudulent or unauthorized access to systems used by us or our clients, denial or degradation of service attacks and malware or other cyber-attacks.
In recent periods, there continues to be a rise in electronic fraudulent activity, security breaches and cyber-attacks within the financial services industry, especially in the commercial banking sector due to cyber criminals targeting commercial bank accounts. Moreover, in recent periods, several large corporations, including financial institutions and retail companies, have suffered major data breaches, in some cases exposing not only confidential and proprietary corporate information, but also sensitive financial and other personal information of their customers and employees and subjecting them to potential fraudulent activity. Some of our clients may have been affected by these breaches, which could increase their risks of identity theft and other fraudulent activity that could involve their accounts with us.
Information pertaining to us and our clients is maintained, and transactions are executed, on networks and systems maintained by us and certain third party partners, such as our online banking, mobile banking or accounting systems. The secure maintenance and transmission of confidential information, as well as execution of transactions over these systems, are essential to protect us and our clients against fraud and security breaches and to maintain the confidence of our clients. Breaches of information security also may occur through intentional or unintentional acts by those having access to our systems or the confidential information of our clients, including employees. In addition, increases in criminal activity levels and sophistication, advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries, vulnerabilities in third party technologies (including browsers and operating systems) or other developments could result in a compromise or breach of the technology, processes and controls that we use to prevent fraudulent transactions and to protect data about us, our clients and underlying transactions, as well as the technology used by our clients to access our systems. Our third party partners’ inability to anticipate, or failure to adequately mitigate, breaches of security could result in a number of negative events, including losses to us or our clients, loss of business or clients, damage to our reputation, the incurrence of additional expenses, disruption to our business, additional regulatory scrutiny or penalties or our exposure to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
We depend on information technology and telecommunications systems of third parties, and any systems failures, interruptions or data breaches involving these systems could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
Our business is highly dependent on the successful and uninterrupted functioning of our information technology and telecommunications systems, third party servicers, accounting systems, mobile and online banking platforms and financial intermediaries. We outsource to third parties many of our major systems, such as data processing and mobile and online banking. The failure of these systems, or the termination of a third party software license or service agreement on which any of these systems is based, could interrupt our operations. Because our information technology and telecommunications systems interface with and depend on third party systems, we could experience service denials if demand for such services exceeds capacity or such third party systems fail or experience interruptions. A system failure or service denial could result in a deterioration of our ability to process loans, gather deposits or provide customer service, compromise our ability to operate effectively, result in potential noncompliance with applicable laws or regulations, damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business or subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, failures of
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third parties to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or fraud or misconduct on the part of employees of any of these third parties, could disrupt our operations or adversely affect our reputation.
It may be difficult for us to replace some of our third party vendors, particularly vendors providing our core banking and information services, in a timely manner if they are unwilling or unable to provide us with these services in the future for any reason, and even if we are able to replace them, it may be at higher cost or result in the loss of customers. Any such events could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our operations rely heavily on the secure processing, storage and transmission of information and the monitoring of a large number of transactions on a minute-by-minute basis, and even a short interruption in service could have significant consequences. We also interact with and rely on retailers, for whom we process transactions, as well as financial counterparties and regulators. Each of these third parties may be targets of the same types of fraudulent activity, computer break-ins and other cyber security breaches described above, and the cyber security measures that they maintain to mitigate the risk of such activity may be different than our own and may be inadequate.
As a result of financial entities and technology systems becoming more interdependent and complex, a cyber incident, information breach or loss, or technology failure that compromises the systems or data of one or more financial entities could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including ourselves. As a result of the foregoing, our ability to conduct business may be adversely affected by any significant disruptions to us or to third parties with whom we interact.
We are subject to certain operational risks, including, but not limited to, customer or employee fraud and data processing system failures and errors.
Employee errors and employee and customer misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding unauthorized activities
from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence.
We maintain a system of internal controls and insurance coverage to mitigate against operational risks, including data processing system failures and errors and customer or employee fraud. If our internal controls fail to prevent or detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our strategy of pursuing growth via acquisitions exposes us to financial, execution and operational risks that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our acquisition activities could require us to use a substantial amount of cash, or other liquid assets and/or incur debt. There are risks associated with an acquisition strategy, including the following:
•We may incur time and expense associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitions and negotiating potential transactions, resulting in management’s attention being diverted from the operation of our existing business.
•We are exposed to potential asset and credit quality risks and unknown or contingent liabilities of the banks or businesses we acquire. If these issues or liabilities exceed our estimates, our earnings, capital and financial condition may be materially and adversely affected.
•The acquisition of other entities generally requires integration of systems, procedures and personnel of the acquired entity. This integration process is complicated and time consuming and can also be disruptive to the customers and employees of the acquired business and our business. If the integration process is not conducted successfully, we may not realize the anticipated economic benefits of acquisitions within the expected time frame, or ever, and we may lose customers or employees of the acquired business. We may also experience greater than anticipated customer losses even if the integration process is successful.
•To finance an acquisition, we may borrow funds or pursue other forms of financing, such as issuing voting and/or non-voting common stock or preferred stock, which may have high dividend rights or may be highly dilutive to holders of our common stock, thereby increasing our leverage and diminishing our liquidity.
•We may be unsuccessful in realizing the anticipated benefits from acquisitions. For example, we may not be successful in realizing anticipated cost savings. We also may not be successful in preventing disruptions in service to existing customer relationships of the acquired institution, which could lead to a loss in revenues.
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In addition to the foregoing, we may face additional risks in acquisitions to the extent we acquire new lines of business or new products, or enter new geographic areas, in which we have little or no current experience, especially if we lose key employees of the acquired operations. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with acquisitions. Our inability to overcome risks associated with acquisitions could have an adverse effect on our ability to successfully implement our acquisition growth strategy and grow our business and profitability.
We may not be able to continue growing our business, particularly if we cannot make acquisitions or increase loans through organic loan growth, either because of an inability to find suitable acquisition candidates, constrained capital resources or otherwise.
While we intend to continue to grow our business through strategic acquisitions coupled with organic loan growth, because certain of our market areas are comprised of mature, rural communities with limited population growth, we anticipate that much of our future growth will be dependent on our ability to successfully implement our acquisition growth strategy. A risk exists, however, that we will not be able to identify suitable additional candidates for acquisitions. In addition, even if suitable targets are identified, we expect to compete for such businesses with other potential bidders, many of which may have greater financial resources than we have, which may adversely affect our ability to make acquisitions at attractive prices. Furthermore, many acquisitions we may wish to pursue would be subject to approvals by bank regulatory authorities, and we cannot predict whether any targeted acquisitions will receive the required regulatory approvals. In light of the foregoing, our ability to continue to grow successfully will depend to a significant extent on our capital resources. It also will depend, in part, upon our ability to attract deposits and to identify favorable loan and investment opportunities and on whether we can continue to fund growth while maintaining cost controls and asset quality, as well on other factors beyond our control, such as national, regional and local economic conditions and interest rate trends.
Also, as our acquired loan portfolio, which produces higher yields than our originated loans due to loan discount accretion, is paid down, we expect downward pressure on our income to the extent that the run-off is not replaced with other high-yielding loans. If we are unable to replace loans in our existing portfolio with comparable high-yielding loans or a larger volume of loans, our results of operations could be adversely affected. We could also be materially and adversely affected if we choose to pursue riskier higher-yielding loans that fail to perform.
We are highly dependent on our management team, and the loss of our senior executive officers or other key employees could harm our ability to implement our strategic plan, impair our relationships with customers and adversely affect our business, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our success is dependent, to a large degree, upon the continued service and skills of our existing executive management team, particularly Mr. Jeffrey G. Ludwig, our President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Eric T. Lemke, our Chief Financial Officer.
Our business and growth strategies are built primarily upon our ability to retain employees with experience and business relationships within their respective market areas. The loss of Mr. Ludwig, Mr. Lemke or any of our other key personnel could have an adverse impact on our business and growth because of their skills, years of industry experience, knowledge of our market areas and the difficulty of finding qualified replacement personnel, particularly in light of the fact that we are not headquartered in a major metropolitan area. In addition, although we have non-competition agreements with each of our executive officers and with several others of our senior personnel, we do not have any such agreements with other employees who are important to our business, and in any event the enforceability of non-competition agreements varies across the states in which we do business. While our mortgage originators, loan officers and wealth management professionals are generally subject to non-solicitation provisions as part of their employment, our ability to enforce such agreements may not fully mitigate the injury to our business from the breach of such agreements, as such employees could leave us and immediately begin soliciting our customers. The departure of any of our personnel who are not subject to enforceable non-competition agreements could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and growth prospects.
Our mortgage banking profitability could significantly decline if we are not able to originate and resell a high volume of mortgage loans.
Mortgage production, especially refinancing activity, declines in rising interest rate environments, and in a rising interest rate environment, there can be no assurance that our mortgage production will continue at current levels. Because we sell a substantial portion of the mortgage loans we originate, the profitability of our mortgage banking business also depends in large part on our ability to aggregate a high volume of loans and sell them in the secondary market at a gain. Thus, in addition to our dependence on the interest rate environment, we are dependent upon (i) the existence of an active secondary market and (ii) our ability to profitably sell loans or securities into that market. If our level of mortgage production declines, the
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profitability will depend upon our ability to reduce our costs commensurate with the reduction of revenue from our mortgage operations.
Our ability to originate and sell mortgage loans readily is dependent upon the availability of an active secondary market for single-family mortgage loans, which in turn depends in part upon the continuation of programs currently offered by government-sponsored entities (“GSEs”) and other institutional and non-institutional investors. These entities account for a substantial portion of the secondary market in residential mortgage loans. Because the largest participants in the secondary market are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, GSEs whose activities are governed by federal law, any future changes in laws that significantly affect the activity of these GSEs could, in turn, adversely affect our operations. In September 2008, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed into conservatorship by the U.S. government. The federal government has for many years considered proposals to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but the results of any such reform, and their impact on us, are difficult to predict. To date, no reform proposal has been enacted.
In addition, our ability to sell mortgage loans readily is dependent upon our ability to remain eligible for the programs offered by the GSEs and other institutional and non-institutional investors. Any significant impairment of our eligibility with any of the GSEs could materially and adversely affect our operations. Further, the criteria for loans to be accepted under such programs may be changed from time to time by the sponsoring entity, which could result in a lower volume of corresponding loan originations. The profitability of participating in specific programs may vary depending on a number of factors, including our administrative costs of originating and purchasing qualifying loans and our costs of meeting such criteria.
We may be liable to purchasers of mortgage loans and mortgage servicing rights, including as a result of any breach of representations and warranties we make to the purchasers.
When we sell or securitize mortgage loans in the ordinary course of business, we are required to make certain representations and warranties to the purchaser about the mortgage loans and the manner in which they were originated. Under these agreements, we may be required to repurchase mortgage loans if we have breached any of these representations or warranties, in which case we may record a loss. In addition, if repurchase and indemnity demands increase on loans that we sell from our portfolios, our liquidity, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, we have sold residential mortgage servicing rights to third parties pursuant to customary purchase agreements, under which we could be required to indemnify the purchasers for losses resulting from pre-closing servicing errors or breaches of our representations and warranties, which could affect our results of operations.
Our ability to maintain our reputation is critical to the success of our business, and the failure to do so may materially adversely affect our business and the value of our stock.
We are a community bank, and our reputation is one of the most valuable components of our business. Similarly, each of our subsidiaries operate in niche markets where reputation is critically important. As such, we strive to conduct our business in a manner that enhances our reputation. This is done, in part, by recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who share our core values of being an integral part of the communities we serve, delivering superior service to our customers and caring about our customers and associates. If our reputation is negatively affected, by the actions of our employees or otherwise, our business and, therefore, our operating results and the value of our stock may be materially adversely affected.
We have a continuing need for technological change, and we may not have the resources to effectively implement new technology or we may experience operational challenges when implementing new technology.
The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to reduce costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations as we continue to grow and expand our market area. We may experience operational challenges as we implement these new technology enhancements, or seek to implement them across all of our offices and business units, which could result in us not fully realizing the anticipated benefits from such new technology or require us to incur significant costs to remedy any such challenges in a timely manner.
Many of our larger competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. As a result, they may be able to offer additional or superior products to those that we will be able to offer, which would put us at a competitive disadvantage. Accordingly, a risk exists that we will not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing such products and services to our customers.
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We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information provided by customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions with customers and counterparties, we may rely on information furnished to us by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements and other financial information. We also may rely on representations of customers and counterparties as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. In deciding whether to extend credit, we may rely upon our customers’ representations that their financial statements conform to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the customer. We also may rely on customer representations and certifications, or other audit or accountants’ reports, with respect to the business and financial condition of our clients. Our financial condition, results of operations, financial reporting and reputation could be negatively affected if we rely on materially misleading, false, inaccurate or fraudulent information.
We face strong competition from financial services companies and other companies that offer banking, mortgage, leasing, and wealth management services, which could harm our business.
Our operations consist of offering banking and mortgage services, and we also offer trust, wealth management and leasing services to generate noninterest income. Many of our competitors offer the same, or a wider variety of, banking and related financial services within our market areas. These competitors include national banks, regional banks and other community banks. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including savings and loan institutions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, credit unions, mortgage banks and other financial intermediaries. In addition, a number of out-of-state financial intermediaries have opened production offices or otherwise solicit deposits in our market areas. Additionally, we face growing competition from so-called “online businesses” with few or no physical locations, including online banks, lenders and consumer and commercial lending platforms, and FinTech companies, as well as automated retirement and investment service providers. Increased competition in our markets may result in reduced loans, deposits and commissions and brokers’ fees, as well as reduced net interest margin and profitability. Ultimately, we may not be able to compete successfully against current and future competitors. If we are unable to attract and retain banking, mortgage, leasing and wealth management customers, we may be unable to continue to grow our business and our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
Consumers and businesses are increasingly using non-banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Technology and other changes are allowing consumers and businesses to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks through alternative methods. For example, the wide acceptance of internet-based commerce has resulted in a number of alternative payment processing systems and lending platforms in which banks play only minor roles. Customers can now maintain funds in prepaid debit cards or digital currencies, and pay bills and transfer funds directly without the direct assistance of banks. The diminishing role of banks as financial intermediaries has resulted and could continue to result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the potential loss of lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Interest rates on the Company’s and the Bank’s financial instruments might be subject to change based on developments related to LIBOR, which could adversely impact the Company’s revenue, expenses, and value of those financial instruments.
In July 2017, the Financial Conduct Authority, the authority regulating LIBOR, along with various other regulatory bodies, announced that LIBOR would likely be discontinued at the end of 2021. LIBOR makes up the most liquid and common interest rate index in the world and is commonly referenced in financial instruments. We have exposure to LIBOR in various aspects through our financial contracts. Instruments that may be impacted include loans, securities, and derivatives, among other financial contracts and subordinated notes indexed to LIBOR and that mature after December 31, 2021.
While there is no consensus on what rate or rates may become accepted alternatives to LIBOR, the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of U.S. financial market participants, selected by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, started in May 2018 to publish the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as an alternative to LIBOR. SOFR is a broad measure of the cost of overnight borrowings collateralized by Treasury securities that was selected by the Alternative Reference Rate Committee due to the depth and robustness of the U.S. Treasury repurchase market. At this time, it is impossible to predict whether SOFR will become an accepted alternative to LIBOR.
The market transition away from LIBOR to an alternative reference rate, such as SOFR, is complex and could have a range of adverse effects on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In particular, any such transition could:
•adversely affect the interest rates paid or received on, the revenue and expenses associate with, and the value of our floating-rate obligations, loans, deposits, subordinated debentures, derivatives, and other financial instruments tied
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to LIBOR rates, or other securities or financial arrangements given LIBOR’s role in determining market interest rates globally;
•prompt inquiries or other actions from regulators in respect of our preparation and readiness for the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate;
•result in disputes, litigation or other actions with counterparties regarding the interpretation and enforceability of certain fallback language, or lack of fallback language, in LIBOR-based instruments; and
•require the transition to or development of appropriate systems and analytics to effectively transition our risk management processes from LIBOR-based products to those based on the applicable alternative pricing benchmark, such as SOFR.
The manner and impact of this transition, as well as the effect of these developments on our funding costs, loan and investment and trading securities portfolios, asset-liability management, and business, is uncertain.
Legal, Accounting and Compliance Risks
If the goodwill that we recorded in connection with a business acquisition becomes impaired, it could require charges to earnings, which would have a negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Goodwill represents the amount by which the cost of an acquisition exceeded the fair value of net assets we acquired in connection with the purchase. We review goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset might be impaired.
We determine impairment by comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. Any such adjustments are reflected in our results of operations in the periods in which they become known. There can be no assurance that our future evaluations of goodwill will not result in findings of impairment and related write-downs, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our risk management framework may not be effective in mitigating risks and/or losses to us.
Our risk management framework is comprised of various processes, systems and strategies, and is designed to manage the types of risk to which we are subject, including, among others, credit, market, liquidity, interest rate and compliance. Our framework also includes financial or other modeling methodologies that involve management assumptions and judgment. Our risk management framework may not be effective under all circumstances or may not adequately mitigate risk or loss to us. If our framework is not effective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our business, financial condition, results of operations or growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected. We may also be subject to potentially adverse regulatory consequences.
Changes in accounting standards could materially impact our financial statements.
From time to time, the FASB or the SEC may change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. Such changes may result in us being subject to new or changing accounting and reporting standards. In addition, the bodies that interpret the accounting standards (such as banking regulators or outside auditors) may change their interpretations or positions on how these standards should be applied. These changes may be beyond our control, can be hard to predict and can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively, or apply an existing standard differently, also retrospectively, in each case resulting in our needing to revise or restate prior period financial statements.
We are subject to potential claims and litigation pertaining to our fiduciary responsibilities.
Some of the services we provide, such as wealth management services, require us to act as fiduciaries for our customers and others. From time to time, third parties make claims and take legal action against us pertaining to the performance of our fiduciary responsibilities. If these claims and legal actions are not resolved in a manner favorable to us, we may be exposed to significant financial liability and/or our reputation could be damaged. Either of these results may adversely impact demand for our products and services or otherwise have a harmful effect on our business and, in turn, on our financial condition and results of operations.
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Legislative and regulatory actions taken now or in the future may increase our costs and impact our business, governance structure, financial condition or results of operations.
Compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations has resulted, and may continue to result, in additional operating and compliance costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. In addition, new proposals for legislation may continue to be introduced in the U.S. Congress that could further substantially change regulation of the bank and non-bank financial services industries and impose restrictions on the operations and general ability of firms within the industry to conduct business consistent with historical practices. Federal and state regulatory agencies also frequently adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. Legislation and regulations may be impacted by the political ideologies of the executive branches of the U.S. government as well as the heads of regulatory and administrative agencies, which may change as a result of elections. Certain aspects of current or proposed regulatory or legislative changes to laws applicable to the financial industry, if enacted or adopted, may impact the profitability of our business activities, require more oversight or change certain of our business practices, including the ability to offer new products, obtain financing, attract deposits, make loans and achieve satisfactory interest spreads and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. These changes also may require us to invest significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes to operations to comply and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to stringent capital requirements, and failure to comply with these requirements may impact dividend payments and limit our activities.
As a result of the implementation of the Basel III Rule, we are required to meet increased capital requirements. The failure to meet applicable regulatory capital requirements of the Basel III Rule could result in one or more of our regulators placing limitations or conditions on our activities, including our growth initiatives, or restricting the commencement of new activities, and could affect customer and investor confidence, our costs of funds and FDIC insurance costs, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock, our ability to make acquisitions, and our business, results of operations and financial conditions, generally. In addition, banking institutions that do not maintain a capital conservation buffer, comprised of Common Equity Tier 1 Capital, of 2.5% above the regulatory minimum capital requirements face constraints on the payment of dividends, stock repurchases and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers based on the amount of the shortfall, unless prior regulatory approval is obtained. Accordingly, if the Bank or the Company fails to maintain the applicable minimum capital ratios and the capital conservation buffer, distributions by the Bank to the Company, or dividends or stock repurchases by the Company, may be prohibited or limited.
Future increases in minimum capital requirements could adversely affect our net income. Furthermore, our failure to comply with the minimum capital requirements could result in our regulators taking formal or informal actions against us that could restrict our future growth or operations.
Federal and state regulators periodically examine our business, and we may be required to remediate adverse examination findings.
The Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the DFPR periodically examine our business, including our compliance with laws and regulations. If, as a result of an examination, a banking agency were to determine that our financial condition, capital resources, asset quality, earnings prospects, management, liquidity or other aspects of any of our operations had become unsatisfactory, or that we were in violation of any law or regulation, they may take a number of different remedial actions as they deem appropriate. These actions include the power to enjoin “unsafe or unsound” practices, to require affirmative action to correct any conditions resulting from any violation or practice, to issue an administrative order that can be judicially enforced, to direct an increase in our capital, to restrict our growth, to assess civil money penalties, to fine or remove officers and directors and, if it is concluded that such conditions cannot be corrected or there is an imminent risk of loss to depositors, to terminate our deposit insurance and place us into receivership or conservatorship. Any regulatory action against us could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to numerous laws designed to protect consumers, including the Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending laws, and failure to comply with these laws could lead to a wide variety of sanctions.
The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations prohibit discriminatory lending practices by financial institutions. The U.S. Department of Justice, federal banking agencies, and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A challenge to an institution’s compliance with fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity, restrictions on expansion, and restrictions on entering new business lines. Private parties may also challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. Such actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
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We face a risk of noncompliance and enforcement action with the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering statutes and regulations.
The Bank Secrecy Act, the USA PATRIOT Act and other laws and regulations require financial institutions, among other duties, to institute and maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and to file reports such as suspicious activity reports and currency transaction reports. We are required to comply with these and other anti-money laundering requirements. The federal banking agencies and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network are authorized to impose significant civil money penalties for violations of those requirements and have recently engaged in coordinated enforcement efforts against banks and other financial services providers with the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration and Internal Revenue Service. We are also subject to increased scrutiny of compliance with the rules enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. If our policies, procedures and systems are deemed deficient, we would be subject to liability, including fines and regulatory actions, which may include restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and the necessity to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with certain aspects of our business plan, including our acquisition plans.
Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing could also have serious reputational consequences for us. Any of these results could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects.
The Federal Reserve may require us to commit capital resources to support the Bank.
As a matter of policy, the Federal Reserve expects a bank holding company to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to a subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support such subsidiary bank. The Dodd-Frank Act codified the Federal Reserve’s policy on serving as a source of financial strength. Under the “source of strength” doctrine, the Federal Reserve may require a bank holding company to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank and may charge the bank holding company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices for failure to commit resources to a subsidiary bank. A capital injection may be required at times when the holding company may not have the resources to provide it and therefore may be required to borrow the funds or raise capital. Any loans by a holding company to its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. In the event of a bank holding company’s bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee will assume any commitment by the holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank. Moreover, bankruptcy law provides that claims based on any such commitment will be entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of the institution’s general unsecured creditors, including the holders of its note obligations. Thus, any borrowing that must be done by the Company to make a required capital injection becomes more difficult and expensive and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The financial services industry, as well as the broader economy, may be subject to new legislation, regulation, and government policy.
At this time, it is difficult to predict the legislative and regulatory changes that will result from having a new President of the United States. The new administration and Congress may cause broad economic changes due to changes in governing ideology and governing style. New appointments to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve could affect monetary policy and interest rates, and changes in fiscal policy could affect broader patterns of trade and economic growth. Future legislation, regulation, and government policy could affect the banking industry as a whole, including our business and results of operations, in ways that are difficult to predict. In addition, our results of operations also could be adversely affected by changes in the way in which existing statutes and regulations are interpreted or applied by courts and government agencies.
Market and Interest Rate Risks
Fluctuations in interest rates may reduce net interest income and otherwise negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Shifts in short-term interest rates may reduce net interest income, which is the principal component of our earnings. Net interest income is the difference between the amounts received by us on our interest-earning assets and the interest paid by us on our interest-bearing liabilities. When interest rates rise, the rate of interest we pay on our liabilities, such as deposits, generally rises more quickly than the rate of interest that we receive on our interest-bearing assets, such as loans, which may cause our profits to decrease. The impact on earnings is more adverse when the slope of the yield curve flattens, that is, when short-term interest rates increase more than long-term interest rates or when long-term interest rates decrease more than short-term interest rates.
Interest rate increases often result in larger payment requirements for our borrowers, which increases the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by any reduced demand
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resulting from higher interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, there may be an increase in prepayments on loans as borrowers refinance their mortgages and other indebtedness at lower rates.
Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of loans, securities and other assets. An increase in interest rates that adversely affects the ability of borrowers to pay the principal or interest on loans may lead to an increase in nonperforming assets and a reduction of income recognized, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Further, when we place a loan on nonaccrual status, we reverse any accrued but unpaid interest receivable, which decreases interest income. Subsequently, we continue to have a cost to fund the loan, which is reflected as interest expense, without any interest income to offset the associated funding expense. Thus, an increase in the amount of nonperforming assets would have an adverse impact on net interest income.
If short-term interest rates remain at low levels for a prolonged period, and assuming longer term interest rates fall, we could experience net interest margin compression as our interest earning assets would continue to reprice downward while our interest-bearing liability rates could fail to decline in tandem. This would have a material adverse effect on our net interest income and our results of operations.
We could recognize losses on securities held in our securities portfolio, particularly if interest rates increase or economic and market conditions deteriorate.
Factors beyond our control can significantly influence the fair value of securities in our portfolio and can cause potential adverse changes to the fair value of these securities. For example, fixed-rate securities acquired by us are generally subject to decreases in market value when interest rates rise. Additional factors include, but are not limited to, rating agency downgrades of the securities or our own analysis of the value of the security, defaults by the issuer or individual mortgagors with respect to the underlying securities, and continued instability in the credit markets. Any of the foregoing factors could cause an other-than-temporary impairment in future periods and result in realized losses. The process for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary usually requires difficult, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer and any collateral underlying the security in order to assess the probability of receiving all contractual principal and interest payments on the security. Because of changing economic and market conditions affecting interest rates, the financial condition of issuers of the securities and the performance of the underlying collateral, we may recognize realized and/or unrealized losses in future periods, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Downgrades in the credit rating of one or more insurers that provide credit enhancement for our state and municipal securities portfolio may have an adverse impact on the market for and valuation of these types of securities.
We invest in tax-exempt state and local municipal securities, some of which are insured by monoline insurers. Even though management generally purchases municipal securities on the overall credit strength of the issuer, the reduction in the credit rating of an insurer may negatively impact the market for and valuation of our investment securities. Such downgrade could adversely affect our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.
Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve. An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market purchases and sales of U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in banks’ reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.
The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.
Liquidity and Funding Risks
Liquidity risks could affect operations and jeopardize our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and/or investment securities and from other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our most important source of funds consists of our customer deposits, including escrow deposits held in connection with our commercial mortgage servicing business. Such deposit balances can decrease when customers perceive alternative investments, such as the stock market, as providing a better risk/return tradeoff, or, in connection with our commercial mortgage servicing business, third
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parties for whom we provide servicing choose to terminate that relationship with us. If customers move money out of bank deposits and into other investments, we could lose a relatively low cost source of funds, which would require us to seek wholesale funding alternatives in order to continue to grow, thereby increasing our funding costs and reducing our net interest income and net income.
Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance or capitalize our activities or on terms that are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us directly or the financial services industry or economy in general, such as disruptions in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry.
Any decline in available funding could adversely impact our ability to continue to implement our strategic plan, including originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, pay dividends to our shareholders or to fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our liquidity, business, financial condition and results of operations.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and if we fail to maintain sufficient capital, whether due to losses, an inability to raise additional capital or otherwise, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations, as well as our ability to maintain regulatory compliance, would be adversely affected.
We face significant capital and other regulatory requirements as a financial institution. The Company, on a consolidated basis, and the Bank, on a stand-alone basis, must meet certain regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity. Importantly, regulatory capital requirements could increase from current levels, which could require us to raise additional capital or contract our operations. Our ability to raise additional capital depends on conditions in the capital markets, economic conditions and a number of other factors, including investor perceptions regarding the banking industry, market conditions and governmental activities, and on our financial condition and performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to raise additional capital if needed or on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.
We may be adversely affected by the soundness of other financial institutions.
Our ability to engage in routine funding transactions could be adversely affected by the actions and commercial soundness of other financial institutions. Financial services companies are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, and other relationships. We have exposure to different industries and counterparties, and through transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, and other institutional clients. As a result, defaults by, or even rumors or questions about, one or more financial services companies, or the financial services industry generally, have led to market-wide liquidity problems and could lead to losses or defaults by us or by other institutions. These losses or defaults could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and growth prospects. Additionally, if our competitors were extending credit on terms we found to pose excessive risks, or at interest rates which we believed did not warrant the credit exposure, we may not be able to maintain our business volume and could experience deteriorating financial performance.
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ITEM1B –UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2 – PROPERTIES
Our corporate headquarters office building is located at 1201 Network Centre Drive, Effingham, Illinois, 62401. We own our corporate headquarters office building, which was built in 2011 and also houses our primary operations center. We have additional operations centers located in St. Louis, Missouri and Rockford, Illinois, supporting our banking and wealth management businesses. At December 31, 2020, the Bank operated a total of 52 full-service banking centers, including 41 located in Illinois and 11 located in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Of these facilities, 43 were owned, and we leased 9 from unaffiliated third parties.
We believe that the leases to which we are subject are generally on terms consistent with prevailing market terms. None of the leases are with our directors, officers, beneficial owners of more than 5% of our voting securities or any affiliates of the foregoing. We believe that our facilities are in good condition and are adequate to meet our operating needs for the foreseeable future.
ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In the normal course of business, we are named or threatened to be named as a defendant in various lawsuits, none of which we expect to have a material effect on the Company. However, given the nature, scope and complexity of the extensive legal and regulatory landscape applicable to our business (including laws and regulations governing consumer protection, fair lending, fair labor, privacy, information security, anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism), we, like all banking organizations, are subject to heightened legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk. There are no material pending legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their property is the subject.
ITEM4 –MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM5 –MARKETFOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASESOF EQUITY SECURITIES
Shareholders
As of February 16, 2021, the Company had 1,042 common stock shareholders of record, and the closing price of the Company’s common stock, traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) under the ticker symbol MSBI, was $21.29 per share.
Stock Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on the Company's common stock from May 24, 2016 (the date of the Company’s initial public offering and listing on Nasdaq) through December 31, 2020. The graph compares the Company's common stock with the Nasdaq Composite Index and the Nasdaq Bank Index. The graph assumes an investment of $100.00 in the Company's common stock and each index on May 24, 2016 and reinvestment of all quarterly dividends. Measurement points are May 24, 2016 and the last trading day of the second quarter and fourth quarter of each subsequent year through December 31, 2020. There is no assurance that the Company's common stock performance will continue in the future with the same or similar results as shown in the graph.
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table sets forth information regarding the Company’s repurchase of shares of its outstanding common stock during the fourth quarter of 2020.
(1)Represents shares of the Company’s common stock repurchased under the employee stock purchase program, shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of awards of restricted stock and/or pursuant to a publicly announced repurchase plan or program, as discussed in footnote 2 below.
(2)On August 6, 2019, the board of directors of the Company approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to $25.0 million of its common stock. On March 11, 2020, the Company announced that its Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to an additional $25.0 million of its common stock in addition to the amount remaining under the prior authorization. On December 2, 2020, the Company announced that the Board had extended the expiration date of the repurchase program from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021. At the time of the extension, the program had approximately $6.4 million of remaining repurchase authority. Stock repurchases under these programs may be made from time to time on the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, or in any manner that complies with applicable securities laws, at the discretion of the Company. The timing of purchases and the number of shares repurchased under the programs are dependent upon a variety of factors including price, trading volume, corporate and regulatory requirements and market condition. The repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time without notice. As of December 31, 2020, $43.6 million, or 2,472,736 shares of the Company’s common stock, had been repurchased under the program.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
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ITEM6 –SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following consolidated selected financial data is derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2020. This information should be read in connection with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes in Item 8 of this Form 10-K and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.
As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
Balance Sheet Data:
Preferred shareholders' equity — — 2,781 2,970 —
Income Statement Data:
Preferred stock dividends and premium amortization — 46 141 83 —
Credit Quality Data:
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As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
Per Share Data (Common Stock):
Earnings:
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Performance Metrics:
Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios - Consolidated:
Regulatory and Other Capital Ratios - Bank Only:
(1)Tangible common equity, tangible book value per share, return on average tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets, efficiency ratio and net non-core funding dependence ratio are non-GAAP financial measures. See “—Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” below for a reconciliation of these measures to their most comparable GAAP measures.
(2)Nonperforming loans include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and loans modified under troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”). For periods prior to 2020, nonperforming loans excluded purchased credit impaired loans (“PCI loans”) from acquisitions. PCI loans had carrying values of $42.7 million, $43.0 million, $22.5 million and $28.3 million as of December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Furthermore, PCI loans, as well as other loans acquired in a business combination, are recorded at estimated fair value on their purchase date without a carryover of the related allowance for credit losses on loans. Accordingly, our ratios that are computed using nonperforming loans and/or allowance for credit losses on loans may not be comparable to similar ratios of our peers.
(3)Nonperforming assets include nonperforming loans, other real estate owned and other repossessed assets. As discussed in footnote 2 above, for the periods prior to 2020, nonperforming loans excluded PCI loans. This ratio may therefore not be comparable to similar ratios of our peers.
(4)Earnings per share are calculated utilizing the two-class method. Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the sum of distributed earnings to common shareholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares adjusted for the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options and common stock warrants using the treasury stock method.
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(5)For purposes of computing book value per common share, book value equals total common shareholders’ equity.
(6)Net interest margin is presented on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis.
(7)Common stock dividend payout ratio represents dividends per share divided by basic earnings per share.
(8)Core deposits are defined as total deposits less certificate of deposits greater than $250,000 and less brokered certificates of deposits.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Our management uses the following non-GAAP financial measures in its analysis of our performance: “tangible common equity,” “tangible common equity to tangible assets,” “tangible book value per share,” “return on average tangible common equity,” “efficiency ratio,” and “net non-core funding dependence ratio.”
Tangible Common Equity, Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets Ratio and Tangible Book Value Per Share. Tangible common equity, tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio and tangible book value per share are non-GAAP measures generally used by financial analysts and investment bankers to evaluate capital adequacy. We calculate: (i) tangible common equity as total shareholders’ equity less preferred equity, goodwill and other intangible assets (excluding mortgage servicing rights); (ii) tangible assets as total assets less goodwill and other intangible assets; and (iii) tangible book value per share as tangible common equity divided by shares of common stock outstanding.
Our management, banking regulators, many financial analysts and other investors use these measures in conjunction with more traditional bank capital ratios to compare the capital adequacy of banking organizations with significant amounts of preferred equity and/or goodwill or other intangible assets, which typically stem from the use of the purchase accounting method of accounting for mergers and acquisitions. Tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible book value per share and related measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for total shareholders’ equity, total assets, book value per share or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, the manner in which we calculate tangible common equity, tangible assets, tangible book value per share and any other related measures may differ from that of other companies reporting measures with similar names. The following table reconciles shareholders’ equity (on a GAAP basis) to tangible common equity and total assets (on a GAAP basis) to tangible assets, and calculates our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio and tangible book value per share:
As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
Shareholders' Equity to Tangible Common Equity:
Adjustments:
Total Assets to Tangible Assets:
Adjustments:
Return on Average Tangible Common Equity. Management measures return on average tangible common equity to assess the Company’s capital strength and business performance. Tangible equity excludes preferred equity, goodwill and other intangible assets (excluding mortgage servicing rights), and is reviewed by banking and financial institution regulators when assessing a financial institution’s capital adequacy. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table reconciles return on average tangible common equity to its most comparable GAAP measure:
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As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
Average Shareholders' Equity to Average Tangible Common Equity:
Adjustments:
Efficiency Ratio. Management uses the efficiency ratio to measure how effective the Bank is in using overhead expenses, including salaries and benefit costs and occupancy expenses as well as other operating expenses, in generating revenues. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure provides meaningful information to further assist investors in evaluating our operating results. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table reconciles the efficiency ratio to its most comparable GAAP measure:
As of and for the Years Ended December 31,
Adjustments to noninterest expense:
Net expense from FDIC loss share termination agreement — — — — (351)
FHLB advances prepayment fees (4,872) — — — —
Loss on repurchase of subordinated debt (193) (1,778) — — (511)
Adjustments to noninterest income:
Net Non-Core Funding Dependence Ratio. Management uses the net non-core funding dependence ratio to assess the Company’s ability to fund short-term investments with the use of non-core liabilities rather than long-term assets. The net non-core funding dependence ratio is reviewed by banking and financial institution regulators when assessing a financial institution’s ability to meet its liquidity needs. We believe that this non-GAAP financial measure provides meaningful information to further assist investors in evaluating our operating results. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. The following table reconciles the net non-core funding dependence ratio to its most comparable GAAP measure:
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As of December 31,
Short term investments:
Long-term assets:
Non-core liabilities
ITEM7 –MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTSOF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with Item 6 - “Selected Financial Data,” our consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto, included in Item 8 - "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data", and other financial data appearing elsewhere in this report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to those set forth under “Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,” Item 1A – "Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report, may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements. Readers of our Annual Report on Form 10-K should therefore consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Overview
Midland States Bancorp, Inc. is a diversified financial holding company headquartered in Effingham, Illinois. Its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Midland States Bank, has branches across Illinois and in Missouri, and provides a full range of commercial and consumer banking products and services, business equipment financing, merchant credit card services, trust and investment management, and insurance and financial planning services. As of December 31, 2020, we had $6.87 billion in assets, $5.10 billion of deposits and $621.4 million of shareholders’ equity.
Our strategic plan is focused on building a performance-based, customer-centric culture, seeking accretive acquisitions, creating revenue diversification, achieving operational excellence and maintaining a robust enterprise-wide risk management program. Over the past several years, we have grown organically and through a series of acquisitions, with an over-arching focus on enhancing shareholder value and building a platform for scalability. Most recently, in July 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of HomeStar and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, HomeStar Bank. In February 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of Alpine and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Alpine Bank. Additional information on recent acquisitions is presented in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
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Our principal lines of business include traditional community banking and wealth management. Our traditional community banking business primarily consists of commercial and retail lending and deposit taking. Our wealth management group provides a comprehensive suite of trust and wealth management products and services, and has grown to $3.48 billion of assets under administration as of December 31, 2020.
Our principal business activity has been lending to and accepting deposits from individuals, businesses, municipalities and other entities. We have derived income principally from interest charged on loans and leases and, to a lesser extent, from interest and dividends earned on investment securities. We have also derived income from noninterest sources, such as: fees received in connection with various lending and deposit services; wealth management services; commercial FHA mortgage loan servicing; residential mortgage loan originations and sales; and, from time to time, gains on sales of assets. Our principal expenses include interest expense on deposits and borrowings, operating expenses, such as salaries and employee benefits, occupancy and equipment expenses, data processing costs, professional fees and other noninterest expenses, provisions for credit losses and income tax expense.
Material Trends and Developments
Community Banking. We believe the most important trends affecting community banks in the United States over the foreseeable future will be related to heightened regulatory capital requirements, increasing regulatory burdens generally, including the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act and the regulations promulgated and to be promulgated thereunder, and net interest margin compression. We expect that community banks will face increased competition for lower cost capital as a result of regulatory policies that may offer larger financial institutions greater access to government assistance than is available for smaller institutions, including community banks. We expect that troubled community banks will continue to face significant challenges when attempting to raise capital. We also believe that heightened regulatory capital requirements will make it more difficult for even well-capitalized, healthy community banks to grow in their communities. We believe these trends will favor community banks that have sufficient capital, a diversified business model and a strong deposit franchise, and we believe we possess these characteristics.
We also believe that increased regulatory burdens will have a significant adverse effect on smaller community banks, which often lack the personnel, experience and technology to efficiently comply with new regulations in a variety of areas in the banking industry, including in the areas of deposits, lending, compensation, information security and overdraft protection. We believe the increased costs to smaller community banks from a more complex regulatory environment, coupled with challenges in the real estate lending area, present attractive acquisition opportunities for larger community banks that have already made significant investments in regulatory compliance and risk management and can acquire and quickly integrate these smaller institutions into their existing platform. Furthermore, we believe that, as a result of our significant operational investments and our experience acquiring other institutions and quickly integrating them into our organization, we are well positioned to capitalize on the challenges facing smaller community banks.
We continue to believe we have significant opportunities for further growth through additional acquisitions of banks, branches, wealth management firms and trust departments of community banks, selective de novo opportunities, continued expansion of our wealth management operations, the hiring of commercial banking and wealth management professionals from other organizations and organic growth within our existing branch network. We also believe we have the necessary experience, management and infrastructure to take advantage of these growth opportunities.
Credit Reserves. One of our key operating objectives has been, and continues to be, maintenance of an appropriate level of reserve protection against estimated losses in our loan portfolio. In 2020, our provision for credit losses on loans was $43.1 million compared to $17.0 million in 2019 and $9.4 million in 2018.
Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted CECL. The CECL model requires a reporting entity to estimate credit losses expected over the “life” of an asset, or pool of assets. The estimate of expected credit losses will consider historical information, current information, and the reasonable and supportable forecasts of future events and circumstances, as well as estimates of prepayments. The allowance for credit losses ("ACL") on loans and related provision for credit losses on loans was modeled under the provisions of CECL for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, as opposed to the incurred loss model for periods prior to January 1, 2020.
Regulatory Environment. As a result of regulatory changes, including the Dodd-Frank Act and the Basel III Rule, we expect to be subject to more restrictive capital requirements, more stringent asset concentration and growth limitations and new and potentially heightened examination and reporting requirements. We also expect to face a more challenging environment for customer loan demand due to the increased costs that could be ultimately borne by borrowers, and to incur higher costs to comply with these new regulations. This uncertain regulatory environment could have a detrimental impact on our ability to
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manage our business consistent with historical practices and cause difficulty in executing our growth plan. See Item 1A - "Risk Factors—Legal, Accounting and Compliance Risks” and Item 1 - "Business—Supervision and Regulation.”
Impact of COVID-19. The progression of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has had an adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations as of and for the twelve months ended December 31, 2020, and is expected to have a complex and significant adverse impact on the economy, the banking industry and our Company in future fiscal periods, all subject to a high degree of uncertainty.
Effects on Our Market Areas. Our commercial and consumer banking products and services are delivered primarily in Illinois and Missouri, where individual and governmental responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to a broad curtailment of economic activity beginning March 2020. Both Illinois and Missouri were subject to stay-at-home orders and limitations on business activity beginning in March 2020, with economic and social activity reopening in a phased-in approach since May 2020. These measures have had, and current measures continue to have, a lasting impact on the economies of and the customers located in these states. Each state's reopening plans remain subject to roll back, depending on public health developments. The Bank and its branches have remained open during these orders because banking is deemed an essential business, although it has suspended lobby access at its branches since March 17, 2020, and the lobbies remain closed.
Each state has experienced a dramatic increase in unemployment levels as a result of the curtailment of business activities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Illinois (on a seasonally adjusted basis) was 4.2% in March 2020, increased to 17.2% in April 2020 and was 7.6% in December 2020 (based on preliminary estimates). The unemployment rate in Missouri (on a seasonally adjusted basis) was 3.9% in March 2020, increased to 10.2 % in April 2020 and was 5.8% in December 2020 (based on preliminary estimates), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Policy and Regulatory Developments. Federal, state and local governments and regulatory authorities have enacted and issued a range of policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the following:
•The Federal Reserve decreased the range for the federal funds target rate by 0.50% on March 3, 2020, and by another 1.0% on March 16, 2020, reaching its current range of 0.0 – 0.25%.
•On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the CARES Act, which established a $2.0 trillion economic stimulus package, including cash payments to individuals, supplemental unemployment insurance benefits and a $349.0 billion loan program administered through the SBA, referred to as the PPP. The Bank participates as a lender in the PPP. After the initial $349.0 billion in funds for the PPP was exhausted, an additional $310.0 billion in funding for PPP loans was authorized. In addition, on December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, a $900.0 billion COVID-19 relief package that includes an additional $284.5 billion in PPP funding, and Congress is in the process of negotiating additional stimulus bills and other actions in response to COVID-19.
•In addition, the CARES Act, as extended by the Coronovirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021), provides financial institutions the option to temporarily suspend certain requirements under GAAP related to TDRs for a limited period of time to account for the effects of COVID-19.
•On April 7, 2020, federal banking regulators issued a revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions, which, among other things, encouraged financial institutions to work prudently with borrowers who are or may be unable to meet their contractual payment obligations because of the effects of COVID-19, and stated that institutions generally do not need to categorize COVID-19-related modifications as TDRs and that the agencies will not direct supervised institutions to automatically categorize all COVID-19 related loan modifications as TDRs.
•On April 9, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced additional measures aimed at supporting small and midsized business, as well as state and local governments impacted by COVID-19. The Federal Reserve announced the Main Street Business Lending Program, which establishes two new loan facilities intended to facilitate lending to small and midsized businesses: (1) the Main Street New Loan Facility ("MSNLF"), and (2) the Main Street Expanded Loan Facility ("MSELF"). MSNLF loans are unsecured term loans originated on or after April 8, 2020, while MSELF loans are provided as upsized tranches of existing loans originated before April 8, 2020. The combined size of the program is authorized up to $600.0 billion. The Main Street Business Lending Program terminated on January 8, 2021.
•In addition to the policy responses described above, the federal bank regulatory agencies, along with their state counterparts, have issued a stream of guidance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and have taken a number of unprecedented steps to help banks navigate the pandemic and mitigate its impact. These include, without limitation: requiring banks to focus on business continuity and pandemic planning; adding pandemic scenarios to
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stress testing; encouraging bank use of capital buffers and reserves in lending programs; permitting certain regulatory reporting extensions; reducing margin requirements on swaps; permitting certain, otherwise prohibited, investments in investment funds; issuing guidance to encourage banks to work with customers affected by the pandemic and encourage loan workouts; and providing credit under the CRA for certain pandemic-related loans, investments and public service. Moreover, because of the need for social distancing measures, the agencies revamped the manner in which they conducted periodic examinations of their regulated institutions, including making greater use of off-site reviews. The Federal Reserve also issued guidance encouraging banking institutions to utilize its discount window for loans and intraday credit extended by its Reserve Banks to help households and businesses impacted by the pandemic and announced numerous funding facilities. The FDIC has also acted to mitigate the deposit insurance assessment effects of participating in the PPP and the Federal Reserve’s PPP Liquidity Facility and Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility.
Effects on Our Business. The COVID-19 pandemic and the specific developments referred to above have had and will continue to have a significant impact on our business. In particular, we anticipate that a significant portion of the Bank’s borrowers in the hotel, restaurant, ground transportation, long-term healthcare and retail industries will continue to endure significant economic distress, which has caused, and will continue to cause, them to draw on their existing lines of credit and adversely affect their ability to repay existing indebtedness, and is expected to adversely impact the value of collateral. These developments, together with economic conditions generally, are also expected to impact our commercial real estate portfolio, particularly with respect to real estate with exposure to these industries, our equipment leasing business and loan portfolio, our consumer loan business and loan portfolio, and the value of certain collateral securing our loans. As a result, we anticipate that our financial condition, capital levels and results of operations will be adversely affected, as described in further detail below.
Our Response. We have taken numerous steps in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the following:
•To protect the health and safety of our employees and customers, we instituted the following measures:
◦On March 17, 2020, we closed our banking center lobbies but continued to serve clients by appointment or through our drive-up lanes. As of December 31, 2020, our banking center lobbies remained closed.
◦On March 23, 2020, we closed our corporate offices, effectively leveraging our investments in technology to transition to working remotely. As of December 31, 2020, these offices remained closed.
•To meet the financial needs of our customers, we have instituted the following measures:
◦The Company has granted requests for payment deferrals on loans related to the impact of COVID-19 on such borrowers. At December 31, 2020, loans totaling $209.1 million are currently on deferral, the majority of which are for principal and interest for a period of 90 days. Deferrals of $82.6 million related to the hotel and motel industry and $44.1 million related to transit and ground transportation account for 61% of our deferrals at December 31, 2020. Loan deferrals decreased from $898.4 million, or 18.6% of total loans at June 30, 2020 to 4.1% at December 31, 2020. We are continuing to work with our customers to address their specific needs.
◦The Bank participates, as a lender, in the PPP and began taking applications on the first day of the program. At December 31, 2020, we had $184.4 million of PPP loans outstanding to 1,541 customers. Income recognized on PPP loans totaled $7.1 million in 2020, including loan origination fees of $5.2 million. The resulting yield of 3.99% is lower than yields on the remainder of our loan portfolio. As of December 31, 2020, $155.6 million of loans had been submitted to the SBA to process loan forgiveness, of which $93.2 million were forgiven.
Additional Factors Affecting Comparability
Each factor listed below affects the comparability of our results of operations and financial condition in 2020, 2019 and 2018, and may affect the comparability of financial information we report in future fiscal periods.
FHLB Advance Prepayments. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company pre-paid $114.2 million of FHLB advances with a weighted average interest rate of 2.10% and maturity dates ranging from 2021 to 2024. As a result, we paid prepayment fees of $4.9 million in that quarter.
Facilities Optimization Plan. On September 3, 2020, the Company announced a series of planned branch and corporate office reductions as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance efficiencies and financial performance. The Company closed 13 branches, or 20% of its branch network, and vacated approximately 23,000 square feet of corporate office space between September 3, 2020 and December 31, 2020. The Company estimates that the branch and corporate office reductions will result in annual cost savings of approximately $5.0 million in future periods. Additionally, the Company plans to renovate and upgrade five other branches to reduce the size of and better utilize those facilities to serve retail and commercial customers.
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These renovations and upgrades are expected to cost approximately $4.0 million. The Company estimates that these renovations and upgrades will result in annual cost savings of approximately $1.0 million beginning in 2022. As a result of this plan, we recorded $12.7 million of asset impairment on existing banking facilities and $0.8 million in other related charges. We had $4.2 million of facility-related assets classified as held for sale in other assets on the consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2020.
In 2019, the Company closed one facility and consolidated two additional facilities as a result of the acquisition of HomeStar. In addition, the Company planned to consolidate three other existing facilities in other areas of its footprint, one of which closed in 2019 and the remaining two facilities closed in January 2020. Consequently, in 2019, the Company recorded $3.2 million of asset impairment on banking facilities to be closed.
Sale of Commercial FHA Origination Platform. On August 28, 2020, the Company announced that it had completed the sale of its commercial FHA origination platform to Dwight Capital, a nationwide mortgage banking firm headquartered in New York. The Bank continues to service Love Funding’s current servicing portfolio of approximately $3.50 billion.
Capital Raising Transactions. On September 20, 2019, the Company issued, through a private placement, $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes, which were structured into two tranches: $72.75 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2029, and $27.25 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due 2034. On January 13, 2020, the Company completed its offer to exchange all $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of subordinated notes for substantially identical subordinated notes that were registered under the Securities Act of 1933, in satisfaction of the Company’s obligations under a registration rights agreement entered into with the purchasers of the subordinated notes in the private placement transaction. The Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering to repay a $30.0 million senior term loan and is using the remaining net proceeds for general corporate purposes.
Preferred Stock Repurchase. On July 29, 2019, the Company redeemed, in whole, the shares of Series H preferred stock. The price paid by the Company for such shares was equal to $1,000 per share plus any unpaid dividends.
Recent Acquisitions. On July 17, 2019, the Company completed its acquisition of HomeStar and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, HomeStar Bank, which operated five full-service banking centers in northern Illinois. The Company acquired $366.3 million in assets, including $211.1 million in loans, and assumed $321.7 million in deposits.
On February 28, 2018, the Company completed its acquisition of Alpine and its wholly-owned banking subsidiary, Alpine Bank, which operated 19 locations principally in and around the Rockford, Illinois area. The Company acquired $1.24 billion in assets, including $786.2 million in loans, and assumed $1.11 billion in deposits.
Purchased Loans. Our net interest margin benefits from accretion income associated with purchase accounting discounts established on the purchased loans included in our acquisitions. Effective January 1, 2020, PCI loans were reclassified as purchased credit deteriorated ("PCD") loans, and due to this change, accretion income will decrease in future periods. Our reported net interest margins for 2020, 2019 and 2018 were 3.40%, 3.69% and 3.76%, respectively. Accretion income associated with accounting discounts established on loans acquired totaled $7.7 million, $12.6 million and $13.4 million in 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, increasing the reported net interest margins by 13, 22,and 24 basis points for each respective period.
Results of Operations
For discussion of the results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared with the year ended December 31, 2018, refer to Item 7 of the Company’s 2019 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on February 28, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference.
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Overview. The COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of CECL, the FHLB advance prepayments and our facilities optimization plan had a significant impact on our net income for the year ended December 31, 2020. The following table sets forth condensed income statement information of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:
For the Years Ended December 31,
Income Statement Data:
Preferred stock dividends and premium amortization — 46 141
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.95 $ 2.26 $ 1.66
In 2020, we generated net income of $22.5 million, or diluted earnings per common share of $0.95, compared to net income of $55.7 million, or diluted earnings per common share of $2.26 in 2019. Earnings in 2020 declined primarily due to a $27.4 million increase in provision for credit losses, a $14.0 million decrease in noninterest income and an $8.4 million increase in noninterest expense. These results were partially offset by a $9.3 million increase in net interest income and a $7.2 million decrease in income tax expense. These are discussed in further detail below.
Net Interest Income and Margin. Our primary source of revenue is net interest income, which is the difference between interest income from interest-earning assets (primarily loans and securities) and interest expense of funding sources (primarily interest-bearing deposits and borrowings). Net interest income is influenced by many factors, primarily the volume and mix of interest-earning assets, funding sources, and interest rate fluctuations. Noninterest-bearing sources of funds, such as demand deposits and shareholders’ equity, also support earning assets. The impact of the noninterest-bearing sources of funds is captured in net interest margin, which is calculated as net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets. Net interest margin is presented on a tax-equivalent basis, which means that tax-free interest income has been adjusted to pretax-equivalent income, assuming a federal income tax rate of 21% for 2020 and 2019.
As described above, one of the factors that impacts net interest income is interest rate fluctuations. The Federal Reserve decreased the target federal funds interest rate by 25 basis points in each of August 2019, September 2019 and October 2019. In addition, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve decreased the target federal funds interest rate by a total of 150 basis points in March 2020. These decreases impact the comparability of net interest income between 2019 and 2020.
In 2020, net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, was $200.9 million with a tax-equivalent net interest margin of 3.40% compared to net interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, of $191.9 million and tax-equivalent net interest margin of 3.69% in 2019.
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Average Balance Sheet, Interest and Yield/Rate Analysis. The following table presents average balance sheet information, interest income, interest expense and the corresponding average yields earned and rates paid for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. The average balances are principally daily averages and, for loans, include both performing and nonperforming balances. Interest income on loans includes the effects of discount accretion and net deferred loan origination costs accounted for as yield adjustments.
Year Ended December 31,
EARNING ASSETS:
Investment securities:
Loans:
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
NONINTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES
(1)Interest income and average rates for tax-exempt loans and securities are presented on a tax-equivalent basis, assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 21%. Tax-equivalent adjustments totaled $1.8 million, $2.0 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
(2)Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Interest income on loans includes amortization of deferred loan fees, net of deferred loan costs.
(3)Net interest margin during the periods presented represents: (i) the difference between interest income on interest-earning assets and the interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities, divided by (ii) average interest-earning assets for the period.
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Interest Rates and Operating Interest Differential. Increases and decreases in interest income and interest expense result from changes in average balances (volume) of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as changes in average interest rates. The following table shows the effect that these factors had on the interest earned on our interest-earning assets and the interest incurred on our interest-bearing liabilities. The effect of changes in volume is determined by multiplying the change in volume by the previous period’s average rate. Similarly, the effect of rate changes is calculated by multiplying the change in average rate by the previous period’s volume. Changes which are not due solely to volume or rate have been allocated proportionally to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.
Change due to: InterestVariance Change due to: InterestVariance
(tax-equivalent basis, dollars in thousands) Volume Rate Volume Rate
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS:
Investment securities:
Loans:
INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES:
Interest Income. Interest income, on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased $4.9 million to $246.7 million in 2020 as compared to 2019 primarily due to a decrease in the yields on most earning asset categories. The yield on earning assets decreased 66 basis points to 4.17% from 4.83%. The decrease in yield on earning assets was primarily due to the impact of lower market interest rates due to the Federal Reserve's decreases in the target federal funds interest rate, the impact of PPP loan yields and a reduction in accretion income associated with accounting discounts established on loans acquired, which totaled $7.7 million and $12.6 million in 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Average earning assets increased to $5.91 billion in 2020 from $5.20 billion in 2019. The increases were primarily in loans and cash investments, which increased $489.0 million and $188.2 million, respectively. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company originated and funded $313.1 million of PPP loans. Income recognized on this portfolio totaled $7.1 million in 2020, including loan origination fees of $5.2 million, resulting in a yield on PPP loans of 3.99%, which amount is lower than yields on the remainder of our loan portfolio. The increase in average loan balances was primarily the result of PPP loans and continued growth in our equipment finance loan and lease and consumer loan portfolios.
Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $14.0 million to $45.8 million in 2020 compared to 2019. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased to 1.00% in 2020 compared to 1.43% for the prior year primarily due to lower rates as a result of the Federal Reserve Bank's reduction in rates.
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Interest expense on deposits decreased to $21.5 million in 2020 from $34.2 million in 2019. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in rates paid on deposits. Average balances of interest-bearing deposit accounts increased $353.1 million, or 10.8%, to $3.63 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020 compared to 2019. The increase in volume was primarily attributable to an increase of $311.8 million from our Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) product offering and from commercial customers due to PPP-related fund inflows. With the increase in these deposits, we were able to replace, in part, wholesale funds through the intentional decrease in brokered time deposits which, in addition to lower market rates, resulted in a lower average rate paid on deposits.
Interest expense on subordinated debt increased $2.3 million to $9.7 million for 2020 due primarily to the issuance of $100.0 million of subordinated debt in September 2019. The increase was partially offset by the redemption of $16.5 million of subordinated debt during the fourth quarter of 2019 and an additional $7.3 million in the first quarter of 2020. In turn, the reported cost of funds for subordinated debt decreased 47 basis points to 5.73% for 2020.
Provision for Credit Losses on Loans. The provision for credit losses on loans totaled $43.1 million in 2020 compared to $17.0 million in 2019. The higher provision for credit losses on loans was driven by higher net charge-offs, primarily in the first quarter of 2020, and by the implementation of CECL, which uses an economic forecast that now includes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued loan growth in future periods, a decline in our current level of recoveries, a decline in our loans' credit quality, or an increase in charge-offs could result in an increase in provision expense. Additionally, with the adoption of CECL beginning on January 1, 2020, provision expense may become more volatile due to changes in CECL model assumptions or credit quality, macroeconomic factors and conditions and loan composition, which drive the allowance for credit losses on loans.
Noninterest Income. The following table sets forth the major components of our noninterest income for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:
(dollars in thousands) 2020 2019 2018 Increase (decrease) Increase (decrease)
Noninterest income:
Commercial FHA revenue. On August 28, 2020, the Company announced that it had completed the sale of its commercial FHA origination platform to Dwight Capital, a nationwide mortgage banking firm headquartered in New York. The Bank continues to service Love Funding’s current servicing portfolio of approximately $3.50 billion. Commercial FHA revenue for 2020 was $6.0 million, a decrease of $9.3 million compared to 2019. The decline in revenue is attributable to the sale of the loan origination platform in August resulting in a decline in interest rate locks. Interest rate lock commitments were $199.2 million in 2020, with 47% representing loan modifications which result in lower gain premiums than new originations. In 2019, interest rate lock commitments were $307.9 million, 1% of which were loan modifications.
Residential mortgage banking revenue. Residential mortgage banking revenue for 2020 totaled $9.8 million, compared to $2.9 million in 2019. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in production as the decrease in the 10-year treasury rate stimulated a significant increase in mortgage activity. Loans originated in 2020 totaled $321.9 million, with 59% representing refinance transactions versus purchase transactions. Loans originated during the prior year totaled $156.8 million with 33% representing refinance transactions.
Service charges on deposit accounts. Service charges on deposit accounts were $8.6 million for 2020, a decline of $2.4 million from 2019. The decrease in revenue was attributable, primarily, to a decline in overdraft-related fees due to decreased business activities as a result of COVID-19.
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Impairment of Commercial Mortgage Servicing Rights. Impairment of commercial mortgage servicing rights was $12.3 million for 2020 compared to $2.1 million for 2019. Loans serviced for others totaled $3.50 billion and $4.08 billion at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The impairment resulted from loan prepayments due to borrowers refinancing their loans in this low rate environment, coupled with a reduction in the assumed earnings rates related to escrow and replacement reserves.
Other noninterest income. The decrease of $1.2 million in other noninterest income primarily reflected a decrease in bridge loan fees from Love Funding in 2020 compared to 2019.
Noninterest Expense. The following table sets forth the major components of noninterest expense for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018:
(dollars in thousands) 2020 2019 2018 Increase (decrease) Increase (decrease)
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits. Salaries and employee benefits expense for 2020 totaled $85.6 million, compared to $91.9 million in 2019. The Company employed 904 employees at December 31, 2020 compared to 1,100 employees at December 31, 2019. The reduction in staff was primarily due to a reduction of 50 full-time employee positions announced in January 2020, the sale of our commercial FHA loan origination platform in August 2020 and the closure of 13 banking facilities in December 2020. Bonus expense was less in 2020 compared to 2019 due to anticipated financial results not meeting established thresholds for these annual awards.
Occupancy and equipment expense. The $1.3 million decrease in expense was primarily due to the Company operating fewer offices in 2020 compared to 2019. The Company closed six offices in the third quarter of 2019 related to our branch network consolidation plan as a result of the HomeStar acquisition. In the third quarter of 2020, we vacated the Love Funding offices as a result of the sale of the commercial FHA loan origination platform, and in December 2020, we closed 13 branches and vacated approximately 23,000 square feet of corporate office space. At December 31, 2020, the Company operated 52 full-service banking centers.
Data processing fees. The $1.3 million increase in data processing fees during 2020, as compared to 2019, was primarily the result of our continuing investments in technology to better serve our growing customer base.
Professional fees. The $1.5 million decrease in professional fees in 2020 as compared to 2019 was primarily the result of legal and consulting expenses incurred during the second and third quarters of 2019 related to the acquisition of HomeStar.
Loss onmortgage servicing rights held for sale. The Company recognized losses of $1.7 million on mortgage servicing rights held for sale in 2020 compared to a gain of $0.5 million in 2019. Market disruption as a result of COVID-19 resulted in a decreased demand by potential acquirers and a resulting decrease in value.
Impairment on facilities optimization. In the third quarter of 2020, the Company announced it would close or consolidate 13 branches, or 20% of its branch network, and vacate approximately 23,000 square feet of corporate office space by the end of 2020. As a result of this plan, we recorded $12.8 million of asset impairment on existing banking facilities. In 2019, the Company recorded $3.6 million of asset impairment on six banking facilities related to our branch network consolidation plan as a result of the HomeStar acquisition.
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FHLB advances prepayment fees. In the fourth quarter of 2020, the Company pre-paid $114.2 million of FHLB advances with a weighted average interest rate of 2.10% and maturity dates ranging from 2021 to 2024. As a result, we paid prepayment fees of $4.9 million.
Income Tax Expense. Income tax expense was $9.5 million in 2020 compared to $16.7 million in 2019. Effective tax rates for 2020 and 2019 were 29.6% and 23.0%, respectively. The significant increase in the effective tax rates resulted from Love Funding's asset sale in the third quarter of 2020, as goodwill of $10.9 million was derecognized and was not deductible for tax purposes, generating tax expense of $3.0 million.
Financial Condition
Assets. Total assets increased to $6.87 billion at December 31, 2020, as compared to $6.09 billion at December 31, 2019.
Loans. The loan portfolio is the largest category of our assets. The following table presents the balance and associated percentage of each major category in our loan portfolio at December 31, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016:
As of December 31,
Loans:
Total loans increased $701.9 million to $5.10 billion at December 31, 2020 as compared to December 31, 2019. The loan growth was primarily reflected in our commercial loan portfolio, which increased $630.4 million from $1.06 billion at December 31, 2019 to $1.69 billion at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, PPP loans totaled $184.4 million, all of which were included in our commercial loan portfolio. Advances on our HUD warehouse lines of credit increased $219.2 million to $273.3 million at December 31, 2020, which are included in our commercial loan portfolio. We also continued to see loan growth from our equipment financing business, which is booked in the commercial loans and lease financing portfolios. Consumer loans increased $156.0 million as a result of our relationship with GreenSky. These increases were offset in part by payoffs and repayments in the residential real estate portfolio. We anticipate that loan growth will remain slow in the future for our commercial real estate and consumer loan portfolios as a result of COVID-19 and the related decline in economic conditions in our market areas.
Outstanding loan balances increased due to new loan originations, advances on outstanding commitments and loans acquired as a result of acquisitions of other financial institutions, net of amounts received for loan payments and payoffs,
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charge-offs of loans and transfers of loans to other real estate owned. The following table shows the fair values of the loans acquired during the years presented and the net growth or attrition of the acquired loans during the periods presented:
For the Year Ended December 31,
The principal categories of our loan portfolio are discussed below:
Commercial loans. We provide a mix of variable and fixed rate commercial loans. The loans are typically made to small- and medium-sized manufacturing, wholesale, retail and service businesses for working capital needs, business expansions and farm operations. Commercial loans generally include lines of credit and loans with maturities of five years or less. The loans are generally made with business operations as the primary source of repayment, but may also include collateralization by inventory, accounts receivable and equipment, and generally include personal guarantees.
Commercial real estate loans. Our commercial real estate loans consist of both real estate occupied by the borrower for ongoing operations and non-owner occupied real estate properties. The real estate securing our existing commercial real estate loans includes a wide variety of property types, such as owner occupied offices, warehouses and production facilities, office buildings, hotels, mixed-use residential and commercial facilities, retail centers, multifamily properties and assisted living facilities. Our commercial real estate loan portfolio also includes farmland loans. Farmland loans are generally made to a borrower actively involved in farming rather than to passive investors.
Construction and land development loans. Our construction and land development loans are comprised of residential construction, commercial construction and land acquisition and development loans. Interest reserves are generally established on real estate construction loans.
Residential real estate loans. Our residential real estate loans consist of loans for the purchase of residential properties that generally do not qualify for secondary market sale.
Consumer loans. Our consumer loans include direct personal loans, indirect automobile loans, lines of credit and installment loans originated through home improvement specialty retailers and contractors. Personal loans are generally secured by automobiles, boats and other types of personal property and are made on an installment basis.
Lease financing. Our equipment leasing business provides financing leases to varying types of businesses, nationwide, for purchases of business equipment and software. The financing is secured by a first priority interest in the financed asset and generally requires monthly payments.
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The following table shows the contractual maturities of our loan portfolio and the distribution between fixed and adjustable interest rate loans at December 31, 2020:
Within One Year One Year to Five Years After Five Years
Loans:
Loan Quality
We use what we believe is a comprehensive methodology to monitor credit quality and prudently manage credit concentration within our loan portfolio. Our underwriting policies and practices govern the risk profile and credit and geographic concentration for our loan portfolio. We also have what we believe to be a comprehensive methodology to monitor these credit quality standards, including a risk classification system that identifies potential problem loans based on risk characteristics by loan type as well as the early identification of deterioration at the individual loan level.
Analysis of the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans. The following table allocates the allowance for credit losses on loans, or the allowance, by loan category:
As of December 31,
Loans:
(1)Information presented prior to December 31, 2020 was modeled under the incurred loss model.
(2)Represents the percentage of the allowance to total loans in the respective category.
As discussed in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in the accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements, our policies and procedures related to accounting for credit losses changed on January 1, 2020 in connection with the adoption of a new accounting standard update as codified in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 326 (“ASC 326”) Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. The amount of the allowance represents management's best estimate of current expected credit losses on loans considering available information, from internal and external sources, relevant to assessing exposure to credit loss over the contractual term of the instrument. Relevant available information includes historical credit loss experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. While historical credit loss experience provides the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses, adjustments to historical loss information may be made for differences in current portfolio-specific risk characteristics, environmental conditions or other relevant factors. While management utilizes its best judgment and information available, the ultimate adequacy of our allowance accounts is dependent upon a variety of factors beyond our control, including the performance of our portfolios, the economy, changes in interest rates and the view of the regulatory authorities toward classification of assets.
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For each loan pool, we measure expected credit losses over the life of each loan utilizing a combination of models which measure (i) probability of default, which is the likelihood that loan will stop performing/default, (ii) loss given default, which is the expected loss rate for loans in default, (iii) assumed prepayment speed, which is the likelihood that a loan will prepay or pay-off prior to maturity, and (iv) exposure at default , which is the estimated outstanding principal balance of the loans upon default. We continue to evaluate our level of reserves in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following table provides an analysis of the allowance for credit losses on loans, provision for credit losses on loans and net charge-offs for the years indicated:
As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
Charge-offs:
Construction and land development 376 44 — — 1
Recoveries:
Individual loans considered to be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance. Factors used in determining the amount and timing of charge-offs on loans include consideration of the loan type, length of delinquency, sufficiency of collateral value, lien priority and the overall financial condition of the borrower. Collateral value is determined using updated appraisals and/or other market comparable information. Recoveries on loans previously charged off are added to the allowance. Net charge-offs to average loans were 0.50% and 0.23% for 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Nonperforming Loans. The following table sets forth our nonperforming assets by asset categories as of the dates indicated. Nonperforming loans include nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest and loans modified under troubled debt restructurings. Deferrals related to COVID-19 are not included as TDRs as of December 31, 2020. The balances of nonperforming loans reflect the net investment in these assets, including deductions for purchase discounts. Purchased credit impaired loans were not reported as nonperforming loans in periods prior to January 1, 2020. Effective January 1, 2020, PCI loans were reclassified as PCD loans as a result of the adoption of CECL, and due to this change, are included in nonperforming loans.
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As of December 31,
Nonperforming loans:
We did not recognize interest income on nonaccrual loans during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 while they were in nonaccrual status. Additional interest income that we would have recognized on these loans had they been current in accordance with their original terms was $3.3 million, $2.2 million and $1.8 million during the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. We recognized interest income on commercial and commercial real estate loans modified under troubled debt restructurings of $70,000 in 2020, $117,000 in 2019 and $97,000 in 2018.
We utilize an asset risk classification system in compliance with guidelines established by the Federal Reserve as part of our efforts to improve asset quality. In connection with examinations of insured institutions, examiners have the authority to identify problem assets and, if appropriate, classify them. There are three classifications for problem assets: “substandard,” “doubtful,” and “loss.” Substandard assets have one or more defined weaknesses and are characterized by the distinct possibility that the insured institution will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Doubtful assets have the weaknesses of substandard assets with the additional characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full questionable and there is a high probability of loss based on currently existing facts, conditions and values. An asset classified as loss is not considered collectable and is of such little value that continuance of booking the asset is not warranted.
We use a ten grade risk rating system to categorize and determine the credit risk of our loans. Potential problem loans include loans with a risk grade of 7, which are "special mention," and loans with a risk grade of 8, which are "substandard" loans that are not considered to be nonperforming. These loans generally require more frequent loan officer contact and receipt of financial data to closely monitor borrower performance. Potential problem loans are managed and monitored regularly through a number of processes, procedures and committees, including oversight by a loan administration committee comprised of executive officers and other members of the Bank's senior management team. Additionally, the Company initiated a re-evaluation of the accuracy of loan grades assigned to its commercial loan portfolio during the second quarter of 2020. Effects as a result of the pandemic may continue, potentially resulting in additional loans being identified.
The following table presents the recorded investment of potential problem commercial loans by loan category at the dates indicated:
Commercial CommercialReal Estate Construction &Land Development
Risk Category Risk Category Risk Category
(dollars in thousands) 7 8 (1) 7 8 (1) 7 8 (1) Total
(1)Includes only those 8-rated loans that are not included in nonperforming loans.
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Commercial real estate loans with a risk rating of 7 or 8 increased to $250.2 million as of December 31, 2020, compared to $84.7 million as of December 31, 2019, primarily due to COVID-19 related loan deferral requests. As requests were evaluated, loan risk ratings were adjusted as necessary. Loan modifications related to the hotel industry totaled $82.6 million with risk rating downgrades applied to $76.7 million of those loans.
Investment Securities. Our investment strategy aims to maximize earnings while maintaining liquidity in securities with minimal credit risk. The types and maturities of securities purchased are primarily based on our current and projected liquidity and interest rate sensitivity positions.
The following table sets forth the book value and percentage of each category of investment securities at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018. The book value for investment securities classified as available for sale is equal to fair market value.
December 31,
Investment securities available for sale:
U.S. Treasury securities $ — — $ — — % $ 24,650 3.8 %
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The following table sets forth the book value, maturities and weighted average yields for our investment portfolio at December 31, 2020. The book value for investment securities classified as available for sale is equal to fair market value.
(dollars in thousands) BookValue % ofTotal WeightedAverageYield
Investment securities available for sale: