UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

☒ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019          transition period from                          to                       

Commission File Number 001-12103

PEOPLES FINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act: None

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

Common, $1.00 Par Value

   (Title(Title of each class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES ☐ NO ☒

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. YES ☐ NO ☒

Note - Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d)15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ☒   NO ☐

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filerswhether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to itemRule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 229.405232.405 of this chapter) of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to the best of the Registrant's knowledge in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K.file such files). YES ☒  NO ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ☐      Accelerated filer ☐      Non-Accelerated filer ☐☒      Smaller reporting company ☒      Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES ☐  NO ☒

At June 30, 2019,2020, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting stock held by non-affiliates, based on the last sale price reported on the OTCQX Best Market, was approximately $36,364,000.$33,404,000.

On February 14, 2020,March 19, 2021, the registrant had outstanding 4,943,1864,878,557 shares of common stock, par value of $1.00 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement issued in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held April 22, 2020,May 19, 2021, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

Peoples Financial Corporation

PART I

ITEMITEM 1 - DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

BACKGROUND AND CURRENT OPERATIONS

General

Peoples Financial Corporation (the "Company") is a corporation that was organized as a one bank holding company in 1985. The Company is headquartered in Biloxi, Mississippi. At December 31, 2019,2020, the Company operated in the state of Mississippi through its wholly owned subsidiary, The Peoples Bank, Biloxi, Mississippi (the “Bank”). The Company is engaged, through this subsidiary, in the banking business. The Bank is the Company's principal asset and primary source of revenue.

The Main Office, operations center and asset management and trust services of the Bank are located in downtown Biloxi, MS. At December 31, 2019,2020, the Bank also had 17 branches located throughout Harrison, Hancock, Jackson and Stone Counties. The Bank has automated teller machines ("ATM") at its Main Office, all branch locations and at numerous non-proprietary locations.

The Bank Subsidiary

The Company’s wholly-owned bank subsidiary was originally chartered in 1896 in Biloxi, Mississippi, as The Peoples Bank of Biloxi. The Bank is a state chartered bank whose deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The Bank is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. The legal name of the Bank was changed to The Peoples Bank, Biloxi, Mississippi, during 1991.

Most of the Bank's business originates from Harrison, Hancock, Stone and Jackson Counties in Mississippi; however, some business is obtained from other counties in southern Mississippi, southern Louisiana and southern Alabama.

Nonbank Subsidiary

In 1985, PFC Service Corp. ("PFC") was chartered and began operations as the second wholly-owned subsidiary of Peoples Financial Corporation. The purpose of PFC was principally the leasing of automobiles and equipment. PFC is inactive at this time.

Products And Services                                    

The Bank currently offers a variety of services to individuals and small to middle market businesses within its trade area. The Company’s trade area is defined as those portions of Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama which are within a fifty mile radius of the Waveland, Wiggins and Gautier branches, the bank subsidiary’sBank’s three most outlying locations.

The Bank’s primary lending focus is to offer business, commercial, real estate, construction, personal and installment loans, with an emphasis on commercial lending. The Bank’s exposure for out of area, residential and land development, construction and commercial real estate loans as well as concentrations in the hotel/motel and gaming industries, are monitored by the Company. Each loan officer has board approved lending limits on the principal amount of secured and unsecured loans that can be approved for a single borrower without prior approval of the senior credit committee. All loans, however, must meet the credit underwriting standards and loan policies of the Bank.

Deposit services include interest bearing and non-interest bearing checking accounts, savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRA accounts. The Bank generally provides depository accounts to individuals; small and middle market businesses; and state, county and local government entities in its trade area at interest rates consistent with market conditions.

The Bank's Asset Management and Trust Services Department (“Trust Department”) offers personal trust, agencies and estate services, including living and testamentary trusts, executorships, guardianships, and conservatorships. Benefit accounts maintained by the Trust Department primarily include self-directed individual retirement accounts. Escrow management, stock transfer and bond paying agency accounts are available to corporate customers.

The Bank also offers a variety of other services including safe deposit box rental, wire transfer services, night drop facilities, collection services, cash management and internet banking. The Bank has 30 ATMs at its branch locations and other off-site, non-proprietary locations, providing bank customers access to their depository accounts. The Bank is a member of the PULSE network.

There has been no significant change in the kind of services offered by the Bank during the last three fiscal years.                                        

Customers

The Bank has a large number of customers acquired over a period of many years and is not dependent upon a single customer or upon a few customers. The Bank also provides services to customers representing a wide variety of industries including seafood, retail, hospitality, hotel/motel, gaming and construction. While the Company has pursued external growth strategies on a limited basis, its primary focus has been on internal growth by the Bank through the establishment of new branch locations and an emphasis on strong customer relationships.

Employees

At December 31, 2019,2020, the Bank employed 154141 total employees, with 148134 full-time employees and 67 part-time employees. The Company has no employees who are not employees of the bank subsidiary.Bank. Through the Bank, employees receive salaries and benefits, which include 401(k) and ESOP plans, cafeteria plan, and life, health and disability insurance. The Company considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

Competition

The Bank is in direct competition with numerous local and regional commercial banks as well as other non-bank institutions. Interest rates paid and charged on deposits and loans are the primary competitive factors within the Bank’s trade area. The Bank also competes for deposits and loans with insurance companies, finance companies, brokerage houses and credit unions. The principal competitive factors in the markets for deposits and loans are interest rates paid and charged. The CompanyBank also competes through efficiency, quality of customer service, the range of services and products it provides, the convenience of its branch and ATM locations and the accessibility of its staff. The Bank intends to continue its strategy of being a local, community bank offering traditional bank services and providing quality service in its local trade area.

Miscellaneous

The Bank holds no patents, licenses (other than licenses required to be obtained from appropriate bank regulatory agencies), franchises or concessions.

The Bank has not engaged in any research activities relating to the development of new services or the improvement of existing services except in the normal course of its business activities. The Bank presently has no plans for any new line of business requiring the investment of a material amount of total assets.

Available Information

The Company maintains an internet website at www.thepeoples.com. The Company’s Annual Report to Shareholders is available on the Company’s website. Also available through the website is a link to the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Information on the Company’s website is not incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or the Company’s other securities filings and is not part of them.

REGULATION AND SUPERVISION

General

The

As a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, the Company is subject to regulation, supervision and supervisionexamination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta (“Federal(the “Federal Reserve”). The Company is required to file semi-annual reports with the Federal Reserve and such other information as the Federal Reserve may require. The Federal Reserve also conducts examinations of the Company.

The Bank Holding Company Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before:

The Bank Holding Company Act further provides that the Federal Reserve may not approve any transaction that would result in a monopoly or that would substantially lessen competition in the banking business, unless the public interest in meeting the needs of the communities to be served outweighs the anti-competitive effects. The Federal Reserve is also required to considerfile certain reports with, and otherwise comply with the financialrules and managerial resources and future prospectsregulations of, the bank holding companies and banks involved and the convenience and needs of the communities to be served. Consideration of financial resources generally focuses on capital adequacy, and consideration of convenience and needs issues focuses, in part, on the performanceSEC under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, both of which are discussed below in more detail.

Subject to various exceptions, the Bank Holding Company Act and the Change in Bank Control Act, together with related regulations, require Federal Reserve approval prior to any person or company acquiring “control” of a bank holding company. Control is conclusively presumed to exist if an individual or company acquires 25% or more of any class of votingfederal securities of a bank holding company. Control is also presumed to exist, although rebuttable, if a person or company acquires 10% or more, but less than 25%, of any class of voting securities and either:

The Company’s common stock is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act. The regulations provide a procedure for challenging rebuttable presumptions of control.

The Bank Holding Company Act generally prohibits a bank holding company from engaging in activities other than banking, managing or controlling banks or other permissible subsidiaries and acquiring or retaining direct or indirect control of any company engaged in any activities other than activities closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks. In determining whether a particular activity is permissible, the Federal Reserve considers whether performing the activity can be expected to produce benefits to the public that outweigh possible adverse effects, such as undue concentration of resources, decreased or unfair competition, conflicts of interest or unsound banking practices. The Federal Reserve has the power to order a bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or control of any subsidiary when the continuation of the activity or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of any bank subsidiary of that bank holding company.laws.

The Bank is incorporated under the laws of the State of Mississippi and is subject to the applicable provisions of Mississippi banking laws and the laws of the various states in which it operates, as well as federal law. The Bank is subject to the supervision of the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (“MDBCF”(the “MDBCF”) and to regular examinations by that department. Deposits in the Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), and therefore, the Bank is thus subject to the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and to supervision and examination by the FDIC. State and federal laws also govern the activities in which the Bank engages, the investments that it makes and the aggregate amount of loans that may be granted to one borrower. The MDBCF and the FDIC also regulate the branching authority of the Bank. In addition, various consumer and compliance laws and regulations affect the Bank’s operations.

The earnings of the Company’s subsidiaries, and therefore the earnings of the Company, are affected by general economic conditions, management policies, changes in state and federal legislation and actions of various regulatory authorities, including those referred to above. The following discussion summarizes some of the significant federal and state laws to which the Company and the Bank are subject. This discussion is a brief summary of the regulatory environment in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate and is not intended as a complete discussion of all statutes and regulations affecting such operations. Regulation of financial institutions is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the deposit insurance fund and the banking system, and generally is not intended for the protection of shareholders.

The statutes, regulations and policies that govern the operations of the Company and the Bank are under continuous review and are subject to amendment from time to time by Congress, the Mississippi State Legislature and federal and state regulatory agencies. Any such future statutory or regulatory changes could adversely affect the Company’s operations and financial condition.

Regulation of the Bank

The Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the MDBCF and by the FDIC, which regulation and supervision extends to all aspects of its operations, including but not limited to requirements concerning an allowance for loan losses, lending and mortgage operations, interest rates received on loans and paid on deposits, the payment of dividends to the Company, loans to officers and directors, mergers and acquisitions, capital adequacy, and the opening and closing of branches.

The Bank is subject to periodic examinations by the MDBCF and by the FDIC. In these examinations, the examiners assess compliance with state and federal banking regulations and the safety and soundness standards in such matters as loan underwriting and documentation, asset quality, earnings standards, internal controls and audit systems, interest rate risk exposure, and employee compensation and benefits.

The MDBCF and the FDIC have enforcement responsibility over the Bank and the authority to bring actions against the Bank and certain institution-affiliated parties, including officers, directors, and employees, for violations of laws or regulations and for engaging in unsafe and unsound practices. Formal enforcement actions include the issuance of a capital directive or cease and desist order, civil money penalties, removal of officers and/or directors, and receivership or conservatorship of the institution.

Insurance of Deposit Accounts

The FDIC insures deposits at federally insured depository institutions like the Bank. Deposit accounts in the Bank are insured by the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund generally up to a maximum of $250,000 per separately insured depositor and up to a maximum of $250,000 for self-directed retirement accounts. The FDIC charges banks deposit insurance assessments to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. Under the FDIC’s risk-based assessment system, banks that are deemed to be less risky pay lower assessments. Assessments for institutions with assets of less than $10 billion of assets, such as the Bank, are based on financial measures and supervisory ratings derived from statistical modeling estimating the probability of failure of an institution’s failure within three years.

Federal Reserve policy historically has required bank holding companiesThe FDIC’s currently effective deposit insurance assessment range for most insured depository institutions is 1.5 basis points to act as a source30 basis points of strength to their bank subsidiaries and to commit capital and financial resources to support those subsidiaries.total assets less tangible equity. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) codifies this policy as a statutory requirement. This support may be required by the Federal Reserve at times when the Company might otherwise determine not to provide it. In addition, if a bank holding company commits to a federal bank regulator that it will maintain the capital of its bank subsidiary, whether in response to the Federal Reserve’s invoking its source-of-strength authority or in response to other regulatory measures, that commitment will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and the bank will be entitled to priority payment in respect of that commitment, ahead of other creditors of the bank holding company.

In addition, the Company is required to file certain reports with, and otherwise comply with the rules and regulations of, the SEC under federal securities laws. The common stock of the Company is listed on the OTCQX Best Market, such listing subjecting the Company to compliance with the market’s requirements with respect to reporting and other rules and regulations.

The Dodd-Frank Act

The Dodd-Frank Act, enacted in 2010, significantly restructured financial regulation in the United States, including through the creation of a new resolution authority, mandating higher capital and liquidity requirements, requiring banks to pay increased fees to regulatory agencies, and through numerous other provisions intended to strengthen the financial services sector.

The Dodd-Frank Act established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), which has extensive regulatory and enforcement powers over consumer financial products and services, and the Financial Stability Oversight Council, which has oversight authority for monitoring and regulating systemic risk. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act altered the authority and duties of the federal banking and securities regulatory agencies, implemented certain corporate governance requirements for all public companies, including financial institutions, with regard to executive compensation, proxy access by shareholders, and certain whistleblower provisions, and restricted certain proprietary trading and hedge fund and private equity activities of banks and their affiliates. The Dodd-Frank Act also required the issuance of numerous implementing regulations, many of which have not yet been issued.

In January 2013, the CFPB issued final regulations governing mainly consumer mortgage lending. One rule imposes additional requirements on lenders, including rules designed to require lenders to ensure borrowers’ ability to repay their mortgage. The CFPB also finalized a rule on escrow accounts for higher priced mortgage loans and a rule expanding the scope of the high-cost mortgage provision in the Truth in Lending Act. The CFPB also issued final rules implementing provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that relate to mortgage servicing. In November 2013, the CFPB issued a final rule on integrated mortgage disclosures under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, compliance with which was required by August 1, 2015.

The Dodd-Frank Act authorizes national and state banks to establish de novo branches in other states to the same extent as a bank chartered by that state would be so permitted. Previously, banks could only establish branches in other states if the host state expressly permitted out-of-state banks to establish branches in that state. Accordingly, banks are now able to enter new markets more freely.

Recently, the CFPB and banking regulatory agencies have increasingly used a general consumer protection statute to address unethical or otherwise bad business practices that may not necessarily fall directly under the purview of a specific banking or consumer finance law. Prior to the Dodd-Frank Act, there was little formal guidance to provide insight to the parameters for compliance with the “unfair or deceptive acts or practices” (“UDAP”) law. However, the UDAP provisions have been expanded under the Dodd-Frank Act to apply to “unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices,” which has been delegated to the CFPB for supervision.

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to further rulemaking and will take effect over several years. Additionally, many provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act were amended by the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (“EGRRCPA”) enacted in 2018, but like the Dodd-Frank Act, several of those provisions are subject to further rulemaking that has not yet been enacted. The overall financial impact on the Company and its subsidiaries or the financial services industry generally cannot be anticipated at this time.

Dividends

The Company is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. The primary source of funds for dividends paid to the Company’s shareholders are dividends paid to the Company by the Bank. Various federal and state laws limit the amount of dividends that the Bank may pay to the Company without regulatory approval. Under Mississippi law, the Bank must obtain non-objection of the Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance (“MDBCF”) prior to paying any dividend on the Bank’s common stock. In addition, the Bank may not pay any dividends if, after paying the dividend, it would be undercapitalized under applicable capital requirements. The FDIC also has the authority to prohibit the Bank from engaging in business practices that the FDIC considersincrease insurance assessments and to be unsafeimpose special assessments. Any significant increases or unsound, which, dependingspecial assessments could have an adverse effect on the financial conditionresults of operations of the Bank, could includeBank. We cannot predict what the payment of dividends.FDIC’s deposit insurance assessment rates will be in the future.

In addition, the Federal Reserve has the authority to prohibit the paymentInsurance of dividends by a bank holding company if its actions constitute unsafe or unsound practices. The Federal Reserve has issued a policy statement, Supervisory Release 09-4, on the payment of cash dividends by bank holding companies, which outlines the Federal Reserve’s view that a bank holding company that is experiencing earnings weaknesses or other financial pressures should not pay cash dividends that exceed its net income, that are inconsistent with its capital position, or that could only be funded in ways that weaken its financial health, such as by borrowing or selling assets. The Federal Reserve has indicated that, in some instances, itdeposits may be appropriate for a bank holding company to eliminate its dividends.

Capital

The Federal Reserve has issued risk-based capital ratio and leverage ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. The risk-based capital ratio guidelines establish a systematic analytical framework that:

Under the guidelines and related policies, bank holding companies must maintain capital sufficient to meet both a risk-based asset ratio test and a leverage ratio test on a consolidated basis. The risk-based ratio is determined by allocating assets and specified off-balance sheet commitments into four weighted categories, with higher weighting assigned to categories perceived as representing greater risk. The risk-based ratio represents capital divided by total risk-weighted assets. The leverage ratio is core capital divided by total assets adjusted as specified in the guidelines. The Bank is subject to substantially similar capital requirements promulgated by the FDIC.

Generally, under the applicable guidelines, a financial institution’s capital is divided into two tiers. “Total capital” is Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital. These two tiers are:

The Federal Reserve and the other federal banking regulators require that all intangible assets (net of deferred tax), except originated or purchased mortgage-servicing rights, non-mortgage servicing assets, and purchased credit card relationships, be deducted from Tier 1 capital. However, the total amount of these items included in Total capital cannot exceed 100% of an institution’s Tier 1 capital.

The guidelines also provided that bank holding companies experiencing internal growth or making acquisitions would be expected to maintain strong capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without significant reliance on intangible assets. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve indicated that it would consider a “tangible Tier 1 capital leverage ratio” (deducting all intangibles) and other indicators of capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.

Failure to meet applicable capital guidelines could subject the financial institution to a variety of enforcement remedies available to the federal regulatory authorities. These include limitations on the ability to pay dividends, the issuance of a capital directive to increase capital, and the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC. In addition, the financial institution could be subject to the measures described below under “Prompt Corrective Action” as applicable to “under-capitalized” institutions. Certain provisions of the EGRRCPA have the potential to limit the application of the guidelines to the Company and the Bank if certain elections are made by the Company or Bank. For example, Section 201 of EGRRCPA contains a framework for capital rule simplification known as the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (“CBLR”). According to the Final Rule published by the OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC in the Federal Register on November 13, 2019, to implement Section 201 of the EGRRCPA, a community banking organization may elect to use the CBLR as a single capital leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy. This CBLR is calculated by dividing tier 1 capital by the community banking organization’s average total consolidated assets. In order to qualify for use of the CBLR, a community banking organization must meet the following criteria: (i) a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, (ii) total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, (iii) total off-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives other than sold credit derivatives and unconditionally cancelable commitments) of 25 percent or less of total consolidates assets and (iv) the sum of trading assets and trading liabilities of 5 percent or less of total consolidated assets. Community banking organizations that qualify may opt into and out of the framework by completing the associated reporting requirements in its Call Report or FR-Y-9C, beginning with the March 31, 2020, report. As of December 31, 2019, the Company and the Bank qualify to elect to use CBLR, and they do not plan to elect to use the CBLR.

New Capital Rules

On July 2, 2013, the Federal Reserve approved the final rule for BASEL III capital requirements for all bank holding companies chartered in the United States. The rule was subsequently approvedterminated by the FDIC on July 9, 2013, and made applicable to the Bank as well. The rule implements in the United States certain of the Basel III regulatory capital reforms from the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act. The major provisions of the new rule applicable to the Company and the Bank are:

The transition period for implementation of Basel III is January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2018. Certain provisions of the EGRRCPA have the potential to limit the application of BASEL III to the Company and the Bank if certain elections are made by the Company or Bank. For example, Section 201 of EGRRCPA contains a framework for capital rule simplification known as the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (“CBLR”). According to the Final Rule published by the OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC in the Federal Register on November 13, 2019, to implement Section 201 of the EGRRCPA, a community banking organization may elect to use the CBLR as a single capital leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy. This CBLR is calculated by dividing tier 1 capital by the community banking organization’s average total consolidated assets. In order to qualify for use of the CBLR, a community banking organization must meet the following criteria: (i) a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, (ii) total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, (iii) total off-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives other than sold credit derivatives and unconditionally cancelable commitments) of 25 percent or less of total consolidates assets and (iv) the sum of trading assets and trading liabilities of 5 percent or less of total consolidated assets. Community banking organizations that qualify may opt into and out of the framework by completing the associated reporting requirements in its Call Report or FR-Y-9C, beginning with the March 31, 2020, report. As of December 31, 2019, the Company and the Bank qualify to elect to use CBLR, and they do not plan to elect to use the CBLR.

Prompt Corrective Action

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991, known as FDICIA, requires federal banking regulatory authorities to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to depository institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For these purposes, FDICIA establishes five capital tiers: “well-capitalized,” “adequately-capitalized,” “under-capitalized,” “significantly under-capitalized,” and “critically under-capitalized.”

An institution is deemed to be:

Throughout 2019, the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios were in excess of the levels established for “well-capitalized” institutions.

FDICIA generally prohibits a depository institution from making any capital distribution, including payment of a cash dividend or paying any management fee to its holding company, if the depository institution would be “under-capitalized” after such payment. “Under-capitalized” institutions are subject to growth limitations and are required by the appropriate federal banking agency to submit a capital restoration plan. If any depository institution subsidiary of a holding company is required to submit a capital restoration plan, the holding company would be required to provide a limited guarantee regarding compliance with the plan as a condition of approval of such plan.

If an “under-capitalized” institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is “significantly under-capitalized.” “Significantly under-capitalized” institutions may be subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become “adequately-capitalized,” requirements to reduce total assets, and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks.

“Critically under-capitalized” institutions may not, beginning 60 days after becoming “critically under-capitalized,” make any payment of principal or interest on their subordinated debt. In addition, “critically under-capitalized” institutions are subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator within 90 days of becoming so classified.

Under FDICIA, a depository institution that is not “well-capitalized” is generally prohibited from accepting brokered deposits and offering interest rates on deposits higher than the prevailing rate in its market. As previously stated, the Bank is “well-capitalized” and the FDICIA brokered deposit rule did not adversely affect its ability to accept brokered deposits. Certain provisions of the EGRRCPA have the potential to limit the application of FDICIA and prompt corrective action to the Company and the Bank if certain elections are made by the Company or Bank. For example, Section 201 of EGRRCPA contains a framework for capital rule simplification known as the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (“CBLR”). According to the Final Rule published by the OCC, Federal Reserve and FDIC in the Federal Register on November 13, 2019, to implement Section 201 of the EGRRCPA, a community banking organization may elect to use the CBLR as a single capital leverage ratio to measure capital adequacy. This CBLR is calculated by dividing tier 1 capital by the community banking organization’s average total consolidated assets. In order to qualify for use of the CBLR, a community banking organization must meet the following criteria: (i) a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, (ii) total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, (iii) total off-balance sheet exposures (excluding derivatives other than sold credit derivatives and unconditionally cancelable commitments) of 25 percent or less of total consolidates assets and (iv) the sum of trading assets and trading liabilities of 5 percent or less of total consolidated assets. Community banking organizations that qualify may opt into and out of the framework by completing the associated reporting requirements in its Call Report or FR-Y-9C, beginning with the March 31, 2020, report. As of December 31, 2019, the Company and the Bank qualify to elect to use CBLR, and they do not plan to elect to use the CBLR.

Interstate Banking and Branching Legislation

Federal law allows banks to establish and operate a de novo branch in a state other than the bank’s home state if the law of the state where the branch is to be located would permit establishment of the branch if the bank were chartered by that state, subject to standard regulatory review and approval requirements. Federal law also allows the Bank to acquire an existing branch in a state in which the bank is not headquartered and does not maintain a branch if the FDIC and MDBCF approve the branch or acquisition, and if the law of the state in which the branch is located or to be located would permit the establishment of the branch if the bank were chartered by that state.

Once a bank has established branches in a state through an interstate merger transaction or through de novo branching, the bank may then establish and acquire additional branches within that state to the same extent that a state chartered bank is allowed to establish or acquire branches within the state.

Under the Bank Holding Company Act, a bank holding company may not directly or indirectly acquire ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of any bank holding company or bank or merge or consolidate with another bank holding company without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve. Current federal law authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks and bank holding companies without geographic limitation. Furthermore, a bank headquartered in one state is authorized to merge with a bank headquartered in another state, as long as neither of the states have opted out of such interstate merger authority prior to such date, and subject to any state requirement that the target bank shall have been in existence and operating for a minimum period of time, not to exceed five years, and subject to certain deposit market-share limitations.

FDIC Insurance

The deposits of the Bank are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”), which the FDIC administers. The Dodd-Frank Act permanently increased deposit insurance on most accounts to $250,000. To fund the DIF, FDIC-insured banks are required to pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC. For institutions like the Bank with less than $10 billion in assets, the amount of the assessment is based on its risk classification. The higher an institution’s risk classification, the higher its rate of assessments (on the assumption that such institutions pose a greater risk of loss to the DIF). An institution’s risk classification is assigned based on its capital levels and the level of supervisory concern that the institution poses to the regulators. In addition, the FDIC can impose special assessments in certain instances.

The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository institution, including the Bank, if it determines after a hearing that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or any condition imposed by an agreement with the FDIC. If the FDIC terminates an institution’s deposit insurance, accounts insured at the timeWe do not know of any practice, condition or violation that may lead to termination of the termination, less withdrawals, will continue to be insured for a period of six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC.Bank’s deposit insurance.

Affiliate Regulatory Capital Requirements

The FDIC has implemented capital adequacy requirements for state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System. Effective January 1, 2015, the federal banking agencies’ capital rules were substantially revised to conform to the international regulatory standards agreed to by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision in the accord often referred to as “Basel III.” The revised regulatory capital rules apply to all depository institutions as well as to all top-tier bank holding companies that are not subject to the Federal Reserve’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, which the Company is not. The capital requirements are quantitative measures established by regulation that require the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of capital. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by bank regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

The currently effective capital rule requires the maintenance of “common equity Tier 1” capital, Tier 1 capital and Total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, 6% and 8%, respectively. The rule also establishes a minimum leverage ratio of at least 4% Tier 1 capital to average consolidated assets. In addition to the above minimum requirements, the capital rule limits capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments if a banking organization does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The capital conservation buffer requirement effectively increases the minimum required risk-based capital ratios to 7% for common equity Tier 1 capital, 8.5% for Tier 1 capital and 10.5% for Total capital.

In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, a bank’s assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets (e.g., recourse obligations, direct credit substitutes and residual interests), are multiplied by a risk weight factor assigned by the capital regulations based on the risk deemed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. For example, a risk weight of 0% is assigned to cash and U.S. government securities, a risk weight of 50% is generally assigned to prudently underwritten first lien one- to four-family residential mortgages, a risk weight of 100% is assigned to commercial and consumer loans, a risk weight of 150% is assigned to non-residential mortgage loans that are 90 days past due or otherwise on non-accrual status, and a risk weight of between 0% to 600% is assigned to permissible equity interests, depending on certain specified factors.

Under federal statute, the federal bank regulatory agencies are required to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to institutions that do not meet specified minimum capital requirements. For these purposes, the statute establishes five capital categories: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. Under the prompt corrective action regulations, in order to be considered well-capitalized, a bank must have a ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 6.5%, a ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of 8%, a ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of 10%, and a leverage ratio of 5%. In order to be considered adequately capitalized, a bank must have the minimum capital ratios required by the regulatory capital rule described above. Institutions with lower capital ratios are assigned to lower capital categories. Based on safety and soundness concerns, a bank may be assigned to a lower capital category than would otherwise apply based on its capital ratios. A bank that is not well-capitalized is subject to certain restrictions on brokered deposits and interest rates on deposits. A bank that is not at least adequately capitalized is subject to numerous additional restrictions, and a guaranty by its holding company is required. A bank with a ratio of tangible equity to total assets of 2.0% or less is subject to the appointment of the FDIC as receiver if its capital level does not improve within 90 days.

As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was in compliance with all regulatory capital requirements and qualified as “well-capitalized” under the prompt corrective action regulations.

The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, enacted in 2018, introduced an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion by instructing the federal banking regulators to establish a single “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (“CBLR”) of tangible equity capital divided by average consolidated assets of between 8 and 10 percent in satisfaction of any other leverage or capital requirements to which such organizations are subject.

The federal banking regulators jointly issued a final rule, effective January 1, 2020, which provided that a community banking organization with less than $10 billion in assets may elect to use the CBLR capital framework so long as the bank has a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9% and limited amounts of off-balance-sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying banking organization that elects to use the CBLR will be deemed to satisfy the generally applicable leverage and risk-based regulatory capital requirements, will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the prompt corrective action regulations, and will not be required to report or calculate risk-based capital. As of December 31, 2020, the Bank qualified to use the CBLR; however, it has elected not to opt into the CBLR framework.

Transactions with Related Parties

The Bank is subject to the Federal Reserve’s Regulation W, which comprehensively implements statutorythe restrictions on transactions between a bank and its affiliates. Regulation W combines the Federal Reserve’s interpretations and exemptions relating toof Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act.Act on transactions between a bank and its “affiliates.” The “affiliates” of the Bank, as defined in Regulation W, are the Company and its non-bank subsidiary. Section 23A and the implementing provisions of Regulation W generally place limits on the amount of a bank’s loans or extensions of credit to, investments in, or certain other transactions with its affiliates, and on the amount of advances to third parties collateralized by the securities or obligations of affiliates. In general, the Bank’s “affiliates” are the CompanySection 23B and its non-bank subsidiary.

Regulation W and Section 23B prohibit, among other things,generally require a bank from engaging in certainbank’s transactions with affiliates unless the transactions areto be on terms substantially the same, or at least as favorable to the bank, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with non-affiliated companies.

The Bank is also subject to certain restrictions on extensions of credit to executive officers, directors, certain principal shareholders and theirthe related interests.interests of those persons. Such extensions of credit must be made on substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with third parties and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features.

The Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws

TheAll insured depository institutions have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”(the “CRA”) and its implementingthe federal regulations provide an incentive for regulated financial institutionsthereunder to help meet the credit needs of their local community or communities, including lowlow- and moderate income neighborhoods, consistentmoderate-income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of the Bank, the FDIC is required to assess the Bank’s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community. The CRA requires the Bank’s record of compliance with the safe and sound operationCRA to be taken into account in the evaluation of such financial institutions. The regulations provide thatapplications by the appropriate regulatory authority will assess reports under CRA in connection with applicationsBank or the Company for establishmentapproval of domestic branches, acquisitions of banks or mergers involving bank holding companies. An unsatisfactory rating under CRA may servean expansionary proposal, such as a basis to deny an application to acquiremerger or establish a newother acquisition of another bank to establishor the opening of a new branch or to expand banking services. As of December 31, 2019, theoffice. The Bank hadreceived a “satisfactory” rating under CRA.in its most recent CRA assessment by the FDIC.

Patriot Act

The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as extended and revised by the PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 (the “Patriot Act”), requires each financial institution to: (i) establish an anti-money laundering program; (ii) establish due diligence policies, procedures and controls with respect to its private banking accounts and correspondent banking accounts involving foreign individuals and certain foreign financial institutions; and (iii) avoid establishing, maintaining, administering or managing correspondent accounts in the United States for, or on behalf of, foreign financial institutions that do not have a physical presence in any country. The Patriot Act also requires that financial institutions follow certain minimum standards to verify the identity of customers, both foreign and domestic, when a customer opens an account. In addition, the PatriotEqual Credit Opportunity Act contains a provision encouraging cooperation among financial institutions, regulatory authorities and lawthe Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. A failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act or the Fair Housing Act, or the regulations thereunder, could result in enforcement authorities with respect to individuals, entities and organizations engaged in,actions by the FDIC or reasonably suspectedthe Department of engaging in, terrorist acts or money laundering activities. Federal banking regulators are required, when reviewing bank holding company acquisition and bank merger applications, to take into account the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering activities of the applicants.Justice.

Consumer Privacy and Other Consumer Protection Laws

The Bank like all other financial institutions, is required under federal privacy statutes and regulations to maintain the privacy of its customers’ non-public, personal information. Such privacy requirements direct financial institutions to:

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003, the Bank’s customers may also opt out of information sharing between and among the Bank and its affiliates.

The Bank is also subject, in connection with its deposit,Bank’s lending and leasing activities,deposit-taking operations are subject to numerous other federal and state laws aimed at protecting consumers, includingdesigned to protect consumers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) issues regulations and standards under the federal consumer protection laws, which include, among others, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Equal Credit OpportunityTruth in Lending Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Truth in Lending Act,the Truth-in-SavingsSavings Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act, the National Flood Insurance Act, the Flood Protection Act, and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act’s prohibition on unfair, deceptive or abusive acts or practices. The Bank’s consumer financial products and services are subject to examination by the FDIC for compliance with these and other CFPB regulations and standards.

Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering Laws

The Bank is subject to the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering laws and regulations, governing unfair, deceptive, and/or abuse actsincluding the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. These laws and practices,regulations require each financial institution to implement policies, procedures, and controls to detect, prevent, and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act,identity of their customers. Violations of these requirements can result in substantial civil and criminal sanctions. In addition, federal banking regulators are required, when reviewing bank holding company acquisition and bank merger applications, to take into account the Housing and Economic Recovery Act, andeffectiveness of the Credit Card Accountability Act, among others, as well as various state laws.anti-money laundering activities of the applicants.

Incentive Compensation

In 2010, the Federal ReserveThe federal banking agencies have issued guidance on incentive compensation policies intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The guidance, which covers all employees that have the ability to materially affect the risk profile of an organization, either individually or as part of a group, is based upon the key principles that a banking organization’s incentive compensation arrangements should (i) provide incentives that do not encourage risk-taking beyond the organization’s ability to effectively identify and manage risks, (ii) be compatible with effective internal controls and risk management, and (iii) be supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the organization’s board of directors.

The federal banking agencies will review, as part of their examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of depository institutions and their holding companies. The findings of the supervisory review will be included in reports of examination. Any deficiencies in compensation practices that are identified may be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect its ability to make acquisitions or perform other actions. The guidance also provides that enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements or related risk-management control or governance processes pose a risk to the organization’s safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.

The scope and content of the banking regulators’ policies on executive compensation are continuing to develop and are likely to continue evolving in the near future. It cannot be determined at this time whether compliance with such policies will adversely affect the Company’s ability of the Bank and the Company to hire, retain and motivate itstheir key employees.

Regulation of the Company

As a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, the Company is subject to regulation, supervision, and examination by the Federal Reserve. The Company is required to file semi-annual reports with the Federal Reserve and provide such additional information as the Federal Reserve may require. The Federal Reserve has extensive enforcement authority over bank holding companies, including, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, to issue cease and desist or removal orders and to require that a holding company divest subsidiaries (including its bank subsidiaries). In general, enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of law and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices.

Sarbanes-OxleyRegulatory Capital Requirements

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 is applicablefederal regulatory capital rules apply to all depository institutions as well as to bank holding companies with consolidated assets of $3 billion or more. The regulatory capital requirements generally do not apply on a consolidated basis to a bank holding company that is a small bank holding company, which is a holding company with total consolidated assets of less than $3 billion, unless it: (1) is engaged in significant nonbanking activities either directly or through a nonbank subsidiary; (2) conducts significant off-balance sheet activities (including securitization and asset management or administration) either directly or through a nonbank subsidiary; or (3) has a material amount of debt or equity or debt securities outstanding (other than trust preferred securities) that are registered underwith the Exchange Act. In particular,SEC. Since the Sarbanes-OxleyCompany’s common stock is registered with the SEC, it is not a small bank holding company, and the federal regulatory capital rules apply to the Company. The Federal Reserve may apply the regulatory capital standards at its discretion to any bank holding company, regardless of asset size, if such action is warranted for supervisory purposes.

Acquisitions

Under the Bank Holding Company Act, established: (i) requirements for audit committees, including independence, expertise and responsibilities; (ii) certification and related responsibilities regarding financial statements for the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial OfficerCompany is required to obtain the prior approval of the reporting company; (iii) standards for auditors and regulationFederal Reserve to acquire ownership or control of audits; (iv) disclosure and reporting obligations for the reporting company and its directors and executive officers; and (v) civil and criminal penalties for violationmore than 5% of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of any bank holding company or bank or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. Federal law authorizes bank holding companies to make interstate acquisitions of banks without geographic limitation.

Permissible Activities

In general, the Bank Holding Company Act limits the activities of a bank holding company to those of banking, managing or controlling banks, or any other activity that the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to banking or to managing or controlling banks that an exception is allowed for those activities. Bank holding companies that qualify and elect to be treated as “financial holding companies” may engage in a broad range of additional activities that are (i) financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities or (ii) complementary to a financial activity and do not pose a substantial risk to the safety and soundness of depository institutions or the financial system generally. These activities include securities laws.underwriting and dealing, insurance agency and underwriting, and making merchant banking investments. The Company has not made an election to be treated as a financial holding company.

EffectSource of Governmental PoliciesStrength

Under the Bank Holding Company Act, a bank holding company is required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength for each of its subsidiary banks and to commit resources to support each subsidiary bank. Under this source of strength doctrine, the Federal Reserve may require a bank holding company to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank. The Federal Reserve may charge the bank holding company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices if it fails to commit resources to such a subsidiary bank or if it undertakes actions that the Federal Reserve believes might jeopardize its ability to commit resources to such subsidiary bank. A capital injection may be required at times when the holding company does not have the resources to provide it.

In addition, any loans by a bank holding company to a subsidiary bank 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, the 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.

Dividends

The Company is a legal entity that is separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. The primary source of funds for dividends paid to the Company’s shareholders is dividends paid to the Company by the Bank.

Various federal and state laws limit the amount of dividends that the Bank are affectedmay pay to the Company without regulatory approval. Under Mississippi law, the Bank must obtain the non-objection of the Commissioner of the MDBCF prior to paying any dividend on the Bank’s common stock. In addition, the Bank may not pay any dividends if, after paying the dividend, it would be undercapitalized under applicable capital requirements. Furthermore, if the Bank does not maintain the capital conservation buffer required by applicable regulatory capital rules, its ability to pay dividends to the policies of regulatory authorities, includingCompany would be limited. The FDIC also has the Federal Reserve,authority to prohibit the Bank from engaging in business practices that the FDIC and the MDBCF. An important function of the Federal Reserve isconsiders to regulate the national money supply. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve are: (i) purchases and sales of U.S. government and other securities in the marketplace; (ii) changes in the discount rate,be unsafe or unsound, which, is the rate any depository institution must pay to borrow from the Federal Reserve; (iii) changes in the reserve requirements of depository institutions; and (iv) indirectly, changes in the federal funds rate, which is the rate at which depository institutions lend money to each other overnight. These instruments are intended to influence economic and monetary growth, interest rate levels, and inflation.

The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve and other governmental policies have had a significant effectdepending on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. Because of changing conditions in the national and international economy and in the money markets, as well as the result of actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, it is not possible to predict with certainty future changes in interest rates, deposit levels, loan demand, or the business and results of operations of the Company and the Bank, or whether changing economic conditions will have a positive or negative effect on operations and earnings.

Other Proposals

Bills occasionally are introduced in the United States Congress and the Mississippi State Legislature and other state legislatures, and regulations occasionally are proposed by the Company’s regulatory agencies, any of which could affect the businesses, financial results, and financial condition of the Bank, could include the payment of dividends.

The Company is subject to various restrictions relating to the payment of dividends. The Federal Reserve has issued guidance indicating that bank holding companies should generally pay dividends only if the company’s net income available to common shareholders over the preceding year has been sufficient to fully fund the dividends, and the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the company’s capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. The Federal Reserve’s guidance also states that a bank holding company should inform and consult with its regional Federal Reserve Bank in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the Bank. Generally it cannot be predicted whether or in what form any particular proposals will be adopted or the extent toperiod for which the Companydividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the organization’s capital structure. The Federal Reserve has indicated that, in some instances, it may be appropriate for a bank holding company to eliminate its dividends.

Federal Securities Law

The Company’s common stock is registered under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), and the Bank may be affected.

Summary

The foregoing discussion sets forth certain material elementsCompany is subject to the periodic reporting and other requirements of the regulatory framework applicable to the Company and the Bank. This discussion is a brief summarySEC under Section 12(g) of the regulatory environment in which the CompanyExchange Act and its subsidiaries operate and is not designed to be a complete discussion of all statutes and regulations affecting such operations. Regulation of financial institutions is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, the deposit insurance fund and the banking system, and generally is not intended for the protection of shareholders. Changes in applicable laws, and their application by regulatory agencies, cannot necessarily be predicted, but could have a material effect on the business and resultsSEC regulations. The common stock of the Company is listed on the OTCQX Best Market, such listing subjecting the Company to compliance with the market’s requirements with respect to reporting and its subsidiaries.other rules and regulations.

SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICAL INFORMATION

Schedules I-A through VII present certain statistical information regarding the Company. This information is not audited and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity and Interest Rates and Differentials

Net Interest Income, the difference between Interest Income and Interest Expense, is the most significant component of the Company's earnings. For interest analytical purposes, Management adjusts Net Interest Income to a "taxable equivalent" basis using a Federal Income Tax rate of 21% in 2020, 2019 and 2018 and 34% in 2017 on tax-exempt items (primarily interest on municipal securities).

Another significant statistic in the analysis of Net Interest Income is the net yield on earning assets. The net yield is the difference between the rate of interest earned on earning assets and the effective rate paid for all funds, non-interest bearing as well as interest bearing. Since a portion of the Bank's deposits do not bear interest, such as demand deposits, the rate paid for all funds is lower than the rate on interest bearing liabilities alone.

Recognizing the importance of interest differential to total earnings, Managementmanagement places great emphasis on managing interest rate spreads. Although interest differential is affected by national, regional and local economic conditions, including the level of credit demand and interest rates, there are significant opportunities to influence interest differential through appropriate loan and investment policies which are designed to maximize the differential while maintaining sufficient liquidity and availability of incremental funds for purposes of meeting existing commitments and investment in lending and investment opportunities that may arise.

The information included in Schedule I-F presents the change in interest income and interest expense along with the reason(s) for these changes. The change attributable to volume is computed as the change in volume times the old rate. The change attributable to rate is computed as the change in rate times the old volume. The change in rate/volume is computed as the change in rate times the change in volume.

Credit Risk Management and Loan Loss Experience

In the normal course of business, the Bank assumes risks in extending credit. The Bank manages these risks through its lending policies, credit underwriting analysis, appraisal requirements, concentration and exposure limits, loan review procedures and the diversification of its loan portfolio. Although it is not possible to predict loan losses with complete accuracy, Management constantly reviews the characteristics of the loan portfolio to determine its overall risk profile and quality.

Constant attention to the quality of the loan portfolio is achieved by the loan review process. Throughout this ongoing process, Management is advised of the condition of individual loans and of the quality profile of the entire loan portfolio. Any loan or portion thereof which is classified "loss" by regulatory examiners or which is determined by Management to be uncollectible because of such factors as the borrower's failure to pay interest or principal, the borrower's financial condition, economic conditions in the borrower's industry or the inadequacy of underlying collateral, is charged-off.

Provisions are charged to operating expense based upon historical loss experience, and additional amounts are provided when, in the opinion of Management, such provisions are not adequate based upon the current factors affecting loan collectability.

The allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category is based on the factors mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. Accordingly, since all of these factors are subject to change, the allocation is not necessarily indicative of the breakdown of future losses. In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-03, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects all current expected credit losses (“CECL”) and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to determine credit loss estimates. ASU 2016-13 was originally to become effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815) and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. ASU 2019-10 amends the effective date for certain entities, including the Company, for ASU 2016-13, which is now effective for the Company in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Adoption of this ASU could materially affect its allowance for loan loss methodology, including the calculation of its provision for loan losses. For additional details regarding the pending adoption of this accounting pronouncement, see Note A – Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies included in Part II. Item 8. – Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this report.

Further information concerning the provision for loan losses and the allowance for loan losses is presented in "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and in “Note A - Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the 20192020 Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Return on Equity and Assets

The Company’s results and key ratios for 20152016 – 20192020 are summarized in the "Selected Financial Data" in Item 6 and "Management's Discussion and Analysis" in Item 7 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Dividends

The Company paid a cash dividend of $ .03, $ .02$.02, $.03 and $ .01$.02 per share for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 2018 and 2017,2018, respectively.

SCHEDULE I-A

Distribution of Average Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity (1) (In thousands)