UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FormFORM 10-K
(Mark One)
(Mark One)
þ

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2020
OR
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017
Or
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                 to
For the transition period from to
Commission File Number 001-36688

Great Western Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware47-1308512
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
Delaware47-1308512
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)

225 South Main Avenue
Sioux Falls, South Dakota


57104
Sioux Falls,South Dakota
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)
(605) 334-2548
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Classeach classTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchangeeach exchange on Which Registeredwhich registered
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per shareGWBNew York Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x   No  o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.    Yes  o   No  x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes x    No   o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).   Yes x    No   o
Indicate by check mark if disclosurewhether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405effectiveness of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the bestits internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxySarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  xissued its audit report.  
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large"large accelerated filer”filer", “accelerated"accelerated filer," “smaller"smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerx
Accelerated filero
Non-accelerated filero
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting companyo
Emerging growth companyo
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. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes o    No   x
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 20172020 was $2,492,033,526.$1,126,685,245.
As of November 20, 2017,17, 2020, the number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding was 58,853,861.55,014,727.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on February 22, 2018,9, 2021, and to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after the registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2017,2020, are incorporated by reference under Part III.





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS



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EXPLANATORY NOTE
Except as otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to:
"we” “our,” “us”," "our," "us" and our “company”"Company" refers to Great Western Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries;
our “bank”"Bank" refers to Great Western Bank, a South Dakota banking corporation;
“NAB”our "states" refers to the nine states (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) in which we currently conduct our business;
our "footprint" refers to the geographic markets within our states in which we currently conduct our business;
"ALLL" refers to allowance for loan and lease losses;
"AML" refers to anti-money laundering;
"AOCI" refers to accumulated other comprehensive income;
"ASC" refers to Accounting Standards Codification;
"ASC 310-30 loans" or "purchased credit impaired loans" refers to certain loans that had deteriorated credit quality at acquisition;
"ASU" refers to Accounting Standards Update;
"BHC Act" refers to the Bank Holding Company Act;
"BOLI" refers to Bank Owned Life Insurance;
"BSA" refers to the Bank Secrecy Act;
"CAN-SPAM Act" refers to the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act;
"Capital Rules" or "Basel III" refers to the Basel Committee’s December 2010 final capital framework for strengthening international capital standards;
"CARES Act" refers to The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act;
"CDD Rule" refers to the Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions rule;
"CECL" refers to the current expected credit loss model in ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments;
"CFPB" refers to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
"COSO" refers to the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission;
"COVID-19" or "COVID-19 pandemic" refers to the Coronavirus Disease 2019;
"CRA" refers to the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977;
"CRE" refers to commercial real estate;
"Exchange Act" refers to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934;
"FACT Act" refers to the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003;
"FASB" refers to the Financial Accounting Standards Board;
"FCRA" refers to the Fair Credit Reporting Act;
"FDIA" refers to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;
"FDIC" refers to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;
"FDICIA" refers to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991;
"FFIEC" refers to the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council;
"FHLB" refers to the Federal Home Loan Bank;
"FHLMC" refers to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation;
"FinCEN" refers to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network;
"FINRA" refers to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority;
"FNMA" refers to the Federal National Mortgage Association;
"FRB" or "Federal Reserve" refers to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System;
"FTE" refers to fully-tax equivalent;
"GAAP" or "U.S. GAAP" refers to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles;
"GLB Act" refers to Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act;
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"GSE" refers to a Government Sponsored Enterprise;
"GWBCI" refers to Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., our predecessor, which was an Iowa corporation formed in 1968 which was previously the holding company for our Bank;
"HELOC" refers to home equity lines of credit;
"HF Financial" refers to HF Financial Corporation;
"HUD" refers to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development;
"IRA" refers to an individual retirement account;
"IRS" refers to the Internal Revenue Service;
"LIBOR" refers to London Interbank Offered Rate, and is a benchmark interest rate index for various adjustable-rate products;
"MERS" refers to the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc.;
"NAB" refers to National Australia Bank Limited, an Australian public company that was our ultimate parent company prior to our initial public offering in October 2014 and, until July 31, 2015, our principal ultimate stockholder;
our “states”"NYSE" refers to the nine states (Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) in which we currently conduct our business; andNew York Stock Exchange;
our “footprint”"OFAC" refers to the geographic markets within our states in which we currently conduct our business.Office of Foreign Assets Control;
"PPP" refers to Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program;
"REIT" refers to Real Estate Investment Trust;
"RPA" refers to a risk participation agreement;
"Sarbanes-Oxley Act" refers to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002;
"SBA" refers to Small Business Administration;
"SD Division of Banking" or "SDDB" refers to the Division of Banking of the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation;
"SEC" refers to the Securities and Exchange Commission;
"Securities Act" refers to the Securities Act of 1933;
"Tax Reform Act" refers to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017;
"TDR" refer to a troubled debt restructuring;
"USA PATRIOT Act" refers to the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001;
"USMCA" refers to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement agreed to on October 1, 2018; and
"VIE" refers to a variable interest entity.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “could,” “may,” “predicts,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “estimate,” “plans,” “projects,” “continuing,” “ongoing,” “expects,”"anticipates," "believes," "can," "could," "may," "predicts," "potential," "should," "will," "estimate," "plans," "projects," "continuing," "ongoing," "expects," "views," “intends”"intends" and similar words or phrases. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
A number of important factors could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these forward-looking statements, including those factors identified in “Item"Item 1A. Risk Factors”Factors" or “Item"Item 7. Management’sManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations" or the following:
the severity, magnitude and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic and the direct and indirect impact of such pandemic, as well as responses to the pandemic by the government, business and consumers, on our operations and personnel, commercial activity and demand across our business and our customers' business;
the disruption of global, national, state and local economies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, which could affect our liquidity and capital positions, impair the ability of our borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair collateral values and further increase our allowance for credit losses;
current and future economic and market conditions in the United States generally or in our states in particular, including the rate of growth and employment levels;
the impact on our business, operations, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, prospects and trading prices of our shares arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic;
our ability to anticipate interest rate changes and manage interest rate risk;
uncertainty about the discontinued use of the London Inter Bank Offered Rate and transition to an alternative rate;
our ability to achieve loan and deposit growth;
the relative strength or weakness of the commercial, agricultural and real estate markets where our borrowers are located, including without limitation related asset and market prices;
declines in asset prices and the market prices for agricultural products or changes in governmental support programs for the agricultural sector;
our ability to effectively execute our strategic plan and manage our growth;
our ability to successfully manage our credit risk and the sufficiency of our allowance for loan and lease loss;
our ability to develop and effectively use the quantitative models we rely upon in our business;
possible changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies of, and other activities undertaken by, governments, agencies, central banks and similar organizations, including the potential negative effects of imposed and proposed tariffs and retaliatory tariffs on products that our customers may import or export, including among others, agricultural products;
our ability to effectively compete with other financial services companies and the effects of competition in the financial services industry on our business;


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operational risks or risk management failures by us or critical third parties, including without limitation with respect to data processing, information systems, cyber-security, technological changes, vendor problems, business interruption and fraud risks;
fluctuations in the values of our assets and liabilities and off-balance sheet exposures;
unanticipated changes in our liquidity position, including but not limited to changes in our access to sources of liquidity and capital to address our liquidity needs;
possible changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies of, and other activities undertaken by, governments, agencies, central banks and similar organizations;
possible impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets, or any adjustment of the valuation of our deferred tax assets;
the effects of geopolitical instability, including war, terrorist attacks and man-made and natural disasters;disasters, social instability and changes in governmental policies;
the effects of adverse weather conditions, particularly on our agricultural borrowers;
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the impact of, and changes in applicable laws, regulations and accounting standards, policies and interpretations;interpretations, including the impact of the Tax Reform Act;
increases in our FDIC insurance premiums, or the collection of special assessments by the FDIC;
legal, compliance and reputational risks, including litigation and regulatory risks;
our ability to use technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands and create efficiencies in operations and to manage risks associated therewith;
our ability to attract and retain senior management experienced in the banking and financial services industries;
our inability to receive dividends from our bankBank and to service debt, pay dividends to our common stockholders and satisfy obligations as they become due;
expected cost savings in connection with the consolidation of recent acquisitions may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frames, and deposit attrition, customer loss and revenue loss following completed acquisitions may be greater than expected; and
our ability to meet our obligations as a public company, including our obligations under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 to maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting.
The foregoing factors should not be considered an exhaustive list and should be read together with the other cautionary statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what we anticipate. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or review any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Our Business
We are a bank holding company incorporated in the state of Delaware and maintain our principal executive office in Sioux Falls, SD. We were formed as a Delaware corporation in July 2014 in connection with our initial public offering in October 2014. Prior to our initial public offering, we were an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NAB. NAB completely divested its holdings in us on July 31, 2015. Our bank was established more than 80 years ago and has achieved strong market positions by developing and maintaining extensive local relationships in the communities we serve.
We are a full-service regional bank holding company focused on relationship-based business and agribusiness banking.banking through our wholly owned banking subsidiary. We serve our customers through 173175 branches in attractive markets in nine states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. We were established more than 80 years agoprovide a wide range of services, including commercial and have achieved strong market positionsconsumer loan and depository services, private banking, brokerage, trust, investment advisory and other traditional banking services. As a result of COVID-19 impacts and credit issues during fiscal year 2020, our net loss was $680.8 million. This was primarily driven by developinga $713.0 million impairment of goodwill and maintaining extensive local relationships incertain intangible assets, net of tax, and $56.7 million of credit and other related charges, net of tax, incurred during the communitiessecond quarter of fiscal year 2020. During 2020, we serve. By leveragingmade certain management changes to address the credit challenges being faced by the Company and enhanced our business and agribusiness focus, highly efficient operating model, robust approach torelated risk management and presence in attractive markets, we have achieved steady and profitable growth—both organically and through disciplined acquisitions. We have successfully completed nine acquisitions since 2006,processes, including our 2010 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, assisted acquisitionthe implementation of TierOne Bank, which represented approximately $2.54 billion in acquired assets, and our 2016 acquisition of HF Financial Corp. ("HF Financial"), which represented approximately $1.12 billion of acquired assets.a new credit scoring system effective for financial reporting purposes on October 1, 2020. Our net income was $144.8 million for fiscal year 2017 and ourtotal loans and total assets were $9.01$10.08 billion and $11.69$12.60 billion, respectively, at September 30, 2017.2020. At September 30, 2020, we employed approximately 1,700 full-time equivalent employees.
gwb-20200930_g1.jpg
We focus on business and agribusiness banking, complemented by our agri-business banking, retail banking and wealth management services. Our loan portfolio consists primarily of business loans, comprised of commercial real estate ("CRE") loans, agribusiness loans and commercial non-real estate loans. At September 30, 2017, our business and agribusiness loans collectively accounted for 88.4% of our total loan portfolio. In addition, 67.2%of our aggregate loan portfolio, comprising 45.8% of CRE loans, 11.1% of agriculture real estate loans and 10.3% of residential real estate loans, was primarily secured by interests in real estate predominantly located in the states in which we operate. In addition, some of our other lending occasionally involves taking real estate as primary or secondary collateral. We offer small and mid-sized businesses a focused suite of financial products and have established strong relationships across a diversifieddiversified range of sectors, including key areas supporting regional growth such as hospitality/tourism, agribusinessagri-business services, freight and transport and healthcare. WeDuring the second half of fiscal year 2020, we continued to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our loan portfolio. Within our portfolio we have developed extensive expertise in agribusinessidentified the following segments with elevated risk at September 30, 2020: hotels & resorts with $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of total loans, restaurants with $156.5 million, or 1.6% of total loans, arts and entertainment with $130.3 million, or 1.3% of total loans, senior care with $330.7 million, or 3.3% of total loans, and skilled nursing with $250.9 million, or 2.5% of total loans, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of total loans. .
CRE and agri-business lending which serves oneserve two of the most prominent industries across our markets, and we offer a variety of financial services designed to meet the specific needs of our agribusinesssuch customers. We also provide a range of deposit and loan products to our retail customers through several channels, including our branch network, online banking system, mobile banking applications and customer care centers. In our wealth management business, we seek to expand our private banking, financial planning, investment management and insurance operations to better position us to capture an increased share of the business of managing the private wealth of many of our business and agribusinessagri-business customers.


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Our banking model seeks to balance the best of being a “big enough”"big enough" and a “small enough”"small enough" bank, providing capabilities typical of a much larger bank, such as diversified product specialists, customized banking solutions and multiple delivery channels, with a customer-focused culture usually associated with smaller banks. Our focus on balancing these capabilities with a service-oriented culture is embedded within our operations and is enhanced by focusing on our core competencies. We are well recognized within our markets for our relationship-based banking model that provides for local, efficient decision making. We believe we serve our customers in a manner that is responsive, flexible and accessible.model. Our relationship bankers strive to build deep, long-term relationships with customers and understand the customers’ specific needs to identify appropriate financial solutions. We believe we have been successful in attracting customers and bankers from larger competitors because of our flexible approach and the speed and efficiency with which we provide banking solutions to our customers while maintaining disciplined underwriting standards.
Our Business Strategy
We believe that stable long-term growth and profitability are the result ofOur strategy focuses on building strong customer relationships with our customers, employees and communities, while maintaining disciplined underwriting standards. We plan to focus on originating high-quality loansstandards and growingcontinuing our cost-effective deposit base through our relationship-based business and agribusiness banking approach. We believe that continuing to focus on our core strengths will enable usoperational efficiency. We earn interest income on loans as well as fee income from the origination of loans. Lending activities include loans to gaincommercial clients, which include commercial loans, commercial real estate loans and letters of credit, agri-business clients and individuals, which primarily consist of small business loans, home equity lines of credit, residential real estate loans and consumer loans. Residential real estate loans are either kept in our loan portfolio or sold to secondary investors, which results in gains or losses from the sales being recognized.
Our relationship banking strategy also focuses on providing depository services that fit the needs of our customers at competitive rates. We pay interest on the interest-bearing deposits and receive service fee revenue on various accounts. Deposit accounts include products such as noninterest-bearing demand, interest-bearing checking, savings and money market share, continueand time deposits. Debit and ATM cards provide clients with access to improvetheir accounts 24 hours a day at any ATM location. We also provide 24-hour telephone access and online banking as well as other electronic and mobile banking services.
In addition to the community banking services of lending and providing deposit services, we seek to deepen our operational efficiencycustomer relationships by offering comprehensive wealth management, trust and increase profitability. investment services. For businesses, we also provide treasury management services.
The key components of our strategy for continued success and future growth include the following:
Attract and Retain High-Quality Relationship Bankers
A key component of our growth inSince October 1, 2016, we have expanded our existing markets and entry intoby opening loan production offices or branches in 6 new markets has been our ability to attract and retain high-quality relationship bankers. We have recruited approximately 71 new business and agribusiness relationship bankers since January 1, 2012 (out of a total of approximately 192business and agribusiness relationship bankers at September 30, 2017), with average industry experience of over 15 years when hired.markets. We believe we have been successful in recruiting qualified relationship bankers due primarily to our decentralized management approach, focused product suite and flexible, and customer-focused culture while continuing to provide sophisticated banking capabilities to serve our customers’customers' needs. We intendIn 2020, we took action to continuemove toward centralizing various processes to hire experienced relationship bankers to execute our relationship-driven banking model. We utilize a variable compensation structure designed to incentivize our relationship bankers by tying their compensation to both the performance of the Company and their individual overall performance. We measure individual banker performance based on revenue, loans originated, deposits raised and asset quality/risk, among other performance measurements. We believe this structure establishes the appropriate incentives to serve our customers' needs, maintain strong performance and satisfy ourenhance credit risk management, objectives.expand diversification in our commercial and agri portfolios and set lower internal limits for credit relationships through the introduction of a revised credit policy. By leveraging the strong networks and reputation of our experienced local relationship bankers, we believe we can continue to grow our loan portfolio and deposit basebuild a foundation for organic growth as well as offer customers a range of products and services to fulfill their financial needs.
Optimize Footprint in Existing and Complementary Markets
WeOur strategy has been to pursue attractive growth opportunities to expand within our existing footprint and enter new markets aligned with our business model and strategic plans. We believe we can increase our presence in under-represented areas in our existing markets and broaden our footprint in attractive markets adjacent and complementary to our current markets by continuing our emphasis on business and agribusinessagri-business banking. Our branch strategy is guided by our abilityIn these situations, we typically open a loan production office for these bankers to recruit experienced relationship bankers in under-represented and new markets. These bankers expand our banking relationships into these markets prior to opening a branch, which increases our likelihood of expanding profitably by developing business, including an asset and/or deposit base, in the market before we establish a branch in that market. We will continue to opportunistically consider opening new branches. We intend to strategically capitalize on growth opportunities we believe exist in growing economies in and adjacent to our existing markets.


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Deepen Customer Relationships
We believe that our reputation, expertise and relationship-based banking model enable us to deepen our relationships with our customers. We look to leverage our relationships with existing customers by offering a range of products and services suitable to their needs such as online and mobile banking for consumer customers. We have sought to grow our low-cost customer deposit base by attracting more deposits from our business and agribusiness customers. We offer alternative cash management solutions intended to help retain business customers. We seek to expand and enhance our wealth management platform through focused product offerings that we believe will appeal to our more affluent customers. We intend to continue to capitalize on opportunities to capture more business from existing customers throughout our banking network. During fiscal year 2017, we continued to enhance our online and mobile banking platforms to enable person-to-person payments, online stop payments, and reward our customers for purchases made with their debit cards. With our new Online Account Opening, customers may open a checking account in minutes direct from their mobile phone. Our commercial customers now enjoy faster startup and simplified access to their banking information. We believe these enhancements are more competitive product offerings and expect them to contribute to growth in deposit balances over time.
Continue to Improve Efficiency and Manage Costs
We believe that our focus on operational efficiency even in light of incremental costs related to being a public company with over $10 billion in consolidated total assets, is critical to our profitability and future growth.business strategy. We intend to carefully manage our cost structure and continuously refine and implement internal processes and technology to create further efficiencies andto enhance our earnings. We believeIn addition, we continue to optimize our scalable systems, risk management infrastructure and operating model will better enable us to achieve further operational efficiencies as we growbranch network through either closure or relocation of some of our business.less profitable branches.
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Opportunistically Pursue Acquisitions
Our management team has extensive expertise and a successful track record in evaluating, executing and integrating attractive, franchise-enhancing acquisitions. We have successfully completed ninesix acquisitions since 2006,2009, including our 2010 FDIC assisted acquisition of TierOne Bank, which represented approximately $2.54 billion in acquired assets, and our 2016 acquisition of HF Financial, which represented approximately $1.12 billion in acquired assets. We will continue to consider acquisitions that are consistent with our business strategy and financial model as opportunities arise. Illustrated below, as of September 30 of each indicated year, is the growth in our total assets, including the amount attributed as a result of acquisitions in that fiscal year.


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Our Operating Model
We believe our highly efficient and scalable operating model has enabled us to operate profitably, remain competitive, increase market share and develop new business. We emphasize company-wide operating principles focused on proactive expense management, targeted investment, disciplined lending practices and focused product offerings. We have achieved cost efficiencies by consolidating our branch network through the closure of less profitable locations and through our demonstrated success in acquiring and integrating banks. We believe our focus on operating efficiency has contributed significantly to our return on equity, return on assets and net income.
Our Prior Relationship With NAB
We were formed as a Delaware corporation in July 2014 as a wholly owned subsidiary of National Americas Holdings LLC ("NAH") to be the publicly traded holding company for our bank.  NAH was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in 2008 by NAB to facilitate NAB’s purchase of our bank. In connection with our initial public offering in October 2014, we purchased all outstanding common stock issued by Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. ("GWBCI"), an Iowa corporation formed in 1968 which was then the holding company for our bank, from National Americas Investments, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of NAH. Following this purchase, GWBCI was merged with and into us and we continue as the surviving corporation succeeding to all the assets, liabilities and business of GWBCI. We conduct our business through our bank as a single reportable segment, with all of our identifiable assets located in the United States.
Prior to our initial public offering, we were an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NAB. NAB sold 18.4 million shares, representing 31.8% of our common stock, in the initial public offering. On May 6, 2015, NAB sold 23.0 million shares of our common stock, representing 39.7% of the common stock, in the second stage of its planned divestiture. On July 31, 2015, NAB sold all of its remaining shares of our common stock in a secondary public offering of 13.8 million shares and a concurrent share repurchase transaction in which we acquired 2.7 million shares from NAB to fully divest its ownership. There are no debts payable to NAB and its affiliates remaining.gwb-20200930_g2.jpg
Our Business Lines
Business Banking
Business banking is a key focus of our business model and is one of our core competencies. We provide business banking services to small and mid-sized businesses across a diverse range of industries, including key sectors supporting regional growth such as hospitality/tourism, ancillary agribusinessagri-business services (e.g., farm equipment suppliers and grain and seed merchants), freight and transport and healthcare (e.g., hospitals, physicians, care facilities and dentists). We offer our business banking customers a focused range of financial products designed to meet the specific needs of their businesses, including loans, lines of credit, cash management services, online business deposit and wire transfer services, in addition to non-interest-bearingnoninterest-bearing demand deposit and savingsaccounts, interest-bearing non-transaction accounts and corporate credit cards. At September 30, 2017,2020, business banking represented $2.87$4.37 billion in deposits, an increase of $262.8 million$0.87 billion from September 30, 2016,2019, and $5.84$7.46 billion in loans, an increase of $416.4 million$0.64 billion over the same period, which represents 32.0%39.7% and 64.9%73.8%, respectively, of our total deposits and loans.
Our business banking model is based on a fundamental understanding of the communities we serve and the banking needs of our customers. Our bank employs experienced relationship bankers across our footprint, each of whom offers our bank’s suite of business banking products and services to our customers. Our relationship bankers strive to build deep, long-term customer relationships with our banking customers and to understand our customers’ specific needs to identify appropriate financial solutions.
Our business banking lending portfolio comprises of CRE and commercial non-real estate loans. CRE loans include both owner-occupied CRE and non-owner-occupied CRE loans, multifamily residential real estate loans and construction and development loans. CRE lending is a significant component of our overall loan portfolio, although we are focused on managing our exposure to land development loans within construction and development lending, in particular, which we believe is relatively riskier than other types of CRE lending, including owner-occupied CRE lending. Commercial non-real estate loans represent one of our core competencies in business banking. We offer a focused range of lending products to our commercial non-real estate customers, including working capital and other shorter-term lines of credit, fixed-rate loans over a wide range of terms and variable-rate loans with varying terms.


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The following table presents the composition of our business lending as of September 30, 2017, is as follows:2020.
September 30, 2020
South DakotaIowa /
Missouri
Nebraska /
Kansas
ArizonaColoradoNorth Dakota /
Minnesota
Other ²Total% of Total Loan Unpaid Principal Balance
(dollars in thousands)
Non-owner-occupied CRE loans ¹$758,593 $738,669 $552,719 $278,985 $469,584 $85,241 $27,174 $2,910,965 28.8 %
Owner-occupied CRE loans ¹337,625 405,068 224,130 167,198 243,625 34,248 — 1,411,894 14.0 %
Construction and development loans ¹21,677 52,244 134,720 96,259 99,925 10,615 — 415,440 4.1 %
Multifamily residential real estate loans ¹113,135 118,979 108,228 8,124 68,313 118,962 901 536,642 5.3 %
Commercial non-real estate loans ¹382,898 678,731 598,988 159,639 215,983 8,518 136,899 2,181,656 21.6 %
Total business loans$1,613,928 $1,993,691 $1,618,785 $710,205 $1,097,430 $257,584 $164,974 $7,456,597 73.8 %
 1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to manage our interest rate risk.
 2 Balances in this column represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our workout staff, commercial and consumer credit card loans, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
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 September 30, 2017
 South  Dakota Arizona / Colorado Iowa /  Kansas / Missouri Nebraska North Dakota / Minnesota 
Other 2
 Total % of Total Loan Unpaid Principal Balance
 (dollars in thousands)
Non-owner-occupied CRE loans 1
$534,085
 $544,116
 $444,298
 $366,815
 $125,331
 $10,681
 $2,025,326
 22.5%
Owner-occupied CRE loans 1
293,589
 334,167
 334,879
 230,768
 25,702
 418
 1,219,523
 13.5%
Construction and development loans 1
58,282
 164,325
 179,769
 123,209
 9,114
 4,037
 538,736
 6.0%
Multifamily residential real estate loans 1
139,991
 26,612
 63,144
 67,184
 43,132
 1,157
 341,220
 3.8%
Commercial non-real estate loans 1
287,894
 210,638
 827,719
 340,297
 9,128
 43,238
 1,718,914
 19.1%
Total business loans$1,313,841
 $1,279,858
 $1,849,809
 $1,128,273
 $212,407
 $59,531
 $5,843,719
 64.9%
                
 1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to hedge our interest rate risk.
 2 Balances in this column represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our workout staff, commercial and consumer credit card loans, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
The following charts present the compositions of our CRE and commercial non-real estate loan portfolios, aggregated by customer exposure as of September 30, 2017,2020, which are diversified across loan sizes, as set forth below:sizes.
gwb-20200930_g3.jpggwb-20200930_g4.jpg
AgribusinessAgri-business Banking
In addition to business banking, we consider agribusinessagri-business lending one of our core competencies. We have been providing banking services to the agricultural community since our bank was founded. We have developed extensive expertise and brand recognition in agribusiness lending, which is one of the largest industries that we serve. We provide loans and banking services to agribusinessagri-business customers across our geographic footprint. We predominantly lend to grain and protein producers who produce a range of agricultural commodities. Our agribusiness customers range in size from small family farms to large commercial farming operations. At September 30, 2017, our agribusiness loan portfolio was $2.12 billion, representing 23.6% of our bank’s $8.97 billion in total lending. Our agribusiness loan portfolio was balanced at September 30, 2017, among the major types of agricultural production undertaken in our footprint, with grains (primarily corn, soybeans and wheat) representing 32.9%of our agribusiness loan portfolio; proteins (primarily beef cattle, dairy products and hogs) representing 51.8% of our agribusiness loan portfolio; and other products (including cotton, trees, fruits and nuts and vegetables, among others) representing 15.3% of our agribusiness loan portfolio, as set forth below:


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The composition of our agribusiness lending portfolio is also geographically diversified across our footprint in our five business regions, as set forth below:
 September 30, 2017
 Agribusiness Loans % of Agribusiness
Loan Portfolio
 (dollars in thousands)
South Dakota$701,899
 33.1%
Arizona and Colorado854,486
 40.3%
Iowa, Kansas and Missouri416,711
 19.6%
Nebraska147,863
 7.0%
North Dakota and Minnesota3,405
 0.2%
Other 1
(2,226) (0.2)%
Total$2,122,138
 100.0%
    
1 Balances in this row represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our staff, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
We offer a number of products to meet our agribusiness customers’ banking needs, from short-term working capital funding to long-term land-relatedand-related lending, as well as other tailored services. Through relationships with insurance agencies, we make available to our customers crop insurance that can provide farms with options for financial protection from various events, including flood, derecho, drought, hail, fire, disease, insect damage, wildfire and earthquake. We servicepredominantly lend to grain and protein producers who produce a range of agricultural commodities. Our agri-business customers range in size from small family farms to large commercial farming operations. At September 30, 2020, our agribusiness customers through dedicated relationship bankers with deep industry/sector knowledge, supplementedagri-business loan portfolio was $1.72 billion, representing 17.1% of our Bank’s $10.08 billion in total lending. The following chart presents the composition of our agri-business loan portfolio, aggregated by a teamcustomer exposure as of local bankers focused on agriculture who build long-term relationships with customers.September 30, 2020, which are diversified across loan sizes.
gwb-20200930_g5.jpg
The composition of our agri-business lending portfolio is also geographically diversified across our footprint in our six business regions, as set forth in the table below.
September 30, 2020
Agri-business Loans% of Agri-business Loan Portfolio
(dollars in thousands)
South Dakota$518,210 30.1 %
Iowa and Missouri306,800 17.8 %
Nebraska and Kansas114,345 6.6 %
Arizona679,329 39.4 %
Colorado100,386 5.8 %
North Dakota and Minnesota332 0.0 %
Other ¹4,948 0.3 %
Total$1,724,350 100.0 %
1 Balances in this row represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our staff, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
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Retail Banking
Retail banking provides a source of low-cost funding and deposit-related fee income. At September 30, 2017, our branch network consisted of 173branch offices located in 129 communities. Our branch network enhances our ability to gather deposits, expand our brand presence, service our customers’ needs, originate loans and maintain our customer relationships.


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We offer traditional banking products to our retail customers, including non-interest-bearingnoninterest-bearing demand accounts, interest-bearing savings and money marketdemand accounts individual retirement accounts ("IRAs"), and time certificates of deposit. As the banking industry continues to experience broader customer acceptance of online and mobile banking tools for conducting basic banking functions and retail customers use branch locations with less frequency than they have historically, wedeposits. We also serve our customers through a wide range of non-branch channels; including online, telephone and mobile banking platforms. In addition, we continue to optimize our branch network and have closed and/or relocated many less profitable branches. We continue to strive to optimize the effectiveness of our distribution channels and increase our operational efficiency to adapt to increasing customer preferences for self-service banking capabilities. At September 30, 2017,2020, we had ATMs at 162,163, or 93.6%93.1%, of our branches and had another 2111 company-owned ATMs at off-site locations. We are part of the MoneyPass SHAZAM and NETSSHAZAM networks, enabling our customers to withdraw cash surcharge-free and service charge-free at over 25,00035,000 ATM locations across the country.
OurThe following table presents our retail branch network is spread among our five regions as follows:six regions.
September 30, 2020
Number of branches% of branches
South Dakota3721.1 %
Iowa and Missouri5430.9 %
Nebraska and Kansas5229.7 %
Arizona95.1 %
Colorado2011.5 %
North Dakota and Minnesota31.7 %
Total175100.0 %
 September 30, 2017
 Number of branches % of branches
South Dakota38 22.0%
Arizona and Colorado28 16.2%
Iowa, Kansas and Missouri54 31.2%
Nebraska50 28.9%
North Dakota and Minnesota3 1.7%
Total173 100.0%
We also provide a variety of loan products to individuals. At September 30, 2017,2020, our residential real estate and consumer portfolio was $1.00 billion,$893.3 million, representing 11.0%8.7% of our total lending, and comprised residential mortgage loans, home equity loans, and home equitypersonal loans, lines of credit and general lines of credit, auto loans and other loans. We also have a small amount of consumer credit card balances outstanding. In addition to retail loans held in our portfolio, weWe also originate residential mortgage loans for resale (including their servicing) on the secondary market and, in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017,2020, we sold $280.5$496.9 million of these loans and serviced $722.5$389.3 million of mortgage loans. At September 30, 2017, we had a retail and mortgage loan officer base of 425 individuals. Home equity originations (including residential mortgages) are sourced almost exclusively through our branch network. Our home equity loan portfolio is conservatively underwritten, including assessment of the borrower’s income, FICO score and the loan-to-value ratio. See “—Loans—Underwriting Principles” for discussion of our credit underwriting standards.
Wealth Management
We also provide our customers with a selection of wealth management solutions, including financial planning, private banking, investment management and trust services through associations with third party vendors, including registered broker-dealers and our investment adviser.adviser, and the offer and sale of insurance solutions, including life insurance. Our investment representatives offer our customers investment management services through our branch network which entails overseeing and recommending investment allocations between asset classes based on a review of a client’s risk tolerance. These representatives also offer and sell insurance solutions, including life insurance, and offer trust services, including personal trusts and estate planning. At September 30, 20172020 our investment representatives had $780.8$617.6 million in assets under management, and, through our trust services group, we had $1.00$1.80 billion in assets under management, for a combined total of $1.78$2.42 billionin assets under management. Enhancing
Competition
The financial services industry and expandingeach of the markets in which we operate in particular are highly competitive. We face strong competition in gathering deposits, making loans and obtaining client assets for management by our wealthinvestment or trust operations. Our principal competitors for deposits, loans and client assets for management business is an important componentby our investment or trust operations include large nationwide banks such as U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America and various other nationwide, regional and community banks, savings banks and associations, credit unions, mutual fund companies, insurance companies, factoring companies and other non-bank financial companies. Some of these competitors are local, while others are statewide or national. In addition, Financial Technology, or FinTech, start-ups are emerging in key areas of banking. Many of our strategic plan,nonfinancial institution competitors have fewer regulatory constraints, broader geographic service areas, greater capital and, in some cases, lower cost structures. In addition, competition for quality customers has intensified as we believe it can deepen our customer relationships, create opportunities to provide a wider rangeresult of changes in regulation, mergers and acquisitions, advances in technology and product delivery systems, consolidation among financial services products to our customers and drive stable and recurring revenue.


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Loans
Overview
Our loan portfolio consists primarily of CRE, commercial non-real estate and agribusiness loans. We also originate residential real estate loans, personal loans, home equity loans, lines of credit, credit cards and auto loans. As described below, our loan portfolio is diversified across our customer base.
The following chart sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio by loan category as of September 30, 2017:
Our underwriting principles, discussed below, require portfolio diversification across geographies, industries and customers. Our lending is diversified both geographically, predominantly across our nine footprint states, and across our loan categories referenced above and within each of these categories. For example, within agribusiness lending, our portfolio is diversified across grain, protein and other types of agribusiness. Our commercial non-real estate and owner-occupied CRE lending categories are well diversified, with no individual industry comprising more than 10.0% of lending in these combined categories. See “—Our Business Lines—Agribusiness Banking” for information about the composition of our agribusiness loan portfolio and “—Our Business Lines—Business Banking” for information about the composition of our business banking loan portfolio. At a customer level, our largest exposure represents 0.7%of our total loans, and our top ten loan exposures represent approximately 4.9% of our total loans at September 30, 2017.
Underwriting Principles
General. We apply consistent credit principles in our assessment of lending proposals across all loan categories. We are a cash flow-focused lender, which means our assessment of any potential loan includes an analysis of whether the customer can generate sufficient cash flow, not only in normal operating conditions but in a range of circumstances, to ensure the likelihood that the borrowers’ repayment obligations to ourservice providers, bank can be fully met. Our underwriting procedures include an assessment of the borrower’s cash flow sustainability, the acceptability of the borrowing purpose, the borrower’s liquidity, leverage, collateral quality and adequacy, industry dynamics, management capability, integrity and experience. For residential real estate, consumer and other lending, our underwriting process is intended to assess the prospective borrower’s credit standing and ability to repay (which we analyze based on the borrower’s cash flow, liquidity, credit standing, employment history and overall financial condition)failures and the value and adequacy of any collateral.


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We establish what we believe to be conservative collateral guidelines that recognize the potential effects of volatility or deterioration of the value of collateral we accept, such as real estate, inventory, receivables and machinery. We manage this risk in a number of ways, including through advance rate guidelines for the various types of collateral we typically accept, along with periodic inspections. In addition, where we take real estate as collateral, and for some other specialized assets, we require assessment of value based on appropriate methodology and benchmarks. For our larger real estate commitments, this can include an independent third party appraisal review and, where appropriate, additional reviews.
We also assess the presence and viability of one or more acceptable secondary sources of repayment to mitigate potential future borrower cash flow deterioration. To improve the reliability of secondary sources of repayment, we prefer originating loans on a secured basis, and at September 30, 2017, less than 1.0%of our total lending was on an unsecured basis. We typically engage in unsecured lending only in situations involving long-standing customers of sound net worth and above-average liquidity with strong repayment ability (other than in connection with credit cards we issue).
We have a delegated commitment authorities framework that provides what we believe to be conservative levels of lending authority to our bankers commensurate with their role and lending experience. Commitments above the lending thresholds established for a banker require the approval, depending on the size of the commitment, of our regional credit managers, central senior credit managers, Chief Credit Officer or, for our largest commitments, our transactional credit committee. Loan analysis and decisions are documented and form part of the loan’s continual monitoring and relationship management record. We believe this framework provides the necessary separation of authority and independence in the credit underwriting process while providing flexibility to expedite appropriate credit decisions and provide competitive customer service.
Agribusiness. The underwriting principles described above generally apply to our agribusiness lending, although our assessment of cash flow sustainability, acceptability of borrowing purpose, borrower liquidity, industry environment, marketing and management capability, integrity and experience are considered in light of the unique attributes of agribusiness lending. For example, we review the adequacy and sustainability of an agribusiness customer’s operating cash flows to determine adequate coverage of interest and scheduled principal repayments, and, generally, require a minimum of 1.10 times in the most recent year or based on a 3-year average. We work with the borrower to select the appropriate funding facility, such as working capital line funding for short-term needs, medium-term borrowing to fund purchases of durables like machinery or equipment and long-term real estate loans, which are typically committed for five to ten years, with a maximum of 15 years.
As described above, we establish what we believe to be conservative collateral guidelines for our lending that recognize the volatility of asset prices. We also tailor the structureconversion of certain loans, apply additional policies and require appropriate covenantsformer investment banks to ensure our bank is well protected against the key potential risks. For livestock, we adopt what we believe to be conservative valuations to reduce the effects of cyclical trends before applying our collateral guidelines. For growing grain crops, we generally limit our lending to the coverage provided by crop insurance.holding companies.
As is the case with all types of lending, external risks beyond a customer’s business and operations can affect repayment. Our agribusiness lending, in particular, is subject to several external risks that we manage in various ways, including:Human Capital
Price cycles and volatility—Agricultural commodity prices are both cyclical and volatile, and we seek to manage these factors by diversifying our portfolio across a range of agribusiness customers including grain producers and protein producers (e.g., generally, low grain prices assist protein producers since their businesses use grains as inputs) and by determining and applying appropriate advance rate guidelines to agricultural commodities used as collateral, as discussed above.
Weather, disease and other perils—Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism and other external events could significantly impact our business and the business of our borrowers. We seek to mitigate our exposure to this risk through our geographic diversification which is predominantly across nine states and a number of agricultural products. Federally subsidized crop insurance coverage is also available for over 120 kinds of crops, typically of 50% to 85% of a grower’s average yield, against various agriculture-related perils, including flood, drought, hail, fire, disease, insect damage, wildlife and earthquake.
Land prices—As discussed above, we focus on cash flow lending, which helps farms to ensure that they have sufficient cash flow to service debt and support their businesses, and generally take land as collateral, which provides a secondary repayment source, with conservative advance rate guidelines in assessing collateral adequacy.


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Deposits
Deposits are our primary source of funds to support our revenue-generating assets. We offer traditional deposit products to consumers, businesses and other customers with a variety of rates and terms. Deposits at our bank are insured by the FDIC up to statutory limits. We price our deposit products with a view to maximizing our share of each customer’s financial services business and prudently managing our cost of funds. At September 30, 2017, we held $8.98 billion of total deposits. At September 30, 2017, our deposit base consisted of $3.72 billion, or 41.5%, in checking accounts, $3.98 billion, or 44.3%, in money market and savings accounts, and $1.27 billion, or 14.2%, in time deposits and IRAs.
Our deposit base is diversified across our geographic footprint, as illustrated by the following table showing the composition of our deposit base by the geographic region of our branches at September 30, 2017:
 September 30, 2017
 Number of
Branches
 Deposits % of Deposits
 (dollars in thousands)
South Dakota38 $2,231,857
 24.9%
Arizona and Colorado28 1,530,668
 17.0%
Iowa, Kansas and Missouri54 2,561,315
 28.5%
Nebraska50 2,521,631
 28.1%
North Dakota and Minnesota3 51,527
 0.6%
Corporate and other 80,615
 0.9%
Total173 $8,977,613
 100.0%
Our deposit base is also diversified by client type. As of September 30, 2017, no individual depositor represented more than 1.7%2020, we had 1,714 total employees, which included 1,607 full-time employees and 107 part-time employees. Of our 1,714 employees, 1,188 are in core banking (i.e., non-line of business branch network employees, including relationship bankers), 44 employees are in lines of business (e.g., mortgage, credit cards, investments), 40 employees are in finance, 235 employees are in support services (i.e., employees in operations, IT and projects), 138 employees are in risk and credit management, 13 employees are in internal audit and 56 employees are in other functions. We believe our total deposits,relationship with our employees to be generally good. We have not experienced any material employment-related issues or interruptions of services due to labor disagreements and are not a party to any collective bargaining agreements.
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Information about our top ten depositors represented 8.5% of our total deposits. The composition of our deposit portfolio represents our strategy to move away from more costly time deposit accounts over the last few years toward more cost-effective transaction accounts as well as our focus on gathering business deposits, which are typically transaction accounts by nature. This shift in deposit mix has been largely responsible for the recent declines in our average cost of deposits from 0.48% at September 30, 2013 to 0.40% at September 30, 2017. At September 30, 2017, our deposit base included $843.5 million of municipal deposits, against which we were required to hold $533.3 million of collateral. Municipal deposits represent approximately 652 customers with an average balance per customer of $1.3 million.Executive Officers
The graphfollowing table and the descriptions below showsset forth biographical information regarding our total deposits and deposits acquired at the end of each fiscal year presented,executive officers.
NameAgePosition
Mark Borrecco49President and Chief Executive Officer
Doug Bass59Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President
Peter Chapman47Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
Karlyn Knieriem53Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President
Steve Yose61Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President
Mark Borrecco has served as well as weighted average costs of deposits for each fiscal year presented:


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Risk Oversight and Management
We believe risk management is another core competency of our business. As we have grown, our risk team and its capabilities have expanded. Our risk management consists of comprehensive policies and processes and seeks to emphasize personal ownership and accountability for risk with all our employees. We expect our people to focus on managing our risks, and we support this with appropriate oversight and governance and a framework based on three lines of defense (including an internal audit team who report directly to the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors). We delegate authority for our risk management oversight and governance to a number of executive management committees, each responsible for overseeing various aspects of our risk management process. Various board committees, including the Risk Committee of our Board of Directors, provide oversight over our risk management function.
Our Management Risk Committee is responsible for oversight and governance of all risks across the enterprise. These responsibilities include monitoring our bank’s overall risk profile to ensure it remains within the Board-approved risk appetite and adjusting activities as appropriate, assessing new and emerging risks, monitoring our risk management culture, assessing acceptability of the risk impacts of any material changes (or additions) to our products, vendor relationships, partnerships or other processes and overseeing compliance with regulatory expectations and requirements. The Management Risk Committee is chaired by our President and Chief Executive Officer and includeson our Chief Risk Officer, Chief Credit OfficerBoard since March 2020. Mr. Borrecco’s duties include overall leadership and executives representing our business and support areas together with senior risk managers. The Management Risk Committee is supported by the following five subcommittees, each with specific responsibility to monitor, oversee and approve changes in their respective areas of focus relating to risks: Asset & Liability Committee, Operational Risk & Compliance Committee, Transactional Credit Committee, Risk Standards Review Panel and Technology Committee. Our Transactional Credit Committee reviews and approves our largest lending exposures.
Our Chief Risk Officer leads our integrated risk management function that provides second lineexecutive oversight of all enterprise risk, including strategic risk, credit risk and operational risk (suchour Bank. Mr. Borrecco has over 20 years of banking experience. Most recently, Mr. Borrecco served as compliance, regulatory, legal and reputational risk), as well as overseeing ongoing enhancements to our risk management processes. Our Chief Risk Officer, a member of our executive leadership team, reports to our President and Chief Executive Officer of Rabobank, NA, Roseville, CA, from November 2015 through the sale of Rabobank to Mechanics Bank in 2019. Mr. Borrecco also served on the Board of Directors for Rabobank, NA from November 2014 through August 2019. Prior to his CEO role, he was the Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer for Rabobank, NA from 2011 to 2015 where he was responsible for the direct management and performance of Commercial Banking, Retail, Small Business lending, Consumer Mortgage, Wealth Management and various administrative departments. Throughout his career, Mr. Borrecco has held various senior management positions including National Sales Manager Retail Banking with Bank of the West and Vice President, Senior Director and National Retail Sales Manager with World Savings Bank/Wachovia. Mr. Borrecco currently serves on the Pacific Coast Banking School Board and previously served on the Greater Sacramento Economic Council and Chaired the Food and Ag Innovation Committee. Mr. Borrecco has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from California State University.
Doug Bass has served as Great Western Bank's Chief Operating Officer since August 2019 and prior to that as its President and Chief Operating Officer from October 2018 through August 2019. He is also an Executive Vice President of our Company. Mr. Bass oversees all of our banking operations within our 9 state footprint, as well as our wealth management and mortgage banking lines. In total, Mr. Bass has over 35 years of banking experience. Mr. Bass has worked in various other capacities with our Company and Bank since 2009 and has direct access toexpertise in all areas of bank management within Great Western Bank. Before joining our Bank, Mr. Bass served as President of First American Bank Group. Previously Mr. Bass served in various capacities over 15 years with Firstar Corporation, which is now known as US Bank, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstar’s Sioux City and Council Bluffs operations in western Iowa and as Manager of Correspondent Banking for its eastern Iowa operations, which also included responsibility for commercial banking and agri-business lending. Mr. Bass will retire from the Risk CommitteeCompany on December 31, 2020.
Peter Chapman has served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President since its formation in 2014. Mr. Chapman served on the board and as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. from January 2013 until October 2014. Mr. Chapman is also the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of our BoardBank. From 2017 and through 2019, Mr. Chapman oversaw all of Directors. In addition, our executive leadership teambanking operations within the states of Minnesota and other membersNorth Dakota. Mr. Chapman has over 20 years of industry experience and is responsible for all aspects of our financial and regulatory reporting together with planning and strategy and treasury management have responsibilityof our balance sheet. From 2010 until he was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Chapman served as the General Manager, Finance Performance Management & Non Traded Businesses for NAB’s Wholesale Banking business. From 2007 through 2010, Mr. Chapman served as Head of Financial Control at NAB and was responsible for oversight and delivery of NAB’s external financial reporting and internal management reporting. From 2004 through 2007, Mr. Chapman was Manager, and then Senior Manager, in NAB’s Group Accounting Policy team. From 1995 through 2004, Mr. Chapman held various roles with Ernst & Young’s Financial Services Audit Division, including Group Manager of its Melbourne, Australia office’s Financial Services Audit practice, and he was seconded to Ernst & Young’s New York office from 1998 through 2000. Mr. Chapman has been a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia since 1998 and is currently a Fellow of the Institute.
Karlyn Knieriem has served as Great Western's Chief Risk Officer since 2018 and is also an Executive Vice President of the Company. Ms. Knieriem is responsible for the overall direction and operations of the risk across business and operational lines.
Risk Framework and Appetite
Our risk framework is structured to guide decisions regarding the appropriate balance between risk and return considerations in our business. Our risk framework is informed by our strategy, risk appetite and financial plans approved by our Board of Directors. This framework includes risk policies, procedures, limits, targets and reporting. Our Board of Directors approves our stated risk appetites, which set forth the amount and type of risk we are willing to accept in pursuit of our strategy, business and financial objectives. Our risk appetites provide the context for our risk management tools,department, including among others, risk policies, delegated authorities, limits, portfolio composition, underwriting standards and operational processes.
We manage risk through three lines of defense that allocate responsibility and accountability for risk management throughout our business. Our first line of defense is our business lines, credit and support functions, which are accountable for being aware of and managing the risks in their respective business areas and for operating within our established risk framework and appetite. Our second line of defense is our risk team, which provides monitoring, control, oversight and advice on risk to our business lines, credit and support functions across the enterprise, and our third line of defense is our internal audit function, which provides independent oversight that risks are being managed to an acceptable level and that our internal control frameworks are operating effectively.
CreditEnterprise Risk Management,
Credit risk is Bank Secrecy Act, Compliance and Loan Review. Ms. Knieriem joined our Bank in 2016 as Head of Enterprise Risk Management. Ms. Knieriem has 21 years of experience in the potential for loss arising fromfinancial services industry, including a customer, counterparty or issuer failing to meet its contractual obligations to us. Our strategy for managing credit risk includes well-defined, centralized credit policies, uniform underwriting criteria, clearly delegated authority levels and accountability, ongoing risk monitoring and review processes for credit exposures and portfolio diversification by geography, industry and customer. We segment our loan portfolio into17-year career with First National Bank of Omaha, where she worked in a number of senior leadership positions including 11 years as Vice President/Managing Director – Treasury.
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Steve Yose has served as the Company's Chief Credit Officer since May 2020 and is also an Executive Vice President of our Company. Mr. Yose is responsible for the overall direction and operations of the Credit Risk Management function, including loan and portfolio quality, and oversees our commercial credit and collection policies, procedures and processes. Mr. Yose has over 34 years of experience in the financial services industry, most recently serving as Chief Credit Officer at First Interstate Bank in Billings, MT. Previously, Mr. Yose worked for KeyCorp for 27 years where he held several leadership roles. Mr. Yose also serves as a Board Member and Chair of the Mid-Tier Bank Council for The Risk Management Association. He previously served as a member of the Regulatory Council, Puget Sound Chapter President, and Chapter Board member of The Risk Management Association. Mr. Yose has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics and a Master of Science degree in Agribusiness Management from Brigham Young University. He is an honors graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington and also completed the KeyBank Weatherhead School of Management program for Executives at Case Western Reserve University.
Supervision and Regulation
We and our subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation under federal and state banking laws that establish a comprehensive framework for our operations. This framework may materially impact our growth potential and financial performance and is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. Significant elements of the statutes, regulations and policies applicable to us and our subsidiaries are described below. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations and policies described.
Regulatory Agencies
Bank Holding Company Regulation. We are a bank holding company under the BHC Act. Consequently, we and our subsidiaries are subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Federal Reserve. The BHC Act provides generally for "umbrella" regulation of bank holding companies and functional regulation of holding company subsidiaries by applicable regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve has issued regulations under the BHC Act requiring a bank holding company to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve that, pursuant to this requirement, a bank holding company should stand ready to use its resources to provide adequate capital funds to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. Under this requirement, we are expected to commit resources to support our Bank, including at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. In the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
The FRB subjects the Company to its requirements on regulatory capital and maintaining cash reserves against its deposits. The FRB also regulates the national supply of bank credit in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, and affect the interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits. Fluctuations in interest rates, which may result from governmental fiscal policies and the monetary policies of the FRB, have a strong impact on the income derived from loans and securities, and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. While the Company and the Bank strive to model various interest rate changes and adjust our strategies for such changes, the level of earnings could be materially affected by economic circumstances beyond our control.
The BHC Act also requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire more than a 5% voting interest of any bank or bank holding company, or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. We must also be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to acquire a bank located outside of our home state. Additionally, the BHC Act restricts our non-banking activities to those which are determined by the Federal Reserve to be closely related to banking and a proper incident thereto. The Federal Reserve has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable grounds to believe that continuing such activity, ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary or the bank holding company.
Under FDICIA, a bank holding company is required to guarantee the compliance of any insured depository institution subsidiary that may become "undercapitalized" (as defined in FDICIA) with the terms of any capital restoration plan filed by such subsidiary with its appropriate federal bank regulatory agency.
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FDIC and SDDB Regulations. Our Bank is an FDIC-insured commercial bank chartered under the laws of South Dakota. It is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Consequently, the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking are the primary regulators of our Bank and also regulate our Bank’s subsidiaries. As a South Dakota-chartered commercial bank, our Bank's business is generally limited to activities permitted by South Dakota law and any applicable federal laws. Subject to prior approval by the Director of the SD Division of Banking, our Bank may also permissibly engage in any activity permissible as of January 1, 2008 for a national bank doing business in South Dakota. Our Bank is also restricted under South Dakota law from investing in certain types of investment securities and is generally limited in the amount of money it can lend to a single borrower or invest in securities issued by a single issuer (in each case, 20% of our Bank's capital stock and surplus plus 10% of our Bank's undivided profits). The Bank Merger Act and South Dakota law generally require our Bank to obtain prior regulatory approval to merger or consolidate with, or acquire substantially all of the assets of or assume deposits of, another bank.
In addition, we offer certain insurance and investment products through our Bank and our Bank's subsidiaries that are subject to regulation and supervision by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies and by the FINRA as a result of a contractual relationship we have with a third party broker-dealer relating to the provision of some wealth management and investment services to customers.
CFPB Regulations. We are also subject to the enforcement and rule-making authority of the CFPB regarding consumer financial products. The CFPB has authority to create and enforce consumer protection rules and regulations and has the power to examine our Bank for compliance with such rules and regulations. The CFPB also has the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, such as our Bank.
Acquisitions of Ownership of the Company
Acquisitions of the Company's voting stock above certain thresholds may be subject to prior regulatory notice or approval under applicable federal banking laws. Investors are responsible for ensuring that they do not, directly or indirectly, acquire shares of our stock in excess of the amount that can be acquired without regulatory approval or notice under the BHC Act and the Change in Bank Control Act.
Dividends
Our Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking and other subsidiaries. As a bank holding company, we are subject to certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations. Federal bank regulators are authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. Federal Reserve policy provides that a bank holding company should not pay dividends unless (1) the bank holding company's net income over the last four quarters (net of dividends paid) is sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the capital needs, asset classesquality and overall financial condition of the bank holding company and its subsidiaries and (3) the bank holding company will continue to meet minimum required capital adequacy ratios. The policy also provides that a bank holding company should inform the Federal Reserve reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for purposesthe period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the bank holding company's capital structure. Bank holding companies also are required to consult with the Federal Reserve before materially increasing dividends. The Federal Reserve could prohibit or limit the payment of developingdividends by a bank holding company if it determines that payment of the dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
Since substantially all of our income comes from dividends from our Bank, which is also the primary source of our liquidity, our ability to pay dividends and documentingrepurchase shares depends upon our receipt of dividends from our Bank. In addition to the restrictions discussed above, our Bank is subject to limitations under South Dakota law regarding the level of dividends that it may pay to us. In general, dividends by our Bank may only be declared from its net profits and may be declared no more than once per calendar quarter. The approval of the South Dakota Director of Banking is required if our Bank seeks to pay aggregate dividends during any calendar year that would exceed the sum of its net profits from the year to date and retained net profits from the preceding two years, minus any required transfers to surplus.
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Transactions with Affiliates
Transactions between our Bank and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and our Company or any other subsidiary, on the other hand, are regulated under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Act imposes quantitative and qualitative requirements and collateral requirements on covered transactions by our Bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B limit the extent to which our Bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of our Bank's capital stock and surplus, and contain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus, and requires those transactions to be on terms at least as favorable to our Bank as if the transaction were conducted with an unaffiliated third party. Covered transactions are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit, as well as a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets (unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Reserve) from the affiliate, certain derivative transactions that create a credit exposure to an affiliate, the acceptance of securities issued by the affiliate as collateral for a loan, and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate. In addition, any credit transactions with an affiliate must be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral.
Federal law also limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% (or greater) stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. In addition, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of non-repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons individually and in the aggregate.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The federal banking agencies have adopted the Interagency Guidelines for Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness. The guidelines establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, these guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. These guidelines also prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the bank regulator must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution may be subject under the FDIA. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action." If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the bank regulator may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
Deposit Insurance
FDIC Insurance Assessments. As an FDIC-insured bank, our Bank must pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC based on its average total assets minus its average tangible equity. Our Bank’s assessment rates are currently based on its risk classification (i.e., the level of risk it poses to the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund). Institutions classified as higher risk pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. With the acquisition of HF Financial in 2016, our total assets exceeded $10 billion as of the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Since our Bank's total consolidated assets have exceeded $10 billion for four consecutive quarters, the FDIC uses a performance score and a loss-severity score to calculate the assessment rate. In calculating these scores, the FDIC uses a bank’s capital level and regulatory supervisory ratings and certain financial measures to assess an institution’s ability to withstand asset-related stress and funding-related stress. The FDIC also has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score based upon significant risk factors that are not adequately captured in the calculations. In addition to ordinary assessments described above, the FDIC has the ability to impose special assessments in certain instances.
Other Assessments. In addition, the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 authorized the Financing Corporation to impose assessments on deposit insurance fund applicable deposits in order to service the interest on the Financing Corporation’s bond obligations from deposit insurance fund assessments. The amount assessed on individual institutions is in addition to the amount, if any, paid for deposit insurance according to the FDIC’s risk-related assessment rate schedules. Assessment rates may be adjusted quarterly to reflect changes in the assessment base.
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Interstate Branching
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2020 and other federal regulation, national and state-chartered banks, such as our Bank, may open an initial branch in a state other than its home state (e.g., a host state) by establishing a de novo branch at any location in such host state at which a bank chartered in such host state could establish a branch. Applications to establish such branches must still be filed with the appropriate primary federal regulator and, where applicable, the bank's state regulatory authority. As our Bank is a South Dakota state chartered bank, we are required to file branch applications with both the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking.
Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements
Banks are subject to the prohibitions of 12 U.S.C. Section 1972 on certain tying arrangements. We are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
Under the CRA, our Bank has an obligation, consistent with safe and sound operations, to help meet the credit needs of the market areas where it operates, which includes providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. In connection with its examination of our Bank, the FDIC is required to assess our Bank’s compliance with the CRA. Our Bank’s failure to comply with the CRA could, among other things, result in the denial or delay in certain corporate applications filed by us or our Bank, including applications for branch openings or relocations and applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or holding company. Our Bank received an overall rating of "satisfactory" in its most recently completed CRA examination.
Future Legislation and Regulation
Congress may enact legislation from time to time that affects the regulation of the financial services industry, and state legislatures may enact legislation from time to time affecting the regulation of financial institutions chartered by or operating in those states. Federal and state regulatory agencies also periodically propose and adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. The substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulation, or the application thereof, cannot be predicted, although enactment of the proposed legislation could impact the regulatory structure under which we operate and may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and modify our business strategy, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may be adversely affected, perhaps materially, as a result.
Depositor Preference
Under federal law, depositors (including the FDIC with respect to the subrogated claims of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as receiver would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims against such an institution in the "liquidation or other resolution" of such an institution by any receiver.
Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection
We are subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern our relationship with our customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM Act, and these laws' respective state law counterparts, as well as state usury laws and laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices. These and other federal laws, among other things, require disclosures of the cost of credit and terms of deposit accounts, provide substantive consumer rights, prohibit discrimination in credit transactions, regulate the use of credit report information, provide financial privacy protections, prohibit unfair, deceptive and abusive practices, restrict our ability to raise interest rates and subject us to substantial regulatory oversight.
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As a financial institution, our internal systems and vendor-outsourced storage solutions contain a significant amount of sensitive data, including personal information related to our customers. We are therefore subject to compliance obligations under federal and state information security laws, among others, including the GLB Act, which institute limitations on data sharing and require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers. In addition, the GLB Act requires all financial institutions to adopt privacy policies, restrict the sharing of nonpublic customer data with nonaffiliated parties and establishes procedures and practices to protect customer data from unauthorized access. In addition, the FCRA, as amended by the FACT Act, includes provisions affecting the Company, the Bank and their affiliates, including provisions concerning obtaining consumer reports, furnishing information to consumer reporting agencies, maintaining a program to prevent identity theft, sharing of certain information among affiliated companies and other provisions, including rules regarding limitations on affiliate marketing and implementation of programs to identify, detect and mitigate certain identity theft red flags.
We are also subject to various regulatory guidance as updated from time to time implemented by the FFIEC, an interagency body of the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the National Credit Union Administration and various state regulatory authorities. States and other jurisdictions may also enact laws regulating financial institutions' use of consumer data, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as well as the General Data Privacy Regulation adopted by the European Union.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a new, independent federal agency, the CFPB, which was granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection and privacy laws, such as the GLB Act, which have created a more intense and complex environment for consumer finance regulation. Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorneys' fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorney generals and state and local consumer protection agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements and obtain these and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by the state and local attorney generals in each jurisdiction in which we operate and civil money penalties. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.
Heightened Requirements for Bank Holding Companies with $10 Billion or More in Assets
Various federal banking laws and regulations, including rules adopted by the Federal Reserve pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, impose heightened requirements on certain large banks and bank holding companies. Most of these rules apply primarily to bank holding companies with at least $50 billion in total consolidated assets, but certain rules also apply to banks and bank holding companies with at least $10 billion in total consolidated assets. Because our Bank’s total consolidated assets equal or exceed $10 billion, we or our Bank, as applicable, among other requirements:
are subject to the maximum permissible interchange fee for swipe transactions, equal to no more than 21 cents plus 5 basis points of the transaction value for many types of debit interchange transactions;
calculate our FDIC deposit assessment base using the performance score and a loss-severity score system described above in "—Deposit Insurance;" and
are examined for compliance with federal consumer protection laws primarily by the CFPB as described above in "—Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection."
The Volcker Rule
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits insured depository institutions and their holding companies from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and prohibits them from owning equity interests in excess of three percent (3%) of Tier 1 Capital in private equity and hedge funds (known as the "Volcker Rule"). The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act and subsequent promulgation of inter-agency final rules have aimed at simplifying and tailoring requirements related to the Volcker Rule. In August 2019, the agencies modified the rule to, among other things, eliminate collection of certain metrics and reduce the compliance burdens associated with the remaining metrics requirements, depending on the banking entity's total consolidated trading assets and liabilities. The regulatory agencies continue to consider additional proposals to simplify or eliminate other aspects of the Volcker Rule. Due to the changing regulatory landscape, we will continue to evaluate the implications of the Volcker Rules on our investments, including new impacts as a result of the changes, but we do not expect any material financial implications.
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Incentive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal bank regulators and the SEC to maintain guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including us and our Bank, that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. Failure to comply can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk management procedurescontrol or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization’s safety and determining associatedsoundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
Regulatory Capital Requirements, Basel III and the Capital Rules
The Federal Reserve monitors our capital adequacy on a consolidated basis, and the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking monitor the capital adequacy of our Bank based on the Capital Rules, also known as the Basel III Capital Rules, which went into effect January 1, 2015, subject to certain phase-in provisions. The risk-based guidelines are intended to make regulatory capital requirements sensitive to differences in credit and market risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to weighted risk categories, and capital is classified in one of the following tiers depending on its characteristic:
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ("CET1 capital") for us includes common equity, surplus and retained earnings less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets. The Capital Rules require bank holding companies and banks to include AOCI into CET1 capital unless the bank and bank holding company use a one-time election to exclude AOCI from its regulatory capital metrics on January 1, 2015. We elected to exclude AOCI from CET1 capital.
Tier 1 (Core) Capital ("Tier 1 capital") for us includes CET1 capital and qualifying trust preferred securities at the holding company level, less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets.
Tier 2 (Supplementary) Capital ("Tier 2 capital") for us includes qualifying subordinated debt and a limited amount of allowance for loan and lease losses.
Bank holding companies and banks are also currently required to comply with minimum leverage requirements, measured based on the ratio of a bank holding company’s or a bank’s, as applicable, Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets (as defined for regulatory purposes). These requirements generally necessitate a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all bank holding companies and banks. To be considered "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, our Bank must maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage ratios of at least 5%. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
As of January 1, 2019, the Basel III Capital Rules require banking organizations to maintain:
a minimum ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% "capital conservation buffer" (which is added to the 4.5% CET1 capital ratios as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.0%);
a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%);
a minimum ratio of total capital (that is, Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0% plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%); and
a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average consolidated assets.
The current Capital Rules also include a capital conservation buffer designed to absorb losses including CRE, agriculture, commercial non-real estate, real estate, consumerduring periods of economic stress. The capital conservation buffer is composed entirely of CET1 capital, on top of these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. In addition, the Capital Rules provide for a countercyclical capital buffer applicable only to certain covered institutions. We do not expect the countercyclical capital buffer to be applicable to us or our Bank. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.
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The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1 capital. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, certain deferred tax assets and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 capital to the extent that any one such category exceeds 25% of CET1 capital or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1 capital. Implementation of the deductions and other lending. Foradjustments to CET1 capital began on January 1, 2015 and were phased in over a discussionfour-year period (beginning at 40% on January 1, 2015 and an additional 20% per year thereafter). The Capital Rules also generally preclude certain hybrid securities, such as trust preferred securities, from being counted as Tier 1 capital for most bank holding companies. Bank holding companies such as us who had less than $15 billion in assets as of our underwriting standards, see “—Loans—Underwriting Principles.”December 31, 2009 (and who continue to have less than $15 billion in assets) are permitted to include trust preferred securities issued prior to May 19, 2010 as Additional Tier 1 capital under the Capital Rules.

The Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings that, depending on the nature of the assets, generally range from 0% for U.S. government securities, 20%-50% for U.S. government agencies and municipal bonds, 0%-150% for loans and up to 600% for certain equity exposures.

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We emphasize regular credit examinations and management reviews of loans with deteriorating credit quality as part of our credit risk management strategy. As part of this process, we perform assessments of asset quality, compliance with commercial and consumer credit policies and other critical credit information. We also monitor and update risk ratings on our non-consumer loans on an ongoing basis. With respect to consumer loans,our Bank, the Capital Rules also revised the prompt corrective action regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the FDIA. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
We believe that, as of September 30, 2020, we typicallyand our Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Capital Rules.
On December 21, 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to (i) address the upcoming implement of the CECL accounting standard under GAAP; (ii) provide an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects that banking organizations are expected to experience upon adopting CECL; and (iii) require the use of CECL in stress tests beginning with the 2020 capital planning and stress testing cycle for certain banking organizations. The Company adopted the standard in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. Our CECL allowance methodology will be driven by our new credit scoring systemssystem, our charge-off history and adjusted for the economic outlook as provided by Oxford Economics. The Company is currently finalizing controls, processes, policies and disclosures and has completed parallel runs. The Company continues its implementation efforts and is in process of determining the final impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and regulatory capital ratios. The impact of the adoption will depend on the composition, characteristics and credit quality of the loan portfolio as well as economic conditions and forecast as of the adoption date. The CECL standard does not apply to assess our credit risks. We also relythe fair value portfolio and as such there will be no change to this portfolio upon adoption of this standard..
Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action
Federal law requires, among other things, that federal bank regulatory authorities take "prompt corrective action" with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For such purposes, the law establishes five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized.
As a result of the Basel III Rules, new definitions of the relevant measures for the five capital categories took effect on January 1, 2015. An institution is deemed to be "well capitalized" if it has a dedicated risk asset review teamtotal risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, and a leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to provide independent assurance of portfolio asset qualitya regulatory order, agreements, or directive to meet and policy compliance.
We have well-established procedures for managing loans that either show early signs of weakness or appear to have actually weakened. These procedures include movingmaintain a loan to our “watch” list when we have early concerns. Loans on our watch list receive more intense focus, along with more senior-level monitoring and reporting, a requirement of higher credit authority approvalspecific capital level for any further lending increasecapital measure.
An institution is deemed to be "adequately capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5% or greater, and generally a leverage capital ratio of 4.0% or greater. The Capital Rules do not change the total risk-based capital requirements for any prompt corrective action plans for improving the prospects for such loans. Loans thatcategory.
As of September 30, 2020, we rate “substandard” (or lower) that are over $250,000 will generally fall under the management or consultation of our strategic business services team ("SBS"), our specialist loan rehabilitations, workout and other real estate owned ("OREO") asset team. These loans are actively managed, with the primary goal of SBS rehabilitating the loans to “performing” status. If rehabilitation is not feasible, a loan workout strategy is developed and put into execution to maximize our bank’s recovery of loan proceeds and other costs to which the bank is legally entitled. SBS also oversees the litigation of troubled assets, when appropriate. In addition, appropriate reserves and charge-offs are made based on assessment of potential realization levels and related costs.
Our non-lending activities also give rise to credit risk, including exposures resulting from our investment in securities and our entryBank were well capitalized with Tier 1 capital ratios of 11.8% and 11.7%, respectively, total capital ratios of 13.3% and 13.0%, respectively, Tier 1 leverage ratios of 9.4% and 9.3%, respectively, and a CET1 capital ratio of 11.0% and 11.7%, respectively, as calculated under Basel III which went into interest rate swap contracts.effect on January 1, 2015. For more information on these activities,financial measures, including reconciliations to our and our Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio, see “Item"Item 7. Management’sManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—AnalysisCapital."
An institution is deemed to be "undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.5%, or generally a leverage capital ratio of less than 4.0%. An institution is deemed to be "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0%, or a leverage capital ratio of less than 3.0%. An institution is deemed to be "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%.
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"Undercapitalized" institutions are subject to growth, capital distribution (including dividend), and other limitations, and are required to submit a capital restoration plan and adequate assurances of performance. An institution's compliance with such a plan is required to be guaranteed by any company that controls the undercapitalized institution in an amount equal to the lesser of 5.0% of the bank's total assets when deemed undercapitalized or the amount necessary to achieve the status of adequately capitalized. If an undercapitalized institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is "significantly undercapitalized". Significantly undercapitalized institutions are subject to one or more additional restrictions including, but not limited to, an order by the FDIC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized; requirements to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks, or dismiss directors or officers; and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers, and capital distributions by the parent holding company. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions and capital distributions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except in accordance with an accepted capital restoration plan or with the approval of the FDIC.
Beginning 60 days after becoming "critically undercapitalized", critically undercapitalized institutions also may not make any payment of principal or interest on certain subordinated debt, extend credit for a highly leveraged transaction, or enter into any material transaction outside the ordinary course of business. In addition, subject to a narrow exception, the appointment of a receiver is required for a critically undercapitalized institution within 270 days after it obtains such status.
In addition, the FDIA prohibits an insured depository institution from accepting brokered deposits or offering interest rates on any deposits significantly higher than the prevailing rate in the bank’s normal market area or nationally (depending upon where the deposits are solicited), unless it is well capitalized or is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver from the FDIC. A depository institution that is adequately capitalized and accepts brokered deposits under a waiver from the FDIC may not pay an interest rate on any deposit in excess of 75 basis points over certain prevailing market rates.
Institutions that are undercapitalized or significantly undercapitalized and either fail to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fail to implement an approved capital restoration plan 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 undercapitalized depository institutions failing to submit or implement an acceptable capital restoration plan are subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator. As of September 30, 2020, our Bank was "well capitalized" based on the existing ratios and the ratios as modified by Basel III Capital Rules.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA PATRIOT ACT
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds from crime, including the BSA, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. such as the Department of the Treasury's FinCEN and the FFIEC. A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. We are required, as part of our BSA/AML program, to designate a BSA Officer, maintain a BSA/AML training program, maintain internal controls to effectuate the BSA/AML program, implement independent testing of the BSA/AML program, and as of May 11, 2018, comply with FinCEN's new CDD Rule. The CDD Rule adds a new requirement for us to identify and verify the identity of natural persons ("beneficial owners") of legal entity customers who own, control and profit from companies when those companies open accounts.
Financial Condition—Investments”institutions are prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and “Itemaccount relationships and must use enhanced due diligence procedures in their dealings with certain types of high-risk customers and implement a written customer identification program. Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions. Among other provisions, the USA Patriot Act requires financial institutions to have anti-money laundering programs in place and requires banking regulators to consider a holding company's effectiveness in combating-money laundering when ruling on certain merger or acquisition applications. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including civil money penalties and causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
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Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
The U.S. Treasury Department’s OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. We and our Bank are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
Environmental Laws Potentially Impacting the Bank
We are subject to state and federal environmental laws and regulations. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, ("CERCLA"), is a federal statute that generally imposes strict liability on all prior and present "owners and operators" of sites containing hazardous waste. However, Congress acted to protect secured creditors by providing that the term "owner and operator" excludes a person whose ownership is limited to protecting its security interest in the site. Since the enactment of the CERCLA, this "secured creditor exemption" has been the subject of judicial interpretations which have left open the possibility that lenders could be liable for cleanup costs on contaminated property that they hold as collateral for a loan, which costs often substantially exceed the value of the property.
Available Information
Our internet address is www.greatwesternbank.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website (by clicking on the Investor Relations link at the bottom of the page) as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing or furnishing of such material with the SEC.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a significant degree of risk. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, in addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks, as well as risks that we do not know or currently deem immaterial, could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and/or financial condition. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose some or all of your investment. Further, to the extent that any of the information in this report, or in other reports we file with the SEC, constitutes forward-looking statements, the risk factors below are cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
Economic Risk
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant global economic downturn which has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business and results of operations, and the future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition remain uncertain.
COVID-19, which has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, continues to cause economic disruption both worldwide and in the markets we operate, as well as a destabilization effect on financial markets. The ultimate impacts of COVID-19 are uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The extent of these impacts will depend on future developments, including among others, governmental, regulatory and private sector actions and responses, new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19, and actions taken to contain or prevent further spread, each of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Our business is dependent upon the ability and willingness of our customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions, including the payment of loan obligations. COVID-19 has and continues to disrupt the business, activities, and operations of our customers, which may cause a decline in demand for our products and services which may, in turn, result in a significant decrease in our business, negatively impacting our liquidity position and financial results. Our financial results could also be impacted due to an inability of our customers to meet their loan commitments because of their losses associated with the effects of COVID-19, resulting in increased risk of delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, declining collateral values and other losses to our Bank. Moreover, current and future governmental action may temporarily require the Company to conduct business differently with respect to foreclosures, repossessions, payments, deferrals and other customer-related transactions.
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Although the Company has established a pandemic response plan and procedures, our workforce has been, is, and may continue to be impacted by COVID-19. We are taking precautions to protect the safety and well-being of our employees and customers, including temporary branch and office closures, but no assurance can be given that our actions will be adequate or appropriate, nor can we predict the level of disruption which will occur to our employees’ ability to provide customer support and service. The spread could also negatively impact availability of key personnel and employee productivity, as well as the business and operations of third-party service providers who perform critical services for us, which could adversely impact our ability to deliver products and services to our customers.
Economic conditions have affected and could continue to adversely affect our revenues and profits.
Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of our borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services that we offer, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets in which we operate and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and investor confidence and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment; natural disasters; terrorist attacks; or a combination of these or other factors.
An economic downturn or sustained, high unemployment levels, and stock market volatility may negatively impact our operating results and have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans increasing the risk of loan defaults and losses.
Changes in economic or political conditions could adversely affect our earnings, as the ability of our borrowers to repay loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans, declines.
Our success depends, to a certain extent, upon economic or political conditions, local and national, as well as governmental monetary policies. Conditions such as recession, unemployment, changes in interest rates, inflation, money supply, and other factors beyond our control may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels, and loan demand and, therefore, our earnings. Because we have a significant amount of commercial real estate loans, decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral. Adverse changes in the economy may also have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans, which would have an adverse impact on our earnings. In addition, substantially all of our loans are to individuals and businesses in our market area. Consequently, any economic decline in our primary market areas, which include Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, could have an adverse impact on our earnings.
Changes in U.S. trade policies and other factors beyond our Company’s control, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There continues to be discussions with respect to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting other countries, including China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico and retaliatory tariffs by such countries. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been imposed, and additional tariffs and retaliation tariffs have been proposed. Such tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export, including among others, agricultural products, could cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customer margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and ability to service debt; which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future.
On October 1, 2018, the United States, Canada and Mexico agreed to a new trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020. The full impact of the USMCA on us, our customers and on the economic conditions in our states is currently unknown and, thus, could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We are subject to interest rate risk which, among other things, could affect our earnings and the value of certain of our assets.
Our earnings and cash flows are largely dependent on net interest income. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as economic conditions, competition and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, and, in particular, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and investments and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but these changes could also affect: (i) our ability to originate loans and obtain deposits; (ii) the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, including our securities portfolio; and (iii) the average duration of our interest-earning assets. This also includes the risk that interest-earning assets may be more responsive to changes in interest rates than interest-bearing liabilities, or vice versa (repricing risk), the risk that the individual interest rates or rate indices underlying various interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities may not change in the same degree over a given time period (basis risk), and the risk of changing interest rate relationships across the spectrum of interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability maturities (yield curve risk), including a prolonged flat or inverted yield curve environment. Any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
As of September 30, 2020, 46.5% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a variable or adjustable-rate basis and another 6.5% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a fixed-rate basis where we utilized derivative instruments to swap our economic exposure to a variable-rate basis. As a result, an increase in interest rates could result in increased loan defaults, foreclosures and charge-offs and could necessitate further increases to the allowance for loan and lease losses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a decrease in interest rates could negatively impact our margins and profitability.
As of September 30, 2020, we had $2.59 billion of noninterest-bearing demand deposits and $8.42 billion of interest-bearing demand deposits. If we need to offer higher interest rates on checking accounts to maintain current clients or attract new clients, our interest expense will increase, perhaps materially. Furthermore, if we fail to offer interest in a sufficient amount to keep these demand deposits, our core deposits may be reduced, which would require us to obtain funding in other ways or risk slowing our future asset growth.
Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect our earnings.
Our Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, our Bank is subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. We generally cannot control the amount of premiums our Bank will be required to pay for FDIC insurance. As our Bank has exceeded $10 billion in assets, the method for calculating its FDIC assessments has changed and our Bank’s FDIC assessments have increased as a result. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Deposit Insurance." In fiscal year 2020, our deposit insurance premium increased $3.2 million, primarily as a result of the impairment of goodwill recognized during the period. If there is an increase in financial institution failures, or a decrease in the performance of our Bank, our Bank may be required to pay higher FDIC insurance premiums, or the FDIC may charge additional special assessments. Future increases of FDIC insurance premiums or special assessments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Credit and Interest Rate Risk
We focus on originating business and agricultural loans which may involve greater risk than residential mortgage lending.
We originate commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, agricultural real estate loans, agricultural loans, consumer loans, and residential real estate loans primarily within our market areas. Commercial real estate, commercial, consumer, and agricultural real estate and operating loans may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate because the collateral securing these loans may not be sold as easily as residential real estate. These loans also have greater credit risk than residential real estate for the following reasons:
Commercial Real Estate Loans. Repayment is dependent upon income being generated in amounts sufficient to cover operating and debt service.
Commercial Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the borrower’s business.
Consumer Loans. Consumer Loans (such as personal lines of credit) are collateralized, if at all, with assets that may not provide an adequate source of payment on the loan due to depreciation, damage or loss.
Agricultural Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the business, which is greatly dependent on many things outside our control or the borrowers. These factors include weather, input costs, commodity and land prices and interest rates.
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As of September 30, 2020, our business lending, which consists of our CRE and commercial non-real estate loans, represented approximately $7.46 billion, or 73.8%, of our loan portfolio. Our CRE loans secured by owner-occupied property and commercial non-real estate loans secured by business assets and guarantees from owners, which together form the core of our business banking focus, totaled approximately $3.59 billion, or 35.5%, of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2020, with undisbursed loan commitments for these loans amounting to an additional $929.6 million. We also had approximately $3.86 billion of other CRE loans (i.e., construction and development loans, multifamily residential real estate loans and CRE loans secured by commercial property that is not owner-occupied) at September 30, 2020, or 38.2% of our loan portfolio.
Within our CRE and commercial non-real estate loan portfolio we have identified the following segments with elevated risk: hotels & resorts with $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of our loan portfolio, restaurants with $156.5 million, or 1.6% of our loan portfolio, arts and entertainment with $130.3 million, or 1.3% of our loan portfolio, senior care with $330.7 million, or 3.3% of our loan portfolio, and skilled nursing with $250.9 million, or 2.5% of our loan portfolio, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of our loan portfolio.
At September 30, 2020, our agricultural loans, consisting primarily of agricultural operating loans (e.g., loans to farm and ranch owners and operators) and agricultural real estate loans, were $1.72 billion, representing 17.1% of our total loan portfolio. At September 30, 2020, agricultural operating loans totaled $886.8 million, or 8.8% of our loan portfolio; and agricultural real estate loans totaled $837.5 million, or 8.3%, of our loan portfolio. The primary livestock of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include dairy cows, hogs and feeder cattle, and the primary crops of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include corn, soybeans and, to a lesser extent, wheat and cotton. In addition, we estimate that 7.6% of our commercial non-real estate loans and owner-occupied CRE loans were agriculture-related loans at September 30, 2020.
Our business is significantly dependent on the real estate markets where we operate, as a significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate.
At September 30, 2020, 68.6% of our aggregate loan portfolio, comprising our CRE loans (representing 52.2% of our aggregate loan portfolio), residential real estate loans (representing 8.1% of our aggregate loan portfolio) and agriculture real estate loans (representing 8.3% of our aggregate loan portfolio), was primarily secured by interests in real estate predominantly located in the states in which we operate. In addition, some of our other lending occasionally involves taking real estate as primary or secondary collateral. Real property values in these states may be different from, and in some instances worse than, real property values in other markets or in the United States as a whole, and may be affected by a variety of factors outside of our control and the control of our borrowers, including national and local economic conditions generally. Declines in real property prices, including prices for homes, commercial properties and farmland, in the states in which we operate could result in a deterioration of the credit quality of our borrowers, an increase in the number of loan delinquencies, defaults and charge-offs, and reduced demand for our products and services generally. Our CRE loans, in particular, totaled approximately $5.27 billion at September 30, 2020, or 52.2% of our loan portfolio, and may have a greater risk of loss than residential mortgage loans, in part because these loans are generally larger or more complex to underwrite, monitor and service. Agricultural real estate loans may be affected by similar factors to those that affect agricultural loans generally, including adverse weather conditions, disease and declines in the market prices for agricultural products or farm real estate. In addition, declines in real property values in the states in which we operate could reduce the value of any collateral we realize following a default on these loans and could adversely affect our ability to continue to grow our loan portfolio consistent with our underwriting standards. Our failure to effectively mitigate these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our business depends on our ability to successfully manage credit risk.
The operation of our business requires us to manage credit risk. As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that our borrowers will be unable to repay their loans according to their terms, and that the collateral securing repayment of their loans, if any, may not be sufficient to ensure repayment. In addition, there are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks with respect to the period of time over which the loan may be repaid, risks relating to proper loan underwriting, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions and risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers. In order to successfully manage credit risk, we must, among other things, maintain disciplined and prudent underwriting standards and ensure that our bankers follow those standards. The weakening of these standards for any reason, such as an attempt to attract higher yielding loans, a lack of discipline or diligence by our employees in underwriting and monitoring loans, our inability to adequately adapt policies and procedures to changes in economic or any other conditions affecting borrowers may negatively impact the quality of our loan portfolio, result in loan defaults, foreclosures and additional charge-offs and necessitate that we significantly increase our allowance for loan and lease losses. As a result, our inability to successfully manage credit risk could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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An important feature of our credit risk management system is our use of analytical and forecasting models in such processes as determining the pricing of various products, grading loans and extending credit, measuring interest rate and other market risks, estimating the effects of economic conditions on our loan portfolio, predicting losses, assessing capital adequacy and regulatory capital levels, as well as estimating the value of financial instruments and balance sheet items. Those models reflect certain assumptions about both quantitative and qualitative factors, including among others, interest rates and consumer behavior that may be incorrect. If our analytical and forecasting models' underlying assumptions are incorrect, improperly applied, or otherwise inadequate, we may suffer deleterious effects such as higher than expected loan losses, lower than expected net interest income, lower than expected liquidity, lower than expected capital or unanticipated charge-offs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If our actual loan losses exceed our allowance for loan losses, our net income will decrease.
We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans. Despite our underwriting and monitoring practices, the effect of a declining economy could negatively impact the ability of our borrowers to repay loans in a timely manner and could also negatively impact collateral values. As a result, we may experience significant loan losses that could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Since we must use assumptions regarding individual loans and the economy, our current allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses. Our assumptions may not anticipate the severity or duration of the current credit cycle; and we may need to significantly increase our provision for losses on loans if one or more of our larger loans or credit relationships becomes delinquent or if we expand our commercial real estate and commercial lending.
Additionally, subsequent to this fiscal year-end we adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”) effective October 1, 2020. This standard requires financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit. This changes the current method of providing allowances for credit losses that are probable, which requires us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and may greatly increase the types of data we need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. In addition, federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase the provision for loan losses or recognize loan charge-offs. For additional discussion, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—2. New Accounting Standards." Material additions to our allowance through provision expense would materially decrease our net income. There can be no assurance that our monitoring procedures and policies will reduce certain lending risks or that our allowance for loan losses will be adequate to cover actual losses.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our Bank branches and any real estate collateral we acquire upon foreclosure.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. The costs associated with investigation and remediation activities could be substantial. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage, including damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating foreclosure, these actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards.
We also have an extensive branch network, owning separate branch locations throughout the areas we serve that may be subject to similar environmental liability risks. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and could materially reduce the affected property's value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Failure to comply with mortgage loan servicing standards, guidelines, laws and regulations, including the CARES Act, may result in substantial penalties, additional costs or losses.
As a residential mortgage servicer in the U.S., we have a portfolio of loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right is the right to service a mortgage loan (ie: collect principal, interest and escrow amounts) for a fee. The housing GSE, such as FNMA, the FHLMC and the FHLB, that own the mortgages that we service in our loan servicing rights portfolio have mortgage servicing standards. HUD and state housing finance agencies govern and establish guidelines for the servicing of GSE mortgages. The failure to comply with these standards and guidelines, as well as other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, could result in penalties assessed by HUD, the GSEs and/or our other regulators, or we could be forced to sell all or part of our loan servicing rights portfolio. In addition, we are subject to certain legal and contractual requirements for how we hold, transfer, use or enforce promissory notes, security instruments and other documents for residential mortgage loans that we service. Further, we currently use MERS for our servicing efforts. If documentation requirements were not met, or if the use of MERS or the MERS system is found not valid or effective, we could be obligated to, or choose to, take remedial actions and may be subject to additional costs or losses.
As a result of the CARES Act and associated regulations, customers of a federally backed mortgage loan (VA, FHA, USDA, Freddie and Fannie) experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic have the ability to request forbearance from paying their mortgage by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer affirming their financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency which includes granting a forbearance or deferral with no additional fees, penalties or interest, and with no adverse effects on the borrower’s credit. Foreclosures and evictions are prohibited during timeframes set by the GSEs. The Bank established new and updated existing policies, procedures and a change management process to facilitate the new CARES Act requirements, however, due to the extremely short implementation timeframes, and some ambiguity in the regulations, we are exposed to risks relating to noncompliance, and/or risk that errors may occur, subjecting the Bank to further regulatory, litigation, and/or operational risk, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on the mortgage secondary market for some of our liquidity.
We originate and sell a majority of our residential mortgage loans and their servicing rights, including $496.9 million of predominantly fixed rate residential mortgage loans sold during fiscal year 2020. This does not include the loan servicing portfolio acquired from HF Financial, approximately $389.3 million, and portfolio loans consisting of ARMs and other non-conforming loans of approximately $830.1 million, each at September 30, 2020. We rely on FNMA and other purchasers to purchase loans in order to reduce our credit risk and provide funding for additional loans we desire to originate. We cannot provide assurance that these purchasers will not materially limit their purchases from us due to capital constraints or other factors, including, with respect to FNMA, a change in the criteria for conforming loans. Any reforms to the U.S. residential mortgage finance market, including the role of FNMA, which are not yet known, may limit our ability to sell conforming loans to FNMA. Our inability to comply with all federal and state regulations and investor guidelines regarding the origination, underwriting documentation and servicing of residential mortgage loans may also impact our ability to continue selling residential mortgage loans in the secondary market, effecting our ability to fund, and thus originate, additional residential mortgage loans, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may conduct.
If any of our representations and warranties to a purchaser about our mortgage loans and the manner in which they were originated and serviced is incorrect, we may be required to indemnify the purchaser for any related losses, or we may be required to repurchase or provide substitute mortgage loans for part or all of the affected loans. We may also be required to repurchase loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default by the borrower on a loan we have sold. If repurchase or indemnity activity becomes material, it could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may also, from time to time, engage in selling or participating all or part of certain commercial, agricultural or other types of loans. Such sales entail similar risks to those described above.
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Uncertainty relating to LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR may adversely affect us.
On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calibration of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, debentures, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans and securities in our portfolio and may impact the availability and cost of hedging instruments and borrowings. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement substitute indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers, we may incur significant expenses in effecting the transition, and may be subject to disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute indices, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Loans that we make through certain federal programs are dependent on the federal government’s continuation and support of these programs and on our compliance with their requirements.
We participate in various U.S. government agency guarantee programs, including programs operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Farm Service Administration and the United States Department of the Interior. If we fail to follow any applicable regulations, guidelines or policies associated with a particular guarantee program, any loans we originate as part of that program may lose the associated guarantee, exposing us to credit risk we would not otherwise be exposed to or underwritten, or result in our inability to continue originating loans under such programs, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Federal and state governments have enacted laws intending to stimulate the economy in light of the business and market disruptions related to COVID-19, including the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). Our Bank participated as a lender in both rounds of the PPP, providing $727.3 million in loans to over 4,800 customers.We understand that PPP loans are fully guaranteed by the SBA and believe the majority of these loans will be forgiven. However, there can be no assurance that the borrowers will use or have used the funds appropriately or will have satisfied the staffing or payment requirements to qualify for forgiveness in whole or in part. Any portion of the loan that is not forgiven must be repaid by the borrower. 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 our Bank, which may or may not be related to an ambiguity in the laws, rules or guidance regarding operation of the PPP, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if we have already been paid under the guaranty, seek recovery from us of any loss related to the deficiency. Several other large banks have been subject to litigation regarding the process and procedures that such banks used in processing applications for the PPP. We and our Bank may be exposed to the risk of litigation, from both customers and non-customers that approached the Bank regarding PPP loans and our PPP process. If any such litigation is filed against the Bank and is not resolved in a manner favorable to the Bank, it may result in significant financial liability or adversely affect our reputation. In addition, litigation can be costly, regardless of outcome. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP related litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information, or from those customers or counterparties or of other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate, fraudulent or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could result in loan and lease losses, reputational damage or other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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COVID-19 could have negative effects on our hospitality and CRE loans, including loans to hotels, restaurants and health care facilities, which are dependent for repayment on the successful operation and management of the CRE, the strength of the CRE industry broadly and other factors outside of the borrower’s control.
In response to COVID-19, many state and local governments have ordered certain restrictions on non-essential businesses and residents. Certain industries have been particularly hard hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. At September 30, 2020, we had outstanding loans to hotels & resorts of $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of total loans, restaurants of $156.5 million, or 1.6% of total loans, arts and entertainment of $130.3 million, or 1.3% of total loans, senior care of $330.7 million, or 3.3% of total loans, and skilled nursing of $250.9 million, or 2.5% of total loans, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of total loans. Our CRE loans are dependent on the profitable operation and management of the property securing the loan and its cash flows. The continued spread of COVID-19 could result in further reduction of demand for hotel rooms and related lodging and entertainment services in general, reduction in business and personal travel, reduction in discretionary spending by our borrowers’ customers, increases in employee health related costs for our customers, operational cost increases due to potential labor, food, energy, water, transportation shortages, government forced closures and travel restrictions, or other unanticipated costs related to such force majeure events like COVID-19. These conditions can also lead to a decline in property sales prices and related assets and properties planned for development. Revenues may decline more quickly than borrowers are able to reduce expenses.
If repercussions of the outbreak are prolonged, COVID-19 could have a significant adverse impact, which could be material to our borrowers, by reducing the revenue and cash flows of our borrowers, impacting the borrowers’ ability to repay the loan, increasing the risk of default by our borrowers and/or reducing the foreclosure value of CRE that serves as collateral for certain of our loans. Loans may also be secured by depreciating assets where any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. Any of the foregoing could negatively impact our borrowers, and their financial results, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities
The value of securities in our investment portfolio may decline in the future.
As of September 30, 2020, we owned $1.77 billion of investment securities. The fair value of our investment securities may be adversely affected by market conditions, including changes in interest rates, and the occurrence of any events adversely affecting the issuer of particular securities in our investments portfolio. We analyze our securities on a quarterly basis to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. The process for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary usually requires complex, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer 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 issuers, we may be required to recognize other-than-temporary impairment in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to declare and pay dividends is now subject to additional regulatory restrictions and we may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive only such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily on our receipt of dividends from our Bank, the payment of which is subject to numerous limitations under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Dividends." As a consequence of these various limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate, the payment of dividends on our common stock. In addition, as a bank holding company our ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Due to negative retained earnings, primarily as a result of $713.0 million of impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company and our Bank are now required to notify the FRB and the FDIC and SDDB, respectively, prior to declaring and paying a cash dividend from our Bank to the Company and to our shareholders.
During fiscal year 2020, our Board of Directors reduced our dividend paid in the third fiscal quarter to $0.15 per share, from $0.30 per share paid in the second fiscal quarter, and then further reduced the dividend paid to $0.01 per share in the fourth fiscal quarter primarily as a result of the uncertainties and impacts of COVID-19. Any further changes in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof by our Board of Directors could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
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We may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely as a publicly listed company if we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any circumvention of our controls and procedures, or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NYSE.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.
We may need to raise additional capital, in the form of additional debt or equity, in the future to have sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and fund our business needs and future growth, particularly if the quality of our assets or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, as well as on acceptable terms, if needed, will depend on, among other things, our credit rating, confidence of debt purchasers, conditions in the capital markets at that time, counterparties participating in the capital markets or other disruption in capital markets and our financial condition. Economic conditions and a loss of confidence in financial institutions may increase our cost of funding and limit access to certain customary sources of capital, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the discount window of the Federal Reserve System. Further, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may need to compete for investors when seeking to raise capital. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have been rated as "BBB" with a negative outlook by Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“KBRA”). A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Our creditworthiness is not fixed and should be expected to change over time as a result of our performance and industry conditions. We cannot give any assurances that our credit ratings will remain at current levels, and it is possible that our ratings could be lowered or withdrawn by KBRA.Any actual or threatened downgrade or withdrawal of our credit rating could affect our perception in the marketplace and our ability to raise capital, and could increase our debt financing costs.
Future issues or sales of our capital stock in the public market could lower our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders.
Any capital we obtain may result in the dilution of the interests of existing holders of our common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the issues or sales of a large number of shares of our capital stock or from the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also may make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital by selling equity securities in the future, at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
On June 1, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC registering an indeterminate amount of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and debt securities which we may decide to issue in the future. To the extent that we choose to issue our common stock or our preferred stock, or rights relating to our common stock or preferred stock (through the issuance of depositary shares), such issuances will increase the number of our shares of capital stock outstanding and the holders of these shares will be able to sell them in the public market. The specific terms of any shares of capital stock that may be issued under our shelf registration statement will be determined by us prior to issuance based on current market conditions and will be described in a supplement to the prospectus contained in such registration statement.
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC registering 1,497,222 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our equity incentive plans. We have granted awards covering 1,137,092 shares of our common stock under these plans as of September 30, 2020. Subject to stockholder approval, we may increase the number of shares registered for this purpose from time to time. Once we issue these shares, their holders will be able to sell them in the public market.
Certain banking laws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our stockholders. Acquisition of 10% or more of any class of voting stock of a bank holding company or depository institution, including shares of our common stock, generally creates a rebuttable presumption that the acquirer "controls" the bank holding company or depository institution and the acquisition of such control would be subject to federal regulatory approval. In addition, a bank holding company must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before, among other things, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, including our Bank.
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There also are provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, such as limitations on the ability to call a special meeting of our stockholders, and the classification of our Board of Directors into three separate classes each serving for three-year terms, that may be used to delay or block a takeover attempt. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to issue shares of preferred stock, and determine the rights, terms, conditions and privileges of such preferred stock, without stockholder approval. These provisions may effectively inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We have also elected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which generally prohibits a person qualifying as an "interested stockholder" from entering into a transaction for a business combination with us unless, subject to certain exceptions, such transaction is first approved by our Board of Directors. An "interested stockholder" is generally defined as any person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. The purpose of this election is to provide our Board of Directors with leverage in negotiating with an interested stockholder desiring to pursue a business combination with us by making it more difficult for such stockholder to complete such transaction in the absence of board approval. This election may discourage certain take-over attempts which our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests and this, in turn, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We are required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength for our Bank in times of stress.
Under federal law and longstanding Federal Reserve policy, we are expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to our Bank, and to commit resources to support our Bank if necessary. We may be required to commit additional resources to our Bank at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources or when it may not be in our, or our stockholders’ or creditors’, best interests to do so. Providing such support is more likely during times of financial stress for us and our Bank, which may make any capital we are required to raise to provide such support more expensive than it might otherwise be. In addition, any capital loans we make to our Bank are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of our Bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal banking regulator to maintain the capital of our Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
We may be subject to more stringent capital requirements in the future.
We are subject to current and changing regulatory requirements specifying minimum amounts and types of capital that we must maintain, which if we fail, we or our subsidiaries may be restricted in the types of activities we may conduct and we may be prohibited from taking certain capital actions, such as paying dividends and repurchasing or redeeming capital securities.
In particular, the capital requirements applicable to us under the recently adopted Capital Rules implementing the Basel III capital framework in the United States started to be phased-in on January 1, 2015. While we expect to meet the requirements of the new Basel III-based Capital Rules, we may fail to do so. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these requirements could have a negative impact on our ability to lend, grow deposit balances, make acquisitions or make capital distributions in the form of dividends or share repurchases. Higher capital levels could also lower our return on equity.
Strategic Risks
Liquidityrisk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.
Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities or the terms of which are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry or economy in general. Factors that could detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources include a decrease in the level of our business activity as a result of a downturn in the markets in which our loans are concentrated or an adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a disruption in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry generally.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.
In our markets, we face significant competition from other commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, non-bank financial services companies and other financial institutions, particularly nationwide and regional banks and larger community banking institutions. We also face competition for agricultural loans from participants in the nationwide Farm Credit System and global banks. In addition, FinTech's are emerging in key areas of banking. Our competitors may have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we do and may offer services that we do not or cannot provide. Many of our nonfinancial institution competitors have fewer regulatory constraints, broader geographic service areas and, in some cases, lower cost structures. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to compete in our markets.
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The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Our inability to compete successfully in the markets in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may not be able to successfully execute our strategic plan or manage our growth.
Our growth strategy focuses on organic growth, supplemented by acquisitions and requires us to manage several different elements simultaneously. Sustainable growth requires that we manage our risks by balancing loan and deposit growth at acceptable levels of risk, maintaining adequate liquidity and capital, hiring and retaining qualified employees, successfully managing the costs and implementation risks with respect to strategic projects and initiatives, and integrating acquisition targets and managing the costs. Our growth strategy may also change from time to time as a result of various internal and external factors. Our inability to manage our growth successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by risks associated with completed and potential acquisitions.
Our growth strategy includes consideration of potential acquisition opportunities that we believe support our business strategy and may enhance our profitability. We face significant competition from numerous other financial services institutions, many of which will have greater financial resources than we do, when considering acquisition opportunities. Accordingly, attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying or completing any future acquisitions and there is no assurance that, following any mergers or acquisitions, our integration efforts will be successful or that, after giving effect to the acquisition, we will achieve profits comparable to, or better than, our historical experience. Acquisitions also involve numerous risks, including:
the time, expense and diversion of management attention associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets and new markets and negotiating potential transactions;
the accuracy of the estimates and judgments used to evaluate credit, operations, funding, liquidity, liabilities, management and market risks with respect to the target institution;
the risk that the acquired business will not perform to our expectations, including a failure to realize anticipated synergies or cost savings;
difficulties, inefficiencies or cost overruns in integrating and assimilating the organizational cultures, operations, technologies, data, services and products of the acquired business with ours;
the potential loss of key employees or customers;
our ability to finance an acquisition and possible dilution to our existing shareholders; and
the potential for liabilities and claims arising out of the acquired businesses or closing delays and increased expenses related to the resolution of lawsuits filed by shareholders of targets.
Failed bank acquisitions involve risks similar to acquiring operating banks even though the FDIC might provide assistance to mitigate certain risks, such as sharing in exposure to loan and lease losses and providing indemnification against certain liabilities of the failed institution. However, because these acquisitions are typically conducted by the FDIC in a manner that does not allow the time typically taken for a due diligence review or for preparing the integration of an acquired institution, we may face additional risks in transactions with the FDIC. These risks include, among other things, accuracy or completeness of due diligence materials, the loss of core deposits and strain on management resources related to collection and management of problem loans. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming these risks encountered in connection with such acquisitions, nor that any FDIC-assisted opportunities will be available to us in our markets. Our inability to overcome these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We must generally receive federal regulatory approval before we can acquire a bank or bank holding company. We cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, any required regulatory approvals will be granted. We may be required to sell banks or branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval. Bank regulators consider a number of factors when determining whether to approve a proposed transaction, including the effect of the transaction on financial stability and the ratings and compliance history of all institutions involved, including the CRA, examination results and anti-money-laundering and BSA compliance records of all institutions involved. Failure to comply with such requirements could also have serious legal and reputational consequences, including causing delay in approval or denial of such transactions when regulatory approval is required, or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
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Our ability to maintain, attract and retain customer relationships is highly dependent on our reputation.
Damage to our reputation could undermine the confidence of our current and potential customers. Such damage could also impair the confidence of our counterparties and vendors and affect our ability to effect transactions. Maintenance of our reputation depends on customer service and mitigation of the various risks described herein, as well as on identifying and appropriately addressing issues that may arise in areas such as potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, privacy, employee, customer and other third party fraud, record-keeping, regulatory investigations and any litigation that may arise from the failure or perceived failure of us to comply with legal and regulatory requirements, successfully preventing third parties from infringing on the "Great Western Bank" brand and associated trademarks and our other intellectual property and avoiding adverse publicity or negative information regarding our Company, whether or not true, that may be posted on social media, non-mainstream news services or other parts of the internet. Defense of our reputation, trademarks and other intellectual property, could result in material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in our accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial condition or results of operations.
From time to time, the FASB, SEC and other regulators change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements, potentially requiring us to modify certain of the assumptions or estimates we have previously used in preparing our financial statements, negatively impacting how we record and report our results of operations and financial condition generally. For additional information on the key areas for which assumptions and estimates are used in preparing our financial statements, see "Item 7. Management’sManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates."
Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting techniques.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so they comply with U.S. GAAP and reflect management’s judgment of the most appropriate manner to report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which may be reasonable under the circumstances, yet which may result in our reporting materially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative.
Certain accounting policies are critical to presenting our financial condition and results of operations. They require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain. Materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions or estimates. These critical accounting policies include, but are not limited to, the allowance for loan and lease losses, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, goodwill impairment, investment impairments, core deposits and other intangibles, derivatives and income taxes. Because of the uncertainty of estimates involved in these matters, we may be required to do one or more of the following: significantly increase the allowance for loan and lease losses or sustain loan and lease losses that are significantly higher than the reserve provided; recognize significant impairment on goodwill and other intangible asset balances; reduce the carrying value of an asset measured at fair value; or significantly increase our accrued tax liability. Any of these could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition—Derivatives.”Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates."
We may be adversely affected by changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial institutions.
Within the financial services industry, loss of public confidence, including through default by any one institution, could lead to liquidity challenges or to defaults by other institutions as the commercial and financial soundness of many financial institutions is closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and other relationships. Even the perceived lack of creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by various institutions.
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Operational RiskSupervision and Regulation
Operational riskWe and our subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation under federal and state banking laws that establish a comprehensive framework for our operations. This framework may materially impact our growth potential and financial performance and is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. Significant elements of the statutes, regulations and policies applicable to us and our subsidiaries are described below. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations and policies described.
Regulatory Agencies
Bank Holding Company Regulation. We are a bank holding company under the BHC Act. Consequently, we and our subsidiaries are subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Federal Reserve. The BHC Act provides generally for "umbrella" regulation of bank holding companies and functional regulation of holding company subsidiaries by applicable regulatory agencies, including the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve has issued regulations under the BHC Act requiring a bank holding company to serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks. It is the policy of the Federal Reserve that, pursuant to this requirement, a bank holding company should stand ready to use its resources to provide adequate capital funds to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. Under this requirement, we are expected to commit resources to support our Bank, including at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. In the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
The FRB subjects the Company to its requirements on regulatory capital and maintaining cash reserves against its deposits. The FRB also regulates the national supply of bank credit in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, and affect the interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits. Fluctuations in interest rates, which may result from governmental fiscal policies and the monetary policies of the FRB, have a strong impact on the income derived from loans and securities, and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. While the Company and the Bank strive to model various interest rate changes and adjust our strategies for such changes, the level of earnings could be materially affected by economic circumstances beyond our control.
The BHC Act also requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire more than a 5% voting interest of any bank or bank holding company, or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. We must also be well-capitalized and well-managed in order to acquire a bank located outside of our home state. Additionally, the BHC Act restricts our non-banking activities to those which are determined by the Federal Reserve to be closely related to banking and a proper incident thereto. The Federal Reserve has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable grounds to believe that continuing such activity, ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary or the bank holding company.
Under FDICIA, a bank holding company is required to guarantee the compliance of any insured depository institution subsidiary that may become "undercapitalized" (as defined in FDICIA) with the terms of any capital restoration plan filed by such subsidiary with its appropriate federal bank regulatory agency.
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FDIC and SDDB Regulations. Our Bank is an FDIC-insured commercial bank chartered under the laws of South Dakota. It is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Consequently, the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking are the primary regulators of our Bank and also regulate our Bank’s subsidiaries. As a South Dakota-chartered commercial bank, our Bank's business is generally limited to activities permitted by South Dakota law and any applicable federal laws. Subject to prior approval by the Director of the SD Division of Banking, our Bank may also permissibly engage in any activity permissible as of January 1, 2008 for a national bank doing business in South Dakota. Our Bank is also restricted under South Dakota law from investing in certain types of investment securities and is generally limited in the amount of money it can lend to a single borrower or invest in securities issued by a single issuer (in each case, 20% of our Bank's capital stock and surplus plus 10% of our Bank's undivided profits). The Bank Merger Act and South Dakota law generally require our Bank to obtain prior regulatory approval to merger or consolidate with, or acquire substantially all of the assets of or assume deposits of, another bank.
In addition, we offer certain insurance and investment products through our Bank and our Bank's subsidiaries that are subject to regulation and supervision by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies and by the FINRA as a result of a contractual relationship we have with a third party broker-dealer relating to the provision of some wealth management and investment services to customers.
CFPB Regulations. We are also subject to the enforcement and rule-making authority of the CFPB regarding consumer financial products. The CFPB has authority to create and enforce consumer protection rules and regulations and has the power to examine our Bank for compliance with such rules and regulations. The CFPB also has the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, such as our Bank.
Acquisitions of Ownership of the Company
Acquisitions of the Company's voting stock above certain thresholds may be subject to prior regulatory notice or approval under applicable federal banking laws. Investors are responsible for ensuring that they do not, directly or indirectly, acquire shares of our stock in excess of the amount that can be acquired without regulatory approval or notice under the BHC Act and the Change in Bank Control Act.
Dividends
Our Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking and other subsidiaries. As a bank holding company, we are subject to certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations. Federal bank regulators are authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. Federal Reserve policy provides that a bank holding company should not pay dividends unless (1) the bank holding company's net income over the last four quarters (net of dividends paid) is sufficient to fully fund the dividends, (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition of the bank holding company and its subsidiaries and (3) the bank holding company will continue to meet minimum required capital adequacy ratios. The policy also provides that a bank holding company should inform the Federal Reserve reasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the bank holding company's capital structure. Bank holding companies also are required to consult with the Federal Reserve before materially increasing dividends. The Federal Reserve could prohibit or limit the payment of dividends by a bank holding company if it determines that payment of the dividend would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
Since substantially all of our income comes from dividends from our Bank, which is also the primary source of our liquidity, our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares depends upon our receipt of dividends from our Bank. In addition to the restrictions discussed above, our Bank is subject to limitations under South Dakota law regarding the level of dividends that it may pay to us. In general, dividends by our Bank may only be declared from its net profits and may be declared no more than once per calendar quarter. The approval of the South Dakota Director of Banking is required if our Bank seeks to pay aggregate dividends during any calendar year that would exceed the sum of its net profits from the year to date and retained net profits from the preceding two years, minus any required transfers to surplus.
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Transactions with Affiliates
Transactions between our Bank and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and our Company or any other subsidiary, on the other hand, are regulated under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Act imposes quantitative and qualitative requirements and collateral requirements on covered transactions by our Bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B limit the extent to which our Bank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of our Bank's capital stock and surplus, and contain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus, and requires those transactions to be on terms at least as favorable to our Bank as if the transaction were conducted with an unaffiliated third party. Covered transactions are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit, as well as a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets (unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Reserve) from the affiliate, certain derivative transactions that create a credit exposure to an affiliate, the acceptance of securities issued by the affiliate as collateral for a loan, and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate. In addition, any credit transactions with an affiliate must be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral.
Federal law also limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% (or greater) stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. In addition, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of loss arising from inadequatenon-repayment or failed processes, people or systems, external events (such as natural disasters), compliance failures, reputational damage or legal matters. Wepresent other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons individually and in the aggregate.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The federal banking agencies have a framework in place that includesadopted the reportingInteragency Guidelines for Establishing Standards for Safety and assessment of any operational risk events, including narrowly avoided operational risk events, and the assessment of our mitigating strategies within our key business lines. This framework is implemented through our policies, processes and reporting requirements, including those governing businessSoundness. The guidelines establish general standards relating to internal controls and information technology continuity, information securitysystems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings and cyber-security, technological capability, fraud-risk management, operationalcompensation, fees and benefits. In general, these guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk profiling and vendor management. Our operational risk review processexposures specified in the guidelines. These guidelines also prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a core part of our assessment ofcompliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material new or modified business or support initiative.
Our operational risks relatedrespect to legalimplement an acceptable compliance plan, the bank regulator must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and compliance matters are heightened bymay issue an order directing other actions of the heavily regulated environment intypes to which we operate. We have designed our processes and systems, and provide education of applicable legal and regulatory standards to our employees,an undercapitalized institution may be subject under the FDIA. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action." If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the bank regulator may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.
Deposit Insurance
FDIC Insurance Assessments. As an FDIC-insured bank, our Bank must pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC based on its average total assets minus its average tangible equity. Our Bank’s assessment rates are currently based on its risk classification (i.e., the level of risk it poses to the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund). Institutions classified as higher risk pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. With the acquisition of HF Financial in 2016, our total assets exceeded $10 billion as of the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Since our Bank's total consolidated assets have exceeded $10 billion for four consecutive quarters, the FDIC uses a performance score and a loss-severity score to calculate the assessment rate. In calculating these requirements. For informationscores, the FDIC uses a bank’s capital level and regulatory supervisory ratings and certain financial measures to assess an institution’s ability to withstand asset-related stress and funding-related stress. The FDIC also has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score based upon significant risk factors that are not adequately captured in the calculations. In addition to ordinary assessments described above, the FDIC has the ability to impose special assessments in certain instances.
Other Assessments. In addition, the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 authorized the Financing Corporation to impose assessments on deposit insurance fund applicable deposits in order to service the interest on the legal frameworkFinancing Corporation’s bond obligations from deposit insurance fund assessments. The amount assessed on individual institutions is in addition to the amount, if any, paid for deposit insurance according to the FDIC’s risk-related assessment rate schedules. Assessment rates may be adjusted quarterly to reflect changes in the assessment base.
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Interstate Branching
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2020 and other federal regulation, national and state-chartered banks, such as our Bank, may open an initial branch in a state other than its home state (e.g., a host state) by establishing a de novo branch at any location in such host state at which a bank chartered in such host state could establish a branch. Applications to establish such branches must still be filed with the appropriate primary federal regulator and, where applicable, the bank's state regulatory authority. As our Bank is a South Dakota state chartered bank, we are required to file branch applications with both the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking.
Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements
Banks are subject to the prohibitions of 12 U.S.C. Section 1972 on certain tying arrangements. We are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
Under the CRA, our Bank has an obligation, consistent with safe and sound operations, to help meet the credit needs of the market areas where it operates, which includes providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. In connection with its examination of our Bank, the FDIC is required to assess our Bank’s compliance with the CRA. Our Bank’s failure to comply with the CRA could, among other things, result in the denial or delay in certain corporate applications filed by us or our Bank, including applications for branch openings or relocations and applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or holding company. Our Bank received an overall rating of "satisfactory" in its most recently completed CRA examination.
Future Legislation and Regulation
Congress may enact legislation from time to time that affects the regulation of the financial services industry, and state legislatures may enact legislation from time to time affecting the regulation of financial institutions chartered by or operating in those states. Federal and state regulatory agencies also periodically propose and adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. The substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulation, or the application thereof, cannot be predicted, although enactment of the proposed legislation could impact the regulatory structure under which we operate and may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and modify our business strategy, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may be adversely affected, perhaps materially, as a result.
Depositor Preference
Under federal law, depositors (including the FDIC with respect to the subrogated claims of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as receiver would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims against such an institution in the "liquidation or other resolution" of such an institution by any receiver.
Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection
We are subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern our relationship with our customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM Act, and these laws' respective state law counterparts, as well as state usury laws and laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices. These and other federal laws, among other things, require disclosures of the cost of credit and terms of deposit accounts, provide substantive consumer rights, prohibit discrimination in credit transactions, regulate the use of credit report information, provide financial privacy protections, prohibit unfair, deceptive and abusive practices, restrict our ability to raise interest rates and subject us to substantial regulatory oversight.
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As a financial institution, our internal systems and vendor-outsourced storage solutions contain a significant amount of sensitive data, including personal information related to our customers. We are therefore subject to compliance obligations under federal and state information security laws, among others, including the GLB Act, which institute limitations on data sharing and require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers. In addition, the GLB Act requires all financial institutions to adopt privacy policies, restrict the sharing of nonpublic customer data with nonaffiliated parties and establishes procedures and practices to protect customer data from unauthorized access. In addition, the FCRA, as amended by the FACT Act, includes provisions affecting the Company, the Bank and their affiliates, including provisions concerning obtaining consumer reports, furnishing information to consumer reporting agencies, maintaining a program to prevent identity theft, sharing of certain information among affiliated companies and other provisions, including rules regarding limitations on affiliate marketing and implementation of programs to identify, detect and mitigate certain identity theft red flags.
We are also subject to various regulatory guidance as updated from time to time implemented by the FFIEC, an interagency body of the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the National Credit Union Administration and various state regulatory authorities. States and other jurisdictions may also enact laws regulating financial institutions' use of consumer data, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as well as the General Data Privacy Regulation adopted by the European Union.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a new, independent federal agency, the CFPB, which was granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection and privacy laws, such as the GLB Act, which have created a more intense and complex environment for consumer finance regulation. Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorneys' fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorney generals and state and local consumer protection agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements and obtain these and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by the state and local attorney generals in each jurisdiction in which we operate and civil money penalties. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.
Heightened Requirements for Bank Holding Companies with $10 Billion or More in Assets
Various federal banking laws and regulations, including rules adopted by the Federal Reserve pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, impose heightened requirements on certain large banks and bank holding companies. Most of these rules apply primarily to bank holding companies with at least $50 billion in total consolidated assets, but certain rules also apply to banks and bank holding companies with at least $10 billion in total consolidated assets. Because our Bank’s total consolidated assets equal or exceed $10 billion, we or our Bank, as applicable, among other requirements:
are subject to the maximum permissible interchange fee for swipe transactions, equal to no more than 21 cents plus 5 basis points of the transaction value for many types of debit interchange transactions;
calculate our FDIC deposit assessment base using the performance score and a loss-severity score system described above in "—Deposit Insurance;" and
are examined for compliance with federal consumer protection laws primarily by the CFPB as described above in "—Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection."
The Volcker Rule
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits insured depository institutions and their holding companies from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and prohibits them from owning equity interests in excess of three percent (3%) of Tier 1 Capital in private equity and hedge funds (known as the "Volcker Rule"). The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act and subsequent promulgation of inter-agency final rules have aimed at simplifying and tailoring requirements related to the Volcker Rule. In August 2019, the agencies modified the rule to, among other things, eliminate collection of certain metrics and reduce the compliance burdens associated with the remaining metrics requirements, depending on the banking entity's total consolidated trading assets and liabilities. The regulatory agencies continue to consider additional proposals to simplify or eliminate other aspects of the Volcker Rule. Due to the changing regulatory landscape, we will continue to evaluate the implications of the Volcker Rules on our investments, including new impacts as a result of the changes, but we do not expect any material financial implications.
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Incentive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal bank regulators and the SEC to maintain guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including us and our Bank, that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. Failure to comply can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. 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.
Regulatory Capital Requirements, Basel III and the Capital Rules
The Federal Reserve monitors our capital adequacy on a consolidated basis, and the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking monitor the capital adequacy of our Bank based on the Capital Rules, also known as the Basel III Capital Rules, which went into effect January 1, 2015, subject to certain phase-in provisions. The risk-based guidelines are intended to make regulatory capital requirements sensitive to differences in credit and market risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to weighted risk categories, and capital is classified in one of the following tiers depending on its characteristic:
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ("CET1 capital") for us includes common equity, surplus and retained earnings less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets. The Capital Rules require bank holding companies and banks to include AOCI into CET1 capital unless the bank and bank holding company use a one-time election to exclude AOCI from its regulatory capital metrics on January 1, 2015. We elected to exclude AOCI from CET1 capital.
Tier 1 (Core) Capital ("Tier 1 capital") for us includes CET1 capital and qualifying trust preferred securities at the holding company level, less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets.
Tier 2 (Supplementary) Capital ("Tier 2 capital") for us includes qualifying subordinated debt and a limited amount of allowance for loan and lease losses.
Bank holding companies and banks are also currently required to comply with minimum leverage requirements, measured based on the ratio of a bank holding company’s or a bank’s, as applicable, Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets (as defined for regulatory purposes). These requirements generally necessitate a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all bank holding companies and banks. To be considered "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, our operational risk processesBank must maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage ratios of at least 5%. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
As of January 1, 2019, the Basel III Capital Rules require banking organizations to maintain:
a minimum ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% "capital conservation buffer" (which is added to the 4.5% CET1 capital ratios as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 7.0%);
a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%);
a minimum ratio of total capital (that is, Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0% plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%); and systems are
a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average consolidated assets.
The current Capital Rules also include a capital conservation buffer designed to address, see “—Supervisionabsorb losses during periods of economic stress. The capital conservation buffer is composed entirely of CET1 capital, on top of these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. In addition, the Capital Rules provide for a countercyclical capital buffer applicable only to certain covered institutions. We do not expect the countercyclical capital buffer to be applicable to us or our Bank. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and Regulation.”countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.
Competition
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The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1 capital. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, certain deferred tax assets and significant investments in non-consolidated financial services industryentities be deducted from CET1 capital to the extent that any one such category exceeds 25% of CET1 capital or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1 capital. Implementation of the deductions and other adjustments to CET1 capital began on January 1, 2015 and were phased in over a four-year period (beginning at 40% on January 1, 2015 and an additional 20% per year thereafter). The Capital Rules also generally preclude certain hybrid securities, such as trust preferred securities, from being counted as Tier 1 capital for most bank holding companies. Bank holding companies such as us who had less than $15 billion in assets as of December 31, 2009 (and who continue to have less than $15 billion in assets) are permitted to include trust preferred securities issued prior to May 19, 2010 as Additional Tier 1 capital under the Capital Rules.
The Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings that, depending on the nature of the assets, generally range from 0% for U.S. government securities, 20%-50% for U.S. government agencies and municipal bonds, 0%-150% for loans and up to 600% for certain equity exposures.
With respect to our Bank, the Capital Rules also revised the prompt corrective action regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the FDIA. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
We believe that, as of September 30, 2020, we and our Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Capital Rules.
On December 21, 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to (i) address the upcoming implement of the CECL accounting standard under GAAP; (ii) provide an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects that banking organizations are expected to experience upon adopting CECL; and (iii) require the use of CECL in stress tests beginning with the 2020 capital planning and stress testing cycle for certain banking organizations. The Company adopted the standard in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. Our CECL allowance methodology will be driven by our new credit scoring system, our charge-off history and adjusted for the economic outlook as provided by Oxford Economics. The Company is currently finalizing controls, processes, policies and disclosures and has completed parallel runs. The Company continues its implementation efforts and is in process of determining the final impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and regulatory capital ratios. The impact of the adoption will depend on the composition, characteristics and credit quality of the loan portfolio as well as economic conditions and forecast as of the adoption date. The CECL standard does not apply to the fair value portfolio and as such there will be no change to this portfolio upon adoption of this standard..
Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action
Federal law requires, among other things, that federal bank regulatory authorities take "prompt corrective action" with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For such purposes, the law establishes five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized.
As a result of the Basel III Rules, new definitions of the relevant measures for the five capital categories took effect on January 1, 2015. An institution is deemed to be "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, and a leverage capital ratio of 5.0% or greater, and is not subject to a regulatory order, agreements, or directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.
An institution is deemed to be "adequately capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5% or greater, and generally a leverage capital ratio of 4.0% or greater. The Capital Rules do not change the total risk-based capital requirements for any prompt corrective action category.
As of September 30, 2020, we and our Bank were well capitalized with Tier 1 capital ratios of 11.8% and 11.7%, respectively, total capital ratios of 13.3% and 13.0%, respectively, Tier 1 leverage ratios of 9.4% and 9.3%, respectively, and a CET1 capital ratio of 11.0% and 11.7%, respectively, as calculated under Basel III which went into effect on January 1, 2015. For more information on these financial measures, including reconciliations to our and our Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital."
An institution is deemed to be "undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.5%, or generally a leverage capital ratio of less than 4.0%. An institution is deemed to be "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3.0%, or a leverage capital ratio of less than 3.0%. An institution is deemed to be "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%.
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"Undercapitalized" institutions are subject to growth, capital distribution (including dividend), and other limitations, and are required to submit a capital restoration plan and adequate assurances of performance. An institution's compliance with such a plan is required to be guaranteed by any company that controls the undercapitalized institution in an amount equal to the lesser of 5.0% of the bank's total assets when deemed undercapitalized or the amount necessary to achieve the status of adequately capitalized. If an undercapitalized institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is "significantly undercapitalized". Significantly undercapitalized institutions are subject to one or more additional restrictions including, but not limited to, an order by the FDIC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized; requirements to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks, or dismiss directors or officers; and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers, and capital distributions by the parent holding company. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions and capital distributions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except in accordance with an accepted capital restoration plan or with the approval of the FDIC.
Beginning 60 days after becoming "critically undercapitalized", critically undercapitalized institutions also may not make any payment of principal or interest on certain subordinated debt, extend credit for a highly leveraged transaction, or enter into any material transaction outside the ordinary course of business. In addition, subject to a narrow exception, the appointment of a receiver is required for a critically undercapitalized institution within 270 days after it obtains such status.
In addition, the FDIA prohibits an insured depository institution from accepting brokered deposits or offering interest rates on any deposits significantly higher than the prevailing rate in the bank’s normal market area or nationally (depending upon where the deposits are solicited), unless it is well capitalized or is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver from the FDIC. A depository institution that is adequately capitalized and accepts brokered deposits under a waiver from the FDIC may not pay an interest rate on any deposit in excess of 75 basis points over certain prevailing market rates.
Institutions that are undercapitalized or significantly undercapitalized and either fail to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fail to implement an approved capital restoration plan 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 undercapitalized depository institutions failing to submit or implement an acceptable capital restoration plan are subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator. As of September 30, 2020, our Bank was "well capitalized" based on the existing ratios and the ratios as modified by Basel III Capital Rules.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA PATRIOT ACT
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds from crime, including the BSA, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. such as the Department of the Treasury's FinCEN and the FFIEC. A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at anti-money laundering and terrorist financing. We are required, as part of our BSA/AML program, to designate a BSA Officer, maintain a BSA/AML training program, maintain internal controls to effectuate the BSA/AML program, implement independent testing of the BSA/AML program, and as of May 11, 2018, comply with FinCEN's new CDD Rule. The CDD Rule adds a new requirement for us to identify and verify the identity of natural persons ("beneficial owners") of legal entity customers who own, control and profit from companies when those companies open accounts.
Financial institutions are prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and account relationships and must use enhanced due diligence procedures in their dealings with certain types of high-risk customers and implement a written customer identification program. Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions. Among other provisions, the USA Patriot Act requires financial institutions to have anti-money laundering programs in place and requires banking regulators to consider a holding company's effectiveness in combating-money laundering when ruling on certain merger or acquisition applications. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including civil money penalties and causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
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Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
The U.S. Treasury Department’s OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. We and our Bank are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
Environmental Laws Potentially Impacting the Bank
We are subject to state and federal environmental laws and regulations. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, ("CERCLA"), is a federal statute that generally imposes strict liability on all prior and present "owners and operators" of sites containing hazardous waste. However, Congress acted to protect secured creditors by providing that the term "owner and operator" excludes a person whose ownership is limited to protecting its security interest in the site. Since the enactment of the CERCLA, this "secured creditor exemption" has been the subject of judicial interpretations which have left open the possibility that lenders could be liable for cleanup costs on contaminated property that they hold as collateral for a loan, which costs often substantially exceed the value of the property.
Available Information
Our internet address is www.greatwesternbank.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website (by clicking on the Investor Relations link at the bottom of the page) as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing or furnishing of such material with the SEC.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a significant degree of risk. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, in addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks, as well as risks that we do not know or currently deem immaterial, could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and/or financial condition. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose some or all of your investment. Further, to the extent that any of the information in this report, or in other reports we file with the SEC, constitutes forward-looking statements, the risk factors below are cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."
Economic Risk
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant global economic downturn which has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business and results of operations, and the future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition remain uncertain.
COVID-19, which has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, continues to cause economic disruption both worldwide and in the markets we operate, as well as a destabilization effect on financial markets. The ultimate impacts of COVID-19 are uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The extent of these impacts will depend on future developments, including among others, governmental, regulatory and private sector actions and responses, new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19, and actions taken to contain or prevent further spread, each of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Our business is dependent upon the ability and willingness of our customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions, including the payment of loan obligations. COVID-19 has and continues to disrupt the business, activities, and operations of our customers, which may cause a decline in demand for our products and services which may, in turn, result in a significant decrease in our business, negatively impacting our liquidity position and financial results. Our financial results could also be impacted due to an inability of our customers to meet their loan commitments because of their losses associated with the effects of COVID-19, resulting in increased risk of delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, declining collateral values and other losses to our Bank. Moreover, current and future governmental action may temporarily require the Company to conduct business differently with respect to foreclosures, repossessions, payments, deferrals and other customer-related transactions.
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Although the Company has established a pandemic response plan and procedures, our workforce has been, is, and may continue to be impacted by COVID-19. We are taking precautions to protect the safety and well-being of our employees and customers, including temporary branch and office closures, but no assurance can be given that our actions will be adequate or appropriate, nor can we predict the level of disruption which will occur to our employees’ ability to provide customer support and service. The spread could also negatively impact availability of key personnel and employee productivity, as well as the business and operations of third-party service providers who perform critical services for us, which could adversely impact our ability to deliver products and services to our customers.
Economic conditions have affected and could continue to adversely affect our revenues and profits.
Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of our borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services that we offer, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets in which we operate and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and investor confidence and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment; natural disasters; terrorist attacks; or a combination of these or other factors.
An economic downturn or sustained, high unemployment levels, and stock market volatility may negatively impact our operating results and have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans increasing the risk of loan defaults and losses.
Changes in economic or political conditions could adversely affect our earnings, as the ability of our borrowers to repay loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans, declines.
Our success depends, to a certain extent, upon economic or political conditions, local and national, as well as governmental monetary policies. Conditions such as recession, unemployment, changes in interest rates, inflation, money supply, and other factors beyond our control may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels, and loan demand and, therefore, our earnings. Because we have a significant amount of commercial real estate loans, decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral. Adverse changes in the economy may also have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans, which would have an adverse impact on our earnings. In addition, substantially all of our loans are to individuals and businesses in our market area. Consequently, any economic decline in our primary market areas, which include Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, could have an adverse impact on our earnings.
Changes in U.S. trade policies and other factors beyond our Company’s control, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There continues to be discussions with respect to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting other countries, including China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico and retaliatory tariffs by such countries. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been imposed, and additional tariffs and retaliation tariffs have been proposed. Such tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export, including among others, agricultural products, could cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customer margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and ability to service debt; which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the extent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, our results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future.
On October 1, 2018, the United States, Canada and Mexico agreed to a new trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020. The full impact of the USMCA on us, our customers and on the economic conditions in our states is currently unknown and, thus, could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We are subject to interest rate risk which, among other things, could affect our earnings and the value of certain of our assets.
Our earnings and cash flows are largely dependent on net interest income. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as economic conditions, competition and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, and, in particular, are highly competitive. We face strong competitionthe policies of the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in gathering deposits, makingmonetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and obtaining client assets for management by our investment or trust operations. We compete forinvestments and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but these changes could also affect: (i) our ability to originate loans by seeking to provide a higher leveland obtain deposits; (ii) the fair value of personal service than is generally offered by our larger competitors, manyfinancial assets and liabilities, including our securities portfolio; and (iii) the average duration of whom have more our interest-earning assets. This also includes the risk that interest-earning assets capital and resources and higher lending limits than we do and may be ablemore responsive to conduct more intensivechanges in interest rates than interest-bearing liabilities, or vice versa (repricing risk), the risk that the individual interest rates or rate indices underlying various interest-earning assets and broader based promotional effortsinterest-bearing liabilities may not change in the same degree over a given time period (basis risk), and the risk of changing interest rate relationships across the spectrum of interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability maturities (yield curve risk), including a prolonged flat or inverted yield curve environment. Any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
As of September 30, 2020, 46.5% of our loans were advanced to reach bothour customers on a variable or adjustable-rate basis and another 6.5% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a fixed-rate basis where we utilized derivative instruments to swap our economic exposure to a variable-rate basis. As a result, an increase in interest rates could result in increased loan defaults, foreclosures and charge-offs and could necessitate further increases to the allowance for loan and lease losses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a decrease in interest rates could negatively impact our margins and profitability.
As of September 30, 2020, we had $2.59 billion of noninterest-bearing demand deposits and $8.42 billion of interest-bearing demand deposits. If we need to offer higher interest rates on checking accounts to maintain current clients or attract new clients, our interest expense will increase, perhaps materially. Furthermore, if we fail to offer interest in a sufficient amount to keep these demand deposits, our core deposits may be reduced, which would require us to obtain funding in other ways or risk slowing our future asset growth.
Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect our earnings.
Our Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, our Bank is subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. We generally cannot control the amount of premiums our Bank will be required to pay for FDIC insurance. As our Bank has exceeded $10 billion in assets, the method for calculating its FDIC assessments has changed and our Bank’s FDIC assessments have increased as a result. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Deposit Insurance." In fiscal year 2020, our deposit insurance premium increased $3.2 million, primarily as a result of the impairment of goodwill recognized during the period. If there is an increase in financial institution failures, or a decrease in the performance of our Bank, our Bank may be required to pay higher FDIC insurance premiums, or the FDIC may charge additional special assessments. Future increases of FDIC insurance premiums or special assessments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Credit and Interest Rate Risk
We focus on originating business and agricultural loans which may involve greater risk than residential mortgage lending.
We originate commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, agricultural real estate loans, agricultural loans, consumer loans, and retail customers. Weresidential real estate loans primarily within our market areas. Commercial real estate, commercial, consumer, and agricultural real estate and operating loans may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate because the collateral securing these loans may not be sold as easily as residential real estate. These loans also compete basedhave greater credit risk than residential real estate for the following reasons:
Commercial Real Estate Loans. Repayment is dependent upon income being generated in amounts sufficient to cover operating and debt service.
Commercial Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the borrower’s business.
Consumer Loans. Consumer Loans (such as personal lines of credit) are collateralized, if at all, with assets that may not provide an adequate source of payment on advertising impactthe loan due to depreciation, damage or loss.
Agricultural Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the business, which is greatly dependent on many things outside our control or the borrowers. These factors include weather, input costs, commodity and land prices and interest rates.
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As of September 30, 2020, our business lending, which consists of our CRE and commercial non-real estate loans, represented approximately $7.46 billion, or 73.8%, of our loan portfolio. Our principal competitorsCRE loans secured by owner-occupied property and commercial non-real estate loans secured by business assets and guarantees from owners, which together form the core of our business banking focus, totaled approximately $3.59 billion, or 35.5%, of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2020, with undisbursed loan commitments for deposits,these loans amounting to an additional $929.6 million. We also had approximately $3.86 billion of other CRE loans (i.e., construction and development loans, multifamily residential real estate loans and client assetsCRE loans secured by commercial property that is not owner-occupied) at September 30, 2020, or 38.2% of our loan portfolio.
Within our CRE and commercial non-real estate loan portfolio we have identified the following segments with elevated risk: hotels & resorts with $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of our loan portfolio, restaurants with $156.5 million, or 1.6% of our loan portfolio, arts and entertainment with $130.3 million, or 1.3% of our loan portfolio, senior care with $330.7 million, or 3.3% of our loan portfolio, and skilled nursing with $250.9 million, or 2.5% of our loan portfolio, for managementa total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of our loan portfolio.
At September 30, 2020, our agricultural loans, consisting primarily of agricultural operating loans (e.g., loans to farm and ranch owners and operators) and agricultural real estate loans, were $1.72 billion, representing 17.1% of our total loan portfolio. At September 30, 2020, agricultural operating loans totaled $886.8 million, or 8.8% of our loan portfolio; and agricultural real estate loans totaled $837.5 million, or 8.3%, of our loan portfolio. The primary livestock of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include dairy cows, hogs and feeder cattle, and the primary crops of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include corn, soybeans and, to a lesser extent, wheat and cotton. In addition, we estimate that 7.6% of our commercial non-real estate loans and owner-occupied CRE loans were agriculture-related loans at September 30, 2020.
Our business is significantly dependent on the real estate markets where we operate, as a significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate.
At September 30, 2020, 68.6% of our investmentaggregate loan portfolio, comprising our CRE loans (representing 52.2% of our aggregate loan portfolio), residential real estate loans (representing 8.1% of our aggregate loan portfolio) and agriculture real estate loans (representing 8.3% of our aggregate loan portfolio), was primarily secured by interests in real estate predominantly located in the states in which we operate. In addition, some of our other lending occasionally involves taking real estate as primary or trust operations include large nationwide banks suchsecondary collateral. Real property values in these states may be different from, and in some instances worse than, real property values in other markets or in the United States as U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America and various other nationwide, regional and community banks operating in our markets.
Competition for deposits is also affected by the ease with which customers can transfer deposits from one institution to another. Our cost of funds fluctuates with market interest ratesa whole, and may be affected by a variety of factors outside of our control and the control of our borrowers, including national and local economic conditions generally. Declines in real property prices, including prices for homes, commercial properties and farmland, in the states in which we operate could result in a deterioration of the credit quality of our borrowers, an increase in the number of loan delinquencies, defaults and charge-offs, and reduced demand for our products and services generally. Our CRE loans, in particular, totaled approximately $5.27 billion at September 30, 2020, or 52.2% of our loan portfolio, and may have a greater risk of loss than residential mortgage loans, in part because these loans are generally larger or more complex to underwrite, monitor and service. Agricultural real estate loans may be affected by similar factors to those that affect agricultural loans generally, including adverse weather conditions, disease and declines in the market prices for agricultural products or farm real estate. In addition, declines in real property values in the states in which we operate could reduce the value of any collateral we realize following a default on these loans and could adversely affect our ability to continue to grow our loan portfolio consistent with our underwriting standards. Our failure to effectively mitigate these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our business depends on our ability to successfully manage credit risk.
The operation of our business requires us to manage credit risk. As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that our borrowers will be unable to repay their loans according to their terms, and that the collateral securing repayment of their loans, if any, may not be sufficient to ensure repayment. In addition, there are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks with respect to the period of time over which the loan may be repaid, risks relating to proper loan underwriting, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions and risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers. In order to successfully manage credit risk, we must, among other things, maintain disciplined and prudent underwriting standards and ensure that our bankers follow those standards. The weakening of these standards for any reason, such as an attempt to attract higher yielding loans, a lack of discipline or diligence by our employees in underwriting and monitoring loans, our inability to adequately adapt policies and procedures to changes in economic or any other conditions affecting borrowers may negatively impact the quality of our loan portfolio, result in loan defaults, foreclosures and additional charge-offs and necessitate that we significantly increase our allowance for loan and lease losses. As a result, our inability to successfully manage credit risk could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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An important feature of our credit risk management system is our use of analytical and forecasting models in such processes as determining the pricing of various products, grading loans and extending credit, measuring interest rate and other market risks, estimating the effects of economic conditions on our loan portfolio, predicting losses, assessing capital adequacy and regulatory capital levels, as well as estimating the value of financial instruments and balance sheet items. Those models reflect certain assumptions about both quantitative and qualitative factors, including among others, interest rates being offeredand consumer behavior that may be incorrect. If our analytical and forecasting models' underlying assumptions are incorrect, improperly applied, or otherwise inadequate, we may suffer deleterious effects such as higher than expected loan losses, lower than expected net interest income, lower than expected liquidity, lower than expected capital or unanticipated charge-offs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
If our actual loan losses exceed our allowance for loan losses, our net income will decrease.
We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans. Despite our underwriting and monitoring practices, the effect of a declining economy could negatively impact the ability of our borrowers to repay loans in a timely manner and could also negatively impact collateral values. As a result, we may experience significant loan losses that could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Since we must use assumptions regarding individual loans and the economy, our current allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses. Our assumptions may not anticipate the severity or duration of the current credit cycle; and we may need to significantly increase our provision for losses on loans if one or more of our larger loans or credit relationships becomes delinquent or if we expand our commercial real estate and commercial lending.
Additionally, subsequent to this fiscal year-end we adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”) effective October 1, 2020. This standard requires financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit. This changes the current method of providing allowances for credit losses that are probable, which requires us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and may greatly increase the types of data we need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. In addition, federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase the provision for loan losses or recognize loan charge-offs. For additional discussion, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—2. New Accounting Standards." Material additions to our allowance through provision expense would materially decrease our net income. There can be no assurance that our monitoring procedures and policies will reduce certain lending risks or that our allowance for loan losses will be adequate to cover actual losses.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our Bank branches and any real estate collateral we acquire upon foreclosure.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. The costs associated with investigation and remediation activities could be substantial. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage, including damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating foreclosure, these actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards.
We also have an extensive branch network, owning separate branch locations throughout the areas we serve that may be subject to similar environmental liability risks. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and could materially reduce the affected property's value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. The remediation costs and any other financial institutions.liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Failure to comply with mortgage loan servicing standards, guidelines, laws and regulations, including the CARES Act, may result in substantial penalties, additional costs or losses.
As a residential mortgage servicer in the U.S., we have a portfolio of loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right is the right to service a mortgage loan (ie: collect principal, interest and escrow amounts) for a fee. The housing GSE, such as FNMA, the FHLMC and the FHLB, that own the mortgages that we service in our loan servicing rights portfolio have mortgage servicing standards. HUD and state housing finance agencies govern and establish guidelines for the servicing of GSE mortgages. The failure to comply with these standards and guidelines, as well as other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, could result in penalties assessed by HUD, the GSEs and/or our other regulators, or we could be forced to sell all or part of our loan servicing rights portfolio. In addition, we are subject to certain legal and contractual requirements for how we hold, transfer, use or enforce promissory notes, security instruments and other documents for residential mortgage loans that we service. Further, we currently use MERS for our servicing efforts. If documentation requirements were not met, or if the use of MERS or the MERS system is found not valid or effective, we could be obligated to, or choose to, take remedial actions and may be subject to additional costs or losses.
As a result of the CARES Act and associated regulations, customers of a federally backed mortgage loan (VA, FHA, USDA, Freddie and Fannie) experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic have the ability to request forbearance from paying their mortgage by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer affirming their financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency which includes granting a forbearance or deferral with no additional fees, penalties or interest, and with no adverse effects on the borrower’s credit. Foreclosures and evictions are prohibited during timeframes set by the GSEs. The Bank established new and updated existing policies, procedures and a change management process to facilitate the new CARES Act requirements, however, due to the extremely short implementation timeframes, and some ambiguity in the regulations, we are exposed to risks relating to noncompliance, and/or risk that errors may occur, subjecting the Bank to further regulatory, litigation, and/or operational risk, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on the mortgage secondary market for some of our liquidity.
We originate and sell a majority of our residential mortgage loans and their servicing rights, including $496.9 million of predominantly fixed rate environments,residential mortgage loans sold during fiscal year 2020. This does not include the loan servicing portfolio acquired from HF Financial, approximately $389.3 million, and portfolio loans consisting of ARMs and other non-conforming loans of approximately $830.1 million, each at September 30, 2020. We rely on FNMA and other purchasers to purchase loans in order to reduce our credit risk and provide funding for additional loans we desire to originate. We cannot provide assurance that these purchasers will not materially limit their purchases from us due to capital constraints or other factors, including, with respect to FNMA, a change in the criteria for conforming loans. Any reforms to the U.S. residential mortgage finance market, including the role of FNMA, which are not yet known, may limit our ability to sell conforming loans to FNMA. Our inability to comply with all federal and state regulations and investor guidelines regarding the origination, underwriting documentation and servicing of residential mortgage loans may also impact our ability to continue selling residential mortgage loans in the secondary market, effecting our ability to fund, and thus originate, additional residential mortgage loans, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may conduct.
If any of our representations and warranties to a purchaser about our mortgage loans and the manner in which they were originated and serviced is incorrect, we may be required to indemnify the purchaser for any related losses, or we may be required to repurchase or provide substitute mortgage loans for part or all of the affected loans. We may also be required to repurchase loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default by the borrower on a loan we have sold. If repurchase or indemnity activity becomes material, it could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may also, from time to time, engage in selling or participating all or part of certain commercial, agricultural or other types of loans. Such sales entail similar risks to those described above.
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Uncertainty relating to LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR may adversely affect us.
On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calibration of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, debentures, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans and securities in our portfolio and may impact the availability and cost of hedging instruments and borrowings. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement substitute indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers, we may incur significant competitionexpenses in effecting the transition, and may be subject to disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute indices, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Loans that we make through certain federal programs are dependent on the federal government’s continuation and support of these programs and on our compliance with their requirements.
We participate in various U.S. government agency guarantee programs, including programs operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Farm Service Administration and the United States Department of the Interior. If we fail to follow any applicable regulations, guidelines or policies associated with a particular guarantee program, any loans we originate as part of that program may lose the associated guarantee, exposing us to credit risk we would not otherwise be exposed to or underwritten, or result in our inability to continue originating loans under such programs, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Federal and state governments have enacted laws intending to stimulate the economy in light of the business and market disruptions related to COVID-19, including the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). Our Bank participated as a lender in both rounds of the PPP, providing $727.3 million in loans to over 4,800 customers.We understand that PPP loans are fully guaranteed by the SBA and believe the majority of these loans will be forgiven. However, there can be no assurance that the borrowers will use or have used the funds appropriately or will have satisfied the staffing or payment requirements to qualify for depositsforgiveness in whole or in part. Any portion of the loan that is not forgiven must be repaid by the borrower. 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 our Bank, which may or may not be related to an ambiguity in the laws, rules or guidance regarding operation of the PPP, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if we have already been paid under the guaranty, seek recovery from us of any loss related to the deficiency. Several other large banks have been subject to litigation regarding the process and procedures that such banks used in processing applications for the PPP. We and our Bank may be exposed to the risk of litigation, from both customers and non-customers that approached the Bank regarding PPP loans and our PPP process. If any such litigation is filed against the Bank and is not resolved in a manner favorable to the Bank, it may result in significant financial liability or adversely affect our reputation. In addition, litigation can be costly, regardless of outcome. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP related litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information, or from those customers or counterparties or of other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate, fraudulent or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could result in loan and lease losses, reputational damage or other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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COVID-19 could have negative effects on our hospitality and CRE loans, including loans to hotels, restaurants and health care facilities, which are dependent for repayment on the successful operation and management of the CRE, the strength of the CRE industry broadly and other factors outside of the borrower’s control.
In response to COVID-19, many state and local governments have ordered certain restrictions on non-essential businesses and residents. Certain industries have been particularly hard hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. At September 30, 2020, we had outstanding loans to hotels & resorts of $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of total loans, restaurants of $156.5 million, or 1.6% of total loans, arts and entertainment of $130.3 million, or 1.3% of total loans, senior care of $330.7 million, or 3.3% of total loans, and skilled nursing of $250.9 million, or 2.5% of total loans, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of total loans. Our CRE loans are dependent on the profitable operation and management of the property securing the loan and its cash flows. The continued spread of COVID-19 could result in further reduction of demand for hotel rooms and related lodging and entertainment services in general, reduction in business and personal travel, reduction in discretionary spending by our borrowers’ customers, increases in employee health related costs for our customers, operational cost increases due to potential labor, food, energy, water, transportation shortages, government forced closures and travel restrictions, or other unanticipated costs related to such force majeure events like COVID-19. These conditions can also lead to a decline in property sales prices and related assets and properties planned for development. Revenues may decline more quickly than borrowers are able to reduce expenses.
If repercussions of the outbreak are prolonged, COVID-19 could have a significant adverse impact, which could be material to our borrowers, by reducing the revenue and cash flows of our borrowers, impacting the borrowers’ ability to repay the loan, increasing the risk of default by our borrowers and/or reducing the foreclosure value of CRE that serves as collateral for certain of our loans. Loans may also be secured by depreciating assets where any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. Any of the foregoing could negatively impact our borrowers, and their financial results, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities
The value of securities in our investment portfolio may decline in the future.
As of September 30, 2020, we owned $1.77 billion of investment securities. The fair value of our investment securities may be adversely affected by market conditions, including changes in interest rates, and the occurrence of any events adversely affecting the issuer of particular securities in our investments portfolio. We analyze our securities on a quarterly basis to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. The process for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary usually requires complex, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer 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 issuers, we may be required to recognize other-than-temporary impairment in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to declare and pay dividends is now subject to additional regulatory restrictions and we may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive only such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily on our receipt of dividends from our Bank, the payment of which is subject to numerous limitations under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Dividends." As a consequence of these various limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate, the payment of dividends on our common stock. In addition, as a bank holding company our ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Due to negative retained earnings, primarily as a result of $713.0 million of impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company and our Bank are now required to notify the FRB and the FDIC and SDDB, respectively, prior to declaring and paying a cash dividend from our Bank to the Company and to our shareholders.
During fiscal year 2020, our Board of Directors reduced our dividend paid in the third fiscal quarter to $0.15 per share, from $0.30 per share paid in the second fiscal quarter, and then further reduced the dividend paid to $0.01 per share in the fourth fiscal quarter primarily as a result of the uncertainties and impacts of COVID-19. Any further changes in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof by our Board of Directors could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
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We may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely as a publicly listed company if we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any circumvention of our controls and procedures, or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NYSE.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.
We may need to raise additional capital, in the form of additional debt or equity, in the future to have sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and fund our business needs and future growth, particularly if the quality of our assets or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, as well as on acceptable terms, if needed, will depend on, among other things, our credit rating, confidence of debt purchasers, conditions in the capital markets at that time, counterparties participating in the capital markets or other disruption in capital markets and our financial condition. Economic conditions and a loss of confidence in financial institutions may increase our cost of funding and limit access to certain customary sources of capital, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the discount window of the Federal Reserve System. Further, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may need to compete for investors when seeking to raise capital. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have been rated as "BBB" with a negative outlook by Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“KBRA”). A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Our creditworthiness is not fixed and should be expected to arisechange over time as a result of our performance and industry conditions. We cannot give any assurances that our credit ratings will remain at current levels, and it is possible that our ratings could be lowered or withdrawn by KBRA.Any actual or threatened downgrade or withdrawal of our credit rating could affect our perception in the marketplace and our ability to raise capital, and could increase our debt financing costs.
Future issues or sales of our capital stock in the public market could lower our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders.
Any capital we obtain may result in the dilution of the interests of existing holders of our common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the issues or sales of a large number of shares of our capital stock or from corporatethe perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also may make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital by selling equity securities in the future, at a time and governmentprice that we deem appropriate.
On June 1, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC registering an indeterminate amount of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and debt securities which we may decide to issue in the future. To the extent that we choose to issue our common stock or our preferred stock, or rights relating to our common stock or preferred stock (through the issuance of depositary shares), such issuances will increase the number of our shares of capital stock outstanding and moneythe holders of these shares will be able to sell them in the public market. The specific terms of any shares of capital stock that may be issued under our shelf registration statement will be determined by us prior to issuance based on current market mutual funds.conditions and will be described in a supplement to the prospectus contained in such registration statement.
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC registering 1,497,222 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our equity incentive plans. We have granted awards covering 1,137,092 shares of our common stock under these plans as of September 30, 2020. Subject to stockholder approval, we may increase the number of shares registered for this purpose from time to time. Once we issue these shares, their holders will be able to sell them in the public market.
Certain banking laws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our stockholders. Acquisition of 10% or more of any class of voting stock of a bank holding company or depository institution, including shares of our common stock, generally creates a rebuttable presumption that the acquirer "controls" the bank holding company or depository institution and the acquisition of such control would be subject to federal regulatory approval. In addition, a bank holding company must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before, among other things, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, including our Bank.
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There also are provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, such as limitations on the ability to call a special meeting of our stockholders, and the classification of our Board of Directors into three separate classes each serving for three-year terms, that may be used to delay or block a takeover attempt. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to issue shares of preferred stock, and determine the rights, terms, conditions and privileges of such preferred stock, without stockholder approval. These provisions may effectively inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We have also elected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which generally prohibits a person qualifying as an "interested stockholder" from entering into a transaction for a business combination with us unless, subject to certain exceptions, such transaction is first approved by our Board of Directors. An "interested stockholder" is generally defined as any person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. The purpose of this election is to provide our Board of Directors with leverage in negotiating with an interested stockholder desiring to pursue a business combination with us by making it more difficult for such stockholder to complete such transaction in the absence of board approval. This election may discourage certain take-over attempts which our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests and this, in turn, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We are required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength for our Bank in times of stress.
Under federal law and longstanding Federal Reserve policy, we are expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to our Bank, and to commit resources to support our Bank if necessary. We may be required to commit additional resources to our Bank at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources or when it may not be in our, or our stockholders’ or creditors’, best interests to do so. Providing such support is more likely during times of financial stress for us and our Bank, which may make any capital we are required to raise to provide such support more expensive than it might otherwise be. In addition, any capital loans we make to our Bank are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of our Bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal banking regulator to maintain the capital of our Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
We may be subject to more stringent capital requirements in the future.
We are subject to current and changing regulatory requirements specifying minimum amounts and types of capital that we must maintain, which if we fail, we or our subsidiaries may be restricted in the types of activities we may conduct and we may be prohibited from taking certain capital actions, such as paying dividends and repurchasing or redeeming capital securities.
In particular, the capital requirements applicable to us under the recently adopted Capital Rules implementing the Basel III capital framework in the United States started to be phased-in on January 1, 2015. While we expect to meet the requirements of the new Basel III-based Capital Rules, we may fail to do so. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these requirements could have a negative impact on our ability to lend, grow deposit balances, make acquisitions or make capital distributions in the form of dividends or share repurchases. Higher capital levels could also lower our return on equity.
Strategic Risks
Liquidityrisk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.
Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our management believesaccess to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities or the terms of which are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry or economy in general. Factors that could detrimentally impact our most directaccess to liquidity sources include a decrease in the level of our business activity as a result of a downturn in the markets in which our loans are concentrated or an adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a disruption in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry generally.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.
In our markets, we face significant competition for deposits comes from nationwide and regionalother commercial banks, savings banks, and associations, online internet banks, credit unions, insurance companies, money market funds, brokerage firms, other non-bank financial services companies and service-focused community banks that target the same customers.


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Finally, deposit acquisitionother financial institutions, particularly nationwide and retention is affected by the customer's online and mobile banking experience. During fiscal year 2017, we launched an online account opening platform and an account-to-account transfer program for consumer customers. We believe these enhancements are more competitive product offerings and expect them to contribute to growth in deposit balances over time.
We compete for loans principally through the quality of service we provide to borrowers while maintaining competitive interest rates, loan fees and other loan terms. We emphasize personalized relationship banking services and the local and efficient decision-making of our banking businesses. Because of economies of scale, our larger, nationwide competitors may offer loan pricing that is more attractive than loan pricing we can offer. Our most direct competition for loans comes from larger regional and national banks, savings banks and associations, online internet banks, credit unions, insurance companies and service-focusedlarger community banks that target the same customers.banking institutions. We also face competition for agribusinessagricultural loans from participants in the nationwide Farm Credit System and global banks. In addition, FinTech's are emerging in key areas of banking. Our competitors may have substantially greater resources and lending limits than we do and may offer services that we do not or cannot provide. Many of our nonfinancial institution competitors have fewer regulatory constraints, broader geographic service areas and, in some cases, lower cost structures. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to compete in our markets.
We
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The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. Our inability to compete for wealth management clients onsuccessfully in the basis of the level of investment performance, fees and personalized client service. Our competition in wealth management services comes primarily from other institutions, particularly larger regional and national banks, providing similar services, wealth management companies and brokerage firms, many of which are larger than us and provide a wider array of products and services.
Intellectual Property
In the highly competitive banking industrymarkets in which we operate intellectual propertycould have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may not be able to successfully execute our strategic plan or manage our growth.
Our growth strategy focuses on organic growth, supplemented by acquisitions and requires us to manage several different elements simultaneously. Sustainable growth requires that we manage our risks by balancing loan and deposit growth at acceptable levels of risk, maintaining adequate liquidity and capital, hiring and retaining qualified employees, successfully managing the costs and implementation risks with respect to strategic projects and initiatives, and integrating acquisition targets and managing the costs. Our growth strategy may also change from time to time as a result of various internal and external factors. Our inability to manage our growth successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by risks associated with completed and potential acquisitions.
Our growth strategy includes consideration of potential acquisition opportunities that we believe support our business strategy and may enhance our profitability. We face significant competition from numerous other financial services institutions, many of which will have greater financial resources than we do, when considering acquisition opportunities. Accordingly, attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying or completing any future acquisitions and there is importantno assurance that, following any mergers or acquisitions, our integration efforts will be successful or that, after giving effect to the successacquisition, we will achieve profits comparable to, or better than, our historical experience. Acquisitions also involve numerous risks, including:
the time, expense and diversion of our business. We own a varietymanagement attention associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisition targets and new markets and negotiating potential transactions;
the accuracy of trademarks, service marks, trade namesthe estimates and logosjudgments used to evaluate credit, operations, funding, liquidity, liabilities, management and spend time and resources maintaining this intellectual property portfolio. We control accessmarket risks with respect to our intellectual property through license agreements, confidentiality procedures, non-disclosure agreements with third parties, employment agreements and other contractual rights to protect our intellectual property.the target institution;
Information Technology Systems
We devote significant resources to maintain stable, reliable, efficient and scalable information technology systems. We utilize a single, highly integrated core processing system from a third party vendor across our business that improves cost efficiency and acquisition integration. As advantageous, we work with our third party vendors to maximize the efficiency of our use of their applications. We use integrated systems to originate and process loans and deposit accounts, which reduces processing time, improves customer experience and reduces costs. Most customer records are maintained digitally. During fiscal year 2017, we have successfully executed several initiatives to continue to enhance our information security, online, mobile and cash management banking services and have implemented a new more automated branch teller transaction processing system to further improve the overall client experience.
Protecting our systems to ensure the safety of our customers’ information is critical to our business. We use multiple layers of protection to control access and reduce risk, including conducting a variety of vulnerability and penetration tests on our platforms, systems and applications to reduce the risk that the acquired business will not perform to our expectations, including a failure to realize anticipated synergies or cost savings;
difficulties, inefficiencies or cost overruns in integrating and assimilating the organizational cultures, operations, technologies, data, services and products of the acquired business with ours;
the potential loss of key employees or customers;
our ability to finance an acquisition and possible dilution to our existing shareholders; and
the potential for liabilities and claims arising out of the acquired businesses or closing delays and increased expenses related to the resolution of lawsuits filed by shareholders of targets.
Failed bank acquisitions involve risks similar to acquiring operating banks even though the FDIC might provide assistance to mitigate certain risks, such as sharing in exposure to loan and lease losses and providing indemnification against certain liabilities of the failed institution. However, because these acquisitions are typically conducted by the FDIC in a manner that does not allow the time typically taken for a due diligence review or for preparing the integration of an acquired institution, we may face additional risks in transactions with the FDIC. These risks include, among other things, accuracy or completeness of due diligence materials, the loss of core deposits and strain on management resources related to collection and management of problem loans. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming these risks encountered in connection with such acquisitions, nor that any attacks are successful. To protect against disasters, weFDIC-assisted opportunities will be available to us in our markets. Our inability to overcome these risks could have a backup offsite core processing system and recovery plans.material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We must generally receive federal regulatory approval before we can acquire a bank or bank holding company. We cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, any required regulatory approvals will be granted. We may be required to sell banks or branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval. Bank regulators consider a number of factors when determining whether to approve a proposed transaction, including the effect of the transaction on financial stability and the ratings and compliance history of all institutions involved, including the CRA, examination results and anti-money-laundering and BSA compliance records of all institutions involved. Failure to comply with such requirements could also have an enterprise data warehouse systemserious legal and reputational consequences, including causing delay in approval or denial of such transactions when regulatory approval is required, or to capture, analyzeprohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.
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Our ability to maintain, attract and report key metrics associated withretain customer relationships is highly dependent on our reputation.
Damage to our reputation could undermine the confidence of our current and potential customers. Such damage could also impair the confidence of our counterparties and vendors and affect our ability to effect transactions. Maintenance of our reputation depends on customer service and mitigation of the various risks described herein, as well as on identifying and appropriately addressing issues that may arise in areas such as potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, privacy, employee, customer and product profitability. Dataother third party fraud, record-keeping, regulatory investigations and any litigation that previously was arduousmay arise from the failure or perceived failure of us to collect across multiple systems is now available daily through standardcomply with legal and ad hoc reports to assist with managingregulatory requirements, successfully preventing third parties from infringing on the "Great Western Bank" brand and associated trademarks and our businessother intellectual property and competing effectively in the marketplace.
Employees
As of September 30, 2017, we had 1,689 total employees, which included 1,542 full-time employees, 145 part-time employees and 2 temporary employees. Of our 1,689 employees, 1,204 are in core banking (i.e., non-line of business branch network employees, including relationship bankers), 90 employees are in lines of business (e.g., mortgage, credit cards, investments), 34employees are in finance, 210 employees are in support services (i.e., employees in operations, IT and projects), 96 employees are in risk and credit management, 13 employees are in internal audit and 42 employees are in other functions. We believe our relationship with our employees to be generally good. We have not experienced any material employment-related issuesavoiding adverse publicity or interruptions of services due to labor disagreements and are not a party to any collective bargaining agreements.


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Executive Officers of the Registrant
The following table and the descriptions below set forth biographicalnegative information regarding our executive officers:
NameAgePosition
Ken Karels60Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Peter Chapman44Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
Stephen Ulenberg60Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President
Michael Gough56Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President
Doug Bass56Regional President and Executive Vice President
Ken Karels has served as Great Western Bancorporation, Inc.’s President and Chief Executive Officer andCompany, whether or not true, that may be posted on its Boardsocial media, non-mainstream news services or other parts of Directors from 2010 through 2014, as well as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer and on the Board of Directorsinternet. Defense of our company since its formationreputation, trademarks and other intellectual property, could result in July 2014. He was elected Chairmanmaterial adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in 2017. Mr. Karels is alsoour accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial condition or results of operations.
From time to time, the Chairman, PresidentFASB, SEC and Chief Executive Officer of our bankother regulators change the financial accounting and serves onreporting standards that govern the Boards of Directors of our bank and our other subsidiaries. Mr. Karels’ duties include overall leadership and executive oversight of our bank. Mr. Karels has 40 years of banking experience and expertise in all areas of bank management and strategic bank acquisitions. He has served in several different capacities at our bank since February 2002, including Regional President and Chief Operating Officer for the bank’s branch distribution channel including agriculture, business and retail lending and deposits functions. During his executive tenure, Mr. Karels has helped grow our bank from $5.2 billion in assets at September 30, 2009 to over $11 billion in assets today. Before joining our bank, Mr. Karels served as President and Chief Executive Officer at Marquette Bank, Milbank, SD, where he was employed for 25 years.
Peter Chapman has served as Great Western Bancorporation, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President from 2013 through 2014 and on its Board of Directors from January 2013 until October 2014, as well as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of our company since its formation in July 2014. Mr. Chapman is also the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President of our bank. In 2017, Mr. Chapman also began overseeing all of our banking operations within the states of Minnesota and North Dakota. Mr. Chapman has over 23 years of industry experience and is responsible for all aspectspreparation of our financial statements, potentially requiring us to modify certain of the assumptions or estimates we have previously used in preparing our financial statements, negatively impacting how we record and regulatoryreport our results of operations and financial condition generally. For additional information on the key areas for which assumptions and estimates are used in preparing our financial statements, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates."
Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting techniques.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so they comply with U.S. GAAP and reflect management’s judgment of the most appropriate manner to report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which may be reasonable under the circumstances, yet which may result in our reporting together with planningmaterially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative.
Certain accounting policies are critical to presenting our financial condition and strategyresults of operations. They require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain. Materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions or estimates. These critical accounting policies include, but are not limited to, the allowance for loan and treasury managementlease losses, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, goodwill impairment, investment impairments, core deposits and other intangibles, derivatives and income taxes. Because of the uncertainty of estimates involved in these matters, we may be required to do one or more of the following: significantly increase the allowance for loan and lease losses or sustain loan and lease losses that are significantly higher than the reserve provided; recognize significant impairment on goodwill and other intangible asset balances; reduce the carrying value of an asset measured at fair value; or significantly increase our accrued tax liability. Any of these could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For a discussion of our balance sheet. From 2010 until he was appointed as our Chief Financial Officer in November 2012, Mr. Chapman served as the General Manager, Finance Performance Management & Non Traded Businesses for NAB’s Wholesale Banking business. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Chapman served as Headcritical accounting policies, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Control at NABCondition and was responsible for oversightResults of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and deliverythe Impact of NAB’s externalAccounting Estimates."
We may be adversely affected by changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial reporting and internal management reporting. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Chapman was Manager, and then Senior Manager, in NAB’s Group Accounting Policy team. From 1995 to 2004, Mr. Chapman held various roles with Ernst & Young’s Financial Services Audit Division, including Group Manager of its Melbourne, Australia office’s Financial Services Audit practice, and he was seconded to Ernst & Young’s New York office from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Chapman has been a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia since 1998 and is currently a Fellow of the Institute.institutions.
Stephen Ulenberg has served as Great Western Bancorporation, Inc.’s Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President from 2010 through 2014, as well as the Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President of our company since its formation in July 2014. Mr. Ulenberg is also the Chief Risk Officer and Executive Vice President of our bank. Mr. Ulenberg is responsible for ensuring that risk is effectively managed and overseen across our enterprise. Mr. Ulenberg has 33 years of experience inWithin the financial services industry, loss of public confidence, including a 24-year career with NAB and its subsidiaries, where he has worked in a number of senior positions including frontline business leadership inthrough default by any one institution, could lead to liquidity challenges or to defaults by other institutions as the commercial and wholesale banking, risk managementfinancial soundness of many financial institutions is closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and major, cross-organizational strategic initiatives-at both Bankother relationships. Even the perceived lack of New Zealand (a NAB subsidiary)creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and NAB. Immediately prior to joining our bank, Mr. Ulenberg was responsible for the leadership of Bank of New Zealand’s enterprise risk management capability across a $60 billion lending portfolio. In that role, Mr. Ulenberg provided related analytics, risk reporting, portfolio metrics, risk insights, asset quality information and oversight of decision analysis, managed provisioning, risk appetite and advanced Basel models and led ongoing enhancements to Bank of New Zealand’s risk management capabilities.

losses or defaults by various institutions.

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Doug Bass has served as a Regional President of our bank since 2010 and is also an Executive Vice President of our company. Mr. Bass oversees all of our banking operations within the states of Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri, as well as our wealth management and mortgage banking business lines. In total, Mr. Bass has over 34 years of banking experience. Mr. Bass has worked in various capacities with our bank since 2009 and has expertise in all areas of bank management within Great Western Bank. Before joining our bank, Mr. Bass served as President of First American Bank Group. Previously Mr. Bass served in various capacities over 15 years with Firstar Corporation, which is now known as US Bank, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of Firstar’s Sioux City and Council Bluffs operations in western Iowa and as Manager of Correspondent Banking for its eastern Iowa operations, which also included responsibility for commercial banking and agribusiness lending.
Michael Gough has served as Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President of our company since 2017. Mr. Gough is also the Chief Credit Officer and Executive Vice President of our bank. Mr. Gough is responsible for the overall direction and operations of the credit department, including loan and portfolio quality, and oversees our commercial credit and collection policies, procedures and processes. Mr. Gough has been employed at our bank for over 21 years, and Mr. Gough has served as our bank's Chief Credit Officer for the past 3 years. Prior to his appointment as our bank's Chief Credit Officer, Mr. Gough started and managed the bank’s Strategic Business Services (“SBS”) which managed troubled assets and minimized the bank’s loss exposure. Preceding his role as SBS manager for our bank, Mr. Gough served as the Executive Vice President of Credit for our bank's South Dakota charter which was thereafter merged with and the successor to the bank’s Nebraska and Iowa charters.
Supervision and Regulation
We and our subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation under federal and state banking laws that establish a comprehensive framework for our operations. This framework may materially impact our growth potential and financial performance and is intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. Significant elements of the statutes, regulations and policies applicable to us and our subsidiaries are described below. This description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the statutes, regulations and policies described.
Regulatory Agencies
Great Western isBank Holding Company Regulation. We are a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act or the "BHC Act".BHC Act. Consequently, Great Westernwe and itsour subsidiaries are subject to supervision, regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or the Federal Reserve. The BHC Act provides generally for “umbrella”"umbrella" regulation of bank holding companies and functional regulation of holding company subsidiaries by applicable regulatory agencies. Great Western is also subject toagencies, including the disclosure and regulatory requirements of the Exchange Act administered by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and, following the listing of our common stock, the rules adopted by the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, applicable to listed companies.
Great Western Bank, our bank subsidiary, is an FDIC-insured commercial bank charteredFederal Reserve. The Federal Reserve has issued regulations under the lawsBHC Act requiring a bank holding company to serve as a source of South Dakota. Our bankfinancial and managerial strength to its subsidiary banks. It is not a memberthe policy of the Federal Reserve System. Consequently,that, pursuant to this requirement, a bank holding company should stand ready to use its resources to provide adequate capital funds to its subsidiary banks during periods of financial stress or adversity. Under this requirement, we are expected to commit resources to support our Bank, including at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources. Any capital loans by a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary banks. In the FDICevent of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
The FRB subjects the Company to its requirements on regulatory capital and maintaining cash reserves against its deposits. The FRB also regulates the national supply of bank credit in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits, and affect the interest rates charged on loans or paid for deposits. Fluctuations in interest rates, which may result from governmental fiscal policies and the Division of Bankingmonetary policies of the South Dakota DepartmentFRB, have a strong impact on the income derived from loans and securities, and interest paid on deposits and borrowings. While the Company and the Bank strive to model various interest rate changes and adjust our strategies for such changes, the level of Laborearnings could be materially affected by economic circumstances beyond our control.
The BHC Act also requires the prior approval of the Federal Reserve to acquire more than a 5% voting interest of any bank or bank holding company, or to merge or consolidate with another bank holding company. We must also be well-capitalized and Regulation, or the South Dakota Division of Banking, are the primary regulatorswell-managed in order to acquire a bank located outside of our bank and also regulate our bank’s subsidiaries. Our bank is also subject to the enforcement and rule-making authority of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or the CFPB, regarding consumer financial products. The CFPB has authority to create and enforce consumer protection rules and regulations and has the power to examine our bank for compliance with such rules and regulations. The CFPB also has the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, such as our bank. In addition, we offer certain insurance and investment products through our bank and our bank’s subsidiaries that are subject to regulation and supervision by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies and by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, or FINRA, as a result of a contractual relationship we have with a third party broker-dealer relating to the provision of some wealth management and investment services to customers.


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Permissible Activities for Bank Holding Companies
In general,home state. Additionally, the BHC Act limits the business of bank holding companiesrestricts our non-banking activities to banking, managing or controlling banks and other activities thatthose which are determined by the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to banking as to beand a proper incident thereto.
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 underwriting and dealing, insurance underwriting and making merchant banking investments. We have not elected to be treated as a financial holding company and currently have no plans to make a financial holding company election.
The BHC Act does not place territorial restrictions on permissible non-banking activities of bank holding companies. The Federal Reserve has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the Federal Reserve has reasonable grounds to believe that continuing such activity, ownership or control constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety or stability of any bank subsidiary ofor the bank holding company.
Permissible Activities for BanksUnder FDICIA, a bank holding company is required to guarantee the compliance of any insured depository institution subsidiary that may become "undercapitalized" (as defined in FDICIA) with the terms of any capital restoration plan filed by such subsidiary with its appropriate federal bank regulatory agency.
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FDIC and SDDB Regulations. Our Bank is an FDIC-insured commercial bank chartered under the laws of South Dakota. It is not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Consequently, the FDIC and the SD Division of Banking are the primary regulators of our Bank and also regulate our Bank’s subsidiaries. As a South Dakota-chartered commercial bank, our bank’sBank's business is generally limited to activities permitted by South Dakota law and any applicable federal laws. Under the South Dakota Banking Code, our bank may generally engage in all usual banking activities, including taking commercial and savings deposits; lending money on personal and real security; issuing letters of credit; buying, discounting, and negotiating promissory notes, bonds, drafts and other forms of indebtedness; buying and selling currency and, subject to certain limitations, certain investment securities; engaging in all facets of the insurance business; and maintaining safe deposit boxes on premises. Subject to prior approval by the Director of the South DakotaSD Division of Banking, our bankBank may also permissibly engage in any activity permissible as of January 1, 2008 for a national bank doing business in South Dakota.
South Dakota law also imposes restrictions on our bank’s activities and corporate governance requirements intended to ensure the safety and soundness of our bank. For example, South Dakota law requires our bank’s officers to be elected annually and the election of each officer to be confirmed by the Director of the South Dakota Division of Banking. Our bankBank is also restricted under South Dakota law from investing in certain types of investment securities and is generally limited in the amount of money it can lend to a single borrower or invest in securities issued by a single issuer (in each case, 20% of our bank’sBank's capital stock and surplus plus 10% of our bank’sBank's undivided profits).
Acquisitions by Bank Holding Companies
The BHC Act, the Bank Merger Act theand South Dakota Banking Code and other federal and state statutes regulate acquisitions of commercial banks and other FDIC-insured depository institutions. We mustlaw generally require our Bank to obtain the prior regulatory approval of the Federal Reserve before (i) acquiring more than 5% of the voting stock of any FDIC-insured depository institutionto merger or other bank holding company (other than directly through our bank), (ii) acquiring allconsolidate with, or acquire substantially all of the assets of any bank or bank holding company or (iii) merging or consolidating with any other bank holding company. Under the Bank Merger Act, the prior approval of the FDIC is required for our bank to merge with another bank or purchase all or substantially all of the assets or assume any of the deposits of, another FDIC-insured depository institution. bank.
In reviewing applications seeking approvaladdition, we offer certain insurance and investment products through our Bank and our Bank's subsidiaries that are subject to regulation and supervision by applicable state insurance regulatory agencies and by the FINRA as a result of mergera contractual relationship we have with a third party broker-dealer relating to the provision of some wealth management and acquisition transactions, bank regulators consider, among other things,investment services to customers.
CFPB Regulations. We are also subject to the competitive effectenforcement and public benefitsrule-making authority of the transactions,CFPB regarding consumer financial products. The CFPB has authority to create and enforce consumer protection rules and regulations and has the capital positionpower to examine our Bank for compliance with such rules and managerial resourcesregulations. The CFPB also has the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive or abusive" acts and practices. The CFPB has examination and enforcement authority over all banks with more than $10 billion in assets, such as our Bank.
Acquisitions of Ownership of the combined organization, the risks to the stabilityCompany
Acquisitions of the U.S.Company's voting stock above certain thresholds may be subject to prior regulatory notice or approval under applicable federal banking laws. Investors are responsible for ensuring that they do not, directly or financial system,indirectly, acquire shares of our stock in excess of the applicant’s performance recordamount that can be acquired without regulatory approval or notice under the Community ReinvestmentBHC Act of 1977, or the CRA, the applicant’s compliance with fair housing and other consumer protection laws and the effectiveness of all organizations involvedChange in combating money laundering activities. In addition, failure to implement or maintain adequate compliance programs could cause bank regulators not to approve an acquisition where regulatory approval is required or to prohibit an acquisition even if approval is not required.Bank Control Act.
Dividends; Stress TestingDividends
Great WesternOur Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking and other subsidiaries. As a bank holding company, Great Western iswe are subject to certain restrictions on itsour ability to pay dividends under applicable banking laws and regulations. Federal bank regulators are authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. In particular, federal


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Federal Reserve policy provides that a bank regulators have stated that paying dividends that deplete a banking organization’s capital base to an inadequate level would be an unsafe and unsound banking practice and that banking organizationsholding company should generallynot pay dividends only outunless (1) the bank holding company's net income over the last four quarters (net of current operating earnings. In addition, individends paid) is sufficient to fully fund the currentdividends, (2) the prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with the capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition of the bank holding company and economic environment,its subsidiaries and (3) the bank holding company will continue to meet minimum required capital adequacy ratios. The policy also provides that a bank holding company should inform the Federal Reserve has indicatedreasonably in advance of declaring or paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid or that could result in a material adverse change to the bank holding company's capital structure. Bank holding companies should carefully review theiralso are required to consult with the Federal Reserve before materially increasing dividends. The Federal Reserve could prohibit or limit the payment of dividends by a bank holding company if it determines that payment of the dividend policy and has discouraged payment ratios that are at maximum allowable levels unless both asset quality and capital are very strong.would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice.
A significant portionSince substantially all of our income comes from dividends from our bank,Bank, which is also the primary source of our liquidity.liquidity, our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares depends upon our receipt of dividends from our Bank. In addition to the restrictions discussed above, our bankBank is subject to limitations under South Dakota law regarding the level of dividends that it may pay to us. In general, dividends by our bankBank may only be declared from its net profits and may be declared no more than once per calendar quarter. The approval of the South Dakota Director of Banking is required if our bankBank seeks to pay aggregate dividends during any calendar year that would exceed the sum of its net profits from the year to date and retained net profits from the preceding two years, minus any required transfers to surplus.
In October 2012, as required by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, or the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC published final rules regarding company-run stress testing. These rules require bank holding companies and banks that meet the definition of a "covered bank" to conduct an annual company-run stress test of capital, consolidated earnings and losses under one base and at least two stress scenarios provided by the federal bank regulators. A "covered bank" is a bank holding company or a bank which has an average of consolidated assets over the four most recent consecutive quarters greater than $10 billion. We became a "covered bank" as of June 30, 2016 and as such we will report our first stress test under the 2018 year stress test cycle. We have an ongoing project to ensure that we are able to meet these requirements in a timely fashion and have completed an internal dry run of the stress test cycle during 2017 to increase preparedness for our 2018 submission. Neither we nor our bank is currently subject to the stress testing requirements, but we expect that once we are subject to those requirements, the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the South Dakota Division of Banking will consider our results as an important factor in evaluating our capital adequacy, and that of our bank, in evaluating any proposed acquisitions and in determining whether any proposed dividends or stock repurchases by us or by our bank may be an unsafe or unsound practice.
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Transactions with Affiliates
Transactions between our bankBank and its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Great Westernour Company or any other subsidiary, on the other hand, are regulated under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Federal Reserve Act imposes quantitative and qualitative requirements and collateral requirements on covered transactions by Great Westernour Bank with, or for the benefit of, its affiliates. Generally, Sections 23A and 23B limit the extent to which our bankBank or its subsidiaries may engage in "covered transactions" with any one affiliate to an amount equal to 10% of our bank'sBank's capital stock and surplus, and contain an aggregate limit on all such transactions with all affiliates to an amount equal to 20% of such capital stock and surplus, and requires those transactions to be on terms at least as favorable to our bankBank as if the transaction were conducted with an unaffiliated third party. Covered transactions are defined by statute to include a loan or extension of credit, as well as a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate, a purchase of assets (unless otherwise exempted by the Federal Reserve) from the affiliate, certain derivative transactions that create a credit exposure to an affiliate, the acceptance of securities issued by the affiliate as collateral for a loan, and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate. In addition, any credit transactions with an affiliate must be secured by designated amounts of specified collateral.
Federal law also limits a bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% (or greater) stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons. Among other things, extensions of credit to insiders are required to be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons. Also,In addition, the terms of such extensions of credit may not involve more than the normal risk of non-repayment or present other unfavorable features and may not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons individually and in the aggregate.
Source of Strength
Federal Reserve policy and federal law require bank holding companies to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary banks. Under this requirement, we are expected to commit resources to support our bank, including at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources, and it may not be in our, or our stockholders’ or creditors’, best interests to do so. In addition, any capital loans we make to our bank are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of our bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of our bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.


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Regulatory Capital Requirements
The Federal Reserve monitors the capital adequacy of our holding company on a consolidated basis, and the FDIC and the South Dakota Division of Banking monitor the capital adequacy of our bank. The bank regulators use a combination of risk-based guidelines and a leverage ratio to evaluate capital adequacy. The risk-based capital guidelines applicable to us and our bank are based on the Basel Committee’s December 2010 final capital framework, known as Basel III, as implemented by the federal bank regulators. The risk-based guidelines are intended to make regulatory capital requirements sensitive to differences in credit and market risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to weighted risk categories, and capital is classified in one of the following tiers depending on its characteristic:
Common Equity Tier 1 ("CET1") Capital CET1 capital for us includes common equity, surplus and retained earnings less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets. The capital rules require bank holding companies and banks to include Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income ("AOCI") into CET1 unless the bank and bank holding company use a one-time election to exclude AOCI from its regulatory capital metrics on January 1st, 2015. We elected to exclude AOCI from CET1.
Tier 1 (Core) Capital-Tier 1 capital for us includes CET1 and qualifying trust preferred securities at the holding company level, less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets.
Tier 2 (Supplementary) Capital-Tier 2 capital for us includes qualifying subordinated debt and a limited amount of allowance for loan and lease losses.
Bank holding companies and banks are also currently required to comply with minimum leverage requirements, measured based on the ratio of a bank holding company’s or a bank’s, as applicable, Tier 1 capital to adjusted quarterly average total assets (as defined for regulatory purposes). These requirements generally necessitate a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all bank holding companies and banks. To be considered “well capitalized” under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, our bank must maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage ratios of at least 5%. See “—Prompt Corrective Action Framework.”
Basel III and the Capital Rules. In July 2013, the federal bank regulators approved final rules, or the Capital Rules, implementing the Basel Committee’s December 2010 final capital framework for strengthening international capital standards, known as Basel III, and various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Capital Rules substantially revise the risk-based capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies and banks, including us and our bank, compared to the previous risk-based capital rules. The Capital Rules revise the components of capital and address other issues affecting the numerator in regulatory capital ratio calculations. The Capital Rules also address risk weights and other issues affecting the denominator in regulatory capital ratio calculations, including replacing the existing risk-weighting approach derived from Basel I with a more risk-sensitive approach based, in part, on the standardized approach adopted by the Basel Committee in its 2004 capital accords, known as Basel II. The Capital Rules also implement the requirements of Section 939A of the Dodd-Frank Act to remove references to credit ratings from the federal bank regulators’ rules. Subject to a phase-in period for various provisions, the Capital Rules became effective for us and for our bank beginning on January 1, 2015.
Under the Basel III Capital Rules, the minimum capital ratios are (i) 4.5% CET1 to risk-weighted assets, (ii) 6% Tier 1 capital (that is, CET1 plus Additional Tier 1 capital) to risk-weighted assets and (iii) 8% total capital (that is, Tier 1 capital plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets.
The current capital rules also include a capital conservation buffer designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. The capital conservation buffer is composed entirely of CET1, on top of these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. In addition, the Capital Rules provide for a countercyclical capital buffer applicable only to certain covered institutions. We do not expect the countercyclical capital buffer to be applicable to us or our bank. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.
The implementation of the capital conservation buffer began on January 1, 2016 at the 0.625% level and will be phased in over a three-year period (increasing by 0.625% on each subsequent January 1, until it reaches 2.5% on January 1, 2019). When fully phased-in, the Capital Rules will require us, and our bank, to maintain an additional capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of CET1, effectively resulting in minimum ratios of (i) 7% CET1 to risk-weighted assets, (ii) 8.5% Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and (iii) 10.5% total capital to risk-weighted assets.


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The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, certain deferred tax assets and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be deducted from CET1 to the extent that any one such category exceeds 10% of CET1 or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1. Implementation of the deductions and other adjustments to CET1 began on January 1, 2015 and will be phased in over a four-year period (beginning at 40% on January 1, 2015 and an additional 20% per year thereafter). The Capital Rules also generally preclude certain hybrid securities, such as trust preferred securities, from being counted as Tier 1 capital for most bank holding companies. Bank holding companies such as us who had less than $15 billion in assets as of December 31, 2009 (and who continue to have less than $15 billion in assets) are permitted to include trust preferred securities issued prior to May 19, 2010 as Additional Tier 1 capital under the Capital Rules, however.
The Capital Rules also prescribed a new standardized approach for risk weightings that expanded the risk-weighting categories from the current four Basel I-derived categories (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%) to a much larger and more risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0%, for U.S. government and agency securities, to 600%, for certain equity exposures, and resulting in higher risk weights for a variety of asset categories.
With respect to our bank, the Capital Rules also revised the prompt corrective action regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, or the FDIA. See “—Prompt Corrective Action Framework.”
We believe that, as of September 30, 2017, we and our bank would meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Capital Rules on a fully phased-in basis as if such requirements were then in effect.
Liquidity Requirements
Historically, the regulation and monitoring of bank and bank holding company liquidity has been addressed as a supervisory matter, without required formulaic measures. The Basel III final framework requires banks and bank holding companies to measure their liquidity against specific liquidity tests that, although similar in some respects to liquidity measures historically applied by banks and regulators for management and supervisory purposes, going forward would be required by regulation. One test, referred to as the liquidity coverage ratio, or LCR, is designed to ensure that the banking entity maintains an adequate level of unencumbered high-quality liquid assets equal to the entity’s expected net cash outflow for a 30-day time horizon (or, if greater, 25% of its expected total cash outflow) under an acute liquidity stress scenario. The other test, referred to as the net stable funding ratio, or NSFR, is designed to promote more medium- and long-term funding of the assets and activities of banking entities over a one-year time horizon. These requirements will incentivize banking entities to increase their holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and other sovereign debt as a component of assets and increase the use of long-term debt as a funding source.
In September 2015, the federal bank regulators approved final rules implementing the LCR for advanced approaches banking organizations (i.e., banking organizations with $250 billion or more in total consolidated assets or $10 billion or more in total on-balance sheet foreign exposure) and a modified version of the LCR for bank holding companies with at least $50 billion in total consolidated assets that are not advanced approach banking organizations, neither of which would apply to us or our bank. The federal bank regulators have not yet proposed rules to implement the NSFR, but the Federal Reserve has stated its intent to adopt a version of this measure as well.
Prompt Corrective Action Framework
The FDIA requires the federal bank regulators to take prompt corrective action in respect of depository institutions that fail to meet specified capital requirements. The FDIA establishes five capital categories (“well-capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” and “critically undercapitalized”), and the federal bank regulators are required to take certain mandatory supervisory actions, and are authorized to take other discretionary actions, with respect to institutions that are undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized. The severity of these mandatory and discretionary supervisory actions depends upon the capital category in which the institution is placed. Generally, subject to a narrow exception, the FDIA requires the regulator to appoint a receiver or conservator for an institution that is critically undercapitalized.
An institution may be downgraded to, or deemed to be in, a capital category that is lower than indicated by its capital ratios if it is determined to be in an unsafe or unsound condition or if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating with respect to certain matters. A bank’s capital category is determined solely for the purpose of applying prompt corrective action regulations, and the capital category may not constitute an accurate representation of the bank’s overall financial condition or prospects for other purposes.


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The Capital Rules revised the current prompt corrective action requirements effective January 1, 2015 by (i) introducing a CET1 ratio requirement at each level (other than critically undercapitalized), with the required CET1 ratio being 6.5% for well-capitalized status; (ii) increasing the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio requirement for each category (other than critically undercapitalized), with the minimum Tier 1 capital ratio for well-capitalized status being 8% (as compared to the previous 6%); and (iii) eliminating the provision that provided that a bank with a composite supervisory rating of 1 may have a 3% leverage ratio and still be adequately capitalized. The Capital Rules do not change the total risk-based capital requirement for any prompt corrective action category.
As of September 30, 2017, we and our bank were well capitalized with Tier 1 capital ratios of 11.4% and 11.6%, respectively, total capital ratios of 12.5% and 12.2%, respectively, Tier 1 leverage ratios of 10.3% and 10.4%, respectively, and a CET1 ratio of 10.7% and 11.6%, respectively, as calculated under Basel III which went into effect on January 1, 2015. For more information on these financial measures, including reconciliations to our and our bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital.”
An institution that is categorized as undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized is required to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan to its appropriate federal bank regulator. Under the FDIA, in order for the capital restoration plan to be accepted by the appropriate federal banking agency, a bank holding company must guarantee that a subsidiary depository institution will comply with its capital restoration plan, subject to certain limitations. The bank holding company must also provide appropriate assurances of performance. The obligation of a controlling bank holding company under the FDIA to fund a capital restoration plan is limited to the lesser of 5% of an undercapitalized subsidiary’s assets or the amount required to meet regulatory capital requirements. An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions and capital distributions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except in accordance with an accepted capital restoration plan or with the approval of the FDIC. Institutions that are undercapitalized or significantly undercapitalized and either fail to submit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fail to implement an approved capital restoration plan 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 undercapitalized depository institutions failing to submit or implement an acceptable capital restoration plan are subject to appointment of a receiver or conservator.
In addition, the FDIA prohibits an insured depository institution from accepting brokered deposits or offering interest rates on any deposits significantly higher than the prevailing rate in the bank’s normal market area or nationally (depending upon where the deposits are solicited), unless it is well capitalized or is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver from the FDIC. A depository institution that is adequately capitalized and accepts brokered deposits under a waiver from the FDIC may not pay an interest rate on any deposit in excess of 75 basis points over certain prevailing market rates.
Safety and Soundness Standards
The federal banking agencies have adopted the Interagency Guidelines for Establishing Standards for Safety and Soundness. The guidelines establish general standards relating to internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings and compensation, fees and benefits. In general, these guidelines require, among other things, appropriate systems and practices to identify and manage the risk and exposures specified in the guidelines. These guidelines also prohibit excessive compensation as an unsafe and unsound practice and describe compensation as excessive when the amounts paid are unreasonable or disproportionate to the services performed by an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder. In addition, the agencies adopted regulations that authorize, but do not require, an agency to order an institution that has been given notice by an agency that it is not satisfying any of such safety and soundness standards to submit a compliance plan. If, after being so notified, an institution fails to submit an acceptable compliance plan or fails in any material respect to implement an acceptable compliance plan, the bank regulator must issue an order directing action to correct the deficiency and may issue an order directing other actions of the types to which an undercapitalized institution may be subject under the FDIA. See “—"—Prompt Corrective Action Framework.”Regulatory Action." If an institution fails to comply with such an order, the bank regulator may seek to enforce such order in judicial proceedings and to impose civil money penalties.


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Deposit Insurance
FDIC Insurance Assessments. As an FDIC-insured bank, our bankBank must pay deposit insurance assessments to the FDIC based on its average total assets minus its average tangible equity. Our bank’sBank’s assessment rates are currently based on its risk classification (i.e., the level of risk it poses to the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund). Institutions classified as higher risk pay assessments at higher rates than institutions that pose a lower risk. With the acquisition of HF Financial in 2016, our total assets exceeded $10 billion as of the quarter ended June 30, 2016. Since our bank'sBank's total consolidated assets have exceeded $10 billion for four consecutive quarters, the FDIC uses a performance score and a loss-severity score to calculate the assessment rate. In calculating these scores, the FDIC uses a bank’s capital level and regulatory supervisory ratings and certain financial measures to assess an institution’s ability to withstand asset-related stress and funding-related stress. The FDIC also has the ability to make discretionary adjustments to the total score based upon significant risk factors that are not adequately captured in the calculations. In addition to ordinary assessments described above, the FDIC has the ability to impose special assessments in certain instances.
The FDIC’s deposit insurance fund is currently underfunded, and the FDIC has raised assessment rates and imposed special assessments on certain institutions during recent years to raise funds. In October 2010, the FDIC adopted a restoration plan to ensure that the fund reserve ratio reaches 1.35% by September 30, 2020, as required by the Dodd-Frank Act. In March of 2016, the FDIC approved a final rule to meet this requirement by 2018. To meet the minimum reserve ratio by 2018, during the third calendar quarter of 2016 the FDIC began assessing banks with consolidated assets of more than $10 billion a surcharge assessment of 0.045%. The surcharge will continue through the earlier of the quarter that the reserve ratio first reaches or exceeds 1.35% and December 30, 2018.
Under the FDIA, the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC.
Other Assessments. In addition, the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 authorized the Financing Corporation to impose assessments on deposit insurance fund applicable deposits in order to service the interest on the Financing Corporation’s bond obligations from deposit insurance fund assessments. The amount assessed on individual institutions is in addition to the amount, if any, paid for deposit insurance according to the FDIC’s risk-related assessment rate schedules. Assessment rates may be adjusted quarterly to reflect changes in the assessment base.
Heightened Requirements for Bank Holding Companies with $10 Billion or More in Assets
Various federal banking laws and regulations, including rules adopted by the Federal Reserve pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, impose heightened requirements on certain large banks and bank holding companies. Most of these rules apply primarily to bank holding companies with at least $50 billion in total consolidated assets, but certain rules also apply to banks and bank holding companies with at least $10 billion in total consolidated assets. With the acquisition of HF Financial on May 16, 2016, our total consolidated assets exceeded $10 billion. As the average of our total consolidated assets over the four most recent quarters exceeds $10 billion we are required to perform annual stress tests as described above in "—Dividends; Stress Testing" and below in "—Capital and Stress Testing Requirements". Because our bank’s total consolidated assets equal or exceed $10 billion, we or our bank, as applicable, will, among other requirements:
be required to have a dedicated risk committee of our Board of Directors responsible for overseeing our enterprise-wide risk management policies, which must be commensurate with our capital structure, risk profile, complexity, activities, size and other appropriate risk-related factors, and including as a member at least one risk management expert;
calculate our FDIC deposit assessment base using the performance score and a loss-severity score system described above in “—Deposit Insurance;” and
be examined for compliance with federal consumer protection laws primarily by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, as described below in “—Consumer Financial Protection.”
Prior to exceeding $10 billion in total consolidated assets, we began analyzing these rules to ensure we were prepared to comply with these rules as applicable. We have established a Board Risk Committee and are running periodic and selective stress tests on liquidity, interest rates and certain areas of our loan portfolio.


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The Volcker Rule
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits insured depository institutions and their holding companies from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and prohibits them from owning equity interests in excess of three percent (3%) of Tier 1 Capital in private equity and hedge funds (known as the "Volcker Rule"). In December 2013, federal regulators adopted final rules to implement the Volcker Rule. The Final Rules prohibit banking entities from (1) engaging in short-term proprietary trading for their own accounts, and (2) having certain ownership interests in and relationships with hedge funds or private equity funds, which are referred to as "covered funds". The Final Rules are intended to provide greater clarity with respect to both the extent of those primary prohibitions and of the related exemptions and exclusions. The Final Rules also require each regulated entity to establish an internal compliance program that is consistent with the extent to which it engages in activities covered by the Volcker Rule, which must include (for the largest entities) making regular reports about those activities to regulators. Although the Final Rules provide some tiering of compliance and reporting obligations based on size, the fundamental prohibitions of the Volcker Rule apply to banking entities of any size, including the Great Western and our bank. Although the Final Rules were effective April 1, 2014, the Federal Reserve issued an order extending the period that institutions have to conform their activities to the requirements of the Volcker Rule to July 21, 2015. In addition, the Federal Reserve granted an extension until July 21, 2016 of the conformance period for banking entities to conform investments in and relationships with covered funds that were in place prior to December 31, 2013, and announced its intention to further extend this aspect of the conformance period until July 21, 2017. Great Western has evaluated the implications of the Final Rules on its investments and does not expect any material financial implications.
Depositor Preference
Under federal law, depositors (including the FDIC with respect to the subrogated claims of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as receiver would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims against such an institution in the “liquidation or other resolution” of such an institution by any receiver.
Interstate Branching
Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2020 and other federal regulation, national and state-chartered banks, such as our bank,Bank, may open an initial branch in a state other than its home state (e.g., a host state) by establishing a de novo branch at any location in such host state at which a bank chartered in such host state could establish a branch. Applications to establish such branches must still be filed with the appropriate primary federal regulator and, where applicable, the bank's state regulatory authority. As our bankBank is a South Dakota state chartered bank, we are required to file branch applications with both the FDIC and the South DakotaSD Division of Banking.
CapitalProhibitions Against Tying Arrangements
Banks are subject to the prohibitions of 12 U.S.C. Section 1972 on certain tying arrangements. We are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
Under the CRA, our Bank has an obligation, consistent with safe and Stress Testing Requirementssound operations, to help meet the credit needs of the market areas where it operates, which includes providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. In connection with its examination of our Bank, the FDIC is required to assess our Bank’s compliance with the CRA. Our Bank’s failure to comply with the CRA could, among other things, result in the denial or delay in certain corporate applications filed by us or our Bank, including applications for branch openings or relocations and applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or holding company. Our Bank received an overall rating of "satisfactory" in its most recently completed CRA examination.
Capital RequirementsFuture Legislation and Regulation
Congress may enact legislation from time to time that affects the regulation of the financial services industry, and state legislatures may enact legislation from time to time affecting the regulation of financial institutions chartered by or operating in those states. Federal and state regulatory agencies also periodically propose and adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. The substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulation, or the application thereof, cannot be predicted, although enactment of the proposed legislation could impact the regulatory structure under which we operate and may significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and modify our business strategy, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may be adversely affected, perhaps materially, as a result.
Depositor Preference
Under federal law, depositors (including the FDIC with respect to the subrogated claims of insured depositors) and certain claims for administrative expenses of the FDIC as receiver would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims against such an institution in the "liquidation or other resolution" of such an institution by any receiver.
Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection
We are subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern our relationship with our customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM Act, and these laws' respective state law counterparts, as well as state usury laws and laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices. These and other federal laws, among other things, require disclosures of the cost of credit and terms of deposit accounts, provide substantive consumer rights, prohibit discrimination in credit transactions, regulate the use of credit report information, provide financial privacy protections, prohibit unfair, deceptive and abusive practices, restrict our ability to raise interest rates and subject us to substantial regulatory oversight.
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As a financial institution, our internal systems and vendor-outsourced storage solutions contain a significant amount of sensitive data, including personal information related to our customers. We are therefore subject to compliance obligations under federal and state information security laws, among others, including the GLB Act, which institute limitations on data sharing and require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers. In addition, the GLB Act requires all financial institutions to adopt privacy policies, restrict the sharing of nonpublic customer data with nonaffiliated parties and establishes procedures and practices to protect customer data from unauthorized access. In addition, the FCRA, as amended by the FACT Act, includes provisions affecting the Company, the Bank and their affiliates, including provisions concerning obtaining consumer reports, furnishing information to consumer reporting agencies, maintaining a program to prevent identity theft, sharing of certain information among affiliated companies and other provisions, including rules regarding limitations on affiliate marketing and implementation of programs to identify, detect and mitigate certain identity theft red flags.
We are also subject to various regulatory capitalguidance as updated from time to time implemented by the FFIEC, an interagency body of the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve, the National Credit Union Administration and various state regulatory authorities. States and other jurisdictions may also enact laws regulating financial institutions' use of consumer data, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act, as well as the General Data Privacy Regulation adopted by the European Union.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a new, independent federal agency, the CFPB, which was granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection and privacy laws, such as the GLB Act, which have created a more intense and complex environment for consumer finance regulation. Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorneys' fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorney generals and state and local consumer protection agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements both atand obtain these and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by the Companystate and at thelocal attorney generals in each jurisdiction in which we operate and civil money penalties. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for merger or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.
Heightened Requirements for Bank level administeredHolding Companies with $10 Billion or More in Assets
Various federal banking laws and regulations, including rules adopted by the Federal Reserve pursuant to the requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act, impose heightened requirements on certain large banks and bank holding companies. Most of these rules apply primarily to bank holding companies with at least $50 billion in total consolidated assets, but certain rules also apply to banks and bank holding companies with at least $10 billion in total consolidated assets. Because our Bank’s total consolidated assets equal or exceed $10 billion, we or our Bank, as applicable, among other requirements:
are subject to the maximum permissible interchange fee for swipe transactions, equal to no more than 21 cents plus 5 basis points of the transaction value for many types of debit interchange transactions;
calculate our FDIC deposit assessment base using the performance score and a loss-severity score system described above in "—Deposit Insurance;" and
are examined for compliance with federal consumer protection laws primarily by the CFPB as described above in "—Privacy and Consumer Financial Protection."
The Volcker Rule
The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits insured depository institutions and their holding companies from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and prohibits them from owning equity interests in excess of three percent (3%) of Tier 1 Capital in private equity and hedge funds (known as the "Volcker Rule"). The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act and subsequent promulgation of inter-agency final rules have aimed at simplifying and tailoring requirements related to the Volcker Rule. In August 2019, the agencies modified the rule to, among other things, eliminate collection of certain metrics and reduce the compliance burdens associated with the remaining metrics requirements, depending on the banking entity's total consolidated trading assets and liabilities. The regulatory agencies continue to consider additional proposals to simplify or eliminate other aspects of the Volcker Rule. Due to the changing regulatory landscape, we will continue to evaluate the implications of the Volcker Rules on our investments, including new impacts as a result of the changes, but we do not expect any material financial implications.
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Incentive Compensation
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal bank regulators and the SEC to maintain guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including us and our Bank, that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. Failure to comply can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. 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.
Regulatory Capital Requirements, Basel III and the Capital Rules
The Federal Reserve monitors our capital adequacy on a consolidated basis, and the FDIC respectively. Failureand the SD Division of Banking monitor the capital adequacy of our Bank based on the Capital Rules, also known as the Basel III Capital Rules, which went into effect January 1, 2015, subject to meet minimumcertain phase-in provisions. The risk-based guidelines are intended to make regulatory capital requirements could resultsensitive to differences in credit and market risk profiles among banks and bank holding companies, to account for off-balance sheet exposure and to minimize disincentives for holding liquid assets. Assets and off-balance sheet items are assigned to weighted risk categories, and capital is classified in one of the following tiers depending on its characteristic:
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital ("CET1 capital") for us includes common equity, surplus and retained earnings less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain mandatoryother assets. The Capital Rules require bank holding companies and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effectbanks to include AOCI into CET1 capital unless the bank and bank holding company use a one-time election to exclude AOCI from its regulatory capital metrics on our financial conditionJanuary 1, 2015. We elected to exclude AOCI from CET1 capital.
Tier 1 (Core) Capital ("Tier 1 capital") for us includes CET1 capital and resultsqualifying trust preferred securities at the holding company level, less goodwill, most intangible assets and certain other assets.
Tier 2 (Supplementary) Capital ("Tier 2 capital") for us includes qualifying subordinated debt and a limited amount of operations. Underallowance for loan and lease losses.
Bank holding companies and banks are also currently required to comply with minimum leverage requirements, measured based on the ratio of a bank holding company’s or a bank’s, as applicable, Tier 1 capital adequacy guidelinesto adjusted quarterly average total assets (as defined for regulatory purposes). These requirements generally necessitate a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4% for all bank holding companies and banks. To be considered "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, (described below)our Bank must maintain minimum Tier 1 leverage ratios of at least 5%. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
As of January 1, 2019, the Basel III Capital Rules require banking organizations to maintain:
a minimum ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting policies. Our capital amounts and classification are also subjectplus a 2.5% "capital conservation buffer" (which is added to judgments by the regulators regarding qualitative components, risk weightings, and other factors. We have consistently maintained regulatory4.5% CET1 capital ratios at or above the well capitalized standards.
In July 2013, the Federal regulators issued final rules establishingas that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a new comprehensiveminimum ratio of CET1 capital framework for U.S. banking organizations. These rules implemented certain provisionsto risk-weighted assets of the Dodd-Frank Act and a separate international framework established by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision for the regulation of capital and liquidity, generally referred to as "Basel III". The final rules seek to strengthen the components of regulatory capital, increase risk-based capital requirements, and make selected changes to the calculation of risk-weighted assets. The final rules, among other things:
revise minimum capital requirements and adjust prompt corrective action thresholds;
revise the components of regulatory capital and create a new capital measure called "Common Equity Tier 1", which must constitute at least 4.5%7.0%);
a minimum ratio of risk-weighted assets;


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specify that Tier 1 capital consists onlyto risk-weighted assets of Common Equityat least 6.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 and certain "Additional Tier 1 Capital" instruments meetings specified requirements;
apply most deductions/adjustments to regulatory capital measures to Common Equity Tier 1 and not to other components of capital, potentially requiring higher levels of Common Equity Tier 1ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in order to meet minimum ratio requirements;
increase thea minimum Tier 1 capital ratio requirements from 4%of 8.5%);
a minimum ratio of total capital (that is, Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital) to 6%;
retainrisk-weighted assets of at least 8.0% plus the existing risk-based capital treatment for 1-4 family residential mortgage exposures;
permit most banking organizations, including Great Western, to retain, through a one-time permanent election, the existing capital treatment for accumulated other comprehensive income;
implement a new2.5% capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio as that buffer is phased-in, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of Common Equity10.5%); and
a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital equal to 2.5%adjusted average consolidated assets.
The current Capital Rules also include a capital conservation buffer designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. The capital conservation buffer is composed entirely of CET1 capital, on top of these minimum risk-weighted asset ratios. In addition, the Capital Rules provide for a countercyclical capital buffer applicable only to certain covered institutions. We do not expect the countercyclical capital buffer to be applicable to us or our Bank. Banking institutions with a ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets whichabove the minimum but below the capital conservation buffer (or below the combined capital conservation buffer and countercyclical capital buffer, when the latter is applied) will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and compensation based on the amount of the shortfall.
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The Capital Rules provide for a number of deductions from and adjustments to CET1 capital. These include, for example, the requirement that mortgage servicing rights, certain deferred tax assets and significant investments in non-consolidated financial entities be in additiondeducted from CET1 capital to the 4.5% Common Equity Tierextent that any one such category exceeds 25% of CET1 capital or all such categories in the aggregate exceed 15% of CET1 capital. Implementation of the deductions and other adjustments to CET1 capital began on January 1, capital ratio2015 and bewere phased in over a three yearfour-year period beginning(beginning at 40% on January 1, 2016 (this buffer is generally required to make capital distributions2015 and pay executive bonuses);
increase capital requirements for past-due loans, high volatility commercial real estate exposures, and certain short-term loan commitments;
require the deduction of mortgage servicing assets and deferred tax assets that exceed 10% of Common Equity Tier 1 capital in each category and 15% of Common Equity Tier 1 capital in the aggregate; and
remove references to credit ratings consistent with the Dodd-Frank Act and establish due diligence requirements for securitization exposures.
an additional 20% per year thereafter). The Basel IIICapital Rules also require FDIC-insured state non-member banks and bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of more than $10 billion ("covered institutions") to establish a "capital conservation buffer" (consisting entirely of common equity Tier 1 capital) that will be 2.5% above the new regulatory minimum capital requirements when it is fully phased in. The result will be an increase in the minimum common equity Tier 1, Tier 1, and Total capital ratios to 7.0%, 8.5%, and 10.5%, respectively.
The new capital conservation buffer requirement is being phased in beginning in January 2016 at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets and will increase by that amount each year until fully implemented in January 2019. An institution can be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital levels fall below these amounts. The Basel III Rules also establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that can be utilized for such capital distributions.
The Basel III Rules also eliminate the inclusion ofgenerally preclude certain instruments,hybrid securities, such as trust preferred securities, from Tier 1 capital. In addition, Tier 2 capital is no longer limited to the amount ofbeing counted as Tier 1 capital included in total capital. In addition, certain deferred tax assets, and investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries over designated percentages of common stock, will be required to be deducted from capital, subject to a two-year transition period. Finally, Tier 1 capital will include accumulated other comprehensive income, which includes all unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale debt and equity securities.
Under the final rules, compliance was required beginning January 1, 2015 for most banking organizations, including Great Western Bank, subject to a transition period for several aspects of the final rules, including the new minimum capital ratio requirements, the capital conservation buffer, and the regulatory capital adjustments and deductions. Requirements to maintain higher levels of capital could adversely impact our return on equity. We believe we will continue to exceed all estimated well-capitalized regulatory requirements under these new rules on a fully phased-in basis. For further detail on capital and capital ratios see discussion under Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," sections "Liquidity" and "Capital".


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Capital Planning and Stress Testing Requirements
On October 12, 2012, the federal bank regulatory agencies published final rules implementing the company-run stress test requirements mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act for U.S. bank holding companies. Bank holding companies with total consolidated assets of $10 billion to $50 billion. Under the rules, we will be required to conduct annual company-run stress tests using different scenarios (baseline, adverse and severely adverse) provided annually by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. The stress test is designed to assess the potential impact of different scenarios on earnings, losses and capital over a set time period, with consideration given to certain factors, including the organization's condition, risks, exposures, strategies and activities. The banking agencies have issued guidance on stress testing for banking organizations with moresuch as us who had less than $10$15 billion in total consolidated assets. This guidance outlines four "high-level" principles for stress testing practices that regulators expect banking organizations to include in their stress testing framework. In particular, the stress testing framework should (i) include activities and exercises that are tailored to and sufficiently capture the banking organization's exposures, activities and risks, (ii) employ multiple conceptually sound stress testing activities and approaches, (iii) be forward-looking and flexible, and (iv) be clear, actionable, well-supported, and used in the decision-making process.
Banking organizations with total consolidated assets of $10 billion to $50 billion will be required to report the results of the stress test by July 31 of each year, using data as of December 31, 2009 (and who continue to have less than $15 billion in assets) are permitted to include trust preferred securities issued prior to May 19, 2010 as Additional Tier 1 capital under the Capital Rules.
The Capital Rules prescribe a standardized approach for risk weightings that, depending on the nature of the preceding year,assets, generally range from 0% for U.S. government securities, 20%-50% for U.S. government agencies and subsequently publish a summarymunicipal bonds, 0%-150% for loans and up to 600% for certain equity exposures.
With respect to our Bank, the Capital Rules also revised the prompt corrective action regulations pursuant to Section 38 of the results between October 15FDIA. See "—Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action."
We believe that, as of September 30, 2020, we and October 31. We anticipateour Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Capital Rules.
On December 21, 2018, the federal banking agencies issued a joint final rule to revise their regulatory capital rules to (i) address the upcoming implement of the CECL accounting standard under GAAP; (ii) provide an optional three-year phase-in period for the day-one adverse regulatory capital effects that our pro formabanking organizations are expected to experience upon adopting CECL; and (iii) require the use of CECL in stress tests beginning with the 2020 capital ratios, as reflectedplanning and stress testing cycle for certain banking organizations. The Company adopted the standard in the stress test calculations under the required stress test scenarios,first fiscal quarter of 2021. Our CECL allowance methodology will be an important factor considereddriven by our new credit scoring system, our charge-off history and adjusted for the Federal Reserveeconomic outlook as provided by Oxford Economics. The Company is currently finalizing controls, processes, policies and disclosures and has completed parallel runs. The Company continues its implementation efforts and is in evaluating whether proposed paymentsprocess of dividends or stock repurchases are consistent with its prudential adverse scenarios could adverselydetermining the final impact our net incomeon the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and our returnregulatory capital ratios. The impact of the adoption will depend on equity.the composition, characteristics and credit quality of the loan portfolio as well as economic conditions and forecast as of the adoption date. The CECL standard does not apply to the fair value portfolio and as such there will be no change to this portfolio upon adoption of this standard..
Prompt Corrective Regulatory Action
Federal law requires, among other things, that federal bank regulatory authorities take "prompt corrective action" with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For such purposes, the law establishes five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized.
As a result of the Basel III Rules, new definitions of the relevant measures for the five capital categories took effect on January 1, 2015. An institution is deemed is deemed to be "well capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10%10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8%8.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.5% or greater, and a leverage capital ratio of 5%5.0% or greater, and is not subject to a regulatory order, agreements, or directive to meet and maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure.
An institution is deemed to be "adequately capitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6%6.0% or greater, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 4.5% or greater, and generally a leverage capital ratio of 4%4.0% or greater. The Capital Rules do not change the total risk-based capital requirements for any prompt corrective action category.
As of September 30, 2020, we and our Bank were well capitalized with Tier 1 capital ratios of 11.8% and 11.7%, respectively, total capital ratios of 13.3% and 13.0%, respectively, Tier 1 leverage ratios of 9.4% and 9.3%, respectively, and a CET1 capital ratio of 11.0% and 11.7%, respectively, as calculated under Basel III which went into effect on January 1, 2015. For more information on these financial measures, including reconciliations to our and our Bank’s Tier 1 capital ratio, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital."
An institution is deemed to be "undercapitalized"undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8%8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%6.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.5%, or generally a leverage capital ratio of less than 4%4.0%. An institution is deemed to be "significantly undercapitalized" if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6%6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4%4.0%, a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 3%3.0%, or a leverage capital ratio of less than 3%3.0%. An institution is deemed to be "critically undercapitalized" if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2%2.0%.
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"Undercapitalized" institutions are subject to growth, capital distribution (including dividend), and other limitations, and are required to submit a capital restoration plan.plan and adequate assurances of performance. An institution's compliance with such a plan is required to be guaranteed by any company that controls the undercapitalized institution in an amount equal to the lesser of 5%5.0% of the bank's total assets when deemed undercapitalized or the amount necessary to achieve the status of adequately capitalized. If an undercapitalized institution fails to submit an acceptable plan, it is treated as if it is "significantly undercapitalized". Significantly undercapitalized institutions are subject to one or more additional restrictions including, but not limited to, an order by the FDIC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized; requirements to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks, or dismiss directors or officers; and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers, and capital distributions by the parent holding company.


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An undercapitalized institution is also generally prohibited from increasing its average total assets, making acquisitions and capital distributions, establishing any branches or engaging in any new line of business, except in accordance with an accepted capital restoration plan or with the approval of the FDIC.
Beginning 60 days after becoming "critically undercapitalized", critically undercapitalized institutions also may not make any payment of principal or interest on certain subordinated debt, extend credit for a highly leveraged transaction, or enter into any material transaction outside the ordinary course of business. In addition, subject to a narrow exception, the appointment of a receiver is required for a critically undercapitalized institution within 270 days after it obtains such status.
Interchange FeesIn addition, the FDIA prohibits an insured depository institution from accepting brokered deposits or offering interest rates on any deposits significantly higher than the prevailing rate in the bank’s normal market area or nationally (depending upon where the deposits are solicited), unless it is well capitalized or is adequately capitalized and receives a waiver from the FDIC. A depository institution that is adequately capitalized and accepts brokered deposits under a waiver from the FDIC may not pay an interest rate on any deposit in excess of 75 basis points over certain prevailing market rates.
Under the Durbin AmendmentInstitutions that are undercapitalized or significantly undercapitalized and either fail to the Dodd-Frank Act, the Federal Reserve adopted rules establishing standards for assessing whether the interchange fees thatsubmit an acceptable capital restoration plan or fail to implement an approved capital restoration plan may be charged with respect to certain electronic debit transactions are “reasonable and proportional” to the costs incurred by issuers for processing such transactions.
Interchange fees, or “swipe” fees, are charges that merchants pay to us and other card-issuing banks for processing electronic payment transactions. Under the final rules, the maximum permissible interchange fee is equal to no more than 21 cents plus 5 basis points of the transaction value for many types of debit interchange transactions. The Federal Reserve also adopted a rule to allow a debit card issuer to recover 1 cent per transaction for fraud prevention purposes if the issuer complies with certain fraud-related requirements required by the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve also has rules governing routing and exclusivity that require issuers to offer two unaffiliated networks for routing transactions on each debit or prepaid product.
As we exceeded $10 billion in assets during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016, effective July 1, 2017 we became subject to the interchange fee cap, and no longer qualify for the small issuer exemption. The small issuer exemption applies to any debit card issuer that, together with its affiliates, has total assets of less than $10 billion as of the end of the previous calendar year.
Consumer Financial Protection
We are subject to a number of federal and state consumer protection laws that extensively govern our relationship with our customers. These laws include the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Service Members Civil Relief Act, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, CAN-SPAM Act, and these laws’ respective state-law counterparts, as well as state usury laws and laws regarding unfair and deceptive acts and practices. These and other federal laws, among other things, require disclosures of the cost of credit and terms of deposit accounts, provide substantive consumer rights, prohibit discrimination in credit transactions, regulate the use of credit report information, provide financial privacy protections, prohibit unfair, deceptive and abusive practices, restrict our ability to raise interest rates and subject us to substantial regulatory oversight. Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorneys’ fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorneys general and state and local consumer protection agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements and obtain theserestrictions, including orders to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce total assets and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, customer rescission rights, action by the state and local attorneys general in each jurisdiction in which we operate and civil money penalties. Failurecessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks. Critically undercapitalized depository institutions failing to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in our failure to obtain any required bank regulatory approval for mergersubmit or acquisition transactions we may wish to pursue or our prohibition from engaging in such transactions even if approval is not required.
The Dodd-Frank Act created a new, independent federal agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB"), which was granted broad rulemaking, supervisory and enforcement powers under various federal consumer financial protection laws. The CFPB is also authorized to engage in consumer financial education, track consumer complaints, request data and promote the availability of financial services to underserved consumers and communities. Although all institutionsimplement an acceptable capital restoration plan are subject to rules adopted byappointment of a receiver or conservator. As of September 30, 2020, our Bank was "well capitalized" based on the CFPB and examination by the CFPB in conjunction with examinations by the institution’s primary federal regulator, the CFPB has primary examination and enforcement authority over institutions with assets of $10 billion or more. Our consolidated assets exceeded $10 billion in the third quarter of 2016 and we are now subject to CFPB examination of our bank and enforcement with respect to various federal consumer protection laws, as well as continued examination by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on certain consumer regulations. State authorities are also responsible for monitoring our compliance with all state consumer laws.
The consumer protection provisions of the Dodd-Frank Actexisting ratios and the examination, supervision and enforcement of those laws and implementing regulationsratios as modified by the CFPB have created a more intense and complex environment for consumer finance regulation. The CFPB has significant authority to implement and enforce federal consumer finance laws, including the Truth in Lending Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and new requirements for financial services products provided for in the Dodd-Frank Act, as well as the authority to identify and prohibit unfair, deceptive or abusive acts and practices. The CFPB has broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer financial laws that apply to all banks including, among other things, the authority to prohibit "unfair, deceptive, orBasel III Capital Rules.


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abusive" acts and practices. The review of products and practices to prevent such acts and practices is a continuing focus of the CFPB, and of banking regulators more broadly. The ultimate impact of this heightened scrutiny is uncertain but could result in changes to pricing, practices, products and procedures. It could also result in increased costs related to regulatory oversight, supervision and examination, additional remediation efforts and possible penalties. In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act provides the CFPB with broad supervisory, examination and enforcement authority over various consumer financial products and services, including the ability to require reimbursements and other payments to customers for alleged legal violations and to impose significant penalties, as well as injunctive relief that prohibits lenders from engaging in allegedly unlawful practices. The CFPB also has the authority to obtain cease and desist orders providing for affirmative relief or monetary penalties. The Dodd-Frank Act does not prevent states from adopting stricter consumer protection standards. State regulation of financial products and potential enforcement actions could also adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Community Reinvestment Act of 1977
Under the CRA, our bank has an obligation, consistent with safe and sound operations, to help meet the credit needs of the market areas where it operates, which includes providing credit to low- and moderate-income individuals and communities. In connection with its examination of our bank, the FDIC is required to assess our bank’s compliance with the CRA. Our bank’s failure to comply with the CRA could, among other things, result in the denial or delay in certain corporate applications filed by us or our bank, including applications for branch openings or relocations and applications to acquire, merge or consolidate with another banking institution or holding company. Our bank received an overall rating of “satisfactory” in its most recently completed CRA examination.
Financial Privacy
The federal bank regulators have adopted rules limiting the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose non-public information about consumers to unaffiliated third parties. These limitations require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to an unaffiliated third party. These regulations affect how consumer information is transmitted through diversified financial companies and conveyed to outside vendors.
Anti-Money Laundering and the USA PATRIOT ACT
We are subject to a variety of laws and regulations that involve money laundering, financial recordkeeping and proceeds from crime, including the BSA, as amended by Title III of the USA PATRIOT Act and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by governmental authorities in the U.S. such as the Department of the Treasury's FinCEN and the FFIEC. A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions in recent years has been aimed at combating moneyanti-money laundering and terrorist financing. The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools RequiredWe are required, as part of our BSA/AML program, to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, ordesignate a BSA Officer, maintain a BSA/AML training program, maintain internal controls to effectuate the USA Patriot Act, substantially broadened the scope of United States anti-money laundering laws and regulations by imposing significant new compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties and expanding the extra-territorial jurisdictionBSA/AML program, implement independent testing of the United States in these areas: customer identification programs, money laundering, terrorist financing, identifyingBSA/AML program, and reporting suspicious activitiesas of May 11, 2018, comply with FinCEN's new CDD Rule. The CDD Rule adds a new requirement for us to identify and currency transactions, currency crimes,verify the identity of natural persons ("beneficial owners") of legal entity customers who own, control and cooperation between financial institutions and law enforcement authorities. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Agency, among other federal agencies, also promulgates rules and regulations regarding the USA Patriot Act that Financial Institutions are required to comply. profit from companies when those companies open accounts.
Financial institutions are prohibited from entering into specified financial transactions and account relationships and must use enhanced due diligence procedures in their dealings with certain types of high-risk customers and implement a written customer identification program. Financial institutions must take certain steps to assist government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and report certain types of suspicious transactions. Regulatory authorities routinely examineAmong other provisions, the USA Patriot Act requires financial institutions for compliance with these obligations,to have anti-money laundering programs in place and failurerequires banking regulators to consider a holding company's effectiveness in combating-money laundering when ruling on certain merger or acquisition applications. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution, including civil money penalties and causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these obligations.
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Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulation
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign countries and regimes, under authority of various laws, including designated foreign countries, nationals and others. OFAC publishes lists of specially designated targets and countries. We and our bankBank are responsible for, among other things, blocking accounts of, and transactions with, such targets and countries, prohibiting unlicensed trade and financial transactions with them and reporting blocked transactions after their occurrence. Failure to comply with these sanctions could have serious legal and reputational consequences, including causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required.

Environmental Laws Potentially Impacting the Bank

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IncentiveWe are subject to state and federal environmental laws and regulations. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
The Dodd-Frank and Liability Act, requires the("CERCLA"), is a federal bank regulatorsstatute that generally imposes strict liability on all prior and the SECpresent "owners and operators" of sites containing hazardous waste. However, Congress acted to maintain guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities, including us and our bank, having at least $1 billion in total assets that encourage inappropriate risksprotect secured creditors by providing an executive officer, employee, director or principal stockholder with excessive compensation, fees, or benefits or that could leadthe term "owner and operator" excludes a person whose ownership is limited to material financial loss toprotecting its security interest in the entity.
The Federal Reserve will review, as part ofsite. Since the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as us, that are not “large, complex banking organizations.” These reviews will be tailored to each organization based on the scope and complexity of the organization’s activities and the prevalence of incentive compensation arrangements. The findings of the supervisory initiatives will be included in reports of examination. Deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization’s supervisory ratings, which can affect the organization’s ability to make acquisitions and take other actions. 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.
Future Legislation and Regulation
Congress may enact legislation from time to time that affects the regulation of the financial services industry, and state legislatures may enact legislation from time to time affecting the regulation of financial institutions chartered by or operating in those states. Federal and state regulatory agencies also periodically propose and adopt changes to their regulations or change the manner in which existing regulations are applied. The substance or impact of pending or future legislation or regulation, or the application thereof, cannot be predicted, although enactment of the proposed legislationCERCLA, this "secured creditor exemption" has been the subject of judicial interpretations which have left open the possibility that lenders could impactbe liable for cleanup costs on contaminated property that they hold as collateral for a loan, which costs often substantially exceed the regulatory structure under which we operate and may significantly increase our costs, impedevalue of the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and modify our business strategy, and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner. Our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects may be adversely affected, perhaps materially, as a result.property.
Available Information
Our internet address is www.greatwesternbank.com. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act are available free of charge through our website (by clicking on the Investor Relations link at the bottom of the page) as soon as reasonably practicable after the filing or furnishing of such material with the SEC.
ITEM 1A.RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a significant degree of risk. The material risks and uncertainties that management believes affect us are described below. Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, in addition to the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks, as well as risks that we do not know or currently deem immaterial, could have a material adverse effect on our business operations and/or financial condition or results of operations.condition. As a result, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose some or all of your investment. Further, to the extent that any of the information in this report, or in other reports we file with the SEC, constitutes forward-looking statements, the risk factors below are cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. See “Cautionary"Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."

Economic Risk

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant global economic downturn which has adversely affected, and is expected to continue to adversely affect, our business and results of operations, and the future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition remain uncertain.
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Risks RelatedCOVID-19, which has been identified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, continues to Our Businesscause economic disruption both worldwide and in the markets we operate, as well as a destabilization effect on financial markets. The ultimate impacts of COVID-19 are uncertain and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. The extent of these impacts will depend on future developments, including among others, governmental, regulatory and private sector actions and responses, new information that may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19, and actions taken to contain or prevent further spread, each of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.
Our business is dependent upon the ability and willingness of our customers to conduct banking and other financial transactions, including the payment of loan obligations. COVID-19 has and continues to disrupt the business, activities, and operations of our customers, which may be adversely affected by conditionscause a decline in the financial marketsdemand for our products and economic conditions generally andservices which may, in turn, result in a significant decrease in our statesbusiness, negatively impacting our liquidity position and financial results. Our financial results could also be impacted due to an inability of our customers to meet their loan commitments because of their losses associated with the effects of COVID-19, resulting in particular.increased risk of delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, declining collateral values and other losses to our Bank. Moreover, current and future governmental action may temporarily require the Company to conduct business differently with respect to foreclosures, repossessions, payments, deferrals and other customer-related transactions.
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Although the Company has established a pandemic response plan and procedures, our workforce has been, is, and may continue to be impacted by COVID-19. We are taking precautions to protect the safety and well-being of our employees and customers, including temporary branch and office closures, but no assurance can be given that our actions will be adequate or appropriate, nor can we predict the level of disruption which will occur to our employees’ ability to provide customer support and service. The spread could also negatively impact availability of key personnel and employee productivity, as well as the business and operations of third-party service providers who perform critical services for us, which could adversely impact our ability to deliver products and services to our customers.
Economic conditions have affected and could continue to adversely affect our revenues and profits.
Our financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of our borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, as well as demand for loans and other products and services that we offer, and whose success we rely on to drive our future growth, is highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets in which we operate principally in our states, and in the United States as a whole. Unlike larger banks that are more geographically diversified, we provide banking and financial services to customers primarily in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The economic conditions in these local markets may be different from, and in some instances worse than, the economic conditions in the United States as a whole. Some elements of theA favorable business environment that affect our financial performance include short-termis generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, efficient capital markets, low inflation, low unemployment, high business and long-term interest rates, the prevailing yield curve, inflationinvestor confidence and price levels (particularly for agricultural commodities), monetary policy, unemployment and the strength of the domestic economy and the local economy in the markets in which we operate. Unfavorable market conditions can result in a deterioration in the credit quality of our borrowers and the demand for our products and services, an increase in the number of loan delinquencies, defaults and charge-offs, additional provisions for loan and lease losses, adverse asset values and an overall material adverse effect on the quality of our loan portfolio.strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by declines in economic growth, business activity or investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation or interest rates; high unemployment; natural disasters; state or local government insolvency;terrorist attacks; or a combination of these or other factors.
In recent years,An economic growthdownturn or sustained, high unemployment levels, and business activity acrossstock market volatility may negatively impact our operating results and have a wide rangenegative effect on the ability of industriesour borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans increasing the risk of loan defaults and regionslosses.
Changes in economic or political conditions could adversely affect our earnings, as the ability of our borrowers to repay loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans, declines.
Our success depends, to a certain extent, upon economic or political conditions, local and national, as well as governmental monetary policies. Conditions such as recession, unemployment, changes in interest rates, inflation, money supply, and other factors beyond our control may adversely affect our asset quality, deposit levels, and loan demand and, therefore, our earnings. Because we have a significant amount of commercial real estate loans, decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral. Adverse changes in the economy may also have a negative effect on the ability of our borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans, which would have an adverse impact on our earnings. In addition, substantially all of our loans are to individuals and businesses in our market area. Consequently, any economic decline in our primary market areas, which include Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, could have an adverse impact on our earnings.
Changes in U.S. hastrade policies and other factors beyond our Company’s control, including the imposition of tariffs and retaliatory tariffs, may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There continues to be discussions with respect to U.S. trade policies, legislation, treaties and tariffs, including trade policies and tariffs affecting other countries, including China, the European Union, Canada and Mexico and retaliatory tariffs by such countries. Tariffs and retaliatory tariffs have been slowimposed, and uneven. There are continuing concerns relatedadditional tariffs and retaliation tariffs have been proposed. Such tariffs, retaliatory tariffs or other trade restrictions on products and materials that our customers import or export, including among others, agricultural products, could cause the prices of our customers’ products to increase which could reduce demand for such products, or reduce our customer margins, and adversely impact their revenues, financial results and ability to service debt; which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, to the levelextent changes in the political environment have a negative impact on us or on the markets in which we operate our business, our results of U.S. government debtoperations and fiscal actionsfinancial condition could be materially and adversely impacted in the future.
On October 1, 2018, the United States, Canada and Mexico agreed to a new trade deal to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. The USMCA entered into force on July 1, 2020. The full impact of the USMCA on us, our customers and on the economic conditions in our states is currently unknown and, thus, could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We are subject to interest rate risk which, among other things, could affect our earnings and the value of certain of our assets.
Our earnings and cash flows are largely dependent on net interest income. Interest rates are sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as economic conditions, competition and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, and, in particular, the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and investments and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but these changes could also affect: (i) our ability to originate loans and obtain deposits; (ii) the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, including our securities portfolio; and (iii) the average duration of our interest-earning assets. This also includes the risk that interest-earning assets may be takenmore responsive to address that debt, depressed oil prices and ongoing federal budget negotiations that may have a destabilizing effect on financial markets. There can be no assurance that economic conditions will continue to improve, and these conditions could worsen. Economic pressure on consumers and uncertainty regarding continuing economic improvement may result in changes in consumerinterest rates than interest-bearing liabilities, or vice versa (repricing risk), the risk that the individual interest rates or rate indices underlying various interest-earning assets and business spending, borrowinginterest-bearing liabilities may not change in the same degree over a given time period (basis risk), and saving habits. Such conditionsthe risk of changing interest rate relationships across the spectrum of interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability maturities (yield curve risk), including a prolonged flat or inverted yield curve environment. Any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on the credit qualityour financial condition and results of operations.
As of September 30, 2020, 46.5% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a variable oradjustable-rate basis and another 6.5% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a fixed-rate basis where we utilized derivative instruments to swap our economic exposure to a variable-rate basis. As a result, an increase in interest rates could result in increased loan defaults, foreclosures and charge-offs and could necessitate further increases to the allowance for loan and lease losses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a decrease in interest rates could negatively impact our margins and profitability.
As of September 30, 2020, we had $2.59 billion of noninterest-bearing demand deposits and $8.42 billion of interest-bearing demand deposits. If we need to offer higher interest rates on checking accounts to maintain current clients or attract new clients, our interest expense will increase, perhaps materially. Furthermore, if we fail to offer interest in a sufficient amount to keep these demand deposits, our core deposits may be reduced, which would require us to obtain funding in other ways or risk slowing our future asset growth.
Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect our earnings.
Our Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, our Bank is subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. We generally cannot control the amount of premiums our Bank will be required to pay for FDIC insurance. As our Bank has exceeded $10 billion in assets, the method for calculating its FDIC assessments has changed and our Bank’s FDIC assessments have increased as a result. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Deposit Insurance." In fiscal year 2020, our deposit insurance premium increased $3.2 million, primarily as a result of the impairment of goodwill recognized during the period. If there is an increase in financial institution failures, or a decrease in the performance of our Bank, our Bank may be required to pay higher FDIC insurance premiums, or the FDIC may charge additional special assessments. Future increases of FDIC insurance premiums or special assessments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The agricultural economy in our states has been affected by declines in pricesCredit and the rates of price growth for various crops and other agricultural commodities. Similarly, weaker prices could reduce the cash flows generated by farms and the value of agricultural land in our local markets and thereby increase the risk of default by our borrowers or reduce the foreclosure value of agricultural land and equipment that serve as collateral for certain of our loans. Further declines in commodity prices or collateral values may increase the incidence of default by our borrowers. Moreover, weaker prices might threaten farming operations in the United States, reducing market demand for agricultural lending. In particular, farm income has seen recent declines and in line with the downturn in farm income, farmland prices are coming under pressure. We monitor and review our agriculture portfolio to identify loans potentially affected by declines in agricultural commodity prices and lower collateral values and, where available, seek from the borrower credit enhancements such as additional collateral or government guarantees.
In addition, certain local economies in our states rely to varying extents on manufacturing, which has experienced steep declines in the United States over the last decade. Declines in agriculture or manufacturing in these local economies may cause the local commercial environment to decline, which may impact the credit quality of certain of our borrowers or reduce the demand for our products or services. Declines in manufacturing also may negatively affect the market for, and the value of, any industrial equipment or machinery and any raw materials used as collateral for any loans in our portfolio. While economic conditions in our states and the United States have shown signs of improvement, there can be no assurance that this improvement will continue.Interest Rate Risk
We focus on originating business loans (in the form of commercial real estate loans and commercial and industrial loans),agricultural loans which may involve greater risk than residential mortgage lending.
We originate commercial real estate loans, commercial loans, agricultural real estate loans, agricultural loans, consumer loans, and residential real estate loans primarily within our market areas. Commercial real estate, commercial, consumer, and agricultural real estate and operating loans may expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by residential real estate because the collateral securing these loans may not be sold as easily as residential real estate. These loans also have greater credit risk than residential real estate for the following reasons:
Commercial Real Estate Loans. Repayment is dependent upon income being generated in amounts sufficient to cover operating and debt service.
Commercial Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the borrower’s business.
Consumer Loans. Consumer Loans (such as personal lines of credit) are collateralized, if at all, with assets that may not provide an adequate source of payment on the loan due to depreciation, damage or loss.
Agricultural Loans. Repayment is dependent upon the successful operation of the business, which is greatly dependent on many things outside our control or the borrowers. These factors include weather, input costs, commodity and land prices and interest rates.
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As of September 30, 2017,2020, our business lending, which consists of our CRE and commercial non-real estate loans, represented approximately $5.84$7.46 billion, or 64.9%73.8%, of our loan portfolio. Our CRE loans secured by owner-occupied property and commercial non-real estate loans secured by business assets and guarantees from owners, which together form the core of our business banking focus, totaled approximately $2.94$3.59 billion, or 32.6%35.5%, of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2017,2020, with undisbursed loan commitments for these loans amounting to an additional $760.3$929.6 million. We also had approximately $2.91$3.86 billion of other CRE loans (i.e., construction and development loans, multifamily residential real estate loans and CRE loans secured by commercial property that is not owner-occupied) at September 30, 2017,2020, or 32.3%38.2% of our loan portfolio.
Within our CRE and commercial non-real estate loan portfolio we have identified the following segments with elevated risk: hotels & resorts with $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of our loan portfolio, including construction and development loans representing approximately 18.5%restaurants with $156.5 million, or 1.6% of our other CRE loans. Because payments on commercial non-real estate loans, owner-occupied CRE loansloan portfolio, arts and other CRE loans are often dependent on the successful operationentertainment with $130.3 million, or development1.3% of theour loan portfolio, senior care with $330.7 million, or 3.3% of our loan portfolio, and skilled nursing with $250.9 million, or 2.5% of our loan portfolio, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of our loan portfolio.


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property or business involved, repayment of such loans may be more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the general economy. Collateral of all types, and particularly that of a specialized nature, may also experience significant declines in value in the short/medium term or the longer term. These types of loans may have a greater risk of loss than residential mortgage lending, in part because these loans are generally larger or more complex to underwrite than residential mortgages. In particular, real estate construction, acquisition and development loans have certain risks not present in other types of loans, including risks associated with construction cost overruns, project completion risk, general contractor credit risk and risks associated with the ultimate sale or use of the completed construction. If a decline in economic conditions or other issues cause difficulties for our borrowers of these types of business loans, if we fail to evaluate the credit of these loans accurately when we underwrite them or if we do not continue to monitor adequately the performance of these loans, our lending portfolio could experience delinquencies, defaults and credit losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We originate agricultural loans which are dependent for repayment on the successful operation and management of the farm property, the health of the agricultural industry broadly, the location of the borrower in particular, and other factors outside of the borrower’s control.
At September 30, 2017,2020, our agricultural loans, consisting primarily of agricultural operating loans (e.g., loans to farm and ranch owners and operators) and agricultural real estate loans, were $2.12$1.72 billion, representing 23.6%17.1% of our total loan portfolio. At September 30, 2017,2020, agricultural operating loans totaled $1.12 billion,$886.8 million, or 12.5%8.8% of our loan portfolio; and agricultural real estate loans totaled $1.00 billion,$837.5 million, or 11.1%8.3%, of our loan portfolio. The primary livestock of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include dairy cows, hogs and feeder cattle, and the primary crops of our customers to whom we have extended agricultural loans include corn, soybeans and, to a lesser extent, wheat and cotton. In addition, we estimate that 10.0%7.6% of our commercial non-real estate loans and owner-occupied CRE loans were agriculture-related loans at September 30, 2017.
Agricultural markets are highly sensitive to real and perceived changes in the supply and demand of agricultural products. As over 85%of our agricultural lending (excluding commercial non-real estate loans and owner-occupied CRE loans) is to farms producing grain, beef cattle, dairy products or hogs, our performance is closely related to the performance of, and supply and demand in, these agricultural sub-sectors. Weaker crop prices could reduce the cash flows of our borrowers and the value of agricultural land in our markets and thereby increase the risk of default by our borrowers or reduce the foreclosure value of agricultural land and equipment that serves as collateral for certain of our loans. In addition, weakness in the agricultural economy could negatively impact our agricultural related commercial non-real estate and CRE loans.
Our agricultural loans are dependent on the profitable operation and management of the farm property securing the loan and its cash flows. The success of a farm property may be affected by many factors outside the control of the borrower, including:
adverse weather conditions (such as hail, drought and floods), restrictions on water supply or other conditions that prevent the planting of a crop or limit crop yields;
loss of crops or livestock due to disease or other factors;
declines in the market prices or demand for agricultural products (both domestically and internationally), for any reason;
increases in production costs (such as the costs of labor, rent, feed, fuel and fertilizer);
adverse changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates, agricultural land values or other factors that may affect delinquency levels and credit losses on agricultural loans;
the impact of government policies and regulations (including changes in price supports, subsidies, government-sponsored crop insurance, minimum ethanol content requirements for gasoline, tariffs, trade barriers and health and environmental regulations);
access to technology and the successful implementation of production technologies; and
changes in the general economy that could affect the availability of off-farm sources of income and prices of real estate for borrowers.


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Declines in agricultural commodity prices may have a particularly negative effect on certain farm borrowers. Lower prices for agricultural products may cause farm revenues to decline and farm operators may be unable to reduce expenses as quickly as their revenues decline. In addition, many farms are dependent on a limited number of key individuals whose injury or death could significantly affect the successful operation of the farm. If the cash flow from a farming operation is diminished, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Consequently, agricultural loans may involve a greater degree of risk than residential mortgage lending, particularly in the case of loans that are unsecured or secured by rapidly depreciating assets such as farm equipment (some of which is highly specialized with a limited or no market for resale) or assets such as livestock or crops. In such cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted agricultural operating loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance as a result of the greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation or because the assessed value of the collateral exceeds the eventual realization value.2020.
Our business is significantly dependent on the real estate markets where we operate, as a significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate.
At September 30, 2017, 67.2%2020, 68.6% of our aggregate loan portfolio, comprising our CRE loans (representing 45.8%52.2% of our aggregate loan portfolio), residential real estate loans (representing 10.3%8.1% of our aggregate loan portfolio) and agriculture real estate loans (representing 11.1%8.3% of our aggregate loan portfolio), was primarily secured by interests in real estate predominantly located in the states in which we operate. In addition, some of our other lending occasionally involves taking real estate as primary or secondary collateral. Real property values in these states may be different from, and in some instances worse than, real property values in other markets or in the United States as a whole, and may be affected by a variety of factors outside of our control and the control of our borrowers, including national and local economic conditions generally. Declines in real property prices, including prices for homes, commercial properties and farmland, in the states in which we operate could result in a deterioration of the credit quality of our borrowers, an increase in the number of loan delinquencies, defaults and charge-offs, and reduced demand for our products and services generally. Our CRE loans, in particular, totaled approximately $4.12$5.27 billion at September 30, 2017,2020, or 45.8%52.2% of our loan portfolio, and may have a greater risk of loss than residential mortgage loans, in part because these loans are generally larger or more complex to underwrite.underwrite, monitor and service. Agricultural real estate loans may be affected by similar factors to those that affect agricultural loans generally, including adverse weather conditions, disease and declines in the market prices for agricultural products or farm real estate. In addition, declines in real property values in the states in which we operate could reduce the value of any collateral we realize following a default on these loans and could adversely affect our ability to continue to grow our loan portfolio consistent with our underwriting standards. Our failure to effectively mitigate these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to interest rate risk.
Fluctuations in interest rates may negatively impact our banking business and may weaken demand for some of our products. Our earnings and cash flows are largely dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income we receive from interest-earning assets (e.g., loans and investment securities) and the interest expense we pay on interest-bearing liabilities (e.g., deposits and borrowings). The level of net interest income is primarily a function of the average balance of interest-earning assets, the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities and the spread between the yield on such assets and the cost of such liabilities. These factors are influenced by both the pricing and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Interest rates are volatile and highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, such as economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, and, in particular the monetary policy of the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve System, or the FOMC. The average yield on our interest-earning assets has increased as the Federal Reserve has started to gradually increase rates after maintaining rates at historically low levels during the financial crisis and its aftermath. As interest rates continue to increase and if our floating rate interest-earning assets do not reprice faster than our interest-bearing liabilities, our net interest income could be adversely affected. If interest rates begin to decline, our net interest income may decrease. This would be the case because our ability to lower our interest expense has been limited at these interest rate levels, while the average yield on our interest-earning assets has continued to decrease.
Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and securities and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but also our ability to originate loans and deposits. Historically, there has been an inverse correlation between the demand for loans and interest rates. Loan origination volume usually declines during periods of rising or high interest rates and increases during periods of declining or low interest rates. Changes in interest rates also have a significant impact on the carrying value of certain of our assets, including loans, real estate and investment securities, on our balance sheet. We may incur debt in the future and that debt may also be sensitive to interest rates.


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The cost of our deposits is largely based on short-term interest rates, the level of which is driven primarily by the FOMC’s actions. However, the yields generated by our loans and securities are often difficult to re-price and are typically driven by longer-term interest rates, which are set by the market or, at times, the FOMC’s actions, and vary over time. The level of net interest income is therefore influenced by movements in such interest rates and the pace at which such movements occur. If the interest rates paid on our deposits and other borrowings increase at a faster pace than the interest rates on our loans and other investments, our net interest income may decline and, with it, a decline in our earnings may occur. Our net interest income and earnings would be similarly affected if the interest rates on our interest-earning assets declined at a faster pace than the interest rates on our deposits and other borrowings. Any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in interest rates can also affect the level of loan refinancing activity, which impacts the amount of prepayment penalty income we receive on loans we hold. Because prepayment penalties are recorded as interest income when received, the extent to which they increase or decrease during any given period could have a significant impact on the level of net interest income and net income we generate during that time. A decrease in our prepayment penalty income resulting from any change in interest rates or as a result of regulatory limitations on our ability to charge prepayment penalties could therefore adversely affect our net interest income, net income or results of operations.
Changes in interest rates can also affect the slope of the yield curve. A decline in the current yield curve or a flatter or inverted yield curve could cause our net interest income and net interest margin to contract, which could have a material adverse effect on our net income and cash flows, as well as the value of our assets. An inverted yield curve may also adversely affect the yield on investment securities by increasing the prepayment risk of any securities purchased at a premium. A flattening or inversion of the yield curve or a negative interest rate environment in the United States could create downward pressure on our net interest margin.
Changes in interest rates could also have a negative impact on our results of operations by reducing the ability of borrowers to repay their current loan obligations or by reducing our margins and profitability. As of September 30, 2017, 51.8% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a variable or adjustable-rate basis and another 11.3% of our loans were advanced to our customers on a fixed-rate basis where we utilized derivative instruments to swap our economic exposure to a variable-rate basis. As a result, an increase in interest rates could result in increased loan defaults, foreclosures and charge-offs and could necessitate further increases to the allowance for loan and lease losses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, a decrease in interest rates could negatively impact our margins and profitability.
As of September 30, 2017, we had $1.86 billionof noninterest-bearing demand deposits and $5.85 billion of interest-bearing demand deposits. The prohibition restricting depository institutions from paying interest on demand deposits, such as checking accounts, was repealed effective on July 21, 2011 as part of the Dodd-Frank Act. We then began offering interest-bearing corporate checking accounts. Current interest rates for this product are very low because of current market conditions and, so far, the impact of the repeal has not been significant to us. However, we do not know what market rates will eventually be and, therefore, we cannot estimate at this time the long-term impact of the repeal on our interest expense on deposits. If we need to offer higher interest rates on checking accounts to maintain current clients or attract new clients, our interest expense will increase, perhaps materially. Furthermore, if we fail to offer interest in a sufficient amount to keep these demand deposits, our core deposits may be reduced, which would require us to obtain funding in other ways or risk slowing our future asset growth.
Our business depends on our ability to successfully manage credit risk.
The operation of our business requires us to manage credit risk. As a lender, we are exposed to the risk that our borrowers will be unable to repay their loans according to their terms, and that the collateral securing repayment of their loans, if any, may not be sufficient to ensure repayment. In addition, there are risks inherent in making any loan, including risks with respect to the period of time over which the loan may be repaid, risks relating to proper loan underwriting, risks resulting from changes in economic and industry conditions and risks inherent in dealing with individual borrowers. In order to successfully manage credit risk, we must, among other things, maintain disciplined and prudent underwriting standards and ensure that our bankers follow those standards. The weakening of these standards for any reason, such as an attempt to attract higher yielding loans, a lack of discipline or diligence by our employees in underwriting and monitoring loans, our inability to adequately adapt policies and procedures to changes in economic or any other conditions affecting borrowers may negatively impact the quality of our loan portfolio, result in loan defaults, foreclosures and additional charge-offs and necessitate that we significantly increase our allowance for loan and lease losses. As a result, our inability to successfully manage credit risk could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

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An important feature of our credit risk management system is our use of an internal credit risk ratinganalytical and control system through which we identify, measure, monitor and mitigate existing and emerging credit risk of our customers. As this process involves detailed analysis of the customer or credit risk, taking into account both quantitative and qualitative factors, it is subject to human error. In exercising their judgment, our employees may not always be able to assign an accurate credit rating to a customer or credit risk, which may result in our exposure to higher credit risks than indicated by our risk rating and control system. Although our management seeks to address possible credit risk proactively, it is possible that the credit risk rating and control system will not identify credit risk in our loan portfolio and that we may fail to manage credit risk effectively.
Some of our tools and metrics for managing credit risk and other risks are based upon our use of observed historical market behavior and assumptions. We rely on quantitativeforecasting models to measure risks and to estimate certain financial values. Models may be used in such processes as determining the pricing of various products, grading loans and extending credit, measuring interest rate and other market risks, estimating the effects of economic conditions on our loan portfolio, predicting losses, assessing capital adequacy and calculating regulatory capital levels, as well as estimating the value of financial instruments and balance sheet items. Poorly designedThose models reflect certain assumptions about both quantitative and qualitative factors, including among others, interest rates and consumer behavior that may be incorrect. If our analytical and forecasting models' underlying assumptions are incorrect, improperly applied, or implemented models present the risk thatotherwise inadequate, we may suffer deleterious effects such as higher than expected loan losses, lower than expected net interest income, lower than expected liquidity, lower than expected capital or unanticipated charge-offs, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, decisions based on information incorporating such models will be adversely affected due to the inadequacyfinancial condition and results of that information. Moreover,operations.
If our models may fail to predict future risk exposures if the information used in the model is incorrect, obsolete or not sufficiently comparable to actual events as they occur, or if our model assumptions prove incorrect. We seek to incorporate appropriate historical data in our models, but the range of market values and behaviors reflected in any period of historical data is not at all times predictive of future developments in any particular period and the period of data we incorporate into our models may turn out to be inappropriate for the future period being modeled. In such case, our ability to manage risk would be limited and our risk exposure andloan losses could be significantly greater than our models indicated.
Our allowance for loan and lease losses, our fair value adjustments related to credit on loans for which we have elected the fair value option and our credit marks (which reduce the fair value) on acquired loan portfolios may be insufficient, which could lead to additional losses on loans beyond those currently anticipated.
We maintain an allowance for loan and lease losses, which is a reserve established through a provision for loan and lease losses charged to expense representing management’s best estimate of probable losses that have been incurred within our existing portfolio of loans, fair value adjustments related to credit risk on our loans for which we have elected the fair value option and credit marks, which are estimates of expected credit losses that reduce the fair value of certain loans acquired through acquisitions. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for estimated loan and lease losses and risks inherent in the portfolio. The level of the allowance reflects management’s continuing evaluation of specific credit risks; the quality of the loan portfolio; the value of the underlying collateral; the level of non-accruing loans; and economic, political and regulatory conditions. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for loan and lease losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make significant estimates of current credit risks, all of which may undergo material changes. We also establish fair value adjustments related to our estimates of expected credit losses for loans accounted for using the fair value option.
The application of the acquisition method of accounting in our acquisitions has impactedexceed our allowance for loan and lease losses. Under the acquisition method of accounting, loans we acquired were recorded inlosses, our consolidated financial statements at their fair value at the time of acquisition and the related allowance for loan and lease loss was eliminated because credit quality, among other factors, was considered in the determination of fair value. net income will decrease.
We make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of acquiredour loan portfolios,portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of securedour loans. ToDespite our underwriting and monitoring practices, the extent thateffect of a declining economy could negatively impact the estimates we make at the timeability of acquisition proveour borrowers to be inadequate based on changing factsrepay loans in a timely manner and circumstances arising from reporting period to reporting period,could also negatively impact collateral values. As a result, we may incurexperience significant loan losses (some of which may be covered bythat could have a material adverse effect on our loss-sharing agreements withoperating results. Since we must use assumptions regarding individual loans and the FDIC) associated with the acquired loans.


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Althougheconomy, our management has established ancurrent allowance for loan and lease losses it believes is adequate to absorb probable and reasonably estimable losses in our loan portfolio, this allowance may not be adequate. We could sustainsufficient to cover actual loan losses. Our assumptions may not anticipate the severity or duration of the current credit cycle; and we may need to significantly increase our provision for losses that are significantly higher than the amount of our allowance for loan and lease losses. Higher credit losses could arise for a variety of reasons, such as growth in our loan portfolio, changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding ouron loans and other factors within and outside our control. If agricultural commodity prices or real estate values were to decline or if economic conditions in one or more of our principal markets werelarger loans or credit relationships becomes delinquent or if we expand our commercial real estate and commercial lending.
Additionally, subsequent to deteriorate unexpectedly, additional loanthis fiscal year-end we adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“CECL”) effective October 1, 2020. This standard requires financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on financial instruments and leaseother commitments to extend credit. This changes the current method of providing allowances for credit losses not incorporated in the existingthat are probable, which requires us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and leasemay greatly increase the types of data we need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for credit losses. In addition, federal and state regulators periodically review our allowance for loan losses might occur.and may require us to increase the provision for loan losses or recognize loan charge-offs. For additional discussion, see "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—2. New Accounting Standards." Material additions to our allowance through provision expense would materially decrease our net income. There maycan be other credit issuesno assurance that our monitoring procedures and policies will reduce certain lending risks or that our allowance for loan losses will be adequate to cover actual losses.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our Bank branches and any real estate collateral we have not identified inacquire upon foreclosure.
A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real property. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. The costs associated with investigation and remediation activities could be substantial. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage, including damages and costs resulting from environmental contamination emanating from the property. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating foreclosure, these actions may not identify inbe sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards.
We also have an extensive branch network, owning separate branch locations throughout the future. As a result, for any number of reasons,areas we may incur increased credit-related charges in the future, whichserve that may be significant. Losses in excess ofsubject to similar environmental liability risks. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and could materially reduce the existing allowance for loanaffected property's value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. The remediation costs and lease losses will reduce our net income andany other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. A severe downturn
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Failure to comply with mortgage loan servicing standards, guidelines, laws and regulations, including the CARES Act, may result in substantial penalties, additional costs or losses.
As a residential mortgage servicer in the economy generally U.S., we have a portfolio of loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right is the right to service a mortgage loan (ie: collect principal, interest and escrow amounts) for a fee. The housing GSE, such as FNMA, the FHLMC and the FHLB, that own the mortgages that we service in our loan servicing rights portfolio have mortgage servicing standards. HUD and state housing finance agencies govern and establish guidelines for the servicing of GSE mortgages. The failure to comply with these standards and guidelines, as well as other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, could result in penalties assessed by HUD, the GSEs and/or affectingour other regulators, or we could be forced to sell all or part of our loan servicing rights portfolio. In addition, we are subject to certain legal and contractual requirements for how we hold, transfer, use or enforce promissory notes, security instruments and other documents for residential mortgage loans that we service. Further, we currently use MERS for our servicing efforts. If documentation requirements were not met, or if the businessuse of MERS or the MERS system is found not valid or effective, we could be obligated to, or choose to, take remedial actions and assetsmay be subject to additional costs or losses.
As a result of individualthe CARES Act and associated regulations, customers would generate increased charge-offsof a federally backed mortgage loan (VA, FHA, USDA, Freddie and Fannie) experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic have the ability to request forbearance from paying their mortgage by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer affirming their financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency which includes granting a forbearance or deferral with no additional fees, penalties or interest, and with no adverse effects on the borrower’s credit. Foreclosures and evictions are prohibited during timeframes set by the GSEs. The Bank established new and updated existing policies, procedures and a needchange management process to facilitate the new CARES Act requirements, however, due to the extremely short implementation timeframes, and some ambiguity in the regulations, we are exposed to risks relating to noncompliance, and/or risk that errors may occur, subjecting the Bank to further regulatory, litigation, and/or operational risk, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on the mortgage secondary market for higher reserves. In particular,some of our liquidity.
We originate and sell a severe decreasemajority of our residential mortgage loans and their servicing rights, including $496.9 million of predominantly fixed rate residential mortgage loans sold during fiscal year 2020. This does not include the loan servicing portfolio acquired from HF Financial, approximately $389.3 million, and portfolio loans consisting of ARMs and other non-conforming loans of approximately $830.1 million, each at September 30, 2020. We rely on FNMA and other purchasers to purchase loans in agricultural commodity pricesorder to reduce our credit risk and provide funding for additional loans we desire to originate. We cannot provide assurance that these purchasers will not materially limit their purchases from us due to capital constraints or farmland prices could cause higher credit lossesother factors, including, with respect to FNMA, a change in the criteria for conforming loans. Any reforms to the U.S. residential mortgage finance market, including the role of FNMA, which are not yet known, may limit our ability to sell conforming loans to FNMA. Our inability to comply with all federal and a large allowance for loanstate regulations and lease losses, principallyinvestor guidelines regarding the origination, underwriting documentation and servicing of residential mortgage loans may also impact our ability to continue selling residential mortgage loans in the secondary market, effecting our agricultural loan portfolios.
In addition, bank regulatory agencies will periodically review our allowance for loanability to fund, and lease losses and the value attributed to nonaccrualthus originate, additional residential mortgage loans, or to real estate we acquire through foreclosure. Such regulatory agencies may require us to adjust our determination of the value for these items, increase our allowance for loan and lease losses or reduce the carrying value of owned real estate, reducing our net income. Further, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the allowance for loan and lease losses, we may need additional adjustments to increase the allowance for loan and lease losses. These adjustmentswhich could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to liquidity risk thata variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may affectconduct.
If any of our ability to meet our obligationsrepresentations and grow our business.
Liquidity risk is the risk that we will not be able to meet our obligations, including financial commitments, as they come due and is inherent in our operations. This risk can increase duewarranties to a numberpurchaser about our mortgage loans and the manner in which they were originated and serviced is incorrect, we may be required to indemnify the purchaser for any related losses, or we may be required to repurchase or provide substitute mortgage loans for part or all of factors, including an over-reliance on a particular source of funding (including, for example, short-term and overnight funding) or market-wide phenomena such as market dislocation and major disasters. Like many banking companies, we rely on customer deposits to meet a considerable portion of our funding, and we continue to seek customer deposits to maintain this funding base.the affected loans. We obtain deposits directly from retail and commercial customers and "brokered deposits" through third parties that offer our deposit products to their customers. As of September 30, 2017, we had $8.25 billionin direct deposits (which includes deposits from banks and financial institutions and deposits related to prepaid cards) and $725.4 million in deposits originated through brokerage firms (including network deposit sweeps). A key part of our liquidity plan and funding strategy is to expand our direct deposits as a source of funding. However, these deposits are subject to potentially dramatic fluctuations in availability or price due to certain factors outside our control, such as a loss of confidence by customers in us or the banking sector generally, customer perceptions of our financial health and general reputation, increasing competitive pressures from other financial services firms for retail or corporate customer deposits, changes in interest rates and returns on other investment classes, which could result in significant outflows of deposits within short periods of time or significant changes in pricing necessary to maintain current or attract additional deposits.
Competition among U.S. banks for customer deposits is intense, may increase the cost of retaining current deposits or procuring new deposits, and may otherwise negatively affect our ability to grow our deposit base. Any changes we make to the rates offered on our deposit products to remain competitive with other financial institutions may adversely affect our profitability and liquidity. Interest-bearing accounts earn interest at rates established by management based on competitive market factors. Maintaining and attracting new deposits is integral to our business and a major decline in deposits or failure to attract deposits in the future, including any such decline or failure related to an increase in interest rates paid by our competitors on interest-bearing accounts, could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The demand for the deposit products we offer may also be reduced duerequired to repurchase loans as a varietyresult of factors, such as demographic patterns, changesborrower fraud or in customer preferences, reductions in consumers’ disposable income, regulatory actions that decrease customer access to particular products,the event of early payment default by the borrower on a loan we have sold. If repurchase or the availability of competing products. An inability to grow, or anyindemnity activity becomes material, decrease in, our depositsit could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may also, from time to time, engage in selling or participating all or part of certain commercial, agricultural or other types of loans. Such sales entail similar risks to those described above.
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Uncertainty relating to LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR may adversely affect us.
On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calibration of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, debentures, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans and securities in our portfolio and may impact the availability and cost of fundshedging instruments and borrowings. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement substitute indices for the calculation of interest rates under our ability to satisfyloan agreements with our liquidity needs. Further,borrowers, we may incur significant expenses in effecting the consequences of our liquidity risktransition, and may be more severe than other institutions because we do not currently have a credit rating from any major agency. Maintaining a diverse and appropriate funding strategy remains challenging, and any tighteningsubject to disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of credit marketsthe substitute indices, which could have a material adverse impact on us. In particular, our funding from corporate and financial institution counterparties may cease to be available if such counterparties seek to reduce their credit exposures to banks and other financial institutions, which could be reflected, for example, in reductions in unsecured deposits supplied by these counterparties. Under such circumstances, we may need to seek funds from alternative sources, potentially at higher costs than our current sources.


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Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism or other external events could significantly impact our business.
Severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events could have a significant impacteffect on our abilityfinancial condition or results of operations.
Loans that we make through certain federal programs are dependent on the federal government’s continuation and support of these programs and on our compliance with their requirements.
We participate in various U.S. government agency guarantee programs, including programs operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Farm Service Administration and the United States Department of the Interior. If we fail to conduct business. In addition, such events could affectfollow any applicable regulations, guidelines or policies associated with a particular guarantee program, any loans we originate as part of that program may lose the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowersassociated guarantee, exposing us to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage,credit risk we would not otherwise be exposed to or underwritten, or result in lossour inability to continue originating loans under such programs, either of revenue or cause us to incur additional expenses. Because of the concentration of agricultural loans in our lending portfolio and the volume of our borrowers in regions dependent on agriculture, we could be disproportionately affected relative to others in the case of external events such as floods, droughts and hail affecting the agricultural conditions in the markets we serve. The occurrence of any of these events in the futurewhich could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Federal and state governments have enacted laws intending to stimulate the economy in light of the business and market disruptions related to COVID-19, including the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP”). Our Bank participated as a lender in both rounds of the PPP, providing $727.3 million in loans to over 4,800 customers.We understand that PPP loans are fully guaranteed by the SBA and believe the majority of these loans will be forgiven. However, there can be no assurance that the borrowers will use or have used the funds appropriately or will have satisfied the staffing or payment requirements to qualify for forgiveness in whole or in part. Any portion of the loan that is not forgiven must be repaid by the borrower. 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 our Bank, which may or may not be ablerelated to attractan ambiguity in the laws, rules or guidance regarding operation of the PPP, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if we have already been paid under the guaranty, seek recovery from us of any loss related to the deficiency. Several other large banks have been subject to litigation regarding the process and retain key personnelprocedures that such banks used in processing applications for the PPP. We and our Bank may be exposed to the risk of litigation, from both customers and non-customers that approached the Bank regarding PPP loans and our PPP process. If any such litigation is filed against the Bank and is not resolved in a manner favorable to the Bank, it may result in significant financial liability or adversely affect our reputation. In addition, litigation can be costly, regardless of outcome. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP related litigation could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other skilled employees.
Our success depends, in large part,financial information, or from those customers or counterparties or of other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on the skills of our management team and our ability to retain, recruit and motivate key officers and employees. Our senior management team has significant industry experience, and their knowledge and relationships would be difficult to replace. Leadership changes will occur from time to time, and we cannot predict whether significant resignations will occurinaccurate, fraudulent or whether we will be able to recruit additional qualified personnel. Competition for senior executives and skilled personnel in themisleading financial services and banking industry is intense, which means the cost of hiring, incentivizing and retaining skilled personnel may continue to increase. We need to continue to attract and retain key personnel and to recruit qualified individuals to succeed existing key personnel to ensure the continued growth and successful operation of our business. In addition, as a provider of relationship-based commercial and agribusiness banking services, we must attract and retain qualified banking personnel to continue to grow our business, and competition for such personnel can be intense. Our ability to effectively compete for senior executives and other qualified personnel by offering competitive compensation and benefit arrangements may be restricted by applicable banking laws and regulations as discussed in “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Incentive Compensation.” The loss of the services of any senior executivestatements, credit reports or other key personnel,financial information could result in loan and lease losses, reputational damage or the inability to recruit and retain qualified personnel in the future,other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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COVID-19 could have negative effects on our hospitality and CRE loans, including loans to hotels, restaurants and health care facilities, which are dependent for repayment on the successful operation and management of the CRE, the strength of the CRE industry broadly and other factors outside of the borrower’s control.
In addition,response to attractCOVID-19, many state and retain personnel with appropriate skillslocal governments have ordered certain restrictions on non-essential businesses and knowledgeresidents. Certain industries have been particularly hard hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. At September 30, 2020, we had outstanding loans to supporthotels & resorts of $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of total loans, restaurants of $156.5 million, or 1.6% of total loans, arts and entertainment of $130.3 million, or 1.3% of total loans, senior care of $330.7 million, or 3.3% of total loans, and skilled nursing of $250.9 million, or 2.5% of total loans, for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of total loans. Our CRE loans are dependent on the profitable operation and management of the property securing the loan and its cash flows. The continued spread of COVID-19 could result in further reduction of demand for hotel rooms and related lodging and entertainment services in general, reduction in business and personal travel, reduction in discretionary spending by our business,borrowers’ customers, increases in employee health related costs for our customers, operational cost increases due to potential labor, food, energy, water, transportation shortages, government forced closures and travel restrictions, or other unanticipated costs related to such force majeure events like COVID-19. These conditions can also lead to a decline in property sales prices and related assets and properties planned for development. Revenues may decline more quickly than borrowers are able to reduce expenses.
If repercussions of the outbreak are prolonged, COVID-19 could have a significant adverse impact, which could be material to our borrowers, by reducing the revenue and cash flows of our borrowers, impacting the borrowers’ ability to repay the loan, increasing the risk of default by our borrowers and/or reducing the foreclosure value of CRE that serves as collateral for certain of our loans. Loans may also be secured by depreciating assets where any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. Any of the foregoing could negatively impact our borrowers, and their financial results, which, in turn, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities
The value of securities in our investment portfolio may decline in the future.
As of September 30, 2020, we owned $1.77 billion of investment securities. The fair value of our investment securities may be adversely affected by market conditions, including changes in interest rates, and the occurrence of any events adversely affecting the issuer of particular securities in our investments portfolio. We analyze our securities on a quarterly basis to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. The process for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary usually requires complex, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer 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 issuers, we may offer a variety of benefits,be required to recognize other-than-temporary impairment in future periods, which could reduce our earnings or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to declare and pay dividends is now subject to additional regulatory restrictions and we may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive only such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. Our ability to pay dividends depends primarily on our receipt of dividends from our Bank, the payment of which is subject to numerous limitations under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. See "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Dividends." As a consequence of these various limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate, the payment of dividends on our common stock. In addition, as a bank holding company our ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. Due to negative retained earnings, primarily as a result of $713.0 million of impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company and our Bank are now required to notify the FRB and the FDIC and SDDB, respectively, prior to declaring and paying a cash dividend from our Bank to the Company and to our shareholders.
During fiscal year 2020, our Board of Directors reduced our dividend paid in the third fiscal quarter to $0.15 per share, from $0.30 per share paid in the second fiscal quarter, and then further reduced the dividend paid to $0.01 per share in the fourth fiscal quarter primarily as a result of the uncertainties and impacts of COVID-19. Any further changes in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof by our Board of Directors could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
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We may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely as a publicly listed company if we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well-designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any circumvention of our controls and procedures, or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures, could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NYSE.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.
We may need to raise additional capital, in the form of additional debt or equity, in the future to have sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and fund our business needs and future growth, particularly if the quality of our assets or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, as well as on acceptable terms, if needed, will depend on, among other things, our credit rating, confidence of debt purchasers, conditions in the capital markets at that time, counterparties participating in the capital markets or other disruption in capital markets and our financial condition. Economic conditions and a loss of confidence in financial institutions may increase our cost of funding and limit access to certain customary sources of capital, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the discount window of the Federal Reserve System. Further, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may need to compete for investors when seeking to raise capital. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We have been rated as "BBB" with a negative outlook by Kroll Bond Rating Agency (“KBRA”). A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Our creditworthiness is not fixed and should be expected to change over time as a result of our performance and industry conditions. We cannot give any assurances that our credit ratings will remain at current levels, and it is possible that our ratings could be lowered or withdrawn by KBRA.Any actual or threatened downgrade or withdrawal of our credit rating could affect our perception in the marketplace and our ability to raise capital, and could increase our debt financing costs.
Future issues or sales of our capital stock in the public market could lower our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders.
Any capital we obtain may result in the dilution of the interests of existing holders of our common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the issues or sales of a large number of shares of our capital stock or from the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also may make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital by selling equity securities in the future, at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
On June 1, 2020, we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC registering an indeterminate amount of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares and debt securities which we may decide to issue in the future. To the extent that we choose to issue our common stock or our preferred stock, or rights relating to our common stock or preferred stock (through the issuance of depositary shares), such issuances will increase the number of our shares of capital stock outstanding and the holders of these shares will be able to sell them in the public market. The specific terms of any shares of capital stock that may be issued under our shelf registration statement will be determined by us prior to issuance based on current market conditions and will be described in a supplement to the prospectus contained in such registration statement.
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC registering 1,497,222 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our equity incentive plans. We have granted awards covering 1,137,092 shares of our common stock under these plans as of September 30, 2020. Subject to stockholder approval, we may increase the number of shares registered for this purpose from time to time. Once we issue these shares, their holders will be able to sell them in the public market.
Certain banking laws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our stockholders. Acquisition of 10% or more of any class of voting stock of a bank holding company or depository institution, including shares of our common stock, generally creates a rebuttable presumption that the acquirer "controls" the bank holding company or depository institution and the acquisition of such control would be subject to federal regulatory approval. In addition, a bank holding company must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before, among other things, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, including our Bank.
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There also are provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, such as limitations on the ability to call a special meeting of our stockholders, and the classification of our Board of Directors into three separate classes each serving for three-year terms, that may be used to delay or block a takeover attempt. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to issue shares of preferred stock, and determine the rights, terms, conditions and privileges of such preferred stock, without stockholder approval. These provisions may effectively inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We have also elected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which generally prohibits a person qualifying as an "interested stockholder" from entering into a transaction for a business combination with us unless, subject to certain exceptions, such transaction is first approved by our Board of Directors. An "interested stockholder" is generally defined as any person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock. The purpose of this election is to provide our Board of Directors with leverage in negotiating with an interested stockholder desiring to pursue a business combination with us by making it more difficult for such stockholder to complete such transaction in the absence of board approval. This election may discourage certain take-over attempts which our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests and this, in turn, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We are required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength for our Bank in times of stress.
Under federal law and longstanding Federal Reserve policy, we are expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to our Bank, and to commit resources to support our Bank if necessary. We may be required to commit additional resources to our Bank at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources or when it may not be in our, or our stockholders’ or creditors’, best interests to do so. Providing such support is more likely during times of financial stress for us and our Bank, which may make any capital we are required to raise to provide such support more expensive than it might otherwise be. In addition, any capital loans we make to our Bank are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of our Bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal banking regulator to maintain the capital of our Bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
We may be subject to more stringent capital requirements in the future.
We are subject to current and changing regulatory requirements specifying minimum amounts and types of capital that we must maintain, which if we fail, we or our subsidiaries may be restricted in the types of activities we may conduct and we may be prohibited from taking certain capital actions, such as paying dividends and repurchasing or redeeming capital securities.
In particular, the capital requirements applicable to us under the recently adopted Capital Rules implementing the Basel III capital framework in the United States started to be phased-in on January 1, 2015. While we expect to meet the requirements of the new Basel III-based Capital Rules, we may fail to do so. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could result in certain mandatory and possible additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have an adverse material effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these requirements could have a negative impact on our ability to lend, grow deposit balances, make acquisitions or make capital distributions in the form of dividends or share repurchases. Higher capital levels could also lower our return on equity.
Strategic Risks
Liquidityrisk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.
Liquidity is essential to our business. An inability to raise funds through deposits, borrowings, the sale of loans and other sources could have a substantial negative effect on our liquidity. Our access to funding sources in amounts adequate to finance our activities or the terms of which are acceptable to us could be impaired by factors that affect us specifically or the financial services industry or economy in general. Factors that could detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources include a decrease in the level of our business activity as a result of a downturn in the markets in which our loans are concentrated or an adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a disruption in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry generally.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.
We operate in the highly competitive financial services industry andIn our markets, we face significant competition for customers from financial institutions located both within and beyond our principal markets. We compete withother commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, non-bank financial services companies and other financial institutions, operating within or near the areas we serve, particularly nationwide and regional banks and larger community banking institutions that target the same customers we do.institutions. We also face competition for agricultural loans from participants in the nationwide Farm Credit System and global banks. In addition, as customer preferences and expectations continue to evolve, technology has lowered barriers to entry and made it possible for non-banks to offer products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as automatic transfer and automatic payment systems. Customer loyalty can be influenced by a competitor’s new products, especially offerings that could provide cost savings or a higher return to the customer. We may not be able to compete successfully with other financial institutions and financial service providersFinTech's are emerging in our market, and wekey areas of banking. Our competitors may have to pay higher interest rates to attract deposits, accept lower yields to attract loanssubstantially greater resources and pay higher wages for new employees, resulting in reduced profitability. Further, increased lending activity by our competitors following the 2008 recession has led to increased competitive pressures on loan rateslimits than we do and terms for high-quality credits. Continued loan pricing pressure could have a further negative effect on our loan yields and net interest margin.
may offer services that we do not or cannot provide. Many of our non-banknonfinancial institution competitors are not subjecthave fewer regulatory constraints, broader geographic service areas and, in some cases, lower cost structures. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to the same extensive regulations that governcompete in our activities and may have greater flexibility in competing for business. Several of our competitors are also larger and have significantly more resources, greater name recognition and larger market shares, enabling them to maintain numerous banking locations, provide technology-based banking tools we do not provide, maintain a wider range of product offerings, mount extensive promotional and advertising campaigns and be more aggressive than us in competing for loans and deposits. markets.
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The financial services industry could become even more competitive as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and continued consolidation. In addition, some of our current commercial banking customers may seek alternative banking sources as they develop needs for credit facilities larger than we may be able to accommodate. Our inability to compete successfully in the markets in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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We may not be able to successfully execute our strategic plan or manage our growth.
Our growth strategy focuses on organic growth, supplemented by acquisitions and requires us to manage several different elements simultaneously. Sustainable growth requires that we manage our risks by balancing loan and deposit growth at acceptable levels of risk, maintaining adequate liquidity and capital, hiring and retaining qualified employees, successfully managing the costs and implementation risks with respect to strategic projects and initiatives, and integrating acquisition targets and managing the costs. Our growth strategy may also change from time to time as a result of various internal and external factors. Our inability to manage our growth successfully could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by risks associated with completed and potential acquisitions.
Our growth strategy includes consideration of potential acquisition opportunities that we believe support our business strategy and may enhance our profitability. We face significant competition from numerous other financial services institutions, many of which will have greater financial resources than we do, when considering acquisition opportunities. Accordingly, attractive acquisition opportunities may not be available to us. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying or completing any future acquisitions.acquisitions and there is no assurance that, following any mergers or acquisitions, our integration efforts will be successful or that, after giving effect to the acquisition, we will achieve profits comparable to, or better than, our historical experience. Acquisitions also involve numerous risks, including:
incurringthe time, expense and expensediversion of management attention associated with identifying and evaluating potential acquisitionsacquisition targets and new markets and negotiating potential transactions, resulting in management’s attention being diverted from transactions;
the operationaccuracy of our existing business;
using inaccuratethe estimates and judgments used to evaluate credit, operations, funding, liquidity, business,liabilities, management and market risks with respect to the target institution or assets;institution;
the risk that the acquired business will not perform to our expectations, including a failure to realize anticipated synergies or cost savings;
difficulties, inefficiencies or cost overruns in integrating and assimilating the organizational cultures, operations, technologies, data, services and products of the acquired business with ours;
the risk of key vendors not fulfilling our expectations or not accurately converting data;
entering geographic and product markets in which we have limited or no direct prior experience;
the potential loss of key employees or customers;
our ability to finance an acquisition and possible dilution to our existing shareholders; and
the potential for liabilities and claims arising out of the acquired businesses;
litigation relatingbusinesses or closing delays and increased expenses related to an acquisition, particularly in the contextresolution of a publicly-held acquisition target, that could require us to incur significant expenses and cause management distraction, as well as delay and/or enjoin the transaction; and
the risklawsuits filed by shareholders of not receiving required regulatory approvals or such approvals being delayed or restrictively conditional.
In addition, acquisitions of financial institutions involve operational and regulatory risks and other uncertainties, and acquired companies may have unknown or contingent liabilities with no corresponding accounting allowance, exposure to unexpected asset quality problems that require write-downs or write-offs (as well as restructuring and impairment or other charges), and other issues that could negatively affect our business. Acquisitions typically involve the payment of a premium over book and market values and, therefore, some dilution of our tangible book value and net income per common share may occur in connection with any future transaction.


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targets.
Failed bank acquisitions involve risks similar to acquiring operating banks even though the FDIC might provide assistance to mitigate certain risks, such as sharing in exposure to loan and lease losses and providing indemnification against certain liabilities of the failed institution. However, because these acquisitions are typically conducted by the FDIC in a manner that does not allow the time typically taken for a due diligence review or for preparing the integration of an acquired institution, we may face additional risks in transactions with the FDIC. These risks include, among other things, accuracy or completeness of due diligence materials, the loss of customers and core deposits and strain on management resources related to collection and management of problem loans and problems related to integration and retention of personnel and operating systems.loans. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with such acquisitions, (including FDIC-assisted transactions), nor that any FDIC-assisted opportunities will be available to us in our markets. Our inability to overcome these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, weWe must generally satisfyreceive federal regulatory approval before we can acquire a number of meaningfulbank or bank holding company. We cannot be certain when or if, or on what terms and conditions, priorany required regulatory approvals will be granted. We may be required to completing any acquisition, including, in certain cases, federal and state banksell banks or branches as a condition to receiving regulatory approval. Bank regulators consider a number of factors when determining whether to approve a proposed transaction, including the effect of the transaction on financial stability and the ratings and compliance history of all institutions involved, including the CRA, examination results and anti-money-laundering and Bank Secrecy ActBSA compliance records of all institutions involved. The process for obtaining required regulatory approvals has become substantially more difficult as a result of the financial crisis, which could affect our future business. We may fail to pursue, evaluate or complete strategic and competitively significant business opportunities as a result of our inability, or our perceived inability, to obtain any required regulatory approvals in a timely manner or at all.
New lines of business, products, product enhancements or services may subject us to additional risks.
From time to time, we may implement or acquire new lines of business or offer new products and product enhancements as well as new services within our existing lines of business, such as mortgage servicing acquired through the HF Financial acquisition. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where the markets are not fully developed. In acquiring, developing or marketing new lines of business, products, product enhancements or services, we may invest significant time and resources, although we may not assign the appropriate level of resources or expertise necessary to make these new lines of business, products, product enhancements or services successful or to realize their expected benefits. Further, initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business, products, product enhancements or services may not be achieved, and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives and shifting market preferences, may also impact the ultimate implementation of a new line of business or offerings of new products, product enhancements or services. Furthermore, any new line of business, product, product enhancement or service could have a significant impact on the effectiveness of our system of internal controls. Failure to successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of new lines of business or offerings of new products, product enhancements or servicescomply with such requirements could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
If our techniques for managing risk are ineffective, we may be exposed to material unanticipated losses.
In order to manage the significant risks inherent in our business, we must maintain effective policies, procedures and systems that enable us to identify, monitor and control our exposure to material risks, such as credit, operational,serious legal and reputational risks. Our risk management methods may proveconsequences, including causing delay in approval or denial of such transactions when regulatory approval is required, or to be ineffective due to their design, their implementation or the degree to which we adhere to them, or as a result of the lack of adequate, accurate or timely information or otherwise. If our risk management efforts are ineffective, we could suffer losses that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, we could be subject to litigation, particularly from our customers, and sanctions or fines from regulators. Our techniques for managing the risks we face mayprohibit such transactions even if approval is not fully mitigate the risk exposure in all economic or market environments, including exposure to risks that we might fail to identify or anticipate.
Reductions in interchange fees will reduce our associated income.
An interchange fee is a fee merchants pay to the interchange network in exchange for the use of the network’s infrastructure and payment facilitation, and which is paid to debit, credit and prepaid card issuers to compensate them for the costs associated with card issuance and operation. In the case of credit cards, this includes the risk associated with lending money to customers. We earn interchange fees on these debit and credit card transactions, including $15.8 millionin fees during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank Act limits the amount of interchange fees that may be charged for debit and prepaid card transactions with respect to financial institutions with over $10.0 billion in total assets. Because our total assets exceeded $10.0 billion as of December 31, 2016, the interchange fee caps required by the Durbin Amendment negatively impacted debit card and ATM fees we receive that commenced in July 2017. We expect the decrease to be approximately $8.0 million, pre-tax, on an annualized basis going forward. To the extent interchange fees are further reduced, our income from those fees will be reduced, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. See

required.

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"Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Interchange Fees" for further discussion. In addition, the payment card industry is subject to the operating regulations and procedures set forth by payment card networks, and our failure to comply with these operating regulations, which may change from time to time, could subject us to various penalties or fees or the termination of our license to use the payment card networks, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Operational risks are inherent in our business.
Our operations depend on our ability to process a very large number of transactions efficiently and accurately while complying with applicable laws and regulations. Operational risk and losses can result from internal and external fraud; errors by employees or third parties; failure to document transactions properly or to obtain proper authorization; failure to comply with applicable regulatory requirements and conduct of business rules; equipment failures, including those caused by natural disasters or by electrical, telecommunications or other essential utility outages; business continuity and data security system failures, including those caused by computer viruses, cyber-attacks or unforeseen problems encountered while implementing major new computer systems or upgrades to existing systems; or the inadequacy or failure of systems and controls, including those of our suppliers or counterparties. Although we have implemented risk controls and loss mitigation actions, and substantial resources are devoted to developing efficient procedures, identifying and rectifying weaknesses in existing procedures and training staff, it is not possible to be certain that such actions have been or will be effective in controlling each of the operational risks faced by us. Any weakness in these systems or controls, or any breaches or alleged breaches of such laws or regulations, could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, enforcement actions or legal proceedings and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Cyber-attacks or other security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In the normal course of business, we collect, process and retain sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers. We also have arrangements in place with other third parties through which we share and receive information about their customers who are or may become our customers. Although we devote significant resources and management focus to ensuring the integrity of our systems through information security and business continuity programs, our facilities and systems, and those of third party service providers, are vulnerable to external or internal security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors or other similar events.
Information security risks for financial institutions like us have increased recently in part because of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers recently have engaged in attacks against large financial institutions, particularly denial of service attacks that are designed to disrupt key business services, such as customer-facing web sites. We are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. We employ detection and response mechanisms designed to contain and mitigate security incidents, but early detection may be thwarted by sophisticated attacks and malware designed to avoid detection.
We also face risks related to cyber-attacks and other security breaches in connection with our own and third-party systems, processes and data, including credit card transactions that typically involve the transmission of sensitive information regarding our customers through various third parties, including merchant acquiring banks, payment processors, payment card networks (e.g., Visa, MasterCard) and our processors. Some of these parties have in the past been the target of security breaches and cyber-attacks, and because the transactions involve third parties and environments such as the point of sale that we do not control or secure, future security breaches or cyber-attacks affecting any of these third parties could impact us through no fault of our own, and in some cases we may have exposure and suffer losses for breaches or attacks relating to them. We also rely on numerous other third party service providers to conduct other aspects of our business operations and face similar risks relating to them. While we conduct security reviews on these third parties, we cannot be sure that their information security protocols are sufficient to withstand a cyber-attack or other security breach.
The access by unauthorized persons to, or the improper disclosure by us of, confidential information regarding our customers or our own proprietary information, software, methodologies and business secrets could result in significant legal and financial exposure, supervisory liability, damage to our reputation or a loss of confidence in the security of our systems, products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, recently there have been a number of well-publicized attacks or breaches affecting others in our industry that have heightened concern by consumers generally about the security of using credit cards, which have caused some consumers, including our customers, to use our credit cards less in favor of alternative methods of payment and has led to increased regulatory focus on, and


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potentially new regulations relating to, these matters. Further cyber-attacks or other breaches in the future, whether affecting us or others, could intensify consumer concern and regulatory focus and result in reduced use of our cards and increased costs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business. To the extent we are involved in any future cyber-attacks or other breaches, our brand and reputation could be affected, could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.
Our communications, information and technology systems supporting our operations are important to our efficiency and vulnerable to unforeseen problems. Our operations depend on our ability, as well as that of third party service providers, to protect computer systems and network infrastructure against damage from fires, other natural disasters; power or telecommunications failures; acts of terrorism or wars or other catastrophic events; or other physical break-ins. Any damage or failure that causes interruptions in operations or disruptions in our business could result in liability to clients, regulatory intervention or reputational harm and, thus, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan or other systems. Moreover, if any such failures, interruptions or security breaches do occur, they may not be adequately addressed. If we experience a disruption in the provision of any functions or services performed by third parties, we may have difficulty in finding alternate providers on terms favorable to us and in reasonable timeframes. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our communications and information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We continually encounter technological change.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new, technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success depends, 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, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements than we do. We may not be able to effectively implement new, technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. In addition, the implementation of technological changes and upgrades to maintain current systems and integrate new ones may also cause service interruptions, transaction processing errors and system conversion delays and may cause us to fail to comply with applicable laws. Failure to successfully keep pace with technological change affecting the financial services industry and avoid interruptions, errors and delays could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We expect that new technologies and business processes applicable to the consumer credit industry will continue to emerge, and these new technologies and business processes may be better than those we currently use. Because the pace of technological change is high and our industry is intensely competitive, we may not be able to sustain our investment in new technology as critical systems and applications become obsolete or as better ones become available. A failure to maintain current technology and business processes could cause disruptions in our operations or cause our products and services to be less competitive, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our ability to maintain, attract and retain customer relationships is highly dependent on our reputation.
Our customers rely on us to deliver superior, personalized financial services with the highest standards of ethics, performance, professionalism and compliance. Damage to our reputation could undermine the confidence of our current customers and our ability to attract potential customers. Such damage could also impair the confidence of our counterparties and vendors and ultimately affect our ability to effect transactions. Maintenance of our reputation depends not only on our success in maintaining our service-focused culturecustomer service and controlling and mitigatingmitigation of the various risks described herein, but alsoas well as on our success in identifying and appropriately addressing issues that may arise in areas such as potential conflicts of interest, anti-money laundering, client personal information and privacy, issues, employee, customer and other third party fraud, record-keeping, regulatory investigations and any litigation that may arise from the failure or perceived failure of us to comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Maintaining our reputation also depends on our ability torequirements, successfully preventpreventing third parties from infringing on the “Great"Great Western Bank”Bank" brand and associated trademarks and our other intellectual property.property and avoiding adverse publicity or negative information regarding our Company, whether or not true, that may be posted on social media, non-mainstream news services or other parts of the internet. Defense of our reputation, trademarks and other intellectual property, including through litigation, could result in costs that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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Employee misconductChanges in our accounting policies or in accounting standards could expose us to significant legal liability and reputational harm.
We are vulnerable to reputational harm becausematerially affect how we operate in an industry in which integrity and the confidence ofreport our customers are of critical importance. Our employees could engage in misconduct that adversely affects our customers and/or our business. For example, if an employee were to engage in fraudulent, illegal, wrongful or suspicious activities, and/or activities resulting in consumer harm, we could be subject to regulatory sanctions and/or penalties, and suffer serious harm to our reputation (as a consequence of the negative perception resulting from such activities), financial position, customer relationships and ability to attract new customers. Our business often requires that we deal with confidential information. If our employees were to improperly use or disclose this information, even if inadvertently, we could suffer serious harm to our reputation, financial position and current and future business relationships. It is not always possible to deter employee misconduct, and the precautions we take to detect and prevent this activity may not always be effective. Misconduct by our employees, or even unsubstantiated allegations of misconduct, could result in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial institutions.
Financial services institutions that deal with each other are interconnected as a result of trading, investment, liquidity management, clearing, counterparty and other relationships. Within the financial services industry, loss of public confidence, including through default by any one institution, could lead to liquidity challenges or to defaults by other institutions. Concerns about, or a default by, one institution could lead to significant liquidity problems and losses or defaults by other institutions, as the commercial and financial soundness of many financial institutions is closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and other relationships. Even the perceived lack of creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by various institutions. This systemic risk may adversely affect financial intermediaries, such as clearing agencies, banks and exchanges with which we interact on a daily basis or key funding providers such as the Federal Home Loan Banks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our access to liquidity or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may need to raise additional capital in the future, and such capital may not be available when needed or at all.
We may need to raise additional capital, in the form of additional debt or equity, in the future to have sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet our commitments and fund our business needs and future growth, particularly if the quality of our assets or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, and our financial condition. Economic conditions and a loss of confidence in financial institutions may increase our cost of funding and limit access to certain customary sources of capital, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the discount window of the Federal Reserve System.
We may not be able to obtain capital on acceptable terms—or at all. Any occurrence that may limit our access to the capital markets, such as a decline in the confidence of debt purchasers, depositors of our bank or counterparties participating in the capital markets or other disruption in capital markets, may adversely affect our capital costs and our ability to raise capital and, in turn, our liquidity. Further, if we need to raise capital in the future, we may have to do so when many other financial institutions are also seeking to raise capital and would then have to compete with those institutions for investors. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The value of securities in our investment portfolio may decline in the future.
As of September 30, 2017, we owned $1.37 billion of investment securities. The fair value of our investment securities may be adversely affected by market conditions, including changes in interest rates, and the occurrence of any events adversely affecting the issuer of particular securities in our investments portfolio. We analyze our securities on a quarterly basis to determine if an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred. The process for determining whether impairment is other-than-temporary usually requires complex, subjective judgments about the future financial performance of the issuer 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 issuers, we may be required to recognize other-than-temporary impairment in future periods, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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The value of our goodwill and other intangible assets may decline in the future.
As of September 30, 2017, we had $752.5 million of goodwill, other intangible assets and loan servicing rights. Goodwill represents the cost in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business acquisitions. We review our 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 goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. If the carrying amount of the goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess. A significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a material change in interest rates, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or a significant or sustained decline in the price of our common stock may necessitate taking charges in the future related to the impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets. We cannot provide assurance that we will not be required to record any charges for goodwill impairment in the future. If we conclude that such a write-down of goodwill and other intangible assets has become necessary, we will record the appropriate charge in the period in which it becomes known to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on the mortgage secondary market for some of our liquidity.
We originate and sell a majority of our mortgage loans and their servicing rights, including $275.0 million of mortgage loans sold during fiscal year 2017. This does not include the loan servicing portfolio acquired from HF Financial, approximately $722.5 million, and portfolio loans consisting of ARMs and other nonconforming loans of approximately $932.9 million, each at September 30, 2017. We rely on Federal National Mortgage Association, or FNMA, and other purchasers to purchase loans in order to reduce our credit risk and provide funding for additional loans we desire to originate. We cannot provide assurance that these purchasers will not materially limit their purchases from us due to capital constraints or other factors, including, with respect to FNMA, a change in the criteria for conforming loans. In addition, various proposals have been made to reform the U.S. residential mortgage finance market, including the role of FNMA. The exact effects of any such reforms are not yet known, but may limit our ability to sell conforming loans to FNMA. In addition, mortgage lending is highly regulated, and our inability to comply with all federal and state regulations and investor guidelines regarding the origination, underwriting documentation and servicing of mortgage loans may also impact our ability to continue selling mortgage loans. If we are unable to continue to sell loans in the secondary market, our ability to fund, and thus originate, additional mortgage loans may be adversely affected, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to a variety of risks in connection with any sale of loans we may conduct.
When we sell mortgage loans we are required to make customary representations and warranties to the purchaser about the mortgage loans and the manner in which they were originated and serviced. If any of these representations and warranties are incorrect, we may be required to indemnify the purchaser for any related losses, or we may be required to repurchase or provide substitute mortgage loans for part or all of the affected loans. We may also be required to repurchase loans as a result of borrower fraud or in the event of early payment default by the borrower on a loan we have sold. If the level of repurchase and indemnity activity becomes material, it could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, business, financial condition or results of operations.
Mortgage lending is highly regulated. Our inability to comply with all federal and state regulations and investor guidelines regarding the origination, underwriting documentation and servicing of mortgage loans may impact our ability to continue selling mortgage loans.
We may also, fromFrom time to time, engage in sellingthe FASB, SEC and other regulators change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements, potentially requiring us to modify certain of the assumptions or participating all or part of certain commercial, agricultural or other types of loans. Such sales entail similar risks to those described above.
In addition, we must report as held for sale any loans whichestimates we have undertaken to sell, whether or not a purchase agreement for the loans has been executed. We may therefore be unable to ultimately complete a sale for part or allpreviously used in preparing our financial statements, negatively impacting how we record and report our results of the loans we classify as held for sale. We must exercise our judgment in determining when loans must be reclassified from held for investment status to held for sale status under applicable accounting guidelines. Any failure to accurately report loans as held for sale could result in regulatory investigationsoperations and monetary penalties. Any of these actions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or resultsgenerally. For additional information on the key areas for which assumptions and estimates are used in preparing our financial statements, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of operations. Our policy is to carry loans held for sale at the lowerFinancial Condition and Results of cost or fair value. As a result, prior to being sold, any loans classified as held for sale may be adversely affected by market conditions, including changes in interest rates, by changes in the borrower’s creditworthiness,Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the value associated with these loans, including any loans originated for sale in the secondary market, may decline prior to being sold. We may be required to reduce the valueImpact of any loans we mark held for sale as a result, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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The value of our loan servicing rights could be adversely affected by changes in interest rates.
As a residential mortgage servicer in the U.S., we have a portfolio of loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right is the right to service a mortgage loan - collect principal, interest and escrow amounts - for a fee. Loan servicing rights are subject to interest rate risk in that their fair value will fluctuate as a result of changes in the interest rate environment. When interest rates fall, borrowers are usually more likely to prepay their mortgage loans by refinancing them at a lower rate. As the likelihood of prepayment increases, the fair value of our loan servicing rights can decrease. Any decrease in the fair value of our loan servicing rights will reduce earnings in the period in which the decrease occurs, which can result in earnings volatility.
The appraisals and other valuation techniques we use in evaluating and monitoring loans secured by real property may not accurately describe the net value of the collateral that we can realize.
In considering whether to make a loan secured by real property, we generally require an appraisal of the property. However, an appraisal is only an estimate of the value of the property at the time the appraisal is made, and, as real estate values may change significantly in relatively short periods of time (especially in periods of heightened economic uncertainty), this estimate may not accurately describe the net value of the real property collateral after the loan is made. As a result, we may not be able to realize the full amount of any remaining indebtedness when we foreclose on and sell the relevant property. In addition, we rely on appraisals and other valuation techniques to establish the value of our OREO and to determine certain loan impairments. If any of these valuations are inaccurate, our consolidated financial statements may not reflect the correct value of our OREO, and our allowance for loan and lease losses may not reflect accurate loan impairments. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations could be interrupted if certain external vendors on which we rely experience difficulty, terminate their services or fail to comply with banking laws and regulations.
We depend to a significant extent on relationships with third party service providers. Specifically, we utilize third party core banking services and receive credit card and debit card services, branch capture services, Internet banking services and services complementary to our banking products from various third party service providers. If these third party service providers experience difficulties or terminate their services and we are unable to replace them with other service providers, our operations could be interrupted. It may be difficult for us to replace some of our third party vendors, particularly vendors providing our core banking, credit card and debit card services, in a timely manner if they were unwilling or unable to provide us with these services in the future for any reason. If an interruption were to continue for a significant period of time, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Even if we are able to replace them, it may be at higher cost to us, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, if a third party provider fails to provide the services we require, fails to meet contractual requirements, such as compliance with applicable laws and regulations, or suffers a cyber-attack or other security breach, our business could suffer economic and reputational harm that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on dividends and other payments from our bank for substantially all of our revenue.
We are a separate and distinct legal entity from our bank, and we receive substantially all of our operating cash flows from dividends and other payments from our bank. These dividends and payments are the principal source of funds to pay dividends on our common stock and interest and principal on any debt we may have. Various federal and state laws and regulations limit the amount of dividends that our bank may pay to us. Also, our right to participate in a distribution of assets upon a subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization is subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary’s creditors. In the event our bank is unable to pay dividends to us, we may not be able to service debt, pay obligations, or pay dividends on our common stock. The inability to receive dividends from our bank could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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Loans that we make through certain federal programs are dependent on the federal government’s continuation and support of these programs and on our compliance with their requirements.
We participate in various U.S. government agency guarantee programs, including programs operated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Small Business Administration, Farm Service Administration and the United States Department of the Interior. We are responsible for following all applicable U.S. government agency regulations, guidelines and policies whenever we originate loans as part of these guarantee programs. If we fail to follow any applicable regulations, guidelines or policies associated with a particular guarantee program, any loans we originate as part of that program may lose the associated guarantee, exposing us to credit risk we would not otherwise be exposed to or underwritten as part of our origination process for U.S. government agency guaranteed loans, or result in our inability to continue originating loans under such programs. The loss of any guarantees for loans we have extended under U.S. government agency guarantee programs or the loss of our ability to participate in such programs could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about clients and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we may rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers or counterparties or of other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate, fraudulent or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could result in loan and lease losses, reputational damage or other effects that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Downgrades to the credit rating of the U.S. government or of its securities or any of its agencies by one or more of the credit ratings agencies could have a material adverse effect on general economic conditions, as well as our business.
On August 5, 2011, Standard & Poor’s cut the credit rating of the U.S. federal government’s long-term sovereign debt from AAA to AA+, while also keeping its outlook negative. Moody’s had lowered its own outlook for the same debt to “Negative” on August 2, 2011, and Fitch also lowered its outlook for the same debt to “Negative” on November 28, 2011. As of the date of this filing, all three rating agencies show a "Stable" outlook. Further downgrades of the U.S. federal government’s sovereign credit rating, and the perceived creditworthiness of U.S. government-backed obligations, could impact our ability to obtain funding that is collateralized by affected instruments and our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms. Such downgrades could also affect the pricing of funding, when funding is available. A downgrade of the credit rating of the U.S. government, or of its agencies, government-sponsored enterprises or related institutions, agencies or instrumentalities, may also adversely affect the market value of such instruments and, further, exacerbate the other risks to which we are subject and any related adverse effects on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our internal controls, processes and procedures may fail or be circumvented.
Our internal controls, disclosure controls, processes and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures are based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable (not absolute) assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls, processes and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls, processes and procedures could necessitate changes in those controls, processes and procedures, which may increase our compliance costs, divert management attention from our business or subject us to regulatory actions and increased regulatory scrutiny. Any of these could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.Accounting Estimates."
Our accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting techniques.
Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. Our management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying many of these accounting policies and methods so they comply with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP")GAAP and reflect management’s judgment of the most appropriate manner to report our financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, management must select the accounting policy or method to apply from two or more alternatives, any of which may be reasonable under the circumstances, yet which may result in our reporting materially different results than would have been reported under a different alternative.
Certain accounting policies are critical to presenting our financial condition and results of operations. They require management to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments about matters that are uncertain. Materially different amounts could be reported under different conditions or using different assumptions or estimates. These critical accounting policies include, but are not limited to, the allowance for loan and lease losses, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, goodwill impairment, investment impairments, core deposits and other intangibles, derivatives and income taxes. Because of the uncertainty


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of estimates involved in these matters, we may be required to do one or more of the following: significantly increase the allowance for loan and lease losses or sustain loan and lease losses that are significantly higher than the reserve provided; recognize significant impairment on goodwill and other intangible asset balances; reduce the carrying value of an asset measured at fair value; or significantly increase our accrued tax liability. Any of these could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For a discussion of our critical accounting policies, see “Item"Item 7. Management’sManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates."
We may be adversely affected by changes in the actual or perceived soundness or condition of other financial institutions.
Within the financial services industry, loss of public confidence, including through default by any one institution, could lead to liquidity challenges or to defaults by other institutions as the commercial and financial soundness of many financial institutions is closely related as a result of these credit, trading, clearing and other relationships. Even the perceived lack of creditworthiness of, or questions about, a counterparty may lead to market-wide liquidity problems and losses or defaults by various institutions.
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Operational Risk
Operational risks are inherent in our business, including existing and new lines of business, products and services; and internal controls, processes and procedures that may fail or be circumvented.
Our operations depend on our ability to process a very large number of transactions efficiently and accurately while complying with applicable laws and regulations, and to establish and maintain products and services that operationally function accurately and correctly. Although we have implemented risk controls and loss mitigation actions, policies, procedures, corporate governance and substantial resources devoted to developing efficient procedures, identifying and rectifying weaknesses in existing procedures and training staff, the foregoing can only provide reasonable (not absolute) assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure, circumvention or weakness in these systems or controls, or any actual or alleged violations of laws or regulations, could result in increased regulatory scrutiny, enforcement actions, reputational impact or legal proceedings and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Such failure, circumventions or weakness could necessitate changes to our controls, processes and procedures, which may increase our compliance costs, divert management attention from our business. Any of these could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations could be interrupted if certain external vendors on which we rely experience difficulty, terminate their services or fail to comply with banking laws and regulations.
We depend to a significant extent on relationships with third party service providers. Specifically, we utilize third party core banking services and receive credit card and debit card services, branch capture services, Internet banking services and services complementary to our banking products from various third party service providers. These types of third party relationships are subject to increasingly demanding regulatory requirements where we must maintain and continue to enhance our due diligence and ongoing monitoring and control over our third party vendors. We may be required to renegotiate our agreements to meet these enhanced requirements, which could increase our costs. If our service providers experience difficulties or terminate their services and we are unable to replace them, our operations could be interrupted. It may be difficult for us to timely replace some of our service providers, which may be at a higher cost due to the unique services they provide. A third party provider may fail to provide the services we require, or meet contractual requirements, comply with applicable laws and regulations, or suffer a cyber attack or other security breach. We expect that our regulators will hold us responsible for deficiencies of our third party relationships which could result in enforcement actions, including civil money penalties or other administrative or judicial penalties or fines, or customer remediation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to risks related to employee management, conduct and compensation.
Our success depends, in large part, on the skills of our management team and our ability to retain, recruit and motivate key officers and employees that may be difficult to replace. We cannot predict whether significant resignations will occur. Our ability to effectively compete for senior executives and other qualified personnel with appropriate skills and knowledge to support our business may require us to offer compensation, including incentive based compensation, and benefits which could reduce our earnings. In addition, such arrangements may be restricted by applicable banking laws and regulations such as the compensation-related provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, and other laws now and in the future, which prohibit incentive-based payment arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk taking. Deficiencies identified could lead to diminished supervisory ratings, enforcement actions and legal and reputational risk. For more information see "Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Incentive Compensation."
Due to competition and other factors, we may have difficulty recruiting qualified personnel, including uniquely qualified banking personnel to provide relationship based commercial and agribusiness banking services, to ensure the continued growth and successful operation of our business. We may also fail to detect and prevent fraudulent, illegal or wrongful activities by our employees. Any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely extensively on models in managing many aspects of our business, and these models may be inaccurate or misinterpreted.
We rely extensively on models in managing many aspects of our business, including liquidity and capital planning, customer selection, credit and other risk management, pricing, reserving and collections management. The models may prove in practice to be less predictive than we expect for a variety of reasons, including errors in constructing, interpreting or using the models or inaccurate assumptions (e.g., failures to update assumptions appropriately or in a timely manner). Our assumptions may be inaccurate for many reasons as they often involve matters that are inherently difficult to predict and beyond our control (e.g., macroeconomic conditions and their impact on behavior) and often involve complex interactions between a number of variables, factors and other assumptions.expect. The errors or inaccuracies in our models may be material, and could lead us to make wrong or sub-optimal decisions in managing our business, and this could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. See "—Our business depends on our ability to successfully manage credit risk" for more information on models utilized in credit activities.
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Risks Related to Legal, Reputational and Compliance Matters
Litigation and regulatory actions, including possible enforcement actions, could subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments or other requirements resulting in increased expenses or restrictions on our business activities.
Our business is subject to increased litigation and regulatory risks as a result of a number of factors, including the highly regulated nature of the financial services industry and the focus of state and federal prosecutors on banks and the financial services industry generally. In the normal course of business, we are periodically involved in claims and related litigation from our customers, employees or other parties. These claims and legal actions, whether meritorious or not, as well as reviews, investigations and proceedings by governmental and self-regulatory agencies could involve large monetary claims and significant legal expense and may negatively impact our reputation in the marketplace and lessen customer demand. Further, any settlement, consent order or adverse judgment in connection with any formal or informal proceeding or investigation by government agencies may result in litigation, investigations or proceedings as other litigants and government agencies begin independent reviews of the same activities. As a result, the outcome of legal and regulatory actions could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The banking industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory framework, together with any future legislative or regulatory changes, may have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The banking industry is extensively regulated and supervised under federal and state laws and regulations, and payment card industry operating regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. We are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve, and our Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the FDIC, the SD Division of Banking and the CFPB. The laws and regulations applicable to us govern a variety of matters, including permissible types, amounts and terms of loans and investments we may make, the maximum interest rate that may be charged, the amount of reserves our Bank must hold against deposits it takes, the types of deposits our Bank may accept and the rates it may pay on such deposits, maintenance of adequate capital and liquidity, changes in the control of us and our Bank, restrictions on dividends and establishment of new offices by our Bank. We must obtain approval from our regulators before engaging in certain activities, and there can be no assurance that any regulatory approvals we may require will be obtained, either in a timely manner or at all. Our regulators also have the ability to compel us to, or restrict us from, taking certain actions entirely, such as actions that our regulators deem to constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. Our failure to comply with payment card operating regulations could result in termination of our license to use the payment card networks. Failure to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or regulatory policies and interpretations of such laws and regulations, could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties or damage to our reputation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Federal and state banking laws and regulations continue to undergo substantial change. Financial institutions generally have also been subjected to increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities which may result in increased costs of doing business, decreased revenues and net income, reductions in our ability to effectively compete to attract and retain customers, or make it less attractive for us to continue providing certain products and services. Any future changes could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways, impact the regulatory structure under which we operate, significantly increase our costs, impede the efficiency of our internal business processes, require us to increase our regulatory capital and modify our business strategy, limit our ability to pursue business opportunities in an efficient manner, or other ways that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to heightened regulatory requirements as our total assets exceed $10 billion.
The Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations impose various additional requirements on bank holding companies with $10 billion or more in total assets, including compliance with portions of the Federal Reserve’s enhanced prudential oversight requirements, more restrictive interchange revenue and a more frequent and enhanced regulatory examination regime. In addition, banks, including ours, with $10 billion or more in total assets are primarily examined by the CFPB with respect to various federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations, with the FDIC maintaining supervision over some consumer related regulations. As a relatively new agency with evolving regulations and practices, there is some uncertainty as to how the CFPB’s examination and regulatory authority might impact our business. Compliance with these requirements may necessitate that we hire additional compliance or other personnel, design and implement additional internal controls, or incur other significant expenses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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We are subject to the CRA, fair lending, consumer compliance, and other laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations could lead to material penalties.
The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose non-discriminatory lending and other requirements on financial institutions. The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies, including the FDIC and CFPB, are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful challenge to an institution’s performance under the CRA, fair lending and other compliance laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity and restrictions on expansion. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. The costs of defending, and any adverse outcome from, any such challenge could damage our reputation or could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Our Bank received an overall rating of "satisfactory" in its most recently completed CRA examination.
Violations of applicable consumer protection laws can result in significant potential liability from litigation brought by customers, including actual damages, restitution and attorney's fees. Federal bank regulators, state attorney generals and state and local consumer protection agencies may also seek to enforce consumer protection requirements and obtain these and other remedies, including regulatory sanctions, enforcement actions, customer rescission rights and civil money penalties in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Failure to comply with consumer protection requirements may also result in delays or restrictions on mergers and acquisitions and expansionary activities we may wish to pursue.
Failure to comply with the USA PATRIOT ACT, OFAC, the BSA and related FinCEN and FFIEC Guidelines and regulations could result in material implications.
Regulatory authorities routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with the USA PATRIOT ACT, OFAC, the BSA and related FinCEN and FFIEC Guidelines. Certain of our products we offer may expose us to enhanced risk in the event of noncompliance, including and not limited to providing our treasury management services to certain money transmitters and money services businesses. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs as required by these obligations to combat terrorist financing, elder abuse, human trafficking, anti-money laundering and other suspicious activity and to fully comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal, financial and reputational consequences for us, causing applicable bank regulatory authorities not to approve merger or acquisition transactions when regulatory approval is required or to prohibit such transactions even if approval is not required. Regulatory authorities have imposed cease and desist orders and significant civil money penalties against institutions found to be violating these regulations.
Risks Related to Privacy and Technology
Regulations relating to privacy, information security and data protection could increase our costs, affect or limit how we collect and use personal information and adversely affect our business opportunities.
We are subject to various privacy, information security and data protection laws, such as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which, among other things requires privacy disclosures, and maintenance of a robust security program that are increasingly subject to change which could have a significant impact on our current and planned privacy, data protection and information security-related practices, our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer or employee information, and some of our current or planned business activities. New or changes to existing laws increase our costs of compliance and business operations and could reduce income from certain business initiatives, including increased privacy-related enforcement activity, higher compliance and technology costs and could restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions or results of operations. Our regulators also hold us responsible for privacy and data protection obligations performed by our third party service providers while providing services to us. Our failure to comply with privacy, data protection and information security laws could result in potentially significant regulatory or governmental investigations or actions, litigation, fines, sanctions and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Interruptions, cyber-attacks or other security breaches could have a material adverse effect on our business.
In the normal course of business, we directly or through third parties collect, store, share, process and retain sensitive and confidential information regarding our customers. We devote significant resources and management focus to ensuring the integrity of our systems, against damage from fires, other natural disasters; power or telecommunications failures; acts of terrorism or wars or other catastrophic events; breaches, physical break-ins or errors resulting in interruptions and unauthorized disclosure of confidential information, through information security and business continuity programs. Notwithstanding, our facilities and systems, and those of third party service providers, are vulnerable to external or internal security breaches, acts of vandalism, computer viruses, misplaced or lost data, programming or human errors, force majeure events, or other similar events.
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Increased use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies (including mobile devices) to conduct financial and other business transactions and operations, coupled with the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, perpetrators of fraud, hackers, terrorists and others increases our security risks. In addition to cyber-attacks or other security breaches involving the theft of sensitive and confidential information, hackers continue to engage in attacks against large financial institutions. These attacks include denial of service attacks designed to disrupt external customer facing services, and ransomware attacks designed to deny organizations access to key internal resources or systems. We are not able to anticipate or implement effective preventive measures against all security breaches of these types, especially because the techniques used change frequently and because attacks can originate from a wide variety of sources. We employ detection and response mechanisms designed to contain and mitigate security incidents, but early detection may be thwarted by sophisticated attacks and malware designed to avoid detection.
The access by unauthorized persons to, or the improper disclosure by us of, confidential information regarding our customers or our own proprietary information, software, methodologies and business secrets, failures or disruptions in our communications, information and technology systems, or our failure to adequately address them, could negatively affect our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan or other systems. The occurrence of any failures or interruptions of our communications, information and technology systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We could be required to provide notices of security breaches. Such failures could result in a loss of confidence in the security of our systems, our payment cards, products and services, and negative effects on our brand which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We continually encounter technological change.
The financial services industry is continually undergoing rapid technological change with frequent introductions of new, technology-driven products and services which increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success depends, 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, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. We may not be able to effectively implement new, technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers and service interruptions, transaction processing errors and system conversion delays and may cause us to fail to comply with applicable laws. Such failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
General Risk Factors
Severe weather, natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism or other external events could significantly impact our business.
Severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or new pandemics, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. In addition, such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue or cause us to incur additional expenses. Because of the concentration of agricultural loans in our lending portfolio and the volume of our borrowers in regions dependent on agriculture, we could be disproportionately affected relative to others in the case of external events such as floods, droughts and hail affecting the agricultural conditions in the markets we serve. The occurrence of any of these events in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may have exposure to tax liabilities that are larger than we anticipate.
The tax laws applicable to our business activities, including the laws of the United States, South Dakota and other jurisdictions, are subject to interpretation and may change over time. From time to time, legislative initiatives, such as current proposals for fundamental federal tax reform and corporate tax rate changes, which may impact our effective tax rate and could adversely affect our deferred tax assets or our tax positions or liabilities, may be enacted. The taxing authorities in the jurisdictions in which we operate may challenge our tax positions, which could increase our effective tax rate and harm our financial position and results of operations. In addition, our future income taxes could be adversely affected by earnings being higher than anticipated in jurisdictions that have higher statutory tax rates or by changes in tax laws, regulations or accounting principles. We are subject to audit and review by U.S. federal and state tax authorities. Any adverse outcome of such a review or audit could have a negative effect on our financial position and results of operations. In addition, the determination of our provision for income taxes and other liabilities requires significant judgment by management. Although we believe that our estimates are reasonable, the ultimate tax outcome may differ from the amounts recorded in our financial statements and could have a material adverse effect on our financial results in the period or periods for which such determination is made.
Fulfilling our public company financial reporting and other regulatory obligations is expensive and time consuming and may strain our resources.
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As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and are required to implement specific corporate governance practices and adhere to a variety of reporting requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the related rules and regulations of the SEC, as well as the rules of the NYSE. The Exchange Act requires us to file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition. Sarbanes-Oxley requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In accordance with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley, our management has conducted its annual assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and management’s report on these internal controls is included in Item 9 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our independent registered public accounting firm is required to attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and its attestation report is also included in Item 9 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The process of assessing the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting requires significant documentation of policies, procedures and systems, review of documentation by our internal auditing and accounting staff and testing by our independent registered public accounting firm. This process has involved, and will continue to involve, considerable time and attention, may strain our internal resources and will increase our operating costs. We may experience higher than anticipated operating expenses and outside auditor fees as we continue to comply with these requirements. If our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to express an opinion as to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, investors may lose confidence in the accuracy and completeness of our financial reports and the market price of our common stock could be negatively affected, and we could become subject to investigations by the NYSE, the SEC or other regulatory authorities, which could require additional financial and management resources. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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We may not be able to report our financial results accurately and timely as a publicly listed company if we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting.ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
As a publicly traded company, we are required to file periodic reports containing our consolidated financial statements with the SEC within a specified time following the completion of quarterly and annual periods. Maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures is necessary to identify information we must disclose in our periodic reports and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary to produce reliable financial statements and to prevent fraud. If we fail to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures or effective internal control over financial reporting, we may experience difficulty in satisfying our SEC reporting obligations. Any failure by us to file our periodic reports with the SEC in a timely manner could harm our reputation and cause investors and potential investors to lose confidence in us and reduce the market price of our common stock, and could result in a suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NYSE.
We must also comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act which requires that we perform an annual evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. During the course of our evaluation and testing, we may identify deficiencies, including a material weakness, which would have to be remediated to satisfy SEC rules for attesting to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is defined by the standards issued by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board as a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting that results in a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. If a material weakness is determined to exist, we have to disclose this deficiency in periodic reports we file with the SEC. The existence of a material weakness would preclude management from concluding that our internal control over financial reporting is effective and would also preclude our independent auditors from attesting to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. In addition, disclosures of this type in our SEC reports could cause investors to lose confidence in our financial reporting and may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.
In accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act, our management evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, and concluded that we maintained an effective system of internal control over financial reporting as of that date. Our management’s report on this subject is found in Item 9 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
More generally, if we are unable to meet the demands that have been placed upon us as a public company, including the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, we may be unable to accurately report our financial results in future periods, or report them within the timeframes required by law or stock exchange regulations. Failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act could also potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC or other regulatory authorities. Under such circumstances, we may be unable to implement the necessary internal controls in a timely manner, or at all, and future material weaknesses may exist or may be discovered. If we fail to implement the necessary improvements, or if material weaknesses or other deficiencies occur, our ability to accurately and timely report our financial position could be impaired, which could result in late filings of our annual and quarterly reports under the Exchange Act, restatements of our consolidated financial statements, a decline in our stock price, suspension or delisting of our common stock from the NYSE and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Even if we are able to report our financial statements accurately and in a timely manner, any failure in our efforts to implement the improvements or disclosure of material weaknesses in our future filings with the SEC could cause our reputation to be harmed and our stock price to decline significantly.
We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with our bank branches and any real estate collateral we acquire upon foreclosure.
During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing certain loans that we have originated or acquired. We also have an extensive branch network, owning separate branch locations throughout the areas we serve. For any real property that we may possess, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If hazardous or toxic substances are found, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage and costs of complying with applicable environmental regulatory requirements. Failure to comply with such requirements can result in penalties. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Environmental reviews of real property before initiating foreclosure actions may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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We may be alleged to have infringed upon intellectual property rights owned by others, or may be unable to protect our intellectual property.
Competitors or other third parties may allege that we, or consultants or other third parties retained or indemnified by us, infringe on their intellectual property rights. We also may face allegations that our employees have misappropriated intellectual property of their former employers or other third parties. Given the complex, rapidly changing and competitive technological and business environment in which we operate, and the potential risks and uncertainties of intellectual property-related litigation, an assertion of an infringement claim against us may cause us to spend significant amounts to defend the claim (even if we ultimately prevail); to pay significant money damages; to lose significant revenues; to be prohibited from using the relevant systems, processes, technologies or other intellectual property; to cease offering certain products or services or to incur significant license, royalty or technology development expenses. Moreover, it has become common in recent years for individuals and groups to purchase intellectual property assets for the sole purpose of making claims of infringement and attempting to extract settlements from companies like ours. Even in instances where we believe that claims and allegations of intellectual property infringement against us are without merit, defending against such claims is time consuming and expensive and could result in the diversion of time and attention of our management and employees. In addition, although in some cases a third party may have agreed to indemnify us for such costs, such indemnifying party may refuse, or be unable, to uphold its contractual obligations.
Moreover, we rely on a variety of measures to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information, including copyrights, trademarks and controls on access and distribution. These measures may not prevent misappropriation or infringement of our intellectual property or proprietary information and a resulting loss of competitive advantage, and in any event, we may be required to litigate to protect our intellectual property and proprietary information from misappropriation or infringement by others, which is expensive, could cause a diversion of resources and may not be successful. Third parties may challenge, invalidate or circumvent our intellectual property, or our intellectual property may not be sufficient to provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, the usage of branding that could be confused with ours could create negative perceptions and risks to our brand and reputation. Our competitors or other third parties may independently design around or develop technology similar to ours or otherwise duplicate our services or products such that we could not assert our intellectual property rights against them. In addition, our contractual arrangements may not effectively prevent disclosure of our intellectual property or confidential and proprietary information or provide an adequate remedy in the event of an unauthorized disclosure.
We may be subject to claims and litigation pertaining to our fiduciary responsibilities.
Some of the services we provide, such as trust and investment 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 or our reputation could be damaged. Either of these results may adversely impact demand for our products and services or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in our accounting policies or in accounting standards could materially affect how we report our financial condition or results of operations.
From time to time, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, and SEC change the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. As a result of changes to financial accounting or reporting standards, whether promulgated or required by the FASB or other regulators, we could be required to change certain of the assumptions or estimates we have previously used in preparing our financial statements, which could negatively impact how we record and report our results of operations and financial condition generally. For additional information on the key areas for which assumptions and estimates are used in preparing our financial statements, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates.”
Risks Related to the Regulatory Oversight of Our Business
The banking industry is highly regulated, and the regulatory framework, together with any future legislative or regulatory changes, may have a significant adverse effect on our operations.
The banking industry is extensively regulated and supervised under both federal and state laws and regulations that are intended primarily for the protection of depositors, customers, federal deposit insurance funds and the banking system as a whole, not for the protection of our stockholders and creditors. We are subject to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve, and our bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the FDIC, the South Dakota Division of Banking and the CFPB. The laws and regulations applicable to us govern a variety of matters, including permissible types, amounts and terms of loans and investments we may make, the maximum interest rate that may be charged, the amount of reserves our bank must hold against deposits it takes,


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the types of deposits our bank may accept and the rates it may pay on such deposits, maintenance of adequate capital and liquidity, changes in the control of us and our bank, restrictions on dividends and establishment of new offices by our bank. We must obtain approval from our regulators before engaging in certain activities, and there can be no assurance that any regulatory approvals we may require will be obtained, either in a timely manner or at all. Our regulators also have the ability to compel us to, or restrict us from, taking certain actions entirely, such as actions that our regulators deem to constitute an unsafe or unsound banking practice. Our failure to comply with any applicable laws or regulations, or regulatory policies and interpretations of such laws and regulations, could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties or damage to our reputation, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Since the recent financial crisis, federal and state banking laws and regulations, as well as interpretations and implementations of these laws and regulations, have undergone substantial review and change. In particular, the Dodd-Frank Act drastically revised the laws and regulations under which we operate. Financial institutions generally have also been subjected to increased scrutiny from regulatory authorities. These changes and increased scrutiny may result in increased costs of doing business, decreased revenues and net income, may reduce our ability to effectively compete to attract and retain customers, or make it less attractive for us to continue providing certain products and services. Any future changes in federal and state law and regulations, as well as the interpretations and implementations of such laws and regulations, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways, including those listed above or other ways that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We are subject to heightened regulatory requirements as we have exceeded $10 billion in assets.
With the acquisition of HF Financial on May 16, 2016, our bank’s total assets exceeded $10 billion during the quarter ended June 30, 2016. The Dodd-Frank Act and its implementing regulations impose various additional requirements on bank holding companies with $10 billion or more in total assets, including compliance with portions of the Federal Reserve’s enhanced prudential oversight requirements and annual stress testing requirements and a more frequent and enhanced regulatory examination regime. In addition, banks, including ours, with $10 billion or more in total assets are primarily examined by the CFPB with respect to various federal consumer financial protection laws and regulations, with the FDIC maintaining supervision over some consumer related regulations. Previously, the FDIC has been primarily responsible for examining our bank’s compliance with consumer protection laws. As a relatively new agency with evolving regulations and practices, there is some uncertainty as to how the CFPB’s examination and regulatory authority might impact our business.
Compliance with these requirements may necessitate that we hire additional compliance or other personnel, design and implement additional internal controls, or incur other significant expenses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. Compliance with the annual stress testing requirements, part of which must be publicly disclosed, may also be misinterpreted by the market generally or our customers and, as a result, may adversely affect our stock price or our ability to retain our customers or effectively compete for new business opportunities. Our regulators may also consider the status of our preparation for compliance with these regulatory requirements when examining our operations generally or when considering any request for regulatory approval we may make, even requests for approvals on unrelated matters. As a result, we may incur additional related costs and business impacts in order to ensure compliance.
We are required to act as a source of financial and managerial strength for our bank in times of stress.
Under federal law and longstanding Federal Reserve policy, we are expected to act as a source of financial and managerial strength to our bank, and to commit resources to support our bank if necessary. We may be required to commit additional resources to our bank at times when we may not be in a financial position to provide such resources or when it may not be in our, or our stockholders’ or creditors’, best interests to do so. Providing such support is more likely during times of financial stress for us and our bank, which may make any capital we are required to raise to provide such support more expensive than it might otherwise be. In addition, any capital loans we make to our bank are subordinate in right of payment to depositors and to certain other indebtedness of our bank. In the event of our bankruptcy, any commitment by us to a federal banking regulator to maintain the capital of our bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and entitled to priority of payment.
We may be subject to more stringent capital requirements in the future.
We are subject to regulatory requirements specifying minimum amounts and types of capital that we must maintain. From time to time, the regulators change these regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. If we fail to meet these minimum capital guidelines and other regulatory requirements, we or our subsidiaries may be restricted in the types of activities we may conduct and we may be prohibited from taking certain capital actions, such as paying dividends and repurchasing or redeeming capital securities.


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In particular, the capital requirements applicable to us under the recently adopted capital rules implementing the Basel III capital framework in the United States started to be phased-in on January 1, 2015. We are now required to satisfy additional, more stringent, capital adequacy standards than we had in the past. In addition, our stress test results may have the effect of requiring us to comply with even greater capital requirements. While we expect to meet the requirements of the new Basel III-based capital rules, we may fail to do so. In addition, these requirements could have a negative impact on our ability to lend, grow deposit balances, make acquisitions or make capital distributions in the form of dividends or share repurchases. Higher capital levels could also lower our return on equity.
Litigation and regulatory actions, including possible enforcement actions, could subject us to significant fines, penalties, judgments or other requirements resulting in increased expenses or restrictions on our business activities.
Our business is subject to increased litigation and regulatory risks as a result of a number of factors, including the highly regulated nature of the financial services industry and the focus of state and federal prosecutors on banks and the financial services industry generally. This focus has only intensified since the financial crisis commencing in 2008 and its aftermath, with regulators and prosecutors focusing on a variety of financial institution practices and requirements, including foreclosure practices, compliance with applicable consumer protection laws, classification of held for sale assets and compliance with anti-money laundering statutes, the Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
In the normal course of business, from time to time, we are or have been named as a defendant in various legal actions, including arbitrations, class actions and other litigation, arising in connection with our business activities and acquisitions. Certain of the legal actions included claims for substantial compensatory or punitive damages or claims for indeterminate amounts of damages. In addition, while the arbitration provisions in certain of our customer agreements historically have limited our exposure to consumer class action litigation, there can be no assurance that we will be able to include or enforce our arbitration clauses in the future. We may also, from time to time, be the subject of subpoenas, requests for information, reviews, investigations and proceedings (both formal and informal) by governmental agencies regarding our business. Any such legal or regulatory actions may subject us to substantial compensatory or punitive damages, significant fines, penalties, obligations to change our business practices or other requirements resulting in increased expenses, diminished income and damage to our reputation. Our involvement in any such matters, even if the matters are ultimately determined in our favor, could also cause significant harm to our reputation and divert management attention from the operation of our business. Further, any settlement, consent order or adverse judgment in connection with any formal or informal proceeding or investigation by government agencies may result in litigation, investigations or proceedings as other litigants and government agencies begin independent reviews of the same activities. As a result, the outcome of legal and regulatory actions could be material to our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows depending on, among other factors, the level of our earnings for that period, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Increases in FDIC insurance premiums may adversely affect our earnings.
Our bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC up to legal limits and, accordingly, our bank is subject to FDIC deposit insurance assessments. We generally cannot control the amount of premiums our bank will be required to pay for FDIC insurance. As our bank has exceeded $10 billion in assets, the method for calculating its FDIC assessments has changed and our bank’s FDIC assessments have increased as a result. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Deposit Insurance.” In addition, the FDIC recently increased the deposit insurance fund’s target reserve ratio to 2.0% of insured deposits following the Dodd-Frank Act’s elimination of the 1.5% cap on the insurance fund’s reserve ratio and has put in place a restoration plan to restore the deposit insurance fund to its 1.35% minimum reserve ratio mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act by September 30, 2020. In March of 2016, the FDIC approved a final rule to meet this requirement by 2018. To meet the minimum reserve ratio by 2018, during the third calendar quarter of 2016 the FDIC began assessing banks with consolidated assets of more than $10.0 billion a surcharge assessment of 0.045%. The surcharge will continue through the earlier of the quarter that the reserve ratio first reaches or exceeds 1.35% and December 31, 2018. In the event the reserve ratio does not reach 1.35% by December 31, 2018, the FDIC has approved imposing a shortfall assessment on banks with $10.0 billion or more in consolidated assets on March 31, 2019. In addition, if there is an increase in financial institution failures, our bank may be required to pay even higher FDIC insurance premiums than the recently increased levels, or the FDIC may charge additional special assessments. Future increases of FDIC insurance premiums or special assessments could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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We are subject to the CRA, fair lending and other laws and regulations, and our failure to comply with these laws and regulations could lead to material penalties.
The CRA, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act and other fair lending laws and regulations impose nondiscriminatory lending and other requirements on financial institutions. The U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies, including the FDIC and CFPB, are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful challenge to an institution’s performance under the CRA, fair lending and other compliance laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity and restrictions on expansion. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. The costs of defending, and any adverse outcome from, any such challenge could damage our reputation or could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Failure to comply with mortgage loan servicing standards, guidelines, laws and regulations may result in substantial penalties, additional costs or losses.
As a residential mortgage servicer in the U.S., we have a portfolio of loan servicing rights. A loan servicing right is the right to service a mortgage loan - collect principal, interest and escrow amounts - for a fee. The housing Government Sponsored Enterprises, such as Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and the Federal Home Loan Bank System ("GSEs"), that own the mortgages that we service in our loan servicing rights portfolio have mortgage servicing standards. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") and state housing finance agencies govern and establish guidelines for the servicing of GSE mortgages. The failure to comply with these standards and guidelines, as well as other applicable federal and state laws and regulations, could result in penalties assessed by HUD, the GSEs and/or our other regulators, or we could be forced to sell all or part of our loan servicing rights portfolio. In addition, we are subject to certain legal and contractual requirements for how we hold, transfer, use or enforce promissory notes, security instruments and other documents for residential mortgage loans that we service. Further, we currently use the Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. ("MERS") system for our servicing efforts. If documentation requirements were not met, or if the use of MERS or the MERS system is found not valid or effective, we could be obligated to, or choose to, take remedial actions and may be subject to additional costs or losses.
Regulations relating to privacy, information security and data protection could increase our costs, affect or limit how we collect and use personal information and adversely affect our business opportunities.
We are subject to various privacy, information security and data protection laws, including requirements concerning security breach notification, and we could be negatively impacted by these laws. For example, our business is subject to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act which, among other things: (i) imposes certain limitations on our ability to share nonpublic personal information about our customers with nonaffiliated third parties; (ii) requires that we provide certain disclosures to customers about our information collection, sharing and security practices and afford customers the right to “opt out” of any information sharing by us with nonaffiliated third parties (with certain exceptions) and (iii) requires we develop, implement and maintain a written comprehensive information security program containing safeguards appropriate based on our size and complexity, the nature and scope of our activities, and the sensitivity of customer information we process, as well as plans for responding to data security breaches. Various state and federal banking regulators and states have also enacted data security breach notification requirements with varying levels of individual, consumer, regulatory or law enforcement notification in certain circumstances in the event of a security breach. Moreover, legislators and regulators in the United States are increasingly adopting or revising privacy, information security and data protection laws that potentially could have a significant impact on our current and planned privacy, data protection and information security-related practices, our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of consumer or employee information, and some of our current or planned business activities. This could also increase our costs of compliance and business operations and could reduce income from certain business initiatives. This includes increased privacy-related enforcement activity at the federal level, by the Federal Trade Commission, as well as at the state level, such as with regard to mobile applications.
Compliance with current or future privacy, data protection and information security laws (including those regarding security breach notification) affecting customer or employee data to which we are subject could result in higher compliance and technology costs and could restrict our ability to provide certain products and services, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial conditions or results of operations. Our failure to comply with privacy, data protection and information security laws could result in potentially significant regulatory or governmental investigations or actions, litigation, fines, sanctions and damage to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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Our use of third party vendors and our other ongoing third party business relationships are subject to increasing regulatory requirements and attention.
We regularly use third party vendors as part of our business. We also have substantial ongoing business relationships with other third parties. These types of third party relationships are subject to increasingly demanding regulatory requirements and attention by our federal bank regulators. Recent regulation requires us to enhance our due diligence, ongoing monitoring and control over our third party vendors and other ongoing third party business relationships. In certain cases we may be required to renegotiate our agreements with these vendors to meet these enhanced requirements, which could increase our costs. We expect that our regulators will hold us responsible for deficiencies in our oversight and control of our third party relationships and in the performance of the parties with which we have these relationships. As a result, if our regulators conclude that we have not exercised adequate oversight and control over our third party vendors or other ongoing third party business relationships or that such third parties have not performed appropriately, we could be subject to enforcement actions, including civil money penalties or other administrative or judicial penalties or fines as well as requirements for customer remediation, any of which could have a material adverse effect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Risks Related to Our FDIC-Assisted Acquisition of TierOne Bank
Our bank purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of TierOne Bank in an FDIC-assisted transaction.
On June 4, 2010, our bank acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of TierOne Bank from the FDIC in an assisted transaction, which could present additional risks to our business. Although this transaction provided and provides for FDIC assistance to our bank through loss sharing agreements to mitigate certain risks, such as sharing exposure to loan and lease losses and providing indemnification against certain liabilities of the former TierOne Bank, we are still subject to some of the same risks we face in acquiring another bank in a negotiated transaction, including risks associated with maintaining customer relationships and failure to realize the anticipated acquisition benefits in the amounts and within the timeframes we expect. Our ability to seek indemnification under the commercial loss-sharing agreement in connection with TierOne Bank terminated on June 4, 2015, and covered $63.1 million in loans as of that date. The current balance of those loans as of September 30, 2017 totaled $24.6 million. The single-family loss-sharing agreement, which covered $57.5 million in loans at September 30, 2017, terminates in June of 2020.
The terms of the single-family loss-sharing agreement are extensive and failure to comply with any of the guidelines could result in a specific asset or group of assets permanently losing their loss-sharing coverage. No assurances can be given that we will manage the covered assets in such a way as to always maintain loss-sharing coverage on all such assets and fully recover the value of our loss-sharing asset, and the loss of any loss-sharing coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our decisions regarding our estimated loss-sharing indemnification asset may be inaccurate.
In the FDIC-assisted transaction, we recorded a fair value adjustment and a related loss-sharing indemnification asset, representing 80% of expected credit losses on covered loans during the life of such indemnifications. We have subsequently analyzed the portfolio on a regular basis, taking into account historical loss experience, volume and classification of loans, volume and trends in delinquencies and nonaccruals, local economic conditions and other pertinent information. As a result of these analyses, we have recorded allowance for loan and lease losses, partially offset by additional indemnification assets, to address subsequent impairment in certain loans and pools of loans. While we believe that our current levels of fair value adjustments and allowance for loan and lease losses are adequate to absorb future losses that may occur in the acquired loan portfolio, if our assumptions are incorrect, our actual losses could be higher than estimated and increased loss reserves may be needed to respond to different economic conditions or adverse developments in the acquired loan portfolio. Any increase in future loan and lease losses could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


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Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Our stock price may be volatile, and our stockholders could lose part or all of their investment as a result.
Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for our stockholders to resell their common stock when they want and at prices they find attractive. Our stock price may fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly results of operations;
recommendations or research reports about us or the financial services industry in general published by securities analysts;
the failure of securities analysts to cover, or continue to cover, us;
operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us;
news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry;
perceptions in the marketplace regarding us, or our reputation, competitors or other financial institutions;
future sales of our common stock;
departure of our management team or other key personnel;
new technology used, or services offered, by competitors;
significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors;
failure to integrate acquisitions or realize anticipated benefits from acquisitions;
existing or increased regulatory and compliance requirements, changes or proposed changes in laws or regulations, or differing interpretations thereof affecting our business, or enforcement of these laws and regulations;
litigation and governmental investigations; and
geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts.
If any of the foregoing occurs, it could cause our stock price to fall and may expose us to litigation that, even if our defense is successful, could distract our management and be costly to defend. General market fluctuations, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events—such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends—could also cause our stock price to decrease regardless of operating results.
We may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future.
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive only such dividends as our Board of Directors may declare out of funds legally available for such payments. However, our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, change the amount or frequency of dividends or discontinue the payment of dividends entirely. In addition, we are a bank holding company, and our ability to declare and pay dividends is dependent on certain federal regulatory considerations, including the guidelines of the Federal Reserve regarding capital adequacy and dividends. In addition, our ability to pay dividends depends primarily on our receipt of dividends from our bank, the payment of which is subject to numerous limitations under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Dividends; Stress Testing.” As a consequence of these various limitations and restrictions, we may not be able to make, or may have to reduce or eliminate, the payment of dividends on our common stock. Any change in the level of our dividends or the suspension of the payment thereof could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.


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Future issues or sales of our common stock in the public market could lower our stock price, and any additional capital raised by us through the sale of equity or convertible securities may dilute the ownership interests of our stockholders.
The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of the issues or sales of a large number of shares of our common stock or from the perception that such sales could occur. These sales, or the possibility that these sales may occur, also may make it more difficult for us to raise additional capital by selling equity securities in the future, at a time and price that we deem appropriate.
We have also filed a registration statement with the SEC registering 897,222 shares of our common stock for issuance pursuant to awards granted under our equity incentive plans. We have granted awards covering 603,899 shares of our common stock under these plans as of September 30, 2017. We may increase the number of shares registered for this purpose from time to time. Once we issue these shares, their holders will be able to sell them in the public market.
We cannot predict the size of future issuances or sales of our common stock or the effect, if any, that future issuances or sales of shares of our common stock may have on the market price of our common stock. Sales or distributions of substantial amounts of our common stock (including shares issued in connection with an acquisition), or the perception that such sales could occur, may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
In addition, future issuances of our common stock, whether under our equity incentive plans, to fund acquisitions or to raise capital, will also have the effect of diluting the ownership interests of our current stockholders, meaning, among other things, that their voting power and share of our earnings will be reduced on a proportional basis.
Certain banking laws and certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation may have an anti-takeover effect.
Provisions of federal banking laws, including regulatory approval requirements, could make it difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be perceived to be beneficial to our stockholders. Acquisition of 10% or more of any class of voting stock of a bank holding company or depository institution, including shares of our common stock, generally creates a rebuttable presumption that the acquirer “controls” the bank holding company or depository institution and the acquisition of such control would be subject to federal regulatory approval. Also, a bank holding company must obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before, among other things, acquiring direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank, including our bank.
There also are provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, such as limitations on the ability to call a special meeting of our stockholders, and the classification of our Board of Directors into three separate classes each serving for three-year terms, that may be used to delay or block a takeover attempt. In addition, our Board of Directors is authorized under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to issue shares of preferred stock, and determine the rights, terms conditions and privileges of such preferred stock, without stockholder approval. These provisions may effectively inhibit a non-negotiated merger or other business combination, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
We have also elected in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be governed by Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law which generally prohibits a person qualifying as an “interested stockholder” from entering into a transaction for a business combination with us unless, subject to certain exceptions, such transaction is first approved by our Board of Directors.  An “interested stockholder” is generally defined as any person who owns 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock.  The purpose of this election is to provide our Board of Directors with leverage in negotiating with an interested stockholder desiring to pursue a business combination with us by making it more difficult for such stockholder to complete such transaction in the absence of board approval.  This election may discourage certain take-over attempts which our stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests and this, in turn, could have an adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.


55




Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or agents to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated bylaws or (iv) any action asserting a claim that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine, in each case subject to the Court of Chancery having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants therein and the claim not being one which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. Any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in any shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. This choice of forum provision may limit our stockholders’ ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers, employees or agents, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers, employees and agents even though an action, if successful, might benefit our stockholders. Stockholders who do bring a claim in the Court of Chancery could face additional litigation costs in pursuing any such claim, particularly if they do not reside in or near Delaware. The Court of Chancery may also reach different judgments or results than would other courts, including courts where a stockholder considering an action may be located or would otherwise choose to bring the action, and such judgments or results may be more favorable to us than to our stockholders. Alternatively, if a court were to find this provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs.
ITEM 1B.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our corporate headquarters is located at 225 S. Main Ave, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57104, and in Sioux Falls we have one additional owned facility from which our finance and risk departments operated and two leased facilities for our data center and operations center. At September 30, 2017, the additional owned facility was under contract for sale and was sold in October 2017. The finance and risk departments were relocated to our corporate headquarters. In addition to our corporate headquarters, we operate from 173175 branch offices located in 129130 communities in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. We lease 5349 of our branch offices, all on market terms, and we own the remainder of our offices, including our corporate headquarters. All of our banking offices are in free-standing, permanent facilities. We generally believe our existing and contracted-for facilities are adequate to meet our requirements.
ITEM 3.LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are a party to various litigation matters and subject to various regulatory matters that arise inincidental to the ordinary courseconduct of our business. We establish reserves for such matters when potential losses become probable and can be reasonably estimated. We believe the ultimate resolution of existing litigation and regulatory matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, changes in circumstances or additional information could result in additional reservesaccruals or resolution of these matters in excess of established reserves,accruals, which could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, potentially materially.
ITEM 4.MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.



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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
ITEM 5.MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “GWB.”"GWB." As of January 6, 2017, the CompanyNovember 12, 2020, we had 8,5149,052 holders of record. Information regarding the trading price and dividends paid on our common stock for each quarterly period within the two most recent fiscal years is set forth in the table below.
HighLowDividends Paid
High Low Dividends Paid
Fiscal year 2017:     
Fiscal Year 2020:Fiscal Year 2020:
First Quarter$44.11
 $31.51
 $0.17
First Quarter$36.65 $31.74 $0.30 
Second Quarter45.61
 39.10
 0.17
Second Quarter34.97 16.87 0.30 
Third Quarter45.62
 36.42
 0.20
Third Quarter20.92 10.86 0.15 
Fourth Quarter41.87
 33.27
 0.20
Fourth Quarter15.74 11.67 0.01 
     
Fiscal year 2016:     
Fiscal Year 2019:Fiscal Year 2019:
First Quarter$31.13
 $23.76
 $0.14
First Quarter$42.86 $29.52 $0.25 
Second Quarter28.58
 22.68
 0.14
Second Quarter38.78 30.48 0.25 
Third Quarter34.45
 26.43
 0.14
Third Quarter36.21 30.74 0.30 
Fourth Quarter35.01
 30.15
 0.14
Fourth Quarter36.44 28.06 0.30 
Dividends
We intend to pay quarterly cash dividends on our common stock, subject to approval by our Board of Directors. Although we expect to pay dividends according to our dividend policy, we may elect not to pay dividends. Any declarations of dividends, and the amount and timing thereof, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors. In determining the amount of any future dividends, our Board of Directors will take into account: (i) our financial results; (ii) our available cash, as well as anticipated cash requirements (including debt servicing); (iii) our capital requirements and the capital requirements of our subsidiaries (including our bank)Bank); (iv) contractual, legal, tax and regulatory restrictions on, and implications of, the payment of dividends by us to our stockholders or by our bankBank to us; (v) general economic and business conditions; and (vi) any other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant. Therefore, there can be no assurance that we will pay any dividends to holders of our stock, or as to the amount of any such dividends. See “Item"Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities—Our Common Stock—Weability to declare and pay dividends is now subject to additional regulatory restrictions and we may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future."
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Our ability to declare and pay dividends on our stock is also subject to numerous limitations applicable to bank holding companies under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. Federal bank regulators are authorized to determine under certain circumstances relating to the financial condition of a bank holding company or a bank that the payment of dividends would be an unsafe or unsound practice and to prohibit payment thereof. In addition, under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, we may only pay dividends from legally available surplus or, if there is no such surplus, out of our net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and the preceding fiscal year. Surplus is generally defined as the excess of the fair value of our total assets over the sum of the fair value of our total liabilities plus the aggregate par value of our issued and outstanding capital stock.
Because we are a holding company and do not engage directly in other business activities of a material nature, our ability to pay dividends on our stock depends primarily upon our receipt of dividends from our bank,Bank, the payment of which is subject to numerous limitations under federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies. In general, dividends by our bankBank may only be declared from its net profits and may be declared no more than once per calendar quarter. The approval of the South Dakota Director of Banking is required if our bankBank seeks to pay aggregate dividends during any calendar year that would exceed the sum of its net profits from the year to date and retained net profits from the preceding two years, minus any required transfers to surplus. Moreover, under the FDIA an insured depository institution may not pay any dividends if the institution is undercapitalized or if the payment of the dividend would cause the institution to become undercapitalized. In addition, the federal bank regulatory agencies have issued policy statements providing that FDIC-insured depository institutions and their holding companies should generally pay dividends only out of their current operating earnings. See “Item"Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Dividends; Stress Testing”Dividends" for more information on federal and state banking laws, regulations and policies limiting our and our bank’sBank’s ability to declare and pay dividends. The current and future dividend policy of our bankBank is also subject to the discretion of its Board of Directors. Our bankBank is not obligated to pay dividends to us. For additional information, see “Item"Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to an Investment in the Company's Securities—Our Business—We rely on


57




ability to declare and pay dividends is now subject to additional regulatory restrictions and other payments from our bank for substantially all of our revenue” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Common Stock—Wewe may not pay dividends on our common stock in the future."
None of the indentures governing our outstanding junior subordinated debentures or lines of credit contain covenants limiting our ability or the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends, absent a default under the terms of the indenture, or under our guarantee of the trust preferred securities issued by our affiliate that owns the applicable debentures, or a deferral of the payment of interest on such debentures in accordance with the terms of the applicable indenture.
Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, holders of our common stock and non-voting common stock will be equally entitled to receive ratably such dividends as may be declared from time to time by our Board of Directors out of legally available funds. No shares of our non-voting common stock are currently outstanding.
Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table provides information as of September 30, 20172020 about our common stock that may be issued under our equity compensation plans, which consist of the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan. On February 22, 2018, our stockholders approved an amendment to each of our equity compensation plans increasing the number of authorized shares available for future grants.
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding restricted and performance based stock compensation
(a)
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding restricted and performance based stock compensation
(b)
Number of securities available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding restricted and performance based stock compensation
(a)
 Weighted average exercise price of outstanding restricted and performance based stock compensation
(b)
 Number of securities available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a))
(c)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 1
509,822
 $32.97
 293,323
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders ¹Equity compensation plans approved by security holders ¹423,673 $33.09 360,130 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
 
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders— — — 
Total509,822
 $32.97
 293,323
Total423,673 $33.09 360,130 
     
1 Each of our equity compensation plans were approved by the our Board of Directors on October 8, 2014 and subsequently approved by National Americas Holdings LLC, our sole stockholder at that time, on October 10, 2014.
1 Each of our equity compensation plans were approved by the our Board of Directors on October 8, 2014 and subsequently approved by National Americas Holdings LLC, our sole stockholder at that time, on October 10, 2014.
1 Each of our equity compensation plans were approved by the our Board of Directors on October 8, 2014 and subsequently approved by National Americas Holdings LLC, our sole stockholder at that time, on October 10, 2014.
Purchases of Equity Securities
On October 26, 2016,September 1, 2019, our Board of Directors approved aan amendment to our stock repurchase program originally approved on October 26, 2016, wherein we maywere authorized to repurchase of up to $100.0$100.0 million of our common stock (the “Repurchase Program”("Repurchase Program"). Pursuant to the amendment, we may repurchase up to an additional $75.0 million of our common stock. The Repurchase Program permits shares to be repurchased in the open market, including pursuant to any trading plan that may be adopted in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the SEC. Repurchases may be made at management’s discretion at prices management considers to be attractive, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the applicable trading price, future alternative advantageous uses for capital, and our financial performance. Open market purchases will be conducted in accordance with the limitations set forth in Rule 10b-18 of the SEC and other applicable legal requirements. At September 30, 2020, we had $35.1 million available for future purchases of our common stock under the amended Repurchase Program.
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The Repurchase Program has no time limit and may be suspended, terminated or modified at any time for any reason, including market conditions, the cost of repurchasing shares, the availability of alternative investment opportunities, liquidity, and other factors deemed appropriate. These factors may also affect the timing and amount of share repurchases. The Repurchase Program does not obligate us to purchase anyany particular number of shares. Any shares acquired will be canceled and become authorized but unissued shares, available for future issuance.
The table below puts forth information regardingWe did not repurchase any of our purchases of common stock during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017.
PeriodTotal number of shares (or units) purchased
(a)
 Average price paid per share (or unit)
(b)
 Total number of shares (or units) purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs
(c)
 Maximum number (or approximate dollar value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
(d)
7/1/2017 - 7/31/17$
 $
 
 $100,000,000
8/1/2017 - 8/31/17
 
 
 100,000,000
9/1/17 - 9/30/17162,586
 34.46
 162,586
 94,397,279
Total162,586
 $34.46
 162,586
 $94,397,279


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2020.
Total Shareholder Return Performance Graph
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock, sincefrom October 14, 2014, the date a trading market was established on October 15, 2014,for our common stock, to the cumulative total returns for the Standard & Poor's ("S&P") 500 Index, Russell 2000 Index and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods ("KBW") Regional Bank Index. We have determined to compare our performance to the KBW Regional Bank Index for purpose of the graph as it includes most of the peer banks we typically use for comparison purposes. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on October 15,14, 2014 in our common stock and the above indexes. The cumulative total return on each investment is as of September 30, 20172020 and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
gwb-20200930_g6.jpg
 As of September 30, 2017
Great Western Bancorp Inc.$242.10
S&P 500$142.79
Russell 2000$146.39
KBW Regional Bank Index$163.57


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ITEM 6.SELECTED FINANCIAL DATAAs of September 30, 2020
Great Western Bancorp Inc.$79.55 
S&P 500$202.06 
Russell 2000$154.20 
KBW Regional Bank Index$104.77 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following consolidated financial data as of and for the dates and periods indicated is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The selected consolidated financial data presented below is not indicative of our future results for any period. The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Item"Item 7. Management’sManagement's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”Operations" included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The historical financial information below also contains non-GAAP financial measures, which have not been audited.
September 30,At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015 2014 201320202019201820172016
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Income Statement Data:         Income Statement Data:
Interest and dividend income$441,667
 $395,698
 $363,381
 $352,476
 $349,634
Interest incomeInterest income$493,572 $542,917 $481,837 $434,515 $388,982 
Interest expense45,320
 33,524
 29,884
 32,052
 39,161
Interest expense74,147 122,209 74,000 45,320 33,524 
Net interest income396,347
 362,174
 333,497
 320,424
 310,473
Net interest income419,425 420,708 407,837 389,195 355,458 
Provision for loan and lease losses21,539
 16,955
 19,041
 684
 11,574
Provision for loan and lease losses118,392 40,947 17,986 21,539 16,955 
Net interest income, after provision for loan and lease losses374,808
 345,219
 314,456
 319,740
 298,899
Net interest income, after provision for loan and lease losses301,033 379,761 389,851 367,656 338,503 
Noninterest income56,062
 42,537
 33,890
 39,781
 59,832
Noninterest income17 60,732 73,609 63,214 49,253 
Noninterest expense216,643
 207,640
 186,794
 200,222
 208,590
Noninterest expense1,007,368 224,898 231,425 216,643 207,640 
Income before income taxes214,227
 180,116
 161,552
 159,299
 150,141
Income before income taxes(706,318)215,595 232,035 214,227 180,116 
Provision for income taxes69,441
 58,863
 52,487
 54,347
 53,898
Provision for income taxes(25,510)48,230 74,119 69,441 58,863 
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
 $104,952
 $96,243
Net income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 $144,786 $121,253 
         
Other Financial Info / Performance Ratios:         Other Financial Info / Performance Ratios:
Net interest margin3.97% 3.96% 3.94% 4.02% 3.99%Net interest margin3.59 %3.74 %3.89 %3.90 %3.89 %
Adjusted net interest margin 1
3.83% 3.74% 3.68% 3.79% 3.81%
Adjusted net interest margin ¹Adjusted net interest margin ¹3.51 %3.74 %3.84 %3.76 %3.66 %
Return on average total assets1.27% 1.16% 1.12% 1.14% 1.07%Return on average total assets(5.32)%1.33 %1.34 %1.27 %1.16 %
Return on average common equity8.5% 7.9% 7.5% 7.3% 7.0%Return on average common equity(44.2)%9.1 %8.8 %8.5 %7.9 %
Return on average tangible common equity 1
15.4% 15.1% 15.4% 16.6% 17.5%
Efficiency ratio 1
46.5% 49.6% 48.0% 50.4% 50.6%
Return on average tangible common equity ¹Return on average tangible common equity ¹2.9 %15.3 %15.3 %15.4 %15.1 %
Efficiency ratio ¹Efficiency ratio ¹61.9 %45.8 %47.1 %46.5 %49.6 %
Dividends per common share$0.74
 $0.56
 $0.36
 $1.76
 $0.72
Dividends per common share$0.76 $1.10 $0.90 $0.74 $0.56 
Dividend payout ratio30.2% 26.1% 18.8% 97.2% 43.0%Dividend payout ratio(6.2)%37.6 %33.7 %30.2 %26.1 %
Earnings per common share - diluted$2.45
 $2.14
 $1.90
 $1.81
 $1.66
Earnings per common share - diluted$(12.24)$2.92 $2.67 $2.45 $2.14 
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted 1
$2.46
 $2.31
 $1.90
 $1.81
 $1.66
         
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted ¹Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted ¹$1.60 $2.92 $2.90 $2.46 $2.31 
Balance Sheet Data:         Balance Sheet Data:
Loans 2
$8,968,553
 $8,682,644
 $7,325,198
 $6,787,467
 $6,362,673
Loans ²Loans ²$10,076,142 $9,706,763 $9,415,924 $8,968,553 $8,682,644 
Allowance for loan and lease losses63,503
 64,642
 57,200
 47,518
 55,864
Allowance for loan and lease losses149,887 70,774 64,540 63,503 64,642 
Securities1,367,960
 1,315,860
 1,327,327
 1,341,242
 1,480,449
Investment securitiesInvestment securities1,774,626 1,783,208 1,385,650 1,367,960 1,315,860 
Goodwill739,023
 739,023
 697,807
 697,807
 697,807
Goodwill— 739,023 739,023 739,023 739,023 
Total assets11,690,011
 11,531,180
 9,798,654
 9,371,429
 9,134,258
Total assets12,604,439 12,788,301 12,116,808 11,690,011 11,531,180 
Total deposits8,977,613
 8,604,790
 7,387,065
 7,052,180
 6,948,208
Total deposits11,008,779 10,300,339 9,733,499 8,977,613 8,604,790 
Total liabilities9,935,011
 9,867,789
 8,339,308
 7,950,339
 7,717,044
Total liabilities11,441,506 10,888,052 10,276,257 9,935,011 9,867,789 
Total stockholder’s equity1,755,000
 1,663,391
 1,459,346
 1,421,090
 1,417,214
         
Total stockholders’ equityTotal stockholders’ equity1,162,933 1,900,249 1,840,551 1,755,000 1,663,391 
Asset Quality Ratios:         Asset Quality Ratios:
Nonaccrual loans / total loans1.54% 1.46% 0.93% 1.16% 2.03%Nonaccrual loans / total loans3.22 %1.10 %1.52 %1.54 %1.46 %
Allowance for loan and lease losses / total loans0.71% 0.74% 0.78% 0.70% 0.88%Allowance for loan and lease losses / total loans1.49 %0.73 %0.69 %0.71 %0.74 %
Net charge-offs / average total loans0.26% 0.12% 0.13% 0.14% 0.44%Net charge-offs / average total loans0.40 %0.36 %0.18 %0.26 %0.12 %
         
Capital Ratios:         Capital Ratios:
Tier 1 capital ratio11.4% 11.1% 10.9% 11.8% 12.4%Tier 1 capital ratio11.8 %11.7 %12.0 %11.4 %11.1 %
Total capital ratio12.5% 12.2% 12.1% 12.9% 13.8%Total capital ratio13.3 %12.7 %13.0 %12.5 %12.2 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio10.3% 9.5% 9.1% 9.1% 9.2%Tier 1 leverage ratio9.4 %10.1 %10.7 %10.3 %9.5 %
Common equity tier 1 ratio10.7% 10.2% 10.1% *
 *
Common equity tier 1 ratio11.0 %11.0 %11.3 %10.7 %10.2 %
Tangible common equity to tangible assets 1
9.2% 8.5% 8.3% 8.2% 8.2%
Tangible common equity to tangible assets ¹Tangible common equity to tangible assets ¹9.2 %9.6 %9.6 %9.2 %8.5 %
Book value per share - GAAP$29.83
 $28.34
 $26.43
 $24.55
 $24.48
Book value per share - GAAP$21.14 $33.76 $31.24 $29.83 $28.34 
Tangible book value per share 1
$17.11
 $15.55
 $13.66
 $12.25
 $11.90
Tangible book value per share ¹Tangible book value per share ¹$21.03 $20.52 $18.57 $17.11 $15.55 
         
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
2 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and loans in process.
* Not applicable for period presented
2 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.
2 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.

40-
60





Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations
For more information on these financial measures, see “Item"Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
20202019201820172016
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share:
Net (loss) income - GAAP$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 $144,786 $121,253 
Add: Acquisition expenses, net of tax— — — 440 9,729 
Add: COVID-19 related impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax713,013 — — — — 
Add: COVID-19 impact on credit and other related charges, net of tax ¹56,685 — — — — 
Add: Deferred taxes revaluation due to Tax Reform Act— — 13,586 — — 
Adjusted net income$88,890 $167,365 $171,502 $145,226 $130,982 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding55,612,251 57,257,061 59,131,650 59,029,382 56,729,350 
Earnings per common share - diluted$(12.24)$2.92 $2.67 $2.45 $2.14 
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted$1.60 $2.92 $2.90 $2.46 $2.31 
1 COVID-19 impact on credit and other related charges, net of tax, were incurred in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Subsequent to the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, we ceased separating credit-related charges between those related or unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic as it became more difficult to attribute losses cause or not caused by the pandemic as it continues.
Tangible net income and return on average tangible common equity:
Net (loss) income - GAAP$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 $144,786 $121,253 
Add: Amortization of intangible assets and COVID-19 related impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax714,339 1,337 1,460 2,044 2,384 
Tangible net income$33,531 $168,702 $159,376 $146,830 $123,637 
Average common equity$1,541,314 $1,847,477 1,788,153 1,702,225 1,541,844 
Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets375,549 745,920 747,513 749,393 721,726 
Average tangible common equity$1,165,765 $1,101,557 $1,040,640 $952,832 $820,118 
Return on average common equity *(44.2)%9.1 %8.8 %8.5 %7.9 %
Return on average tangible common equity **2.9 %15.3 %15.3 %15.4 %15.1 %
* Calculated as net income - GAAP divided by average common equity.
** Calculated as tangible net income divided by average tangible common equity.
Adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest margin (fully-tax equivalent basis):
Net interest income - GAAP$419,425 $420,708 $407,837 $389,195 $355,458 
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment6,146 5,843 6,597 8,599 7,534 
Net interest income (FTE)425,571 426,551 414,434 397,794 362,992 
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(8,721)619 (5,365)(14,395)(20,727)
Adjusted net interest income (FTE)$416,850 $427,170 $409,069 $383,399 $342,265 
Average interest-earning assets$11,868,666 $11,414,926 $10,647,357 $10,209,741 $9,339,858 
Net interest margin (FTE) *3.59 %3.74 %3.89 %3.90 %3.89 %
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) **3.51 %3.74 %3.84 %3.76 %3.66 %
* Calculated as net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets.
** Calculated as adjusted net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets.
Adjusted interest income and adjusted yield (fully-tax equivalent basis), on non-ASC 310-30 loans:
Interest income - GAAP$443,709 $490,910 $439,789 $396,481 $356,271 
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment6,146 5,843 6,597 8,599 7,534 
Interest income (FTE)449,855 496,753 446,386 405,080 363,805 
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(8,721)619 (5,365)(14,395)(20,727)
Adjusted interest income (FTE)$441,134 $497,372 $441,021 $390,685 $343,078 
Average non-ASC 310-30 loans$9,750,677 $9,610,956 $9,106,519 $8,581,615 $7,736,454 
Yield (FTE) *4.61 %5.17 %4.90 %4.72 %4.70 %
Adjusted yield (FTE) **4.52 %5.18 %4.84 %4.55 %4.43 %
* Calculated as interest income (FTE) divided by average loans.
** Calculated as adjusted interest income (FTE) divided by average loans.
41-
 For the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 (Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share:         
Net income - GAAP$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
 $104,952
 $96,243
Add: Acquisition expenses, net of tax440
 9,729
 
 
 
Adjusted net income$145,226
 $130,982
 $109,065
 $104,952
 $96,243
          
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding59,029,382
 56,729,350
 57,500,878
 57,886,114
 57,886,114
Earnings per common share - diluted$2.45
 $2.14
 $1.90
 $1.81
 $1.66
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted$2.46
 $2.31
 $1.90
 $1.81
 $1.66
          
Tangible net income and return on average tangible common equity:         
Net income - GAAP$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
 $104,952
 $96,243
Add: Tax on amortization of intangible assets, net of tax2,044
 2,384
 6,230
 12,971
 16,046
Tangible net income$146,830
 $123,637
 $115,295
 $117,923
 $112,289
          
Average common equity$1,702,225
 $1,541,844
 1,456,223
 1,430,772
 1,380,296
Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets749,393
 721,726
 707,920
 719,573
 738,140
Average tangible common equity$952,832
 $820,118
 $748,303
 $711,199
 $642,156
Return on average common equity *8.5% 7.9% 7.5% 7.3% 7.0%
Return on average tangible common equity **15.4% 15.1% 15.4% 16.6% 17.5%
          
* Calculated as net income - GAAP divided by average common equity.
** Calculated as tangible net income divided by average tangible common equity.
          
Adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest margin (fully-tax equivalent basis):         
Net interest income - GAAP$396,347
 $362,174
 $333,497
 $320,424
 $310,473
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment8,599
 7,534
 6,576
 4,663
 3,541
Net interest income (FTE)404,946
 369,708
 340,073
 325,087
 314,014
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(14,395) (20,727) (21,642) (18,255) (14,217)
Adjusted net interest income (FTE)$390,551
 $348,981
 $318,431
 $306,832
 $299,797
          
Average interest earning assets$10,209,741
 $9,339,858
 $8,641,719
 $8,093,861
 $7,862,860
Net interest margin (FTE) *3.97% 3.96% 3.94% 4.02% 3.99%
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) **3.83% 3.74% 3.68% 3.79% 3.81%
          
* Calculated as net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets.
** Calculated as adjusted net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets.
          
Adjusted interest income and adjusted yield (fully-tax equivalent basis), on non ASC 310-30 loans:         
Net interest income - GAAP$403,633
 $362,987
 $329,618
 $318,775
 $264,333
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment8,599
 7,534
 6,576
 4,663
 3,541
Interest income (FTE)412,232
 370,521
 336,194
 323,438
 267,874
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(14,395) (20,727) (21,642) (18,255) (14,217)
Adjusted interest income (FTE)$397,837
 $349,794
 $314,552
 $305,183
 $253,657
          
Average non ASC 310-30 loans$8,581,615
 $7,736,454
 $6,889,738
 $6,311,857
 $5,876,116
Yield (FTE) *4.80% 4.79% 4.88% 5.12% 4.56%
Adjusted yield (FTE) **4.64% 4.52% 4.57% 4.84% 4.32%
          
* Calculated as interest income (FTE) divided by average loans.
** Calculated as adjusted interest income (FTE) divided by average loans.
          



61





 For the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 (Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Efficiency ratio:         
Total revenue - GAAP$452,409
 $404,711
 $367,387
 $360,205
 $370,305
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment8,599
 7,534
 6,576
 4,663
 3,541
Total revenue (FTE)$461,008
 $412,245
 $373,963
 $364,868
 $373,846
          
Noninterest expense$216,643
 $207,640
 $186,794
 $200,222
 $208,590
Less: Amortization of intangible assets2,358
 3,264
 7,110
 16,215
 19,290
Tangible noninterest expense$214,285
 $204,376
 $179,684
 $184,007
 $189,300
Efficiency ratio *46.5% 49.6% 48.0% 50.4% 50.6%
          
* Calculated as the ratio of tangible noninterest expense to total revenue (FTE).
          
Tangible common equity and tangible common equity to tangible assets:         
Total stockholders' equity$1,755,000
 $1,663,391
 $1,459,346
 $1,421,090
 $1,417,214
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets748,397
 750,755
 704,926
 712,036
 728,251
Tangible common equity$1,006,603
 $912,636
 $754,420
 $709,054
 $688,963
          
Total assets$11,690,011
 $11,531,180
 $9,798,654
 $9,371,429
 $9,134,258
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets748,397
 750,755
 704,926
 712,036
 728,251
Tangible assets$10,941,614
 $10,780,425
 $9,093,728
 $8,659,393
 $8,406,007
Tangible common equity to tangible assets9.2% 8.5% 8.3% 8.2% 8.2%
          
Tangible book value per share:         
Total stockholders' equity$1,755,000
 $1,663,391
 $1,459,346
 $1,421,090
 $1,417,214
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets748,397
 750,755
 704,926
 712,036
 728,251
Tangible common equity$1,006,603
 $912,636
 $754,420
 $709,054
 $688,963
          
Common shares outstanding58,834,066
 58,693,304
 55,219,596
 57,886,114
 57,886,114
Book value per share - GAAP$29.83
 $28.34
 $26.43
 $24.55
 $24.48
Tangible book value per share$17.11
 $15.55
 $13.66
 $12.25
 $11.90


62




At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
20202019201820172016
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Efficiency ratio:
Total revenue - GAAP$419,442 $481,440 $481,446 $452,409 $404,711 
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment6,146 5,843 6,597 8,599 7,534 
Total revenue (FTE)$425,588 $487,283 $488,043 $461,008 $412,245 
Noninterest expense$1,007,368 $224,898 $231,425 $216,643 $207,640 
Less: Amortization of intangible assets and COVID-19 related impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets743,745 1,538 1,662 2,358 3,264 
Tangible noninterest expense$263,623 $223,360 $229,763 $214,285 $204,376 
Efficiency ratio *61.9 %45.8 %47.1 %46.5 %49.6 %
* Calculated as the ratio of tangible noninterest expense to total revenue (FTE).
Tangible common equity and tangible common equity to tangible assets:
Total stockholders' equity$1,162,933 $1,900,249 $1,840,551 $1,755,000 $1,663,391 
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets6,164 745,197 746,735 748,397 750,755 
Tangible common equity$1,156,769 $1,155,052 $1,093,816 $1,006,603 $912,636 
Total assets$12,604,439 $12,788,301 $12,116,808 $11,690,011 $11,531,180 
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets6,164 745,197 746,735 748,397 750,755 
Tangible assets$12,598,275 $12,043,104 $11,370,073 $10,941,614 $10,780,425 
Tangible common equity to tangible assets9.2 %9.6 %9.6 %9.2 %8.5 %
Tangible book value per share:
Total stockholders' equity$1,162,933 $1,900,249 $1,840,551 $1,755,000 $1,663,391 
Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets6,164 745,197 746,735 748,397 750,755 
Tangible common equity$1,156,769 $1,155,052 $1,093,816 $1,006,603 $912,636 
Common shares outstanding55,014,189 56,283,659 58,917,147 58,834,066 58,693,304 
Book value per share - GAAP$21.14 $33.76 $31.24 $29.83 $28.34 
Tangible book value per share$21.03 $20.52 $18.57 $17.11 $15.55 
Selected Quarterly Results of Operations
We believe the following quarterly unaudited consolidated statements of income data has been prepared on substantially the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair presentation of our consolidated results of operations for the quarters presented. The historical results for any quarter do not necessarily indicate the results expected for any future period. This unaudited condensed consolidated quarterly data should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
For the quarter ended:For Quarters Ended:
Sept. 30, 2017 Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Sept. 30, 2016 Jun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Dec. 31, 2015Sep. 30,
2020
Jun. 30,
2020
Mar. 31,
2020
Dec. 31,
2019
Sep. 30,
2019
Jun. 30,
2019
Mar. 31,
2019
Dec. 31,
2018
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Operating Data:               Operating Data:
Interest and dividend income$114,967
 $110,401
 $107,893
 $108,406
 $107,718
 $100,189
 $94,307
 $93,484
Interest incomeInterest income$116,921 $119,871 $125,243 $131,537 $138,770 $138,199 $133,886 $132,061 
Interest expense13,391
 11,671
 10,494
 9,764
 9,491
 8,537
 7,969
 7,527
Interest expense10,903 13,620 23,260 26,364 32,061 32,570 30,411 27,167 
Provision for loan and lease losses4,685
 5,796
 4,009
 7,049
 5,063
 5,372
 2,631
 3,889
Provision for loan and lease losses16,853 21,641 71,795 8,103 1,982 26,077 7,673 5,215 
Noninterest income12,836
 15,485
 13,834
 13,907
 15,798
 9,097
 8,999
 8,644
Noninterest income(3,950)(11,683)(83)15,733 15,023 10,766 18,223 16,720 
Noninterest expense55,332
 54,922
 53,852
 52,537
 57,342
 61,222
 44,855
 44,220
Noninterest expense74,936 67,049 808,453 56,930 55,212 56,000 56,580 57,106 
Net income37,662
 35,060
 35,162
 36,903
 33,758
 26,360
 30,674
 30,461
Net income11,136 5,400 (740,618)43,274 50,285 26,783 44,511 45,786 
Net interest income101,576
 98,730
 97,399
 98,642
 98,227
 91,652
 86,338
 85,957
Net interest income106,018 106,251 101,983 105,173 106,709 105,629 103,475 104,894 
Adjusted net interest income (FTE) 1
100,984
 97,564
 95,706
 96,298
 95,344
 88,552
 82,954
 82,131
Net interest margin (FTE) 1
4.00% 4.00% 3.98% 3.89% 3.92% 3.95% 3.99% 3.98%
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) 1
3.90% 3.87% 3.83% 3.71% 3.73% 3.74% 3.75% 3.73%
Adjusted net interest income (FTE) ¹Adjusted net interest income (FTE) ¹103,985 104,812 102,247 105,806 108,069 107,374 105,322 106,405 
Net interest margin (FTE) ¹Net interest margin (FTE) ¹3.51 %3.57 %3.59 %3.68 %3.70 %3.70 %3.75 %3.81 %
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) ¹Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) ¹3.40 %3.47 %3.55 %3.65 %3.69 %3.71 %3.76 %3.81 %
Earnings per common share - diluted
$0.64
 
$0.59
 
$0.60
 
$0.63
 
$0.57
 
$0.46
 
$0.55
 
$0.55
Earnings per common share - diluted$0.20 $0.10 ($13.25)$0.77 $0.89 $0.47 $0.78 $0.79 
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted 1

$0.64
 
$0.59
 
$0.60
 
$0.63
 
$0.60
 
$0.59
 
$0.56
 
$0.55
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted ¹Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted ¹$0.20 $0.10 $0.52 $0.77 $0.89 $0.47 $0.78 $0.79 
               
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Quarterly Financial Measures Reconciliations".
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Quarterly Financial Measures Reconciliations".
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Quarterly Financial Measures Reconciliations".

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Non-GAAP Quarterly Financial Measures Reconciliations
For more information on these financial measures, see “Item"Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures."
For Quarters Ended:
Sep. 30,
2020
Jun. 30,
2020
Mar. 31,
2020
Dec. 31,
2019
Sep. 30,
2019
Jun. 30,
2019
Mar. 31,
2019
Dec. 31,
2018
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share:
Net (loss) income - GAAP$11,136 $5,400 $(740,618)$43,274 $50,285 $26,783 $44,511 $45,786 
Add: COVID-19 related impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, net of tax— — 713,013 — — — — — 
Add: COVID-19 impact on credit and other related charges, net of tax— — 56,685 — — — — — 
Adjusted net income$11,136 $5,400 $29,080 $43,274 $50,285 $26,783 $44,511 $45,786 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding55,164,548 55,145,619 55,906,002 56,457,967 56,804,172 57,110,103 57,074,674 58,039,292 
Earnings per common share - diluted$0.20 $0.10 $(13.25)$0.77 $0.89 $0.47 $0.78 $0.79 
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted$0.20 $0.10 $0.52 $0.77 $0.89 $0.47 $0.78 $0.79 
Adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest margin (fully-tax equivalent basis):
Net interest income - GAAP$106,018 $106,251 $101,983 $105,173 $106,709 $105,629 $103,475 $104,894 
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment1,508 1,601 1,514 1,523 1,487 1,424 1,442 1,490 
Net interest income (FTE)107,526 107,852 103,497 106,696 108,196 107,053 104,917 106,384 
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(3,541)(3,040)(1,250)(890)(127)321 405 21 
Adjusted net interest income (FTE)$103,985 $104,812 $102,247 $105,806 $108,069 $107,374 $105,322 $106,405 
Average interest-earning assets$12,184,093$12,156,505$11,590,453$11,543,610$11,609,823$11,617,521$11,345,559$11,086,800
Net interest margin (FTE) *3.51 %3.57 %3.59 %3.68 %3.70 %3.70 %3.75 %3.81 %
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) **3.40 %3.47 %3.55 %3.65 %3.69 %3.71 %3.76 %3.81 %
* Calculated as net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets. Annualized for partial-year periods.
** Calculated as adjusted net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets. Annualized for partial-year periods.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 For the quarter ended:
 Sept. 30, 2017 Jun. 30, 2017 Mar. 31, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Sept. 30, 2016 Jun. 30, 2016 Mar. 31, 2016 Dec. 31, 2015
 (Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)
Adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share:               
Net income - GAAP$37,662
 $35,060
 $35,162
 $36,903
 $33,758
 $26,360
 $30,674
 $30,461
Add: Acquisition expenses, net of tax
 
 
 440
 1,700
 7,551
 478
 
Adjusted net income$37,662
 $35,060
 $35,162
 $37,343
 $35,458
 $33,911
 $31,152
 $30,461
                
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding58,914,144
 59,130,632
 59,073,669
 58,991,905
 58,938,367
 57,176,705
 55,408,876
 55,393,452
Earnings per common share - diluted$0.64
 $0.59
 $0.60
 $0.63
 $0.57
 $0.46
 $0.55
 $0.55
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted$0.64
 $0.59
 $0.60
 $0.63
 $0.60
 $0.59
 $0.56
 $0.55
                
Adjusted net interest income (FTE):               
Net interest income$101,576
 $98,730
 $97,399
 $98,642
 $98,227
 $91,652
 $86,338
 $85,957
Add: Tax equivalent adjustment2,122
 2,154
 2,182
 2,142
 2,012
 1,905
 1,791
 1,826
Net interest income (FTE)103,698
 100,884
 99,581
 100,784
 100,239
 93,557
 88,129
 87,783
Add: Current realized derivative gain (loss)(2,714) (3,320) (3,875) (4,486) (4,895) (5,005) (5,175) (5,652)
Adjusted net interest income (FTE)$100,984
 $97,564
 $95,706
 $96,298
 $95,344
 $88,552
 $82,954
 $82,131
                
Average interest earning assets$10,283,401 $10,124,404 $10,144,875 $10,286,284 $10,173,743 $9,528,576 $8,892,465 $8,764,649
Net interest margin (FTE)*4.00% 4.00% 3.98% 3.89% 3.92% 3.95% 3.99% 3.98%
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE)**3.90% 3.87% 3.83% 3.71% 3.73% 3.74% 3.75% 3.73%
                
* Calculated as net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets. Annualized for partial-year periods.
** Calculated as adjusted net interest income (FTE) divided by average interest earning assets. Annualized for partial-year periods.

ITEM 7.MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The historical consolidated financial data discussed below reflects our historical results of operations and financial condition and should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and related notes thereto presented in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. In addition to historical financial data, this discussion includes certain forward-looking statements regarding events and trends that may affect our future results. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially. See “Cautionary"Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." For a more complete discussion of the factors that could affect our future results, see “Item"Item 1A. Risk Factors."
Any discrepancies included in this filing between totals and the sums of percentages and dollar amounts presented, or between rounded dollar amounts, are due to rounding.

Tax Equivalent Presentation
All references to net interest income, net interest margin, interest income on non ASCnon-ASC 310-30 loans, yield on ASC 310-30 loans and the related non-GAAP adjusted financial measure of each item are presented on a fully-tax equivalentFTE basis ("FTE") unless otherwise noted. In fiscal year 2018, the Tax Reform Act reduced the federal tax rate for corporations from 35% to 21%. Because of our September 30 fiscal year end, a blended statutory rate of 24.5% was applied to all FTE non-GAAP adjusted financial measures for fiscal year 2018 and a fully phased in statutory federal tax rate of 21% was applied to all FTE non-GAAP adjusted financial measures beginning in fiscal year 2019.

Key Factors Affecting Our Business and Financial Performance
We believe that stable long-term growth and profitability are the result of building strong customer relationships while maintaining disciplined underwriting standards and continuing to focus on our operational efficiency. We plan to focus on originating high-quality loans and growing our deposit base through our relationship-based business banking approach. We believe that continuing to focus on our core strengths will enable us to gain market share and increase profitability. For more information on the key components of our strategy for continued success and future growth, see "Part I, Item 1. Business—Our Business Strategy."

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We face a variety of risks that may impact various aspects of our risk profile from time to time. The extent of such impacts may vary depending on factors including the continuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our financial condition and results of operations, as well as the current economic, political and regulatory environment, merger and acquisition activity and operational challenges. For more information on these risks and our risk management strategies, see "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements, "Part I, Item 1. Business" and "Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors."
Overview
We are a full-service regional bank holding company focused on relationship-based business and agribusiness banking. We serve our customers through 173 branches in attractive markets in nine states: Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Our bankBank was established more than 80 years ago and we have achieved strong market positions by developing and maintaining extensive local relationships in the communities we serve. By leveragingWe serve our business and agribusiness focus, presencecustomers through 175 branches in attractive markets highly efficient operating modelin Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and robust approach to risk management, we have achieved significant and profitable growth—both organically and through disciplined acquisitions.South Dakota. We provide financial results based on a fiscal year ending September 30 as a single reportable segment.
The principal sources of our revenues and cash flows are: (i) interest and fees earned on loans made or held by our bank;Bank; (ii) interest on fixed income investments held by our bank;Bank; (iii) fees on wealth management services; (iv) service charges on deposit accounts maintained at our bank;Bank; (v) gain on the sale of loans held for sale;sale (vi) gains on salesales of securities; and (vii) merchant and card fees. Our principal expenses are: (i) interest expense on deposit accounts and other borrowings; (ii) salaries and employee benefits; (iii) data processing costs primarily associated with maintaining our bank'sBank's loan and deposit functions; (iv) occupancy expenses for maintaining our bank'sBank's facilities; (v) professional fees;fees, including FDIC insurance assessments; (vi) business development; (vii) FDIC insurance assessments; and (viii)(vii) other real estate owned expenses. The largest component contributing to our net income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on earning assets (primarily loans and investments) and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities (primarily deposit accounts and other borrowings). One of management's principal functions is to manage the spread between interest earned on earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities in an effort to maximize net interest income while maintaining an appropriate level of interest rate risk.
Net income was $144.8Impact and Response to COVID-19 Pandemic
Many of the states in which we operate have placed significant restrictions on businesses and individuals as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a financial institution, we are considered an essential business and therefore continue to operate on a modified basis where applicable to comply with governmental restrictions and public health authority guidelines.
Through this time of disruption we remain committed to keeping our employees safe and our bank running effectively to serve our customers. We have reopened all of our branches and are continuing shut down protocols according to CDC guidelines when we become aware of a possible close contact scenario, and a majority of our employees who can work outside of our offices are doing so. Social distancing, restrictions on in-person meetings and conferences, company travel restrictions and increased sanitary protocols all remain in place and are all intended to offer the best protection for our employees and customers and enhance our ability to provide our banking services. We are supporting our employees with paid time off, work from home flexibility and time for volunteering. Finally, we supported the Paycheck Protection Program, having provided $727.3 million in loans to over 4,800 customers, improved engagement with customers in impacted segments, and remained committed to working with customers for solutions as we transition through loan deferral expirations and new requests.
Financial results for fiscal year 2017,2020 include several items linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most significantly, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 we recognized an increaseimpairment of $23.5$742.4 million or 19.4%, comparedrecorded in noninterest expense, $622.4 million of which stemmed from goodwill related to netthe acquisition of our Bank in 2008 by NAB, $118.2 million from goodwill related to subsequent acquisitions and $1.8 million from certain intangible assets, all of which were considered impaired given the market and valuation disruption during the period. The expense was offset in part by a related benefit from income taxes of $121.3 million$29.3 million.
In addition, the COVID-19 impacts for fiscal year 2016. Adjusted2020 include $73.8 million in several credit and other related charges for loan and other real estate reserves, including a $59.7 million charge for general allowance increases in provision expense under the incurred loss model, $7.1 million and $3.3 million of charges for fair value adjustments for fair value loans and derivatives in noninterest income, respectively, a $3.3 million write down on an OREO hotel property negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions, and $0.4 million of charges for the reserve on unfunded commitments in noninterest expenses. All of these pretax expenses are offset in part by a related benefit from income taxes of $17.2 million. See "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section in this document for further discussion of the above items. Our management believes additional increases in credit and other related charges are likely to occur if the effects of the COVID-19 restrictions continue to negatively impact the loan portfolio.
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Furthermore, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly heightened the level of challenges, risks and uncertainties facing our business and continuation of operations, including the following:
Market interest rates have declined significantly and these reductions, especially if prolonged, could adversely affect our net interest income, net interest margin and earnings;
We anticipate a potential slowdown in demand for our products and services, including the demand for traditional loans, although we believe the decline will likely be offset, in whole or in part, due to the new volume of PPP loans under the CARES Act and other governmental programs established in response to the pandemic;
We anticipate an increase in risk of delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, as well as declining collateral values and further impairment of the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, all of which may result in increased additional credit-related charges and other losses in our loan portfolio;
The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have created significant volatility and disruption in the financial markets, which may require us to recognize an elevated level of other than temporary impairments on investment securities in our portfolio as the fair value of these securities is negatively impacted by the economic slowdown; and
In meeting our objective to maintain our capital levels and liquidity position through the COVID-19 pandemic, our Board of Directors has already reduced the rate of dividends paid during fiscal year 2020 and could determine to forego payment of future dividends altogether in order to maintain and/or strengthen our capital and liquidity position.
Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
Net loss was $680.8 million, or $12.24 per diluted share, for fiscal year 2020, while adjusted net income, which excludes the effect of one-time acquisition expensesCOVID-19 pandemic impact on goodwill, certain intangible assets and credit and other related to the HF Financial acquisition,charges, was $145.2 million, an increase of $14.2$88.9 million, or 10.9%$1.60 per diluted share, compared to $131.0net income and adjusted net income of $167.4 million, or $2.92 per diluted share for fiscal year 2016. Total revenue (non-FTE)2019. The decline in adjusted net income was due to an increase in provision for fiscal year 2017 grew by 11.8%,loan and lease losses combined with a decrease in noninterest income, partially offset by highera decrease in noninterest expenses,expense, excluding the effectimpairment of one-time acquisition expenses,goodwill and certain intangible assets, and a decrease in income tax expense. For more information on our adjusted net income, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Our efficiency ratio, which measures our ability to manage noninterest expenses, remained strong during fiscal year 2017 at 46.5%, compared to 49.6%was 61.9% for fiscal year 2016.2020, compared to 45.8% for fiscal year 2019. The elevatedincrease in our efficiency ratio fiscal year 2016 was due almost entirely to one-time acquisition expensesa decrease in noninterest income, primarily due to a net decrease in loans at fair value and related to the HF Financial acquisition.derivatives expense combined with an increase in noninterest expense. For more information on our adjusted net income and efficiency ratio, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".Reconciliations."
Net interest margin, which measures our ability to maintain interest rates on interest earning assets above those of interest bearinginterest-bearing liabilities, was 3.97%3.59%, 3.96%3.74% and 3.94%, respectively,3.89% for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.2018, respectively. Adjusted net interest margin, which adjusts forreflects the realized gain (loss) on interest rate swaps, was 3.83%3.51%, 3.74% and 3.68%, respectively,3.84% for the same periods.periods, respectively. We believe our adjusted net interest margin is more representative of our underlying performance and is the measure we use internally to evaluate our results. Net interest margin and adjusted net interest margin were 1 basis point higher15 and 923 basis points higher,lower, respectively, compared to fiscal year 2016 primarily as a result of higher loan2019. Net interest income driven by 10.8% growth in average loans outstandingmargin decreased between the two periods combined with a 5primarily due to the cost of deposits and borrowings, which decreased 49 and 58 basis point increase in the yield on total loans, partially offset by an 8points, respectively, while loan yields decreased 57 basis pointpoints and investment yields decreased 30 basis points. A $9.3 million increase in the cost of deposits. Net interest margin andrate swaps between the periods is the primary driver of the more pronounced decrease in adjusted net interest margin for fiscal year 2016 increased 2 and 6 basis points, respectively, compared to fiscal year 2015 due to asset and growth mix, including growth in average total loans of 11.8% as a proportion ofnet interest earning assets partially offset by an 11 basis point decrease in the yield on total loans.margin. For more information on our adjusted net interest margin, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Net income for the year represents earnings per fully diluted common share of $2.45, compared to $2.14 for fiscal year 2016. On October 26, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.20 per common share payable on November 22, 2017 to owners of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2017.


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Reconciliations."
Total loans were $8.97$10.08 billion as of September 30, 2017,2020, compared to $8.68$9.71 billion as of September 30, 2016.2019. The net growth of $285.9was primarily in the commercial non-real estate segment, which grew by $461.7 million, or 3.3%26.8%, during the fiscal year was primarily driven by growth inand the CRE portfolio of $370.7segment, which grew by $182.5 million, or 3.6%, partially offset by an $88.1a decrease in the agriculture segment of $284.3 million, reductionor 14.2%. The commercial non-real estate segment growth included $703.4 million of PPP loans, partially offset by paydowns during the period. The CRE segment growth was primarily focused in multifamily residential real estate loans. The agriculture segment decrease was due to the deleveraging of problem loans outstanding. in workout, partially offset by $23.9 million of new PPP loans during the period.
Deposits as of September 30, 20172020 were $8.98$11.01 billion, representing an increase of $372.8$708.4 million, or 4.3%6.9%, from $8.60$10.30 billion as of September 30, 2016 which2019. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $2.59 billion, a 32.2% increase for the fiscal year and interest-bearing deposits were $8.42 billion, a 0.9% increase for the fiscal year. The increase in deposits was primarily duea result of inflows from PPP proceeds and consumer stimulus receipts during the period.
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Nonaccrual loans, including ASC 310-30 loans, were $324.9 million at September 30, 2020, an increase of $217.7 million, compared to growth$107.2 million at September 30, 2019. The increase was driven by several relationships in commercial deposit accounts.
Asset quality metrics remained relatively stable as loans classified asthe agriculture and CRE segments of the loan portfolio moving to nonaccrual during the period. Loans graded "Watch" status were $311.6$982.8 million as of September 30, 2017, a decrease2020, an increase of $16.0$577.3 million, or 4.9%, compared to $405.5 million at September 30, 2016 and2019, while loans classified asgraded "Substandard" or worse were $232.8$769.5 million, a decreasean increase of $8.8$290.8 million, or 3.6%,compared to $478.7 million over the same period.
At September 30, 2017, nonaccrual loansperiods. The increases in "Watch" and "Substandard" or worse were $138.3 million, with $4.9 milliondue to downgrades in the CRE and agriculture segments of the balance covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements. Total nonaccrual loans increased by $11.9 million, or 9.4%, during the year driven by the deterioration of a small number of relationships in the agriculture portfolio that have been closely monitored for a number of quarters, partially offset by improvements in the commercial non-real estate and CRE portfolios. OREOloan portfolio. Other repossessed property balances decreased by $1.3$16.7 million, or 12.6%45.5%, due to the writedown of one large relationship and several large liquidations during the year.period.
Provision for loan and lease losses was $118.4 million for fiscal year 2020, compared to $40.9 million for fiscal year 2019. The increase in provision for loan and lease losses was primarily due to incurred losses in the portfolio as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase did not contemplate the potential impact of CECL implementation, which is effective for the Company commencing October 1, 2020. Net charge-offs for fiscal year 20172020 were $22.7$39.3 million, or 0.26%0.40% of average total loans on an annualized basis, compared to $9.5$34.7 million, or 0.12% of average loans in0.36%, for fiscal year 2016. Net charge-offs were primarily concentrated in2019. The ratio of ALLL to total loans was 1.49% at September 30, 2020, an increase from 0.73% at September 30, 2019. The balance of the commercial non-real estate and agriculture loan portfolios.ALLL increased to $149.9 million at September 30, 2020 from $70.8 million at September 30, 2019.
Our capital position is strong and stable, with Tier 1 capital, total capital and Tier 1 leverage ratios of 11.4%were 11.8%, 12.5%13.3% and 10.3%9.4%, respectively, at September 30, 2017,2020, compared to 11.1%11.7%, 12.2%12.7% and 9.5%10.1%, respectively, at September 30, 2016.2019. In addition, our Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.7%11.0% at both September 30, 2017, compared to 10.2% at September 30, 2016.2020 and 2019. Our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 9.2% at September 30, 2017, compared to 8.5%2020 and 9.6% at September 30, 2016.2019. All regulatory capital ratios remain above regulatory minimums to be considered "well capitalized."capitalized" and above internal thresholds, which are in excess of regulatory minimums. During fiscal year 2020, $40.0 million was deployed to repurchase and retire approximately 1.4 million shares of Company's common stock under the repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors. For more information on our tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Key Factors Affecting Our Business and Financial Statements
Economic Conditions
Our loan portfolio can be affected in several ways by changes in economic conditions in our local markets and across the country. For example, declining local economic prospects can reduce borrowers’ willingness to take out new loans or our expectations of their ability to repay existing loans, while declining national conditions can limit the markets for our commercial and agribusiness borrowers’ products. Conversely, rising consumer and business confidence can increase demand for loans to fund consumption and investments, which can lead to opportunities for us to grant new loans and further develop our banking relationships with our customers. Some elements of the business environment that affect our financial performance include short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation and price levels (particularly for agricultural commodities), monetary policy, unemployment and the strength of the domestic economy and the local economy in the markets in which we operate. Because commercial non-real estate and owner-occupied CRE borrowers are particularly exposed to external economic conditions such as consumer sentiment, repayment of commercial non-real estate and owner-occupied CRE loans may be more sensitive than other types of loans to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the general economy. These loans totaled approximately $2.94 billion, or 32.6%, of our total loan portfolio as of September 30, 2017. In addition, agricultural loans, which comprised 23.6% of our loan portfolio as of September 30, 2017, depend on the health of the agricultural industry broadly and in the location of the borrower in particular and on commodity prices. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—Our business may be adversely affected by conditions in the financial markets and economic conditions generally and in our states in particular.”


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Interest Rates
Net interest income is our largest source of income and is the difference between the interest income we receive from interest-earning assets (e.g., loans and investment securities) and the interest expense we pay on interest-bearing liabilities (e.g., deposits and borrowings). The level of net interest income is primarily a function of the average balance of interest-earning assets, the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities and the spread between the yield on such assets and the cost of such liabilities. These factors are influenced by both the pricing and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Interest rates can be volatile and are highly sensitive to many factors beyond our control, such as economic conditions, the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies and, in particular, the monetary policy of the FOMC.
The cost of our deposits and short-term borrowings is largely based on short-term interest rates, the level of which is driven primarily by the FOMC’s actions. However, the yields generated by our loans and securities are typically driven by longer-term interest rates, which are dictated by the market or, at times, the FOMC’s actions, and generally vary from day to day. The level of net interest income is therefore influenced by movements in such interest rates, the changing mix in our funding sources and the pace at which such movements occur. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We are subject to interest rate risk” and “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Asset Quality and Loss-Sharing Agreements
Our asset quality remained relatively stable during fiscal year 2017 with net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans of 26 basis points. We continue to run off assets from our acquisition of TierOne Bank that are not part of our core lending business, including non-owner-occupied CRE loans and construction and development loans, particularly those outside our footprint. At September 30, 2017, we had approximately $99.9 million of loans acquired as part of the TierOne Bank acquisition, representing 1.1% of our overall loan portfolio and approximately $663.4 million of loans acquired as part of the HF Financial acquisition, representing 7.4% of our overall loan portfolio. The majority of our loans acquired from TierOne Bank continue to be subject to a loss-sharing agreement with the FDIC where we are indemnified by the FDIC for 80% of our losses associated with any covered loans. While our ability to seek indemnification under the commercial loss-sharing agreement terminated in June 2015, the single-family loss-sharing agreement, which covered $57.5 million in loans at September 30, 2017, does not terminate until June of 2020. The amount of reimbursement we receive as a result of these indemnity payments, and the amount of income derived from the underlying loans, has decreased over time as the volume of covered loans we continue to hold declines. To date, we have not had any indemnity claims arising from the FDIC loss-sharing agreements rejected by the FDIC. Future indemnity claims may be denied if we fail to comply with the requirements of our loss-sharing agreements with the FDIC, which could result in additional losses and charge-offs related to these loans. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our FDIC—Assisted Acquisition of TierOne Bank—Our bank purchased certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of TierOne Bank in an FDIC-assisted transaction.”
Banking Laws and Regulations
We are subject to extensive supervision and regulation under federal and state banking laws. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation” and “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Regulatory Oversight of Our Business.” Financial institutions have been subject to increased regulatory scrutiny in recent years as significant structural changes in the bank regulatory framework have been adopted in response to the recent financial crisis. In particular, federal bank regulators have increased regulatory expectations generally and with respect to consumer compliance, economic sanctions, anti-money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act requirements. As a result of these heightened expectations, we may incur additional costs associated with legal compliance that may affect our financial results in the future.
Payment of Interest on Demand Deposits. In addition, effective July 2011, the Dodd-Frank Act repealed the prohibition restricting depository institutions from paying interest on demand deposits, such as checking accounts. We offer an interest-bearing corporate checking account, but interest rates on this product remain low due to current market conditions. Consequently, this change has not significantly affected our financial results. If interest rates on this product increase in the future, our business may be affected.
Basel III and Its Implementing Regulations. In July 2013, the federal bank regulators approved new regulations implementing the Basel III capital framework and various provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act. These regulations became effective for us on January 1, 2015, subject to phase-in of various provisions. The most significant changes from the current risk-based capital guidelines applicable to us were the revisions affecting the numerator in regulatory capital calculations and the increased risk weightings for higher-volatility CRE loans, for revolving lines of credit of less than one year in duration and for past-due and impaired loans. See “—Capital” and "Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to the Regulatory Oversight of Our Business—We may be subject to more stringent capital requirements in the future" for further information.


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Interchange Fees. The small issuer exemption applies to any debit card issuer that, together with its affiliates, has total assets of less than $10 billion as of the end of the previous calendar year. Because our consolidated total assets remained under $10 billion as of December 31, 2015, we were able to qualify for the small issuer exemption from the interchange fee cap until we exceeded $10 billion in assets during the third quarter of fiscal year 2016. Effective July 1, 2017 we became subject to the interchange fee cap, and no longer qualify for the small issuer exemption, which resulted in a negative impact on the debit card and ATM fees we received after that date. We expect the decrease to be approximately $8.0 million, pre-tax, on an annualized basis going forward. To the extent interchange fees are further reduced, our income from those fees will be reduced, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Heightened Prudential Requirements. We and our bank both exceeded $10 billion in total consolidated assets during fiscal year 2016. Following the fourth consecutive quarter (and any applicable phase-in period) where we or our bank exceeded this threshold, we or our bank, as applicable, became subject to a number of additional requirements (such as annual stress testing requirements implemented pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act and general oversight by the CFPB) that will impose additional compliance costs on our business. See “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Heightened Requirements for Bank Holding Companies with $10 Billion or More in Assets.” We have an ongoing project to ensure that we are able to meet these requirements in a timely fashion and have completed an internal dry run of the stress test cycle during 2017 to increase preparedness for our 2018 submission.
Competition
Our profitability and growth are affected by the highly competitive nature of the financial services industry. We compete with commercial banks, savings banks, credit unions, non-bank financial services companies and other financial institutions operating within the areas we serve, particularly nationwide and regional banks and larger community banks that target the same customers we do. We also face competition for agribusiness loans from participants in the nationwide Farm Credit System and global banks. Recently, we have seen increased competitive pressures on loan rates and terms for high-quality credits, driven in part by the prolonged low-interest rate environment. Continued loan pricing pressure may continue to affect our financial results in the future. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We operate in a highly competitive industry and market area.”
Operational Efficiency
We believe that our focus on operational efficiency is critical to our profitability and future growth, and our management has adopted numerous processes to improve our level of operational efficiency. For example, we are focused on providing a range of profitable products and services. In addition, instead of using multiple information technology solutions, we have increased the efficiency of our operations by using a single integrated third party core processing system across all of our locations. We continue to optimize our branch network and have commenced reviews of additional internal processes and our vendor relationships, with a view to identifying opportunities to further improve efficiency and enhance earnings. We are also continuing our efforts to shift our deposit base to lower-cost customer deposits, a strategic initiative that has been primarily responsible for driving our cost of deposit funding down.
We surpassed $10 billion in consolidated total assets during fiscal year 2016. As a result, we are subject to the Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test (DFAST) regulations and have hired additional staff members and implemented additional processes to ensure our bank meets all the reporting regulations and we expect to incur additional costs related to this compliance requirement. For additional information on DFAST, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—We are subject to heightened regulatory requirements as we have exceeded $10 billion in assets” and “Item 1. Business—Supervision and Regulation—Capital and Stress Testing Requirements.Reconciliations."
Goodwill and Amortization of Other Intangibles
Since 2006, we have completed nine acquisitions. We accounted for these transactions using the acquisition method of accounting, under which the acquired company’s net assets are recorded at fair value at the date of acquisition and the difference between the purchase price and fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill, if positive, and as bargain purchase gain, if negative. At September 30, 2017, we had $739.0 million of goodwill, $622.4 million of which relates to the acquisition of us by NAB in 2008 and was pushed down to our balance sheet, with the balance relating to subsequent acquisitions completed by us.


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Under relevant accounting guidance, we are required to review goodwill for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or circumstances indicate that the fair value of our business may be less than its carrying value. The valuation of goodwill is dependent on forward-looking expectations related to nationwide and local economic conditions and our associated financial performance. A significant decline in our expected future cash flows, a material change in interest rates, a significant adverse change in the business climate, slower growth rates or a significant or sustained decline in the price of our common stock, may necessitate taking charges in the future related to the impairment of our intangible assets. Our recognition of any such impairment could adversely affect our future financial results. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors—Risks Related to Our Business—The value of our goodwill and other intangible assets may decline in the future.”
As a result of these acquisitions, including the acquisition of us by NAB in 2008, we also have recorded intangible assets related to core deposits, brand intangibles and other intangibles. Each of these intangible assets is amortized as noninterest expense according to a specified schedule. The most significant component of these intangibles relates to our core deposits, of which $2.4 million was amortized as noninterest expense during fiscal year 2017. Total scheduled amortization for all intangible assets includes approximately $1.7 million for fiscal year 2018 and slightly lower amounts for fiscal years 2019 through 2026. For additional information on these intangible assets and their respective amortization schedules, see “Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies—Core Deposits and Other Intangibles” and “Note 13. Core Deposits and Other Intangibles” contained in our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Loans and Interest Rate Swaps Accounted for at Fair Value
In 2017 we began a new program of selling interest swaps directly to customers. As of September 30, 2017 we have originated 4 swaps with a notional value of $36.1 million. These interest rate swaps sales are used to enable customers to achieve a long-term fixed rate by selling the customer a long-term variable rate loan indexed to LIBOR plus a credit spread whereby the bank enters into an interest rate swap with our customer where the customer pays a fixed rate of interest set at the time of origination on the interest rate swap and then the customer receives a floating rate equal to the rate paid on the loan, thus resulting in a fixed rate of interest over the life of the interest rate swap. We minimize the market and liquidity risks of the swaps entered into with the customer by entering into an offsetting position with a swap dealer.
Prior to 2017 we entered into fixed-rate loans having original maturities of 5 years or greater (typically between 5 and 15 years) with certain of our commercial and agribusiness banking customers to assist them in facilitating their risk management strategies. We mitigated our interest rate risk associated with certain of these loans by entering into equal and offsetting fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements for these loans with swap counterparties. We elected to account for the loans at fair value under ASC 825 Fair Value Option. Changes in the fair value of these loans are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income in the relevant period. We also record an adjustment for credit risk in noninterest income based on our loss history for similar loans, adjusted for our assessment of existing market conditions for the specific portfolio of loans. If a specific relationship becomes impaired, we measure the estimated credit loss and record that amount through the credit risk adjustment.
The related interest rate swaps are recognized as either assets or liabilities in our financial statements and any gains or losses on these swaps are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income. The instruments are fully effective from an interest rate risk perspective, as gains and losses on our swaps are directly offset by changes in fair value of the hedged loans (i.e., swap interest rate risk adjustments are directly offset by associated loan interest rate risk adjustments). Consequently, any changes in noninterest income associated with changes in fair value resulting from interest rate movement, as opposed to changes in credit quality, on the loans are directly offset by equal and opposite charges to, or reductions in, noninterest income for the related interest rate swap. To ensure the correlation of movements in fair value between the interest rate swap and the related loan, we pass on all economic costs associated with our hedging activity resulting from loan customer prepayments (partial or full) to the borrower. For additional information about the treatment of interest rate swaps and related loans in our financial statements, see "Note 10. Derivative Financial Instruments" and “Note 25. Fair Value Measurements” in our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


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Results of Operations—Fiscal Years EndedSeptember 30, 20172020, 20162019and2015 2018
Overview
The following table highlights certain key financial and performance information for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:2018.
At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Operating Data:
Interest income (FTE)$499,718 $548,760 $488,434 
Interest expense74,147 122,209 74,000 
Noninterest income17 60,732 73,609 
Noninterest expense1,007,368 224,898 231,425 
Provision for loan and lease losses118,392 40,947 17,986 
Net income(680,808)167,365 157,916 
Adjusted net income ¹$88,890 $167,365 $171,502 
Common shares outstanding55,014,189 56,283,659 58,917,147 
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding55,612,251 57,257,061 59,131,650 
Earnings per common share - diluted$(12.24)$2.92 $2.67 
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted ¹1.60 2.92 2.90 
Performance Ratios:
Net interest margin (FTE) ¹3.59 %3.74 %3.89 %
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) ¹3.51 %3.74 %3.84 %
Return on average total assets(5.32)%1.33 %1.34 %
Return on average common equity(44.2)%9.1 %8.8 %
Return on average tangible common equity ¹2.9 %15.3 %15.3 %
Efficiency ratio ¹61.9 %45.8 %47.1 %
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data — Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
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 For the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
Operating Data:     
Interest and dividend income (FTE)$450,266
 $403,232
 $369,957
Interest expense45,320
 33,524
 29,884
Noninterest income56,062
 42,537
 33,890
Noninterest expense216,643
 207,640
 186,794
Provision for loan and lease losses21,539
 16,955
 19,041
Net income144,786
 121,253
 109,065
Adjusted net income 1
$145,226
 $130,982
 $109,065
Common shares outstanding58,834,066
 58,693,304
 55,219,596
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding59,029,382
 56,729,350
 57,500,878
Earnings per common share - diluted$2.45
 $2.14
 $1.90
Adjusted earnings per common share - diluted 1
2.46
 2.31
 1.90
      
Performance Ratios:     
Net interest margin (FTE) 1
3.97% 3.96% 3.94%
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) 1
3.83% 3.74% 3.68%
Return on average total assets1.27% 1.16% 1.12%
Return on average common equity8.5% 7.9% 7.5%
Return on average tangible common equity 1
15.4% 15.1% 15.4%
Efficiency ratio 1
46.5% 49.6% 48.0%
      
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data — Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Net Interest Income
The following tables present net interest income, net interest margin and adjusted net interest margin for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
 For the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Net interest income:     
Total interest and dividend income (FTE) 
$450,266
 $403,232
 $369,957
Less: Total interest expense45,320
 33,524
 29,884
Net interest income (FTE) 
$404,946
 $369,708
 $340,073
      
Net interest margin (FTE) and adjusted net interest margin (FTE) 1
     
Average interest-earning assets$10,209,741
 $9,339,858
 $8,641,719
Average interest-bearing liabilities$9,573,937
 $8,760,173
 $8,181,719
Net interest margin (FTE) 
3.97% 3.96% 3.94%
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) 1
3.83% 3.74% 3.68%
      
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".


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At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Net interest income:
Total interest income (FTE)$499,718 $548,760 $488,434 
Less: Total interest expense74,147 122,209 74,000 
Net interest income (FTE)$425,571 $426,551 $414,434 
Net interest margin (FTE) and adjusted net interest margin (FTE) ¹
Average interest-earning assets$11,868,666 $11,414,926 $10,647,357 
Average interest-bearing liabilities$11,168,035 $10,698,555 $9,952,961 
Net interest margin (FTE)3.59 %3.74 %3.89 %
Adjusted net interest margin (FTE) ¹3.51 %3.74 %3.84 %
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Net interest income was $404.9decreased $1.0 million, or 0.2%, to $425.6 million in fiscal year 2017 compared to $369.72020 from $426.6 million in fiscal year 2016, an increase of 9.5%.2019. The decrease in net interest income was primarily attributable to lower yields on loans and investments, partially offset by lower interest expense associated with deposits and borrowings for the same periods. Net interest income in fiscal year 2019 increased $12.2 million, or 2.9%, from $414.4 million in fiscal year 2018. The increase was driven byprimarily attributable to higher loan interest income driven by 10.8%5.3% of growth in average loans outstanding between the periods, combined with higher yields on loans, partially offset by higher interest expense associated with the cost of deposits for the same periods.
Net interest margin was 3.59% and 3.74% in fiscal years 2020 and 2019, respectively, while adjusted net interest margin was 3.51% and 3.74% over the same periods, respectively. The 15 basis points decrease in net interest margin was primarily due the cost of deposits and borrowings, which decreased 49 and 58 basis points, respectively, while loan yields decreased 57 basis points and investment yields decreased 30 basis points. A $9.3 million increase in the cost of interest rate swaps between the periods is the primary driver of the less pronounced decrease in adjusted net interest margin compared to net interest margin.
Net interest margin was 3.74% in fiscal year 2019, compared with 3.89% in fiscal year 2018. Adjusted net interest margin was 3.74% and 3.84% over the same periods, respectively. The decrease in net interest margin was primarily due to a 540 basis point increase in the cost of deposits, partially offset by a 24 basis point increase in the yield on total loans, partially offset by an 8 basis point increase in the cost of deposits. Net interest income was $369.7 million in fiscal year 2016 compared to $340.1 million in fiscal year 2015, an increase of 8.7%. The increase was driven by organic and inorganic loan growth and $3.5 million of accretion income from the HF Financial ASC 310-20 loans, partially offset by $1.4 million of accrued interest charged-off.
Net interest margin was 3.97% in fiscal year 2017, compared with 3.96% in fiscal year 2016. Adjusted net interest margin was 3.83% and 3.74%, respectively, over the same periods. Net interest margin remained relatively stable primarily due to a 9 basis point rise in the yield on interest-earning assets, offset by a 9 basis point rise in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities. The growth in adjusted net interest margin was driven by a $6.3loans. A $6.0 million reduction in the cost of interest rate swaps compared to fiscal year 2016, as a resultbetween the periods is the primary driver of increasesthe more pronounced decrease in short-term LIBOR rates.
Net interest margin was 3.96% in fiscal year 2016, compared with 3.94% in fiscal year 2015. Adjustedadjusted net interest margin was 3.74% and 3.68%, respectively, over the same periods. The increase was primarily as a result of asset growth and mix, including the growth in average total loans of 11.8% as a proportion of interest-earning assets partially offset by an 11 basis point decrease in the yield on total loans and a 1 basis point increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities.compared to net interest margin. For more information on our adjusted net interest margin, and adjusted net interest income, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".Reconciliations."
The following table presents the distribution of average assets, liabilities and equity, interest income and resulting yields on average interest-earning assets, and interest expense and rates on average interest-bearing liabilities for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.2018, respectively. Loans on nonaccrual status that had interest accrued as of the date of nonaccrual isare immediately reversed as a reduction to interest income, while any interest subsequently recovered is recorded in the period of recovery. Tax-exempt loans and securities, totaling $703.1$717.2 million at September 30, 20172020 and $694.2$768.8 million at September 30, 2016,2019, are typically entered at lower interest rate arrangements than comparable non-exempt loans and securities. The amount of interest income reflected below has been adjusted to include the amount of tax benefit realized in the period and as such is presented on a fully-tax equivalent basis, the calculation of which is outlined in the discussion of non-GAAP items, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".Reconciliations." ASC 310-30 loans represent loans accounted for in accordance with ASC 310-30 Accounting for Purchased Loans that were credit impaired at the time we acquired them. Non ASCNon-ASC 310-30 loans represent loans we have originated and loans we have acquired that were not credit impaired at the time we acquired them.


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Fiscal year ended September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
Average Balance Interest (FTE) Yield / Cost Average Balance Interest (FTE) Yield / Cost Average Balance Interest (FTE) Yield / CostAverage BalanceInterest (FTE)Yield / CostAverage BalanceInterest (FTE)Yield / CostAverage BalanceInterest (FTE)Yield / Cost
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Assets                 Assets
Interest-bearing bank deposits$123,616
 $922
 0.75% $122,651
 $574
 0.47% $244,850
 $652
 0.27%
Interest-bearing bank deposits ¹Interest-bearing bank deposits ¹$100,385 $1,383 1.38 %$61,646 $2,472 4.01 %$75,101 $1,376 1.83 %
Investment securities1,390,453
 26,311
 1.89% 1,366,925
 24,680
 1.81% 1,377,718
 24,271
 1.76%Investment securities1,967,873 42,653 2.17 %1,681,185 41,510 2.47 %1,384,632 29,171 2.11 %
Non ASC 310-30 loans, net 1
8,581,615
 412,232
 4.80% 7,736,454
 370,521
 4.79% 6,889,738
 336,194
 4.88%
Non-ASC 310-30 loans, net ²Non-ASC 310-30 loans, net ²9,750,677 449,855 4.61 %9,610,956 496,753 5.17 %9,106,519 446,386 4.90 %
ASC 310-30 loans, net114,057
 10,801
 9.47% 113,828
 7,457
 6.55% 129,413
 8,840
 6.83%ASC 310-30 loans, net49,731 5,827 11.72 %61,139 8,025 13.13 %81,105 11,501 14.18 %
Loans, net8,695,672
 423,033
 4.86% 7,850,282
 377,978
 4.81% 7,019,151
 345,034
 4.92%Loans, net9,800,408 455,682 4.65 %9,672,095 504,778 5.22 %9,187,624 457,887 4.98 %
Total interest-earning assets10,209,741
 450,266
 4.41% 9,339,858
 403,232
 4.32% 8,641,719
 369,957
 4.28%Total interest-earning assets11,868,666 499,718 4.21 %11,414,926 548,760 4.81 %10,647,357 488,434 4.59 %
Noninterest-earning assets1,154,861
     1,079,503
     1,079,201
    Noninterest-earning assets937,489 1,206,151 1,160,802 
Total assets$11,364,602
 $450,266
 3.96% $10,419,361
 $403,232
��3.87% $9,720,920
 $369,957
 3.81%Total assets$12,806,155 $499,718 3.90 %$12,621,077 $548,760 4.35 %$11,808,159 $488,434 4.14 %
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Noninterest-bearing deposits$1,806,491
     $1,493,287
     $1,350,749
    Noninterest-bearing deposits$2,227,518 $1,860,645 $1,809,470 
NOW, money market and savings deposits5,709,863
 $25,969
 0.45% 5,081,401
 $16,206
 0.32% 4,472,223
 $12,374
 0.28%
CDs1,300,987
 9,066
 0.70% 1,345,693
 8,908
 0.66% 1,539,863
 10,988
 0.71%
Interest-bearing depositsInterest-bearing deposits6,708,650 $35,594 0.53 %6,286,878 $69,305 1.10 %5,990,182 $43,092 0.72 %
Time depositsTime deposits1,584,191 23,009 1.45 %2,030,619 37,413 1.84 %1,483,760 17,020 1.15 %
Total deposits8,817,341
 35,035
 0.40% 7,920,381
 25,114
 0.32% 7,362,835
 23,362
 0.32%Total deposits10,520,359 58,603 0.56 %10,178,142 106,718 1.05 %9,283,412 60,112 0.65 %
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase122,188
 384
 0.31% 160,820
 519
 0.32% 168,455
 563
 0.33%Securities sold under agreements to repurchase65,248 88 0.13 %66,485 180 0.27 %108,599 340 0.31 %
FHLB advances and other borrowings525,491
 5,437
 1.03% 580,283
 4,154
 0.72% 554,127
 3,631
 0.66%FHLB advances and other borrowings473,689 10,940 2.31 %345,375 9,771 2.83 %452,572 8,508 1.88 %
Related party notes payable
 
 % 
 
 % 34,301
 771
 2.25%
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable108,917
 4,464
 4.10% 98,689
 3,737
 3.79% 62,001
 1,557
 2.51%Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable108,739 4,516 4.15 %108,553 5,540 5.10 %108,378 5,040 4.65 %
Total borrowings756,596
 10,285
 1.36% 839,792
 8,410
 1.00% 818,884
 6,522
 0.80%Total borrowings647,676 15,544 2.40 %520,413 15,491 2.98 %669,549 13,888 2.07 %
Total interest-bearing liabilities9,573,937
 $45,320
 0.47% 8,760,173
 $33,524
 0.38% 8,181,719
 $29,884
 0.37%Total interest-bearing liabilities11,168,035 $74,147 0.66 %10,698,555 $122,209 1.14 %9,952,961 $74,000 0.74 %
Noninterest-bearing liabilities88,440
     117,344
     82,978
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities96,806 75,045 67,045 
Stockholders' equity1,702,225
     1,541,844
     1,456,223
    Stockholders' equity1,541,314 1,847,477 1,788,153 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$11,364,602
     $10,419,361
     $9,720,920
    Total liabilities and stockholders' equity$12,806,155 $12,621,077 $11,808,159 
Net interest spread    3.49%     3.49%     3.44%Net interest spread3.24 %3.21 %3.40 %
Net interest income and net interest margin (FTE)  $404,946
 3.97%   $369,708
 3.96%   $340,073
 3.94%Net interest income and net interest margin (FTE)$425,571 3.59 %$426,551 3.74 %$414,434 3.89 %
Less: Tax equivalent adjustment  $8,599
     $7,534
     $6,576
  Less: Tax equivalent adjustment6,146 5,843 6,597 
Net interest income and net interest margin - ties to Statements of Income  $396,347
 3.88%   $362,174
 3.88%   $333,497
 3.86%
Net interest income and net interest margin - ties to Statements of Comprehensive IncomeNet interest income and net interest margin - ties to Statements of Comprehensive Income$419,425 3.53 %$420,708 3.69 %$407,837 3.83 %
                 
1 Interest income includes $4.1 million, $3.6 million and $0.2 million for the fiscal year 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, resulting from accretion of purchase accounting discount associated with acquired loans.
1 Interest income includes $0.9 million, $0.7 million and $0.0 million for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, resulting from interest earned on derivative collateral included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
1 Interest income includes $0.9 million, $0.7 million and $0.0 million for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, resulting from interest earned on derivative collateral included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
2 Interest income includes $1.4 million, $1.3 million and $2.7 million for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, resulting from accretion of purchase accounting discount associated with acquired loans.
2 Interest income includes $1.4 million, $1.3 million and $2.7 million for fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, resulting from accretion of purchase accounting discount associated with acquired loans.
Interest and Dividend Income
The following table presents interest and dividend income for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
 Fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Interest and dividend income:     
Loans (FTE)$423,033
 $377,978
 $345,034
Taxable securities24,262
 23,249
 22,973
Nontaxable securities978
 230
 51
Dividends on securities1,071
 1,201
 1,247
Federal funds sold and other922
 574
 652
Total interest and dividend income (FTE)450,266
 403,232
 369,957
Tax equivalent adjustment8,599
 7,534
 6,576
Total interest and dividend income (GAAP)$441,667
 $395,698
 $363,381
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Interest income:
Loans (FTE)$455,682 $504,778 $457,887 
Investment securities42,653 41,510 29,171 
Federal funds sold and other1,383 2,472 1,376 
Total interest income (FTE)499,718 548,760 488,434 
Less: Tax equivalent adjustment6,146 5,843 6,597 
Total interest income (GAAP)$493,572 $542,917 $481,837 
Total interest and dividend income consists primarily of interest income on loans and interest and dividend income on our investment portfolio. Total interest and dividend income was $450.3(FTE) decreased $49.1 million, or 8.9%, to $499.7 million for fiscal year 2017, compared to $403.22020, from $548.8 million for fiscal year 2016 and $370.02019, which increased $60.4 million, or 12.4%, from $488.4 million for fiscal year 2015.2018. Significant components of interest and dividend income are described in further detail below.


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Loans. Interest income on all loans increaseddecreased to $423.0$455.7 million in fiscal year 20172020 from $378.0$504.8 million in fiscal year 2016,2019, a decrease of $49.1 million, or 9.7% due to a decrease in yields on loans as discussed below and an increase of 11.9% during the year.in volume. Average net loan balances for fiscal year 20172020 were $8.70$9.80 billion, representing a 10.8%1.3% increase compared to the same period in fiscal year 2016. Growth was primarily in the CRE segment of the portfolio, partially offset by a reduction in the residential real estate segment of the portfolio. The largest contributor to growth during fiscal year 2017 was in non-owner occupied CRE, combined with moderate increases in construction and development and owner-occupied subsegments which were largely offset by a decline in multi-family residential real estate subsegments.2019. Interest income on ASC 310-30 loans, which are purchased credit impaired loans with a different income recognition model, increased $3.3decreased $2.2 million between the two periods, primarily driven by accelerated accretionthe runoff of interest income on two pools of purchased credit impaired loans in fiscal year 2017.the acquired loan portfolios.
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Interest income on all loans in fiscal year 2019 increased to $378.0$46.9 million, or 10.2%, from $457.9 million in fiscal year 2016 from $345.0 million2018 due to a combination of increase in fiscal year 2015, an increase of 9.6% during the year. Averagevolume, with average net loan balances for fiscal year 2016 were $7.85 billion,2019 representing an 11.8%a 5.3% increase compared to the same period in fiscal year 2015. Growth was focused2018, and an increase in the CRE and agriculture segments of the portfolio offset with a slight contraction in the residential real estate segment of the portfolio. The largest contributor to growth during fiscal year 2016 was CRE which was distributed across the non-owner-occupied, owner-occupied, construction and development and multi-family residential real estate subsegments across a diverse range of projects with a continued focusyields on limiting exposure to land development and other projects that are speculative in nature.loans as discussed further below. Interest income on ASC 310-30 loans decreased $1.4$3.5 million between the two periods, primarily driven by lower average balances prior to the acquisitionrunoff of HF Financial in the third quarter of 2016.acquired loan portfolios.
Our yield on loans is affected by market interest rates, the level of adjustable-rate loan indices, interest rate floors and caps, customer repayment activity, the level of loans held for sale, portfolio mix, and the level of nonaccrual loans. The average tax equivalent yield on non-ASC 310-30 loans was 4.80%4.61% for fiscal year 2017, an increase of 12020, a 56 basis point decrease compared to 4.79%5.17% for fiscal year 2016,2019, which was a 9an 27 basis point decreaseincrease from 4.88%4.90% for fiscal year 2015.2018. Adjusted for the current realized gain (loss) on derivatives we use to manage interest rate risk on certain of our loans at fair value, which we believe represents the underlying economics of the transactions, the adjusted yield on non-ASC 310-30 loans was 4.64%4.52% for fiscal year 2017, an increase2020, a decrease of 1266 basis points compared to 4.52%5.18% for fiscal year 2016,2019, which was a 534 basis points decreaseincrease compared to 4.57%4.84% for fiscal year 2015. Starting in fiscal year 2016 and continuing through fiscal year 2017 we have begun to benefit from period-over-period increases in LIBOR rates which have reduced the net cost of pay fixed, receive floating interest rate swaps the Company utilizes related to certain fixed rate loans and benchmark rate hikes which have raised interest rates2018. For more information on many of our floating and variable rate loans.
The averageadjusted yield on ASCnon-ASC 310-30 loans, was 9.47%see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for fiscal year 2017, compareda reconciliation to 6.55% for fiscal year 2016 and 6.83% for fiscal year 2015. The yield on this portion of the portfolio is heavily impacted by the amortization rates for the related FDIC indemnification asset, which is recorded through interest income. The portfolio continues to run off and represents a very small portion of the overall loan portfolio with average balances of $114.1 million, $113.8 million and $129.4 million for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which represents 1.3%, 1.4% and 1.8% of the total average loan portfolio, respectively.most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations."
The average duration of the loan portfolio, including the impact of the interest rate swaps on the duration of fair value loans, was a relatively short 1.31.5 years as of September 30, 2017.2020. Approximately 48%54%, or $4.32$5.38 billion, of the portfolio is comprised of fixed rate loans, of which $1.02 billion$655.2 million of loans are fixed-rate loans with an original term of 5 years or greater which we have entered into equal and offsetting fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps. These loans effectively behave as floating rate loans. Of the remainingFor floating rate loans in the portfolio, approximately 52%35% are indexed to Wall Street Journal Prime, 27%29% to 5-year Treasuries and the balance to various other indices. Approximately 3%Less than 20% of our total loans' rates are floored, with an average interest rate floor 77 bps112 basis points above market rates. In addition, there were approximately 5% of our total loans with rate floors that have not been reached, with an average interest rate 12 basis points below market rates.
Loan-related fee income of $13.4$7.6 million is included in interest income for fiscal year 20172020, compared to $11.1$7.0 million and $4.9 million for fiscal year 2016years 2019 and $9.4 million for fiscal year 2015.2018, respectively. In addition, certain fees collected at loan origination are considered to be a component of yield on the underlying loans and are deferred and recognized into income over the life of the loans. Amortization related to the FDIC indemnification assets of $4.7$1.0 million, $3.8$1.4 million and $7.6$2.8 million for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively, is included as a reduction to interest income.
Investment Portfolio. The carrying value of investment securities and FHLB stock was $1.41$1.79 billion and $1.36$1.81 billion as of September 30, 2017,2020 and 2016,2019, respectively. Interest and dividend income on investments includes income earned on investment securities and FHLB stock. Interest and dividend income on investments was $26.3$42.7 million for fiscal year 2017,2020, an increase of $1.6$1.2 million, or 6.6%2.8%, from $24.7$41.5 million in fiscal year 2016.2019. The increase in interest income was driven by an increase in average investment balance of $286.7 million, or 17.1%, partially offset by the yield on investments which decreased 30 basis points to 2.17% for fiscal year 2020, compared to 2.47% for fiscal year 2019.
In fiscal year 2019, interest income on investments increased $12.3 million, or 42.3%, from $29.2 million in fiscal year 2018. The increase was driven by an 8 basis point increase in average investment balance of $296.6 million, or 21.4%, combined with the fiscal year 2017 yield on investments which increased 36 basis points to 1.89% from 1.81%2.47% for fiscal year 2016 combined with an increase in average balances.
In fiscal year 2016, interest and dividend income on investments increased2019, compared to $24.7 million from $24.3 million in fiscal year 2015, an increase of 1.7%. The increase was driven by a 5 basis point increase in the fiscal year 2016 yield to 1.81% from 1.76%2.11% for fiscal year 2015 offset by a decrease in average balances.


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2018.
The weighted average life of the portfolio was 3.63.2 years at September 30, 2017, and 3.32020, 3.7 years at September 30, 20162019 and 3.13.9 years at September 30, 2015.2018. Average investments in fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 were 13.6%16.6%, 14.6%14.7% and 15.9%, respectively,13.0% of total average interest-earning assets.assets, respectively.
Interest Expense
The following table presents interest expense for fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Interest expense
Deposits$58,603 $106,718 $60,112 
FHLB advances and other borrowings11,028 9,951 8,848 
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,516 5,540 5,040 
Total interest expense$74,147 $122,209 $74,000 
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 For the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Interest expense     
Deposits$35,035
 $25,114
 $23,362
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase384
 519
 563
FHLB advances and other borrowings5,437
 4,154
 3,631
Related party notes payable
 
 771
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,464
 3,737
 1,557
Total interest expense$45,320
 $33,524
 $29,884

Total interest expense consists primarily of interest expense on fivethree components: deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, FHLB advances and other borrowings, related party notes payable and our outstanding subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable. Total interest expense increased $11.8decreased $48.1 million, or 35.2%39.3%, to $45.3$74.1 million in fiscal year 2017,2020, from $33.5$122.2 million in fiscal year 2016,2019, which increased $3.6$48.2 million, or 12.2%65.1%, from $29.9$74.0 million in fiscal year 2015.2018. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $813.8$469.5 million, or 9.3%4.4%, to $9.57$11.17 billion in fiscal year 2017,2020, from $8.76$10.70 billion in fiscal year 2016,2019, which increased $578.5$745.6 million, or 7.1%7.5%, from $8.18$9.95 billion in fiscal year 2015.2018. The average cost of total interest-bearing liabilities increaseddecreased to 0.47%0.66% in fiscal year 2017,2020, compared to 0.38%1.14% in fiscal year 20162019 and 0.37%0.74% in fiscal year 2015.2018. Significant components of interest expense are described in further detail below.
Deposits. Interest expense on deposits, consisting of non-interest-bearing demand accounts, money market and savings accounts, NOW accounts, savingsinterest-bearing accounts and time deposits, was $35.0$58.6 million in fiscal year 20172020 compared with $25.1$106.7 million in fiscal year 2016,2019, a decrease of $48.1 million, or 45.1%. The decrease was driven by the cost of deposits, which decreased 49 basis points to 0.56% for fiscal year 2020 from 1.05% for fiscal year 2019, partially offset by an increase in average deposit balances to $10.52 billion in fiscal year 2020 from $10.18 billion in fiscal year 2019, an increase of $9.9$342.2 million, or 39.5%3.4%.
Interest expense on deposits for fiscal year 2019 increased $46.6 million, or 77.5%, from $60.1 million in fiscal year 2018. The increase in interest expense in fiscal year 2019 was driven by growth in average deposits outstanding, which were $10.18 billion in fiscal year 2019, an increase of $894.7 million, or 9.6%, from $9.28 billion in fiscal year 2018, and increasing benchmark interest rates. rates in the cost of deposits which increased 40 basis points to 1.05% for fiscal year 2019 from 0.65% for fiscal year 2018.
Average depositnoninterest-bearing demand account balances increased to $8.82 billion from $7.92 billion, respectively, for the same periods, an increase of $897.0 million, or 11.3%. The cost of deposits increased 8 basis points to 0.40% for fiscal year 2017 from 0.32% for fiscal year 2016, reflecting a rise in market interest rates. Interest expense on deposits was $25.1 million in fiscal year 2016 compared with $23.4 million in fiscal year 2015, an increase of $1.8 million, or 7.5%. Average deposit balances increased $557.5 million, or 7.6%, to $7.92 billion from $7.36 billion, respectively, for the same periods. The cost of deposits remained stable at 0.32% for fiscal year 2016 and 2015.
Average non-interest-bearing demand account balances comprised 20.5%21.2% of average total deposits for fiscal year 20172020, compared with 18.9% for fiscal year 2016, and 18.3% for fiscal year 2015.2019 and 19.5% for fiscal year 2018. Total average other transactionalliquid accounts, consisting of money market and savingsinterest-bearing demand accounts, continued to increase in fiscal year 2017 to 64.8%comprised 63.8% of total average deposits in fiscal year 2020, compared to 64.2%61.8% of total average deposits for fiscal year 20162019 and 60.7%64.5% in fiscal year 2015,2018, while time deposit accounts decreased in fiscal year 20172020 to 14.8%15.1% of total average deposits from 17.0%compared to 20.0% in fiscal year 20162019 and 20.9%16.0% in fiscal year 2015. We continue our strategy of focusing on cost-effective transaction accounts as well as our focus on gathering business deposits, which are typically transaction accounts by nature.2018.
FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings. Interest expense on FHLB advances and other borrowings was $5.4$11.0 million for fiscal year 2017,2020, compared to $4.2$10.0 million for fiscal year 20162019 and $3.6$8.8 million for fiscal year 2015,2018, reflecting weighted average cost of 1.03%2.31%, 0.72%2.83% and 0.66%1.88%, respectively. Our average balance for FHLB advances and other borrowings decreasedincreased to $525.5$473.7 million in fiscal year 20172020 from $580.3$345.4 million in fiscal year 2016,2019, which increaseddecreased from $554.1$452.6 million in fiscal year 2015.2018. Average FHLB advances and other borrowings as a proportion of total average interest-bearing liabilities were 5.5%4.2% for fiscal year 2017, 6.6%2020, 3.2% for fiscal year 20162019 and 6.8%4.5% for fiscal year 2015.2018. The average rate paid on FHLB advances is impacted by market rates and the various terms and repricing frequency of the specific outstanding borrowings in each year. Our total outstanding FHLB advances were $643.2 million at September 30, 2017, compared with $871.0 million at September 30, 2016 and $581.0 million at September 30, 2015. The weighted average contractual rate paid on our FHLB advances was 1.36%1.78% at September 30, 2017, 0.69%2020, 2.74% at September 30, 20162019 and 0.61%2.58% at September 30, 2015.2018. The average tenor of our FHLB advances was 4 months, 52 months and 6023 months at September 30, 2017, 20162020, 34 months at September 30, 2019 and 2015, respectively.15 months at September 30, 2018. The amount of other borrowings and related interest expense are immaterial in each of fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.


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2018.
We must collateralize FHLB advances by pledging real estate loans or investments. We pledge more assets than required by our current level of borrowings in order to maintain additional borrowing capacity. Although we may substitute other loans for such pledged loans, we are restricted in our ability to sell or otherwise pledge these loans without substituting collateral or prepaying a portion of the FHLB advances. At September 30, 2017,2020, we had pledged $3.71$4.07 billion of loans to the FHLB, against which we had borrowed $643.2$195.0 million.
Subordinated Debentures and Subordinated Notes Payable. Interest expense on our outstanding junior subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable was $4.5 million for fiscal year 2017, $3.72020, $5.5 million for fiscal year 2016,2019, and $1.6$5.0 million for fiscal year 2015. At September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the2018. The weighted average contractual rate on outstanding junior subordinated debentures was 2.47%, 4.38% and 4.55% at September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The weighted average contractual rate on outstanding subordinated notes payable was 4.88%3.43%, 4.88% and 2.39%,4.88% at September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. While fiscal year 2017 and 2016 remained fairly stable, the increase between fiscal year 2016 and 2015 was primarily driven by $35.0 million of junior subordinated debentures we issued in July 2015 at a higher rate than the related party note rates. We primarily used the proceeds to repay the outstanding subordinated capital note issued to NAB New York Branch.
Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase; Related Party Notes Payable. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase represent retail repurchase agreements with customers and, together, with our related party notes payable, represent a small portion of our overall funding profile. The interest expense associated with securities sold under agreements to repurchase remained largely consistent between fiscal year 2017, 2016, and 2015. In fiscal years 2017 and 2016, the interest expense associated with related party notes payable decreased compared to fiscal year 2015 due to the repayment of the subordinated capital note issued to NAB New York Branch on July 31, 2015.
Rate and Volume Variances
Net interest income is affected by changes in both volume and interest rates. Volume changes are caused by increases or decreases during the year in the level of average interest-earning assets and average interest-bearing liabilities. Rate changes result from increases or decreases in the yields earned on assets or the rates paid on liabilities.
50-



The following table presents each of the last two fiscal years and a summary of the changes in interest income and interest expense on a tax equivalent basis resulting from changes in the volume of average asset and liability balances and changes in the average yields or rates compared with the preceding fiscal year. If significant, the change in interest income or interest expense due to both volume and rate has been prorated between the volume and the rate variances based on the dollar amount of each variance.
 2017 vs 2016 2016 vs 2015
 Volume Rate Total Volume Rate Total
 (dollars in thousands)
Increase (decrease) in interest income:           
Cash and cash equivalents$5
 $343
 $348
 $(422) $344
 $(78)
Investment securities412
 1,219
 1,631
 (174) 583
 409
Non ASC 310-30 loans39,625
 2,085
 41,710
 41,433
 (7,105) 34,328
ASC 310-30 loans15
 3,330
 3,345
 (1,016) (368) (1,384)
Total loans39,640
 5,415
 45,055
 40,417
 (7,473) 32,944
Total increase (decrease)40,057
 6,977
 47,034
 39,821
 (6,546) 33,275
            
Increase in interest expense:           
NOW, money market & savings deposits2,181
 7,582
 9,763
 1,827
 2,005
 3,832
Time deposits(311) 469
 158
 (1,305) (776) (2,081)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase(123) (13) (136) (24) (19) (43)
FHLB advances and other borrowings(425) 1,708
 1,283
 181
 342
 523
Related party notes payable
 
 
 (771) 
 (771)
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable399
 329
 728
 1,177
 1,003
 2,180
Total increase1,721
 10,075
 11,796
 1,085
 2,555
 3,640
Increase (decrease) in net interest income (FTE)$38,336
 $(3,098) $35,238
 $38,736
 $(9,101) $29,635


75




2020 vs 20192019 vs 2018
VolumeRateTotalVolumeRateTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Increase (decrease) in interest income:
Cash and cash equivalents$1,075 $(2,164)$(1,089)$(283)$1,379 $1,096 
Investment securities6,621 (5,478)1,143 6,844 5,495 12,339 
Non-ASC 310-30 loans7,273 (54,171)(46,898)25,406 24,961 50,367 
ASC 310-30 loans(1,384)(814)(2,198)(2,670)(806)(3,476)
Loans5,889 (54,985)(49,096)22,736 24,155 46,891 
Total increase (decrease)13,585 (62,627)(49,042)29,297 31,029 60,326 
Increase (decrease) in interest expense:
Interest-bearing deposits4,384 (38,095)(33,711)2,209 24,004 26,213 
Time deposits(7,302)(7,102)(14,404)7,710 12,683 20,393 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase(3)(89)(92)(119)(41)(160)
FHLB advances and other borrowings3,200 (2,031)1,169 (2,332)3,595 1,263 
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable10 (1,034)(1,024)492 500 
Total increase (decrease)289 (48,351)(48,062)7,476 40,733 48,209 
Increase (decrease) in net interest income (FTE)$13,296 $(14,276)$(980)$21,821 $(9,704)$12,117 
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses
We recognized a provision for loan and lease losses of $21.5$118.4 million for fiscal year 20172020 compared to a provision for loan and lease losses of $17.0$40.9 million for fiscal year 2016,2019, an increase of $4.5 million or 27.0%.$77.4 million. The higherincrease in provision for loan and lease losses comparedwas due to fiscal year 2016 was driven primarily by the higher level of net charge-offs recognized during fiscal year 2017, which was concentratedincurred losses in the commercial non-real estate and agriculture segmentsportfolio primarily as a result of the loan portfolio.COVID-19 pandemic. The required specific allowanceincrease did not contemplate the potential impact of CECL implementation, which is effective for loan and lease losses ("ALLL") decreased by $3.2 million, mainly due to a number of charge-offs related to loans for which a specific ALLL had been previously recorded.the Company commencing October 1, 2020. Included within the $21.5 million provision for loan and lease losses was a net recoupmentimpairment of $0.7$0.2 million during fiscal year 20172020 associated with ASC 310-30 loans. This compares to a recoupmentnet reversal of $1.1$0.6 million related to this portion of the portfolio recorded in fiscal year 2016.2019.
We recognized a provision for loan and lease losses of $17.0$40.9 million for fiscal year 20162019 compared to a provision for loan and lease losses of $19.0$18.0 million for fiscal year 2015, a decrease2018, an increase of $2.0 million, or 11.0%.$22.9 million. The decrease inincrease provision for loan and lease losses compared towas mainly driven by a higher level of charge-offs recognized between the periods. Net charge-offs in fiscal year 2015 was attributable2019 were concentrated in the agriculture segment of the loan portfolio, which included $18.7 million in net charge-offs related to a small number of primarilythe cattle industry, and the commercial non-real estate exposures that were provided for insegment of the second quarterloan portfolio, which included $7.5 million of 2015. The required specific ALLL increased by $9.4 million due to the deterioration of a small number of specific loan relationships primarily in the agriculture sector.net charge-offs. Included within the $17.0 million provision for loan and lease losses was a net recoupmentreversal of $1.1$0.6 million during fiscal year 20162019 associated with ASC 310-30 loans. This compares to an improvementnet impairment of $0.7$0.2 million related to this portion of the portfolio recorded in fiscal year 2015.2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Provision for loan and lease losses, non-ASC 310-30 loans *$118,204 $41,506 $17,754 
Impairment (improvement) in loan and lease losses, ASC 310-30 loans188 (559)232 
Provision for loan and lease losses, total$118,392 $40,947 $17,986 
* As presented above, the non-ASC 310-30 loan portfolio includes originated loans, other than loans for which we have elected the fair value option, and loans we acquired that we did not determine were acquired with deteriorated credit quality.
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 Fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Provision for loan and lease losses, non ASC 310-30 loans *$22,210
 $18,011
 $19,718
Provision for loan and lease losses, ASC 310-30 loans(671) (1,056) (677)
Provision for loan and lease losses, total$21,539
 $16,955
 $19,041
      
* As presented above, the non ASC 310-30 loan portfolio includes originated loans, other than loans for which we have elected the fair value option, and loans we acquired that we did not determine were acquired with deteriorated credit quality.

Total Credit-Related Charges
In addition to the higher provision for loan and lease losses we incurred during the current fiscal year compared to the 2016 fiscal year, we recognized other credit-related charges. We believe the following table, which summarizes each component of the total credit-related charges incurred during the current and prior fiscal years, is helpful to understanding the overall impact on our yearly results of operations. Net OREOother repossessed property charges include OREOother repossessed property operating costs, valuation adjustments and gain (loss) on sale of OREOother repossessed properties, each of which entered OREOother repossessed property as a result of the former borrower failing to perform on a loan obligation. Reversal of interest income on nonaccrual loans occurs when we become aware that a loan, for which we had been recognizing interest income, will no longer be able to perform according to the terms and conditions of the loan agreement, including repayment of interest owed to us, while a recovery of interest income on nonaccrual loans occurs when we receive paymentrepayment of interest owed to us. Loan fair value adjustments related to credit relate to the portion of our loan portfolio for which we have elected the fair value option; these amounts reflect the portion of the fair value adjustment related to expected credit losses in the portfolio.portfolio of loans carried at fair value.
 For the fiscal year ended September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
ItemIncluded within F/S Line Item(s):2017 2016 2015ItemIncluded within F/S Line Item(s):202020192018
 (dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Provision for loan and lease lossesProvision for loan and lease losses$21,539
 $16,955
 $19,041
Provision for loan and lease losses$118,392 $40,947 $17,986 
Net OREO chargesNet loss on repossessed property and other related expenses1,749
 1,263
 5,382
Reversal of interest income on nonaccrual loansInterest income on loans930
 1,433
 372
Net other repossessed property chargesNet other repossessed property chargesNet loss on repossessed property and other related expenses12,858 4,367 4,369 
Net reversal of interest income on nonaccrual loansNet reversal of interest income on nonaccrual loansInterest income on loans4,894 312 1,901 
Increase in unfunded commitment reserveIncrease in unfunded commitment reserveOther noninterest expense1,939 — — 
Net realized credit loss on derivativesNet realized credit loss on derivativesNet realized and unrealized loss on derivatives2,952 — — 
Loan fair value adjustment related to creditNet increase in fair value of loans at fair value936
 1,618
 3,703
Loan fair value adjustment related to creditNet decrease in fair value of loans at fair value59,356 7,664 194 
Total $25,154
 $21,269
 $28,498
Total credit-related chargesTotal credit-related charges$200,391 $53,290 $24,450 
Total credit-related charges for fiscal year 20172020 increased $3.9$147.1 million or 18.3%, compared to fiscal year 2016.2019. The majority of the increase was driven by increased provision for loan and lease losses due to incurred losses in the portfolio primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In determining the credit-related charges, in fiscal year 2020 we continued to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on our loan portfolio. Industries such as hotels & resorts, restaurants, oil & energy, retail malls, airlines and healthcare have experienced significant revenue loss due to COVID-19. Within our portfolio we have identified the following segments with elevated risk: hotels & resorts with $1.21 billion, or 12.0% of total loans, restaurants with $156.5 million, or 1.6% of total loans, arts and entertainment with $130.3 million, or 1.3% of total loans, senior care with $330.7 million, or 3.3% of total loans, and skilled nursing with $250.9 million, or 2.5% of total loans for a total exposure of $2.07 billion, or 20.7% of total loans. Loan exposure in such other identified industries is either immaterial or has not shown general distress thus far. At this time it is difficult to determine ultimate impact upon our portfolio, but we are of the view the credit-related adjustments reflect the best estimate of incurred losses in our portfolio as of September 30, 2020.
Total credit-related charges for fiscal year 2019 increased $28.8 million compared to fiscal year 2018. The increase in total credit-related charges was primarily driven by increasedan increase in net charge-offs driving higher required provision for loan and lease losses. Total credit-related charges forin fiscal year 2016 decreased $7.2 million, or 25.4%, compared to fiscal year 2015 driven by a decreased provision for loan and lease losses during the period as discussed previously in this report and a decrease in OREO charges as a result of a decrease2019, mainly concentrated in the numberagriculture and carrying valuecommercial non-real estate segments of properties held in OREO compared to fiscal year 2015.the loan portfolio.


76




Noninterest Income
The following table presents noninterest income for the periodsfiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest income
Service charges and other fees$37,741 $43,893 $51,077 
Wealth management fees11,772 8,914 9,219 
Mortgage banking income, net8,959 4,848 5,842 
Net gain (loss) on sale of securities7,890 (178)
Other4,623 5,287 8,276 
Subtotal, product and service fees70,985 62,764 74,420 
Net (decrease) increase in fair value of loans at fair value(32,529)61,412 (45,407)
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives(38,439)(63,444)44,596 
Subtotal, loans at fair value and related derivatives(70,968)(2,032)(811)
Total noninterest income$17 $60,732 $73,609 
52-


 Fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Noninterest income     
Service charges and other fees$48,573
 $46,209
 $39,134
Wealth management fees9,118
 7,283
 7,412
Mortgage banking income, net7,928
 7,261
 6,694
Net gain on sale of securities75
 160
 310
Other5,699
 3,968
 5,686
Subtotal, product and service fees71,393
 64,881
 59,236
Net (decrease) increase in fair value of loans at fair value(65,231) 26,314
 36,742
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives49,900
 (48,658) (62,088)
Subtotal, loans at fair value and related derivatives(15,331) (22,344) (25,346)
Total noninterest income$56,062
 $42,537
 $33,890

Our noninterest income is comprised of the various fees we charge our customers for products and services we provide and the impact of changes in fair value of loans for which we have elected the fair value treatment and realized and unrealized gains (losses) on the related interest rate swaps we utilize to manage interest rate risk on these loans. While we are required under USU.S. GAAP to present both components within total noninterest income, we believe it is helpful to analyze the two broader components of noninterest income separately to better understand the underlying performance of the business.
Noninterest income was $56.1nominal for fiscal year 2020, compared with $60.7 million for fiscal year 2017, compared with $42.52019, which decreased $12.9 million, or 17.5%, from $73.6 million for fiscal year 2016, an increase of $13.5 million or 31.8%. Noninterest income was $42.5 million for fiscal year 2016, compared with $33.9 million for fiscal year 2015, an increase of $8.6 million or 25.5%.2018. Significant components of noninterest income are described in further detail below.
Product and Service Fees. We recognized $71.4$71.0 million of noninterest income related to product and service fees in fiscal year 2017,2020, an increase of $6.5$8.2 million, or 10.0%13.1%, compared tofrom $62.8 million for fiscal year 2016.2019. The increase was primarily attributabledue to service charges and other fees which increased by $2.4the gain on sale of $7.9 million or 5.1%, and included debit card interchange income, combined within investment securities, a $1.8$4.1 million increase or 25.2%,in mortgage banking income due to stronger origination demand and a $2.9 million increase in wealth management fees, partially offset by a $6.2 million decrease in service charges and a $1.7 million increase, or 43.6%,interchange revenue driven by declines in other income. As previously discussed in this report, higher allowable interchange rates were capped as required by the Durbin Amendment effective July 1, 2017. Management expects the fiscal year 2018 reduction in interchange income to be approximately $8.0 million, pre-tax.transaction activity from COVID-19 pandemic impacts.
Noninterest income related to product and service fees was $64.9 million for the fiscal year 2016 compared to $59.22019 decreased $11.6 million, or 15.7%, from $74.4 million for fiscal year 2015, an increase of $5.62018. The decrease was due to a $7.2 million or 9.5%. Servicedecrease in service charges and other fees increased by $7.1 million, accounting for the largest component of the increase, partially offset bycombined with a $1.7$3.0 million decrease in other noninterest income. Management estimates thatThe decrease in service charges and other fees was primarily due to the impact of adopting the opportunity to charge higherrevenue recognition accounting standard in fiscal year 2019, which resulted in netting $5.7 million of credit and debit card network expenses against related interchange rates forincome, combined with a period of time accounted for approximately $6.3 million of the increase. Fees related to commercial deposit accounts increased, partially offset by other consumer account fees primarily related to overdraftsdecrease in net overdraft and non-sufficient funds.funds income. The decrease in other income compared to the prior period was due to a one-time gain on the sale of Visa, Inc. Class B common shares and a sign on bonus received from a service provider in fiscal year 2018.
Loans at fair value and related derivatives. As discussed in "—Analysis of Financial Condition—Derivatives," changes in the fair value of loans for which we have elected the fair value treatment and realized and unrealized gains and losses on the related derivatives are recognized within noninterest income. For fiscal years 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 these items accounted for $(15.3)$(71.0) million, $(22.3)$(2.0) million and $(25.3)$(0.8) million, respectively. The change during fiscal year 2020 was driven by a favorable$9.3 million increase in the current cost of interest rate swaps, a $3.0 million realized loss on derivatives and a $2.9 million decrease in swap fees combined with a net unfavorable change in the credit risk adjustment of $0.7 million and$53.7 million. The change during fiscal year 2019 was driven by a $6.3$6.0 million reduction in the current cost of interest rate swaps driven by changesand a $1.7 million increase in swap fees combined with a net unfavorable change in the interest rate environment.credit risk adjustment of $8.9 million. We believe that the current realized losscost of interest rate swaps on the derivatives economically offsets the interest income earneddecrease in yield on the related loans; weloans. We present elsewhere the adjusted net interest income and adjusted net interest margin reflecting the metrics we use to manage the business. The change during fiscal year 2016 was driven by a net favorable change in the credit adjustment of $2.1 million and a $0.9 million reduction in in the current cost of interest rate swaps.


77




Noninterest Expense
The following table presents noninterest expense for fiscal years 2017, 2016September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
 Fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Noninterest expense     
Salaries and employee benefits$128,135
 $109,055
 $100,646
Data processing24,514
 21,719
 19,531
Occupancy expenses16,470
 15,759
 14,809
Professional fees15,038
 13,572
 14,024
Communication expenses3,774
 3,721
 4,455
Advertising3,983
 4,267
 3,940
Equipment expense3,347
 3,795
 3,905
Net loss recognized on repossessed property and other related expenses1,749
 1,263
 5,382
Amortization of core deposits and other intangibles2,358
 3,264
 7,110
Acquisition expenses710
 15,692
 
Other16,565
 15,533
 12,992
Total noninterest expense$216,643
 $207,640
 $186,794
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits$149,441 $136,305 $135,352 
Data processing and communication24,455 24,077 29,805 
Occupancy and equipment21,273 20,784 20,330 
Professional fees21,961 14,579 17,891 
Advertising3,396 4,493 4,507 
Net loss on repossessed property and other related expenses12,858 4,367 4,369 
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment742,352 — — 
Other31,632 20,293 19,171 
Total noninterest expense$1,007,368 $224,898 $231,425 
Our noninterest expense consists primarily of salaries and employee benefits, data processing, occupancy expenses, professional fees, communication expenses, advertising and acquisition expenses. Noninterest expense increasedwas $1.01 billion for fiscal year 2020 compared with $224.9 million for fiscal year 2019, an increase of $782.5 million, or 347.9%, which was a decrease of $6.5 million, or 2.8%, compared to $216.6$231.4 million in fiscal year 2017 from $207.6 million in fiscal year 2016, an increase of $9.0 million or 4.3%, which in turn increased $20.8 million, or 11.2%, from $186.8 million in fiscal year 2015. Included in noninterest expense for fiscal year 2017 and 2016 was $0.7 million and $15.7 million of non-recurring acquisition expenses; absent this reduction, total noninterest expense increased by $24.0 million, or 12.5% and $5.2 million, or 2.8%, in fiscal years 2017 and 2016, respectively.2018. Our efficiency ratio was 46.5%61.9% for fiscal year 2017, 49.6%2020, 45.8% for fiscal year 20162019 and 48.0%47.1% for fiscal year 2015.2018. For more information on our efficiency ratio, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".Reconciliations." Significant changes in components of noninterest expense are described in further detail below.
53-



Salaries and Employee Benefits. Salaries and employee benefits are the largesta significant component of noninterest expense and include the cost of incentive compensation, stock compensation, benefit plans, health insurance and payroll taxes. These expenses were $128.1$149.4 million for fiscal year 2017, a 17.5%2020, an increase of $13.1 million, or 9.6%, from $109.1$136.3 million for fiscal year 2016.2019. The majority of the increase was driven by additional roles addedannual merit increases combined with a one-time PTO payout of $1.1 million offered to meet regulatoryemployees and risk management expectations, higher long-term incentive compensation and higher cost of employee benefits, which was primarily related to higher health insurance$2.1 million in severance costs and standard annual wage increases.during the period. Salaries and employee benefits were $109.1for fiscal year 2019 increased $0.9 million, or 0.7%, from $135.4 million for fiscal year 2016, an 8.4% an increase from $100.6 million for fiscal year 2015.2018. The majority of the increase was driven primarily by annual merit increases partially offset by a reduction in health insurance costs during the impact of integrating HF Financial's operations into the consolidated business and standard annual wage increases.period.
Data Processing and Communication. TheseData processing and communication expenses include payments to vendors who provide software, data processing, and services on an outsourced basis, costs related to supporting and developing Internet-basedinternet-based activities, credit card rewards provided to our customers, and depreciation of bank-owned hardware and software.software, postage and telephone expenses. Expenses for data processing and communication were $24.5 million for fiscal year 20172020 and $21.7$24.1 million for fiscal year 2016, or2019, an increase of 12.9%$0.4 million, or 1.6%. TheThis increase was driven primarily by amortization of recent technology investments.due to annual increases in data processing and communication expense. Expenses for data processing were $21.7and communication for fiscal year 2019 decreased $5.7 million, and $19.5or 19.2%, from $29.8 million for fiscal year 20162018. The decrease was due to the impact of adopting the revenue recognition standard as discussed in noninterest income above.
Occupancy and 2015, respectively. The increase was driven primarily by the higher software-related costsEquipment. Occupancy and the incremental costs associated with the HF Financial acquisition.
Occupancy Expenses. Occupancyequipment expenses include our branch network and administrative office locations throughout our footprint, including both owned and leased locations, property taxes, maintenance expense and maintenance expense.depreciation of bank-owned furniture and equipment. These costs were $16.5$21.3 million for fiscal year 2017, $15.82020 and $20.8 million for fiscal year 20162019, an increase of $0.5 million, or 2.4%. Expenses for occupancy and $14.8equipment for fiscal year 2019 increased $0.5 million, or 2.2%, from $20.3 million for fiscal year 2015.2018. The increaseincreases in fiscal year 2017 wasyears 2020 and 2019 were primarily due to increasedannual increases in rent, utilities and property tax expenses. The increase in fiscal year 2016 was primarily driven by the addition of HF Financial locations acquired.


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Professional Fees. Professional fees include our FDIC and FICO assessments,assessment, borrower credit reports, the cost of accountants and other consultants, and legal services requiredin connection with delinquent loans, business transactions, regulatory compliance matters and to complete transactions, resolve other legal matters or delinquent loans.matters. These expenses were $15.0$22.0 million for fiscal year 2017, a 10.8% increase from $13.62020 and $14.6 million for fiscal year 2016.2019, an increase of $7.4 million, or 50.6%. The increase in fiscal year 2020 was due to increased FDIC assessment costs of $4.0 million, $1.2 million in increased legal costs and $0.9 million increase in loan review fees. Expenses for professional fees for fiscal year 2019 decreased $3.3 million, or 18.5%, from $17.9 million for fiscal year 2018. Professional fees increaseddecreased in the current fiscal year 2019 due to an increasethe discontinuation of the surcharge for banks with assets exceeding $10.0 million in our FDIC assessment as a result of exceeding $10.0 billion in total assets. Fiscal year 2016 decreased slightly compared to fiscal year 2015 primarily due to elevated levels of professional fees in fiscal year 2015 related to becoming a publicly traded company.assessment.
Net Loss Recognized on Repossessed Property and Other Assets. Our net loss on the sale of repossessed property and other assets was $1.7$12.9 million for fiscal year 2017, a slight increase from $1.32020 and $4.4 million for fiscal year 2016.2019, an increase of $8.5 million. The increase in fiscal year 2020 was primarily due to the write downvaluation writedowns and related expenses of one large property in OREO.repossessed property. Net loss on the sale of repossessed property and other assets was $1.3$4.4 million for fiscal year 2016, a decrease of $4.1 million from $5.4 million for fiscal year 2015. The decrease in fiscal year 2016 was primarily due to the decrease in the number and carrying value of properties held as OREO and available for sale, resulting in fewer sales and lower cumulative losses.
Amortization of Core Deposits and Other Intangibles. Amortization of core deposits and other intangibles represents the scheduled amortization of specifically-identifiable intangible assets arising from acquisitions, including NAB’s acquisition of us as well as subsequent acquisitions completed by us. The most significant component of amortization of core deposits and other intangibles relates to core deposit intangible assets, which represented $1.4 million in fiscal year 2017 compared to $0.8 million in fiscal year 2016 and $4.7 million in fiscal year 2015. The intangible assets currently recorded are scheduled to amortize through May 2026. Total scheduled amortization for all intangible assets includes approximately $1.7 million for fiscal year 2018 and slightly lower amounts for fiscal years 2019 through 2026.and 2018.
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Impairment. In fiscal year 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in impairment recognized in noninterest expense of $742.4 million, of which $622.4 million stemmed from goodwill related to the acquisition of Great Western Bank in 2008 by NAB, $118.2 million from goodwill related to subsequent acquisitions and $1.8 million from certain intangible assets. There was no goodwill and intangible assets impairment in both fiscal years 2019 and 2018.
Other. Other noninterest expenses include costs related to OREOother repossessed property costs prior to foreclosure, business development and professional membership fees, travel and entertainment costs, amortization of core deposits and other intangibles, and other costs incurred. Other noninterest expenses increased to $16.6were $31.6 million in fiscal year 2017 from $15.52020 and $20.3 million in fiscal year 2016,2019, an increase of 6.6%$11.3 million, or 55.9%. The increase was primarily due to an increase$7.6 million in OREO costs priorexpense related to foreclosure.the early payment of FHLB borrowings and $2.0 million in expense related to the completion of the FDIC loss-sharing agreement, which ended June 4, 2020. Other noninterest expenses for fiscal year 2019 increased to $15.5$1.1 million, or 5.9%, from $19.2 million in fiscal year 2016 from $13.0 million in fiscal year 2015, an increase of 19.6%.2018. The increase was primarily due to increased costs relatedincreases in loan expenses.
Our efficiency ratio was 61.9%, 45.8% and 47.1% for the fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. For more information on our efficiency ratio, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to underwriting new loans.the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations."
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Provision for Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes varies due to the amount of taxable income, the investments in tax-advantaged securities and tax credit funds and the rates charged by federal and state authorities. As a result of the Tax Reform Act of 2017, we utilized a fully phased in statutory federal tax rate of 21.0% in fiscal years 2020 and 2019 versus a statutory federal rate of 24.5% in fiscal year 2018. The provision forbenefit from income taxes of $69.4$25.5 million in fiscal year 20172020 represents an effective tax rate of 32.4%3.6%, compared to $58.9the provision for income taxes of $48.2 million or 32.7%22.4%, for fiscal year 20162019 and $52.5the provision for income taxes of $74.1 million or 32.5%31.9%, for fiscal year 2015, with the lower2018. The substantial drop in effective tax rate for fiscal year 2017 driven, in part, by tax benefits2020 was due to the impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets and the increased provision for loan and lease losses during the period. A sizable portion of goodwill impairment was related to non-tax-deductible goodwill for which no tax benefit was recorded. Excluding the vesting of shares of company stock underCOVID-19 pandemic related goodwill and certain intangible assets impairment and additional provision for loan and lease losses, the company's stock based compensation plan. Approximately $1.4 million of this benefit related to shares granted to certain employees concurrent with the company's Initial Public Offering that vested during the fourth quarter of the currenteffective tax rate would have been 18.5% for fiscal year and were one-time in nature.2020.
Return on Assets and Equity
The table below presents our return on average total assets, return on average common equity and return on average tangible common equity to average assets ratio at and for the dates presented:
presented.
Fiscal year ended September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
Return on average total assets1.27% 1.16% 1.12%Return on average total assets(5.32)%1.33 %1.34 %
Return on average common equity8.5% 7.9% 7.5%Return on average common equity(44.2)%9.1 %8.8 %
Average common equity to average assets ratio15.0% 14.8% 15.0%
Return on average tangible common equity ¹Return on average tangible common equity ¹2.9 %15.3 %15.3 %
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
1 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".



79




Analysis of Financial Condition
The following table highlights certain key financial and performance information for the last three fiscal years:
years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
As of September 30,
As of September 30,202020192018
2017 2016 2015(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
Balance Sheet and Other Information:     
Balance Sheet and Other InformationBalance Sheet and Other Information
Total assets$11,690,011
 $11,531,180
 $9,798,654
Total assets$12,604,439 $12,788,301 $12,116,808 
Loans 1
8,968,553
 8,682,644
 7,325,198
Loans ¹Loans ¹10,076,142 9,706,763 9,415,924 
Allowance for loan and lease losses63,503
 64,642
 57,200
Allowance for loan and lease losses149,887 70,774 64,540 
Deposits8,977,613
 8,604,790
 7,387,065
Deposits11,008,779 10,300,339 9,733,499 
Stockholders' equity1,755,000
 1,663,391
 1,459,346
Stockholders' equity1,162,933 1,900,249 1,840,551 
Tangible common equity 2
$1,006,603
 $912,636
 $754,420
Tangible common equity ²Tangible common equity ²$1,156,769 $1,155,052 $1,093,816 
Tier 1 capital ratio11.4% 11.1% 10.9%Tier 1 capital ratio11.8 %11.7 %12.0 %
Total capital ratio12.5% 12.2% 12.1%Total capital ratio13.3 %12.7 %13.0 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio10.3% 9.5% 9.1%Tier 1 leverage ratio9.4 %10.1 %10.7 %
Common equity tier 1 ratio10.7% 10.2% 10.1%Common equity tier 1 ratio11.0 %11.0 %11.3 %
Tangible common equity / tangible assets 2
9.2% 8.5% 8.3%
Tangible common equity / tangible assets ²Tangible common equity / tangible assets ²9.2 %9.6 %9.6 %
Book value per share - GAAP$29.83
 $28.34
 $26.43
Book value per share - GAAP$21.14 $33.76 $31.24 
Tangible book value per share 2
$17.11
 $15.55
 $13.66
Tangible book value per share ²Tangible book value per share ²$21.03 $20.52 $18.57 
Nonaccrual loans / total loans1.54% 1.46% 0.93%Nonaccrual loans / total loans3.22 %1.10 %1.52 %
Net charge-offs / average total loans0.26% 0.12% 0.13%
Net charge-offs (recoveries) / average total loansNet charge-offs (recoveries) / average total loans0.40 %0.36 %0.18 %
Allowance for loan and lease losses / total loans0.71% 0.74% 0.78%Allowance for loan and lease losses / total loans1.49 %0.73 %0.69 %
     
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and loans in process.
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.
2 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
2 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
2 This is a non-GAAP financial measure we believe is helpful to interpreting our financial results. For more information on this non-GAAP financial measure, see "—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".
Our total assets were $11.69$12.60 billion at September 30, 2017,2020, compared with $11.53$12.79 billion at September 30, 20162019 and $9.80$12.12 billion at September 30, 2015.2018. The decrease in total assets for fiscal year 2020 was due to the COVID-19 related impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets, partially offset by growth in loans and cash and cash equivalents. The increase in total assets for fiscal year 20172019 was primarily attributable to attributable to growth in loans and securities available for sale, partially offset by a reduction in cash and cash equivalents compared to September 30, 2016. The increase in total assets for fiscal year 2016 was principally attributable to the acquisition of HF Financial, which added assets with an acquired value $1.12 billion, and organic loan growth, which was $493.7 million, or 6.7%, compared to September 30, 2015.prior period.
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At September 30, 2017,2020, loans as shown above were $8.97$10.08 billion, an increase of $285.9$369.4 million, or 3.3%3.8%, from $8.68$9.71 billion at September 30, 2016. Loans2019, which increased $290.8 million, or 3.1%, compared to $9.42 billion at September 30, 2016 increased $1.362018. See "—Loan Portfolio" within this section for further discussion on the growth in net loans.
Total deposits were $11.01 billion or 18.5% compared toat September 30, 2015. Excluding loans acquired at a fair value of $863.7 million in the HF Financial acquisition, organic loan growth was $493.7 million, or 6.7%. In our most recent fiscal year, total deposits were $8.98 billion,2020, an increase of 4.3%$708.4 million, or 6.9%, from September 30, 2016. Deposits$10.30 billion at September 30, 20162019, which increased $1.22$566.8 million, or 5.8%, from $9.73 billion or 16.5%, including deposits of $863.1 million acquired in the HF Financial acquisition, fromat September 30, 2015.2018. See "—Deposits" within this section for further discussion on the growth in deposits.. FHLB and other borrowings decreased by $145.0 million, or 42.6%, for the fiscal year.


80




Loan Portfolio
The following table presents our loan portfolio by category at each of the dates indicated:
 As of September 30,
 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 (dollars in thousands)
Unpaid principal balance:         
Commercial real estate 1
         
Originated$3,628,235
 $3,171,516
 $2,708,512
 $2,321,982
 $1,980,319
Acquired496,570
 582,591
 137,236
 219,212
 331,655
Total4,124,805
 3,754,107
 2,845,748
 2,541,194
 2,311,974
Agriculture 1
         
Originated1,990,648
 1,974,226
 1,841,437
 1,661,030
 1,553,561
Acquired131,490
 194,711
 20,028
 20,179
 33,687
Total2,122,138
 2,168,937
 1,861,465
 1,681,209
 1,587,248
Commercial non-real estate 1
         
Originated1,670,349
 1,601,328
 1,591,974
 1,544,747
 1,434,891
Acquired48,565
 71,838
 17,536
 26,893
 46,865
Total1,718,914
 1,673,166
 1,609,510
 1,571,640
 1,481,756
Residential real estate         
Originated724,906
 746,384
 714,855
 639,194
 566,367
Acquired207,986
 274,574
 208,290
 262,411
 340,102
Total932,892
 1,020,958
 923,145
 901,605
 906,469
Consumer         
Originated56,467
 59,850
 68,840
 82,849
 88,388
Acquired10,092
 16,423
 4,209
 7,237
 13,089
Total66,559
 76,273
 73,049
 90,086
 101,477
Other lending         
Originated43,132
 42,398
 38,371
 34,243
 24,711
Acquired75
 79
 
 
 
Total43,207
 42,477
 38,371
 34,243
 24,711
Total originated8,113,737
 7,595,702
 6,963,989
 6,284,045
 5,648,237
Total acquired894,778
 1,140,216
 387,299
 535,932
 765,398
Total unpaid principal balance9,008,515
 8,735,918
 7,351,288
 6,819,977
 6,413,635
Less: Unamortized discount on acquired loans(29,121) (39,947) (19,264) (25,638) (34,717)
Less: Unearned net deferred fees and costs and loans in process(10,841) (13,327) (6,826) (6,872) (16,245)
Total loans8,968,553
 8,682,644
 7,325,198
 6,787,467
 6,362,673
Allowance for loan and lease losses(63,503) (64,642) (57,200) (47,518) (55,864)
Loans, net$8,905,050
 $8,618,002
 $7,267,998
 $6,739,949
 $6,306,809
          
 1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to hedge our interest rate risk.
We have successfully completed nine acquisitions since 2006. Our most recent acquisition of HF Financial, which represented approximately $863.7 million in acquired loans, was completed on May 16, 2016.

As of September 30,
20202019201820172016
(dollars in thousands)
Unpaid principal balance:
Commercial real estate ¹
Originated$5,084,540 $4,824,827 $4,255,272 $3,628,235 $3,171,516 
Acquired190,401 267,583 374,058 496,570 582,591 
Total5,274,941 5,092,410 4,629,330 4,124,805 3,754,107 
Agriculture ¹
Originated1,683,196 1,932,722 2,082,778 1,990,648 1,974,226 
Acquired41,154 75,922 99,910 131,490 194,711 
Total1,724,350 2,008,644 2,182,688 2,122,138 2,168,937 
Commercial non-real estate ¹
Originated2,163,504 1,691,026 1,656,563 1,670,349 1,601,328 
Acquired18,152 28,930 43,424 48,565 71,838 
Total2,181,656 1,719,956 1,699,987 1,718,914 1,673,166 
Residential real estate
Originated745,513 696,403 682,615 724,906 746,384 
Acquired84,589 115,805 154,954 207,986 274,574 
Total830,102 812,208 837,569 932,892 1,020,958 
Consumer
Originated60,105 47,324 43,325 56,467 59,850 
Acquired3,101 4,601 6,364 10,092 16,423 
Total63,206 51,925 49,689 66,559 76,273 
Other lending
Originated37,347 47,541 46,487 43,132 42,398 
Acquired— — — 75 79 
Total37,347 47,541 46,487 43,207 42,477 
Total originated9,774,205 9,239,843 8,767,040 8,113,737 7,595,702 
Total acquired337,397 492,841 678,710 894,778 1,140,216 
Total unpaid principal balance10,111,602 9,732,684 9,445,750 9,008,515 8,735,918 
Less: Unamortized discount on acquired loans(8,215)(13,655)(18,283)(29,121)(39,947)
Less: Unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process(27,245)(12,266)(11,543)(10,841)(13,327)
Total loans10,076,142 9,706,763 9,415,924 8,968,553 8,682,644 
Allowance for loan and lease losses(149,887)(70,774)(64,540)(63,503)(64,642)
Loans, net$9,926,255 $9,635,989 $9,351,384 $8,905,050 $8,618,002 
 1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to manage our interest rate risk.

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During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017,2020, total loans grew by 3.3%,$369.4 million, or $285.9 million.3.8%. The growth was primarily focused in commercial non-real estate loans, which grew by $461.7 million, or 26.8%, and CRE loans, which grew $370.7by $182.5 million, or 9.9%3.6%, partially offset by a decrease in agriculture loans of $284.3 million, or 14.2%. The commercial non-real estate segment growth included $703.4 million of PPP loans, partially offset by paydowns during the period. The CRE segment growth was primarily focused in multifamily residential real estate loans. The agriculture segment decrease was due to the deleveraging of problem loans which declined $88.1in workout, partially offset by $23.9 million or 8.6%.of new PPP loans during the period. Over the same time period, agriculture, commercial non-realresidential real estate, consumer and other loan balances remained generally stable. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016,2019, total loans grew by 18.5%, or $1.36 billion. Growth excluding loans acquired at a fair value of $863.7 million in the HF Financial acquisition was $493.7$290.8 million, or 6.7%3.1%. The growth was primarily focused in CRE loans, which grew $416.6$463.1 million, or 14.6%10.0%, excluding acquired loans of $491.8 million, andpartially offset by agriculture loans, which grew $117.6decreased $174.0 million, or 6.3%, excluding acquired loans of $189.8 million, partially offset by a $35.6 million decrease in residential real estate loans, excluding acquired loans of $133.4 million.8.0%. Over the same time period, commercial non-real estate, residential real estate, consumer and other loan balances remained generally stable.
The following table presents an analysis of the unpaid principal balance of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2017,2020, by loan and collateral type and by each of the fivesix major geographic areas we use to manage our markets.
September 30, 2020
September 30, 2017South 
Dakota
Iowa / 
Missouri
Nebraska / KansasArizonaColoradoNorth Dakota / MinnesotaOther ²Total%
South 
Dakota
 Arizona /
Colorado
 Iowa / 
Kansas / Missouri
 Nebraska North Dakota / Minnesota 
Other 2
 Total %(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate 1
$1,025,947
 $1,069,220
 $1,022,089
 $787,976
 $203,280
 $16,293
 $4,124,805
 45.8%
Agriculture 1
701,899
 854,486
 416,711
 147,863
 3,405
 (2,226) 2,122,138
 23.6%
Commercial non-real estate 1
287,894
 210,638
 827,719
 340,297
 9,128
 43,238
 1,718,914
 19.1%
Commercial real estate ¹Commercial real estate ¹$1,231,030 $1,314,960 $1,019,797 $550,566 $881,447 $249,066 $28,075 $5,274,941 52.2 %
Agriculture ¹Agriculture ¹518,210 306,800 114,345 679,329 100,386 332 4,948 1,724,350 17.1 %
Commercial non-real estate ¹Commercial non-real estate ¹382,898 678,731 598,988 159,639 215,983 8,518 136,899 2,181,656 21.6 %
Residential real estate232,206
 172,767
 276,093
 201,680
 17,590
 32,556
 932,892
 10.3%Residential real estate233,759 207,300 182,458 54,910 120,609 16,017 15,049 830,102 8.1 %
Consumer25,608
 2,337
 22,257
 14,746
 689
 922
 66,559
 0.7%Consumer14,496 23,507 22,544 354 1,780 55 470 63,206 0.6 %
Other lending
 
 
 
 
 43,207
 43,207
 0.5%Other lending— — — — — — 37,347 37,347 0.4 %
Total$2,273,554
 $2,309,448
 $2,564,869
 $1,492,562
 $234,092
 $133,990
 $9,008,515
 100.0%Total$2,380,393 $2,531,298 $1,938,132 $1,444,798 $1,320,205 $273,988 $222,788 $10,111,602 100.0 %
% by location25.2% 25.6% 28.5% 16.6% 2.6% 1.5% 100.0%  % by location23.5 %25.0 %19.2 %14.3 %13.1 %2.7 %2.2 %100.0 %
               
1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to hedge our interest rate risk.
1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to manage our interest rate risk.
1 Unpaid principal balance for commercial real estate, agriculture and commercial non-real estate loans includes fair value adjustments associated with long-term fixed-rate loans where we have entered into interest rate swaps to manage our interest rate risk.
2 Balances in this column represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our workout staff, commercial and consumer credit card loans, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
2 Balances in this column represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our workout staff, commercial and consumer credit card loans, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
2 Balances in this column represent acquired workout loans and certain other loans managed by our workout staff, commercial and consumer credit card loans, fair value adjustments related to acquisitions and loans for which we have elected the fair value option, which could result in a negative carrying amount in the event of a net negative fair value adjustment.
The following table presents additional detail regarding our CRE, agriculture, commercial non-real estate and residential real estate loans at September 30, 2017:
2020.
 September 30, 2017
 (dollars in thousands)
Construction and development$538,736
Owner-occupied CRE1,219,523
Non-owner-occupied CRE2,025,326
Multifamily residential real estate341,220
Commercial real estate4,124,805
Agriculture real estate997,683
Agriculture operating loans1,124,455
Agriculture2,122,138
Commercial non-real estate1,718,914
Home equity lines of credit306,408
Closed-end first lien467,914
Closed-end junior lien37,928
Residential construction120,642
Residential real estate932,892
Consumer66,559
Other43,207
Total unpaid principal balance$9,008,515

September 30, 2020
(dollars in thousands)
Construction and development$415,440 
Owner-occupied CRE1,411,894 
Non-owner-occupied CRE2,910,965 
Multifamily residential real estate536,642 
Commercial real estate5,274,941 
Agriculture real estate837,540 
Agriculture operating loans886,810 
Agriculture1,724,350 
Commercial non-real estate2,181,656 
Home equity lines of credit141,963 
Closed-end first lien559,514 
Closed-end junior lien31,526 
Residential construction97,099 
Residential real estate830,102 
Consumer63,206 
Other37,347 
Total unpaid principal balance$10,111,602 

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Commercial Real Estate. CRE includes owner-occupied CRE, non-owner-occupied CRE, construction and development lending, and multi-family residential real estate. While CRE lending will remainis a significant component of our overall loan portfolio, we are committed to managing our exposure to riskier construction and development deals specifically, and to CRE lending in general, by targeting relationships with sound management and financials which are pricedgeneral. We continue to reflectevaluate the amountimpact of risk we accept asCOVID-19 on our loan portfolio. See "—Results of Operations—Total Credit-Related Charges" for further discussion on the lender.impact of COVID-19 on our loan portfolio.
Agriculture. Agriculture loans include farm operating loans and loans collateralized by farm land. According to the American Banker's Association, at June 30, 2017,2020, we were ranked the sixth-largestfifth-largest farm lender bank in the United States measured by total dollar volume of farm loans. We consider agriculture lending one of our core competencies.lending areas. We target a 20% to 30% portfolio composition for agriculture loans not to exceed 225% of total capital according to our Risk Appetite Statement approved by our Board of Directors. Within our agriculture portfolio, loans are diversified across a wide range of subsectors with the majority of the portfolio concentrated within various types of grain, livestock and dairy products, and across different geographical segments within our footprint. WhileOver recent years, our borrowers have experienced challenging conditions, including volatile commodity prices, over recent years, we believe there continues to typically be strong secondary sourcesadverse effects of repaymentrecently imposed and low borrower leverage for the agriculture loan portfolio. Continued pressureproposed tariffs on the commodity pricesexport of agricultural products, effects of waivers of the amount of ethanol to be blended into the country's gasoline production and isolated areas of flooding within parts of the Midwest in which certain of our agricultural borrowers conduct their operations. While these events, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic or a further downturn in the agriculture economy, could directly impact the quality ofand adversely affect our agricultural loansloan portfolio and could indirectly and adversely impact other lending categories including commercial non-real estate, CRE, residential real estate and consumer.consumer, we believe there continues to typically be strong secondary sources of repayment for the agriculture loan portfolio.
Commercial Non-Real Estate. Commercial non-real estate, or business lending, represents one of our core competencies. We believe that providing a tailored range of integrated products and services, including lending, to small- and medium-enterprise customers is the business at which we excel and through which we can generate favorable returns for our stockholders. We offer a number of different products including working capital and other shorter-term lines of credit, fixed-rate loans and variable rate loans with interest rate swaps over a wide range of terms, and variable-rate loans with varying terms. Our bank's direct exposureWe continue to energy-related borrowers is less than 1.2%evaluate the impact of total loans.COVID-19 on our loan portfolio. See "—Results of Operations—Total Credit-Related Charges" for further discussion on the impact of COVID-19 on our loan portfolio.
Residential Real Estate. Residential real estate lending reflects 1-to-4-family real estate construction loans, closed-end first-lien mortgages (primarily single-family long-term first mortgages resulting from acquisitions of other banks), closed-end junior-lien mortgages and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. Our closed-end first-lien mortgages include a small percentage of single-family first mortgages that we originate and do not subsequently sell into the secondary market, including some jumbo products, adjustable-rate mortgages and rural home mortgages. Conversely, a large percentage of our total single-family first mortgage originations are sold into the secondary market in order to meet our interest rate risk management objectives.
Consumer. Our consumer lending offering comprises a relatively small portion of our total loan portfolio, and predominantly reflects small-balance secured and unsecured products marketed by our retail branches.
Other Lending. Other lending includes all other loan relationships that do not fit within the categories above, primarily consumer and commercial credit cards, customer deposit account overdrafts, and lease receivables.
The following table presents the maturity distribution of our loan portfolio as of September 30, 2017.2020. The maturity dates were determined based on the contractual maturity date of the loan:
loan.
September 30, 2017September 30, 2020
1 Year or Less >1 Through 5 Years >5 Years Total1 Year or Less>1 Through 5 Years>5 YearsTotal
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Maturity distribution:       Maturity distribution:
Commercial real estate$364,222
 $1,881,490
 $1,879,093
 $4,124,805
Commercial real estate$695,458 $2,155,538 $2,423,945 $5,274,941 
Agriculture1,002,792
 718,177
 401,169
 2,122,138
Agriculture816,990 578,682 328,678 1,724,350 
Commercial non-real estate706,317
 539,781
 472,816
 1,718,914
Commercial non-real estate674,111 1,157,451 350,094 2,181,656 
Residential real estate222,934
 329,041
 380,917
 932,892
Residential real estate230,526 180,939 418,637 830,102 
Consumer10,078
 45,367
 11,114
 66,559
Consumer7,709 41,963 13,534 63,206 
Other lending43,207
 
 
 43,207
Other lending37,347 — — 37,347 
Total$2,349,550
 $3,513,856
 $3,145,109
 $9,008,515
Total$2,462,141 $4,114,573 $3,534,888 $10,111,602 

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The following table presents the distribution, as of September 30, 2017,2020, of our loans that were due after one year between fixed and variable interest rates:
rates.
September 30, 2017September 30, 2020
Fixed Variable TotalFixedVariableTotal
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Maturity distribution:     Maturity distribution:
Commercial real estate$1,944,887
 $1,815,696
 $3,760,583
Commercial real estate$2,230,223 $2,349,260 $4,579,483 
Agriculture870,041
 249,305
 1,119,346
Agriculture696,438 210,922 907,360 
Commercial non-real estate638,576
 374,021
 1,012,597
Commercial non-real estate489,263 1,018,282 1,507,545 
Residential real estate217,059
 492,899
 709,958
Residential real estate332,310 267,266 599,576 
Consumer43,365
 13,116
 56,481
Consumer40,428 15,069 55,497 
Total$3,713,928
 $2,945,037
 $6,658,965
Total$3,788,662 $3,860,799 $7,649,461 
OREOOther Repossessed Property
In the normal course of business, we obtain title to parcels of real estate and other assets when borrowers are unable to meet their contractual obligations and we initiate foreclosure proceedings, or via deed in lieu of foreclosure actions. OREOOther repossessed property assets are considered nonperforming assets. When we obtain title to an asset, we evaluate how best to maintain and protect our interest in the property and seek to liquidate the assets at an acceptable price in a timely manner. Our total OREOother repossessed property carrying value was $9.0$20.0 million as of September 30, 2017,2020, a decrease of $1.3$16.7 million, or 12.6%45.5%, compared to $36.8 million at September 30, 20162019, which decreased $5.6increased $13.7 million, or 35.3%59.3%, compared to $23.1 million at September 30, 2015.2018. The decreases were primarily driven bydecrease in fiscal year 2020 was due to the liquidationwritedown of a number of assetsone large relationship and several large liquidations during the periods. period. The increase in fiscal year 2019 was due to one large relationship moving into other repossessed property during the year.
The following table presents our OREOother repossessed property balances for the period indicated:
indicated.
 Fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance$10,282
 $15,892
 $49,580
Additions to OREO7,786
 4,481
 7,636
Valuation adjustments and other(1,630)
 (2,400)
 (7,408)
Sales(7,453)
 (7,691)
 (33,916)
Ending balance$8,985
 $10,282
 $15,892
Investments
The following table presents the amortized cost of each category of our investment portfolio at the dates indicated:
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities$228,039
 $227,007
 $250,986
U.S. Agency securities
 
 74,412
Mortgage-backed securities:     
Government National Mortgage Association511,457
 664,529
 842,460
Federal National Mortgage Association339,394
 210,933
 46,449
Small Business Assistance Program224,005
 142,921
 101,415
States and political subdivision securities73,041
 55,525
 1,849
Corporate debt securities
 4,998
 4,996
Other1,006
 1,006
 1,006
Total$1,376,942
 $1,306,919
 $1,323,573


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We have historically invested excess deposits in high-quality, liquid investment securities including residential agency mortgage-backed securities and, to a lesser extent, U.S. Treasury securities, corporate debt securities and securities issued by U.S. states and political subdivisions. Our investment portfolio serves as a means to collateralize FHLB borrowings and public funds deposits, to earn net spread income on excess deposits and to maintain liquidity and balance interest rate risk. Since September 30, 2016, the fair value of the portfolio has increased by $52.1 million, or 4.0%.
The following tables present the aggregate amortized cost of each investment category of the investment portfolio and the weighted average yield ("WA yield") for each investment category for each maturity period at September 30, 2017. Maturities of mortgage-backed securities may differ from contractual maturities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be called or prepaid without any penalties. The WA yield on these assets is presented below based on the contractual rate, as opposed to a tax equivalent yield concept.
 September 30, 2017
 Due in one year
or less
 Due after one year
through five years
 Due after five years
through ten years
 Due after
ten years
 Mortgage-backed
securities
 Securities without contractual maturities Total
 AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield AmountWA Yield
 (dollars in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities$84,870
1.39% $143,169
1.66% $
% $
% $
% $
% $228,039
1.56%
Mortgage-backed securities
% 
% 
% 
% 1,074,856
2.02% 
% 1,074,856
2.02%
States and political subdivision securities6,665
1.30% 49,948
1.46% 16,306
1.88% 122
5.00% 
% 
% 73,041
1.55%
Other
% 
% 
% 
% 
% 1,006
% 1,006
%
Total$91,535
1.38% $193,117
1.61% 16,306
1.88% $122
5.00% $1,074,856
2.02% $1,006
% $1,376,942
1.92%
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period$36,764 $23,074 $8,985 
Additions to other repossessed property14,088 25,668 25,926 
Valuation adjustments and other(10,776)(2,328)(1,447)
Sales(20,042)(9,650)(10,390)
Balance, end of period$20,034 $36,764 $23,074 
Asset Quality
We place an asset on nonaccrual status when any installmentmanagement believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, the borrowers' condition is such that collection of principal or interest is more thandoubtful, which is generally 90 days past duedue. If a borrower has failed to comply with the original contractual terms, further action may be required, including a downgrade in the risk rating, movement to nonaccrual status, a charge-off or earlier when management determines the ultimateestablishment of a specific reserve. If there is a collateral shortfall, we generally work with the borrower for a principal reduction, pledge of additional collateral or guarantee. If these alternatives are not available, we engage in formal collection of all contractually due principal or interest to be unlikely.activities. Restructured loans for which we grant payment or significant interest rate concessions are placed on nonaccrual status until collectability improves and a satisfactory payment history is established, generally by the receipt of at least six consecutive payments. Our collection policies related to delinquent and charged-off loans are highly focused on individual relationships, and we believe that these policies are in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
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The following table presents the dollar amount of nonaccrual loans, OREO,other repossessed property, restructured performing loans and accruing loans over 90 days past due, at the end of the dates indicated. We entered into a non-commercial loss-sharing agreement with the FDIC related to certain assets (loans and other repossessed property) acquired from TierOne Bank on June 4, 2010. Loans covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreementsagreement are generally pooled with other similar loans and are accreting purchase discount into income each period. Subject to compliance with the applicable loss-sharing agreement, we arewere indemnified by the FDIC at a rate of 80% for any future credit losses onfor single-family real estate loans and other repossessed property covered by athe FDIC loss-sharing agreement through June 4, 2020 for single-family real estate loans. Our loss-sharing agreement for commercial loans expired June 4, 2015.2020.


85




 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 (dollars in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans 1
         
Commercial real estate         
Loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements$
 $
 $
 $21,995
 $31,151
Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements14,912
 20,624
 16,870
 20,767
 57,652
Total14,912
 20,624
 16,870
 42,762
 88,803
Agriculture 3
100,504
 68,526
 24,569
 11,453
 8,236
Commercial non-real estate         
Loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements
 
 
 2,126
 2,947
Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements13,674
 27,307
 14,287
 4,908
 6,641
Total13,674
 27,307
 14,287
 7,034
 9,588
Residential real estate         
Loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements4,893
 4,095
 5,317
 10,839
 13,401
Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements4,206
 5,599
 7,124
 6,671
 8,746
Total9,099
 9,694
 12,441
 17,510
 22,147
Consumer 3
123
 244
 122
 146
 226
Other lending 3

 
 
 
 
Total nonaccrual loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements4,893
 4,095
 5,317
 34,960
 47,499
Total nonaccrual loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements133,419
 122,300
 62,972
 43,945
 81,501
Total nonaccrual loans138,312
 126,395
 68,289
 78,905
 129,000
OREO8,985
 10,282
 15,892
 49,580
 57,422
Total nonperforming assets147,297
 136,677
 84,181
 128,485
 186,422
Restructured performing loans32,490
 46,568
 60,371
 36,837
 39,130
Total nonperforming and restructured assets$179,787
 $183,245
 $144,552
 $165,322
 $225,552
          
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due$1,859
 $1,991
 $58
 $28
 $227
Nonperforming restructured loans included in total nonaccrual loans$71,334
 $36,778
 $13,966
 $20,415
 $63,140
          
Percent of total assets         
Nonaccrual loans 1
         
Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements1.14% 1.06% 0.64% 0.47% 0.89%
Total1.18% 1.10% 0.70% 0.84% 1.41%
OREO0.08% 0.09% 0.16% 0.53% 0.63%
Nonperforming assets 2
1.26% 1.19% 0.86% 1.37% 2.04%
Nonperforming and restructured assets 2
1.54% 1.59% 1.48% 1.76% 2.47%
          
1 Includes nonperforming restructured loans
2 Includes nonaccrual loans, which includes nonperforming restructured loans
3 Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements
As of September 30,
20202019201820172016
(dollars in thousands)
Nonaccrual loans ¹
Commercial real estate ²$73,501 $14,973 $22,908 $14,912 $20,624 
Agriculture ²217,642 77,880 107,226 100,504 68,526 
Commercial non-real estate ²26,918 9,502 6,887 13,674 27,307 
Residential real estate
Loans covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement— 2,190 2,699 4,893 4,095 
Loans not covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement6,811 2,572 3,425 4,206 5,599 
Total6,811 4,762 6,124 9,099 9,694 
Consumer ²74 74 61 123 244 
Total nonaccrual loans covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement— 2,190 2,699 4,893 4,095 
Total nonaccrual loans not covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement324,946 105,001 140,507 133,419 122,300 
Total nonaccrual loans324,946 107,191 143,206 138,312 126,395 
Other repossessed property20,034 36,764 23,074 8,985 10,282 
Total nonperforming assets344,980 143,955 166,280 147,297 136,677 
Performing TDRs35,205 44,842 19,783 32,490 46,568 
Total nonperforming and restructured assets$380,185 $188,797 $186,063 $179,787 $183,245 
Accruing loans 90 days or more past due$— $11,180 $156 $1,859 $1,991 
Nonperforming TDRs included in total nonaccrual loans$62,792 $30,073 $77,156 $71,334 $36,778 
Percent of total assets
Nonaccrual loans not covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement2.58 %0.82 %1.16 %1.14 %1.06 %
Total nonaccrual loans2.58 %0.84 %1.18 %1.18 %1.10 %
Other repossessed property0.16 %0.29 %0.19 %0.08 %0.09 %
Nonperforming assets ³2.74 %1.13 %1.37 %1.26 %1.19 %
Nonperforming and restructured assets ³3.02 %1.48 %1.54 %1.54 %1.59 %
1 Includes nonperforming restructured loans.
2 Loans not covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreement.
3 Includes nonaccrual loans, which includes nonperforming restructured loans.
At September 30, 2017,2020, our nonperforming assets were 1.26%2.74% of total assets, compared to 1.19%1.13% at September 30, 2016.2019. Total nonaccrual loans increased by $11.9$217.7 million or 9.4% compared to September 30, 2016,2019, which increased $58.1decreased $36.0 million or 85.1%, compared to September 30, 2015.2018. The increase in nonaccrual loans in fiscal year 20172020 was primarily driven by the deterioration of a small number ofseveral relationships in the agriculture portfolio that have been closely monitored for a number of quarters, partially offset by improvements in the commercial non-real estate and CRE portfolios.segments of the loan portfolio moving to nonaccrual during the period. The increasedecrease in nonaccrual loans for fiscal year 20162019 was primarily driven by the deterioration ofour focus on existing loans in all categories with a small number of lending relationships in the commercial non-real estate and agriculture portfolios.higher risk profile.
We recognized approximately $0.8$3.9 million of interest income on loans that were on nonaccrual for the fiscal year ended 2017.2020. Excluding loans covered by the FDIC non-commercial loss-sharing agreements,agreement, we had average nonaccrual loans (calculated as a two-point average) of $127.9$215.0 million outstanding during fiscal year 2017.2020. Based on the average loan portfolio yield for these loans for the current fiscal year, we estimate that interest income would have been $6.1$9.9 million higher during the period had these loans been accruing.


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We consistently monitor all loans internally rated “watch”"watch" or worse because that rating indicates we have identified some potential weakness emerging; but loans rated “watch”"watch" will not necessarily become problem loans or become impaired. Aside from the loans on the watch list, we do not believe we have any potential problem loans that are not already identified as nonaccrual, past due or restructured as itIt is our policy to promptly reclassify loans as soon as we become aware of doubts as to the borrowers’ ability to meet repayment terms.
When we grant concessions to borrowers that we would not otherwise grant if not for the borrowers’ financial difficulties, such as reduced interest rates or extensions of loan periods, we consider these modifications troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs").TDRs.
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The table below outlines total TDRs, split between accruing and nonaccruing loans, at each of the dates indicated:
indicated.
Fiscal year ended September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate     Commercial real estate
Performing TDRs$1,121
 $18,250
 $30,917
Performing TDRs$23,215 $17,145 $2,649 
Nonperforming TDRs5,351
 2,356
 4,725
Nonperforming TDRs11,913 904 2,616 
Total6,472
 20,606
 35,642
Total35,128 18,049 5,265 
Agriculture     Agriculture
Performing TDRs22,678
 19,823
 20,041
Performing TDRs2,976 22,929 13,248 
Nonperforming TDRs59,633
 28,688
 6,857
Nonperforming TDRs45,971 24,762 73,741 
Total82,311
 48,511
 26,898
Total48,947 47,691 86,989 
Commercial non-real estate     Commercial non-real estate
Performing TDRs8,369
 8,102
 8,928
Performing TDRs8,734 4,398 3,420 
Nonperforming TDRs5,641
 4,789
 833
Nonperforming TDRs4,803 4,257 656 
Total14,010
 12,891
 9,761
Total13,537 8,655 4,076 
Residential real estate     Residential real estate
Performing TDRs311
 370
 452
Performing TDRs277 263 389 
Nonperforming TDRs688
 937
 1,547
Nonperforming TDRs74 102 143 
Total999
 1,307
 1,999
Total351 365 532 
Consumer     Consumer
Performing TDRs11
 23
 33
Performing TDRs107 77 
Nonperforming TDRs21
 8
 4
Nonperforming TDRs31 48 — 
Total32
 31
 37
Total34 155 77 
     
Total performing TDRs32,490
 46,568
 60,371
Total performing TDRs35,205 44,842 19,783 
Total nonperforming TDRs71,334
 36,778
 13,966
Total nonperforming TDRs62,792 30,073 77,156 
     
Total TDRs$103,824
 $83,346
 $74,337
Total TDRs$97,997 $74,915 $96,939 
As of September 30, 2017,2020, total performing TDRs increased $20.5decreased $9.6 million or 24.6%, compared to September 30, 2016,2019, which increased $9.0$25.1 million or 12.1%, compared to September 30, 2015. Both performing and nonperforming2018. Performing TDRs increased as ofdecreased from September 30, 2017 mainly2019 primarily due to a handfulthe payoff of additional TDRsone large relationship in the agriculture portfolio and two large relationships in the agriculture portfolio moving to nonperforming status during the period. Performing TDRs increased from September 30, 2018 primarily due to one large relationship in the commercial real estate segment of the loan portfolio.
As of September 30, 2020, total nonperforming TDRs increased $32.7 million compared to September 30, 2019, which decreased $47.1 million compared to September 30, 2018. Nonperforming TDRs increased from September 30, 2019 mainly due to the prior period.
We entered into loss-sharing agreements withtwo new relationships in the FDIC related to certain assets (loansagriculture portfolio and OREO) acquiredthe two previously mentioned relationships in the agriculture portfolio that transferred from TierOne Bank on June 4, 2010. We are generally indemnified by the FDIC at a rate of 80% for any future credit losses through June 4, 2020 for single-familyperforming status as well as one new commercial real estate loansrelationship during the period. Nonperforming TDRs decreased from September 30, 2018 mainly due to two large relationships in the agriculture portfolio, one that moved into other repossessed property and OREO. Our commercial loss-sharing agreement with the FDIC has expired.

one that paid off.

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The following table below presents nonaccrual loans, TDRs, and OREOother repossessed property covered by the remainingan FDIC loss-sharing agreement;agreement which ended in June 2020; a rollforward of the allowance for loan and lease losses for loans covered by the remaining loss-sharing agreement; a rollforward of allowance for loan and lease losses for only ASC 310-30 loans covered by the remainingpreviously mentioned FDIC loss-sharing agreement; and a rollforward of OREOother repossessed property covered by the remainingpreviously mentioned FDIC loss-sharing agreement at and for the periods presented.
 At and for the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013
 (dollars in thousands)
Assets covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements         
Nonaccrual loans 1
$4,893
 $4,095
 $5,317
 $34,960
 $47,499
TDRs191
 255
 425
 5,293
 6,145
OREO
 106
 61
 10,628
 24,412
Allowance for loan and lease losses, loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements         
Balance at beginning of year$907
 $1,625
 $5,108
 $7,246
 $14,470
Additional impairment recorded196
 
 782
 3,122
 2,509
Recoupment of previously-recorded impairment(892) (677) (1,701) (4,482) (5,095)
Charge-offs(15) (41) 
 (778) (4,638)
Recoveries
 
 
 
 
Expiration of loss-sharing agreement
 
 (2,564) 
 
Balance at end of year$196
 $907
 $1,625
 $5,108
 $7,246
          
OREO covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreement         
Balance at beginning of year$106
 $61
 $10,628
 $24,412
 $44,332
Additions to OREO14
 182
 1,666
 1,785
 6,100
Valuation adjustments and other
 (15) (2,034) (3,750) (3,754)
Sales(120) (122) (7,031) (11,819) (22,266)
Expiration of loss-sharing agreement
 
 (3,168) 
 
Balance at end of year$
 $106
 $61
 $10,628
 $24,412
          
1 Includes nonperforming restructured loans.

At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
20202019201820172016
(dollars in thousands)
Assets covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement
Nonaccrual loans ¹$— $2,190 $2,699 $4,893 $4,095 
TDRs— 43 154 191 255 
Other repossessed property— — 131 — 106 
Allowance for loan and lease losses, loans covered by a FDIC loss-sharing agreement
Balance, beginning of period$113 $262 $196 $907 $1,625 
Additional impairment recorded442 309 386 196 — 
Recoupment of previously-recorded impairment— (379)(302)(892)(677)
Charge-offs(61)(79)(18)(15)(41)
Settlement upon expiration of loss-sharing arrangement(494)— — — — 
Balance, end of period$— $113 $262 $196 $907 
Other repossessed property covered by a loss-sharing agreement
Balance, beginning of period$— $131 $— $106 $61 
Additions to other repossessed property— — 131 14 182 
Valuation adjustments and other— — — — (15)
Sales— (131)— (120)(122)
Settlement upon expiration of loss-sharing agreement— — — — — 
Balance, end of period$— $— $131 $— $106 
1 Includes nonperforming restructured loans.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
We establish an allowance for the inherent risk of probable losses within our loan portfolio. The allowance for loan and lease losses is management’s best estimate of probable credit losses that are incurred in the loan portfolio. We determine the allowance for loan and lease losses based on an ongoing evaluation, driven primarily by monitoring changes in loan risk grades, delinquencies and other credit risk indicators, which is an inherently subjective process. We consider the uncertainty related to certain industry sectors and the extent of credit exposure to specific borrowers within the portfolio. In addition, we consider concentration risks associated with the various loan portfolios, and current economic conditions and other environmental factors that might impact the portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Changes to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for loan and lease losses. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance for loan and lease losses. Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited to the allowance for loan and lease losses.
Our allowance for loan and lease losses consists of two components. For non-impaired loans, we calculate a weighted average loss ratio of 12-, 36- and 60-month historical realized losses by collateral type; adjust as necessary for our interpretation of current economic conditions, environmental factors and current portfolio trends including credit quality, concentrations, aging of the portfolio and/or significant policy and underwriting changes not entirely covered by the calculated historical loss rates; and apply the loss rates to outstanding loan balances in each collateral category. We calculate the weighted average ratio of 12-, 36- and 60-month historical realized losses for each collateral type by dividing the average net annual charge-offs by the average outstanding loans of such type subject to the calculation for each of the 12-, 36- and 60-month periods, then averaging those three results. For impaired loans, we estimate our exposure for each individual relationship, given the current payment status of the loan and the value of the underlying collateral as supported by third party appraisals, broker’s price opinions, and/or the borrower’s financial statements and internal valuation assessments, each adjusted for liquidation costs. Any shortfall between the liquidation value of the underlying collateral and the recorded investment value of the loan is considered the required specific reserve amount. Actual losses in any period may exceed


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allowance amounts. We evaluate and adjust our allowance for loan and lease losses, and the allocation of the allowance between loan categories, each month.
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The following table presents an analysis of our allowance for loan and lease losses, including provisions for loan and lease losses, charge-offs and recoveries, for the periods indicated:indicated.
At and for the fiscal year ended September 30,At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015 2014 201320202019201820172016
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease losses:         Allowance for loan and lease losses:
Balance at beginning of year$64,642
 $57,200
 $47,518
 $55,864
 $71,878
Balance, beginning of periodBalance, beginning of period$70,774 $64,540 $63,503 $64,642 $57,200 
Provision charged to expense22,210
 18,011
 19,718
 4,456
 13,650
Provision charged to expense118,204 41,506 17,754 22,210 18,011 
Impairment of ASC 310-30 loans(671) (1,056) (677) (3,772) (2,076)
Impairment (improvement) of ASC 310-30 loansImpairment (improvement) of ASC 310-30 loans188 (559)232 (671)(1,056)
Charge-offs:         Charge-offs:
Commercial real estate(2,043) (3,625) (1,971) (3,199) (19,648)Commercial real estate(5,181)(1,511)(3,925)(2,043)(3,625)
Agriculture(7,853) (4,294) (606) (2,429) (4,069)Agriculture(21,705)(24,847)(9,473)(7,853)(4,294)
Commercial non-real estate(12,576) (2,629) (11,153) (5,380) (3,636)Commercial non-real estate(14,178)(7,895)(3,813)(12,576)(2,629)
Residential real estate(809) (1,157) (238) (631) (1,766)Residential real estate(615)(998)(569)(809)(1,157)
Consumer(196) (206) (129) (211) (244)Consumer(87)(452)(192)(196)(206)
Other lending(2,403) (2,255) (1,617) (1,893) (1,851)Other lending(2,984)(1,358)(1,932)(2,403)(2,255)
Total charge-offs(25,880) (14,166) (15,714) (13,743) (31,214)Total charge-offs(44,750)(37,061)(19,904)(25,880)(14,166)
         
Recoveries:         Recoveries:
Commercial real estate485
 719
 1,339
 1,470
 689
Commercial real estate1,395 567 533 485 719 
Agriculture415
 556
 131
 58
 22
Agriculture2,189 385 332 415 556 
Commercial non-real estate652
 1,429
 3,407
 1,439
 1,206
Commercial non-real estate1,018 392 994 652 1,429 
Residential real estate507
 495
 231
 233
 279
Residential real estate453 468 337 507 495 
Consumer102
 149
 104
 156
 396
Consumer78 174 141 102 149 
Other lending1,041
 1,305
 1,143
 1,357
 1,034
Other lending338 362 618 1,041 1,305 
Total recoveries3,202
 4,653
 6,355
 4,713
 3,626
Total recoveries5,471 2,348 2,955 3,202 4,653 
Net loan (charge-offs)(22,678) (9,513) (9,359) (9,030) (27,588)
Net loan charge-offsNet loan charge-offs(39,279)(34,713)(16,949)(22,678)(9,513)
Balance, end of periodBalance, end of period$149,887 $70,774 $64,540 $63,503 $64,642 
         
Balance at end of year$63,503
 $64,642
 $57,200
 $47,518
 $55,864
         
Average total loans for the year 1
$8,695,672
 $7,850,282
 $7,019,151
 $6,506,525
 $6,223,009
         
Total loans at year end 1
$8,968,553
 $8,682,644
 $7,325,198
 $6,787,467
 $6,362,673
Average total loans for the period ¹Average total loans for the period ¹$9,908,495$9,741,293$9,252,436$8,760,869$7,912,457
Total loans at period end ¹Total loans at period end ¹$10,076,142$9,706,763$9,415,924$8,968,553$8,682,644
Ratios         Ratios
Net charge-offs to average total loans 1
0.26% 0.12% 0.13% 0.14% 0.44%
Net charge-offs (recoveries) / average total loansNet charge-offs (recoveries) / average total loans0.40 %0.36 %0.18 %0.26 %0.12 %
Allowance for loan and lease losses to:         Allowance for loan and lease losses to:
Total loans0.71% 0.74% 0.78% 0.70% 0.88%Total loans1.49 %0.73 %0.69 %0.71 %0.74 %
Nonaccruing loans 2
47.60% 52.86% 90.83% 108.13% 68.54%
Nonaccruing loans ²Nonaccruing loans ²46.13 %67.40 %45.93 %47.60 %52.86 %
         
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and loans in process.
2 Nonaccruing loans excludes loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreements.
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.
1 Loans include unpaid principal balance net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process.
2 Nonaccruing loans excludes loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreement.
2 Nonaccruing loans excludes loans covered by FDIC loss-sharing agreement.
In the fiscal year 2017,2020, we recorded net charge-offs of $22.7$39.3 million, representing 0.26%0.40% of average total loans, a 144 basis point increase compared to 0.12%0.36% of average total loans for fiscal year 2016.2019. The higher level ofincrease in net charge-offs recognized duringin fiscal year 2017 were concentrated2020 was due to $5.7 million and $2.8 million increase in net charge-offs in the commercial non-real estate and CRE segments of the portfolio, respectively, partially offset by a $4.9 million decrease in net charge-offs in the agriculture segmentssegment of the loan portfolio. The increase in net charge-offs in fiscal year 2019 was primarily driven by net charge-offs in the agriculture segment of the loan portfolio, which included $18.7 million of net charge-offs related to the cattle industry, and $7.5 million of net charge-offs related to the commercial non-real estate segment of the loan portfolio.
At September 30, 2017,2020, the allowance for loan and lease losses was 0.71%1.49% of our total loan portfolio, a 376 basis point decreaseincrease compared with 0.74%0.73% at September 30, 2016.2019. The increase in provision for loan and lease losses was due to incurred losses in the portfolio primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase did not contemplate the potential impact of CECL implementation, which is effective for the Company commencing October 1, 2020. The balance of the ALLL decreasedincreased from $64.6$70.8 million to $63.5$149.9 million over the same period. The higher level of net charge-offs recognized in fiscal year 2017 was the primary driver of the reduction in ALLL as the majority of charge-offs related to loans for which a specific ALLL had been previously recorded.


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Net loan charge-offs decreased from fiscal year 2013 to 2014 and remained relatively flat for 2015 to 2016 when compared to fiscal year 2014. We believe this trend is reflective of our focus on managing our exposure to non-owner-occupied commercial real estate and construction and development loans, which we believe are relatively riskier than owner-occupied CRE loans, and indicates that the majority of our most problematic commercial real estate loans have been worked out of our portfolio.
Additionally, a portion of our loans which are carried at fair value, totaling $1.02 billion$655.2 million and $1.13 billion$813.0 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, have no associated allowance for loan and lease losses, but rather have a fair value adjustment related to credit risk included within their carrying value, thus driving the overall ratio of allowance for loan and lease losses to total loans lower. The amount of fair value adjustment related to credit risk on these loans was $8.3$30.5 million and $7.4$6.8 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, translating to an additional 0.09%0.30% and 0.07% of total loans at September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019, respectively. Finally, the total purchase discount remaining on all acquired loans equates to 0.32%0.08% and 0.46%0.14% of total loans at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
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The following tables present management’s historical allocation of the allowance for loan and lease losses by loan category, in both dollars and percentage of our total allowance for loan and lease losses, to specific loans in those categories at the dates indicated:
indicated.
September 30,September 30,
2017 2016 2015 2014 201320202019201820172016
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Allocation of allowance for loan and lease losses:         Allocation of allowance for loan and lease losses:
Commercial real estate$16,941
 $17,946
 $18,014
 $16,884
 $22,562
Commercial real estate$84,496 $16,827 $16,777 $16,941 $17,946 
Agriculture25,757
 25,115
 13,952
 10,655
 9,296
Agriculture27,018 30,819 28,121 25,757 25,115 
Commercial non-real estate14,114
 12,990
 15,996
 10,550
 11,222
Commercial non-real estate27,599 17,567 13,610 14,114 12,990 
Residential real estate5,347
 7,106
 8,025
 8,342
 11,779
Residential real estate8,202 4,095 4,749 5,347 7,106 
Consumer329
 438
 348
 264
 312
Consumer915 427 257 329 438 
Other lending1,015
 1,047
 865
 823
 693
Other lending1,657 1,039 1,026 1,015 1,047 
Total$63,503
 $64,642
 $57,200
 $47,518
 $55,864
Total$149,887 $70,774 $64,540 $63,503 $64,642 

September 30,September 30,
2017 2016 2015 2014 201320202019201820172016
Allocation of allowance for loan and lease losses:         Allocation of allowance for loan and lease losses:
Commercial real estate26.7% 27.8% 31.5% 35.5% 40.4%Commercial real estate56.4 %23.8 %26.0 %26.7 %27.8 %
Agriculture40.6% 38.9% 24.4% 22.4% 16.6%Agriculture18.0 %43.5 %43.6 %40.6 %38.9 %
Commercial non-real estate22.2% 20.1% 28.0% 22.2% 20.1%Commercial non-real estate18.4 %24.8 %21.1 %22.2 %20.1 %
Residential real estate8.4% 11.0% 14.0% 17.6% 21.1%Residential real estate5.5 %5.8 %7.3 %8.4 %11.0 %
Consumer0.5% 0.6% 0.6% 0.6% 0.6%Consumer0.6 %0.6 %0.4 %0.5 %0.6 %
Other lending1.6% 1.6% 1.5% 1.7% 1.2%Other lending1.1 %1.5 %1.6 %1.6 %1.6 %
Total100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%Total100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %100.0 %
Management will continue to evaluate the loan portfolio and assess economic conditions in order to determine future allowance levels and the amount of loan and lease loss provisions. We review the appropriateness of our allowance for loan and lease losses on a monthly basis. Management monitors closely all past due and restructured loans in assessing the appropriateness of its allowance for loan and lease losses. In addition, we follow procedures for reviewing and grading all substantial commercial and agriculture relationships at least annually. Based predominantly upon the review and grading process, we determine the appropriate level of the allowance in response to our assessment of the probable risk of loss inherent in our loan portfolio. Management makes additional loan and lease loss provisions when the results of itsour problem loan assessment methodology or overall allowance testing of appropriateness test indicateindicates additional provisions are required.
The review of problem loans is an ongoing process during which management may determine that additional charge-offs are required or additional loans should be placed on nonaccrual status. We have also recorded an allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments that represents our estimate of incurred losses on the portion of lending commitments that borrowers have not advanced. The balance of the allowance for unfunded lending-related commitments was $2.4 million and $0.5 million at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 20162019, respectively, and is recorded in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet.

Investment Securities
The following table presents the amortized cost of each category of our investment portfolio at the dates indicated.
September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities$49,924 $94,178 $168,394 
U.S. Agency securities24,974 — — 
Mortgage-backed securities:
Government National Mortgage Association485,689 501,139 442,458 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation578,650 463,974 297,380 
Federal National Mortgage Association287,842 322,340 188,192 
Small Business Assistance Program244,653 316,502 260,458 
States and political subdivision securities54,224 66,145 69,566 
Other1,006 1,006 1,006 
Total$1,726,962 $1,765,284 $1,427,454 

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We generally invest excess deposits in high-quality, liquid investment securities including residential agency mortgage-backed securities and, to a lesser extent, U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Agency securities, corporate debt securities and securities issued by U.S. states and political subdivisions. Our investment portfolio serves as a means to collateralize FHLB borrowings and public funds deposits, to earn net spread income on excess deposits, to maintain liquidity and to balance interest rate risk. Since September 30, 2019, the fair value of the portfolio has decreased by $8.6 million, or 0.5%.
The following tables present the aggregate amortized cost of each investment category of the investment portfolio and the weighted average yield ("WA yield") for each investment category for each maturity period at September 30, 2020. Maturities of mortgage-backed securities may differ from contractual maturities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be called or prepaid without any penalties. The WA yield on these assets is presented below based on the contractual rate, as opposed to a tax equivalent yield concept.
September 30, 2020
Due in one year
or less
Due after one year
through five years
Due after five years
through ten years
Due after
ten years
Mortgage-backed
securities
Securities without
contractual maturities
Total
AmountWA YieldAmountWA YieldAmountWA YieldAmountWA YieldAmountWA YieldAmountWA YieldAmountWA Yield
(dollars in thousands)
U.S. Treasury securities$49,924 2.85 %$— — %$— — %$— — %$— — %$— — %$49,924 2.85 %
U.S. Agency securities— — %24,974 1.13 %— — %— — %— — %— — %24,974 1.13 %
Mortgage-backed securities— — %— — %— — %— — %1,596,834 1.88 %— — %1,596,834 1.88 %
States and political subdivision securities ¹ ²17,207 1.69 %26,805 1.79 %10,212 2.57 %— — %— — %— — %54,224 1.91 %
Other— — %— — %— — %— — %— — %1,006 — %1,006 — %
Total$67,131 2.55 %$51,779 1.47 %$10,212 2.57 %$— — %$1,596,834 1.88 %$1,006 — %$1,726,962 1.90 %
1 Information related to obligations of state and political subdivisions is presented based upon yield to first optional call date if the security is purchased at a premium, yield to maturity if purchased at par or a discount.
2 Maturity calculations for obligations of state and political subdivisions are based on the first optional call date for securities with a fair value above par and contractual maturity for securities with a fair value equal to or below par.
Declines in the fair value of investment securities available for sale that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are recognized in earnings as a realized loss, and a new cost basis for the securities is established. In evaluating other-than-temporary impairment, we consider the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and our intent and ability to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value in the near term. Declines in the fair value of debt securities below amortized cost are deemed to be other-than-temporary in circumstances where: (1) we have the intent to sell a security; (2) it is more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis; or (3) we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. If we intend to sell a security or if it is more-likely-than-not that we will be required to sell the security before recovery, an other-than-temporary impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. If we do not intend to sell the security or it is not more-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, the other-than-temporary impairment write-down is separated into an amount representing credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and an amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).
Deposits
We obtain funds from depositors by offering consumer and business demand deposit accounts, money market accounts, NOW accounts, savingsinterest-bearing accounts and term time deposits. At September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, our total deposits were $8.98$11.01 billion and $8.60$10.30 billion, respectively, representing an increase of 4.3%, which$708.4 million, or 6.9%. Noninterest-bearing deposits were $2.59 billion, a 32.2% increase for the fiscal year, and interest-bearing deposits were $8.42 billion, a 0.9% increase for the fiscal year. The increase in deposits was primarily spread across commercial deposit accounts.a result of inflows from PPP proceeds and consumer stimulus receipts during the period. Our accounts are federally insured by the FDIC up to the legal maximum. We have significantly shifted the composition of our deposit portfolio away from time deposits toward demand, NOW, money market and savings accounts in recent years.
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The following table presents the balances and weighted average cost of our deposit portfolio at the following dates:
dates.
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 Amount Weighted Avg. Cost Amount Weighted Avg. Cost Amount Weighted Avg. Cost
 (dollars in thousands)
Non-interest-bearing demand$1,856,126
 % $1,880,512
 % $1,368,453
 %
NOW accounts, money market and savings5,847,432
 0.55% 5,343,183
 0.36% 4,638,446
 0.27%
Time certificates, $250,000 or more273,365
 1.16% 265,904
 0.99% 217,016
 0.89%
Other time certificates1,000,690
 0.78% 1,115,191
 0.65% 1,163,150
 0.68%
Total$8,977,613
 0.48% $8,604,790
 0.34% $7,387,065
 0.30%
September 30,
202020192018
AmountWeighted Avg. CostAmountWeighted Avg. CostAmountWeighted Avg. Cost
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest-bearing demand$2,586,743 — %$1,956,025 — %$1,842,704 — %
Interest-bearing demand7,139,058 0.26 %6,248,638 1.00 %6,043,717 0.95 %
Time deposits, greater than $250,000352,913 1.12 %493,530 2.30 %383,868 1.89 %
Time deposits, less than or equal to $250,000930,065 0.75 %1,602,146 1.68 %1,463,210 1.29 %
Total$11,008,779 0.27 %$10,300,339 0.98 %$9,733,499 0.86 %
At September 30, 20172020 and 2016, the Company2019, we had $725.4$329.0 million and $641.4$706.5 million, respectively, in brokered deposits. As a result of the passage of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act in May 2018, most reciprocal deposits are no longer treated as brokered deposits and are now included with core commercial deposits.
Municipal public deposits constituted $843.5 million$1.25 billion and $874.5 million$1.04 billion of our deposit portfolio at September 30, 2017,2020, and September 30, 2016,2019, respectively, of which $533.3$859.7 million and $492.7$691.9 million, respectively, were required to be collateralized. Our top 10 depositors were responsible for 8.5%6.4% and 7.9%7.0% of our total deposits at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, respectively.
The following table presents deposits by region:
region.
September 30,September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
South Dakota$2,231,857
 $2,258,707
 $1,529,483
South Dakota$2,839,891 $2,575,833 $2,422,208 
Arizona / Colorado1,530,668
 1,331,127
 1,141,950
Iowa / Kansas / Missouri2,561,315
 2,531,781
 2,305,489
Nebraska2,521,631
 2,297,599
 2,334,172
Iowa / MissouriIowa / Missouri3,184,321 2,799,597 2,757,408 
Nebraska / KansasNebraska / Kansas2,833,921 2,611,332 2,472,297 
ArizonaArizona590,567 508,308 399,212 
ColoradoColorado1,300,351 1,237,052 1,228,762 
North Dakota / Minnesota51,527
 101,421
 
North Dakota / Minnesota30,228 55,258 50,359 
Corporate and other80,615
 84,155
 75,971
Corporate and other229,500 512,959 403,253 
Total deposits$8,977,613
 $8,604,790
 $7,387,065
Total deposits$11,008,779 $10,300,339 $9,733,499 


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We fund a portion of our assets with time deposits that have balances ofgreater than $250,000 or more and that have maturities generally in excess of six months. At September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, our time deposits ofgreater than $250,000 or more totaled $273.4$352.9 million and $265.9$493.5 million, respectively. The following table presents the maturities of our time deposits ofgreater than $250,000 or more and less than or equal to $250,000 in size at September 30, 2017:
2020.
September 30, 2017September 30, 2020
Greater than or equal to $250,000 Less than $250,000Greater than $250,000Less than or equal to $250,000
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Remaining maturity:   Remaining maturity:
Three months or less$53,483
 $196,889
Three months or less$137,706 $288,207 
Over three through six months45,333
 152,919
Over three through six months73,121 212,986 
Over six through twelve months60,688
 258,714
Over six through twelve months83,516 272,141 
Over twelve months113,861
 392,168
Over twelve months58,570 156,731 
Total$273,365
 $1,000,690
Total$352,913 $930,065 
Percent of total deposits3.0% 11.1%Percent of total deposits3.2 %8.5 %
At September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, the average remaining maturity of all time deposits was approximately 14 months.8 months for both periods. The average time deposit amount per account was approximately $27,870$37,174 and $27,237$45,936 at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, respectively.
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Derivatives
InPrior to 2017 we began a new programentered into fixed-rate loans having original maturities of selling5 years or greater (typically between 5 and 15 years) with certain of our commercial and agri-business banking customers to assist them in facilitating their risk management strategies. We mitigated our interest swaps directlyrate risk associated with certain of these loans by entering into equal and offsetting fixed-to-floating interest rate swap agreements for these loans with swap counterparties. We elected to customers. As of September 30, 2017 we have originated 4 swaps with a notionalaccount for the loans at fair value under ASC 825, Fair ValueOption. Changes in the fair value of $36.1 million.these loans are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income in the relevant period. The related interest rate swaps are recognized as either assets or liabilities in our financial statements and any gains or losses on these swaps, both realized and unrealized, are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income. The interest rate swaps are fully effective from an interest rate risk perspective, as gains and losses on our swaps are directly offset by changes in fair value of the fair value option loans (i.e., swap interest rate risk adjustments are directly offset by associated loan interest rate risk adjustments). Consequently, any changes in noninterest income associated with changes in fair value resulting from interest rate movement, as opposed to changes in credit quality, on the loans are directly offset by equal and opposite unrealized charges to or reductions in noninterest income for the related interest rate swap. Any changes in the fair value of the loans related to credit quality and the current realized gain (loss) on derivatives are not offsetting amounts within noninterest income. To ensure the correlation of movements in fair value between the interest rate swap and the related loan, we pass on all economic costs associated with our interest rate swap activity resulting from loan customer prepayments (partial or full) to the customer.
In addition, we enter into interest rate derivative contracts to support the business needs of our customers. These interest rate swaps sales are used to enable customers to achieve a long-term fixed rate by selling the customer a long-term variable rate loan indexed to LIBOR plus a credit spread whereby the Bank enters into an interest rate swap with our customer where the customer pays a fixed rate of interest set at the time of origination on the interest rate swap and then the customer receives a floating rate equal to the rate paid on the loan, thus resulting in a fixed rate of interest over the life of the interest rate swap. We then enter into a mirrored interest rate swap with a swap dealer where we pay and receive the same fixed and floating rate as we pay and receive from the interest rate swap we have with our customer. As the interest paid and received by us on the two swaps net to zero, we are left with the variable rate of the long-term loan.
Prior to 2017 we enteredWe enter into fixed-rate loans having original maturities of 5 years or greater (typically between 5 and 15 years)RPAs with certainsome of our commercial and agribusiness banking customersderivative counterparties to assist them in facilitating their risk management strategies. We mitigated ourassume the credit exposure related to interest rate risk associated with certain of these loans by enteringderivative contracts. Our loan customer enters into equal and offsetting fixed-to-floatingan interest rate swap agreements for these loansdirectly with swap counterparties. We electeda derivative counterparty and we agree through an RPA to account fortake on the loans at fair value under ASC 825 Fair ValueOption. Changes incounterparty's risk of loss on the fair value of these loans are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income in the relevant period. The related interest rate swaps are recognizedswap due to a default by the customer. The notional amounts of RPAs sold were $80.7 million and $56.8 million as either assets or liabilities in our financial statementsof September 30, 2020 and any gains or lossesSeptember 30, 2019, respectively. Assuming all underlying loan customers defaulted on these swaps, both realized and unrealized, are recorded in earnings as a component of noninterest income. The economic hedges are fully effective from antheir obligation to perform under the interest rate risk perspective, as gainsswap with a derivative counterparty, the exposure from these RPAs would be nominal and losses$0.1 million at September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively, based on our swaps are directly offset by changes in fair value of the hedged loans (i.e., swap interest rate risk adjustments are directly offset by associated loan interest rate risk adjustments). Consequently, any changes in noninterest income associated with changes in fair value resulting from interest rate movement, as opposed to changes in credit quality, on the loans are directly offset by equal and opposite unrealized charges to or reductions in noninterest income for the related interest rate swap. Any changes in the fair value of the loans related to credit quality and the current realized gain (loss) on derivatives are not offsetting amounts within noninterest income. To ensure the correlation of movements in fair value between the interest rate swap and the related loan, we pass on all economic costs associated with our hedging activity resulting from loan customer prepayments (partial or full) to the customer.underlying swaps.


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Short-Term Borrowings
Our primary sources of short-term borrowings include securities sold under repurchase agreements and certain FHLB advances maturing within 12 months. The following table presents certain information with respect to only our borrowings with original maturities less than 12 months at and for the periods noted:
noted.
 At and for the fiscal year ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Short-term borrowings:     
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase$132,636
 $138,744
 $182,399
FHLB advances587,200
 231,000
 
Total short-term borrowings$719,836
 $369,744
 $182,399
      
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the year$719,836
 $549,227
 $229,429
Average amount outstanding during the year$352,395
 $272,344
 $182,202
Weighted average rate for the year0.70% 0.37% 0.38%
Weighted average rate as of date indicated1.24% 0.46% 0.25%
We have a $10.0 million revolving line of credit, which expires July 28, 2018, at an interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 200 basis points. At September 30, 2017, we did not have any advances on the line of credit.
At and for Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Short-term borrowings:
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase$65,506 $68,992 $90,907 
FHLB advances— 15,000 100,000 
Other short-term borrowings75,000 — — 
Total short-term borrowings$140,506 $83,992 $190,907 
Maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the period$539,809 $371,649 $808,325 
Average amount outstanding during the period$218,340 $175,133 $442,398 
Weighted average rate for the period0.75 %1.72 %1.32 %
Weighted average rate as of date indicated0.09 %0.91 %0.80 %
Other Borrowings
We have outstanding $75.9In addition to FHLB short-term advances, we also had FHLB long-term borrowings of $120.0 million and $80.9$325.0 million respectively,outstanding as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, respectively.
We had outstanding $73.8 million and $73.7 million of junior subordinated debentures to affiliated trusts in connection with the issuance of trust preferred securities by such trusts as of September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, respectively. We are permitted under applicable laws and regulations to count these trust preferred securities as part of our Tier 1 capital. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we redeemed 5,000 shares of HF Capital Trust V Debentures under the First Supplemental Indenture dated May 13, 2016.
In 2015, we
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We issued $35.0 million of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that mature on August 15, 2025 through a private placement. The notes, which qualifywhose eligibility as Tier 2 capital under capital ruleswas reduced by 20% beginning in effect atthe quarter ended September 30, 2017, have an2020, bear interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum equal to three month LIBOR for the related interest period plus 3.15%, payable semi-annuallyquarterly on each November 15, February 15, April 15 and August 15, commencing on February 15, 2016 until August 15, 2020.15. During the fiscal year 2017,2020, we incurred $4.5 million in interest expense on all outstanding subordinated debentures and notes compared to $3.7$5.5 million and $5.0 million in fiscal year 2016, which related to the increase in subordinated debt acquired in the HF Financial acquisition.years 2019 and 2018, respectively.


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Off-Balance Sheet Commitments, Commitments, Guarantees and Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes the maturity of our contractual obligations and other commitments to make future payments at September 30, 2017.2020. Customer deposit obligations categorized as “not determined”"not determined" include noninterest-bearing demand accounts NOW accounts, money market and savingsinterest-bearing demand accounts with no stated maturity date.
September 30, 2017September 30, 2020
Less Than 1 Year 1 to 2 Years 2 to 5 Years >5 Years Not Determined TotalLess Than 1 Year1 to 2 Years2 to 5 Years>5 YearsNot DeterminedTotal
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Contractual Obligations:           Contractual Obligations:
Customer deposits$741,831
 $273,140
 $231,129
 $1,761
 $7,729,752
 $8,977,613
Customer deposits$1,043,773 $148,329 $63,984 $2,988 $9,749,705 $11,008,779 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase132,636
 
 
 
 
 132,636
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase65,506 — — — — 65,506 
FHLB advances and other borrowings543,200
 75,000
 
 25,000
 
 643,200
FHLB advances and other borrowings75,000 30,000 90,000 — — 195,000 
Subordinated debenturesSubordinated debentures— — — 75,920 — 75,920 
Subordinated notes payable
 
 
 75,920
 
 75,920
Subordinated notes payable— — 35,000 — — 35,000 
Subordinated debentures
 
 
 35,000
 
 35,000
Operating leases, net of sublease income5,157
 4,523
 8,757
 6,629
 
 25,066
Operating leases, net of sublease income— — 
Accrued interest payable4,405
 
 
 
 
 4,405
Accrued interest payable5,087 — — — — 5,087 
Interest on FHLB advances1,434
 915
 2,745
 763
 
 5,857
Interest on FHLB advances3,372 3,363 3,747 — — 10,482 
Interest on subordinated debenturesInterest on subordinated debentures1,876 1,876 5,628 16,963 — 26,343 
Interest on subordinated notes payable2,683
 2,683
 8,049
 32,616
 
 46,031
Interest on subordinated notes payable1,201 1,201 3,452 — — 5,854 
Interest on subordinated debentures1,706
 1,706
 5,119
 4,905
 
 13,436
Other Commitments:           Other Commitments:
Commitments to extend credit—non-credit card$1,347,172
 $233,226
 $400,229
 $328,611
 $
 $2,309,238
Commitments to extend credit—non-credit card$1,044,147 $303,226 $460,369 $202,369 $— $2,010,111 
Commitments to extend credit—credit card206,415
 
 
 
 
 206,415
Commitments to extend credit—credit card128,027 — — — — 128,027 
Letters of credit70,186
 
 
 
 
 70,186
Letters of credit65,707 — — — — 65,707 
Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk
In the normal course of business, we enter into various transactions that are not included in our consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These transactions include commitments to extend credit to our customers and letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the commitment. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued primarily to support or guarantee the performance of a customer’s obligations to a third party. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as originating a loan to the customer. We manage the risks associated with these arrangements by evaluating each customer’s creditworthiness prior to issuance through a process similar to that used by us in deciding whether to extend credit to the customer.
The following table presents the total notional amounts of all commitments by us to extend credit and letters of credit as of the dates indicated:
indicated.
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Commitments to extend credit$2,515,653
 $2,158,041
 $2,156,243
Letters of credit70,186
 61,802
 52,571
Total$2,585,839
 $2,219,843
 $2,208,814


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September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Commitments to extend credit$2,138,138 $2,229,678 $2,344,550 
Letters of credit65,707 68,983 69,613 
Total$2,203,845 $2,298,661 $2,414,163 
Liquidity
Liquidity refers to our ability to maintain cash flowresources that isare adequate to fund operations and meet present and future financial obligations through either the sale or maturity of existing assets or by obtaining additional funding through liability management. We consider the effective and prudent management of liquidity to be fundamental to our health and strength. Our objective is to manage our cash flow and liquidity reserves so that they are adequate to fund our obligations and other commitments on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost.
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Our liquidity risk is managed through a comprehensive framework of policies and limits overseen by our bank’sBank’s asset and liability committee. We continuously monitor and make adjustments to our liquidity position by adjusting the balance between sources and uses of funds as we deem appropriate. Our primary measures of liquidity include monthly cash flow analyses under ordinary business activities and conditions and under situations simulating a severe run on our bank.Bank. We also monitor our bank’sBank’s deposit to loan ratio to ensure high quality funding is available to support our strategic lending growth objectives, and have internal management targets for the FDIC’s liquidity ratio, net short-term non-core funding dependence ratio and non-core liabilities to total assets ratio. The results of these measures and analyses are incorporated into our contingency funding plan, which provides the basis for the identification of our liquidity needs. We also acquire brokered deposits when the cost of funds is advantageous to other funding sources.
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Our primary source of liquidity is cash obtained from dividends by our bank.Bank. We primarily use our cash for the payment of dividends, when and if declared by our Board of Directors, and the payment of interest on our outstanding junior subordinated debentures.debentures and subordinated notes. We also use cash, as necessary, to satisfy the needs of our bankBank through equity contributions and for acquisitions. At September 30, 2017, we2020, our holding company had $15.0$36.4 million of cash. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2018,2021, we declared and paid a dividend of $0.20$0.01 per common share. The outstanding amountsamount under our revolving line of credit with a large retail bank and our private placement subordinated capital notes together totaledwas $35.0 million at September 30, 2017.2020. Our management believes that the sources of available liquidity are adequate to meet all reasonably foreseeable short-term and intermediate-term demands. We may consider raising additional capital in public or private offerings of debt or equity securities. To this end, on June 1, 2020 we filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC registering an indeterminate amount of our common stock, debt securities and other securities which we may decide to issue in the future. The specific terms of any shares or other securities we choose to issue will be based on current market conditions and will be described in a supplement to the prospectus contained in the shelf registration statement.
Great Western Bank. Our bankBank maintains sufficient liquidity by maintaining minimum levels of excess cash reserves (measured on a daily basis), a sufficient amount of unencumbered, highly liquid assets and access to contingent funding with the FHLB. At September 30, 2017,2020, our bankBank had cash of $360.4$432.9 million (inclusive of $36.4 million of cash from our holding company) and $1.37$1.77 billion of highly-liquid securities held in our investment portfolio, of which $951.4 million$1.10 billion were pledged as collateral on public deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and for other purposes as required or permitted by law. The balance could be sold to meet liquidity requirements. Our bankBank has a letter of credit from the FHLB, which is pledged as collateral on public deposits, for $75.0 million. Our Bank had $643.2$195.0 million in FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2017,2020, with additional available lines of $1.55$2.03 billion. Our bankBank also had an additional borrowing capacity of $1.89 billion$947.7 million with the Federal Reserve Board Discount Window ("FRB Discount Window").Window. Our bankBank primarily uses liquidity to meet loan requests and commitments (including commitments under letters of credit), to accommodate outflows in deposits and to take advantage of interest rate market opportunities. At September 30, 2017,2020, we had a total of $2.59$2.20 billion of outstanding exposure under commitments to extend credit and issued letters of credit. Our management believes that the sources of available liquidity are adequate to meet all our bank’sBank’s reasonably foreseeable short-term and intermediate-term demands.


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Capital
As a bank holding company, we must comply with the capital requirements established by the Federal Reserve, and our bankBank must comply with the capital requirements established by the FDIC. The current risk-based guidelines applicable to us and our bankBank are based on the Basel III framework, as implemented by the federal bank regulators.
The following table presents our regulatory capital ratios at September 30, 20172020 and the standards for both well-capitalized depository institutions and minimum capital requirements. Our capital ratios exceeded applicable regulatory requirements as of that date.
September 30, 2017September 30, 2020
Actual    Actual
Capital Amount Ratio Minimum Capital Requirement Ratio Well Capitalized RatioCapital AmountRatioMinimum Capital Requirement Ratio ¹Well Capitalized Ratio
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Great Western Bancorp, Inc.       Great Western Bancorp, Inc.
Tier 1 capital$1,101,899
 11.4% 6.0% 8.0%Tier 1 capital$1,195,453 11.8 %6.0 %N/A
Total capital1,200,885
 12.5% 8.0% 10.0%Total capital1,350,658 13.3 %8.0 %N/A
Tier 1 leverage1,101,899
 10.3% 4.0% 5.0%Tier 1 leverage1,195,4539.4 %4.0 %N/A
Common equity Tier 11,028,389
 10.7% 5.75% 6.5%Common equity Tier 11,121,62111.0 %4.5 %N/A
Risk-weighted assets$9,635,155
      Risk-weighted assets$10,151,339 
       
Great Western Bank       Great Western Bank
Tier 1 capital$1,112,466
 11.6% 6.0% 8.0%Tier 1 capital$1,187,905 11.7 %6.0 %8.0 %
Total capital1,176,451
 12.2% 8.0% 10.0%Total capital1,315,07713.0 %8.0 %10.0 %
Tier 1 leverage1,112,466
 10.4% 4.0% 5.0%Tier 1 leverage1,187,905 9.3 %4.0 %5.0 %
Common equity Tier 11,112,466
 11.6% 5.75% 6.5%Common equity Tier 11,187,905 11.7 %4.5 %6.5 %
Risk-weighted assets$9,632,195
      Risk-weighted assets$10,148,600 
1 Does not include capital conservation buffer, which was 2.5% at September 30, 2020.
1 Does not include capital conservation buffer, which was 2.5% at September 30, 2020.
At September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, our Tier 1 capital included an aggregate of $73.5$73.8 million and $77.2$73.7 million, respectively, of trust preferred securities issued by our subsidiaries.subsidiaries, net of fair value adjustment. At September 30, 2017,2020, our Tier 2 capital included $63.5$127.2 million of the allowance for loan and lease losses and $35.0$28.0 million of subordinated capital notes.notes whose eligibility as Tier 2 capital was reduced by 20% beginning in the quarter ending September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2016,2019, our Tier 2 capital included $64.6$70.8 million of the allowance for loan and lease losses and $35.0 million of subordinated capital notes. Our total risk-weighted assets were $9.64$10.15 billion at September 30, 2017.2020.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We rely on certain non-GAAP financial measures in making financial and operational decisions about our business. We believe that each of the non-GAAP financial measures presented is helpful in highlighting trends in our business, financial condition and results of operations which might not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on our financial results calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. We disclose net interest income and related ratios and analysis on a taxable-equivalent basis, which may also be considered non-GAAP financial measures. We believe this presentation to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income as it provides a relevant comparison of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. In addition, certain performance measures, including the efficiency ratio and net interest margin utilize net interest income on a taxable-equivalent basis.
In particular, we evaluate our profitability and performance based on our adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per common share, tangible net income and return on average tangible common equity. Our adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share exclude the after-tax effect of items with a significant impact to net income that we do not believe to be recurring in nature, (e.g., one-time acquisition expenses)expenses as well as the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 COVID-19 impact on credit and other related charges and the impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets). Our tangible net income and return on average tangible common equity exclude the effects of amortization expense relating to intangible assets and related tax effects from the acquisition of us by NAB and our acquisitions of other institutions. We believe these measures help highlight trends associated with our financial condition and results of operations by providing net income and return information excluding significant nonrecurring items (for adjusted net income and adjusted earnings per common share) and based on our cash payments and receipts during the applicable period (for tangible net income and return on average tangible common equity).


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We also evaluate our profitability and performance based on our adjusted net interest income, adjusted net interest margin, adjusted interest income on non ASCnon-ASC 310-30 loans and adjusted yield on non ASCnon-ASC 310-30 loans. We adjust each of these four measures to include the current realized gain (loss) of derivatives we use to manage interest rate risk on certain of our loans, which we believe economically offsets the interest income earned on the loans. Similarly, we evaluate our operational efficiency based on our efficiency ratio, which excludes the effect of amortization of core deposit and other intangibles (a non-cash expense item) and includes the tax benefit associated with our tax-advantaged loans.
We evaluate our financial condition based on the ratio of our tangible common equity to our tangible assets and the ratio of our tangible common equity to common shares outstanding. Our calculation of this ratio excludes the effect of our goodwill and other intangible assets. We believe this measure is helpful in highlighting the common equity component of our capital and because of its focus by federal bank regulators when reviewing the health and strength of financial institutions in recent years and when considering regulatory approvals for certain actions, including capital actions. We also believe the ratio of our tangible common equity to common shares outstanding is helpful in understanding our stockholders’ relative ownership position as we undertake various actions to issue and retire common shares outstanding.
For reconciliations for each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the closest GAAP financial measures, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations" and "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Quarterly Financial Measures Reconciliations”.Reconciliations." Each of the non-GAAP financial measures presented should be considered in context with our GAAP financial results included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
Our financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which requires us to measure financial position and operating results primarily in terms of historic dollars. Changes in the relative value of money due to inflation or recession generally are not considered. The primary effect of inflation on our operations is reflected in increased operating costs. In our management’s opinion, changes in interest rates affect the financial condition of a financial institution to a far greater degree than changes in the inflation rate. While interest rates are greatly influenced by changes in the inflation rate, they do not necessarily change at the same rate or in the same magnitude as the inflation rate. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including changes in the expected rate of inflation, the influence of general and local economic conditions and the monetary and fiscal policies of the United States government, its agencies and various other governmental regulatory authorities.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See "Note 1- Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant2. New Accounting Policies"Standards" in the accompanying "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of new accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Policies and the Impact of Accounting Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements. Certain accounting policies require our management to use significant judgment and estimates,assumptions, which can have a material impact on the carrying amount of certain assets and liabilities. We consider these policies to be critical accounting policies. The judgment and assumptions made are based upon historical experience or other factors that management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Because of the nature of the judgment and assumptions, actual results could differ from estimates, which could have a material effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We have identified the following accounting policies as critical: the allowance for loan and lease losses, valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations, goodwill impairment, core deposits and other intangibles, derivatives, and income taxes. We have reviewed these critical accounting estimates and related disclosures with our Audit Committee.


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Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
Description.Description. We maintain an allowance for loan and lease losses at a level management believes is appropriate based on ongoing evaluation of the probable estimated losses inherent inloan portfolio based on the loan portfolioincurred loss model driven primarily by monitoring changes in loan risk grades, delinquencies, and other credit risk indicators, which isare inherently subjective. A well-documented methodology has been developed and is applied to ensure consistency across our markets. We also have a formalized independent loan review program to evaluate loan administration, credit quality, and compliance with corporate loan standards. This program includes periodic, regular reviews of problem loan reports, delinquencies and charge-offs.
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The allowance for loan and lease losses consists of reserves for probable losses that have been identified related to specific borrowing relationships that are individually evaluated for impairment (“specific reserve”), as well as probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio that are not specifically identified (“collective reserve”). Changes to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for loan and lease losses, which is reflected in the consolidated statements of income. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance for loan and lease losses. Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited to the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The specific reserve relates to impaired loans. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable we will be unable to collect all amounts due (interest as well as principal) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Specific reserves are determined on a loan-by-loan basis based on management’s best estimate of our exposure, given the current payment status of the loan, the present value of expected payments, and the value of any underlying collateral. If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value of the collateral method of measuring the amount of the impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining an independent appraisal of the collateral and reducing the appraised value by applying a discount factor to the appraised value, if necessary, and including costs to sell.
Management’s estimate for collective reserves reflects losses incurred in the loan portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet reporting date. Incurred loss estimates primarily are based on historical loss experience and portfolio mix. Incurred loss estimates may be adjusted for qualitative factors such as current economic conditions and current portfolio trends including credit quality, concentrations, aging of the portfolio, and/or significant policy and underwriting changes.changes, which may not be reflected in historical loss experience. Further discussion of the methodology used in establishing the allowance for loan and lease losses is provided in the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses section of "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies."
Judgments and Uncertainties.Uncertainties. Management makes a range of assumptions to determine what is believed to be the appropriate level of allowance for loan and lease losses. Specific reserves for impaired loans rely on a present value of expected payments or the value of underlying collateral generally based on independent appraisals. Collective reserves rely on historical loss experience based on the portfolio mix, qualitative factors such as current economic conditions and current portfolio trends including credit quality, concentrations, aging of the portfolio, and/or significant policy and underwriting changes. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change.
Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions.Assumptions. The allowance represents our best estimate of estimatedincurred losses in the loan portfolio, but significant downturns in circumstances relating to loan quality and economic conditions could result in a requirement for additional allowance. Likewise, an upturn in loan quality and improved economic conditions may allow a reduction in the required allowance. In either instance, unanticipated changes could have a significant impact on our financial positioncondition and results of operations.
Valuation of Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in Business Combinations
Description. We account for business combinations in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. We recognize assets acquired and liabilities assumed in acquisitions at their fair values as of the acquisition date, with the acquisition-related transaction and restructuring costs expensed in the period incurred. Determining the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed often involves estimates based on third-party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses and may include estimates of attrition, inflation, asset growth rates, discount rates, multiples of earnings or other relevant factors. In addition, fair values are subject to refinement for up to a year after the closing date of an acquisition. Adjustments recorded to the acquired assets and liabilities are applied prospectively.
Judgments and Uncertainties. Fair values are based on estimates using management's assumptions using future growth rates, future attrition of the customer base, discount rates, multiples of earnings or other relevant factors.


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Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions. Any change in the acquisition date fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed may materially affect our financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
Goodwill Impairment
Description.Description. Goodwill represents the cost in excess ofpurchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business combinations.companies. Goodwill often involves estimates based on third party valuations, such as appraisals, or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Under ASC Topic 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, we conduct a goodwill recorded must be reviewed for impairment test on an annualthe basis as well as on an interim basisof one reporting unit at least annually, and more frequently if events occur or changes indicatecircumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the asset mightfair value below its carrying amount. We assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not the fair value is less than its carrying amount. If we conclude based on the qualitative assessment that goodwill may be impaired.impaired, we would perform a quantitative one-step impairment test. An impairment loss mustwould be recognized for any excess of carrying value over fair value of the goodwill, and any subsequent increases in goodwill mustwould not be recognized inon the consolidated financial statements.
Judgments and Uncertainties. The determinationUncertainties. When performing the qualitative assessment to determine whether the fair value of fair valuesthe reporting unit is based onless than the carrying value, we assess relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, changes in the composition or carrying amount of assets and liabilities, the market price of the Company's common stock, and other relevant factors. If a quantitative analysisassessment is considered necessary, the fair value of the reporting unit is calculated with the assistance of a third party using management's assumptions of future growth rates, future attrition of the customer base, discount rates, multiples of earnings and other relevant factors.
Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions.Assumptions. Changes in these qualitative and quantitative factors, as well as downturns in economic or business conditions, could have a significant adverse impact on the fair value of the reporting unit in relation to the carrying value of goodwill and could result in an impairment loss affecting our consolidated financial statements as a whole.
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Core Deposits and Other Intangibles
Description.Description. Intangible assets are non-physical assets generally recognized as part of an acquisition, where the acquirer is allowed to assign some portion of the purchase price to acquired intangible assets having a useful life of greater than one year. These assets often involve estimates based on third party valuations or internal valuations based on discounted cash flow analyses or other valuation techniques. Our intangible assets include core deposits, brand intangibles, customer relationships, and other intangibles. In addition, the determination of the useful lives over which an intangible asset will be amortized is subjective. Under ASC Topic 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, intangible assets are evaluated for impairment if indicators of impairment are identified.
Judgments and Uncertainties.Uncertainties.The determination of fair values is based on a quantitative analysis using management's assumptions of future growth rates, future attrition of the customer base, discount rates and other relevant factors.
Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions. Assumptions.Changes in these factors, as well as downturns in economic or business conditions, could have a significant adverse impact on the carrying value of core deposits and other intangibles and could result in an impairment loss affecting our consolidated financial statements as a whole.
Derivatives
Description.Description. We maintain an overall interest rate risk management strategy that permits the use of derivative instruments to modify exposure to interest rate risk. We enter into interest rate swap contracts to offset the interest rate risk associated with borrowers who lock in long-term fixed rates (greater than or equal to 5 years to maturity) through a fixed rate loan. Generally, under these swaps, we agree with various swap counterparties to exchange the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts based upon notional principal amounts. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting. These interest rate derivative instruments are recognized as assets and liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and measured at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives. Since each fixed rate loan is paired with an offsetting derivative contract, the impact to net income is minimized. We also have back to back swaps with customers where we enter into an interest rate swap with loan customers to provide a facility to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with offering a fixed rate and simultaneously enters into a swap with an outside third party that is matched in exact offsetting terms. The back to back swaps are recorded at fair value and recognized as assets and liabilities, depending on the rights or obligations under the contract, in fair value of derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value reported in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives.



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In 2017 we began a new programWe enter into interest rate derivative contracts to support the business needs of selling interest swaps directly toour customers. These interest rate swaps sales are used to enable customers to achieve a long-term fixed rate by selling the customer a long-term variable rate loan indexed to LIBOR plus a credit spread whereby the Bank enters into an interest rate swap with our customer where the customer pays a fixed rate of interest set at the time of origination on the interest rate swap and then the customer receives a floating rate equal to the rate paid on the loan, thus resulting in a fixed rate of interest over the life of the interest rate swap. We minimize the market and liquidity risks of the swaps entered into with the customer by entering into an offsetting position with a swap dealer.

We enter into RPAs with some of our derivative counterparties to assume the credit exposure related to interest rate derivative contracts. Our loan customer enters into an interest rate swap directly with a derivative counterparty and we agree through an RPA to take on the counterparty's risk of loss on the interest rate swap due to a default by the customer.
We enter into forward interest rate lock commitments on mortgage loans to be held for sale, which are commitments to originate loans whereby the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding. We also have corresponding forward sales contracts related to these interest rate lock commitments. Both the mortgage loan commitments and the related sales contracts are considered derivatives and are recorded at fair value with changes in fair value recorded in noninterest income.
Judgments and Uncertainties.Uncertainties. Our exposure to derivative credit risk is defined as the possibility of sustaining a loss due to the failure of the counterparty to perform in accordance with the terms of the contract. Credit risks associated with interest rate swaps are similar to those relating to traditional on-balance sheet financial instruments. We manage interest rate swap credit risk with the same standards and procedures applied to our commercial lending activities.
Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions.Assumptions. As with any financial instrument, derivative financial instruments have inherent risk including adverse changes in interest rates. We have agreements with our derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if we fail to maintain our status as a well/adequately capitalized institution, then the counterparty has the right to terminate the derivative positions and we would be required to settle our obligations under the agreements.
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Income Taxes
Description.Description. We are subject to the income tax laws of the U.S., its states, and the municipalities in which we operate. These tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and the relevant government taxing authorities. We review income tax expense and the carrying value of deferred tax assets quarterly, and as new information becomes available, the balances are adjusted as appropriate. We follow ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold of more-likely-than-not, and a measurement attribute for all tax positions taken or expected to be taken on a tax return, in order for those tax positionpositions to be recognized inon the consolidated financial statements.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Reform Act was enacted into law. Beginning in 2018, the Tax Reform Act reduced the federal tax rate for corporations from 35.0% to 21.0% and changed or limited certain tax deductions. The Tax Reform Act required us to revalue our net deferred tax assets in the period of enactment, which stranded certain effects of the tax rate change in accumulated other comprehensive income. We adopted new accounting guidance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 that allowed reclassification of $2.4 million in stranded tax effects that related to a change in the federal tax rate from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. Further discussion is provided in "Note 19. Income Taxes" inTaxes:" on the consolidated financial statements.
Judgments and Uncertainties.Uncertainties. In establishing a provision for income tax expense, we must make judgments and interpretations about the application of these inherently complex tax laws. We must also make estimates about when in the future certain items will affect taxable income in the various tax jurisdictions. Disputes over interpretations of the tax laws may be subject to review/adjudication by the court systems of the various tax jurisdictions or may be settled with the taxing authority upon examination or audit.
Effect if Actual Results Differ From Assumptions.Assumptions. Although we believe the judgments and estimates used are reasonable, actual results could differ and we may be exposed to losses or gains that could be material. To the extent we prevail in matters for which reserves have been established, or are required to pay amounts in excess of our reserves, our effective income tax rate in a given financial statement period could be materially affected. An unfavorable tax settlement would result in an increase in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution. A favorable tax settlement would result in a reduction in our effective income tax rate in the period of resolution.


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
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ITEM 7A.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our primary market risk is interest rate risk, which is defined as the risk of loss of net interest income or net interest margin because of changes in interest rates.
We seek to measure and manage the potential impact of interest rate risk. Interest rate risk occurs when interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities mature or re-price at different times, on a different basis or in unequal amounts. Interest rate risk also arises when our assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts each respond differently to changes in interest rates, including as a result of explicit and implicit provisions in agreements related to such assets and liabilities and in off-balance sheet contracts that alter the applicable interest rate and cash flow characteristics as interest rates change. The two primary examples of such provisions that we are exposed to are the duration and rate sensitivity associated with indeterminate-maturity deposits (e.g., non-interest-bearingnoninterest-bearing checking accounts NOW accounts, savings accounts and money market accounts)interest-bearing demand deposits) and the rate of prepayment associated with fixed-rate lending and mortgage-backed securities. Interest rates may also affect loan demand, credit losses, mortgage origination volume and other items affecting earnings.
Our management of interest rate risk is overseen by our bank’sBank’s asset and liability committee based on a risk management infrastructure approved by our board of directors that outlines reporting and measurement requirements. In particular, this infrastructure sets limits, and management targets, calculated monthly, for various metrics, including our economic value sensitivity, our economic value of equity and net interest income simulations involving parallel shifts in interest rate curves, steepening and flattening yield curves, and various prepayment and deposit duration assumptions. Our risk management infrastructure also requires a periodic review of all key assumptions used, such as identifying appropriate interest rate scenarios, setting loan prepayment rates based on historical analysis, non-interest-bearingnoninterest-bearing and interest-bearing demand deposit durations based on historical analysis, and the targeted investment term of capital.
We manage the interest rate risk associated with our interest-bearing liabilities by managing the interest rates and tenors associated with our borrowings from the FHLB and deposits from our customers that we rely on for funding. In particular, from time to time we use special offers on deposits to alter the interest rates and tenors associated with our interest-bearing liabilities. We manage the interest rate risk associated with our interest-earning assets by managing the interest rates and tenors associated with our investment and loan portfolios from time to time purchasingby offering different interest rates and selling investment securities andtenors, using interest rate swaps, selling residential mortgage loans in the secondary market.market and purchasing or selling investment securities.
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We rely on interest rate swaps to hedgemanage our interest rate exposure on CRE, agricultural and commercial non-real estate loans with fixed interest rates of more than 5 years, such as our tailored business loans. As of September 30, 2017,2020, we had a notional amount of $1.01 billion$617.9 million of interest rate swaps outstanding. The overall effectiveness of our hedginginterest rate swap strategies is subject to market conditions, the quality of our execution, the accuracy of our valuation assumptions, the associated counterparty credit risk and changes in interest rates.
We do not engage in speculative trading activities relating to interest rates, foreign exchange rates, commodity prices, equities or credit.
Evaluation of Interest Rate Risk
We use a net interest income simulation model to measure and evaluate potential changes in our net interest income. We run various hypothetical interest rate scenarios at least monthlyregularly and compare these results against a scenario with no changes in interest rates. Our net interest income simulation model incorporates various assumptions, which we believe are reasonable but which may have a significant impact on results such as: (1) the timing of changes in interest rates, (2) shifts or rotations in the yield curve, (3) re-pricing characteristics for market-rate-sensitive instruments on and off balance sheet, (4) differing sensitivities of financial instruments due to differing underlying rate indices, (5) varying loan prepayment speeds for different interest rate scenarios, (6) the effect of interest rate limitations in our assets, such as floors and caps, (7) the effect of our interest rate swaps, and (8) overall growth and repayment rates and product mix of assets and liabilities. Because of limitations inherent in any approach used to measure interest rate risk, simulation results are not intended as a forecast of the actual effect of a change in market interest rates on our results but rather as a means to better plan and execute appropriate asset-liability management strategies and manage our interest rate risk.


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Potential changes to our adjusted net interest income (i.e., GAAP net interest income plus current realized gain or loss on derivatives) in hypothetical rising and declining rate scenarios calculated as of September 30, 20172020 are presented in the following table. The projections assume (1) immediate, parallel shifts downward of the yield curve of 100 basis points and immediate, parallel shifts upward of the yield curve of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points and (2) gradual shifts downward of 100 basis points over 12 months and gradual shifts upward of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points over 12 months. In the current interest rate environment, a downward shift of the yield curve of 200, 300 and 400 basis points does not provide us with meaningfulrealistic results. In a downward parallel shift of the yield curve, interest rates at the short-end of the yield curve are not modeled to decline any further than 0%. For the immediate-shift scenarios, we assume short-term rates follow a forward yield curve throughout the forecast period that is dictated by the instantaneously shocked yield curve from the as of date. In the gradual-shift scenarios, we take each rate across the yield curve from the as of date and shock it by 1/12th of the total change in rates each month for twelve months.
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in Annualized Adjusted Net Interest Income for the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020
Estimated Increase (Decrease) in Annualized Adjusted Net Interest Income for the Year Ended September 30, 2017
Change in Market Interest Rates as of September 30, 2017Year Ending September 30, 2018 Year Ending September 30, 2019
Change in Market Interest Rates as of September 30, 2020Change in Market Interest Rates as of September 30, 2020Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2021Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2022
Immediate Shifts   Immediate Shifts
+400 basis points9.98 % 16.70 %+400 basis points10.45 %18.53 %
+300 basis points7.51 % 12.60 %+300 basis points7.90 %14.25 %
+200 basis points5.03 % 8.46 %+200 basis points5.30 %9.86 %
+100 basis points2.53 % 4.26 %+100 basis points2.73 %5.37 %
-100 basis points(4.90)% (7.32)%-100 basis points(3.69)%(8.25)%
   
Gradual Shifts   Gradual Shifts
+400 basis points2.02 %  +400 basis points1.71 %
+300 basis points1.54 %  +300 basis points1.41 %
+200 basis points1.05 %  +200 basis points1.13 %
+100 basis points0.55 %  +100 basis points0.84 %
-100 basis points(1.91)%  -100 basis points(1.01)%
We primarily use interest rate swaps to ensure that long-term fixed-rate loans are effectively re-priced as short-term rates change, which we believe would allow us to achieve these results. The results of this simulation analysis are hypothetical, and a variety of factors might cause actual results to differ substantially from what is depicted. For example, if the timing and magnitude of interest rate changes differ from those projected, our net interest income might vary significantly. Non-parallel yield curve shifts such as a flattening or steepening of the yield curve or changes in interest rate spreads would also cause our net interest income to be different from that depicted. An increasing interest rate environment could reduce projected net interest income if deposits and other short-term liabilities re-price faster than expected or faster than our assets re-price. Actual results could differ from those projected if we grow assets and liabilities faster or slower than estimated, if we experience a net outflow of deposit liabilities or if our mix of assets and liabilities otherwise changes. Actual results could also differ from those projected if we experience substantially different repayment speeds in our loan portfolio than those assumed in the simulation model. Finally, these simulation results do not contemplate all the actions that we may undertake in response to potential or actual changes in interest rates, such as changes to our loan, investment, deposit, funding or hedginginterest rate swap strategies.
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For more information on our adjusted net interest income, see "—"Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and for a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, see "Item 6. Selected Financial Data—Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations".

Reconciliations."

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
TheTo the Shareholders and the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Great Western Bancorp, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”)Company) as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017. These2020, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)statements”). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Great Western Bancorp, Inc.the Company at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017,2020, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), Great Western Bancorp, Inc.'sthe Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017,2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated November 28, 201723, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the account or disclosure to which it relates.
Allowance for loan and lease losses

Description of the MatterAt September 30, 2020, the Company’s total loans were $10.1 billion and the associated allowance for loan and lease losses (ALLL) was $149.9 million. As explained in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the ALLL consists of reserves for probable losses that have been identified by management related to specific borrowing relationships that are individually evaluated for impairment (“specific reserve”), as well as probable losses inherent in the loan portfolio that are not specifically identified (“collective reserve”). Management’s estimate for the collective reserve reflects losses incurred in the loan portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet reporting date. Incurred loss estimates are based on historical loss experience and portfolio mix. Incurred loss estimates may be adjusted for qualitative factors such as current economic conditions and current portfolio trends including credit quality, concentrations, aging of the portfolio, and/or significant policy and underwriting changes which are not reflected in the historical loss experience.
Auditing management’s estimate of the ALLL is complex due to the highly judgmental nature of the qualitative factors used to adjust incurred loss estimates reflected in the collective reserve. Management’s identification and measurement of the qualitative factors is highly judgmental and could have a significant effect on the ALLL.
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How We Addressed the Matter in Our AuditWe obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls that address the risk of material misstatement relating to the measurement of the ALLL. This included controls over management’s identification of qualitative risk factors requiring assessment, the review of the basis for determining whether an adjustment for such risk factor was warranted, the basis for the recorded adjustment amount, and the inputs to the recorded adjustments.
To test the reasonableness of the Company’s qualitative factor adjustments, we evaluated the basis for adjustments considered, the basis for concluding an adjustment was warranted when considering historical loss experience, and completeness of the inputs used by management in determining such adjustments.
Our procedures included, among others, evaluating the accuracy of management’s inputs by comparing the inputs to the Company’s historical loan performance data, third-party macroeconomic data and peer bank data.
In addition, we evaluated the overall ALLL amount, inclusive of the adjustments for qualitative factors, and whether the amount appropriately reflects losses incurred in the loan portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet date. For example, we performed an analytical review of the overall ALLL amount using data from similar banking institutions with similar loan portfolios. We also reviewed subsequent events and transactions and considered whether they corroborate or contradict the Company’s conclusion.
Goodwill Impairment Charge
Description of the MatterFor the period ended September 30, 2020, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $740.6 million. As discussed in Note 1 and Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements, goodwill is tested for impairment on the basis of one reporting unit at least annually, or more frequently as events occur or circumstances change. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company assessed relevant events and circumstances and determined it was appropriate to perform an impairment test. In performing the test, management used both a market capitalization approach and discounted cash flow approach to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. As a result of this analysis, management determined that the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value resulting in the recognition of a goodwill impairment charge.
Auditing management's goodwill impairment test was complex and highly judgmental due to the significant estimation required to determine the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. In particular, the fair value estimate was sensitive to significant assumptions, such as changes in the Company's financial forecast, the discount rate and terminal value, which are affected by expectations about future market or economic conditions, including uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
How We Addressed the Matter in Our AuditWe obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of the controls over the Company's goodwill impairment process, including controls over management's review of the significant assumptions described above.
To test the estimated fair value of the Company's reporting unit, with the support of our valuation specialists, we performed audit procedures that included, among others, assessing methodologies and testing the significant assumptions discussed above and the underlying data used by the Company in its analysis. With the support of the specialists, we compared the significant assumptions used by management to current industry and economic trends. We assessed the historical accuracy of management's estimates and performed sensitivity analyses of significant assumptions to evaluate changes in the fair value estimate of the reporting unit resulting from changes in the assumptions. In addition, we tested management's reconciliation of the fair value of the reporting unit to the market capitalization of the Company.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2011.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
November 28, 201723, 2020

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
September 30, September 30,September 30,
2017 201620202019
Assets   Assets
Cash and due from banks$170,657
 $142,152
Cash and due from banks$150,085 $201,487 
Interest bearing bank deposits189,739
 382,459
Interest-bearing bank depositsInterest-bearing bank deposits282,802 41,987 
Cash and cash equivalents360,396
 524,611
Cash and cash equivalents432,887 243,474 
Securities available for sale1,367,960
 1,315,860
Securities available for sale1,774,626 1,783,208 
Loans, net of unearned discounts and deferred fees, including $57,537 and $73,272 of loans covered by FDIC loss share agreements at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $1,016,576 and $1,131,111 of loans and written loan commitments at fair value under the fair value option at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and $7,456 and $12,918 of loans held for sale at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively8,968,553
 8,682,644
Loans, net of unearned discounts and deferred fees, including $0 and $31,891 of loans covered by a FDIC loss share agreement at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $655,185 and $812,991 of loans at fair value under the fair value option at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $12,371 and $7,351 of loans held for sale at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectivelyLoans, net of unearned discounts and deferred fees, including $0 and $31,891 of loans covered by a FDIC loss share agreement at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $655,185 and $812,991 of loans at fair value under the fair value option at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and $12,371 and $7,351 of loans held for sale at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively10,076,142 9,706,763 
Allowance for loan and lease losses(63,503) (64,642)Allowance for loan and lease losses(149,887)(70,774)
Net loans8,905,050
 8,618,002
Net loans9,926,255 9,635,989 
Premises and equipment, including $5,147 and $8,112 of property held for sale at September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively112,209
 118,506
Premises and equipment, including $600 and $2,757 of property held for sale at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectivelyPremises and equipment, including $600 and $2,757 of property held for sale at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively119,054 120,645 
Accrued interest receivable53,176
 49,531
Accrued interest receivable54,658 58,699 
Other repossessed property, including $0 and $106 of property covered by FDIC loss share agreements at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively8,985
 10,282
FDIC indemnification asset5,704
 10,777
Other repossessed property, including $0 of property covered by a FDIC loss share agreement at September 30, 2020 and 2019Other repossessed property, including $0 of property covered by a FDIC loss share agreement at September 30, 2020 and 201920,034 36,764 
Goodwill739,023
 739,023
Goodwill0 739,023 
Core deposits and other intangibles9,374
 11,732
Loan servicing rights4,074
 5,781
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies29,619
 29,166
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies31,658 30,796 
Net deferred tax assets42,400
 38,346
Net deferred tax assets47,709 7,286 
Other assets52,041
 59,563
Other assets197,558 132,417 
Total assets$11,690,011
 $11,531,180
Total assets$12,604,439 $12,788,301 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity   Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Deposits   
Noninterest-bearing$1,856,126
 $1,880,512
Noninterest-bearing$2,586,743 $1,956,025 
Interest-bearing7,121,487
 6,724,278
Interest-bearing8,422,036 8,344,314 
Total deposits8,977,613
 8,604,790
Total deposits11,008,779 10,300,339 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase132,636
 141,688
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase65,506 68,992 
FHLB advances and other borrowings643,214
 871,037
FHLB advances and other borrowings195,000 340,000 
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable108,302
 111,873
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable108,832 108,636 
Fair value of derivatives17,107
 81,515
Accrued interest payable4,405
 4,074
Accrued expenses and other liabilities51,734
 52,812
Accrued expenses and other liabilities63,389 70,085 
Total liabilities9,935,011
 9,867,789
Total liabilities11,441,506 10,888,052 
Stockholders’ equity   Stockholders’ equity
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; 58,834,066 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 58,693,304 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2016588
 587
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; 55,014,189 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 56,283,659 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; 55,014,189 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and 56,283,659 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2019550 563 
Additional paid-in capital1,314,039
 1,312,347
Additional paid-in capital1,183,647 1,228,714 
Retained earnings445,747
 344,923
Retained earnings(57,169)657,475 
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income(5,374) 5,534
Total stockholders’ equity1,755,000
 1,663,391
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$11,690,011
 $11,531,180
Accumulated other comprehensive incomeAccumulated other comprehensive income35,905 13,497 
Total stockholders' equityTotal stockholders' equity1,162,933 1,900,249 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equityTotal liabilities and stockholders' equity$12,604,439 $12,788,301 
See accompanying notes.

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104





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Income
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
Years Ended September 30,202020192018
2017 2016 2015
Interest and dividend income     
Interest incomeInterest income
Loans$414,434
 $370,444
 $338,458
Loans$449,536 $498,935 $451,290 
Taxable securities24,262
 23,249
 22,973
Nontaxable securities978
 230
 51
Dividends on securities1,071
 1,201
 1,247
Investment securitiesInvestment securities42,653 41,510 29,171 
Federal funds sold and other922
 574
 652
Federal funds sold and other1,383 2,472 1,376 
Total interest and dividend income441,667
 395,698
 363,381
     
Total interest incomeTotal interest income493,572 542,917 481,837 
Interest expense     Interest expense
Deposits35,035
 25,114
 23,362
Deposits58,603 106,718 60,112 
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase384
 519
 563
FHLB advances and other borrowings5,437
 4,154
 3,631
FHLB advances and other borrowings11,028 9,951 8,848 
Related party notes payable
 
 771
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,464
 3,737
 1,557
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,516 5,540 5,040 
Total interest expense45,320
 33,524
 29,884
Total interest expense74,147 122,209 74,000 
     
Net interest income396,347
 362,174
 333,497
Net interest income419,425 420,708 407,837 
     
Provision for loan and lease losses21,539
 16,955
 19,041
Provision for loan and lease losses118,392 40,947 17,986 
     
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses374,808
 345,219
 314,456
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses301,033 379,761 389,851 
     
Noninterest income     Noninterest income
Service charges and other fees48,573
 46,209
 39,134
Service charges and other fees37,741 43,893 51,077 
Wealth management fees9,118
 7,283
 7,412
Wealth management fees11,772 8,914 9,219 
Mortgage banking income, net7,928
 7,261
 6,694
Mortgage banking income, net8,959 4,848 5,842 
Net gain on sale of securities75
 160
 310
Net gain (loss) on sale of securitiesNet gain (loss) on sale of securities7,890 (178)
Net (decrease) increase in fair value of loans at fair value(65,231) 26,314
 36,742
Net (decrease) increase in fair value of loans at fair value(32,529)61,412 (45,407)
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives49,900
 (48,658) (62,088)
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivativesNet realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives(38,439)(63,444)44,596 
Other5,699
 3,968
 5,686
Other4,623 5,287 8,276 
Total noninterest income56,062
 42,537
 33,890
Total noninterest income17 60,732 73,609 
     
Noninterest expense     Noninterest expense
Salaries and employee benefits128,135
 109,055
 100,646
Salaries and employee benefits149,441 136,305 135,352 
Data processing24,514
 21,719
 19,531
Occupancy expenses16,470
 15,759
 14,809
Data processing and communicationData processing and communication24,455 24,077 29,805 
Occupancy and equipmentOccupancy and equipment21,273 20,784 20,330 
Professional fees15,038
 13,572
 14,024
Professional fees21,961 14,579 17,891 
Communication expenses3,774
 3,721
 4,455
Advertising3,983
 4,267
 3,940
Advertising3,396 4,493 4,507 
Equipment expense3,347
 3,795
 3,905
Net loss recognized on repossessed property and other related expenses1,749
 1,263
 5,382
Amortization of core deposits and other intangibles2,358
 3,264
 7,110
Acquisition expenses710
 15,692
 
Net loss on repossessed property and other related expensesNet loss on repossessed property and other related expenses12,858 4,367 4,369 
Goodwill and intangible assets impairmentGoodwill and intangible assets impairment742,352 
Other16,565
 15,533
 12,992
Other31,632 20,293 19,171 
Total noninterest expense216,643
 207,640
 186,794
Total noninterest expense1,007,368 224,898 231,425 
Income before income taxes214,227
 180,116
 161,552
Provision for income taxes69,441
 58,863
 52,487
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
     
(Loss) income before income taxes(Loss) income before income taxes(706,318)215,595 232,035 
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes(Benefit from) provision for income taxes(25,510)48,230 74,119 
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
Basic earnings per common share     Basic earnings per common share
Weighted average shares outstanding58,770,708
 56,563,438
 57,455,693
Weighted average common shares outstandingWeighted average common shares outstanding55,612,251 57,154,865 58,938,169 
Basic earnings per share$2.46
 $2.14
 $1.90
Basic earnings per share$(12.24)$2.93 $2.68 
     
Diluted earnings per common share     Diluted earnings per common share
Weighted average shares outstanding59,029,382
 56,729,350
 57,500,878
Weighted average diluted common shares outstandingWeighted average diluted common shares outstanding55,612,251 57,257,061 59,131,650 
Diluted earnings per share$2.45
 $2.14
 $1.90
Diluted earnings per share$(12.24)$2.92 $2.67 
     
Dividends per share     Dividends per share
Dividends paid43,474
 $31,419
 $20,520
Dividends paid$42,456 $62,904 $53,002 
Dividends per share$0.74
 $0.56
 $0.36
Dividends per share$0.76 $1.10 $0.90 
See accompanying notes.

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105





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in Thousands)
 Years Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:     
Securities available for sale:     
Net unrealized holding (loss) gain arising during the year(17,848) 5,347
 13,979
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) realized in net income(75) (160) (310)
Income tax benefit (expense)6,811
 (1,971) (5,194)
Net change in unrealized (losses) gains on securities available for sale(11,112) 3,216
 8,475
      
Defined benefit pension plan obligation:     
Net unrealized holding gain arising during the year329
 
 
Income tax (expense)(125) 
 
Net change in defined benefit pension plan obligation204
 
 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax(10,908) 3,216
 8,475
      
Comprehensive income$133,878
 $124,469
 $117,540
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
Net (loss) income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Securities available for sale:
Net unrealized holding gain (loss) arising during the period37,630 59,550 (32,816)
Reclassification adjustment for net (gain) loss realized in net income(7,890)178 (6)
Income tax (expense) benefit(7,332)(14,722)9,244 
Net change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale22,408 45,006 (23,578)
Defined benefit pension plan obligation ¹:
Net unrealized holding loss arising during the period0 (329)
Income tax benefit0 125 
Net change in unrealized loss in defined benefit pension plan obligation0 (204)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax22,408 45,006 (23,782)
Comprehensive (loss) income$(658,400)$212,371 $134,134 
1 The Company's Board of Directors voted to terminate the defined benefit pension plan ("Pension Plan") effective February 1, 2018. Transfer of all Pension Plan assets, liabilities and administrative responsibilities were completed as of September 30, 2018.
See accompanying notes.




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106





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
(Dollars in Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
 Comprehensive
Income
 Common
Stock
Par Value
 Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained
Earnings
 Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive Income / (Loss)
 Total
Balance, September 30, 2014  $579
 $1,260,124
 $166,544
 $(6,157) $1,421,090
Net income$109,065
 
 
 109,065
 
 109,065
Other comprehensive income, net of tax8,475
 
 
 
 8,475
 8,475
Comprehensive income$117,540
          
Stock-based compensation, net of tax  
 1,236
 
 
 1,236
Common stock repurchased  (27) (59,973) 
 
 (60,000)
Cash dividends:           
Common stock, $0.36 per share  
 
 (20,520) 
 (20,520)
Balance, September 30, 2015  $552
 $1,201,387
 $255,089
 $2,318
 $1,459,346
Net income$121,253
 
 
 121,253
 
 121,253
Other comprehensive income, net of tax3,216
 
 
 
 3,216
 3,216
Comprehensive income$124,469
          
Stock-based compensation, net of tax  
 3,517
 
 
 3,517
Common stock issued in business acquisition  35
 107,443
 
 
 107,478
Cash dividends:           
Common stock, $0.56 per share  
 
 (31,419) 
 (31,419)
Balance, September 30, 2016  $587
 $1,312,347
 $344,923
 $5,534
 $1,663,391
Net income$144,786
 
 
 144,786
 
 144,786
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax(10,908) 
 
 
 (10,908) (10,908)
Comprehensive income$133,878
          
Cumulative effect adjustment (1)
  
 751
 (488)   263
Stock-based compensation, net of tax  2
 6,545
 
 
 6,547
Repurchase of common stock  (1) (5,604) 
 
 (5,605)
Cash dividends:           
Common stock, $0.74 per share  
 
 (43,474) 
 (43,474)
Balance, September 30, 2017  $588
 $1,314,039
 $445,747
 $(5,374) $1,755,000
            
   (1) Cumulative effect adjustment related to adoption of ASU 2016-09
       
Comprehensive IncomeCommon Stock Par ValueAdditional
Paid-in Capital
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) IncomeTotal
Balance, October 1, 2017$588 $1,314,039 $445,747 $(5,374)$1,755,000 
Net income$157,916 — — 157,916 — 157,916 
Other comprehensive (loss), net of tax(23,782)— — — (23,782)(23,782)
Total comprehensive income$134,134 
Stock-based compensation, net of tax4,418 — — 4,419 
Reclassification due to adoption of ASU 2018-02 ¹— — 2,353 (2,353)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $0.90 per share— — (53,002)— (53,002)
Balance, September 30, 2018$589 $1,318,457 $553,014 $(31,509)$1,840,551 
Net income$167,365 — — 167,365 — 167,365 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax45,006 — — — 45,006 45,006 
Total comprehensive income$212,371 
Stock-based compensation, net of tax4,581 — — 4,582 
Repurchase of common stock(27)(94,324)— — (94,351)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $1.10 per share— — (62,904)— (62,904)
Balance, September 30, 2019$563 $1,228,714 $657,475 $13,497 $1,900,249 
Net (loss)$(680,808)  (680,808) (680,808)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax22,408    22,408 22,408 
Total comprehensive (loss)$(658,400)
Cumulative effect adjustment ²  (182) (182)
Stock-based compensation, net of tax1 3,704   3,705 
Repurchase of common stock(14)(39,969)  (39,983)
Cash dividends:
Common stock, $0.76 per share (8,802)(33,654) (42,456)
Balance, September 30, 2020$550 $1,183,647 $(57,169)$35,905 $1,162,933 
1 Reclassification due to adoption of ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
2 Cumulative effect adjustment relates to the adoption of ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 872).and related ASUs on October 1, 2019. See Note 2, "New Accounting Pronouncements," for additional information.
See accompanying notes.

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in Thousands)
Years Ended September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
Operating activities     Operating activities
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
Net (loss) incomeNet (loss) income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization13,599
 16,259
 20,984
Depreciation and amortization26,354 13,655 13,093 
Amortization of FDIC indemnification asset4,748
 3,836
 7,552
Amortization of FDIC indemnification asset1,012 1,386 2,778 
Net gain on sale of securities(75) (160) (310)
Gain on redemption of subordinated debentures(111) 
 
Net loss on sale of securities and other assetsNet loss on sale of securities and other assets2,851 2,825 5,731 
Net gain on sale of loans(9,635) (8,053) (6,694)Net gain on sale of loans(9,910)(5,680)(6,829)
Net loss on FDIC indemnification asset1,031
 1,069
 2,277
Net (gain) loss on sale of premises and equipment(160) 1,974
 (1,983)
Net loss from sale/writedowns of repossessed property1,749
 1,263
 5,382
Provision for loan and lease losses21,539
 16,955
 19,041
Provision for loan and lease losses118,392 40,947 17,986 
Provision for loan servicing rights loss68
 13
 
Goodwill and intangible assets impairmentGoodwill and intangible assets impairment742,352 
Provision for (reversal of) loan servicing rights lossProvision for (reversal of) loan servicing rights loss9 (4)(73)
Stock-based compensation6,810
 3,517
 1,236
Stock-based compensation3,705 4,582 4,419 
Originations of residential real estate loans held-for-sale(275,015) (294,221) (281,098)
Proceeds from sales of residential real estate loans held-for-sale290,111
 299,223
 288,306
Originations of residential real estate loans held for saleOriginations of residential real estate loans held for sale(501,947)(289,973)(264,514)
Proceeds from sales of residential real estate loans held for saleProceeds from sales of residential real estate loans held for sale506,837 293,758 273,343 
Net deferred income taxes2,631
 (1,563) 7,040
Net deferred income taxes(47,754)8,124 21,302 
Changes in:     Changes in:
Accrued interest receivable(3,645) (1,337) (1,468)Accrued interest receivable4,040 249 (5,772)
Other assets(2,405) 4,703
 (1,814)Other assets(77,271)(48,524)(34,209)
FDIC clawback liability1,349
 1,061
 917
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities(65,866) 19,017
 30,330
Accrued interest payable and other liabilities(5,398)2,949 (2,742)
Net cash provided by operating activities131,509
 184,809
 198,763
Net cash provided by operating activities82,464 191,659 182,429 
Investing activities     Investing activities
Purchase of securities available for sale(313,701) (278,291) (353,249)Purchase of securities available for sale(677,873)(774,707)(334,900)
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale5,074
 145,934
 105,190
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale151,899 175,007 24,971 
Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale233,357
 308,033
 269,284
Proceeds from maturities of securities available for sale564,123 257,201 254,985 
Net increase in loans(318,876) (503,394) (553,976)Net increase in loans(426,156)(348,479)(490,804)
(Payment) reimbursement of covered losses from FDIC indemnification claims(706) (960) 2,127
Payment of covered losses from FDIC indemnification claimsPayment of covered losses from FDIC indemnification claims(47)(14)(770)
Purchase of premises and equipment(6,409) (15,456) (3,895)Purchase of premises and equipment(6,108)(15,643)(13,878)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment5,260
 741
 3,576
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment44 606 4,599 
Proceeds from sale of repossessed property7,334
 12,173
 35,942
Proceeds from sale of repossessed property20,392 9,981 7,468 
Purchase of FHLB stock(38,345) (48,295) (50,335)Purchase of FHLB stock(113,437)(89,948)(64,172)
Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock47,819
 43,045
 50,512
Proceeds from redemption of FHLB stock122,483 87,528 79,190 
Net cash paid in business acquisition
 (15,669) 
Net cash paid in business acquisition(4,711)
Net cash used in investing activities(379,193) (352,139) (494,824)Net cash used in investing activities(369,391)(698,468)(533,311)
Financing activities     Financing activities
Net increase in deposits373,408
 355,001
 334,885
Net increase in deposits708,563 567,004 756,145 
Net increase in securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings347,148
 81,762
 23,584
Net decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowingsNet decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase and other short-term borrowings(3,486)(21,915)(41,729)
Proceeds from FHLB advances and other long-term borrowings
 394,827
 295,906
Proceeds from FHLB advances and other long-term borrowings755,000 810,000 150,000 
Repayments on FHLB advances and other long-term borrowings(584,000) (346,000) (290,000)Repayments on FHLB advances and other long-term borrowings(900,000)(745,000)(518,200)
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes payable, net
 
 34,632
Redemption of subordinated debentures(3,625) 
 
Payment of related party notes payable
 
 (41,295)
Common stock repurchased(5,605) 
 (60,000)Common stock repurchased(39,983)(94,351)
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards (1)
(383) 
 
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awardsTaxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards(1,298)(1,247)(4,032)
Dividends paid(43,474) (31,419) (20,520)Dividends paid(42,456)(62,904)(53,002)
Net cash provided by financing activities83,469
 454,171
 277,192
Net cash provided by financing activities476,340 451,587 289,182 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(164,215) 286,841
 (18,869)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year524,611
 237,770
 256,639
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year$360,396
 $524,611
 $237,770
Supplemental disclosures of cash flows information     
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalentsNet increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents189,413 (55,222)(61,700)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of periodCash and cash equivalents, beginning of period243,474 298,696 360,396 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of periodCash and cash equivalents, end of period$432,887 $243,474 $298,696 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow informationSupplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Cash payments for interest$44,989
 $33,456
 $31,150
Cash payments for interest$85,151 $114,891 $69,633 
Cash payments for income taxes$71,964
 $54,570
 $52,319
Cash payments for income taxes$29,405 $46,884 $50,020 
Supplemental schedules of noncash investing and financing activities     
Loans transferred to repossessed assets$(7,786) $(4,331) $(7,636)
Repossessed property transferred to premises and equipment$
 $(840) $
(1) Related to the Company's early adoption of ASU 2016-09, certain prior period amounts have been retrospectively reclassified between operating activities and financing activities. See Note 1, Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Policies, for additional information.
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activitiesSupplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities
Loans transferred to repossessed propertiesLoans transferred to repossessed properties$(14,088)$(25,668)$(25,926)
See accompanying notes.

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108





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements



1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”)The Company is a bank holding company organized under the laws of Delaware and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")NYSE under the symbol GWB."GWB". The primary business of the Company is ownership of its wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiary, Great Western Bank (the “Bank”).Bank. The Bank is a full-service regional bank focused on relationship-based business and agri-business banking in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulation of certain federal and/or state agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities. Substantially all of the Company’s income is generated from banking operations.
Segment Reporting
The “Segment Reporting”"Segment Reporting" topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”)FASB ASC requires that public companies report certain information about operating segments. It also requires that public companies report certain information about their products and services, the geographic areas in which they operate, and their major customers. The Company is a holding company for a regional bank, which offers a wide array of products and services to its customers. Pursuant to its banking strategy, emphasis is placed on building relationships with its customers, as opposed to building specific lines of business. As a result, the Company is not organized and does not allocate resources around discernible lines of business or geographies and prefers to work as an integrated unit to customize solutions for its customers, with business line and geographic emphasis and product offerings changing over time as needs and demands change. Therefore, the Company only reports one1 segment, which is consistent with the Company’s preparation of financial information that is evaluated regularly by management in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance.
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”),GAAP, SEC rules and interpretive releases and prevailing practices within the banking industry. All significant income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts and results of the Company and its subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions.
The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a voting interest entity or a variable interest entity (“VIE”) under U.S. GAAP. Voting interest entities are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. The Company consolidates voting interest entities in which it has all, or at least a majority of, the voting interest. As defined in applicable accounting standards, VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when an enterprise has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The enterprise with a controlling financial interest, known as the primary beneficiary, consolidates the VIE. The Company’s wholly ownedwholly-owned subsidiaries Great Western Statutory Trust IV, GWB Capital Trust VI, Sunstate Bancshares Trust II, HF Financial Capital Trust III, HF Financial Capital Trust IV, HF Financial Capital Trust V and HF Financial Capital Trust VI are VIEs for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. Accordingly, the accounts of these trusts are not included inon the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.
Use of Estimates
U.S. GAAP requires management makesto make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported inon the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.


109




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Subsequent Events
On October 26, 2017,28, 2020, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a dividend of $0.20$0.01 per common share payable on November 22, 201727, 2020 to stockholders of record as of close of business on November 10, 2017.12, 2020.
The Company evaluated subsequent events through the date its consolidated financial statements were issued. Other than those events described above, there were no other material events or transactions that would require recognition inon the consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Business Combinations
The Company accounts for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ ("ASC 805”805"). The Company recognizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, immediately expenses transaction costs and accounts for restructuring plans separately from the business combination. There is no separate recognition of the acquired allowance for loan and lease losses on the acquirer’s balance sheet as credit related factors are incorporated directly into the fair value of the loans recorded at the acquisition date. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Alternatively, a bargain purchase gain is recorded equal to the amount by which the fair value of assets purchased exceeds the fair value of liabilities assumed and consideration paid.
Results of operations of the acquired business are included inon the consolidated statements of income from the effective date of acquisition.
Fair values are subject to refinement for up to a year after the closing date of an acquisition as information relative to closing date fair values becomes available. Adjustments recorded to the acquired assets and liabilities are applied prospectively in accordance with ASU 2015-16.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
For purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, management has defined cash and cash equivalents to include cash on hand, amounts due from banks (including cash items in process of clearing), and amounts held at other financial institutions with an initial maturity of 90 days or less.
Securities
The Company classifies securities upon purchase in one of three categories: trading, held to maturity, or available for sale. Debt and equity securities held for resale are classified as trading. Debt securities for which the Company has the ability and positive intent to hold until maturity are classified as held to maturity. All other securities are classified as available for sale as they may be sold prior to maturity in response to changes in the Company’s interest rate risk profile, funding needs, demand for collateralized deposits by public entities or other reasons.
Held to maturity securities are stated at amortized cost, which represents actual cost adjusted for premium amortization and discount accretion. Available for sale securities are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of related taxes, included in stockholders’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Trading securities are stated at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses from sales and fair value adjustments of trading securities are included in other noninterest income inon the consolidated statements of income.
Purchases and sales of securities are recognized on a trade date basis. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method.
Declines in the fair value of investment securities available for sale that are deemed to be other-than-temporary are recognized in earnings as a realized loss, and a new cost basis for the securities is established. In evaluating other-than-temporary impairment, management considers the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than amortized cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, and the intent and ability of the Company to retain its investment in the issuer for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value in the near term. Declines in the fair value of debt securities below amortized cost are deemed to be other-than-temporary in circumstances where: (1) the Company has the intent to sell a security; (2) it is more likely than notmore-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost


110




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

basis; or (3) the Company does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. If the Company intends to sell a security or if it is more likely than notmore-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery, an other-than-temporary impairment loss is recognized in earnings equal to the difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value. If the Company does not intend to sell the security or it is not more likely than notmore-likely-than-not that it will be required to sell the security before recovery, the other-than-temporary impairment write-down is separated into an amount representing credit loss, which is recognized in earnings, and an amount related to all other factors, which is recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Interest and dividends, including amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts, are recognized as interest or dividend income when earned. Realized gains and losses on sales (using the specific identification method) and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in noninterest income inon the consolidated statements of income.
85-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Federal Home Loan Bank Stock
Investments in the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”)FHLB stock are restricted as to redemption and are carried at cost. Investments in FHLB stock are reviewed regularly for possible other-than-temporary impairment, and the cost basis of this investment is reduced by any declines in value determined to be other-than-temporary. FHLB stock is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Loans
The Company’s accounting method for loans differs depending on whether the loans were originated or purchased and, for purchased loans, whether the loans were acquired at a discount related to evidence of credit deterioration since date of origination.
Originated Loans
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future, or until maturity or pay-off, generallyusually are reported at their outstanding principal balance, adjusted for charge-offs, the allowance for loan and lease losses, and any unamortized deferred fees or costs. Other fees not associated with originating a loan are recognized as fee income when earned.
Interest income on loans is accrued daily on the outstanding balances. Accrual of interestA loan is discontinuedplaced on nonaccrual status when management believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, the borrower’s financialborrowers' condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful, which is generally at 90 days past due. Generally, whenWhen loans are placed on nonaccrual status, accrual of interest is discontinued and interest receivable is reversed against interest income in the current period. Interest payments received thereafter are applied as a reduction to the remaining principal balance as long as concern exists as to the ultimate collection of the principal. Loans are removed from nonaccrual status when they become current as to both principal and interest and concern no longer exists as to the collectability of principal and interest.
The Company has elected to measure certain long-term loans and written loan commitments at fair value to assist in managing interest rate risk for longer-term loans. Fair value loans are fixed-rate loans having original maturities of 5 years or greater (typically between 5 and 15 years) to our business and agribusinessagri-business banking customers to assist them in facilitating their risk management strategies. The fair value option was elected upon the origination or acquisition of these loans and written loan commitments. Interest income is recognized in the same manner on loans reported at fair value as on non-fair value loans, except in regard to origination fees and costs which are recognized immediately upon closing. The changes in fair value of long-term loans and written loan commitments at fair value are reported in noninterest income.
For loans held for sale, loan fees charged or received on origination, net of certain direct loan origination costs, are recognized in income when the related loan is sold. For loans held for investment, loan fees, net of certain direct loan origination costs, are deferred and the net amount is amortized as an adjustment of the related loan’s yield. The Company is generally amortizing these amounts over the contractual lives of the loans. Commitment fees are recognized as income when received.
The Company grantsmakes commercial, agricultural, residential real estate, consumer and other loans to customers primarily in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies but includes accounts receivable, marketable securities, inventory, propertyequipment and equipment, residential real estate, income-producing commercial and agricultural properties, and personalestate. Personal guarantees of the borrower or related parties. Governmentparties and government guarantees are also obtained for some loans, which reduces the Company’s risk of loss.


111




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or fair value. Loans held for sale include fixed rate single-family residential mortgage loans under contract to be sold in the secondary market. In most cases, loans are carried at cost and sold within 45 days. These loans are sold with the mortgage servicing rights released. Under limited circumstances, buyers may have recourse to return a purchased loan to the Company. Recourse conditions may include early payment default, breach of representation or warranties, or documentation deficiencies.
Fair value of loans held for sale is determined based on prevailing market prices for loans with similar characteristics, sale contract prices, or, for certain portfolios, discounted cash flow analysis. Declines in fair value below cost (and subsequent recoveries) are recognized in net gain on sale of loans. Deferred fees and costs related to these loans are not amortized but are recognized as part of the cost basis of the loan at the time it is sold. Gains or losses on sales are recognized upon delivery and included in net gain on sale of loans.
Purchased Loans
Loans acquired (non-impaired and impaired) in a business acquisition are recorded at their fair value at the acquisition date. Credit discounts are included in the determination of fair value; therefore, an allowance for loan and lease losses is not recorded at the acquisition date.
86-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
In determining the acquisition date fair value of purchased loans with evidence of credit deterioration (“("purchased impaired loans”loans"), and in subsequent accounting, the Company generally aggregates impaired purchased consumer and certain smaller balance impaired commercial loans into pools of loans with common risk characteristics, while accounting for larger-balance impaired commercial loans individually. Expected cash flows at the acquisition date in excess of the fair value of loans are recorded as interest income over the life of the loans using a level-yield method.
Management estimates the cash flows expected to be collected at acquisition and at subsequent measurement dates using internal risk models, which incorporate the estimate of key assumptions, such as default rates, loss severity, and prepayment speeds. Subsequent to the acquisition date, decreases in cash flows over those expected at the acquisition date are recognized by recording an allowance for loan and lease losses. Subsequent increases in cash flow over those expected at the acquisition date are recognized as reductions to allowance for loan and lease losses to the extent impairment was previously recognized and thereafter as interest income prospectively.
For purchased loans not deemed impaired at the acquisition date, the difference between the fair value and the unpaid principal balance of the loan at acquisition date is amortized or accreted to interest income using the effective interest method over the remaining period to contractual maturity.
Credit Risk Management
The Company’s strategy for credit risk management includes well-defined, centralized credit policies, uniform underwriting criteria and ongoing risk monitoring and review processes for all credit exposures. The strategy also emphasizes diversification on a geographic, industry, loan class type, and customer level; regular credit examinations; and management reviews of loans exhibiting deterioration of credit quality. The credit risk management strategy also includes a credit risk assessment process that performs assessments of compliance with commercial and consumer credit policies, risk ratings, and other critical credit information. Loan decisions are documented with respect to the borrower’s business, purpose of the loan, evaluation of the repayment sources, and the associated risks, evaluation of collateral, covenants and monitoring requirements, and risk rating rationale.
The Company categorizes its loan portfolio into six6 classes, which is the level at which it develops and documents a systematic methodology to determine the allowance for loan and lease losses. The Company’s six6 loan portfolio classes are commercial real estate, agriculture, commercial non-real estate, residential real estate, consumer and other lending.


112




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The commercial real estate lending class includes loans made to small and middle market businesses, including multi-family properties. Loans in this class are generally secured by commercial real estate with cash flows generally being the primary source of repayment. Historical loss history and updated loan-to-value information on collateral-dependent loans are the primary factors in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses for the commercial real estate lending class. Key risk characteristics relevant to the commercial real estate lending class include the industry and geography of the borrower’s business, purpose of the loan, repayment sources, borrower’s debt capacity and financial performance, loan covenants, guarantees and nature of pledged collateral. We considerThe Company considers these risk characteristics in assigning risk ratings and estimating environmental factors considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The agriculture lending class includes loans made to agricultural individuals and businesses. Loans in this class are generally secured by operating assets and agriculture real estate and guaranteed by owners; cashflows are most often ourthe primary source of repayment. Historical loss history and updated loan-to-value information on collateral-dependent loans are the primary factors in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses for the agriculture lending class. Key risk characteristics relevant to the agriculture lending class include the geography of the borrower’s operations, commodity prices and weather patterns, purpose of the loan, repayment sources, borrower’s debt capacity and financial performance, loan covenants, guarantees and nature of pledged collateral. We considerThe Company considers these risk characteristics in assigning risk ratings and estimating environmental factors considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The commercial non-real estate lending class includes loans made to small and middle market businesses, and loans made to public sector customers. Loans in this class are generally secured by business assets and guaranteed by owners; cashflows are most often oura primary source of repayment. Historical loss history and updated loan-to-value information on collateral-dependent loans are the primary factors in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses for the commercial non-real estate lending class. Key risk characteristics relevant to the commercial non-real estate lending class include the industry and geography of the borrower’s business, purpose of the loan, repayment sources, borrower’s debt capacity and financial performance, loan covenants, guarantees and nature of pledged collateral. We considerThe Company considers these risk characteristics in assigning risk ratings and estimating environmental factors considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
87-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The residential real estate lending class includes loans made to consumer customers including residential mortgages, residential construction loans and home equity loans and lines. These loans are typically fixed rate loans secured by residential real estate. Home equity lines are revolving accounts giving the borrower the ability to draw and repay balances repeatedly, up to a maximum commitment, and are secured by residential real estate. Home equity lines typically have variable rate terms which are benchmarked to a prime rate. Historical loss history is the primary factor in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses for the residential real estate lending class. Key risk characteristics relevant to residential real estate lending class loans primarily relate to the borrower’s capacity and willingness to repay and include unemployment rates and other economic factors, and customer payment history. These risk characteristics, among others, are reflected in the environmental factors considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The consumer lending class includes loans made to consumer customers including loans secured by automobiles and other installment loans, and the other lending class includes credit card loans and unsecured revolving credit lines.loans. Historical loss history is the primary factor in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses for the consumer and other lending classes. Key risk characteristics relevant to loans in the consumer and other lending classes primarily relate to the borrower’s capacity and willingness to repay and include unemployment rates and other economic factors, and customer payment and overall credit history. These risk characteristics, among others, are reflected in the environmental factors considered in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The other lending class includes all other loan relationships that do not fit within the categories above, primarily consumer and commercial credit cards, customer deposit account overdrafts, and lease receivables.
The Company assigns all non-consumer loans a credit quality risk rating. These ratings are Pass, Watch, Substandard, Doubtful and Loss. Loans with a Pass and Watch rating represent those loans not classified on the Company’s rating scale foras problem credits, with loans with a Watch rating being monitored and updated at least quarterly by management. Substandard loans are those where a well-defined weakness has been identified that may put full collection of contractual debt at risk. Doubtful loans are those where a well-defined weakness has been identified and a loss of contractual debt is probable. Substandard and doubtful loans are monitored and updated monthly. All non-consumer loan risk ratings are monitored by management and updated and monitored on a continuous basis.as deemed appropriate. The Company generally does not risk rate residential real estate or consumer loans unless a default event such as bankruptcy or extended nonperformance takes place. Alternatively, delinquencies are monitored and standard credit scoring systems are used to assess credit risks of residential real estate and consumer loans.


113




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”)
Loans modified under troubled debt restructurings involve granting a concession to a borrower who is experiencing financial difficulty. These concessions could include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance, or other actions intended to maximize collection, which generally would not otherwise be considered. OurThe Company's TDRs include performing and nonperforming TDRs, which consist of loans that continue to accrue interest at the loan's original interest rate as we expectwhen the Company expects to collect the remaining principal and interest on the loan, and nonaccrual TDRs, which include loans that are in a nonaccrual status and are no longer accruing interest, as we dothe Company does not expect to collect the full amount of principal and interest owed from the borrower on these loans. At the time of modification (except for loans on nonaccrual status), a TDR is classified as nonperforming TDR until a six-month payment history of principal and interest payments, in accordance with the terms of the loan modification, is sustained, at which time we move the loan is moved to a performing status (performing TDR). If we dothe Company does not expect to collect all principal and interest on the loan, the modified loan is classified as a nonaccrual TDR. All TDRs are accounted for as impaired loans and are included in ourthe analysis of the allowance for loan and lease losses. A TDR that has been renewed for a borrower who is no longer experiencing financial difficulty and which yields a market rate of interest at the time of a renewal is no longer considered a TDR.
Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (“ALLL”) and Reserve for Unfunded Commitments
The Company maintains an allowance for loan and lease losses under the incurred loss model at a level management believes isbelieved to be appropriate to reserve for credit losses inherent in ourthe loan portfolio. The allowance for loan and lease losses is determined based on an ongoing evaluation, driven primarily by monitoring changes in loan risk grades, delinquencies, and other credit risk indicators, which isare inherently subjective.
The Company considers the uncertainty related to certain industry sectors and the extent of credit exposure to specific borrowers within the portfolio. In addition, consideration is given to concentration risks associated with the various loan portfolios and current economic conditions that might impact the portfolio. The Company also considers changes, if any, in underwriting activities, the loan portfolio composition (including product mix and geographic, industry, or customer-specific concentrations), trends in loan performance, the level of allowance coverage relative torelevant data from similar banking institutions and macroeconomic factors, such as changes in unemployment rates, gross domestic product, and consumer bankruptcy filings.
88-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Changes to the allowance for loan and lease losses are made by charges to the provision for loan and lease losses, which is reflected inon the consolidated statements of income. Past due status is monitored as an indicator of credit deterioration. Loans that are 90 days or more past due are putA loan is placed on nonaccrual status unless a repaymentand accrual of interest is eminent.discontinued when management believes, after considering collection efforts and other factors, the borrowers' condition is such that collection of interest is doubtful, which is generally 90 days past due. Loans deemed to be uncollectible are charged off against the allowance for loan and lease losses. Recoveries of amounts previously charged-off are credited to the allowance for loan and lease losses.
The allowance for loan and lease losses consist of reserves for probable losses that have been identified related to specific borrowing relationships that are individually evaluated for impairment (“("specific reserve”reserve"), as well as probable losses inherent in ourthe loan portfolio that are not specifically identified (“("collective reserve”reserve").
The specific reserve relates to impaired loans. A loan is impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due (interest as well as principal) according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Specific reserves are determined on a loan-by-loan basis based on management’s best estimate of the Company's exposure, given the current payment status of the loan, the present value of expected payments, and the value of any underlying collateral. Impaired loans also include loans modified in troubled debt restructurings.TDRs. Generally, the impairment related to troubled debt restructurings is measured based on the fair value of the collateral, less cost to sell, or the present value of expected payments relative to the unpaid principal balance. If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value of the collateral method of measuring the amount of the impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining an independent appraisal of the collateral and reducing the appraised value by applying a discount factor to the appraised value, if necessary, and including costs to sell.
Management’s estimate for collective reserves reflects losses incurred in the loan portfolio as of the consolidated balance sheet reporting date. Incurred loss estimates primarily are based on historical loss experience and portfolio mix. Incurred loss estimates may be adjusted for qualitative factors such as current economic conditions and current portfolio trends including credit quality, concentrations, aging of the portfolio, and/or significant policy and underwriting changes.changes, which may not be reflected in the historical loss experience.


114




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company maintains an ALLL for acquired impaired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, resulting from decreases in expected cash flows arising from the periodic revaluation of these loans. Any decrease in expected cash flows in the individual loan pool is generally recognized in the current provision for loan and lease losses. Any increase in expected cash flows is generally not recognized immediately but is instead reflected as an adjustment to the related loan or pool's yield on a prospective basis once any previously recorded provision for loan and lease loss has been recognized.reversed.
For acquired nonimpairednon-impaired loans accounted for under ASC 310-20, the Company utilizes methods to estimate the required allowance for loan and lease losses similar to originated loans; the required reserve is compared to the net carrying value of each acquired nonimpairednon-impaired loan (by class) to determine if a provision is required.
Unfunded residential mortgage loan commitments entered into in connection with mortgage loans to be held for sale are considered derivatives and are recorded at fair value and included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recorded in other interest income. All other unfunded loan commitments are generally related to providing credit facilities to customers and are not considered derivatives. For purchased loans, the fair value of the unfunded credit commitments is considered in determination of the fair value of the loans recorded at the date of acquisition. Reserves for credit exposure on all other unfunded credit commitments are recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. We maintainThe Company maintains a reserve for unfunded commitments at a level we believebelieved to be sufficient to absorb estimated probable losses related to unfunded credit facilities.
FDIC Indemnification Asset and Clawback Liability
In conjunction with a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”)FDIC assisted transaction of TierOne Bank in 2010, the Company entered into twoa loss share agreementsagreement with the FDIC one covering certain single family residential mortgage loans with the claim period endingthat ended June 2020 and one covering commercial loans and other assets, in which the claim period ended in June 2015.4, 2020. The agreements coveragreement covered a portion of realized losses on loans, foreclosed real estate and certain other assets. The Company has recorded assets on the consolidated balance sheets (i.e. indemnification assets) representing estimated future amounts recoverable from the FDIC.
Fair values of loans covered by the loss sharing agreementsagreement at the acquisition date were estimated based on projected cash flows available based on the expected probability of default, default timing and loss given default, the expected reimbursement rates (generally 80%) from the FDIC and other relevant terms of the loss sharing agreements.agreement. The initial fair value was established by discounting these expected cash flows with a market discount rate for instruments with like maturity and risk characteristics.
89-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The loss share assets arewere measured separately from the related loans and foreclosed real estate and recorded as an FDIC indemnification asset on the consolidated balance sheets because they arewere not contractually embedded in the loans and arewere not transferable with the loans should the Company choosehave chosen to dispose of them. Subsequent to the acquisition date, reimbursements received from the FDIC for actual incurred losses reducereduced the carrying amount of the loss share assets. Reductions to expected losses on covered assets, to the extent such reductions to expected losses arewere the result of an improvement to the actual or expected cash flows from the covered assets, also reducereduced the carrying amount of the loss share assets. The rate of accretion of the indemnification asset discount included in interest income slowsslowed to mirror the accelerated accretion of the loan discount. Additional expected losses on covered assets, to the extent such expected losses resultresulted in the recognition of an allowance for loan and lease losses, increaseincreased the carrying amount of the loss share assets. A related increase in the value of the indemnification asset up to the amount covered by the FDIC iswas calculated based on the reimbursement rates from the FDIC and iswas included in other noninterest income. The corresponding loan accretion or amortization iswas recorded as a component of interest income on the consolidated statements of income. Although these assets arewere contractual receivables from the FDIC, there arewere no contractual interest rates. The Company recorded indemnification assets in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets which represented estimated future amounts recoverable from the FDIC. The indemnification asset was zero at September 30, 2020.
As part of the loss sharing agreements,agreement, the Company also assumed a liability (“("FDIC Clawback Liability”Liability") to be paid within 45 days subsequent to the maturity or termination of the loss sharing agreementsagreement that is contingent upon actual losses incurred over the life of the agreementsagreement relative to expected losses considered in the consideration paid at acquisition date and the amount of losses reimbursed to the Company under the loss sharing agreements.agreement. The liability was recorded at fair value as of the acquisition date. The fair value was based on a discounted cash flow calculation that considered the formula defined in the loss sharing agreementsagreement and projected losses. The difference between the fair value at acquisition date and the projected losses iswas amortized through other noninterest expense. As projected losses and reimbursements arewere updated, as described above, the FDIC Clawback Liability iswas adjusted and a gain or loss iswas recorded in other noninterest expense.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The liability was paid in full during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 as a result of the termination or expiration of the loss sharing agreement in June 2020..
Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed principally by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Costs incurred for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The range of estimated useful lives for buildings and building improvements are 10 to 40 years and 3 to 10 years for furniture and equipment.
Other Repossessed Property
Assets acquired through, or in lieu of, loan foreclosure are held for sale and are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of foreclosure, establishing a new cost basis. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management, and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell. Income and expenses from operations of repossessed property are included in noninterest expense. Residential real estate loans which were in the process of being foreclosed as of September 30, 20172020 and 20162019 were approximately $1.6$0.5 million and $1.4$0.6 million, respectively.
Long-lived Asset Impairment
The Company evaluates the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. If a long-lived asset is tested for recoverability and the undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of the asset is less than the carrying amount of the asset, the asset’s carrying value is adjusted to fair value and an impairment loss is recognized as the amount by which the carrying amount of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value.
No Other than the impairment of goodwill and certain intangible assets discussed in the subsequent sections, there was no long-lived asset impairment recognized during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. NaN long-lived asset impairments were recognized during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162019 or 2015.2018.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Goodwill
Goodwill representsrepresented the cost in excess ofpurchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets of acquired (including identifiable intangibles) in transactions accounted for as business combinations.companies. In accordance with ASC Topic 350, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, the Company conducted a goodwill is evaluatedimpairment test at least annually, foror more frequently as events occurred or circumstances changed that more-likely-than-not reduced the fair value below its carrying amount. In accordance with ASC 350-20, the Company assessed qualitative factors to determine whether it was more-likely-than-not the fair value of the reporting unit was less than its carrying amount. If the Company concluded based on the qualitative assessment that goodwill may be impaired, a quantitative one-step impairment as well as on an interim basis if events or changes indicate that the asset might be impaired.test was then applied. An impairment loss would bewas recognized for any excess of carrying value over fair value of the goodwill or the indefinite-lived intangible asset.goodwill. Subsequent increases in goodwill wouldare not be recognized in the consolidated financial statements.
In the fourthsecond quarter of fiscal year 2017,2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwillassess qualitative and Other (Topic 350): Simplifyingquantitative factors to determine whether it was more-likely-than-not the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removed Step 2fair value of the Company was less than the carrying amount. As a result of the analysis, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment test. The adoptioncharge of this standard had no impact to$740.6 million for the consolidated financial statements.
The Company historically performed its impairment evaluation as of June 30 of each fiscal year. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company voluntarily changed its annual impairment assessment date from June 30 to July 1. The change in evaluation date better aligned with the Company's budget and strategic planning cycle. This voluntary change in accounting principle was not made to delay, accelerate or avoid an impairment charge. The change was not applied retrospectively as it was impracticable to do so because retrospective application would have required the application of significant estimates and assumptions with the use of hindsight. Accordingly, the change was applied prospectively. This change has no direct or indirect financial statement impact to the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 or 2015. No2020. NaN goodwill impairment was recognized during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162019 or 2015.
The Company performed its2018. See Note 12 for additional disclosure on goodwill impairment assessment on the basis of one reporting unit. A quantitative analysis using three methods; market multiple, comparable transaction, and discounted cash flow were applied in the assessment. The average of the values calculated under the three methods determined a range of equity value. For the discounted cash flow method, the income growth was projected for the reporting unit over three years and a terminal value was computed. Assumptions used in the discounted cash flow method were based on growth rates, volatility, discount rate and the equity risk premium inherent in the Company's current stock prices. These assumptions are considered significant unobservable inputs and represent the Company's best estimate of assumptions that market participants would use to determine fair value of the reporting unit.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

impairment.
Core Deposits and Other Intangibles
Intangible assets consist of core deposits, brand intangible, customer relationships, and other intangibles. Core deposits represent the identifiable intangible value assigned to core deposit bases arising from purchase acquisitions.acquired companies. Brand intangible represents the value associated with the Bank charter. Customer relationships intangible represents the identifiable intangible value assigned to customer relationships arising from a purchase acquisition.acquired companies. Other intangibles represent contractual franchise arrangements under which the franchiser grants the franchisee the right to perform certain functions within a designated geographical area. Core deposits and other intangibles are recorded in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
The methods and lives used to amortize intangible assets are as follows:
follows.
IntangibleMethodYears
Core depositStraight-line or effective yield5 - 10
Brand intangibleCustomer relationshipsStraight-line1513
Customer relationshipsStraight-line8.5
Other intangiblesStraight-line1.25 - 9.33
Intangible assets are evaluated for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. NoAs noted above, as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the Company recognized an impairment on certain intangible assets of $1.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. NaN intangible asset impairments were recognized during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162019 or 2015.2018. See Note 13 for additional disclosure on intangible impairment.
Bank Owned Life Insurance
BOLI represents life insurance policies on the lives of certain Company officers or former officers for which the Company is the beneficiary. The carrying amount of bank owned life insurance consists of the initial premium paid plus increases in cash value less the carrying amount associated with any death benefits received. Death benefits paid in excess of the applicable carrying amount are recognized as income, which is exempt from income taxes.
Loan Servicing Rights
The loan servicing rights asset recognized as part of the HF Financial acquisition was initially recorded at fair value. These servicing rights have subsequently been accounted for using the lower of cost or fair value method. Fair value is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income using key assumptions such as prepayment speeds and discount rate. The asset is amortized into mortgage banking income, net on the consolidated statements of income in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income.
Loan servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based uponrecorded in other assets on the fair value of the rightsconsolidated balance sheets.
Mortgage banking income and related fees are recognized when earned as compared to the carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to noninterest income. If the Company determines the impairment to be permanent, the valuation is written off against the loan servicing rights, which results in a new amortized balance. Changes in the valuation allowance are reported inservices mortgage loans for others. Mortgage banking income net in the consolidated statementsalso includes gains and losses on sales of income. The fair value of loan servicing rights is subjectmortgage loans to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses. Estimating future cash flows on the underlying mortgages is a difficult analysis and requires judgment based on the best information available. Based on the Company's analysis of loan servicing rights, a valuation allowance of $0.07 million, $0.01 million and $0.00 million was recorded during the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Servicing fee income,other financial institutions or government agencies which is reported in noninterest income, is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding balance or a fixed amount per loan and are recorded as income as earned. The amortization of loan servicing rights is netted against mortgage banking income, net in the consolidated statements of income.
Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”)
BOLI represents life insurance policies on the lives of certain Company officers or former officers for which the Company is the beneficiary. The carrying amount of bank owned life insurance consists of the initial premium paid plus increases in cash value less the carrying amount associated with any death benefits received. Death benefits paid in excess of the applicable carrying amount are recognized as income, which is exempt from income taxes.

each sales transaction occurs.

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Derivatives
The Company maintains an overall interest rate risk management strategy that permits the use of derivative instruments to modify exposure to interest rate risk. The Company enters into interest rate swap contracts to offset the interest rate risk associated with borrowers who lock in long-term fixed rates (greater than or equal to 5 years to maturity) through a fixed rate loan. Generally, under these swaps, the Company agrees with various swap counterparties to exchange the difference between fixed-rate and floating-rate interest amounts based upon notional principal amounts. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting. These interest rate derivative instruments are recognized as other assets andor other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and measured at fair value, with changes in fair value reported in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives.derivatives on the consolidated statements of income. Since each fixed rate loan is paired with an offsetting derivative contract, the impact to net income is minimized.
The Company also has back to backback-to-back swaps with loan customers where the Company enters into an interest rate swap with loan customers to provide a facility to mitigate the interest rate risk associated with offering a fixed rate and simultaneously enters into a swap with an outside third party that is matched in exact offsetting terms. The back to backback-to-back swaps are recorded at fair value and recognized as other assets andor other liabilities, depending on the rights or obligations under the contract, in fair value of derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet, with changes in fair value reported in net realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives.derivatives on the consolidated statements of income.
In 2017The Company enters into RPAs with some of its derivative counterparties to assume the Company began a new program of selling interest swaps directlycredit exposure related to customers.These interest rate swaps sales are used to enable customers to achieve a long-term fixed rate by selling thederivative contracts. The Company's loan customer a long-term variable rate loan indexed to LIBOR plus a credit spread whereby the bank enters into an interest rate swap directly with our customer wherea derivative counterparty and the customer pays a fixed rateCompany agrees through an RPA to take on the counterparty's risk of interest set at the time of originationloss on the interest rate swap and thendue to a default by the customer receives a floating rate equal tocustomer.
In addition, the rate paid on the loan, thus resulting in a fixed rate of interest over the life of the interest rate swap. The bank minimizes the market and liquidity risks of the swaps entered into with the customer by entering into an offsetting position with a swap dealer.

The Company enters into forward interest rate lock commitments on mortgage loans to be held for sale, which are commitments to originate loans whereby the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding. The Company also has corresponding forward sales contracts related to these interest rate lock commitments. Both the mortgage loan commitments and the related sales contracts are considered derivatives and are recorded at fair value and included in other assets or other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets with changes in fair value recordedoffsetting each other in noninterestnet realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivatives on the consolidated statements of income.
Stock Based Compensation
Restricted and performance-based stock units/awards are classified as equity awards and accounted for under the treasury stock method. Compensation expense for non-vested stock units/awards is based on the fair value of the award on the measurement date, which, for the Company, is the date of the grant and is recognized ratably over the vesting or performance period of the award. The fair value of non-vested stock units/awards is generally the market price of the Company's stock on the date of grant.
In the third quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company elected to early adopt ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employees Share Based Payments Accounting. The Company had no previously unrecognized excess tax benefits, therefore, there was no impact to the consolidated financial statements as it related to the elimination of the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before recognition. The Company's consolidated financial statements are presented as if ASU 2016-09 was adopted as of the beginning of the fiscal year, which resulted in a reclassification from additional paid-in capital to provision for income taxes of $0.3 million, $0.0 million and $0.0 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. This change had an immaterial impact on diluted earnings per common share for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Prior period financial statement presentation of equity and tax expense as of and for the three month and fiscal year to date periods ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017 will be recast when presented in future filings.
ASU 2016-09 also requires that all income tax related cash flows resulting from share-based payments be reported as operating activities in the statement of cash flows. Previously, income tax benefits at settlement of an award were reported as a reduction to operating cash flows and an increase to financing cash flows to the extent that those benefits exceeded the income tax benefits reported in earnings during the award's vesting period. The Company has not previously reported any excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation in the financing activities section of the consolidated statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 also requires an employer to classify the cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy its statutory income tax withholding obligation as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows (previous guidance did not specify how these cash flows should be classified). The Company has elected to apply these changes in cash flow classification on a prospective basis.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As part of the adoption of ASU 2016-09, the Company made an accounting policy election to accountaccounts for forfeitures on an actual basis and discontinue the use of an estimated forfeiture approach. The impact of this change was a cumulative effect adjustment of $0.3 million as an increase to the opening balance of total equity and an increase to deferred tax assets.basis.
Income Taxes
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Reform Act was enacted into law. Beginning in 2018, the Tax Reform Act reduced the federal tax rate for corporations from 35% to 21% and changed or limited certain tax deductions. The Tax Reform Act required the Company to revalue its net deferred tax assets in the period of enactment, which stranded certain effects of the tax rate change in accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company adopted new accounting guidance in the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 that allowed reclassification of $2.4 million in stranded tax effects that related to a change in the federal tax rate from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. See further discussion in "Note 19. Income Taxes."
Income tax expense includes two components: current and deferred. Current income tax expense reflects taxes to be paid or refunded for the current period by applying the provisions of the enacted tax law to the taxable income or excess of deductions over income. The Company determines deferred income taxes using the liability (or balance sheet) method. Under this method, the net deferred tax asset or liability is based on the tax effects of the differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and enacted changes in tax rates and laws are recognized in the period in which they occur. Deferred income tax expense results from changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities between periods.
Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance if, based on the weight of evidence available, it is more likely than notmore-likely-than-not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions are recognized if it is more likely than not,more-likely-than-not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be realized or sustained upon examination. The term "more likely than not""more-likely-than-not" means a likelihood of more than 50 percent; the terms "examined" and "upon examination" also include resolution of the related appeals or litigation processes, if any. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is initially and subsequently measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information.
The determination of whether or not a tax position has met the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold considers the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date and is subject to management’s judgment.
Transfers of Financial Assets
Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when (1) the assets have been isolated from the Company-put presumptively beyond reach of the Company and its creditors, even in bankruptcy or other receivership, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity or the ability to unilaterally cause the holder to return specific assets.
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and are recorded at amounts at which the securities were financed, plus accrued interest.
Defined Benefit Plan
The Company assumed plan sponsorship of the HF Financial Corp. Pension Plan as part of the HF Financial acquisition. Defined benefit pension obligation and related costs are calculated using actuarial concepts and measurements. Three critical assumptions,On October 25, 2017, the discount rate,Board of Directors adopted a provision to terminate the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, and mortality rates are important elements of expense and/or benefit obligation measurements. Other assumptions involve employee demographic factors such as retirement patterns and turnover. The Company evaluates all assumptions annually. For the pension valuation performed asPlan effective February 1, 2018. As of September 30, 2017 mortality assumptions were based on2018, the RP-2014 mortality tablestransfer of all Pension Plan assets, liabilities and the MP 2016 projection scales.administrative responsibilities was completed.
The discount rate enables the Company to state expected future benefit payments as a present value on the measurement date. The Company determined the discount rate for the pension valuation as of September 30, 2017 by utilizing the standard duration index from the Citi Pension Discount Curve and Liability Index. A lower discount rate increases the present value of benefit obligations and increases pension expense.
To determine expected long-term rate of return on defined benefit pension plan assets, the Company considers the current asset allocation of the defined benefit pension plan, as well as historical and expected returns on each asset class. A lower expected rate of return on defined pension plan assets will increase pension expense.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company recognizes the over- or under-funded status of a plan as an other asset or other liability in the consolidated balance sheets as measured by the difference between the fair value of the plan assets and the projected benefit obligation. When recorded, unrecognized prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses are recognized as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue as it is earned based on contractual terms, as transactions occur, or as services are provided and collectability is reasonably assured. Certain specific policies related to service charges and other fees include the following:
Deposit Service Charges
Service charges on deposit accounts are primarily fees related to customer overdraft events and not sufficient funds fees, net of any refunded fees, and are recognized as transactions occur and services are provided. Service charges on deposit accounts also relate to monthly fees based on minimum balances, and are earned as transactions occur and services are provided.
Interchange Fees
Interchange fees include interchange income from consumer debit card transactions processed through card association networks. Interchange income is a fee paid by a merchant bank to the card-issuing bank through the interchange network. Interchange fees are set by the card association networks and are based on cardholder purchase volumes.
Wealth Management Fees
Wealth management fees include commission income from financial planning, investment management and insurance operations.
Comprehensive Income
Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income, net of applicable income taxes. OtherFor fiscal years 2020 and 2019, other comprehensive income (loss) consistsconsisted of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available for sale securities. For fiscal year 2018, other comprehensive income (loss) consisted of unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available for sale securities and unrealized holding gains (losses) onthe defined benefit pension plan obligations.obligation acquired from HF Financial which covered former employees of HF Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
2. New Accounting PronouncementsStandards
Accounting Standards Adopted in Fiscal Year 2020
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718), which expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. This ASU supersedes Subtopic 505-50, Equity - Equity-Based Payments to Nonemployees. The Company early adopted ASU 2018-07 effective October 1, 2019. The adoption did not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In August 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, which amendsamended the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements in ASC 815 to improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity’s risk management activities to better align the entity’s financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities and to reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting. ASU 2017-12 is to be applied to all existingwas effective for the Company on October 1, 2019. For the periods presented, the Company did not designate any derivative financial instruments as formal hedging relationships, on the date of adoption and will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period, with the effect of adoption reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact oftherefore, did not utilize hedge accounting. As such, ASU 2017-12 on ourdid not impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.
In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which provides guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under ASU 2017-09, an entity will not apply modification accounting to a share-based payment award if all of the following are the same immediately before and after the change: (i) the award's fair value, (ii) the award's vesting conditions and (iii) the award's classification as an equity or liability instrument. ASU 2017-09 is to be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date and will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The Company does not believe ASU 2017-09 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities, which shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium to the earliest call date unless applicable guidance related to certain pools


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

of securities is applied to consider estimated prepayments. Under prior guidance, entities were generally required to amortize premiums on individual, non-pooled callable debt securities as a yield adjustment over the contractual life of the security. There is no accounting change for debt securities held at a discount. ASU 2017-08 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2017-08 on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires an employer to report the service cost component in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees in the income statement with the other components of the net benefit cost presented below the income from operations line in the income statement. ASU 2017-07 will be effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted as of the beginning of the annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2017-07 on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. Under this ASU, an entity should perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit with its carrying amount, and should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value with the loss not exceeding the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. ASU 2017-04 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We elected to adopt the provisions of ASU 2017-04 in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 in advance of the required application date. See Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Policies - Goodwill for further discussion.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which contains amendments that clarify the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. Under the current implementation guidance in Topic 805, there are three elements of a business: inputs, processes, and outputs. While an integrated set of assets and activities (collectively referred to as a “set”) that is a business usually has outputs, outputs are not required to be present. In addition, all the inputs and processes that a seller uses in operating a set are not required if market participants can acquire the set and continue to produce outputs. ASU 2017-01 amendments provide a screen to determine when a set is not a business. If the screen is not met, the amendments (1) require that to be considered a business, a set must include, at a minimum, an input and a substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create output and (2) remove the evaluation of whether a market participant could replace missing elements. ASU 2017-01 provides a framework to assist entities in evaluating whether both an input and a substantive process are present. The amendments in ASU 2017-01 are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017 and should be applied prospectively. No disclosures are required at transition. The Company has determined that ASU 2017-01 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements; however, the Company will continue to closely monitor developments and additional guidance.
In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued ASU 2016-17, Consolidation (Topic 810): Interests held through Related Parties that are under Common Control, which alters how a decision maker needs to consider indirect interests in a variable interest entity held through an entity under common control and simplifies that analysis to require consideration of only an entity’s proportionate indirect interest in a VIE held through a common control party. ASU 2016-17 amends ASU 2015-02, Consolidations (Topic 810): Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis, which was not effective for the Company in the current fiscal year. ASU 2016-17 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe ASU 2016-17 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Equity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which addresses improvement in accounting for income tax consequences of intra-equity transfers of assets other than inventory. This update requires that an entity recognize the income tax consequences of the intra-equity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. The update eliminates the exception for an intra-equity transfer for assets other than inventory. ASU 2016-16 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The amendment requires the use of a modified retrospective transaction approach through a cumulative effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of adoption. The Company does not believe ASU 2016-16 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), which addresses eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in presentations and classification in the statement of cash flows. The eight specific cash flow issues addressed include: debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing; contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; distributions received from equity method investees; beneficial interests in securitization transactions; and separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principle. ASU 2016-15 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. The amendment requires the use of the retrospective transaction approach for adoption. The Company does not believe ASU 2016-15 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which addresses timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. The ASU requires institutions to measure all expected credit losses related to financial assets measured at amortized costs with an expected loss model based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts relevant to affect the collectability of the financial assets, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss (CECL) model. The ASU requires enhanced disclosures, including qualitative and quantitative requirements, to help understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as provide additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. ASU 2016-13 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted after December 15, 2018. The amendment requires the use of the modified retrospective approach for adoption. The Company has formed a project team to work on the implementation of ASU 2016-13 and is currently evaluating the potential impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Based Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting, which includes provisions intended to simplify various aspects related to how share-based payments are accounted for and presented in the financial statements. Some of the key provisions of this new ASU include: (1) companies will no longer record excess tax benefits and certain tax deficiencies in additional paid-in capital (“APIC”). Instead, they will record all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies as income tax expense or benefit in the income statement, and APIC pools will be eliminated. The guidance also eliminates the requirement that excess tax benefits be realized before companies can recognize them. In addition, the guidance requires companies to present excess tax benefits as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows rather than as a financing activity; (2) increase the amount an employer can withhold to cover income taxes on awards and still qualify for the exception to liability classification for shares used to satisfy the employer’s statutory income tax withholding obligation. The new guidance will also require an employer to classify the cash paid to a tax authority when shares are withheld to satisfy its statutory income tax withholding obligation as a financing activity on its statement of cash flows (current guidance did not specify how these cash flows should be classified); and (3) permit companies to make an accounting policy election for the impact of forfeitures on the recognition of expense for share-based payment awards. Forfeitures can be estimated, as required today, or recognized when they occur. ASU 2016-09 is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2016. Earlier application is permitted. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. We elected to adopt the provisions of ASU 2016-09 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 in advance of the required application date. See Note 1 - Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Stock Based Compensation for further discussion.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02,, Leases (Topic 842), which requires that lessees recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet and disclosingdisclose key information about leasing arrangements. Lessees will beare required to recognize an obligation for future lease payments measured on a discounted basis and a related right-of-use asset. ASU 2016-02 does not significantly change lease accounting requirements applicable to lessors; however, certain changes were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and ASC Topic 606, "RevenueRevenue from Contracts with Customers."Customers. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2016-022018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements, which made technical corrections and improvements to the previous ASU issued, including a modified retrospective transition method that allows entities to apply the standard as of the adoption date. In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow-Scope Improvements for Lessors, which allowed lessors to exclude sales tax from consideration of the contract through a policy election and clarified treatment of certain lessor costs and variable payments for contracts with lease and nonlease components. The Company adopted this guidance beginning October 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method and all practical expedients available other than the use of hindsight with respect to determining the lease term and assessing impairment of its right-of-use assets. As of the date of adoption, the Company's right-of-use assets and lease liabilities recorded in other assets and accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets were $19.9 million and $20.9 million, respectively, arising from operating leases in which the Company is the lessee. The Company also recognized a cumulative effect adjustment of $0.2 million as a result of remeasuring a pre-existing lease impairment as of the date of adoption. These ASUs did not have a material impact on the timing of expense or income recognition in the Company's consolidated statements of income.
Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted in Fiscal Year 2020
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes in the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which eliminates, adds and modifies certain disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. Among the changes, entities will no longer be required to disclose the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, but will be required to disclose the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted. Entities are also allowed to elect to early adopt the eliminated or modified disclosure requirements and delay adoption of the new disclosure requirements until after their effective date. As ASU 2018-13 only revises disclosure requirements, the Company does not believe this ASU will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, which addresses timelier recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. ASU 2016-13 requires institutions to measure all expected credit losses related to financial assets measured at amortized costs with an expected loss model based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts relevant to affect the collectability of the financial assets, which is referred to as the current expected credit loss model. ASU 2016-13 requires enhanced disclosures, including qualitative and quantitative requirements, to help understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as provide additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. From November 2018 through February 2020, the FASB issued ASUs which made technical corrections and improvements to the previous ASU issued (ASU 2018-19, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments, Credit Losses; ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments; ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses; and ASU 2020-02, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) and Leases (Topic 842)). The ASUs require the use of the modified retrospective approach for adoption. These ASUs will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted after December 15, 2018.
The Company adopted the standard in the first fiscal quarter of 2021. Our CECL allowance methodology will be driven by our new credit scoring system, our charge-off history and adjusted for the economic outlook as provided by Oxford Economics. The Company is currently evaluatingfinalizing controls, processes, policies and disclosures and has completed parallel runs. The Company continues its implementation efforts and is in process of determining the potentialfinal impact on the Company's financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and regulatory capital ratios. The impact of ASU 2016-02the adoption will depend on our consolidated financial statements.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10) - Recognitioncomposition, characteristics and Measurementcredit quality of Financial Assetsthe loan portfolio as well as economic conditions and Financial Liabilities, which requires equity investments, in general,forecast as of the adoption date. The CECL standard does not apply to be measured atthe fair value with changes in fair value recognized in earnings. It also eliminates the requirementportfolio and as such there will be no change to disclose the methods and significant

this portfolio upon adoption of this standard..

94-
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

assumptions usedIn December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which aims to estimatesimplify the fair valueaccounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions to the general principles and also simplification of areas such as franchise taxes, step-up in tax basis goodwill, separate entity financial instruments measured at amortized cost, requires entities to use the exit price notion when measuring fair value, requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portionstatements and interim recognition of the total change in fair valueenactment of a liability resulting from a change in the measurement category and form on the balance sheettax laws or accompanying notes, clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available for sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets, and simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values.rate changes. The ASU 2016-01 will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2017,2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of ASU 2019-12 on the consolidated financial statements.
In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-01, Investments - Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323 and Topic 815, which clarifies that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting for the purposes of applying the fair value measurement alternative. The ASU will be effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not believe ASU 2016-01 willexpect adoption to have a material impact on ourthe consolidated financial statements.
In May 2014,March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 606)848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, which implementsprovides optional expedients and exceptions for a more robust frameworklimited time period to ease the potential burden in accounting for reference rate reform on financial reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020-04 are elective for entities with contracts, including derivative contracts, that clarifies the principles for recognizing revenue and gives greater consistency and comparability in revenue recognition practices. In the new framework, an entity recognizes revenue in an amountreference LIBOR or some other reference rate that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for goods or services. The new model requires the identification of performance obligations included in the contract with customers, a determination of the transaction price and an allocation of the price to those performance obligations. The entity recognizes revenue when performance obligations are satisfied. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 to annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08, which intends to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10, which clarifies guidance pertaining to the identification of performance obligations and the licensing implementation. In May 2016, the FASB issued ASU Nos. 2016-11 and 2016-12, which further clarify guidance and provide practical expedients related to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09. The standard permits the use of either the retrospective or cumulative effect transition method. The standard, along with subsequent guidance from FASB, lists several items that are specifically out of scope for ASU 2014-09, including but not limited to: core interest income, derivative instruments, investments, and loan origination fees.
To address the new standard, the Company formed a working group and has completed the initial scoping phase to determine which revenue streams may be subject to accounting or disclosure changes upon adoption in October of 2018. Based on this preliminary analysis, we do not anticipate significant changes as a result of implementing the standard, but will conclude on the quantitative and qualitative impacts once we have completed our review of key contracts for any in-scope items over the coming months.
2. Acquisition Activity
On May 16, 2016, the Company acquired by merger 100% of HF Financial Corp ("HF Financial"), the holding company of Home Federal Bank. Under terms of the agreement, HF Financial's stockholders had the right to receive for each share of HF Financial common stock, at their election (but subject to proration in the event cash or stock is oversubscribed), either (i) 0.6500 share of the Company's common stock, or (ii) $19.50 in cash. The total consideration was prorated as necessary to ensure that 24.29% of the total outstanding shares of HF Financial common stock were exchanged for cash and 75.71% of the total outstanding shares of HF Financial common stock were exchanged for shares of the Company's common stock. The total merger consideration of $142.0 million was paid by the Company in the acquisition, which resulted in goodwill of $41.2 million, as shown in the table below. With this acquisition, the Company expanded its presence in South Dakota and into North Dakota and Minnesota through the addition of 23 bank offices and experienced in-market teams. The following summarizes consideration paid and an allocation of purchase price to net assets acquired.
 Number of Shares Amount
   (dollars in thousands)
Equity consideration:   
Common stock issued3,448,119
 $107,478
Non-equity consideration:   
Cash  34,487
Total consideration paid  141,965
Fair value of net assets acquired including identifiable intangible assets  100,749
Goodwill  $41,216


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

As of the acquisition date, goodwill of $41.2 million arose from the acquisition as a result of consideration in excess of net assets acquired. No goodwill is expected to be deductiblediscontinued. For the Company's cash flow hedges, ASU 2020-04 allows: (i) an entity to change the reference rate without having to designate the hedging relationship; (ii) for income tax purposes.cash flow hedges in which the designated hedged risk is LIBOR, allows an entity to assert that it remains probable that the hedged forecasted transaction will occur; and (iii) allows an entity to change the designated method used to assess hedge effectiveness and simplifies or temporarily suspends the assessment of hedge effectiveness for hedging relationships. ASU 2020-04 must be applied prospectively and was effective immediately upon issuance and remains effective through December 31, 2022. The fair value of intangible assets created inCompany is currently evaluating the acquisition was $14.5 million related to core deposits and other intangible assets and loan servicing rights. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company obtained additional information regarding the valuation of the deferred tax assets, which resulted in an increase in goodwill recognized in the transaction of $0.6 million. There were no adjustments to current period income statement as a result of the adjustment.
The following table summarizes the assets acquired and liabilities assumed which were recordedimpact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on the consolidated balance sheet as of the date of merger of HF Financial:
financial statements.
 Fair Value
 (dollars in thousands)
Identifiable assets acquired: 
Cash and cash equivalents$18,818
Investment securities165,052
Loans863,741
Premises and equipment19,220
Accrued interest receivable4,117
Other repossessed property4
Intangible assets7,877
Loan servicing rights6,573
Other assets36,076
Total identifiable assets acquired$1,121,478
  
Liabilities assumed: 
Deposits$863,121
FHLB advances and other borrowings115,881
Subordinated debentures21,110
Other liabilities20,617
Total liabilities assumed1,020,729
Fair value of net identifiable assets acquired100,749
Net purchase price141,965
Goodwill$41,216
The Company accounted for the aforementioned business combination under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. Accordingly, the purchase price is allocated to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. The Company has made all final adjustments to the purchase price allocation and retrospectively adjusted goodwill recorded. Material adjustments to acquisition date estimated fair values would be recorded in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. Determining the fair value of assets and liabilities, particularly illiquid assets and liabilities, is a complicated process involving significant judgment regarding estimates and assumptions used to calculate estimated fair value. Fair value adjustments based on updated estimates could materially affect the goodwill recorded on the acquisition. The Company may incur losses on the acquired loans that are materially different from losses the Company originally projected.
The results of the merged HF Financial operations are presented within the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. Acquisition-related transaction expenses associated with the HF Financial acquisition totaled $0.7 million, $15.7 million and $0.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


124




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Supplemental pro forma information (unaudited)
The following unaudited pro forma combined results of operations of the Company and HF Financial presents results as if the acquisition had been completed as of the beginning of each period indicated. The unaudited pro forma combined results of operations are presented solely for information purposes and are not intended to represent or be indicative of the consolidated results of operations that the Company would have reported had this transaction been completed as of the dates and for the periods presented, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results. In particular, no adjustments have been made to eliminate the amount of HF Financial's provision for loan and lease losses incurred prior to the acquisition date that would not have been necessary had the acquired loans been recorded at fair value as of the beginning of each period indicated. In accordance with Article 11 of SEC Regulation S-X, transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition have been excluded.
 For the Year Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (Unaudited, dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net interest income$396,347
 $386,454
 $370,778
Net income144,786
 126,286
 114,731
Basic earnings per share2.46
 2.23
 2.00
Fully diluted earnings per share2.45
 2.23
 2.00
In the acquisition, the Company acquired $863.7 million of loans at fair value, net of $28.5 million, or 3.30%, estimated discount to the outstanding principal balance. Of the total loans acquired, management identified $65.4 million that were considered to be credit impaired and are accounted for under ASC Topic 310-30. The table below summarizes the total contractually required principal and interest cash payments, management's estimate of expected total cash payments and fair value of the loans as of acquisition date for purchased credit impaired loans. Contractually required principal and interest payments have been adjusted for estimated prepayments.
 Amount
 (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)
Contractually required principal and interest$83,710
Non-accretable difference(28,516)
Cash flows expected to be collected55,194
Accretable yield(3,662)
Total purchased credit impaired loans acquired$51,532
The following table presents the acquired loan data for the HF Financial acquisition.
 Fair Value of Acquired Loans at Acquisition Date Gross Contractual Amounts Receivable at Acquisition Date Best Estimate at Acquisition Date of Contractual Cash Flows Not Expected to be Collected
 (Unaudited, dollars in thousands)
Acquired receivables subject to ASC 310-30$51,532
 $83,710
 $28,516
Acquired receivables not subject to ASC 310-30812,209
 998,255
 9,572
3. Restrictions on Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company is required to maintain reserve balances in cash and on deposit with the Federal Reserve based on a percentage of transactional deposits.deposits, however the Federal Reserve reduced reserve requirement to zero effective March 26, 2020. The total requirement was approximately $26.9$0.0 million and $94.9$51.2 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.


125




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

4. Securities Available for Sale
The amortized cost and approximate fair value of investments in securities, all of which are classified as available for sale according to management’s intent, are summarized as follows:follows.
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated
Fair Value
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2020
U.S. Treasury securities$49,924 $228 $$50,152 
U.S. Agency securities24,974 86 25,060 
Mortgage-backed securities:
Government National Mortgage Association485,689 11,481 (43)497,127 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation578,650 18,919 (9)597,560 
Federal National Mortgage Association287,842 7,788 (16)295,614 
Small Business Assistance Program244,653 7,884 (58)252,479 
States and political subdivision securities54,224 1,356 55,580 
Other1,006 48 1,054 
Total$1,726,962 $47,790 $(126)$1,774,626 

95-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Amortized
Cost
Gross Unrealized GainsGross Unrealized LossesEstimated
Fair Value
Amortized Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 Estimated Fair Value(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2019As of September 30, 2019
U.S. Treasury securitiesU.S. Treasury securities$94,178 $599 $(32)$94,745 
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2017       
U.S. Treasury securities$228,039
 $579
 $(15) $228,603
Mortgage-backed securities:       Mortgage-backed securities:
Government National Mortgage Association511,457
 228
 (6,635) 505,050
Government National Mortgage Association501,139 3,374 (3,027)501,486 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage CorporationFederal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation463,974 8,840 (770)472,044 
Federal National Mortgage Association339,394
 97
 (2,534) 336,957
Federal National Mortgage Association322,340 5,409 (398)327,351 
Small Business Assistance Program224,005
 726
 (1,001) 223,730
Small Business Assistance Program316,502 3,674 (154)320,022 
States and political subdivision securities73,041
 187
 (642) 72,586
States and political subdivision securities66,145 494 (116)66,523 
Corporate debt securities
 
 
 
Other1,006
 28
 
 1,034
Other1,006 31 1,037 
Total$1,376,942
 $1,845
 $(10,827) $1,367,960
Total$1,765,284 $22,421 $(4,497)$1,783,208 
 Amortized Cost Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 Estimated Fair Value
 (dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2016       
U.S. Treasury securities$227,007
 $3,973
 $
 $230,980
Mortgage-backed securities:       
Government National Mortgage Association664,529
 3,172
 (1,922) 665,779
Federal National Mortgage Association210,933
 1,324
 
 212,257
Small Business Assistance Program142,921
 2,362
 
 145,283
States and political subdivision securities55,525
 123
 (164) 55,484
Corporate debt securities4,998
 24
 
 5,022
Other1,006
 49
 
 1,055
Total$1,306,919
 $11,027
 $(2,086) $1,315,860
The amortized cost and approximate fair value of debt securities available for sale as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Maturities of mortgage-backed securities may differ from contractual maturities because the mortgages underlying the securities may be called or repaid without any penalty.
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016
 Amortized Cost Estimated Fair Value Amortized Cost Estimated Fair Value
 (dollars in thousands)
Due in one year or less$91,535
 $91,597
 $3,706
 $3,709
Due after one year through five years193,117
 193,373
 262,333
 266,312
Due after five years through ten years16,306
 16,097
 21,369
 21,343
Due after ten years122
 122
 122
 122
 301,080
 301,189
 287,530
 291,486
Mortgage-backed securities1,074,856
 1,065,737
 1,018,383
 1,023,319
Securities without contractual maturities1,006
 1,034
 1,006
 1,055
Total$1,376,942
 $1,367,960
 $1,306,919
 $1,315,860


126




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
Amortized 
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
Amortized 
Cost
Estimated
Fair Value
(dollars in thousands)
Due in one year or less$67,131 $67,456 $58,377 $58,343 
Due after one year through five years51,779 52,694 89,836 90,601 
Due after five years through ten years10,212 10,642 12,110 12,324 
Due after ten years
129,122 130,792 160,323 161,268 
Mortgage-backed securities1,596,834 1,642,780 1,603,955 1,620,903 
Securities without contractual maturities1,006 1,054 1,006 1,037 
Total$1,726,962 $1,774,626 $1,765,284 $1,783,208 
Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale were $5.1$151.9 million, $145.9$175.0 million and $105.2$25.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 respectively. Gross gains (pre-tax) of $0.1$7.9 million, $0.5$0.3 million and $0.8 million and gross losses (pre-tax) of $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.5 million were realized on the sales for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively, using the specific identification method. Gross losses (pre-tax) were 0minal, $0.5 million and $0.0 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, using the specific identification method. The Company recognized no0 other-than-temporary impairment for the yearfiscal years ended September 30, 2017. The Company recognized an other-than-temporary impairment included in net gain on sale of securities in the consolidated statements of income of $0.4 million on two security holdings attributable to credit for the year ended September 30, 2016. There was no other-than-temporary impairment recognized for the year ended September 30, 2015.2020, 2019 and 2018.
Securities with an estimated fair value of approximately $951.4 million$1.10 billion and $971.3$863.9 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, were pledged as collateral on public deposits, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and for other purposes as required or permitted by law. The counterparties do not have the right to sell or pledge the securities the Company has pledged as collateral.
As detailed in the following tables, certain investments in debt securities, which are approximately 68%6% and 25%36% of the Company’s investment portfolio at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, are reported in the consolidated financial statements at an amount less than their amortized cost. Based on evaluation of available evidence, including recent changes in market interest rates, credit rating information, implicit or explicit government guarantees, and information obtained from regulatory filings, management believes the declines in fair value of these securities are temporary. As the Company does not intend to sell the securities and it is not more likely than notmore-likely-than-not that the Company will be required to sell the securities before the recovery of their amortized cost basis, which may be maturity, the Company does not consider the securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 20172020 or 2016.2019.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table presents the Company’s gross unrealized losses and approximate fair value in investments, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:
position.
Less than 12 months12 months or moreTotal
Less than 12 months 12 months or more TotalEstimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2017           
As of September 30, 2020As of September 30, 2020
U.S. Treasury securities$10,003
 $(15) $
 $
 $10,003
 $(15)U.S. Treasury securities$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $
Mortgage-backed securities635,969
 (5,425) 241,368
 (4,746) 877,337
 (10,171)Mortgage-backed securities71,547 (103)27,897 (23)99,444 (126)
States and political subdivision securities21,705
 (197) 25,773
 (444) 47,478
 (641)States and political subdivision securities0 0 0 0 0 
OtherOther0 0 0 0 0 
Total$667,677
 $(5,637) $267,141
 $(5,190) $934,818
 $(10,827)Total$71,547 $(103)$27,897 $(23)$99,444 $(126)

Less than 12 months12 months or moreTotal
Less than 12 months 12 months or more TotalEstimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair Value
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses Estimated Fair Value Unrealized Losses(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2016           
As of September 30, 2019As of September 30, 2019
U.S. Treasury securities$
 $
 $
 $
 $
 $
U.S. Treasury securities$$$44,729 $(32)$44,729 $(32)
Mortgage-backed securities17,528
 (6) 284,995
 (1,916) 302,523
 (1,922)Mortgage-backed securities94,612 (205)474,979 (4,144)569,591 (4,349)
States and political subdivision securities27,933
 (164) 
 
 27,933
 (164)States and political subdivision securities23,693 (116)23,693 (116)
OtherOther
Total$45,461
 $(170) $284,995
 $(1,916) $330,456
 $(2,086)Total$94,612 $(205)$543,401 $(4,292)$638,013 $(4,497)
As of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, the Company had 24918 and 110169 securities, respectively, in an unrealized loss position.


127




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5. Loans
The following table presents the composition of net loans as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016 is as follows:
2019.
September 30,September 30,
2017 201620202019
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$4,124,805
 $3,754,107
Commercial real estate$5,274,941 $5,092,410 
Agriculture2,122,138
 2,168,937
Agriculture1,724,350 2,008,644 
Commercial non-real estate1,718,914
 1,673,166
Commercial non-real estate2,181,656 1,719,956 
Residential real estate932,892
 1,020,958
Residential real estate830,102 812,208 
Consumer66,559
 76,273
Consumer63,206 51,925 
Other43,207
 42,477
Other37,347 47,541 
Ending balance9,008,515
 8,735,918
Ending balance10,111,602 9,732,684 
   
Less: Unamortized discount on acquired loans(29,121) (39,947)Less: Unamortized discount on acquired loans(8,215)(13,655)
Unearned net deferred fees and costs and loans in process(10,841) (13,327)
Unearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in processUnearned net deferred fees and costs and net loans in process(27,245)(12,266)
Total$8,968,553
 $8,682,644
Total$10,076,142 $9,706,763 
The loan breakoutssegments above include loans covered by a FDIC non-commercial loss sharing agreementsagreement, which ended June 4, 2020, totaling $57.5$0.0 million and $73.3$31.9 million as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, residential real estate loans held for sale totaling $7.5$12.4 million and $12.9$7.4 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, and $1.02 billion$655.2 million and $1.13 billion$813.0 million of loans accounted for at fair value as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
Unearned net deferred fees and costs totaled $11.6$29.0 million and $8.6$13.9 million as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
Loans Net loans in process represent loans that have been funded as of the balance sheet dates but not classified into a loan category and loan payments received as of the balance sheet dates that have not been applied to individual loan accounts. LoansNet loans in process totaled $(0.8)$(1.8) million and $4.7$(1.6) million as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
Loans guaranteed by agencies of the U.S. government totaled $168.3$869.3 million and $120.0$154.2 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
Principal balances of residential real estate loans sold totaled $280.5$496.9 million and $291.2$288.1 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.
97-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Nonaccrual
The following table presents the Company’s nonaccrual loans at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, excluding ASC 310-30 loans. Loans greater than 90 days past due and still accruing interest as of September 30, 20172020 and 20162019 were $1.9$0.0 million and $2.0$11.2 million, respectively.
 September 30,
 2017 2016
Nonaccrual loans(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$14,693
 $13,870
Agriculture99,325
 66,301
Commercial non-real estate13,674
 27,280
Residential real estate4,421
 5,962
Consumer112
 223
Total$132,225
 $113,636


128




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30,
20202019
Nonaccrual loans(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$73,146 $14,973 
Agriculture217,642 77,880 
Commercial non-real estate26,843 9,502 
Residential real estate4,441 2,661 
Consumer74 74 
Total$322,146 $105,090 
Credit Quality Information
The following table presents the composition of the loan portfolio by internally assigned grade is as follows as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019. This table is presented net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and excludes loans measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings of $1.02 billion$655.2 million for 2017September 30, 2020 and $1.13 billion$813.0 million for 2016:
September 30, 2019.
As of September 30, 2017Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
As of September 30, 2020As of September 30, 2020Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial
Non-Real Estate
Residential Real Estate ¹Consumer ¹OtherTotal
Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade(dollars in thousands)Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade(dollars in thousands)
Grade:             Grade:
Pass$3,519,689
 $1,577,403
 $1,369,803
 $853,266
 $65,673
 $43,207
 $7,429,041
Pass$4,062,814 $968,875 $1,851,323 $806,436 $62,285 $37,347 $7,789,080 
Watchlist80,195
 157,407
 31,878
 4,158
 187
 
 273,825
Watchlist577,399 265,714 94,401 6,972 709 945,195 
Substandard37,627
 130,953
 21,438
 7,368
 306
 
 197,692
Substandard229,467 348,910 94,316 13,173 93 685,959 
Doubtful521
 119
 3,841
 242
 
 
 4,723
Doubtful3,323 11,540 11,623 1,473 27,963 
Loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss
Ending balance3,638,032
 1,865,882
 1,426,960
 865,034
 66,166
 43,207
 7,905,281
Ending balance4,873,003 1,595,039 2,051,663 828,054 63,091 37,347 9,448,197 
Loans covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements
 
 
 57,537
 
 
 57,537
Loans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreementLoans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreement
Total$3,638,032
 $1,865,882
 $1,426,960
 $922,571
 $66,166
 $43,207
 $7,962,818
Total$4,873,003 $1,595,039 $2,051,663 $828,054 $63,091 $37,347 $9,448,197 
1 The Company generally does not risk rate residential real estate or consumer loans unless a default event such as a bankruptcy or extended nonperformance takes place. Alternatively, standard credit scoring systems are used to assess credit risks of residential real estate and consumer loans.
1 The Company generally does not risk rate residential real estate or consumer loans unless a default event such as a bankruptcy or extended nonperformance takes place. Alternatively, standard credit scoring systems are used to assess credit risks of residential real estate and consumer loans.

As of September 30, 2019Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial
Non-Real Estate
Residential Real Estate ¹Consumer ¹OtherTotal
Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade(dollars in thousands)
Grade:
Pass$4,433,530 $1,346,436 $1,424,357 $763,797 $50,796 $47,541 $8,066,457 
Watchlist85,256 179,965 103,514 6,297 755 375,787 
Substandard54,242 322,327 42,048 6,863 205 425,685 
Doubtful56 5,811 296 55 6,220 
Loss
Ending balance4,573,084 1,854,539 1,570,215 777,012 51,758 47,541 8,874,149 
Loans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreement31,891 31,891 
Total$4,573,084 $1,854,539 $1,570,215 $808,903 $51,758 $47,541 $8,906,040 
1 The Company generally does not risk rate residential real estate or consumer loans unless a default event such as a bankruptcy or extended nonperformance takes place. Alternatively, standard credit scoring systems are used to assess credit risks of residential real estate and consumer loans.
98-

As of September 30, 2016Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
Credit Risk Profile by Internally Assigned Grade(dollars in thousands)
Grade:             
Pass$3,276,048
 $1,514,344
 $1,093,913
 $919,224
 $75,065
 $42,477
 $6,921,071
Watchlist81,148
 204,326
 37,283
 4,741
 110
 
 327,608
Substandard57,415
 130,569
 42,319
 10,885
 417
 
 241,605
Doubtful147
 630
 395
 130
 
 
 1,302
Loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ending balance3,414,758
 1,849,869
 1,173,910
 934,980
 75,592
 42,477
 7,491,586
Loans covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements
 
 
 73,272
 
 
 73,272
Total$3,414,758
 $1,849,869
 $1,173,910
 $1,008,252
 $75,592
 $42,477
 $7,564,858

GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Past Due Loans
The following table presents the Company’s past due loans at September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019. This table is presented net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and excludes loans measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings of $1.02 billion$655.2 million for 2017September 30, 2020 and $1.13 billion$813.0 million for 2016.September 30, 2019.
30-59 Days Past Due60-89 Days Past Due90 Days or Greater Past DueTotal
Past Due
CurrentTotal Financing Receivables
As of September 30, 2020(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$7,639 $1,255 $51,691 $60,585 $4,812,418 $4,873,003 
Agriculture4,371 55,649 96,290 156,310 1,438,729 1,595,039 
Commercial non-real estate2,865 647 8,362 11,874 2,039,789 2,051,663 
Residential real estate1,358 1,101 3,073 5,532 822,522 828,054 
Consumer37 22 67 63,024 63,091 
Other37,347 37,347 
Ending balance16,270 58,660 159,438 234,368 9,213,829 9,448,197 
Loans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreement
Total$16,270 $58,660 $159,438 $234,368 $9,213,829 $9,448,197 
 30-59 Days
Past Due
 60-89 Days
Past Due
 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total
Past Due
 Current Total
Financing
Receivables
As of September 30, 2017(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$876
 $22,536
 $6,504
 $29,916
 $3,608,116
 $3,638,032
Agriculture1,453
 3,181
 20,844
 25,478
 1,840,404
 1,865,882
Commercial non-real estate2,485
 115
 8,580
 11,180
 1,415,780
 1,426,960
Residential real estate1,428
 76
 951
 2,455
 862,579
 865,034
Consumer71
 24
 18
 113
 66,053
 66,166
Other
 
 
 
 43,207
 43,207
Ending balance6,313
 25,932
 36,897
 69,142
 7,836,139
 7,905,281
Loans covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements998
 54
 738
 1,790
 55,747
 57,537
Total$7,311
 $25,986
 $37,635
 $70,932
 $7,891,886
 $7,962,818



129




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

30-59 Days Past Due60-89 Days Past Due90 Days or Greater Past DueTotal
Past Due
CurrentTotal Financing Receivables
30-59 Days
Past Due
 60-89 Days
Past Due
 90 Days or Greater Past Due Total
Past Due
 Current Total
Financing
Receivables
As of September 30, 2016(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2019As of September 30, 2019(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$1,765
 $1,959
 $3,745
 $7,469
 $3,407,289
 $3,414,758
Commercial real estate$3,587 $570 $2,475 $6,632 $4,566,452 $4,573,084 
Agriculture(26) 709
 11,549
 12,232
 1,837,637
 1,849,869
Agriculture13,411 1,267 33,089 47,767 1,806,772 1,854,539 
Commercial non-real estate1,588
 5,515
 9,594
 16,697
 1,157,213
 1,173,910
Commercial non-real estate3,932 120 4,424 8,476 1,561,739 1,570,215 
Residential real estate828
 548
 2,063
 3,439
 931,541
 934,980
Residential real estate311 676 939 1,926 775,086 777,012 
Consumer209
 20
 28
 257
 75,335
 75,592
Consumer61 110 178 51,580 51,758 
Other
 
 
 
 42,477
 42,477
Other47,541 47,541 
Ending balance4,364
 8,751
 26,979
 40,094
 7,451,492
 7,491,586
Ending balance21,302 2,743 40,934 64,979 8,809,170 8,874,149 
Loans covered by FDIC loss sharing agreements1,404
 1,173
 367
 2,944
 70,328
 73,272
Loans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreementLoans covered by a FDIC loss sharing agreement536 410 331 1,277 30,614 31,891 
Total$5,768
 $9,924
 $27,346
 $43,038
 $7,521,820
 $7,564,858
Total$21,838 $3,153 $41,265 $66,256 $8,839,784 $8,906,040 
Impaired Loans
The following table presents the Company’s impaired loans. This table excludes purchased credit impaired loans and loans measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings of $1.02 billion for 2017 and $1.13 billion for 2016:
earnings.
As of September 30, 2017 As of September 30, 2016September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
Recorded
Investment
 Unpaid Principal Balance Related
Allowance
 Recorded
Investment
 Unpaid Principal Balance Related
Allowance
Recorded InvestmentUnpaid Principal BalanceRelated AllowanceRecorded InvestmentUnpaid Principal BalanceRelated Allowance
Impaired loans:(dollars in thousands)Impaired loans:(dollars in thousands)
With an allowance recorded:           With an allowance recorded:
Commercial real estate$20,819
 $24,893
 $3,621
 $29,965
 $32,349
 $3,846
Commercial real estate$111,121 $114,034 $25,087 $26,003 $26,297 $4,159 
Agriculture79,219
 88,268
 11,468
 71,501
 80,842
 12,278
Agriculture53,052 55,145 8,151 98,392 104,350 8,234 
Commercial non-real estate17,950
 28,755
 4,779
 34,526
 35,283
 6,475
Commercial non-real estate39,821 47,571 7,822 21,331 21,777 6,062 
Residential real estate5,177
 5,874
 2,581
 6,244
 6,886
 3,000
Residential real estate5,670 6,314 1,903 3,829 4,311 1,795 
Consumer280
 287
 86
 383
 393
 87
Consumer98 109 30 207 214 97 
Total impaired loans with an allowance recorded123,445
 148,077
 22,535
 142,619
 155,753
 25,686
Total impaired loans with an allowance recorded209,762 223,173 42,993 149,762 156,949 20,347 
           
With no allowance recorded:           With no allowance recorded:
Commercial real estate16,652
 69,677
 
 24,040
 24,660
 
Commercial real estate121,380 161,211 — 28,272 66,631 — 
Agriculture51,256
 64,177
 
 30,339
 31,907
 
Agriculture308,734 332,272 — 231,087 255,308 — 
Commercial non-real estate13,983
 38,924
 
 15,299
 16,469
 
Commercial non-real estate66,542 75,365 — 21,579 31,414 — 
Residential real estate2,574
 9,613
 
 4,120
 5,807
 
Residential real estate6,543 8,818 — 3,290 5,454 — 
Consumer13
 950
 
 12
 12
 
Consumer108 — 108 — 
Total impaired loans with no allowance recorded84,478
 183,341
 
 73,810
 78,855
 
Total impaired loans with no allowance recorded503,199 577,774 — 284,229 358,915 — 
Total impaired loans$207,923
 $331,418
 $22,535
 $216,429
 $234,608
 $25,686
Total impaired loans$712,961 $800,947 $42,993 $433,991 $515,864 $20,347 

99-
130





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table presents the average recorded investment on impaired loans and interest income recognized on impaired loans for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015, respectively, are as follows:
2018.
For the year endedFiscal Years Ended September 30,
September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015202020192018
Average
Recorded
Investment
 Interest Income Recognized while on Impaired Status Average
Recorded
Investment
 Interest Income Recognized while on Impaired Status Average
Recorded
Investment
 Interest Income Recognized while on Impaired StatusAverage Recorded InvestmentInterest Income Recognized While on Impaired StatusAverage Recorded InvestmentInterest Income Recognized While on Impaired StatusAverage Recorded InvestmentInterest Income Recognized While on Impaired Status
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$42,347
 $2,163
 $70,266
 $3,876
 $69,918
 $3,936
Commercial real estate$137,017 $8,528 $42,374 $2,339 $54,434 $2,815 
Agriculture131,026
 5,503
 100,052
 6,502
 42,599
 1,953
Agriculture355,719 22,927 223,146 13,093 127,483 4,767 
Commercial non-real estate41,489
 1,485
 45,592
 1,971
 49,561
 3,092
Commercial non-real estate89,152 7,745 28,196 1,791 28,938 1,405 
Residential real estate8,900
 453
 11,773
 576
 12,523
 588
Residential real estate10,408 691 6,889 410 7,156 452 
Consumer369
 47
 309
 55
 241
 35
Consumer138 231 20 219 14 
Total$224,131
 $9,651
 $227,992
 $12,980
 $174,842
 $9,604
Total$592,434 $39,900 $300,836 $17,653 $218,230 $9,453 
Valuation adjustments made to repossessed properties for the fiscal years ended September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, totaled $1.7$10.8 million and $1.8$2.3 million, respectively. The adjustments are included in net loss on repossessed property and other related expenses in noninterest expense.
Troubled Debt Restructurings
Included in certain loan categories in the impaired loans are troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”)TDRs that were classified as impaired. These TDRs do not include purchased credit impaired loans. When the Company grants concessions to borrowers such as reduced interest rates or extensions of loan periods that would not be considered other than because of borrowers’ financial difficulties, the modification is considered a TDR. In fiscal year 2020, the Company began offering short-term loan modifications to assist borrowers during the COVID-19 pandemic. These modifications generally involve principal and/or interest payment deferrals for up to six months to borrowers who were current prior to any relief. These modifications generally meet the criteria of the CARES Act and the joint regulator interagency revised statement issued in April 2020, and therefore, the Company does not account for such loan modifications as TDRs.
Specific reserves included in the allowance for loan and lease losses for TDRs were $8.8$11.0 million and $9.3$10.3 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. Commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were modified in a TDR were $0.0 million as of September 30, 2020 and $0.9$0.2 million as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.2019.
The following table presents the recorded value of the Company’s TDR balances as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016:
2019.
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016
 Accruing Nonaccrual Accruing Nonaccrual
 (dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$1,121
 $5,351
 $18,250
 $2,356
Agriculture22,678
 59,633
 19,823
 28,688
Commercial non-real estate8,369
 5,641
 8,102
 4,789
Residential real estate311
 688
 370
 937
Consumer11
 21
 23
 8
Total$32,490
 $71,334
 $46,568
 $36,778


September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
AccruingNonaccrualAccruingNonaccrual
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$23,215 $11,913 $17,145 $904 
Agriculture2,976 45,971 22,929 24,762 
Commercial non-real estate8,734 4,803 4,398 4,257 
Residential real estate277 74 263 102 
Consumer31 107 48 
Total$35,205 $62,792 $44,842 $30,073 

100-
131





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

TDRs are generally restructured through either a rate modification, term extension, payment modification or due to a bankruptcy. The following table presents a summary of all accruing loans restructured in TDRs during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015, respectively:
2018.
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015
   Recorded Investment   Recorded Investment   Recorded Investment
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 (dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate                 
Rate modification
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
Term extension2
 3,726
 3,726
 2
 1,897
 1,897
 
 
 
Payment modification
 
 
 
 
 
 6
 22,232
 22,232
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 477
 477
Other
 
 
 3
 6,714
 6,714
 
 
 
Total commercial real estate2
 3,726
 3,726
 5
 8,611
 8,611
 7
 22,709
 22,709
Agriculture                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term extension9
 18,072
 18,072
 16
 27,134
 27,134
 2
 1,410
 1,410
Payment modification1
 102
 102
 4
 989
 989
 7
 18,551
 18,551
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other3
 728
 728
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total agriculture13
 18,902
 18,902
 20
 28,123
 28,123
 9
 19,961
 19,961
Commercial non-real estate                 
Rate modification
 
 
 1
 49
 49
 
 
 
Term extension2
 613
 613
 5
 120
 120
 2
 2,296
 2,296
Payment modification6
 1,281
 1,281
 2
 948
 948
 4
 1,709
 1,709
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other1
 150
 150
 4
 8,500
 8,500
 
 
 
Total commercial non-real estate9
 2,044
 2,044
 12
 9,617
 9,617
 6
 4,005
 4,005
Residential real estate                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 13
 13
Term extension
 
 
 1
 42
 42
 2
 53
 53
Payment modification1
 9
 9
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 19
 19
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total residential real estate1
 9
 9
 1
 42
 42
 4
 85
 85
Consumer                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term extension
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Payment modification
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 17
 17
Bankruptcy1
 8
 8
 
 
 
 1
 6
 6
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total consumer1
 8
 8
 
 
 
 2
 23
 23
Total accruing26
 $24,689
 $24,689
 38
 $46,393
 $46,393
 28
 $46,783
 $46,783
Change in recorded investment due to principal paydown at time of modification
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
Change in recorded investment due to charge-offs at time of modification
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
September 30, 2020September 30, 2019September 30, 2018
Recorded InvestmentRecorded InvestmentRecorded Investment
NumberPre-ModificationPost-ModificationNumberPre-ModificationPost-ModificationNumberPre-ModificationPost-Modification
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$17,586 $17,586 $15,466 $15,466 $2,041 $2,041 
Agriculture993 993 16 11,537 11,537 10,753 10,753 
Commercial non-real estate6,353 6,353 1,445 1,445 
Residential real estate50 50 
Consumer188 188 73 73 
Total accruing12 $24,982 $24,982 22 $28,636 $28,636 $12,867 $12,867 
Change in recorded investment due to principal paydown at time of modification$$$$$$
Change in recorded investment due to chargeoffs at time of modification



132




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table presents a summary of all non-accruingnonaccruing loans restructured in TDRs during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015
   Recorded Investment   Recorded Investment   Recorded Investment
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 Number Pre-
Modification
 Post-
Modification
 (dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate                 
Rate modification
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
Term extension
 
 
 
 
 
 2
 740
 740
Payment modification
 
 
 
 
 
 2
 1,082
 1,082
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total commercial real estate
 
 
 
 
 
 4
 1,822
 1,822
Agriculture                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term extension12
 19,062
 19,062
 1
 101
 100
 
 
 
Payment modification4
 565
 565
 4
 932
 887
 1
 229
 229
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other2
 570
 570
 1
 95
 95
 
 
 
Total agriculture18
 20,197
 20,197
 6
 1,128
 1,082
 1
 229
 229
Commercial Non-Real Estate                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 32
 
Term extension2
 2,389
 2,389
 
 
 
 5
 257
 180
Payment modification1
 1,399
 1,399
 2
 760
 760
 2
 22
 3
Bankruptcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total commercial non-real estate3
 3,788
 3,788
 2
 760
 760
 8
 311
 183
Residential real estate                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 67
 67
Term extension
 
 
 
 
 
 3
 169
 169
Payment modification1
 21
 21
 3
 254
 253
 1
 19
 19
Bankruptcy1
 112
 112
 
 
 
 1
 39
 39
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 1
 24
 8
Total residential real estate2
 133
 133
 3
 254
 253
 7
 318
 302
Consumer                 
Rate modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Term extension3
 21
 21
 
 
 
 2
 1
 
Payment modification
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bankruptcy
 
 
 1
 8
 8
 
 
 
Other
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total consumer3
 21
 21
 1
 8
 8
 2
 1
 
Total non-accruing26
 $24,139
 $24,139
 12
 $2,150
 $2,103
 22
 $2,681
 $2,536
Change in recorded investment due to principal paydown at time of modification
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
 
 $
 $
Change in recorded investment due to charge-offs at time of modification
 $
 $
 7
 $47
 $
 5
 $145
 $
September 30, 2020September 30, 2019September 30, 2018
Recorded InvestmentRecorded InvestmentRecorded Investment
NumberPre-ModificationPost-ModificationNumberPre-ModificationPost-ModificationNumberPre-ModificationPost-Modification
(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$2,216 $2,216 $882 $882 $$
Agriculture12 27,807 27,807 5,802 5,802 9,990 9,990 
Commercial non-real estate1,752 1,752 3,699 3,699 
Residential real estate
Consumer
Total nonaccruing18 $31,775 $31,775 12 $10,383 $10,383 $9,990 $9,990 
Change in recorded investment due to principal paydown at time of modification$$$$$$
Change in recorded investment due to chargeoffs at time of modification


133




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table below representspresents loans that were modified as TDRs within the previous 12 months and for which there was a payment default for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015, respectively.
2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016 September 30, 2015202020192018
Number of
Loans
 Recorded
Investment
 Number of
Loans
 Recorded
Investment
 Number of
Loans
 Recorded
Investment
Number of LoansRecorded InvestmentNumber of LoansRecorded InvestmentNumber of LoansRecorded Investment
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate
 $
 
 $
 
 $
Commercial real estate$$$
Agriculture2
 8,383
 2
 7,307
 
 
Agriculture10 1,144 366 
Commercial non-real estate1
 
 2
 275
 2
 
Commercial non-real estate921 
Residential real estate
 
 1
 
 1
 8
Residential real estate
Consumer
 
 1
 8
 2
 
Consumer
Total3
 $8,383
 6
 $7,590
 5
 $8
Total15 $2,065 $$366 
AFor purposes of the table above, a loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days or more contractually past due under the modified terms. The table above includes loans that experienced a payment default during the period, but may be performing in accordance with the modified terms as of the balance sheet date. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, $5.5There were $0.3 million, $22.3$0.0 million and $14.5$0.8 million as of September 30, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, of loans were removed from TDR status as they were restructured at market terms and are performing.
101-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
6. Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses
The following tables present the Company’s allowance for loan and lease losses roll forward for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.
2018.
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2020Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial Non-Real EstateResidential Real EstateConsumerOtherTotal
(dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2017Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance October 1, 2016$17,946
 $25,115
 $12,990
 $7,106
 $438
 $1,047
 $64,642
Beginning balance, October 1, 2019Beginning balance, October 1, 2019$16,827 $30,819 $17,567 $4,095 $427 $1,039 $70,774 
Charge-offs(2,043) (7,853) (12,576) (809) (196) (2,403) (25,880)Charge-offs(5,181)(21,705)(14,178)(615)(87)(2,984)(44,750)
Recoveries485
 415
 652
 507
 102
 1,041
 3,202
Recoveries1,395 2,189 1,018 453 78 338 5,471 
Provision643
 7,965
 13,048
 (761) (15) 1,330
 22,210
Provision71,474 15,980 23,192 3,827 467 3,264 118,204 
(Improvement) impairment of ASC 310-30 loans(90) 115
 
 (696) 
 
 (671)(Improvement) impairment of ASC 310-30 loans(19)(265)442 30 188 
Ending balance September 30, 2017$16,941
 $25,757
 $14,114
 $5,347
 $329
 $1,015
 $63,503
Ending balance, September 30, 2020Ending balance, September 30, 2020$84,496 $27,018 $27,599 $8,202 $915 $1,657 $149,887 

September 30, 2016Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
 (dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance October 1, 2015$18,014
 $13,952
 $15,996
 $8,025
 $348
 $865
 $57,200
Charge-offs(3,625) (4,294) (2,629) (1,157) (206) (2,255) (14,166)
Recoveries719
 556
 1,429
 495
 149
 1,305
 4,653
Provision3,148
 14,901
 (1,736) 419
 147
 1,132
 18,011
Improvement of ASC 310-30 loans(310) 
 (70) (676) 
 
 (1,056)
Ending balance September 30, 2016$17,946
 $25,115
 $12,990
 $7,106
 $438
 $1,047
 $64,642
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2019Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial Non-Real EstateResidential Real EstateConsumerOtherTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance, October 1, 2018$16,777 $28,121 $13,610 $4,749 $257 $1,026 $64,540 
Charge-offs(1,511)(24,847)(7,895)(998)(452)(1,358)(37,061)
Recoveries567 385 392 468 174 362 2,348 
Provision1,514 27,160 11,431 (56)448 1,009 41,506 
(Improvement) impairment of ASC 310-30 loans(520)29 (68)(559)
Ending balance, September 30, 2019$16,827 $30,819 $17,567 $4,095 $427 $1,039 $70,774 



Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2018Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial Non-Real EstateResidential Real EstateConsumerOtherTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance, October 1, 2017$16,941 $25,757 $14,114 $5,347 $329 $1,015 $63,503 
Charge-offs(3,925)(9,473)(3,813)(569)(192)(1,932)(19,904)
Recoveries533 332 994 337 141 618 2,955 
Provision3,231 11,355 2,315 (451)(21)1,325 17,754 
(Improvement) impairment of ASC 310-30 loans(3)150 85 232 
Ending balance, September 30, 2018$16,777 $28,121 $13,610 $4,749 $257 $1,026 $64,540 
134




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

September 30, 2015Commercial Real Estate Agriculture Commercial Non-Real Estate Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
 (dollars in thousands)
Beginning balance October 1, 2014$16,884
 $10,655
 $10,550
 $8,342
 $264
 $823
 $47,518
Charge-offs(1,971) (606) (11,153) (238) (129) (1,617) (15,714)
Recoveries1,339
 131
 3,407
 231
 104
 1,143
 6,355
Provision1,325
 3,772
 13,122
 849
 134
 516
 19,718
(Impairment) improvement of ASC 310-30 loans437
 
 70
 (1,159) (25) 
 (677)
Ending balance September 30, 2015$18,014
 $13,952
 $15,996
 $8,025
 $348
 $865
 $57,200
The following tables provide details regarding the allowance for loan and lease losses and balance by type of allowance as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019. These tables are presented net of unamortized discount on acquired loans and excludes loans of $1.02 billion$655.2 million measured at fair value, loans held for sale of $7.5$12.4 million, and guaranteed loans of $168.3$862.3 million for September 30, 20172020; and loans measured at fair value of $1.13 billion,$813.0 million, loans held for sale of $12.9$7.4 million, and guaranteed loans of $120.0$145.9 million for September 30, 2016.2019.
As of September 30, 2020Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial Non-Real EstateResidential Real EstateConsumerOtherTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease losses
Individually evaluated for impairment$25,087 $8,151 $7,822 $1,903 $30 $$42,993 
Collectively evaluated for impairment59,268 18,867 19,748 5,805 855 1,657 106,200 
ASC 310-30 loans141 29 494 30 694 
Total allowance$84,496 $27,018 $27,599 $8,202 $915 $1,657 $149,887 
Financing Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment$232,501 $361,786 $106,363 $12,213 $98 $$712,961 
Collectively evaluated for impairment4,543,704 1,188,442 1,200,794 777,610 62,701 37,347 7,810,598 
ASC 310-30 loans20,928 2,969 192 25,570 292 49,951 
Loans Outstanding$4,797,133 $1,553,197 $1,307,349 $815,393 $63,091 $37,347 $8,573,510 

102-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
As of September 30, 2017Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
 (dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease losses
Individually evaluated for impairment$3,621
 $11,468
 $4,779
 $2,581
 $86
 $
 $22,535
Collectively evaluated for impairment12,638
 14,174
 9,335
 2,570
 243
 1,015
 39,975
ASC 310-30 loans682
 115
 
 196
 
 
 993
Total allowance$16,941
 $25,757
 $14,114
 $5,347
 $329
 $1,015
 $63,503
              
Financing Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment$37,471
 $130,475
 $31,933
 $7,751
 $293
 $
 $207,923
Collectively evaluated for impairment3,487,232
 1,702,634
 1,333,888
 854,330
 65,207
 43,207
 7,486,498
ASC 310-30 loans30,099
 7,174
 1,920
 52,736
 666
 
 92,595
Loans Outstanding$3,554,802
 $1,840,283
 $1,367,741
 $914,817
 $66,166
 $43,207
 $7,787,016
As of September 30, 2016Commercial
Real Estate
 Agriculture Commercial
Non-Real
Estate
 Residential
Real Estate
 Consumer Other Total
As of September 30, 2019As of September 30, 2019Commercial Real EstateAgricultureCommercial Non-Real EstateResidential Real EstateConsumerOtherTotal
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease lossesAllowance for loan and lease lossesAllowance for loan and lease losses
Individually evaluated for impairment$3,846
 $12,278
 $6,475
 $3,000
 $87
 $
 $25,686
Individually evaluated for impairment$4,159 $8,234 $6,062 $1,795 $97 $$20,347 
Collectively evaluated for impairment13,328
 12,837
 6,515
 3,199
 351
 1,047
 37,277
Collectively evaluated for impairment12,509 22,320 11,476 2,188 330 1,039 49,862 
ASC 310-30 loans772
 
 
 907
 
 
 1,679
ASC 310-30 loans159 265 29 112 565 
Total allowance$17,946
 $25,115
 $12,990
 $7,106
 $438
 $1,047
 $64,642
Total allowance$16,827 $30,819 $17,567 $4,095 $427 $1,039 $70,774 
             
Financing ReceivablesFinancing ReceivablesFinancing Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment$54,005
 $101,840
 $49,825
 $10,364
 $395
 $
 $216,429
Individually evaluated for impairment$54,275 $329,479 $42,910 $7,119 $208 $$433,991 
Collectively evaluated for impairment3,249,974
 1,721,219
 1,079,295
 918,710
 74,301
 42,477
 7,085,976
Collectively evaluated for impairment4,418,611 1,501,164 1,480,949 763,645 51,112 47,541 8,263,022 
ASC 310-30 loans44,448
 15,254
 3,196
 65,737
 896
 
 129,531
ASC 310-30 loans22,124 2,756 221 30,280 438 55,819 
Loans Outstanding$3,348,427
 $1,838,313
 $1,132,316
 $994,811
 $75,592
 $42,477
 $7,431,936
Loans Outstanding$4,495,010 $1,833,399 $1,524,080 $801,044 $51,758 $47,541 $8,752,832 
For acquired loans not accounted for under ASC 310-30 (purchased non-impaired), the Company utilizes specific and collective reserve calculation methods similar to originated loans. The required ALLL for these loans is included in the individually evaluated for impairment bucket of the ALLL if the loan is rated substandard or worse, and in the collectively evaluated for impairment bucket for pass rated loans.


135




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company maintains an ALLL for acquired loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 as a result of impairment to loan pools arising from the periodic re-valuation of these loans. Any impairment in the individual pool is generally recognized in the current period as provision for loan and lease losses. Any improvement in the estimated cash flows, is generally not recognized immediately, but is instead reflected as an adjustment to the related loan pools yield on a prospective basis once any previously recorded impairment has been recaptured.
The ALLL for ASC 310-30 loans totaled $1.0$0.7 million at September 30, 2017,2020, compared to $1.7$0.6 million at September 30, 2016.2019. During fiscal year 2017,2020, loan pools accounted for under ASC 310-30 had a net impairment of $0.2 million, a net reversal of provision of $0.7$0.6 million primarily as a result of updated assumption applied to one of the acquired residential real estate pools which resulted in higher than expected future cash flows. Net provision reversals for fiscal year 2016 totaled $1.12019 and a net impairment of $0.2 million as a result of increases in expected cash flows. Net provision reversals for fiscal year 2015 totaled $0.7 million as a result of increases in expected cash flows.2018.
The reserve for unfunded loan commitments was $2.4 million and $0.5 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively, and is recorded in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
7. Accounting for Certain Loans Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality
In June 2010 and May 2016, the Company acquired certain loans in the TierOne Bank and HF Financial transactions, respectively, that had deteriorated credit quality (ASCknown as ASC 310-30 loans). Loan accounting specific to theseloans, or purchased credit impaired loans addresses differences between contractual cash flows expected to be collected from the initial investment in loans if those differences are attributable, at least in part, to credit quality.loans. Several factors were considered when evaluating whether a loan was considered a purchased credit impaired loan, including the delinquency status of the loan, updated borrower credit status, geographic information, and updated loan-to-values (“LTV”).loan-to-values. Further, these purchased credit impaired loans had differences between contractual amounts owed and cash flows expected to be collected, that were at least in part, due to credit quality. U.S. GAAP allows purchasers to aggregate purchased credit impaired loans acquired in the same fiscal quarter in one or more pools, provided that the loans have common risk characteristics. A pool is then accounted for as a single asset with a single composite interest rate and an aggregate expectation of cash flows.
Loan pools are periodically reassessed to determine expected cash flows. In determining the expected cash flows, the timing of cash flows and prepayment assumptions for smaller, homogeneous loans are based on statistical models that take into account factors such as the loan interest rate, credit profile of the borrowers, the years in which the loans were originated, and whether the loans are fixed or variable rate loans. Prepayments may be assumed on large individual loans that consider similar prepayment factors listed above for smaller homogeneous loans.
The re-assessment of purchased credit impaired loans resulted in the following changes in the accretable yield during the fiscal years ended September 30, 20172020, 2019 and 2016:2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period$26,047 $34,973 $44,131 
Accretion(6,869)(9,202)(13,193)
Reclassification (to) from nonaccretable difference(3,790)276 4,035 
Balance, end of period$15,388 $26,047 $34,973 
103-

 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of year$38,124
 $44,489
 $50,889
Acquisition
 3,662
 
Accretion(13,847) (9,971) (13,645)
Reclassification from (to) nonaccretable difference19,854
 (56) 8,363
Disposals
 
 (1,118)
Balance at end of year$44,131
 $38,124
 $44,489

GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The reclassifications (to) from nonaccretable difference noted in the table above represent instances where specific pools of loans are expected to perform (worse) better over the remaining lives of the loans than expected at the prior re-assessment date. The reclassification to nonaccretable difference noted in the table above represents instances where specific pools of loans are estimated to have a shortfall in the expected future cash flows compared to the contractual cash flows at the prior re-assessment date.


136




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table provides purchased impaired loans at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016:
2019.
September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
Outstanding
Balance 1
 
Recorded
Investment 2
 
Carrying
Value 3
 
Outstanding
Balance
1
 
Recorded
Investment
2
 
Carrying
Value
3
Outstanding Balance ¹Recorded Investment ²Carrying Value ³Outstanding Balance ¹Recorded Investment ²Carrying Value ³
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commercial real estate$110,797
 $30,099
 $29,417
 $129,615
 $44,448
 $43,676
Commercial real estate$86,691 $20,928 $20,787 $90,295 $22,124 $21,965 
Agriculture10,463
 7,174
 7,059
 19,174
 15,254
 15,254
Agriculture3,954 2,969 2,969 4,462 2,756 2,491 
Commercial non-real estate9,825
 1,920
 1,920
 11,588
 3,196
 3,196
Commercial non-real estate6,937 192 163 7,190 221 192 
Residential real estate61,981
 52,736
 52,540
 76,696
 65,737
 64,830
Residential real estate29,757 25,570 25,076 35,413 30,280 30,168 
Consumer798
 666
 666
 1,033
 896
 896
Consumer351 292 262 493 438 438 
Total lending$193,864
 $92,595
 $91,602
 $238,106
 $129,531
 $127,852
Total lending$127,690 $49,951 $49,257 $137,853 $55,819 $55,254 
           
1 Represents the legal balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
1 Represents the legal balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
1 Represents the legal balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
2 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
2 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
2 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans.
3 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans net of the related allowance for loan and lease losses.
3 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans net of the related allowance for loan and lease losses.
3 Represents the book balance of ASC 310-30 loans net of the related allowance for loan and lease losses.

8. FDIC Indemnification Asset
Under the terms of the purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC with regard to the TierOne Bank acquisition, the Company iswas reimbursed for a portion of the losses incurred on covered assets.assets under the non-commercial loss share agreement, which ended on June 4, 2020. As covered assets arewere resolved, whether it be through repayment, short sale of the underlying collateral, the foreclosure on or sale of collateral, or the sale or charge-off of loans or OREO,other repossessed property, any differences between the carrying value of the covered assets versus the payments received during the resolution process that arewere reimbursable by the FDIC arewas recognized as reductions in the FDIC indemnification asset. Any gains or losses realized from the resolution of covered assets reducereduced or increase,increased, respectively, the amount recoverable from the FDIC.
The following table represents a summary of the activity related to the FDIC indemnification asset for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:2018.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
September 30,202020192018
2017 2016 2015(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
Balance at beginning of year$10,777
 $14,722
 $26,678
Balance, beginning of periodBalance, beginning of period$1,079 $2,502 $5,704 
Amortization(4,748) (3,836) (7,552)Amortization(1,012)(1,386)(2,778)
Changes in expected reimbursements from FDIC for changes in expected credit losses(45) (278) (305)Changes in expected reimbursements from FDIC for changes in expected credit losses(10)(122)
Changes in reimbursable expenses(986) (791) (1,972)Changes in reimbursable expenses(41)(1,072)
Payments (reimbursements) of covered losses from the FDIC706
 960
 (2,127)
Balance at end of year$5,704
 $10,777
 $14,722
Payments of covered losses to the FDICPayments of covered losses to the FDIC47 14 770 
Settlement upon expiration of loss-sharing arrangementSettlement upon expiration of loss-sharing arrangement(114)
Balance, end of periodBalance, end of period$$1,079 $2,502 
The loss claims filed arewere subject to review, approval, and annual audits by the FDIC or its assigned agents for compliance with the terms in the loss sharing agreements. The commercial loss share agreement claim periodwhich ended on June 4, 2015.2020. The non-commercial loss share agreement ends June 4,final claim certificate was filed in July 2020.

104-

137





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

9. Premises and Equipment
The following table presents the major classes of premises and equipment and the total amount of accumulated depreciation as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016, are as follows:
2019.
September 30,September 30,
2017 201620202019
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Land$25,973
 $26,591
Land$31,601 $31,107 
Buildings and building improvements89,927
 94,306
Buildings and building improvements101,891 95,778 
Furniture and equipment26,160
 27,597
Furniture and equipment24,522 26,688 
Construction in progress273
 768
Construction in progress149 3,619 
Total142,333
 149,262
Total158,163 157,192 
Accumulated depreciation(30,124) (30,756)Accumulated depreciation(39,109)(36,547)
Premise and equipment, net$112,209
 $118,506
Premise and equipment, net$119,054 $120,645 
Depreciation expense was $7.5 million, $7.6 million $7.5 million and $8.5$7.5 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively.
Included in the premises and equipment is $5.1$0.6 million and $8.1$2.8 million of property held for sale as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The Company measures assets held for sale at the lower of carrying amount or estimated fair value, there was novalue. There were 0 impairment chargecharges recognized as of September 30, 2017.2020 and 2019.
10. Derivative Financial Instruments
In the normal course of business, theThe Company uses interest rate swaps to manage its interest rate risk and market risk in accommodating the needs of its customers. Also, the Company enters intoInterest rate swaps include both traditional interest rate lock commitments on mortgage loans to be held for sale, with corresponding forward sales contracts related to theseswaps and interest rate lock commitments.
Derivative instruments are recognizedswaps which can be canceled by the customer on specified dates at no cost, typically referred to as swaptions. The Company recognizes all derivatives on the consolidated balance sheet at fair value in either other assets or accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and are measured at fair value.as appropriate.
The following table summarizespresents the notional amounts and estimatedgross fair values of all derivative assets and liabilities held by the Company’s derivative instruments atCompany as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016.
2019.
September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
September 30, 2017Notional AmountGross Asset
Fair Value
Gross Liability
Fair Value
Notional AmountGross Asset
Fair Value
Gross Liability
Fair Value
Notional
Amount
 Balance Sheet
Location
 Positive Fair
Value
 Negative Fair
Value
(dollars in thousands)
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:(dollars in thousands)Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:
Interest rate swaps$1,061,545
 Liabilities $1,850
 $(19,005)Interest rate swaps
Financial institution counterpartiesFinancial institution counterparties$1,233,430 $$(64,259)$1,259,765 $35 $(38,755)
Customer counterpartiesCustomer counterparties641,189 83,533 499,643 48,652 
Interest rate capsInterest rate caps
Financial institution counterpartiesFinancial institution counterparties20,538 100 
Customer counterpartiesCustomer counterparties20,538 (2)100 (2)
Risk participation agreementsRisk participation agreements80,681 (32)56,833 (58)
Mortgage loan commitments37,765
 Assets 
 (48)Mortgage loan commitments92,278 (96)56,665 (11)
Mortgage loan forward sale contracts43,628
 Liabilities 48
 
Mortgage loan forward sale contracts94,084 96 61,872 11 
TotalTotal$2,182,738 $83,631 $(64,389)$1,934,978 $48,700 $(38,826)
Netting of Derivatives
The Company records the derivatives on a net basis when a right of offset exists, based on transactions with a single counterparty that are subject to a legally enforceable master netting agreement. When bilateral netting agreements or similar agreements exist between the Company and its counterparties that create a single legal claim or obligation to pay or receive the net amount in settlement of the individual derivative contracts, the Company reports derivative assets and liabilities on a net by derivative contract by counterparty basis.
105-
 September 30, 2016
 Notional
Amount
 Balance Sheet
Location
 Positive Fair
Value
 Negative Fair
Value
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:(dollars in thousands)
Interest rate swaps$1,055,822
 Liabilities $525
 $(81,974)
Mortgage loan commitments52,333
 Assets 66
 
Mortgage loan forward sale contracts60,529
 Liabilities 
 (66)


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables provide information on the Company's netting adjustments as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Gross Fair ValueFair Value Offset AmountCash CollateralNet Amount Presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2020
Total Derivative Assets$83,631 $(5,263)$20,012 $98,380 
Total Derivative Liabilities ¹$(64,389)$5,263 $59,028 $(98)
1 There was an additional $22.9 million of collateral held for initial margin with a Futures Clearing Merchant for clearing derivatives at September 30, 2020 and is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Gross Fair ValueFair Value Offset AmountCash CollateralNet Amount Presented on the Consolidated Balance Sheet
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2019
Total Derivative Assets$48,700 $(2,445)$12,279 $58,534 
Total Derivative Liabilities ¹$(38,826)$2,445 $36,368 $(13)
1 There was an additional $18.3 million of collateral held for initial margin with a Futures Clearing Merchant for clearing derivatives at September 30, 2019 and is included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
As with any financial instrument, derivative financial instruments have inherent risk including adverse changes in interest rates. The Company’s exposure to derivative credit risk is defined as the possibility of sustaining a loss due to the failure of the counterparty to perform in accordance with the terms of the contract. Credit risks associated with interest rate swaps are similar to those relating to traditional on-balance sheet financial instruments. The Company manages interest rate swap credit risk with the same standards and procedures applied to its commercial lending activities. Amounts due from swap counterparties to reclaim cash collateral under the interest rate swap master netting arrangements have not been offset against the derivative balances.
Credit-risk-related contingent features
The Company has agreements with its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company or the derivative counterparty fails to maintain its status as a well/adequately capitalized institution, then the counterparty has the right to terminate the derivative positions and the Company or the derivative counterparty would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements. As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, the termination value of derivatives in a net liability position related to these agreements was $20.3 million and $84.4 million, respectively, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk. The Company has minimum collateral postingpledging thresholds with its derivative counterpartiesSwap Dealers and as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 the Company had posted $25.0 million and $106.1 million, respectively, in eligible collateral. At September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $4.6 million and $0.0 million, respectively, in cash collateral pledged to derivative counterparties, which was held in an interest bearing deposit account and is included in cash in the consolidated balance sheet.Futures Clearing Merchant.
The effect of derivatives on the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 was as follows:
follows.
 Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in IncomeAmount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income
 September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income 2017 2016 2015Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:Location of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Income202020192018
 (dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Interest rate swapsNoninterest income $49,900
 $(48,658) $(62,088)
Interest rate swaps and other derivativesInterest rate swaps and other derivativesNet realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives$(38,439)$(63,444)$44,596 
Mortgage loan commitmentsNoninterest income (48) 66
 95
Mortgage loan commitmentsNet realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives107 17 (28)
Mortgage loan forward sale contractsNoninterest income 48
 (66) (95)Mortgage loan forward sale contractsNet realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives(107)(17)28 
Netting of Derivatives
The Company has various financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to enforceable master netting agreements or similar agreements. The Company has entered into an International Swaps and Derivatives Association ("ISDA") master netting arrangement with various swap counterparties. Under the terms of the master netting arrangements, all transactions between the Company and the counterparty constitute a single business relationship such that in the event of default, the non-defaulting party is entitled to set off claims and apply property held by that party in respect of any transaction against obligations owed. Any payments, deliveries, or other transfers may be applied against each other and netted.
The following tables present the Company's gross derivative financial assets and liabilities at September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the related impact of enforceable master netting arrangements and cash collateral, where applicable:
 
Gross
Amount
 
Amount
Offset
 
Net Amount
Presented in
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
 
Held/Pledged
Financial
Instruments1
 
Net
Amount
September 30, 2017(dollars in thousands)
Derivative financial assets:         
Derivatives subject to master netting arrangement or similar arrangement$1,850
 $(1,850) $
 $
 $
Derivative financial liabilities:         
Derivatives subject to master netting arrangement or similar arrangement(19,005) 1,850
 (17,155) 17,155
 
Total derivative financial liabilities$(17,155) $
 $(17,155) $17,155
 $
          
1 The actual amount of collateral exceeds the fair value exposure, at the individual counterparty level, as of the date presented.


139




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 Gross
Amount
 Amount
Offset
 Net Amount
Presented in
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
 
Held/Pledged
Financial
Instruments
1
 Net
Amount
September 30, 2016(dollars in thousands)
Derivative financial assets:         
Derivatives subject to master netting arrangement or similar arrangement$525
 $(525) $
 $
 $
Derivative financial liabilities:         
Derivatives subject to master netting arrangement or similar arrangement(81,974) 525
 (81,449) 81,449
 
Total derivative financial liabilities$(81,449) $
 $(81,449) $81,449
 $
          
1 The actual amount of collateral exceeds the fair value exposure, at the individual counterparty level, as of the date presented.
11. The Fair Value Option For Certain Loans
The Company has elected to measure certain long-term loans and written loan commitments at fair value to assist in managing the interest rate risk for longer-term loans. This fair value option was elected upon the origination of these loans. Interest income is recognized in the same manner as interest on non-fair value loans.
See Note 25 for additional disclosures regarding the fair value of the fair value option loans and written loan commitments.loans.
106-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Long-term loans and written loan commitments for which the fair value option has been elected had a net favorable difference between the aggregate fair value and the aggregate unpaid loan principal balance and written loan commitment amount of approximately $8.8 million and $74.1$37.3 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016, respectively.a net favorable difference of approximately $34.2 million at September 30, 2019. The total unpaid principal balance of these long-term loans was approximately $1.01 billion$617.9 million and $1.06 billion$778.8 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The fair value of these loans and written loan commitments is included in total loans in the consolidated balance sheets and are grouped with commercial real estate, agricultural and commercial non-real estate loans in Note 5. As of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, there were loans with a fair value of $14.7$21.7 million and $9.4$16.5 million, respectively, which were greater than 90 days past due or in nonaccrual status with an unpaid principal balance of $17.0$26.2 million and $10.8$17.8 million, respectively.
Changes in fair value for items for which the fair value option has been elected were a decrease in fair value of $32.5 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, an increase in fair value of $61.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and a decrease of $45.4 million for the line itemsfiscal year September 30, 2018. These changes in which these changesfair value are reported in noninterest income (loss) within the consolidated statements of income are as follows for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (in thousands):
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 Noninterest
Income / (Loss)
 Total Changes
in Fair Value
 Noninterest
Income
 Total Changes
in Fair Value
 Noninterest
Income
 Total Changes
in Fair Value
 (dollars in thousands)
Long-term loans and written loan commitments$(65,231) $(65,231) $26,314
 $26,314
 $36,742
 $36,742
income.
For long-term loans and written loan commitments at September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, approximately $0.9$59.4 million, $1.6$7.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively, of the total change in fair value is attributable to changes in specific credit risk. The gains or losses attributable to changes in instrument-specific credit risk were determined based on an assessment of existing market conditions and credit quality of the underlying loan for the specific portfolio of loans.

12. Goodwill
The following table presents the Company's carrying amount of goodwill as of September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019.
September 30,
2020
September 30,
2019
(dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of period$739,023 $739,023 
Goodwill acquired during the period1,539 
Goodwill impairment during the period(740,562)
Balance, end of period$$739,023 
In accordance with ASC 350-20, the Company conducts a goodwill impairment test at least annually, or more frequently as events occur or circumstances change that would more-likely-than-not reduce the fair value below its carrying amount. In the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Company to assess qualitative and quantitative factors to determine whether it was more-likely-than-not the fair value of the Company was less than the carrying amount.
The Company assessed relevant events and circumstances, including macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, overall financial performance, changes in the composition or carrying amount of assets and liabilities, the market price of the Company's common stock and other relevant facts. The Company performed both a market capitalization approach and a discounted cash flow approach to determine the fair value of the Company. As a result of the analysis, the Company recognized a goodwill impairment charge of $740.6 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020. There were 0 goodwill impairment charges recognized for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
13. Core Deposits and Other Intangibles
The following table presents a summary of intangible assets subject to amortization as of September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Core Deposit IntangibleBrand
Intangible
Customer Relationships IntangibleOther
Intangible
Total
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2020
Gross carrying amount$7,339 $$3,172 $538 $11,049 
Accumulated amortization(4,316)(244)(325)(4,885)
Net intangible assets$3,023 $$2,928 $213 $6,164 
As of September 30, 2019
Gross carrying amount$7,339 $8,464 $$538 $16,341 
Accumulated amortization(3,518)(6,392)(257)(10,167)
Net intangible assets$3,821 $2,072 $$281 $6,174 

107-
140





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

12. Goodwill
A summary of changes to the carrying amount of goodwill as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year$739,023
 $697,807
Goodwill acquired during the year
 41,216
Balance, end of year$739,023
 $739,023
The goodwill acquired in 2016 was a result of the HF Financial acquisition. See Note 2 for further information.
The Company performs an impairment analysis annually, and more frequently whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not fair value is less than carrying value. To test impairment, an analysis is performed by comparing the fair value of the Company to the carrying amount of its net assets. Fair value is based on the best information available, such as present value of future cash flows or multiple of earnings techniques. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company elected to early adopt ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which removed Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. The adoption of this standard had no impact to the consolidated financial statements.
For the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company did not recognize any impairment related to goodwill.
13. Core Deposits and Other Intangibles
A summary of intangible assets subject to amortization as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 is as follows:
 Core Deposit
Intangible
 Brand
Intangible
 Customer
Relationships
Intangible
 Other Total
As of September 30, 2017(dollars in thousands)
Gross carrying amount$67,018
 $8,464
 $16,089
 $538
 $92,109
Accumulated amortization(61,258) (5,264) (16,089) (124) (82,735)
Net intangible assets$5,760
 $3,200
 $
 $414
 $9,374
As of September 30, 2016         
Gross carrying amount$67,018
 $8,464
 $16,089
 $538
 $92,109
Accumulated amortization(59,842) (4,700) (15,800) (35) (80,377)
Net intangible assets$7,176
 $3,764
 $289
 $503
 $11,732
Amortization expense of intangible assets was $2.4$1.4 million, $3.3$1.5 million and $7.1$1.7 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015,2018, respectively.
In the second quarter of fiscal year 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the Company to assess its intangible assets for impairment. The Company believed the brand intangible asset was closely aligned with the goodwill of the Company, which was determined to be impaired as of March 31, 2020. As a result, the Company recognized an intangible asset impairment of $1.8 million for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020. NaN intangible asset impairment charge was recognized for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
The estimated amortization expense of intangible assets assumes no activities, such as acquisitions, which would result in additional amortizable intangible assets. Estimated amortization expense of intangible assets in subsequent fiscal years is as follows:follows.
Fiscal yearAmount
(dollars in thousands)
2021$1,014 
2022929 
2023831 
2024742 
2025683 
2026 and thereafter1,965 
Total$6,164 

14. Leases
 Amount
 (dollars in thousands)
2018$1,662
20191,538
20201,430
20211,334
20221,249
2023 and thereafter2,161
Total$9,374
ASC Topic 842, Leases ("ASC 842"), became effective for the Company on October 1, 2019. ASC 842 requires a lease, whether classified as an operating lease or a financing lease, be accounted for as a right-of-use asset ("ROU asset") with a related lease liability recorded at the present value of the lease payments. The ROU asset represents the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and is included in other assets on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The lease liability represents the Company's obligation to make lease payments and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. The cost of the lease is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term as lease expense. As permitted by ASC 842, the Company elected not to reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are leases or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification of any expired or existing leases, and (iii) the initial direct costs for existing leases.

Subsequent to the adoption of ASC 842, the Company assesses contracts at inception to determine whether the contract is a lease or contains an embedded lease. A ROU asset and lease liability is recorded on the consolidated balance sheet for all leases, except those with an original lease term of twelve months or less. Most of these leases include one or more renewal options, and certain leases also include lessee termination options. As these renewal options are generally not considered reasonably certain of exercise, they are not included in the lease term.
The Company leases certain branch and corporate offices, land and ATM facilities through operating leases with terms typically ranging from 1 to 15 years, with the longest term having a lease expiration of March 31, 2034. The Company has no significant financing leases as of September 30, 2020.
September 30, 2020
(dollars in thousands)
ROU asset$22,709 
Total lease liability24,114 
Weighted average remaining lease term6.29 years
Weighted average discount rate ¹1.83 %
1 The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate to calculate the present value of lease payments when the interest rate implicit in the lease is not disclosed.
Total lease expense incurred by the Company was $7.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020, principally made up of contractual lease payments for operating leases.
As of September 30, 2020, the Company had 0 operating leases that had not yet commenced.

108-
141





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

14. Loan Servicing Rights
Mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The following table ispresents supplemental cash flow information related to leases for the activity for loan servicing rights and the related valuation allowance:
fiscal year ended September 30, 2020:
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Loan servicing rights     
Beginning of year$5,794
 $
 $
Acquired in HF Financial acquisition
 6,573
 
Additions
 
 
Amortization 1
(1,639) (779) 
End of year$4,155
 $5,794
 $
      
Valuation allowance     
Beginning of year$(13) $
 $
Additions / (reductions) 1
(68) (13) 
End of year$(81) $(13) $
Loan servicing rights, net$4,074
 $5,781
 $
      
Servicing fees received$2,033
 $930
 $
Balance of loans serviced at:     
Beginning of year868,865
 
 
End of year722,461
 868,865
 
      
1 Changes to carrying amounts are reported net of loan servicing income on the consolidated statements of income for the periods presented.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2020
(dollars in thousands)
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows paid for operating leases$5,720 
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease liabilities:
Operating leases$8,517 
Amortization of servicing rights is adjusted each quarter based uponThe following table presents a maturity analysis of portfolio attributes and factors, including an evaluationthe Company's operating lease liability as of historical prepayment activity and prospective industry consensus data. An independent third party is utilized to calculate the amortization and valuation based upon specific loan characteristics, prepayment speeds generated from a validation model utilizing both empirical and market derived data and discount rates. At September 30, 2017, the constant prepayment rates (CPR) used to calculate the amortization averaged 12.5%. For valuation purposes, an average discount rate of 11.9% was utilized at September 30, 2017. Based on the Company's analysis of mortgage servicing rights, a $0.1 million valuation reserve was recorded at September 30, 2017, and a $0.0 million valuation reserve was recorded at September 30, 2016 and 2015.2020.
Fiscal yearAmount
(dollars in thousands)
20215,441 
20224,764 
20234,212 
20243,406 
2025 and thereafter7,832 
Total undiscounted lease payments25,655 
Less: Amounts representing interest(1,541)
Lease liability$24,114 

15. Deposits
The following table presents the composition of deposits as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016 is as follows:2019.
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Noninterest-bearing demand$1,856,126
 $1,880,512
NOW accounts, money market and savings5,847,432
 5,343,183
Time deposits, $250,000 or more273,365
 265,904
Other time deposits1,000,690
 1,115,191
Total$8,977,613
 $8,604,790
September 30,
20202019
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest-bearing demand$2,586,743 $1,956,025 
Interest-bearing demand7,139,058 6,248,638 
Time deposits, greater than $250,000352,913 493,530 
Time deposits, less than or equal to $250,000930,065 1,602,146 
Total$11,008,779 $10,300,339 
At September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, the Company had $725.4$329.0 million and $641.4$706.5 million, respectively, in brokered deposits. As a result of the passage of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act in May 2018, most reciprocal deposits are no longer treated as brokered deposits and are now included with core commercial deposits.


142




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

At September 30, 2017,2020, the following table presents the scheduled maturities of time deposits in subsequent fiscal years. Accounts with no stated maturity date are included in 2018.2021.
Fiscal yearAmount
(dollars in thousands)
2021$1,067,677 
2022148,329 
202337,501 
202413,108 
202513,375 
2026 and thereafter2,988 
Total$1,282,978 

109-
 Amount
 (dollars in thousands)
2018$768,026
2019273,140
2020126,145
202160,644
202244,339
2023 and thereafter1,761
Total$1,274,055


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
16. Securities Sold Under Agreements to Repurchase
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase generally mature overnight following the transaction date. Securities underlying the agreements had an amortized cost of approximately $139.3$82.6 million and $151.8$94.7 million and fair value of approximately $137.4$84.7 million and $152.3$94.4 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. In most cases, in alignment with the repurchase agreements in place with customers, the Company over-collateralizes the repurchase agreements at 102% of total funds borrowed to protect the purchaser from changes in market value. Additionally, the Company utilizes held-in-custody procedures to ensure the securities sold under repurchase agreements are unencumbered.
The following tables present the gross obligation by the class of collateral pledged and the remaining contractual maturity of the agreements at September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019.
September 30, 2020
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
Overnight and ContinuousUp to 30 Days30-90 DaysGreater than 90 DaysTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Repurchase agreements
Mortgage-backed securities$65,506 $$$$65,506 
Total repurchase agreements$65,506 $$$$65,506 
 September 30, 2017
 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
 Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 Days 30-90 Days Greater than 90 Days Total
Repurchase agreements(dollars in thousands)
   Municipal securities$3,626
 $
 $
 $
 $3,626
   Mortgage-backed securities129,010
 
 
 
 129,010
Total repurchase agreements$132,636
 $
 $
 $
 $132,636

September 30, 2019
Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
Overnight and ContinuousUp to 30 Days30-90 DaysGreater than 90 DaysTotal
(dollars in thousands)
Repurchase agreements
Mortgage-backed securities$68,992 $$$$68,992 
Total repurchase agreements$68,992 $$$$68,992 
 September 30, 2016
 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
 Overnight and Continuous Up to 30 Days 30-90 Days Greater than 90 Days Total
Repurchase agreements(dollars in thousands)
   Municipal securities$

$
 $
 $

$
   Mortgage-backed securities138,744
 
 
 2,944
 141,688
Total repurchase agreements$138,744
 $
 $
 $2,944
 $141,688



143




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

17. FHLB Advances and Other Borrowings
The following table presents the FHLB advances and other borrowings consist of the following at September 30, 20172020 and 2016:
2019.
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Short-term borrowings:   
Notes payable to Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), interest rates from 1.25% to 1.27% and maturity dates of October 2017, collateralized by real estate loans and FHLB stock, with various call dates at the option of the FHLB$512,200
 $
Federal Home Loan Bank fed funds advance, interest rate of 1.33%, maturity date of October 201875,000
 231,000
Long-term borrowings:   
Notes payable to Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB), interest rates from 1.05% to 3.66% and maturity dates from April 2018 to July 2023, collateralized by real estate loans and FHLB stock, with various call dates at the option of the FHLB56,000
 640,000
Total643,200
 871,000
Fair value adjustment 1
$14
 $37
Total FHLB advances and other borrowings$643,214
 $871,037
    
1 Adjustment reflects the fair value adjustments related to the FHLB advances and notes payable assumed as part of the HF Financial acquisition.
The Company has a $10.0 million revolving line of credit which expires on July 28, 2018. The line of credit has an interest rate of one month LIBOR plus 200 basis points, with interest payable monthly. There is also an unused line fee of 0.15% on the unused portion which is payable quarterly. The interest rate was 3.24% at September 30, 2017. There were no outstanding advances on this line of credit at September 30, 2017 and 2016.
September 30,
20202019
(dollars in thousands)
Short-term borrowings:
Fed funds purchased,, interest rate of 0.12%, matured in October 2020$75,000 $
FHLB fed funds advance, interest rate of 2.09%, matured in October 201915,000 
Long-term borrowings:
Notes payable to FHLB, interest rates from 2.76% to 2.88% and maturity dates from September 2022 to September 2024 collateralized by real estate loans, with various call dates at the option of the FHLB120,000 325,000 
Total FHLB advances and other borrowings$195,000 $340,000 
As of September 30, 2017,2020 and 2019, the Company had a borrowing capacity of $1.89$947.7 million and $1.44 billion, respectively, with the FRB Discount Window. Principal balances of loans pledged to FRB Discount Window to collateralize the borrowing totaled $2.55$1.17 billion at September 30, 20172020 and $0.0 million$1.72 billion at September 30, 2016.2019. The Company has secured this line for contingency funding.
As of September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016,2019, based on our Federal Home Loan Bank stock holdings,its collateral pledged, the combined aggregate additional borrowing capacity of the Company with the Federal Home Loan BankFHLB was $1.55$2.03 billion and $1.09$1.80 billion, respectively.
Principal balances of loans pledged to the Federal Home Loan BankFHLB to collateralize notes payable totaled $3.71$4.07 billion and $3.11$4.20 billion at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The Company purchased letters of credit from the FHLB to pledge as collateral on public deposits. The amount outstanding was $75.0 million and $170.0 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The Company had additional letters of credit from the FHLB of $14.6 million and $14.9 million at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, for other purposes.
110-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
As of September 30, 2017,2020, FHLB advances and other borrowings are due or callable (whichever is earlier) in subsequent fiscal years as follows:
follows.
 Amount
 (dollars in thousands)
2018$543,200
201975,000
2020
2021
2022
2023 and thereafter25,000
Total$643,200
Fiscal yearAmount
(dollars in thousands)
2021$75,000 
202230,000 
202330,000 
202460,000 
2025
2026 and thereafter
Total$195,000 



144




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

18. Subordinated Debentures and Subordinated Notes Payable
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
The Company has caused seven7 trusts to bewhich were created or assumed as part of prior acquisitions that as of September 30, 2020 have issued Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (the "Preferred("Preferred Securities"). These trusts are described herein.
The sole assets of the trusts are junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the "Debentures"("Debentures") issued by the Company, (oror assumed as part of the HF Financial and Sunstate Bank acquisitions)acquisitions, with interest, maturity, and distribution provisions similar in term to the respective Preferred Securities. Additionally, to the extent interest payments are deferred on the Debentures, payment on the Preferred Securities will be deferred for the same period.
The trusts’ ability to pay amounts due on the Preferred Securities is solely dependent upon the Company making payment on the related Debentures. The Company’s obligation under the Debentures and relevant trust agreements constitute a full, irrevocable, and unconditional guarantee on a subordinated basis by it of the obligations of the trusts under the Preferred Securities.
For regulatory purposes the Debentures qualify as elements of capital. As of September 30, 20172020 and 2016, $73.52019, $73.8 million and $77.2$73.7 million, respectively, of Debentures, net of fair value adjustment, were eligible for treatment as Tier 1 capital.
The Company caused to be issued 22,400 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of Great Western Statutory Trust IV on December 17, 2003, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 285 basis points. Interest Payment Dates are March 17, June 17, September 17 and December 17 of each year, beginning March 17, 2004 and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid distributions must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed 30 years from the issuance date; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at the Special Redemption Date, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to December 17, 2008. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after December 17, 2008, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock. Proceeds from the issue were used for general corporate purposes.
111-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company caused to be issued 30,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of GWB Capital Trust VI on March 10, 2006, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 148 basis points. Interest Payment dates are December 15, March 15, June 15, and September 15 of each year, beginning June 15, 2006, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed March 15, 2036; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to March 15, 2007. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after March 15, 2011, subject to the Company receiving approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock. Proceeds from the issue were used for general corporate purposes including redemption of the 9.75% Preferred Securities of GWB Capital Trust II.


145




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company acquired the Sunstate Bancshares Trust II in the acquisition of Sunstate Bank. Sunstate Bancshares caused to be issued 2,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of Sunstate Bancshares Trust II on June 1, 2005, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 185 basis points. Interest Payment dates are March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of each year, beginning September 15, 2005, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed June 15, 2035; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to June 15, 2010. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after June 15, 2010, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock.
The Company acquired the HFB Trust III in the acquisition of HF Financial. HF Financial Corp. caused to be issued 5,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of HFB Trust III on December 19, 2002, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 335 basis points. Interest Payment dates are January 7, April 7,, July 7, and October 7 of each year, beginning April 7, 2003, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed January 7, 2033; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to January 7, 2008. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after January 7, 2008, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock.
112-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company acquired the HFB Trust IV in the acquisition of HF Financial. HF Financial Corp. caused to be issued 7,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of HFB Trust IV on September 25, 2003, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 310 basis points. Interest Payment dates are January 8, April 8, July 8, and October 8 of each year, beginning January 8, 2004, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed October 8, 2033; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to October 8, 2008. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after October 8, 2008, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock.
The Company acquired the HFB Trust V in the acquisition of HF Financial. HF Financial Corp. caused to be issued 10,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of HFB Trust V on December 7, 2006, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 183 basis points. Interest Payment dates are March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1 of each year, beginning March 1, 2007, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed March 1, 2037; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal


146




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event, at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to March 1, 2012. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after March 1, 2012, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, the Company redeemed 5,000 shares of HF Trust V Debentures under the first Supplemental Indenture dated May 13, 2016.
The Company acquired the HFB Trust VI in the acquisition of HF Financial. HF Financial Corp. caused to be issued 2,000 shares, $1,000 par value, of Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) of HFB Trust VI on July 5, 2007, through a private placement. The distribution rate is set quarterly at three-monththree month LIBOR plus 165 basis points. Interest Payment dates are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 of each year, beginning October 1, 2007, and are payable in arrears. The Company may, at one or more times, defer interest payments on the related Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarters following suspension of dividends on all capital stock. At the end of any deferral period, all accumulated and unpaid interest must be paid. The Debentures will be redeemed October 1, 2037; however, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Special Event,"Special Event", at a premium as defined by the Indenture if a “Special Event”"Special Event" occurs prior to October 1, 2012. A “Special Event”"Special Event" means any Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event, or a Tax Event. On or after October 1, 2012, subject to the Company receiving prior approval of the Federal Reserve, if required, the Company has the right to redeem the Debentures at the Redemption Price, in whole or in part, on an Interest Payment Date. The Redemption Price is $1,000 per Preferred Security plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. Holders of the Preferred Securities have no voting rights. The Preferred Securities are unsecured and rank junior in priority of payment to all of the Company’s senior indebtedness and senior to the Company’s common and preferred stock.
In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017 the Company redeemed 5,000 shares of the HF Capital Trust V Debentures under the First Supplemental Indenture dated May 13, 2016.
Relating to the trusts, the Company held as assets $2.5 million in common shares at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, which are included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
113-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Subordinated Notes Payable
In 2015, the Company issued $35.0 million of 4.875% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that mature on August 15, 2025 through a private placement. The notes, which qualify as Tier 2 capital under capital rulesCapital Rules in effect at September 30, 2017, have2020, had an interest rate of 4.875% per annum, payable semi-annually on each February 15 and August 15, which commenced February 15, 2016 until August 15, 2020, or the date of earlier redemption, and then from August 15, 2020 to but excluding the stated maturity date or date of earlier redemption, the notes will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to three-monththree month LIBOR for the related interest period plus 3.15%, payable quarterly on each November 15, February 15, April 15 and August 15. The notes are subordinated in right of payment to all of the Company's senior indebtedness and effectively subordinated to all existing and future debt and all other liabilities of the Company's subsidiary bank. The Company may elect to redeem the notes (subject to regulatory approval), in whole or in part, on any early redemption date which is any interest payment date on or after August 15, 2020 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus any accrued and unpaid interest. Other than on an early redemption date, the notes cannot be accelerated except in the event of bankruptcy or the occurrence ofupon certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. Unamortized debt issuance costs related to these notes, which are included in Subordinated Debentures and Subordinated Notes Payable, totaled $0.2were $0.0 million and $0.3$0.1 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. Proceeds from the private placement of subordinated notes repaid outstanding subordinated debt.

The following table presents the subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
Amount OutstandingCommon Shares Held in Other AssetsAmount OutstandingCommon Shares Held in Other Assets
(dollars in thousands)
Junior subordinated debentures payable to non-consolidated trusts
GW Statutory Trust IV, variable rate of 2.85%, plus 3 month LIBOR$23,093 $693 $23,093 $693 
GW Statutory Trust VI, variable rate of 1.48%, plus 3 month LIBOR30,928 928 30,928 928 
SSB Trust II, variable rate of 1.85%, plus 3 month LIBOR2,062 62 2,062 62 
HF Capital Trust III, variable rate of 3.35%, plus 3 month LIBOR5,155 155 5,155 155 
HF Capital Trust IV, variable rate of 3.10%, plus 3 month LIBOR7,217 217 7,217 217 
HF Capital Trust V, variable rate of 1.83%, plus 3 month LIBOR5,310 310 5,310 310 
HF Capital Trust VI, variable rate of 1.65%, plus 3 month LIBOR2,155 155 2,155 155 
Total junior subordinated debentures payable75,920 $2,520 75,920 $2,520 
Less: fair value adjustment ¹(2,088)(2,223)
Total junior subordinated debentures payable, net of fair value adjustment73,832 73,697 
Subordinated notes payable
Fixed to floating rate effective August 2020, 3.15% plus 3 month LIBOR35,000 35,000 
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs(61)
Total subordinated notes payable35,000 34,939 
Total subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable$108,832 $108,636 
1 Adjustment reflects the fair value adjustments related to the junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures assumed as part of the HF Financial acquisition.


114-
147





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable are summarized as follows:
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016
 Amount outstanding Common Shares Held in Other Assets Amount outstanding Common Shares Held in Other Assets
 (dollars in thousands)
Junior subordinated debentures payable to nonconsolidated trusts 
GW Statutory Trust IV, variable rate of 2.85%, plus 3 month LIBOR$23,093
 $693
 $23,093
 $693
GWB Capital Trust VI, variable rate of 1.48%, plus 3 month LIBOR30,928
 928
 30,928
 928
SSB Trust II, variable rate of 1.85%, plus 3 month LIBOR2,062
 62
 2,062
 62
HF Capital Trust III, variable rate of 3.35%, plus 3 month LIBOR5,155
 155
 5,155
 155
HF Capital Trust IV, variable rate of 3.10%, plus 3 month LIBOR7,217
 217
 7,217
 217
HF Capital Trust V, variable rate of 1.83%, plus 3 month LIBOR5,310
 310
 10,310
 310
HF Capital Trust VI, variable rate of 1.65%, plus 3 month LIBOR2,155
 155
 2,155
 155
Total junior subordinated debentures payable75,920
 $2,520
 80,920
 $2,520
Less: fair value adjustment 1
(2,409)   (3,765)  
Total junior subordinated debentures payable, net of fair value adjustment73,511
   77,155
  
        
Subordinated notes payable       
Fixed to floating rate, 4.875% per annum35,000
   35,000
  
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs(209)   (282)  
Total subordinated notes payable34,791
   34,718
  
Total subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable$108,302
   $111,873
  
        
1 Adjustment reflects the fair value adjustments related to the junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures assumed as part of the HF Financial acquisition.
19. Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes charged to operations consists of the following for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Currently paid or payable     Currently paid or payable
Federal$56,171
 $51,749
 $38,105
Federal$18,511 $30,779 $42,261 
State10,639
 8,677
 7,342
State3,733 9,327 10,556 
Total66,810
 60,426
 45,447
Total22,244 40,106 52,817 
Deferred tax (benefit) expense     Deferred tax (benefit) expense
Federal2,477
 (1,513) 6,688
Federal(39,563)7,507 20,205 
State154
 $(50) $352
State(8,191)617 1,097 
Total2,631
 (1,563) 7,040
Total(47,754)8,124 21,302 
Total provision for income taxes$69,441
 $58,863
 $52,487
Total (benefit from) provision for income taxesTotal (benefit from) provision for income taxes$(25,510)$48,230 $74,119 


148




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The income tax provision differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying thea U.S. federal income tax rate of 35%21.0% for fiscal years 2020 and 2019, and a blended U.S. federal income tax rate of 24.5% for fiscal year 2018 to pretax income due to the following for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
following.
September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Income tax expense computed at the statutory rate$74,979
 $63,041
 $56,543
Income tax expense computed at the statutory rate$(148,327)$45,275 $56,915 
Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:     Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal benefit7,015
 5,608
 4,772
State income taxes, net of federal benefit(3,521)7,855 8,795 
Tax exempt interest income(7,973) (7,534) (6,560)Tax exempt interest income(5,515)(5,193)(5,778)
Tax benefit of stock-based compensation plans(2,153) 
 
Tax impact of stock-based compensation plansTax impact of stock-based compensation plans83 (91)(424)
Tax impact of goodwill impairmentTax impact of goodwill impairment131,051 
Impact of enacted federal income tax rate reductionImpact of enacted federal income tax rate reduction13,709 
Other(2,427) (2,252) (2,268)Other719 384 902 
Income tax expense, as reported$69,441
 $58,863
 $52,487
Income tax expense, as reported$(25,510)$48,230 $74,119 
Net deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following components at September 30, 20172020 and 2016:2019.
September 30,
20202019
(dollars in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for loan and lease losses$36,177 $17,214 
Compensation3,547 4,017 
Securities available for sale
Other real estate owned3,067 574 
Core deposit intangible and other fair value adjustments2,554 3,868 
Excess tax basis of FDIC indemnification asset and clawback liability4,095 
Excess tax basis of loans acquired over carrying value2,059 2,656 
Other reserves9,245 2,926 
Goodwill and other intangibles11,075 
Lease liability5,805 
Other7,268 6,350 
Total deferred tax assets80,797 41,700 
115-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:   
Allowance for loan and lease losses$23,730
 $24,016
Compensation6,227
 6,306
Net operating loss carryforward
 17
Securities available for sale3,413
 
Other real estate owned763
 1,231
Core deposit intangible and other fair value adjustments6,058
 7,303
Excess tax basis of FDIC indemnification asset and clawback liability4,563
 2,514
Excess tax basis of loans acquired over carrying value9,417
 12,896
Other reserves4,406
 2,989
Other6,922
 4,580
Total deferred tax assets65,499
 61,852
Deferred tax liabilities:   
Goodwill and other intangibles(13,784) (11,555)
Securities available for sale
 (3,398)
Premises and equipment(8,828) (7,758)
Other(487) (795)
Total deferred tax liabilities(23,099) (23,506)
Net deferred tax assets$42,400
 $38,346
September 30,
20202019
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill and other intangibles(15,064)
Securities available for sale(11,749)(4,419)
Premises and equipment(7,167)(5,869)
Deferred REIT income(8,522)(8,783)
Right of use asset(5,399)
Other(251)(279)
Total deferred tax liabilities(33,088)(34,414)
Net deferred tax assets$47,709 $7,286 
At September 30, 20172020 and 2019, the Company had an income tax receivable from the IRS of $4.6$10.8 million and $8.4 million, respectively, which is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets. At September 30, 2016, the Company had an income tax receivable from the IRS of $0.2 million and an income tax payable of $1.6 million to National Americas Holdings, LLC (the parent company of NAI prior to its dissolution), the net of which is included in other assets on the consolidated balance sheets.
Management has determined a valuation reserve is not required for the deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016 because it is more likely than not these assets could be realized through carry back to taxable income in prior years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future taxable income.
Due to the HF Financial acquisition, the Company maintains an unrecaptured tax bad debt reserve of approximately $4.8 million related to HF Financial’s pre-1987 tax bad debt reserve for which no deferred federal income tax liability has been recognized. These amounts represent an allocation of income to bad debt deductions for tax purposes only. If the Bank no longer qualifies as a bank, or in the event of a liquidation of the Bank, income would be created for tax purposes only, which would be subject to the then


149




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

current corporate income tax rate. The unrecorded deferred income tax liability on the above amount for financial statement purposes is approximately $1.8 million.
Uncertain tax positions were not significant at September 30, 2017 or 2016.
The Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2013.2016.
On December 22, 2017, the Tax Reform Act was enacted into law. Beginning in 2018, the Tax Reform Act reduced the federal tax rate for corporations from 35% to 21% and changed or limited certain tax deductions. Because of the Company's September 30 fiscal year end, a blended statutory rate of 24.5% was applied to all net income before taxes generated during fiscal year 2018 . The new blended statutory rate reduced the provision for income taxes by approximately $19.7 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018. Another result of the lower corporate tax rate was the Company's recording of a $13.6 million revaluation adjustment in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, reducing net deferred tax assets and increasing the provision for income taxes. Differences between the actual impact of revaluing deferred taxes for the full fiscal year and the preliminary estimate were immaterial.
The Bank's effective tax rate for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 3.6% and 22.4%, respectively.
Management has determined a valuation reserve is not required for the deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2020 and 2019 because it is more-likely-than-not these assets could be realized through carryback offsets to taxable income in prior years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future taxable income. Uncertain tax positions were not significant at September 30, 2020 or 2019.
20. Employee Benefit Plans
Profit Sharing Plan
The Company participates in a multiple employer 401(k) profit sharing plan (the Plan)("401(k) Plan"). All employees are eligible to participate, beginning with the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the completion of one year of service and having reached the age of 21. In addition to employee contributions, the Company may contribute discretionary amounts for eligible participants. Contribution rates for participating employees must be equal. The Company contributed $5.3$6.7 million, $4.7$5.8 million and $4.0$5.7 million to the 401(k) Plan for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Defined Benefit Plan
The Company acquired a noncontributory (cash balance) defined benefit pension plan from HF Financial which covers former employees of HF Financial and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Effective July 1, 2015, the plan was frozen which eliminates future contributions for qualified individuals.
On November 27, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors (the Board) voted to terminate the Plan, effective February 1, 2018. In order to settle its liabilities under the Plan, the Company will offer participants the option to receive either an annuity purchased from an insurance carrier or a lump-sum cash payment. If the total $3.1 million value of the Plan's cash assets is insufficient to cover the lump-sum payouts and annuity purchases, the Company will contribute the necessary funds to complete the termination of the Plan. In addition to plan assets, the Company has a $2.3 million pension liability recorded as of September 30, 2017. The required final contribution is subject to a number of factors, including changes in interest rates and the exact proportion of participants electing a lump-sum distribution versus an annuity. The Company estimates that the total benefit payments will be $5.4 million as part of Plan termination. At this time, the Company is unable to estimate the net income or expense associated with terminating the plan, but believes the amount will not be material to the financial statements.
The Company anticipates completing the transfer of all liabilities and administrative responsibilities under the Plan by the end of fiscal third quarter 2018. Once this process is complete, the Company will no longer have any remaining pension obligations and thus no periodic pension expense.
The following table sets forth the pension plan funded status, using the valuation date of September 30, 2017:
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Changes in benefit obligations:   
Benefit obligations, beginning of year$6,355
 
Acquired in HF Financial acquisition
 8,642
Service cost50
 21
Interest cost223
 176
Benefits paid(803) (2,677)
Plan changes
 
Assumption changes(286) 265
Actuarial loss(167) (72)
Benefit obligations, end of year$5,372
 $6,355
    


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Changes in plan assets:   
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year$3,359
 $
Acquired in HF Financial acquisition
 5,642
Actual return on plan assets277
 226
Company contributions260
 168
Benefits paid(803) (2,677)
Fair value of plan assets, end of year$3,093
 $3,359
Funded status 1
$(2,279) $(2,996)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of net gain$329
 $
Accumulated benefit obligation$5,372
 $6,355
    
1 Amounts included in other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets.
Information relative to the components of net periodic benefit cost measured at/or for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015 for the defined benefit plan is presented below:
2018, respectively.
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Net periodic benefit cost     
Service cost$50
 $21
 $
Interest cost223
 176
 
Expected return on plan assets(258) (190) 
Amortization of prior losses
 50
 
Net periodic benefit cost$15
 $57
 $
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)     
Net gain329
 
 
Total recognized in net periodic benefit cost and other comprehensive income (loss)$314
 $(57) $
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations are as follows as of September 30, 2017 and 2016:
 September 30,
 2017 2016
Discount rate - pre-retirement3.83% 3.57%
Discount rate - post-retirement3.83% 3.57%
Rate of compensation increase 1
N/A
 N/A
    
1 Effective July 1, 2015, the plan was frozen whereby the rate of compensation increases, which relate to future additional contributions to the plan, are not applicable in the future.
The weighted-average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit costs are as follows as of September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015:
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
Discount rate - pre-retirement3.83% 3.57% %
Discount rate - post-retirement3.83% 3.57% %
Rate of compensation increase4.00% 4.00% %
Expected long-term return on plan assets8.00% 8.00% %


151




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The assumed expected long-term rate of return on pension assets used in the calculation for 2017 pension plan expense was 8.00%. Determination of the plan's expected long-term rate of return is based on the current asset allocation of the plan, as well as the historical and expected returns on each asset class. The expected long-term rate of return reflects forward-looking economic forecasts.
Due to pending termination of the Plan on February 1, 2018 described above, all plan assets have been transferred to cash and cash equivalents to minimize market risk prior to final benefit payments to plan participants.
 Fair Value Actual Asset Mix as a % of Market Value Target Asset Mix as a % of Market Value 
As of September 30, 2017(dollars in thousands) 
Equities$
 % 55.00%
1 
Fixed
 % 30.00%
2 
Other
 % 10.00%
3 
Cash and cash equivalents3,093
 100% 5.00%
2 
     Total pension plan assets$3,093
 100.00% 100.00% 
       
As of September 30, 2016      
Equities$2,200
 65.50% 55.00%
1 
Fixed1,130
 33.63% 30.00%
2 
Other
 % 10.00%
3 
Cash and cash equivalents29
 0.87% 5.00%
2 
     Total pension plan assets$3,359
 100.00% 100.00% 
       
1 Includes a plus/minus range of 10.0%
2 Includes a plus/minus range of 5.0%
3' Maximum allocation of 10.0%
The following table shows the fair values of the Company's pension plan assets by asset category at September 30, 2017. Information about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value is provided in Note 25 Fair Value Measurements.
 Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
As of September 30, 2017(dollars in thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents$3,093
 $3,093
 $
 $
Equity securities:       
  Domestic fund
 
 
 
  International fund
 
 
 
  Emerging markets fund
 
 
 
Fixed income securities:       
  International fixed income fund
 
 
 
  Taxable fixed income fund
 
 
 
     Total pension plan assets$3,093
 $3,093
 $
 $
        
As of September 30, 2016       
Cash and cash equivalents$29
 $29
 $
 $
Equity securities:       
  Domestic fund1,499
 1,499
 
 
  International fund551
 551
 
 
  Emerging markets fund150
 150
 
 
Fixed income securities:       
  International fixed income fund310
 310
 
 
  Taxable fixed income fund820
 820
 
 
     Total pension plan assets$3,359
 $3,359
 $
 $


152




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following estimated future benefit payments are expected to be paid during the fiscal years ended September 30:
 Amount
 (dollars in thousands)
2018$5,400
2019
2020
2021
2022
Total$5,400
21. Stock-Based Compensation
On September 26, 2014, the Board of Directors adopted, and on October 10, 2014 NAB, at that time ourthe Company's controlling shareholder, approved the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2014 Plan”("2014 Plan"), the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan (the “2014("2014 Director Plan”Plan"), and the Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Bonus Plan”("Bonus Plan"), collectively ("the Plans"), which provide for the issuance of restricted share units and performance based share units to certain officers, employees and directors of the Company. On February 22, 2018, The Company's stockholders approved amendments to the 2014 Plan and the 2014 Director Plan to increase the number of shares available for future grants under the Plans. The Plans were primarily established to enhance the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate employees. The Company’s Board of Directors, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors ("Compensation Committee"), or executive management upon delegation of the Compensation Committee has exclusive authority to select the employees and others, including directors, to receive the awards and to establish the terms and conditions of each award made pursuant to the Company’s stock-based compensation plans.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Stock units issued under the Company’s restricted and performance based stock plans may not be sold or otherwise transferred until the vesting period (typically 3 years) has been met and/orand, if applicable, performance objectives have been obtained. During the vesting periods, participants do not have voting rights and dividends are accumulated until the time upon which the award vests. Upon specified events, as defined in the Plans, stock unit awards that have not vested and/or performance hurdles that have not been met will be forfeited.
Based on the substantive terms of each award, restricted and performance-based awards are classified as equity awards and accounted for under the treasury stock method. The fair value of equity-classified awards is based on the market price of the stock on the measurement date and is amortized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting or performance period.
Effective with the adoption of ASU 2016-09 at the beginning of the fiscal year, stockStock compensation is recognized based on the number of awards to vest using actual forfeiture amounts. For performance-based stock awards, an estimate is made of the number of shares expected to vest as a result of actual performance against the performance targets to determine the amount of compensation expense to be recognized. The estimate is reevaluated quarterly and total compensation expense is adjusted for any change in the current period. Stock-based compensation expense is included in salaries and employee benefits expense in the consolidated statements of income. For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 stock compensation expense was $6.5$5.0 million, $3.5$5.9 million and $1.2$5.5 million respectively. Related income tax benefits recognized for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018 were $2.5$1.2 million, $1.3$1.5 million and $0.5$1.7 million, respectively.


153




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following is a summary of the Plans’ restricted share and performance-based stock award activity as of September 30, 20172020, 2019 and 2016.2018. The number of performance shares granted is reflected in the belowfollowing table are reflected at the amount of achievement of the pre-established targets.
September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016September 30, 2020September 30, 2019September 30, 2018
Common Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value Common Shares Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueCommon
Shares
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueCommon
Shares
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair ValueCommon
Shares
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value
Restricted Shares       Restricted Shares
Restricted shares, beginning of fiscal year160,335
 $26.89
 80,446
 $18.18
Restricted shares, beginning of fiscal year190,805 $37.20 163,287 $37.86 180,337 $33.06 
Granted90,363
 39.35
 113,543
 30.95
Granted147,282 30.68 106,753 37.27 89,376 41.07 
Vested and issued(68,293) 26.97
 (25,729) 18.11
VestedVested(84,316)38.60 (76,210)38.64 (97,682)32.11 
Forfeited(2,068) 30.91
 (7,925) 25.09
Forfeited(4,591)36.18 (3,025)38.67 (8,744)35.99 
Canceled
 
 
 
Canceled
Restricted shares, end of fiscal year180,337
 $33.06
 160,335
 $26.89
Restricted shares, end of periodRestricted shares, end of period249,180 $32.89 190,805 $37.20 163,287 $37.86 
       
Vested, but not issuable at end of fiscal year29,287
 $30.05
 24,480
 $26.14
Vested, but not issuable at end of periodVested, but not issuable at end of period62,992 $33.98 50,770 $33.88 39,514 $32.90 
       
Performance Shares       Performance Shares
Performance shares, beginning of fiscal year236,185
 $20.28
 211,026
 $18.00
Performance shares, beginning of fiscal year173,332 $38.50 175,196 $36.29 133,604 $33.39 
Granted137,612
 39.43
 43,371
 30.78
Granted62,278 40.15 60,583 32.77 53,682 29.52 
Vested and issued(235,055) 18.00
 (55) 18.00
VestedVested(54,861)39.43 (59,937)30.79 (7,017)18.00 
Forfeited(5,138) 19.80
 (18,157) 18.83
Forfeited(5,009)37.90 (2,510)39.25 (5,073)37.75 
Canceled
 
 
 
Canceled
Performance shares, end of fiscal year133,604
 $33.39
 236,185
 $20.28
Performance shares, end of periodPerformance shares, end of period175,740 $33.56 173,332 $38.50 175,196 $36.29 
Vested, but not issuable at end of periodVested, but not issuable at end of period5,612 $18.00 5,612 $18.00 5,612 $18.00 
As of September 30, 2017,2020, there was $4.9$5.3 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvestednon-vested restricted stock awards expected to be recognized over a period of 2.2 years. The fair value of the vested awards was $0.9 million at September 30, 2017, was $1.2 million.2020 and $1.9 million at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018.
117-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
22. Regulatory Matters
The Company and the Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s and the Bank’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Company and the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Company’s and the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Company’s and the Bank’s capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Factors that may significantly affect adequacy of net worth such as potentially volatile components of capital, qualitative factors or regulatory mandates are discussed in "Item 1A. Risk Factors". On January 1, 2015, the Company became subject to Basel III rules, which includeincluded transition provisions through January 1, 2019.
The rules include new risk-based capital and leverage ratios and revise the definition of what constitutes "capital" for purposes of calculating those ratios. The minimum capital level requirements applicable to the Company are now:are: (i) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0%; (ii) a total capital ratio of 8.0%; (iii) a Tier 1 leverage capital ratio of 4.0%; and (iv) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%. The rules also established a "capital conservation buffer" of 2.5% above the new regulatory minimum capital requirements, which must consist entirely of common equity Tier 1 capital and results in the following minimum ratios: (i) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%; (ii) a total capital ratio of 10.5%; and (iii) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7.0%. The capital conservation buffer requirement was phased in beginning in January 2016 at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets and will increaseincreased by that amount each year until fully implemented in January 2019. An institution would beis subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. These limitations establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that could be utilized for such actions.
The Company met all capital adequacy and net worth requirements to which they are subject as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016.


154




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2019.
As of September 30, 2017,2020, the most recent notification from the regulatory agencies categorized the Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well-capitalized, the institution must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. There are no conditions or events since the most recent notification that management believes have changed the Bank's categories.
As an approved mortgage seller, the Bank is required to maintain a minimum level of capital specified by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. At September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, the Bank met these requirements.
Capital amounts and ratios are presented in the following table:
ActualMinimum Capital Requirement Ratio ¹To Be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions
Actual For Capital Adequacy
Purposes
 To Be Well Capitalized Under
Prompt Corrective Action
Provisions
AmountRatioAmountRatioAmountRatio
Amount Ratio   Amount     Ratio        Amount         Ratio    (dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2017           
As of September 30, 2020As of September 30, 2020
Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated$1,101,899
 11.4% $579,947
 6.0% N/A
 N/A
Consolidated$1,195,453 11.8 %$609,080 6.0 %N/A
Bank1,112,466
 11.6% 575,413
 6.0% $767,218
 8.0%Bank1,187,905 11.7 %608,916 6.0 %$811,888 8.0 %
Total risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           Total risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated1,200,885
 12.5% 768,566
 8.0% N/A
 N/A
Consolidated1,350,658 13.3 %812,107 8.0 %N/A
Bank1,176,451
 12.2% 771,443
 8.0% 964,304
 10.0%Bank1,315,077 13.0 %811,888 8.0 %1,014,860 10.0 %
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets):           Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets):
Consolidated1,101,899
 10.3% 427,922
 4.0% N/A
 N/A
Consolidated1,195,453 9.4 %511,248 4.0 %N/A
Bank1,112,466
 10.4% 427,872
 4.0% 534,839
 5.0%Bank1,187,905 9.3 %509,649 4.0 %637,062 5.0 %
Common Equity Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           Common Equity Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated1,028,389
 10.7% 432,500
 4.5% N/A
 N/A
Consolidated1,121,621 11.0 %456,810 4.5 %N/A
Bank$1,112,466
 11.6% $431,560
 4.5% $623,365
 6.5%Bank$1,187,905 11.7 %$456,687 4.5 %$659,659 6.5 %
           
As of September 30, 2016           
Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           
Consolidated$1,001,873
 11.1% $541,553
 6.0% N/A
 N/A
Bank1,023,386
 11.3% 543,391
 6.0% $724,521
 8.0%
Total risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           
Consolidated1,101,997
 12.2% 722,621
 8.0% N/A
 N/A
Bank1,088,511
 12.0% 725,674
 8.0% 907,093
 10.0%
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets):           
Consolidated1,001,873
 9.5% 421,841
 4.0% N/A
 N/A
Bank1,023,386
 9.7% 422,015
 4.0% 527,519
 5.0%
Common Equity Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):           
Consolidated924,718
 10.2% 407,964
 4.5% N/A
 N/A
Bank$1,023,386
 11.3% $407,543
 4.5% $588,673
 6.5%

118-
155





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

ActualMinimum Capital Requirement Ratio ¹To Be Well Capitalized
Under Prompt Corrective
Action Provisions
AmountRatioAmountRatioAmountRatio
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2019
Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated$1,225,355 11.7 %$627,493 6.0 %N/AN/A
Bank1,201,476 11.5 %627,311 6.0 %$836,415 8.0 %
Total risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated1,331,611 12.7 %836,658 8.0 %N/AN/A
Bank1,272,733 12.2 %836,415 8.0 %1,045,519 10.0 %
Tier 1 leverage capital (to average assets):
Consolidated1,225,355 10.1 %483,487 4.0 %N/AN/A
Bank1,201,476 9.9 %483,957 4.0 %604,946 5.0 %
Common Equity Tier 1 risk based capital (to risk-weighted assets):
Consolidated1,151,658 11.0 %470,620 4.5 %N/AN/A
Bank$1,201,476 11.5 %$470,483 4.5 %$679,587 6.5 %
1 Does not include capital conservation buffer of 2.5% at both September 30, 2020 and 2019.

23. Commitments and Contingencies
Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk
The Company is party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and letters of credit. They involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. A summary of the Company’s commitments as of September 30, 20172020 and 20162019 is as follows:
follows.
September 30,September 30,
2017 201620202019
(dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Commitments to extend credit$2,515,653
 $2,158,041
Commitments to extend credit$2,138,138 $2,229,678 
Letters of credit70,186
 61,802
Letters of credit65,707 68,983 
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The Company evaluates each customer’s credit worthiness on a case-by-case basis. The credit and collateral policy for commitments and letters of credit is comparable to that for granting loans.
Asset Sales
The Bank regularly transfers financial assets as part of its mortgage banking activities. Transfers are recorded as sales when the criteria for surrender of control are met. The Bank has provided guarantees in connection with the sale of loans and has assumed a similar obligation in its acquisitions. The guarantees are generally in the form of asset buy back or make whole provisions that are triggered upon a credit event and remain in effect until the loans are collected. The maximum potential future payment related to these guarantees is not readily determinable because the Company’s obligation under these agreements depends on the occurrence of future events. There were $2.3$3.3 million and $2.6 millionof repurchased loans repurchased for the year endedas of September 30, 20172020 and 2016, respectively.2019. Incurred losses related to these repurchased loans and guaranteed loans as of September 30, 20172020, 2019 and 2016,2018 are not significant.
119-


GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Financial Instruments with Concentration of Credit Risk by Geographic Location
A substantial portion of the Company’s customers’ ability to honor their contracts is dependent on the economy in eastern and northern Nebraska, northern Missouri, northeastern Kansas, Iowa, southeastern Arizona, central Colorado, southeastern North Dakota, central Minnesota and South Dakota. Although the Company’s loan portfolio is diversified, there is a relationship in these regions between the agricultural economy and the economic performance of loans made to nonagriculturalnon-agricultural customers. The concentration of credit in the regional agricultural economy is taken into consideration by management in determining the allowance for loan and lease losses.
Lease Commitments
The Company leases several branch locations under terms of operating lease agreements expiring through DecemberMarch 31, 2032.2034. The Company has the option to renew these leases for periods that range from 1 to 15 years. Total rentlease expense incurred by the Company for these leases was $7.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and $5.4 million for both of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162019 and 2015, was $5.4 million, $5.1 million and $4.8 million, respectively.2018.


156




GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Approximate future minimum rental payments for operating leases in excess of one year in subsequent fiscal years are as follows:
follows.
 Amount
 (dollars in thousands)
2018$5,157
20194,523
20203,863
20212,737
20222,157
2023 and thereafter6,629
Total$25,066
Fiscal yearAmount
(dollars in thousands)
2021$5,441 
20224,764 
20234,212 
20243,406 
2025 and thereafter7,832 
Total$25,655 
Contingencies
From time to time the Company is a party to various litigation matters and subject to various regulatory matters that arise in the ordinary course of our business. The Company establishes reserves for such matters when potential losses become probable and can be reasonably estimated. The Company believes the ultimate resolution of existing litigation and regulatory matters will not have a material adverse effect on ourthe financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, changes in circumstances or additional information could result in additional accruals or resolution of these matters in excess of established accruals, which could adversely affect ourthe financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, potentially materially.
24. Transactions With Related Parties
The Company has had, and may be expected to have in the future, banking transactions in the ordinary course of business with directors, executive officers, their immediate families, and affiliated companies in which they have 10% or more beneficial ownership (commonly referred to as related parties). Total loans committed to related parties were not significant at September 30, 20172020 and 2016.2019.
Prior to the initial public offering of shares of its common stock in October 2014, the CompanyThere was an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NAB. Between October 2014 and July 2015, NAB divested itself of all holdings of the Company's common stock.
Interest0 interest paid to related parties for notes payable as discussed above was $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.8 million foreach of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015, respectively.
In connection with the IPO, the Company and NAB entered into a Transitional Services Agreement which governs the continued provision of certain services to us by NAB or its affiliates for the applicable transition period. These services included acting as a counterparty to us on specified interest rate swaps consistent with past practice and providing fair value calculations related to specified loans and interest rate swaps, access to certain reporting systems and applications, certain risk, credit rating and tax oversight previously provided to us by a branch of NAB and certain insurance coverage under NAB’s group-wide insurance policies. Payments under this agreement were approximately $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.2 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. NAB agreed to continue to act as a counterparty to us on previously contracted interest rate swaps and provide fair value calculations related to specified loans and interest rate swaps consistent with past practice, and certain insurance coverage under NAB’s group-wide insurance policies until October 1, 2016.2018.
NAB has provided the Company’s employees with restricted shares of NAB stock subsequent to meeting short- and long-term incentive goals. A payable was recorded between the Company and NAB based on the value and vesting schedule of issued shares. Final vesting of the shares occurs inoccurred December 2017. The liability included in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets was $0.1$0.0 million and $0.1$0.0 million at September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively. The expense related to the restricted shares was $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.1$0.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020 and negligible for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162019 and 2015, respectively,2018, and was included within salaries and employee benefits on the consolidated statements of income.

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Prior to the initial public offering, our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer were employees of NAB and its subsidiary, Bank of New Zealand, respectively. In connection with the IPO, the Company entered into employment agreements with our Chief Financial Officer and Chief Risk Officer, whose employment with NAB or Bank of New Zealand, as applicable, terminated. Additionally, the Company’s Chief Credit Officer was a NAB employee and the Head of Credit-Agribusiness was a Bank of New Zealand employee, both of whom were temporarily seconded to work with the Company beginning in November 2010 and December 2010, respectively, and continued through December 31, 2014. The Company has generally been responsible for paying the salary and benefits of these individuals while they were or continue to be NAB or Bank of New Zealand employees, however certain of these expenses are reimbursable by NAB. Expenses reimbursed by the Company to NAB in connection with these employees totaled $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.4 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
During fiscal year 2014, NAB apportioned to its U.S. operations, including the Company, certain costs associated with NAB’s compliance with rules implemented pursuant to authority granted under the Dodd-Frank Act. These costs were apportioned based on the aggregate amount of assets of each of NAB’s U.S. operations relative to the total assets of all of NAB’s U.S. operations. During the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company paid NAB approximately $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.2 million, respectively, related to these apportioned costs.
In connection with the IPO, other than certain audit-related expenses paid by the Company, NAB has paid or will reimburse all fees and expenses the Company incurred in connection with the IPO. These expenses totaled $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.9 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer’s son owned a 22.5% interest in Sioux Falls Financial Services, LLC, which leases to the Company certain property in South Dakota used as an operations center. The lease agreement for this property commenced on April 1, 2011 and contains standard terms for similar lease arrangements. The interest was sold in April 2015. Payments under this lease totaled approximately $0.0 million, $0.0 million and $0.1 million for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
25. Fair Value Measurements
The Company measures, monitors and discloses certain of its assets and liabilities on a fair value basis. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance describes the following three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
Level 1    Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2    Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities; and
Level 3    Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value are as follows:of the assets or liabilities.
Level 1Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities
Level 3Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities
Level 1 inputs are considered to be the most transparent and reliable and Level 3 inputs are considered to be the least transparent and reliable. The Company assumes the use of the principal market to conduct a transaction of each particular asset or liability being measured and then considers the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. Whenever possible, the Company first looks for quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets (Level 1 inputs) to value each asset or liability. However, when inputs from identical assets or liabilities on active markets are not available, the Company utilizes market observable data for similar assets and liabilities. The Company maximizes the use of observable inputs and limits the use of unobservable inputs to occasions when observable inputs are not available. The need to use unobservable inputs generally results from the lack of market liquidity of the actual financial instrument or of the underlying collateral. Although in some instances, third party price indications may be available, limited trading activity can challenge the observability of these quotations.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies and inputs used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Securities Available for Sale
Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury securities. If quoted market prices are not available, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows and classified as Level 2 securities. Level 2 securities include agency, mortgage-backed, states and political subdivisions, corporate debt, and other securities. Where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy. Level 3 securities were immaterial at September 30, 2020 and 2019.
Interest Rate Swaps and Loans
Interest rate swaps are valued by the Company's Swap Dealers using cash flow valuation techniques with observable market data inputs. The fair value of loans accounted for under the fair value option represents the net carrying value of the loan, plus the equal and opposite amount of the value of the swap needed to hedgeoffset the interest rate risk and an adjustment for credit risk based on ourthe Company's assessment of existing market conditions for the specific portfolio of loans. This is used due to the strict prepayment penalties put in the loan terms to cover the cost of exiting the hedgeinterest rate swap of the loans in the case of early prepayment or termination. The adjustment for credit risk on loans accounted for under the fair value option is not significant to the overall fair value of the loans. The fair values estimated by the Company's Swap Dealers use interest rates that are observable or that can be corroborated by observable market data and, therefore, are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company has entered into Collateral Agreements with its Swap Dealers and Futures Clearing Merchant which entitle it to receive collateral to cover market values on derivatives which are in asset position, thus a credit risk adjustment on interest rate swaps is not warranted. The Company regularly enters into interest rate lock commitments on mortgage loans to be held for sale with corresponding forward sales contracts related to these interest rate lock commitments, the fair values of which are calculated by applying observable market values from Fannie Mae TBA pricing to each interest rate lock commitment and forward sales contract, therefore, are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy. The Company also has back to backback-to-back swaps with loan customers, with corresponding swaps with an outside third party in exact offsetting terms.
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Loan Servicing Rights
Fair value is determined at a tranche level, based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts (Level 3), when available, or alternatively based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The valuation model utilizes interest rate, prepayment speed, and default rate assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income and that can be validated against market data (Level 3).
The following table presents the fair value measurements of assets and liabilities recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at September 30, 20172020 and September 30, 2016:
2019.
Fair ValueLevel 1Level 2Level 3
Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3(dollars in thousands)
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2017       
As of September 30, 2020As of September 30, 2020
U.S. Treasury securities$228,603
 $228,603
 $
 $
U.S. Treasury securities$50,152 $50,152 $$
U.S. Agency securitiesU.S. Agency securities25,060 25,060 
Mortgage-backed securities1,065,737
 
 1,065,737
 
Mortgage-backed securities1,642,780 1,642,780 
States and political subdivision securities72,586
 
 71,517
 1,069
States and political subdivision securities55,580 51,783 3,797 
Corporate debt securities
 
 
 
Other1,034
 
 1,034
 
Other1,054 1,054 
Total securities available for sale$1,367,960
 $228,603
 $1,138,288
 $1,069
Total securities available for sale$1,774,626 $75,212 $1,695,617 $3,797 
Derivatives-assets$48
 $
 $48
 $
Derivatives-assets$98,380 $$98,380 $
Derivatives-liabilities17,107
 
 17,107
 
Derivatives-liabilities98 98 
Fair value loans and written loan commitments1,016,576
 
 1,016,576
 
       
As of September 30, 2016       
Fair value loansFair value loans655,185 655,185 
Loan servicing rightsLoan servicing rights1,303 1,303 
As of September 30, 2019As of September 30, 2019
U.S. Treasury securities$230,980
 $230,980
 $
 $
U.S. Treasury securities$94,745 $94,745 $$
Mortgage-backed securities1,023,319
 
 1,023,319
 
Mortgage-backed securities1,620,903 1,620,903 
States and political subdivision securities55,484
 
 54,169
 1,315
States and political subdivision securities66,523 62,403 4,120 
Corporate debt securities5,022
 
 5,022
 
Other1,055
 
 1,055
 
Other1,037 1,037 
Total securities available for sale$1,315,860
 $230,980
 $1,083,565
 $1,315
Total securities available for sale$1,783,208 $94,745 $1,684,343 $4,120 
Derivatives-assets$66
 $
 $66
 $
Derivatives-assets$58,534 $$58,534 $
Derivatives-liabilities81,515
 
 81,515
 
Derivatives-liabilities13 13 
Fair value loans and written loan commitments1,131,111
 
 1,131,111
 
Fair value loansFair value loans812,991 812,991 
Loan servicing rightsLoan servicing rights2,255 2,255 


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following table presents the changes in Level 3 financial instrumentsassets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015:
2018.
 September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year$1,315
 $1,835
 $2,029
Additions
 15
 
Principal paydown(246) (235) (195)
Unrealized gain included in other comprehensive income
 
 1
Realized loss on securities
 (300) 
Balance, end of year$1,069
 $1,315
 $1,835
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Other securities available for sale
Balance, beginning of period$4,120 $970 $1,069 
Additions3,350 149 
Principal paydown(323)(200)(248)
Balance, end of period$3,797 $4,120 $970 
Loan servicing rights
Balance, beginning of period$2,255 $3,087 $4,074 
Realized and unrealized loss ¹(952)(832)(987)
Balance, end of period$1,303 $2,255 $3,087 
1 Realized and unrealized (loss) related to loan servicing rights are reported as a component of mortgage banking income, net on the consolidated statements of income.
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets and liabilities pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
Other Real Estate Owned (OREO)
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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Other real estate ownedRepossessed Property
Other repossessed property consists of loan collateral that has been repossessed through foreclosure. This collateral is comprised of commercial and residential real estate. OREOestate and other repossessed assets. Other repossessed property is recorded initially at fair value of the collateral less estimated selling costs. Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are updated periodically, and the assets may be marked down further to fair value less selling costs, reflecting a valuation allowance. Fair value measurements may be based upon appraisals, third-party price opinions, or internally developed pricing methods. These measurements are classified as Level 3.
Impaired Loans (Collateral Dependent)
Loans for which it is probable that the Company will not collect all principal and interest due according to contractual terms are measured for impairment. Allowable methods for estimating fair value include using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans or, where a loan is determined not to be collateral dependent, using the discounted cash flow method.
If the impaired loan is identified as collateral dependent, then the fair value method of measuring the amount of the impairment is utilized. This method requires obtaining a current independent appraisal of the collateral and applying a discount factor, if necessary, to the appraised value and including costs to sell. Because many of these inputs are not observable, the measurements are classified as Level 3.
Mortgage Loans Held for Sale
Fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on either quoted prices for the same or similar loans, or values obtained from third parties, or are estimated for portfolios of loans with similar financial characteristics and are therefore considered a Level 2 valuation.
Loan Servicing Rights
Fair value is determined at a tranche level, based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts (Level 3), when available, or alternatively based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The valuation model utilizes interest rate, prepayment speed, and default rate assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income and that can be validated against market data (Level 3).
Property Held for Sale
This real estate property is carried in premises and equipment as property held for sale at fair value based upon the transactional price if available, or the appraised value of the property.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The following tables presenttable presents the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at September 30, 20172020 and 2016:
2019.
 Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
 (dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2017       
Other real estate owned$7,728
 $
 $
 $7,728
Impaired loans185,388
 
 
 185,388
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value7,456
 
 7,456
 
Loan servicing rights4,074
 
 
 4,074
Property held for sale5,147
 
 
 5,147
        
As of September 30, 2016       
Other real estate owned$6,911
 $
 $
 $6,911
Impaired loans190,743
 
 
 190,743
Loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value12,918
 
 12,918
 
Loan servicing rights5,781
 
 
 5,781
Property held for sale8,112
 
 
 8,112
Fair ValueLevel 1Level 2Level 3
(dollars in thousands)
As of September 30, 2020
Other repossessed property$17,991 $$$17,991 
Impaired loans669,968 669,968 
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value12,371 12,371 
Property held for sale600 600 
As of September 30, 2019
Other repossessed property$34,721 $$$34,721 
Impaired loans413,644 413,644 
Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or fair value7,351 7,351 
Property held for sale2,757 2,757 
The valuation techniques and significant unobservable inputs used to measure Level 3 fair value measurements at September 30, 20172020 were as follows:follows.
Fair Value of Assets / (Liabilities) at September 30, 2020Valuation
Technique(s)
Unobservable
Input
RangeWeighted
Average
(dollars in thousands)
Other repossessed property$17,991 Appraisal valueCollateral specific adjustmentN/AN/A
Impaired loans669,968 Appraisal valueCollateral specific adjustmentN/AN/A
Property held for sale600 Appraisal valueCollateral specific adjustmentN/AN/A
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 Fair Value of Assets / (Liabilities) at September 30, 2017 Valuation
Technique(s)
 Unobservable
Input
 Range Weighted
Average
 (dollars in thousands)
Other real estate owned$7,728
 Appraisal value Property specific adjustment N/A N/A
Impaired loans$185,388
 Appraisal value Property specific adjustment N/A N/A
Loan servicing rights$4,074
 Discounted cash flows Constant prepayment rate
Discount rate
 9.7 - 23.0%
10.0 - 15.0%
 12.5%
11.9%
Property held for sale$5,147
 Appraisal value Property specific adjustment N/A N/A

GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments
For financial instruments that have quoted market prices, those quotes are used to determine fair value. Financial instruments that have no defined maturity, have a remaining maturity of 180 days or less, or reprice frequently to a market rate are assumed to have a fair value that approximates carrying value, after taking into consideration any applicable credit risk. If no market quotes are available, financial instruments are valued by discounting the expected cash flows using an estimated current market interest rate for the financial instrument.
The short maturity of the Company’s assets and liabilities results in having a significant number of financial instruments whose fair value equals or closely approximates carrying value. Such financial instruments are reported in the following consolidated balance sheet categories: cash and cash equivalents, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, and accrued interest.
Fair value estimates are based on existing on and off-balance sheet financial instruments without attempting to estimate the value of anticipated future business and the value of assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments. Significant assets and liabilities that are not considered financial instruments include premises and equipment, deferred income taxes, goodwill, and core deposit and other intangibles. In addition,Additionally, in accordance with the tax ramifications related to the realization of unrealized gainsdisclosure guideline, receivables and losses can have a significant effect onpayables due in one year or less, insurance contracts, equity investments not accounted for at fair value, estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

deposits with no defined or contractual maturities are excluded. Off-balance sheet instruments (commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit) are generally short-term and at variable rates. Therefore, both the carrying amount and the estimated fair value associated with these instruments are immaterial. Fair values for balanceon-balance sheet instruments as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,September 30, 2019 are as follows:
follows.
 September 30, 2017 September 30, 2016September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
Level in
Fair Value
Hierarchy
 Carrying
Amount
 Fair Value Carrying
Amount
 Fair ValueLevel in Fair Value HierarchyCarrying AmountFair
Value
Carrying AmountFair
Value
 (dollars in thousands)(dollars in thousands)
Assets        Assets
Cash and cash equivalentsLevel 1 $360,396
 $360,396
 $524,611
 $524,611
Cash and cash equivalentsLevel 1$432,887 $432,887 $243,474 $243,474 
Loans, net excluding fair valued loans and loans held for saleLevel 3 7,881,018
 7,798,134
 7,473,973
 7,433,851
Accrued interest receivableLevel 2 53,176
 53,176
 49,531
 49,531
Cash surrender value of life insurance policiesLevel 2 29,619
 29,619
 29,166
 29,166
Federal Home Loan Bank stockLevel 2 37,551
 37,551
 47,025
 47,025
        
Loans, net, excluding fair valued loans, loans held for sale and impaired loans ¹Loans, net, excluding fair valued loans, loans held for sale and impaired loans ¹Level 38,738,617 8,768,314 8,472,777 8,533,612 
Liabilities        Liabilities
DepositsLevel 2 $8,977,613
 $8,978,926
 $8,604,790
 $8,603,708
Time depositsTime depositsLevel 2$1,282,978 $1,287,814 $2,095,676 $2,101,239 
FHLB advances and other borrowingsLevel 2 643,214
 645,421
 871,037
 874,763
FHLB advances and other borrowingsLevel 2195,000 204,715 340,000 351,517 
Securities sold under repurchase agreementsLevel 2 132,636
 132,636
 141,688
 141,688
Securities sold under repurchase agreementsLevel 265,506 65,506 68,992 68,992 
Accrued interest payableLevel 2 4,405
 4,405
 4,074
 4,074
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payableLevel 2 108,302
 108,293
 111,873
 112,826
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payableLevel 2108,832 96,424 108,636 101,164 
1 Includes $29.0 million and $13.9 million of net deferred loan fees at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of which carrying value approximates fair value.
1 Includes $29.0 million and $13.9 million of net deferred loan fees at September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, of which carrying value approximates fair value.
The following methods and assumptions were used in estimating the fair value of financial instruments that were not previously disclosed:
Cash and cash equivalents: Due to the short term nature of cash and cash equivalents, the estimated fair value is equal to the carrying value and they are categorized as a Level 1 fair value measurement.
Loans, net excluding fair valued loans and loans held for sale: The fair value of the loan portfolio is estimated using observable inputs including estimated cash flows, and discount rates based on interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms, to borrowers of similar credit quality. Loans held for investment are categorized as a Level 3 fair value measurement.
Accrued interest receivable: Due to the nature of accrued interest receivable, the estimated fair value is equal to the carrying value and they are categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Cash Surrender Value of Life Insurance Policies: Fair value is equal to the cash surrender value of the life insurance policies.
Federal Home Loan Bank stock: The carrying amount of FHLB stock approximates its fair value as it can only be redeemed with the FHLB at par value. Federal Home Loan Bank stock has been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Deposits: The estimated fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as non-interest bearing demand deposits, savings, NOW, and money market accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand. The fair value of interest-bearing time deposits is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows of such deposits, taking into account the option for early withdrawal. The discount rate is estimated using the rates offered by the Company, at the respective measurement dates, for deposits of similar maturities. Deposits have been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
FHLB advances and other borrowings: The fair value of FHLB advances and other borrowings is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. In the absence of a reasonably precise methodology to determine the fair value of the credit agreement, carrying value has been used to represent fair value. FHLB advances and other borrowings have been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Securities sold under repurchase agreements: The Company’s repurchase agreements are overnight transactions that mature the day after the transaction, and as a result of this short-term nature, the estimated fair value equals the carrying value. Securities sold under repurchase agreements have been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
Accrued interest payable: Due to the nature of accrued interest payable, the estimated fair value is equal to the carrying value and they are categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.


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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Subordinated Debentures and Subordinated Notes Payable: The fair value of subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable is estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on current incremental debt rates. Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable have been categorized as a Level 2 fair value measurement.
26. Earnings per Share
Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding determined for the basic earnings per share calculation plus the dilutive effect of stock compensation using the treasury stock method.
The following information was used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 2015.
2018.
September 30,Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
2017 2016 2015202020192018
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
Net income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
     
Weighted average common shares outstanding58,770,708
 56,563,438
 57,455,693
Weighted average common shares outstanding55,612,251 57,154,865 58,938,169 
Dilutive effect of stock based compensation258,674
 165,912
 45,185
Dilutive effect of stock based compensation102,196 193,481 
Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share calculation59,029,382
 56,729,350
 57,500,878
Weighted average common shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share calculation55,612,251 57,257,061 59,131,650 
     
Basic earnings per share$2.46
 $2.14
 $1.90
Basic earnings per share$(12.24)$2.93 $2.68 
Diluted earnings per share$2.45
 $2.14
 $1.90
Diluted earnings per share$(12.24)$2.92 $2.67 
The Company had 0 and 36,69617,074 shares of unvested performance stock as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016, respectively,0 shares of unvested performance stock as of September 30, 2019 which were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because performance conditions for vesting had not been met. The Company had 0132,526 and 54,20718,006 shares of anti-dilutive stock awards outstanding as of September 30, 20172020 and 2016,2019, respectively.

27. Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from contracts with customers in accordance with ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services recognized as performance obligations are satisfied.

124-
163





GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The majority of the Company's revenue-generating transactions are not subject to ASC Topic 606, including revenue generated from financial instruments, such as loans, letters of credit, derivatives and investment securities, as well as revenue related to mortgage servicing activities, as these activities are subject to other GAAP and discussed elsewhere within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, "Note 1. Nature of Operations and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies". Descriptions of the Company's revenue-generating activities that are within the scope of ASC Topic 606, which are presented in the consolidated income statements as components of noninterest income, are as follows:
27.Service charges and fees on deposit accounts.Service charges on deposit accounts are earned for account maintenance and overdraft, wire and treasury management services. Revenue is recognized at the time the services are performed and is included in service charges and other fees within noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Interchange and merchant services income. Interchange and merchant services income are earned from credit and debit card payment processing through card association networks, merchant services and other card related services. Fees for these services are primarily based on interchange rates set by the networks and transaction volumes and are recognized as transactions are processed and settled with networks on behalf of card holders. These fees are presented net of direct expenses, including reward costs, associated with credit and debit card interchange income in service charges and other fees which are included in noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Wealth management and trust fee income. Wealth management and trust fees are earned for asset management, custody and recordkeeping, investment advisory and administrative services. Revenue is recognized as the services are performed. Brokerage charges are recorded as a net reduction in wealth management fees which are included in noninterest income on the consolidated statements of income.
Other noninterest income.Other noninterest income primarily includes such items as letter of credit fees, gains on sale of loans held for sale and servicing fees, none of which are subject to the requirements of ASC Topic 606.
The following table presents total noninterest income segregated between contracts with customers within the scope of ASC Topic 606 and those within the scope of other GAAP Topics. The following additionally presents revenues from customers that are included within noninterest income.
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Noninterest income
Service charges and other fees$37,741 $43,893 $51,077 
Wealth management fees11,772 8,914 9,219 
Other2,733 3,045 6,575 
Noninterest income from contracts with customers within the scope of ASC Topic 60652,246 55,852 66,871 
Noninterest income within the scope of other GAAP Topics ¹(52,229)4,880 6,738 
Total noninterest income$17 $60,732 $73,609 
1 The Company presents out of scope noninterest income for the purpose of reconciling noninterest income amounts within the scope of ASC Topic 606 to noninterest income amounts presented on the Company's consolidated statements of income.

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
28. Acquisition Activity
Effective October 1, 2019, the Company purchased and assumed the management of $306.0 million of trust assets managed in Colorado from Independent Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Independent Bank Group, Inc., for $4.7 million. The Company accounted for the purchase under the acquisition method in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. Accordingly, the purchase price is allocated to the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition. The following table summarizes the consideration paid and the allocation of the purchase price to net assets as of the acquisition date.
Amount
(dollars in thousands)
Total consideration paid$4,711
Customer relationship intangible$3,172
Goodwill$1,539
The foregoing purchase price allocation on the acquisition is considered final and no subsequent adjustments to the purchase price allocation are expected. Goodwill related to this acquisition was 0t deductible for tax purposes. As of September 30, 2020, goodwill was impaired - see Note 12 for additional disclosure regarding goodwill. The customer relationship intangible is being amortized over an estimated useful life of 13 years. See Note 13 for additional disclosure regarding intangible assets.
29. Parent Company Only Financial Statements
Parent company only financial information for Great Western Bancorp, Inc. is summarized as follows:
Condensed Balance Sheets
(Dollars in Thousands)
 September 30,
 2017 2016
 (dollars in thousands)
Assets   
Cash and cash equivalents$15,004
  $6,521
Investment in subsidiaries1,839,293
  1,762,070
Accrued interest receivable9
  8
Net deferred tax assets1,502
  855
Other assets8,506
  7,685
Total assets$1,864,314
  $1,777,139
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity   
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable$108,302
  $111,873
Accrued interest payable465
  431
Accrued expenses and other liabilities547
  1,444
Total liabilities109,314
  113,748
Stockholders’ equity   
Common stock588
  587
Additional paid-in capital1,314,039
  1,312,347
Retained earnings445,747
  344,923
Accumulated other comprehensive income(5,374) 5,534
Total stockholders’ equity1,755,000
  1,663,391
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$1,864,314
  $1,777,139
Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in Thousands)
 Years Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Income     
Dividends from subsidiary bank$62,470
 $70,582
 $88,647
Dividends on securities123
 223
 304
Other62
 48
 53
Total income62,655
 70,853
 89,004
Expenses     
Interest on related party notes payable
 
 771
Interest on subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,464
 3,737
 1,557
Salaries and employee benefits6,847
 3,723
 1,547
Professional fees631
 378
 722
Acquisition expenses
 1,010
 
Other2,204
 2,512
 2,224
Total expense14,146
 11,360
 6,821
Income before income tax and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries48,509
 59,493
 82,183
Income tax benefit(8,147) (3,414) (2,850)
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries56,656
 62,907
 85,033
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries88,130
 58,346
 24,032
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065

September 30,
20202019
(dollars in thousands)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents$36,420 $57,543 
Investment in subsidiaries1,229,227 1,950,077 
Net deferred tax assets1,395 1,716 
Other assets6,086 689 
Total assets$1,273,128 $2,010,025 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable$108,832 $108,636 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities1,363 1,140 
Total liabilities110,195 109,776 
Stockholders’ equity
Common stock550 563 
Additional paid-in capital1,183,647 1,228,714 
Retained earnings(57,169)657,475 
Accumulated other comprehensive income35,905 13,497 
Total stockholders’ equity1,162,933 1,900,249 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$1,273,128 $2,010,025 

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GREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(Dollars in Thousands)
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Income
Dividends from subsidiary bank$75,079 $148,128 $111,159 
Dividends on securities19 51 
Other87 120 103 
Total income75,168 148,267 111,313 
Expenses
Interest on subordinated debentures and subordinated notes payable4,515 5,540 5,040 
Salaries and employee benefits5,295 6,288 5,849 
Professional fees1,291 1,035 1,038 
Other2,913 2,653 2,456 
Total expense14,014 15,516 14,383 
Income before income tax and equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries61,154 132,751 96,930 
Income tax benefit(1,114)(2,965)(3,075)
Income before equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries62,268 135,716 100,005 
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries(743,076)31,649 57,911 
Net income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(Dollars in Thousands)
Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
202020192018
(dollars in thousands)
Operating Activities
Net income$(680,808)$167,365 $157,916 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization196 168 166 
Stock-based compensation3,705 4,582 4,419 
Deferred income taxes321 (227)13 
Changes in:
Other assets(5,397)1,367 6,459 
Accrued interest and other liabilities223 268 (140)
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries743,076 (31,649)(57,911)
Net cash provided by operating activities61,316 141,874 110,922 
Financing Activities
Common stock repurchased(39,983)(94,351)
Dividends paid(42,456)(62,904)(53,002)
Net cash used in financing activities(82,439)(157,255)(53,002)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(21,123)(15,381)57,920 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period57,543 72,924 15,004 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$36,420 $57,543 $72,924 

127-
 Years Ended September 30,
 2017 2016 2015
 (dollars in thousands)
Operating Activities     
Net income$144,786
 $121,253
 $109,065
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:     
Depreciation and amortization165
 36
 12
Gain on redemption of subordinated debentures(111) 
 
Stock-based compensation6,810
 3,517
 1,236
Deferred income taxes(1,796) 3
 (5,351)
Changes in:     
Accrued interest receivable(1) (3) 
Other assets(822) (187) 2,510
Accrued interest and other liabilities286
 225
 264
Equity in undistributed net income of subsidiaries(88,130) (58,346) (24,032)
Net cash provided by operating activities61,187
 66,498
 83,704
Investing activities     
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
 (30,832) 
Net cash used in investing activities
 (30,832) 
Financing Activities     
Proceeds from issuance of subordinated notes payable, net
 
 34,632
Redemption of subordinated debentures(3,625) 
 
Payment of related party notes payable
 
 (41,295)
Common stock repurchased(5,605) 
 (60,000)
Dividends paid(43,474) (31,419) (20,520)
Net cash used in financing activities(52,704) (31,419) (87,183)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents8,483
 4,247
 (3,479)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year6,521
 2,274
 5,753
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year$15,004
 $6,521
 $2,274


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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
AsOur management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective disclosure controls and procedures as defined under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the end of the period covered by this report, our management carried out anExchange Act. An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) underas of the Exchange Act),end of the period covered by this Annual Report. Based on and as of the time of that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’sSECs rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.forms.
Report Regarding Internal Controls
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations ("COSO") of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework).
Based on our evaluation under the 2013 Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the end of the period covered by this report. Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included within this report, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report. Ernst & Young LLP’s attestation report is set forth below.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017 has been audited by Ernst & Young, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report set forth below.
Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There hashave been no changechanges in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred(as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) during the Company's fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017 that hashave materially affected, or isare reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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166







REPORTMANAGEMENT'S ASSESSMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRMGREAT WESTERN BANCORP, INC.'S INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING


Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with US GAAP. The Boardsystem of Directorsinternal control over financial reporting as it relates to the financial statements is evaluated for effectiveness by management and Shareholderstested for reliability through a program of internal audits. Actions are taken to correct potential deficiencies as they are identified.
Great Western Bancorp, Inc.Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial reporting and financial statement preparation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of a change in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

We have audited Great Western Bancorp, Inc.’s (the “Company”)Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, assessed our system of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017,2020. Management's assessment is based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting as described in "Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)" issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, we concluded that our system of internal control over financial reporting was effective and meets the criteria of the "Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013)" as of the end of the period covered by this report.
Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the financial statements included within this report, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report, which is set forth below.


By:/s/ Mark BorreccoBy:/s/ Peter Chapman
Name:Mark BorreccoName:Peter Chapman
Title:President and Chief Executive OfficerTitle:Chief Financial Officer
Date:November 23, 2020Date:November 23, 2020

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Great Western Bancorp, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited Great Western Bancorp, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the “COSO criteria”)COSO criteria). In our opinion, Great Western Bancorp, Inc.’s (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2020, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2020 and our report dated November 23, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report onAssessment of Great Western Bancorp, Inc.’s Internal Control overOver Financial Reporting.Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Great Western Bancorp, Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017 and our report dated November 28, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.



/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
November 28, 2017


23, 2020

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167





ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B.OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.

PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
This information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders that will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after September 30, 2017,2020, the end of our fiscal year. Information relating to our executive officers is, pursuant to Instruction 3 of Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K and General Instruction G(3) of Form 10-K, set forth in Part I, Item 1 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the caption “Item"Item 1. Business—Information about our Executive Officers of the Registrant.”Officers."
ITEM 11.EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
This information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders that will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after September 30, 2017,2020, the end of our fiscal year.
ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
This information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders that will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after September 30, 2017,2020, the end of our fiscal year. In addition, information in tabular form relating to securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is set forth in Part II, Item 5 under the caption “Item"Item 5. Market for Registrant’sFor Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities—Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans”Plans" in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
This information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders that will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after September 30, 2017,2020, the end of our fiscal year.
ITEM 14.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
This information is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2021 annual meeting of shareholders that will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after September 30, 2017,2020, the end of our fiscal year.



168





PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(1)    The following financial statements are included under a separate caption "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on the Form 10-K under the caption "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and are incorporated herein by reference.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 20172020 and 20162019
Consolidated Statements of Income - For theFiscal Years Ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - For theFiscal Years Ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - For theFiscal Years Ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - For theFiscal Years Ended September 30, 2017, 20162020, 2019 and 20152018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)    Financial statement schedules are omitted either because they are not required or are not applicable, or because the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto.
(3)    The exhibits listed below under “Index to Exhibits” are filed with or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Where such filingexhibit is made by incorporationincorporated by reference to a previously filed registration statement or report, such registration statement or report is identified in parentheses. Management contracts and compensatory plans or arrangements are specifically identified in the Index to Exhibits.


below.

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169






NumberDescription
Purchase and Assumption Agreement (Whole Bank, All Deposits), dated as of June 4, 2010, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of TierOne Bank, Lincoln, Nebraska, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Western Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014 (File No. 001-36688))
Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2003, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2003, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
First Supplemental Indenture dated October 17, 2014, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014 (File No. 001-36688))
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Great Western Statutory Trust IV, dated December 17, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2006, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2006, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2014, among Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, successor to LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014 (File No. 001-36688))
First Supplemental Indenture, among Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GWB Capital Trust VI, dated as of March 10, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Sunstate Bancshares, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Sunstate Bancshares, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.17 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2007, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated October 17, 2014, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014 (File No. 001-36688))
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Sunstate Bancshares Trust II, dated as of June 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
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NumberDescription
Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement, dated July 31, 2015, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and the Note Purchasers identified on Schedule I thereto, and any assignees thereof, including the form of Subordinated Note issued to each of such Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 11, 2015 (File No. 001-36688))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust III trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016 (File No. 001-36688))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust IV trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016 (File No. 001-36688))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust VI trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016 (File No. 001-36688))
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust V trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016 (File No. 001-36688))
4.21 **
Description of Securities Registered Under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on November 27, 2019 (File No. 001-36688))
Employment Agreement, dated December 15, 2017, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Kenneth Karels (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 18, 2017 (File No. 001-36688))
Employment Agreement, dated February 6, 2020, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Mark Borrecco (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on February 11, 2020 (File No. 001-36688))
Employment Agreement, dated December 15, 2017, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Peter Chapman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 18, 2017 (File No. 001-36688))
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2019, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Doug Bass (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on the Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 9, 2019 (File No. 001-36688))
Change in Control Agreement, dated February 22, 2018, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Tim Kintner (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on February 26, 2018 (File No. 001-36688)
Employment Agreement, dated as of June 15, 2018, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Karlyn M. Knieriem (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on July 25, 2018 (File No. 001-36688))
Employment Agreement, dated April 20, 2020, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Steve Yose (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on April 22, 2020 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on January 10, 2018 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on January 10, 2018 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014 (File No. 001-36688))
Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
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NumberDescription
Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 9, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
Credit Agreement, dated July 31, 2015, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 11, 2015 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 1, 2016 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Consultant Agreement with Credit Risk Advisors, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 19, 2019 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. First Amendment to Consultant Agreement with Credit Risk Advisors, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 31, 2019 (File No. 001-36688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. CEO Transition and Retirement Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on November 26, 2019 (File No. 001-036688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Amended and Restated CEO Transition and Retirement Agreement between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Kenneth Karels (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on June 10, 2020 (File No. 001-036688))
Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Retirement and Separation Agreement between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Douglas Bass (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 21, 2020 (File No. 001-036688))
Statement regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings (included as Note 25 to the registrant's audited consolidated financial statements)
21.1 **
Subsidiaries of Great Western Bancorp, Inc.
23.1 **
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
24.1 **
Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages)
31.1 **
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2 **
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1 **
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2 **
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS ***XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
104 ***The cover page from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, formatted in Inline XBRL (included in Exhibit 101)
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan
** Filed herewith
*** Furnished, not filed

134-


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Great Western Bancorp, Inc.


Date: November 28, 201723, 2020By:/s/ Ken KarelsMark Borrecco
Name:Ken KarelsMark Borrecco
Title:Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer




135-
170





The undersigned directors and officers do hereby constitute and appoint Ken KarelsMark Borrecco and Peter Chapman and either of them, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, to do any and all acts and things in our name and behalf in our capacities as directors and officers, and to execute any and all instruments for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, that such person may deem necessary or advisable to enable the registrant to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017,2020, including specifically, but not limited to, power and authority to sign for us, or any of us, in the capacities indicated below, any and all amendments hereto; and we do hereby ratify and confirm all that such person or persons shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 28th23th day of November, 2017.
2020.
SignaturesTitle
Signatures/s/ Mark BorreccoTitle
Mark Borrecco
/s/ Ken Karels
Ken KarelsChairman,
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ James Brannen
James BrannenChairperson of the Board and Director
/s/ Frances Grieb
Frances GriebDirector
/s/ Thomas Henning
Thomas HenningLead Independent Director
/s/ James Israel
James IsraelDirector
/s/ Stephen Lacy
Stephen LacyDirector
/s/ Daniel Rykhus
Daniel RykhusDirector
/s/ James Spies
James SpiesDirector
/s/ Peter Chapman
Peter Chapman
Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)




171


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
NumberDescription
2.1Purchase and Assumption Agreement (Whole Bank, All Deposits), dated as of June 4, 2010, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of TierOne Bank, Lincoln, Nebraska, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Western Bank (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
3.1Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014)
3.2Amended and Restated Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.1Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.2Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2003, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.3Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2003, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.15 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.4First Supplemental Indenture dated October 17, 2014, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014)
4.5Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Great Western Statutory Trust IV, dated December 17, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.6Indenture, dated as of March 10, 2006, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.7Guarantee Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2006, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.8First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2014, among Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, successor to LaSalle Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014)
4.9First Supplemental Indenture, among Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.10Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of GWB Capital Trust VI, dated as of March 10, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.11Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Sunstate Bancshares, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.12Guarantee Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2005, between Sunstate Bancshares, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.13First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 10, 2007, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))


172





NumberDescription
4.14Second Supplemental Indenture, dated October 17, 2014, between Great Western Bancorporation, Inc., Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014)
4.15Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Sunstate Bancshares Trust II, dated as of June 1, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 28, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
4.16Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement, dated July 31, 2015, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and the Note Purchasers identified on Schedule I thereto, and any assignees thereof, including the form of Subordinated Note issued to each of such Purchasers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.19 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 11, 2015)
4.17First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust III trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016)
4.18First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust IV trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016)
4.19First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust VI trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016)
4.20First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 13, 2016, among Great Western Bancorp, Inc., HF Financial Corp., and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (relating to the HF Financial Capital Trust V trust preferred securities) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on May 16, 2016)
10.1 *Employment Agreement, dated September 15, 2014, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Kenneth Karels (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.2 *Employment Agreement, dated September 12, 2014, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Peter Chapman (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.3 *Employment Agreement, dated September 12, 2014, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Stephen Ulenberg (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on September 25, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.4 * **
Employment Agreement, dated August 27, 2014, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Doug Bass
10.5 *Employment Agreement, dated January 23, 2011, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Michael Gough (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on July 27, 2017)
10.6 *Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 16, 2014 (File No. 333-199426))
10.7 *Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 16, 2014 (File No. 333-199426))
10.8 *Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 12, 2014)
10.9 *Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.10 *Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))


173





NumberDescription
10.11 *Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan Performance Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 9, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.12 *Form of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Non-Employee Director Plan Restricted Share Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on October 3, 2014 (File No. 333-198458))
10.13Credit Agreement, dated July 31, 2015, between Great Western Bancorp, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.18 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on December 11, 2015)
10.14 *Great Western Bancorp, Inc. Clawback Policy (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Great Western Bancorp, Inc. on August 1, 2016)
11.1Statement regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings (included as Note 26 to the registrant's audited consolidated financial statements)
21.1 **
Subsidiaries of Great Western Bancorp, Inc.
23.1 **
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
24.1 **Powers of Attorney (included on signature pages)
31.1 **
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2 **
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1 **
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Great Western Bancorp, Inc. in accordance with Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
101.INS ***XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE ***XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan
** Filed herewith
*** Furnished, not filed



174