TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM 1. Financial Statements
CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(unaudited)
CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)
CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk
ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures
ITEM 5. Other Information
ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EX-11 Computation of Per Share Earnings
EX-31.1 Certification - CEO
EX-31.2 Certification - CFO
EX-32 Certificatoins Required by Section 1350




SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003March 31, 2004

OR

[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission file number 001-15495

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   
Delaware 34-1567092
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
or organization) Identification No.)
   
1215 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(216) 566-5300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

NOT APPLICABLE
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since report)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes_X_  No___Yes     X           No

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s sole class of common stock as of October 31, 2003April 30, 2004 was 222,628,528.223,797,287.



 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

     
Item    
Number PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page

   
1. Financial Statements  

 
    
  Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition —
  September 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002.
 1

 
    
  Consolidated Statements of Income —
  Three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.
 2

 
    
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows —
  Nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002.
 3

 
    
  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 4

 
    
2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 7

 
    
3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk 23

 
    
4. Controls and Procedures 23

 
    
  PART II – OTHER INFORMATION  

 
    
5. Other Information 23

 
    
6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 24

 
    
Signatures 24

 
    
Index to Exhibits 25
       
Item    
Number   Page
 PART I — FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    

      
 Financial Statements    

      
  Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition —    
    March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003  1 

      
  Consolidated Statements of Income —    
    Three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003  2 

      
  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows —    
    Three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003  3 

      
 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements  4 

      
 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  6 

      
 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk  19 

      
 Controls and Procedures  19 

      
 PART II — OTHER INFORMATION    

      
 Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities  20 

      
 Other Information  20 

      
 Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K  20 

      
    21 

      
    22 
 EX-11 Computation of Per Share Earnings
 EX-31.1 CEO 302 Cert
 EX-31.2 CFO 302 Cert
 EX-32 906 Certifications

 


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. Financial Statements
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(unaudited)" -->

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(unaudited)

             
      9/30/03 12/31/02
      
 
      (Dollars in thousands,
      except per share data)
    
ASSETS
        
Cash accounts $518,978  $436,970 
Interest-bearing deposits with banks  7,556   9,731 
Federal funds sold and other  516   512 
   
   
 
  Total cash and cash equivalents  527,050   447,213 
Investment securities:        
 Available for sale  270,511   210,095 
 Held to maturity (fair value of $4,241 and $4,276)  3,952   3,973 
Mortgage-backed securities:        
 Available for sale  11,078,285   11,536,608 
 Held to maturity (fair value of $304,926 and $565,072)  292,336   540,781 
Loans and leases, net  27,735,087   25,852,846 
Loans held for sale  296,078   351,892 
Bank owned life insurance  823,676   829,043 
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  700,170   681,923 
Premises and equipment  391,615   353,730 
Accrued interest receivable  147,254   154,962 
Real estate and other collateral owned  48,198   42,980 
Loan servicing assets  168,697   128,564 
Goodwill  415,696   386,372 
Other assets  380,647   375,090 
   
   
 
  Total assets $43,279,252  $41,896,072 
   
   
 
    
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
Deposits $28,046,238  $27,527,843 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances  9,820,184   9,037,925 
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements  62,716   283,912 
Other borrowings  704,629   708,853 
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance  50,768   23,595 
Accrued interest payable  65,075   38,372 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  1,288,801   1,191,747 
   
   
 
  Total liabilities  40,038,411   38,812,247 
   
   
 
Commitments and contingencies      
Shareholders’ equity:        
 Preferred stock — $.01 par value per share; 20,000,000 shares authorized and unissued      
 Common stock — $.01 par value per share; 360,000,000 shares authorized; 229,944,441 and 227,571,468 shares issued  2,299   2,276 
 Additional paid-in capital  2,274,947   2,193,095 
 Retained earnings  1,098,042   824,564 
 Less 6,953,759 and 2,781,151 shares of common stock held in treasury at cost  (215,085)  (82,610)
 Accumulated other comprehensive income  80,638   146,500 
   
   
 
   Total shareholders’ equity  3,240,841   3,083,825 
   
   
 
   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $43,279,252  $41,896,072 
   
   
 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands,
  except per share data)
ASSETS
        
Cash accounts $535,273  $518,976 
Interest-bearing deposits with banks  8,689   8,673 
Federal funds sold and other  518   517 
   
 
   
 
 
Total cash and cash equivalents  544,480   528,166 
Investment securities:        
Available for sale (amortized cost of $221,330 and $260,501)  231,967   273,260 
Held to maturity (fair value of $3,921 and $3,741)  3,696   3,505 
Mortgage-backed securities:        
Available for sale (amortized cost of $7,383,733 and $10,159,102)  7,475,140   10,193,798 
Held to maturity (fair value of $221,562 and $262,155)  212,124   251,449 
Loans and leases, net  29,652,925   28,130,017 
Loans held for sale  132,507   120,431 
Bank owned life insurance  837,140   828,678 
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  706,358   705,244 
Premises and equipment, net  417,908   404,086 
Accrued interest receivable  132,215   140,857 
Real estate and other collateral owned  30,127   36,643 
Mortgage servicing rights, net  142,340   177,244 
Goodwill  415,696   415,696 
Other assets  344,306   418,992 
   
 
   
 
 
Total assets $41,278,929  $42,628,066 
   
 
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
Deposits $26,939,001  $27,203,319 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances  8,661,607   9,847,293 
Federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements  428,158   269,319 
Other borrowings  596,571   697,753 
Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance  58,631   61,054 
Accrued interest payable  53,631   35,944 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  1,284,298   1,237,515 
   
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities  38,021,897   39,352,197 
   
 
   
 
 
Commitments and contingencies      
Shareholders’ equity:        
Preferred stock — $.01 par value per share; 20,000,000
shares authorized and unissued
      
Common stock — $.01 par value per share; 360,000,000
shares authorized; 229,924,425 and 229,940,729 shares issued
  2,299   2,299 
Additional paid-in capital  2,292,137   2,280,335 
Retained earnings  1,142,547   1,178,803 
Less 6,272,992 and 6,767,285 shares of common stock held in treasury at cost  (202,056)  (209,653)
Accumulated other comprehensive income  22,105   24,085 
   
 
   
 
 
Total shareholders’ equity  3,257,032   3,275,869 
   
 
   
 
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $41,278,929  $42,628,066 
   
 
   
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

1



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(unaudited)" -->

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

                       
    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
    
 
    9/30/03 9/30/02     9/30/03 9/30/02
    
 
     
 
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Interest income:
                    
 Loans and leases $368,952  $410,237      $1,114,278  $1,253,132 
 Mortgage-backed securities:                    
  Available for sale  129,695   135,099       433,496   388,000 
  Held to maturity  5,326   10,695       20,453   37,756 
 Investment securities:                    
  Available for sale  3,563   2,939       9,903   8,526 
  Held to maturity  51   61       161   192 
 Other interest-earning assets  7,531   9,729       22,772   27,119 
   
   
       
   
 
                       
  Total interest income  515,118   568,760       1,601,063   1,714,725 
   
   
       
   
 
Interest expense:
                    
 Deposits  115,862   160,821       376,339   500,798 
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  100,813   103,729       304,637   311,372 
 Other borrowings  13,185   13,943       40,357   31,324 
    
   
       
   
 
  Total interest expense  229,860   278,493       721,333   843,494 
   
   
       
   
 
  Net interest income  285,258   290,267       879,730   871,231 
Provision for loan and lease losses  37,663   47,695       134,494   131,689 
   
   
       
   
 
  Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses  247,595   242,572       745,236   739,542 
   
   
       
   
 
Other income:
                    
 Retail banking  94,183   84,175       275,370   241,474 
 Mortgage banking  65,604   (36,961)      41,682   (16,503)
 Leasing operations  (4,118)  404       (23,204)  991 
 Net gains  16,112   83,881       201,314   143,448 
 Bank owned life insurance and other  8,638   7,582       25,044   26,014 
    
   
��      
   
 
  Total other income  180,419   139,081       520,206   395,424 
   
   
       
   
 
Administrative expenses:
                    
 Compensation and employee benefits  92,582   81,443       270,428   239,340 
 Net occupancy and equipment  31,985   30,288       93,637   86,485 
 Marketing expenses  22,411   11,788       56,263   30,629 
 Federal deposit insurance premiums  1,118   1,104       3,385   3,421 
 Other administrative expenses  46,733   46,683       149,162   142,209 
   
   
       
   
 
  Total administrative expenses  194,829   171,306       572,875   502,084 
   
   
       
   
 
Income before income taxes  233,185   210,347       692,567   632,882 
Income taxes  74,036   66,785       219,890   200,940 
   
   
       
   
 
  Net income $159,149  $143,562      $472,677  $431,942 
   
   
       
   
 
Basic earnings per share
 $.71  $.63      $2.11  $1.87 
   
   
       
   
 
Diluted earnings per share
 $.69  $.61      $2.05  $1.82 
   
   
       
   
 
Average common shares outstanding:
                    
 Basic  224,399,805   228,765,954       224,966,297   230,549,330 
   
   
       
   
 
 Diluted  230,661,929   235,615,457       230,739,490   237,653,561 
   
   
       
   
 
Cash dividends declared per share $.26  $.21      $.72  $.61 
   
   
       
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands,
  except per share data)
Interest income:
        
Loans and leases $367,344  $377,724 
Mortgage-backed securities:        
Available for sale  107,667   149,311 
Held to maturity  3,371   8,269 
Investment securities:        
Available for sale  3,604   3,043 
Held to maturity  48   54 
Other interest-earning assets  7,793   7,385 
   
 
   
 
 
Total interest income  489,827   545,786 
   
 
   
 
 
Interest expense:
        
Deposits  95,886   133,743 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances  76,247   99,799 
Other borrowings  13,140   13,203 
   
 
   
 
 
Total interest expense  185,273   246,745 
   
 
   
 
 
Net interest income  304,554   299,041 
Provision for loan and lease losses  18,616   61,471 
   
 
   
 
 
Net interest income after provision for loan and lease losses  285,938   237,570 
   
 
   
 
 
Other income:
        
Retail banking  99,613   84,100 
Mortgage banking  (16,682)  (27)
Leasing operations  2,125   (6,856)
Net gains (losses)  (91,027)  76,653 
Bank owned life insurance and other  11,168   7,956 
   
 
   
 
 
Total other income  5,197   161,826 
   
 
   
 
 
Administrative expenses:
        
Compensation and employee benefits  101,968   87,056 
Net occupancy and equipment  34,349   31,186 
Marketing expenses  28,809   13,647 
Federal deposit insurance premiums  1,083   1,142 
Other administrative expenses  51,826   50,261 
   
 
   
 
 
Total administrative expenses  218,035   183,292 
   
 
   
 
 
Income before income taxes  73,100   216,104 
Income taxes  22,844   68,613 
   
 
   
 
 
Net income $50,256  $147,491 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic earnings per share
 $.22  $.66 
   
 
   
 
 
Diluted earnings per share
 $.22  $.64 
   
 
   
 
 
Average common shares outstanding
        
Basic  223,533,656   224,997,398 
   
 
   
 
 
Diluted  230,219,061   230,460,847 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash dividends declared per share $.26  $.22 
   
 
   
 
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

2



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)" -->

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)

            
     Nine Months Ended
     
     9/30/03 9/30/02
     
 
     (Dollars in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
        
 Net income $472,677  $431,942 
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
  Provision for loan and lease losses  134,494   131,689 
  Net gains  (201,314)  (143,448)
  Accretion of discounts, amortization of premiums, and amortization of depreciation, net  147,373   131,768 
  Origination of loans held for sale  (2,715,313)  (1,652,269)
  Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale  2,711,096   1,647,746 
  Increase in accrued interest payable  26,703   8,489 
  Other  117,679   398,568 
   
   
 
   Net cash provided by operating activities  693,395   954,485 
   
   
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
        
 Net principal disbursed on loans and leases  (7,587,052)  (4,910,650)
 Proceeds from principal repayments and maturities of:        
  Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity  251,653   338,713 
  Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  5,169,325   1,267,603 
  Investment securities held to maturity  541   1,851 
  Investment securities available for sale  59,305   26,618 
 Proceeds from sale of:        
  Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  8,268,905   9,054,320 
  Investment securities available for sale  40,938   1,642 
  Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  18,492   8,082 
 Purchase of:        
  Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  (6,862,003)  (5,730,658)
  Investment securities available for sale  (57,235)  (76,599)
  Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  (10,213)  (42,657)
  Loans  (47,611)  (12,727)
  Net cash received (paid) in connection with business combinations  77,944   (90,425)
 Other  (150,716)  (122,819)
   
   
 
   Net cash used in investing activities  (827,727)  (287,706)
   
   
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
        
 Net decrease in short-term borrowings  (1,261,196)  (1,238,785)
 Proceeds from long-term borrowings  2,011,127   424,209 
 Repayments of long-term borrowings  (265,014)  (24,237)
 Increase in deposits  21,421   1,722,959 
 Increase (decrease) in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance  27,173   (6,525)
 Payment of dividends on common stock  (162,106)  (141,367)
 Proceeds from issuance of common stock  48,907   53,747 
 Purchase of treasury stock  (206,143)  (342,740)
   
   
 
  Net cash provided by financing activities  214,169   447,261 
   
   
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents  79,837   1,114,040 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period  447,213   516,520 
   
   
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $527,050  $1,630,560 
   
   
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
        
 Cash paid for interest on deposits and borrowings $693,117  $977,446 
 Cash paid for income taxes  127,000   4,500 
Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
        
 Loans exchanged for mortgage-backed securities  5,991,223   5,066,120 
         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
        
Net income $50,256  $147,491 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:        
Provision for loan and lease losses  18,616   61,471 
Net losses (gains)  91,027   (76,653)
Accretion of discounts and amortization of premiums, intangibles and depreciation, net  63,408   55,602 
Origination of loans held for sale  (314,460)  (763,051)
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale  310,158   721,738 
Increase in accrued interest payable  17,687   33,645 
Other  (118,416)  107,712 
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities  118,276   287,955 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
        
Net principal disbursed on loans and leases  (1,138,486)  (2,252,822)
Proceeds from principal repayments and maturities of:        
Mortgage-backed securities held to maturity  39,442   96,981 
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  429,226   974,423 
Investment securities held to maturity  70   75 
Investment securities available for sale  7,754   23,533 
Proceeds from sale of:        
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  3,293,899   2,545,803 
Investment securities available for sale  45,769   1,029 
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  5,745   14,629 
Purchase of:        
Mortgage-backed securities available for sale  (815,549)  (1,209,871)
Investment securities available for sale  (7,414)  (42,437)
Federal Home Loan Bank and Federal Reserve Bank stock  (162)  (5,051)
Loans  (470,472)  (3,765)
Other  (31,979)  (25,650)
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by investing activities  1,357,843   116,877 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
        
Net increase in short-term borrowings  1,129,734   178,584 
Proceeds from long-term borrowings  3,780   1,004,160 
Repayments of long-term borrowings  (2,259,968)  (4,755)
Increase (decrease) in deposits  (263,815)  23,111 
Decrease in advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance.  (2,423)  (143,816)
Payment of dividends on common stock  (58,303)  (49,508)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock  53,256   15,208 
Purchase of treasury stock  (62,066)  (16,790)
   
 
   
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  (1,459,805)  1,006,194 
   
 
   
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents  16,314   1,411,026 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period  528,166   447,213 
   
 
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $544,480  $1,858,239 
   
 
   
 
 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
        
Cash paid for interest on deposits and borrowings $167,083  $212,689 
Cash paid for income taxes      
Supplemental schedule of noncash activities:
        
Loans exchanged for mortgage-backed securities  72,749   3,419,116 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

3



NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)" -->

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

1. These interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Charter One Financial, Inc. (the “Company” or “Charter One”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.2003. The interim financial statements reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented. Such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the interim periods disclosed herein are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for a full year.
 
2. Charter One has one operating segment, consumer banking, which offers an array of products and services to its customers. Pursuant to its consumer banking strategy, emphasis is placed on building relationships and identifying cross-sell opportunities with its customers, as opposed to building specific lines of business. As a result, Charter One works as an integrated unit to customize solutions for its customers, with business line emphasis and product offerings changing over time as needs and demands change.
 
3. In NovemberOn December 31, 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others.” This interpretation expands the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its financial statements about its obligations under certain guarantees and requires the guarantor to recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. FIN 45 clarifies the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” relating to guarantees. In general, FIN 45 applies to contracts or indemnification agreements that contingently require the guarantor to make payments to the guaranteed party based on changes in an underlying that is related to an asset, liability, or equity security of the guaranteed party. Certain guarantee contracts are excluded from both the disclosure and recognition requirements of FIN 45, including, among others, guarantees relating to employee compensation, residual value guarantees under capital lease arrangements, commercial letters of credit, loan commitments, subordinated interests in a special purpose entity, and guarantees of a company’s own future performance. Other guarantees are subject to the disclosure requirements of FIN 45 but not to the recognition provisions and include, among others, a guarantee accounted for as a derivative instrument under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, a parent’s guarantee of debt owed to a third party by its subsidiary or vice versa, and a guarantee which is based on performance, not price. The disclosure requirements of FIN 45 are effective for the Company as of December 31, 2002, and require disclosure of the nature of the guarantee, the maximum potential amount of future payments that the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee, and the current amount of the liability, if any, for the guarantor’s obligations under the guarantee. The recognition requirements of FIN 45 are to be applied prospectively to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
4.In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation -Transition and Disclosure,” an amendment of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” SFAS No. 148 provides alternative methods of transition for an entity that voluntarily changes to the fair value based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. It also amends the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123 to require prominent disclosure about the effects on reported net income of an entity’s accounting policy decisions with respect to stock-based employee compensation. Finally, SFAS No. 148 amends Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 28, “Interim Financial Reporting,” to require disclosure about those effects in interim financial information. The Company has elected to continue application of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based employee compensation plans. Accordingly, no stock-based employee compensation cost is, or is expected to be, reflected in net income, as all options granted under the Company’s stock-based employee compensation plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Had stock-based employee compensation costs of the Company’s stock option plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under those plans consistent with the method of SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts indicated below:

         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands,
  except per share data)
Net income:        
As reported $50,256  $147,491 
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense
determined under the fair value method for all awards, net of tax
  7,896   7,570 
   
 
   
 
 
Pro forma $42,360  $139,921 
   
 
   
 
 
Basic earnings per share:        
As reported $.22  $.66 
Pro forma  .19   .62 
Diluted earnings per share:        
As reported  .22   .64 
Pro forma  .18   .61 

The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants in the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003:

         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04 3/31/03
Dividend yield  3.00%  3.00%
Volatility  45.48-45.59%  47.24-47.26%
Risk-free interest rate  3.03-3.37%  3.35-3.36%
Life of grant     6 years     6 years

4


                  
   Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
   
 
   9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
   
 
 
 
   (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income:                
 As reported $159,149  $143,562  $472,677  $431,942 
 Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method for all awards, net of tax  (7,136)  (6,887)  (22,154)  (20,971)
   
   
   
   
 
 Pro forma $152,013  $136,675  $450,523  $410,971 
   
   
   
   
 
Basic earnings per share:                
 As reported $.71  $.63  $2.11  $1.87 
 Pro forma  .68   .60   2.00   1.79 
Diluted earnings per share:                
 As reported  .69   .61   2.05   1.82 
 Pro forma  .66   .58   1.96   1.73 

The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002:

                 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  
 
  9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
  
 
 
 
Dividend yield  3.00%  3.00%  3.00%  3.00%
Volatility  37.65-37.84%  36.04-37.15%  37.65-47.26%  35.94-37.15%
Risk-free interest rate  3.37-3.79%  3.67-4.20%  2.68-3.79%  3.67-4.98%
Life of grant 6 years 6 years 6 years 6 years

  The estimated weighted-average date of grant fair value (based on the above option-pricing model and assumptions) was $9.82 and $9.36 for stock options granted in the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2004 and 2003 was $12.44 and 2002, respectively, and $10.93 and $8.96 for stock options granted in the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002,$10.99, respectively.
 
5.4. In January 2003, the FASB issued FINInterpretation No. (“FIN”) 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” FIN 46which provides guidance on how to identify a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and determine when the assets, liabilities, noncontrolling interests, and results of operations of a VIE needare to be included in a company’s consolidated financial statements. A VIE exists when either the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities by itself, or the equity investors lack one of three characteristics associated with owning a controlling financial interest. Those characteristics include the direct or indirect ability to make decisions about an entity’s activities through voting rights or similar rights, the obligation to absorb the expected losses of an entity if they occur, or the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. In December 2003, the FASB reissued FIN 46 also requires additional disclosures by primary beneficiarieswith certain modifications and clarifications. Application of this guidance was effective for interests in certain VIEs commonly referred to as special-purpose entities as of December 31, 2003. Application for all other significant variable interest holders. The provisionstypes of the interpretation became effective upon issuance.entities was required for periods ending after March 15, 2004, unless previously applied. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
 
6.5. In April 2003,On May 4, 2004, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (“Citizens”), a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, announced it reached an agreement to acquire Charter One in a cash transaction. The cash purchase price is $44.50 per share or approximately $10.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendmentfourth quarter of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments2004, subject to regulatory approval and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 amends SFAS No. 133 for certain decisions madeapproval by the FASB asCharter One shareholders. As part of the Derivatives Implementation Group (“DIG”) process. For those amendments that relate to SFAS No. 133 implementation guidance, the specific SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue necessitating the amendment is identified. If the amendment relates to a cleared issue, the clearance date also is noted. SFAS No. 149 also amends SFAS No. 133 to incorporate clarifications of the definition of a derivative. SFAS No. 149 contains amendments relating to FASB Concepts Statement No. 7, “Using Cash Flow Information and Present Value in Accounting Measurements,” SFAS No. 65, “Accounting for Certain Mortgage Banking Activities,” SFAS No. 91, “Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases,” SFAS No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows,” and SFAS No. 126, “Exemption from Certain Required Disclosures about Financial Instruments for Certain Nonpublic Entities.”this transaction, Charter One’s national bank charter will remain.
 
  SFAS No. 149Citizens is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, excepta $78 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and has more than 880 offices, approximately 1,650 ATMs and more than 15,500 employees in seven states. It operates as stated belowCitizens Bank in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. In addition, except as stated below, all provisionsRhode Island. Citizens is one of SFAS No. 149 should be applied prospectively.the 20 largest commercial bank holding companies in the United States. Citizens is owned by The provisionsRoyal Bank of SFAS No. 149 that relate to SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issues that have been effective for fiscal quarters that began prior to June 15, 2003, should continue to be applied in accordance with their respective effective dates. In addition, guidance related to forward purchases or sales of when-issued securities or other securities that do not yet exist, should be appliedScotland Group plc.

5


to both existing contracts and new contracts entered into after June 30, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
7.In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” SFAS No. 150 establishes standards on how to classify and measure certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 150 requires an issuer to classify certain freestanding financial instruments as liabilities, which may have been previously classified as equity, because those instruments embody obligations of the issuer. SFAS No. 150 also requires disclosure of the nature and terms of the financial instruments and the rights and obligations embodied in those instruments. SFAS No. 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and is otherwise effective as of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
8.On June 6, 2003, the Company completed its acquisition of Advance Bancorp (“Advance”), the holding company of Advance Bank, an Illinois state-chartered commercial bank headquartered in Lansing, Illinois. On July 11, 2003, Advance Bank was merged into Charter One Bank, N.A. On June 6, 2003, Advance had assets of $667.5 million and deposits of $482.1 million in 14 branches located in Cook County, Illinois. The Company issued 2,389,795 common shares and initially recorded $46.6 million of goodwill based on a preliminary determination of the estimated fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired as a result of this transaction. During the third quarter of 2003, the Company reduced its goodwill related to the Advance acquisition by $17.3 million to an ending balance of $29.3 million at September 30, 2003. The reduction resulted from adjustments to the fair values of certain commercial real estate and corporate banking loans acquired from Advance. The Company included the results of operations of Advance in its Consolidated Financial Statements from the effective date of the acquisition. Pro forma results of operations for this acquisition, had the acquisition occurred as of January 1, 2003, are not significant and, accordingly, are not provided.

6


ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

HOLDING COMPANY BUSINESS

The following financial review presents an analysis of the asset and liability structure of Charter One Financial, Inc. and a discussion of the results of operations for each of the periods presented.

General

Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Charter One Financial, Inc., hereafter referred to as “Charter One” or the “Company,” is a financial holding company. Charter One is a Delaware corporation. As of September 30, 2003, the Company ownedcorporation and owns all of the outstanding capital stock of Charter One Bank, N.A., a national bank. Wewhich we sometimes refer to this financial institution in this document as the “Bank.” The Bank’s primary business is providing consumer banking services to certain major markets in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Vermont and in some markets of Massachusetts, Indiana, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. As of September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, the Bank and its subsidiaries were doing business through 566 full-service branches, 27456 traditional banking centers, 160 in-store banking centers, 30 loan production offices and 956988 ATMs.

Acquisition

On May 4, 2004, Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (“Citizens”), a subsidiary of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, announced it reached an agreement to acquire Charter One in a cash transaction. The cash purchase price is $44.50 per share or approximately $10.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2004, subject to regulatory approval and approval by Charter One shareholders. As part of this transaction, Charter One’s national bank charter will remain.

Citizens is a $78 billion commercial bank holding company. It is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, and has more than 880 offices, approximately 1,650 ATMs and more than 15,500 employees in seven states. It operates as Citizens Bank in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. Citizens is one of the 20 largest commercial bank holding companies in the United States. Citizens is owned by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc.

Discussion of Forward-Looking Statements

This document, including information incorporated by reference, contains, and future filings by Charter One on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and future oral and written statements and press releases by Charter One and its management may contain, forward-looking statements about Charter One which we believe are within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operating and financial performance, including revenue creation, lending origination, operating efficiencies, loan sales, charge-offs and loan loss provisions, deposits and refinancing of liabilities, growth opportunities, interest rates, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, and synergies, efficiencies, cost savings and funding advantages expected to be realized from prior acquisitions. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management’s views and assumptions regarding future events. These forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, Charter One cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

Many of these forward-looking statements appear throughout this document. Words such as may, could, should, would, believe, anticipate, estimate, expect, intend, plan and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. The important factors discussed below, as well as other factors discussed elsewhere in this document and factors identified in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those presented elsewhere by our management from time to time, could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this document. Among the factors that could cause our actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements are:

 the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct our operations; general economic conditions, either nationally or regionally, may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in the credit quality of our loans and leases and other assets;
 
 the effects of, and changes in, trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board;
 
 financial markets, monetary and interest rate fluctuations, particularly the relative relationship of short-term interest rates to long-term interest rates;
 
 the timely development of and acceptance of new products and services of Charter One and the perceived overall value of these products and services by users, including the features, pricing and quality compared to competitors’ products and services;
 
 the impact of changes in financial services laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, accounting standards, banking, securities and insurance); legislative or regulatory changes may adversely affect the business in which we are engaged;

6


 the impact of technological changes;

7


 our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions into our existing operations, and the availability of new acquisitions, joint ventures and alliance opportunities that build shareholder value;
 
 changes in consumer spending and saving habits; and
 
 our success at managing the risks involved in the foregoing.

Charter One disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information, or otherwise.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Performance Overview

Figure 1 sets forth financial results and annualized performance ratios for the three and nine months ended September 30,March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. On January 27, 2004, we prepaid $2.3 billion in fixed rate Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances and 2002.incurred a prepayment penalty of $164.5 million before tax ($113.1 million after tax). Because of the unusual nature of the debt prepayment penalty, we believe it is important for comparability purposes to present selected financial results and ratios excluding the debt prepayment penalty.

Selected Financial Results and Ratios(Figure 1)

                 
  Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
  
 
  9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
  
 
 
 
  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income $159,149  $143,562  $472,677  $431,942 
Diluted earnings per share  .69   .61   2.05   1.82 
Return on average assets  1.46%  1.46%  1.45%  1.50%
Return on average equity  20.12   18.89   19.52   19.47 
Return on average tangible equity(1)  23.59   21.70   22.58   22.38 
Average equity to average assets  7.25   7.72   7.41   7.68 
Net interest income to administrative expenses  1.46x  1.69x  1.54x  1.74x
Administrative expenses to average assets  1.79%  1.74%  1.75%  1.74%
Efficiency ratio(2)  41.84   39.90   40.92   39.64 
                 
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
      Prepayment      
  Actual
 Penalty
 Adjusted
    
  (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)    
Results and ratios:
                
Net income $50,256  $113,068  $163,324  $147,491 
Diluted earnings per share  .22   .49   .71   .64 
Return on average assets  .47%  1.06%  1.53%  1.38%
Return on average equity  6.18   13.91   20.09   18.48 
Return on average tangible equity(1)  7.21   16.14   23.35   21.29 
Average equity to average assets  7.61      7.61   7.46 
Net interest income to administrative expenses  1.40x      1.40x   1.63x 
Administrative expenses to average assets  2.04%     2.04%  1.71%
Efficiency ratio(2)  70.39   24.41   45.98   39.77 


(1) Computed as the ratio of net income, excluding the amortization of other intangible assets, to average tangible equity.
(2) Computed as the ratio of total administrative expenses to net interest income and total other income.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is the difference between the interest and dividend income earned on our loans and investments and the interest expense on our deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is our principal source of earnings. Net interest income is affected by a number of factors including the level, pricing and maturity of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, interest rate fluctuations and asset quality, as well as general economic conditions and regulatory policies.

The following table shows average balances, interest earned or paid, and average interest rates for the periods indicated. Nonaccrual loans are included in the average balance of loans. The mark-to-market adjustments on securities available for sale are included in noninterest-earning assets. Noninterest-bearing demand deposit accounts are included in noninterest-bearing liabilities. The cost of liabilities includes the annualized effect of interest rate risk management instruments.

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Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields/Costs(Figure 2)

                            
             Three Months Ended        
     
         9/30/03         9/30/02    
     
 
             Avg.         Avg.
     Average     Yield/ Average     Yield/
     Balance Interest Cost Balance Interest Cost
     
 
 
 
 
 
     (Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:                        
 Loans and leases $26,993,081  $368,952   5.46% $25,460,404  $410,237   6.43%
 Mortgage-backed securities:                        
  Available for sale  12,414,464   129,695   4.18   9,364,722   135,099   5.77 
  Held to maturity  317,638   5,326   6.71   677,206   10,695   6.32 
 Investment securities:                        
  Available for sale  282,726   3,563   5.04   181,769   2,939   6.47 
  Held to maturity  3,771   51   5.37   4,480   61   5.52 
 Other interest-earning assets  723,721   7,531   4.07   979,454   9,729   3.89 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total interest-earning assets  40,735,401   515,118   5.05   36,668,035   568,760   6.19 
       
           
     
Allowance for loan and lease losses  (379,527)          (267,486)        
Noninterest-earning assets  3,272,787           2,968,951         
   
           
         
   Total assets $43,628,661          $39,369,500         
   
           
         
Interest-bearing liabilities:                        
 Deposits:                        
  Checking accounts $6,166,100   14,960   .96  $6,283,029   33,721   2.13 
  Money market and savings accounts  8,545,286   23,765   1.10   8,378,267   44,790   2.12 
  Certificates of deposit  10,708,517   77,138   2.86   9,831,050   82,310   3.32 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total deposits  25,419,903   115,863   1.81   24,492,346   160,821   2.61 
   
   
       
   
     
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  10,265,634   100,812   3.89   7,944,811   103,729   5.18 
 Other borrowings  871,430   13,185   6.03   929,957   13,943   5.97 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total borrowings  11,137,064   113,997   4.06   8,874,768   117,672   5.26 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total interest-bearing liabilities  36,556,967   229,860   2.49   33,367,114   278,493   3.31 
   
   
       
   
     
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                        
 Demand deposit accounts  2,615,262           1,789,713         
 Other noninterest-bearing liabilities  1,292,960           1,173,108         
   
           
         
  Total noninterest-bearing liabilities  3,908,222           2,962,821         
   
           
         
   Total liabilities  40,465,189           36,329,935         
Shareholders’ equity  3,163,472           3,039,565         
   
           
         
   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $43,628,661          $39,369,500         
   
           
         
Net interest income     $285,258          $290,267     
       
           
     
Interest rate spread          2.56           2.88 
Net yield on average interest- earning assets          2.80           3.17 
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities          111.43%          109.89%
                         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
          Avg.         Avg.
  Average     Yield/ Average     Yield/
  Balance
 Interest
 Cost
 Balance
 Interest
 Cost
  (Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:                        
Loans and leases $29,220,076  $367,344   5.03% $25,851,471  $377,724   5.86%
Mortgage-backed securities:                        
Available for sale  9,532,380   107,667   4.52   12,656,663   149,311   4.72 
Held to maturity  229,507   3,371   5.88   480,882   8,269   6.88 
Investment securities:                        
Available for sale  255,432   3,604   5.64   206,860   3,043   5.88 
Held to maturity  3,602   48   5.32   4,060   54   5.29 
Other interest-earning assets  823,199   7,793   3.75   762,760   7,385   3.87 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Total interest-earning assets  40,064,196   489,827   4.89   39,962,696   545,786   5.48 
       
 
           
 
     
Allowance for loan and lease losses  (387,712)          (327,090)        
Noninterest-earning assets  3,053,124           3,150,359         
   
 
           
 
         
Total assets $42,729,608          $42,785,965         
   
 
           
 
         
Interest-bearing liabilities:                        
Deposits:                        
Checking accounts $5,538,583   10,436   .76  $7,541,679   30,618   1.65 
Money market and savings accounts  8,553,416   19,754   .93   7,929,274   30,327   1.55 
Certificates of deposit  10,172,127   65,696   2.60   9,562,013   72,798   3.09 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Total deposits  24,264,126   95,886   1.59   25,032,966   133,743   2.17 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Federal Home Loan Bank advances  10,189,502   76,247   3.00   10,410,188   99,799   3.88 
Other borrowings  1,102,005   13,140   4.76   866,495   13,203   6.10 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Total borrowings  11,291,507   89,387   3.18   11,276,683   113,002   4.05 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Total interest-bearing liabilities  35,555,633   185,273   2.09   36,309,649   246,745   2.75 
   
 
   
 
       
 
   
 
     
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                        
Demand deposit accounts  2,604,755           2,017,036         
Other noninterest-bearing liabilities  1,317,979           1,266,385         
   
 
           
 
         
Total noninterest-bearing liabilities  3,922,734           3,283,421         
   
 
           
 
         
Total liabilities  39,478,367           39,593,070         
Shareholders’ equity  3,251,241           3,192,895         
   
 
           
 
         
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $42,729,608          $42,785,965         
   
 
           
 
         
Net interest income     $304,554          $299,041     
       
 
           
 
     
Interest rate spread          2.80           2.73 
Net yield on average interest- earning assets          3.04           2.99 
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities          112.68%          110.06%

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     Nine Months Ended
     
     9/30/03 9/30/02
     
 
             Avg.         Avg.
     Average     Yield/ Average     Yield/
     Balance Interest Cost Balance Interest Cost
     
 
 
 
 
 
     (Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:                        
 Loans and leases $26,321,364  $1,114,278   5.65% $25,296,320  $1,253,132   6.61%
 Mortgage-backed securities:                        
  Available for sale  13,026,174   433,496   4.44   8,710,523   388,000   5.94 
  Held to maturity  397,442   20,453   6.86   771,416   37,756   6.53 
 Investment securities:                        
  Available for sale  249,032   9,903   5.30   160,661   8,526   7.08 
  Held to maturity  3,928   161   5.47   4,998   192   5.13 
 Other interest-earning assets  775,216   22,772   3.87   952,088   27,119   3.76 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total interest-earning assets  40,773,156   1,601,063   5.24   35,896,006   1,714,725   6.37 
       
           
     
Allowance for loan and lease losses  (355,880)          (260,458)        
Noninterest-earning assets  3,156,356           2,863,644         
   
           
         
   Total assets $43,573,632          $38,499,192         
   
           
         
Interest-bearing liabilities:                        
 Deposits:                        
  Checking accounts $6,881,546   68,990   1.34  $6,102,712   100,558   2.20 
  Money market and savings accounts  8,271,203   85,295   1.38   7,915,705   132,271   2.23 
  Certificates of deposit  10,005,413   222,054   2.97   10,107,847   267,969   3.54 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total deposits  25,158,162   376,339   2.00   24,126,264   500,798   2.78 
   
   
       
   
     
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  10,690,548   304,637   3.81   7,966,061   311,372   5.22 
 Other borrowings  870,680   40,357   6.17   598,769   31,324   6.96 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total borrowings  11,561,228   344,994   3.98   8,564,830   342,696   5.35 
   
   
       
   
     
   Total interest-bearing liabilities  36,719,390   721,333   2.62   32,691,094   843,494   3.45 
   
   
       
   
     
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:                        
 Demand deposit accounts  2,315,988           1,745,700         
 Other noninterest-bearing liabilities  1,309,737           1,104,913         
   
           
         
  Total noninterest-bearing liabilities  3,625,725           2,850,613         
   
           
         
   Total liabilities  40,345,115           35,541,707         
Shareholders’ equity  3,228,517           2,957,485         
   
           
         
   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $43,573,632          $38,499,192         
   
           
         
Net interest income     $879,730          $871,231     
       
           
     
Interest rate spread          2.62           2.92 
Net yield on average interest- earning assets          2.88           3.24 
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities          111.04%          109.80%

10


Figure 3 shows the approximate relative contribution of changes in average interest rates and volume to changes in net interest income for the periods indicated. Changes not solely attributable solely to volume or rate have been allocated in proportion to the changes due to volume and rate. Amortization of net deferred loan costs and automobile dealer reserves included as a reduction in interest income was $26.9$32.3 million and $26.1$27.5 million for the three months ended September 30,March 31, 2004 and 2003, and 2002, respectively, and $83.3 million and $74.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Rate/Volume Analysis(Figure 3)

                             
      Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
      
 
      2003 v. 2002 2003 v. 2002
      
 
      Increase (decrease) due to     Increase (decrease) due to    
      
     
    
      Rate Volume Total Rate Volume Total
      
 
 
 
 
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
Interest income:                        
 Loans and leases $(65,820) $24,535  $(41,285) $(189,122) $50,268  $(138,854)
 Mortgage-backed securities:                        
  Available for sale  (42,830)  37,426   (5,404)  (114,553)  160,049   45,496 
  Held to maturity  624   (5,993)  (5,369)  1,852   (19,155)  (17,303)
 Investment securities:                        
  Available for sale  (750)  1,374   624   (2,505)  3,882   1,377 
  Held to maturity     (10)  (10)  12   (43)  (31)
 Other interest-earning assets  444   (2,642)  (2,198)  826   (5,173)  (4,347)
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   Total  (108,332)  54,690   (53,642)  (303,490)  189,828   (113,662)
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Interest expense:                        
 Checking accounts  (18,144)  (617)  (18,761)  (43,166)  11,598   (31,568)
 Money market and savings accounts  (22,080)  1,056   (21,024)  (54,156)  7,179   (46,977)
 Certificates of deposit  (12,121)  6,947   (5,174)  (43,225)  (2,689)  (45,914)
 Federal Home Loan Bank advances  (15,308)  12,392   (2,916)  (73,784)  67,049   (6,735)
 Other borrowings  (308)  (450)  (758)  (2,693)  11,726   9,033 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
    Total  (67,961)  19,328   (48,633)  (217,024)  94,863   (122,161)
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Change in net interest income $(40,371) $35,362  $(5,009) $(86,466) $94,965  $8,499 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
             
  Three Months Ended March 31,
  2004 v. 2003
  Increase (decrease) due to
  
  Rate
 Volume
 Total
      (Dollars in thousands)    
Interest income:            
Loans and leases $(57,437) $47,057  $(10,380)
Mortgage-backed securities:            
Available for sale  (6,125)  (35,519)  (41,644)
Held to maturity  (1,069)  (3,829)  (4,898)
Investment securities:            
Available for sale  (128)  689   561 
Held to maturity     (6)  (6)
Other interest-earning assets  (167)  575   408 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total  (64,926)  8,967   (55,959)
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Interest expense:            
Checking accounts  (13,494)  (6,688)  (20,182)
Money market and savings accounts  (13,025)  2,452   (10,573)
Certificates of deposit  (11,538)  4,436   (7,102)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances  (14,871)  (8,681)  (23,552)
Other borrowings  333   (396)  (63)
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Total  (52,595)  (8,877)  (61,472)
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
Change in net interest income $(12,331) $17,844  $5,513 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 

Net interest income was $285.3$304.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, down $5.0March 31, 2004, up $5.5 million, or 1.7%1.8%, from the thirdfirst quarter of 2002.2003. Net yield on average interest-earning assets during the thirdfirst quarter of 20032004 was 2.80%3.04%, down 37up five basis points from the thirdfirst quarter of 2002.2003. The reduction in net interest income andimprovement was attributable to the net yield resulted from downward pressure on asset yields in the declining interest rate environment, offset in part by the benefits obtained from deposit and borrowings repricings in the past year.

Net interest income was $879.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, up $8.5 million from the comparable period in 2002. The increase in net interest income was due to the growth in interest-earning assets,average noninterest-bearing deposits, as well as benefits obtained from deposit and borrowings repricings in the past year. Net yield on average interest-earning assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was 2.88%, down 36 basis pointstwo months’ benefit from the comparable periodprepayment of $2.3 billion in 2002. The reduction in the net yield resulted from downward pressurefixed rate FHLB advances on asset yields in the declining interest rate environment, offset in part by the benefits obtained from depositJanuary 27, 2004. These FHLB advances carried a weighted average cost of 6.27% and borrowings repricings in the past year.were due to mature between June 2005 and January 2006.

In the present interest rate environment, Charter One expects to limit its asset growth over the next few quarters. This will be accomplished through efforts to reduce Charter One’s combined one-to-four family and mortgage-backed securities portfolios, offset by an expected increase in non one-to-four family loans. As a result of this strategy and assuming no additional reductions in core deposit repricings, net interest income could experience further pressure in the near term.

Provision for Loan and Lease Losses

The provision for loan and lease losses for the three months ended September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 was $37.7$18.6 million, a decrease of $10.0$42.9 million from the three months ended September 30, 2002.March 31, 2003. Net charge-offs totaled $17.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, compared to $33.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2003. The ratio of the allowance for loan and lease losses to totalnet charge-offs as a percent of average loans and leases before the allowance increaseddecreased 28 basis points to 1.37% at September 30, 2003 from 1.24% at December 31, 2002 and 1.13% at September 30, 2002. The provision.24% (annualized) for loan and lease losses for the nine months

11


ended September 30, 2003 was $134.5 million, an increase of $2.8 million from the comparable period in 2002. The increased provision year over year was necessary to cover higher charge-offs and maintain the allowance for loan and lease losses at a level considered adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. Additionally, the provision for loan and lease losses was increased to reflect the continued weakening in the national economy in the first nine months of 2003, specifically in the airline industry.

As part of the Bank’s conversion in May 2002 to a national bank subject to regulation by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Company conformed various policies and reporting practices associated with asset quality to more closely compare to those of its commercial bank peers. These changes neither increased nor decreased ultimate net loan and lease charge-offs. They only affected the timing of recognizing net consumer asset charge-offs through the allowance for loan and lease losses and the disclosure of underperforming consumer assets. Consumer assets include single-family, retail consumer, automobile and consumer finance loan portfolios. These changes had no impact on Charter One’s non-consumer loan portfolios, which include commercial real estate and corporate loans and its lease portfolio, as these portfolios already conformed with OCC-regulated banking practices.

The most significant effect of the change in charge-off policy was in the automobile and consumer finance portfolios. Prior to the second quarter of 2002, automobile loans were charged off at the point of repossessed collateral disposition. Beginning with the second quarter of 2002, consistent with OCC-regulated banking practices, automobile loans going through repossession or bankruptcies were written down to the net realizable value of the collateral at the time of the repossession or bankruptcy discharge. Any automobile loan that reached the 120-day delinquency point was charged off completely. Charge-offs in the consumer finance portfolio were previously recognized at the point of foreclosure. Beginning with the second quarter of 2002, consistent with OCC-regulated banking practices, consumer finance loans, along with other loans backed by single-family residential real estate collateral, were reflected at the lower of cost or net realizable value at the earliest point of six payments past due or foreclosure. These policy changes resulted in an additional $27.3 million of charge-offs recognized during the second quarter of 2002.

Excluding the charge-offs associated with the 2002 policy change discussed above, net charge-offs totaled $24.7 million and $78.1 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2003, respectively, compared to $22.1 million and $70.2 million in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2002, respectively. The $78.1 million of net charge-offs for 2003 included a $6.1 million charge-off related to the resolution of a $19.6 million airline lease in the first quarter of 2003, as well as a $2.1 million charge-off on an airline lease in the second quarter of 2003.

The Company’s aircraft leasing portfolio totaled $357.5 million at September 30, 2003, or 1.26% of its total loans and leases. The aircraft leasing portfolio includes $257.4 million to domestic air carriers, with the remainder on corporate jets and cargo planes leased to corporations. The Company has no direct exposure to US Air, United Airlines, American Airlines or Air Canada.2004.

See “Financial Condition Asset Quality” for further information regarding our allowance for loan and lease losses.

Other Income

Other income for the three months ended September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 was $180.4$5.2 million, an increasea decrease of $41.3$156.6 million, or 29.7%96.8%, over the $139.1from $161.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2002. The increaseMarch 31, 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to net losses and a decrease in mortgage banking income, frompartially offset by an increase in retail banking income and mortgage banking. Retail banking income increased $10.0 million, or 11.9%, over the comparable period in 2002. The biggest driver of the increase was deposit-related revenue, whichleasing operations income.

Net losses totaled $82.7 million in the third quarter of 2003, up 14.4% over the year ago quarter. Deposit-related revenue reflected the benefits of our strategy to emphasize noninterest-bearing checking account growth. Offsetting the benefits of this strategy was the impact of reduced revenue from debit card transactions that resulted from the April 27, 2003 MasterCard International, Inc. settlement of a class action lawsuit with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and other retailers. The settlement, which went into effect August 1, 2003, reduced third quarter revenue by approximately $2.3 million. Without that reduction, third quarter 2003 deposit–related revenue would have been up 17.5% over the third quarter of 2002. The other components of retail banking revenue include fees from retail brokerage activities ($7.6 million, down 10.7% from the year ago quarter) and other revenue related to retail operations ($3.9 million, up 15.8% from the year ago quarter).

With respect to retail franchise development activities, we are planning aggressive de novo expansion during 2003 and 2004. The 2003 goal is to open approximately 125 new banking centers, with 99 in-store and 26 traditional locations. We expect additional expansion during 2004. During the third quarter of 2003, we opened 44 new banking centers, for a total of 92 new banking centers since December 31, 2002 (excluding 13 banking centers added in the July 2003 acquisition of Advance Bancorp).

12


Mortgage banking income totaled $65.6$91.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003, an increasefirst quarter of $102.62004, compared to net gains of $76.7 million over the $37.0 million loss recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2002. Due to slower projected prepayment speeds in our loan servicing portfolio, we recorded a $50.3 million decrease in the valuation allowance on mortgage servicing assets in the third quarter of 2003, resulting in an ending valuation allowance of $82.7 million. Total mortgage banking income, excluding the $50.3 million decrease in the valuation allowance, was $15.4 million in the thirdfirst quarter of 2003. InNet losses for the year ago quarter, mortgage banking income totaled $19.0 million, excluding a $56.0 million increase in the valuation allowance. The portfolio of loans serviced for others totaled $16.7 billion at September 30, 2003, and carried a weighted average coupon of 6.24%. The portfolio decreased slightly from the thirdfirst quarter of 2002 reflecting prepayments and2004 included the lack of securitization activity during the third quarter of 2003. The related mortgage servicing assets were 1.01% of the portfolio, or $168.7$164.5 million at September 30, 2003. With an average servicing spread of 35 basis points, that translates into a servicing asset valuation of 2.9 times the servicing spread.

Net gains totaled $16.1debt prepayment penalty, offset by $73.5 million for the third quarter of 2003, a decrease of $67.8 million from the $83.9 million ofin net gains for the third quarter of 2002. Net gains for the third quarter of 2003 included $28.0 million of net gainsprimarily from the sale of $2.4mortgage-backed securities. As discussed in “Performance

9


Overview” above, we prepaid $2.3 billion of mortgage-backed securities, as well as $4.7 million in gains on interest-rate exchange agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No.��133. Offsetting the gains was a loss of $18.0 million from the termination of a $250.0 millionfixed rate FHLB advance (withadvances with a weighted average cost of 4.99%) scheduled6.27%, and incurred a debt prepayment penalty of $164.5 million before tax in the first quarter of 2004. These FHLB advances were due to mature in 2006. Net gains for the third quarter of 2002 included $107.8 million of net gains from the sale of $4.5 billion of mortgage-backed securities, offset by a $22.1 million unrealized loss on interest rate swaps that are accounted for at fair value under SFAS No. 133. The $22.1 million unrealized loss was the result of the decline in interest rates during the third quarter of 2002. We did not utilize any special-purpose entities for the sale of any of our mortgage-backed securities.

Leasing operations reflected a loss of $4.1 million in the third quarter of 2003, compared to income of $404,000 for the third quarter of 2002. The decline in income resulted from $5.5 million in residual adjustments on miscellaneous equipment, none of which was related to the aircraft industry.

Other income for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $520.2 million, an increase of $124.8 million, or 31.6%, over the $395.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Retail banking income increased $33.9 million, or 14.0%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The reasons for this increase were substantially the same as for the third quarter results discussed in the above paragraphs. Net gains totaled $201.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $57.9 million over the comparable 2002 period. Net gains for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 included $211.4 million in net gains from the sale of $8.1 billion in mortgage-backed securities, as well as $7.0 million in gains on interest-rate exchange agreements that do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. Offsetting the gains was a loss of $18.0 million from the termination of a $250.0 million FHLB advance (with a weighted average cost of 4.99%) scheduled to mature inbetween June 2005 and January 2006. We did not utilize any special-purpose entities for the sale of any of our mortgage-backed securities. Sales of mortgage-backed securities totaled $3.2 billion for the first quarter of 2004. Transactions resulting in net gains and losses, such as asset sales, are primarily undertaken in an effort to mitigate interest rate risk while still achieving targeted net interest yields by managing the size and mix of the Bank’s interest sensitive asset and liability portfolios.

Mortgage banking income totaled $41.7was a loss of $16.7 million for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, compared to a loss of $16.5 million$27,000 for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2002. Due to slower projected prepayments in our loan servicing portfolio,March 31, 2003. During the first quarter of 2004, we recorded a net $20.1permanent impairment charge of $13.1 million decrease inand increased the valuation allowance on mortgage servicing assetsrights by $16.7 million to an ending balance of $99.3 million. Total mortgage banking income, excluding the $13.1 million impairment charge and $16.7 million increase to the valuation allowance, was $13.0 million in the first quarter of 2004. In the year ago quarter, mortgage banking income totaled $20.6 million, excluding a $20.7 million increase in the valuation allowance. This reduction in mortgage banking income was due primarily to lower mortgage production during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. However, a permanent impairment charge of $37.2 million was recorded during the secondfirst quarter of 2004. The portfolio of loans serviced for others decreased to $16.1 billion, down 4.5% since December 31, 2003. The related mortgage servicing asset was reduced to $142.3 million at March 31, 2004. With an average servicing spread of 35.6 basis points, that translates into a servicing asset valuation of 2.5 times the servicing spread.

Leasing operations reflected a loss of $23.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared toRetail banking income of $991,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2002. The decline in income resulted from $21.5 million in residual adjustments, which were primarily related to the Company’s aircraft leasing portfolio and $5.5 million in residual adjustments on miscellaneous equipment, none of which was related to the aircraft industry.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses were $194.8$99.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, an increase of $23.5$15.5 million, or 13.7%18.4%, over the three months ended March 31, 2003. The biggest driver of the increase was deposit-related revenue, which totaled $87.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, up 20.6% over the year-ago quarter. Deposit-related revenue reflected the benefits of our strategy to emphasize noninterest-bearing checking account growth. Excluding custodial accounts, noninterest-bearing checking accounts totaled $3.0 billion at March 31, 2004, up $852.9 million, or 39.2%, since December 31, 2003. The other components of retail banking revenue included fees from retail brokerage activities ($8.4 million, up 1.0% from the year-ago quarter) and other revenue related to retail operations ($4.2 million, up 16.0% from the year-ago quarter).

Leasing operations reflected income of $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2004, compared to a loss of $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2003. The loss in the year-ago quarter was attributable to $8.7 million in residual value adjustments.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses were $218.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004, an increase of $34.7 million, or 19.0%, from the thirdfirst quarter of 2002.2003. The increase in administrative expenses was primarily attributable to increased compensation and marketing costs, compensation expense and net occupancy and equipment expenses. Marketing expenses increased by $15.2 million from the year-ago quarter as we provided ongoing support for our retail bank expansion strategy and other franchise enhancing initiatives. Compensation expense, which increased $14.9 million, and net occupancy and equipment expense increased primarily due to expenses relating to operating more banking centers than a year ago. During 2003, we initiated an aggressive de novo branch expansion plan. These efforts led to the net addition of 139 new banking centers since March 31, 2003, including 24 net new banking centers opened in the first quarter of 2004. Our plan is to continue the expansion in 2004 for a total of 125 additional banking centers. Due to the penalty associated with the Company’s significant retail expansion programdebt prepayment discussed in “Other Income” above. Our“Performance Overview” above, the efficiency ratio was 41.84%an artificially high 70.39% for the first quarter of 2004. Excluding the $164.5 million debt prepayment penalty, the efficiency ratio was 45.98% for the three months ended September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, compared to 39.90%39.77% for the three months ended September 30, 2002.March 31, 2003.

Administrative expenses were $572.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, an increase of $70.8 million, or 14.1%, from the 2002 period. The increase in administrative expenses was substantially the same as for the third quarter results discussed in the above paragraph. Our efficiency ratio was 40.92% for the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared to 39.64% for the nine months ended September 30, 2002.

13


Federal Income Tax

Federal income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 was $74.0$22.8 million, compared to $66.8$68.6 million for the same period in 2002.2003. The primary reason for this increasedecrease in the provision for federal income taxes was an increasea decrease in pre-tax income. This decrease in pre-tax income was primarily attributable to our prepayment penalty of $164.5 million on the early termination of the FHLB advances as previously noted. The effective tax rate was 31.3% for the 2004 period and 31.7% for both the 2003 and 2002 periods.period.

Federal income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 was $219.9 million, compared to $200.9 million for the same period in 2002. The primary reason for this increase in the provision for federal income taxes was an increase in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate was 31.7% for both the 2003 and 2002 periods.10


FINANCIAL CONDITION

Overview

At September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, total assets were $43.3$41.3 billion, compared to total assets of $41.9$42.6 billion at December 31, 2002. As illustrated in Figure 5 below, loan and lease originations totaled a record $20.0 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2003, compared to $14.7 billion in the nine months ended September 30, 2002. Non one-to-four family loan originations totaled $9.3 billion, or 46.4% of the total. The non one-to-four family activity was led by $3.7 billion in consumer loans and $2.9 billion in auto finance loans.

As discussed in “Results of Operations – Net Interest Income,” we intend to limit balance sheet growth in the current interest rate environment by reducing our one-to-four family exposure. This strategy will likely constrain the growth in net interest income for the near term. At September 30, 2003, we had committed to sell $1.6 billion in mortgage-backed securities for a pre-tax gain of $41.7 million to be recognized in the fourth quarter of 2003.

Loans and Leases

Composition of Loans and Leases(Figure 4)

             
      9/30/03 12/31/02
      
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
 One-to-four family:        
  Permanent:        
   Fixed rate $6,737,463  $5,869,554 
   Adjustable rate  2,600,507   2,437,166 
  Construction  451,093   427,729 
   
   
 
   9,789,063   8,734,449 
   
   
 
 Commercial real estate:        
  Multifamily  752,006   730,263 
  Commercial  1,181,362   1,024,840 
  Construction  528,628   506,178 
   
   
 
   2,461,996   2,261,281 
   
   
 
 Consumer:        
  Retail  4,999,488   5,494,453 
  Automobile  6,376,830   5,606,329 
  Consumer finance  1,073,054   984,772 
   
   
 
   12,449,372   12,085,554 
   
   
 
 Business:        
  Leasing  2,166,350   2,133,468 
  Corporate banking  1,553,739   1,318,003 
   
   
 
   3,720,089   3,451,471 
   
   
 
 Loans and leases before allowance for loan and lease losses  28,420,520   26,532,755 
 Allowance for loan and lease losses  (389,355)  (328,017)
   
   
 
    Loans and leases, net(1) $28,031,165  $26,204,738 
   
   
 
Portfolio of loans serviced for others $16,700,490  $16,893,609 
   
   
 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
One-to-four family:        
Permanent:        
Fixed rate $6,825,379  $6,001,695 
Adjustable rate  2,867,295   2,830,677 
         
Construction  483,275   485,354 
   
 
   
 
 
   10,175,949   9,317,726 
   
 
   
 
 
Commercial real estate:        
Multifamily  800,524   776,528 
Commercial  1,242,304   1,193,377 
         
Construction  541,600   521,680 
   
 
   
 
 
   2,584,428   2,491,585 
   
 
   
 
 
Consumer:        
Retail  6,018,261   5,491,923 
Automobile  6,272,710   6,364,703 
         
Consumer finance  1,130,226   1,092,533 
   
 
   
 
 
   13,421,197   12,949,159 
   
 
   
 
 
Business:        
Leasing  2,208,350   2,195,418 
Corporate banking  1,780,350   1,680,293 
   
 
   
 
 
   3,988,700   3,875,711 
   
 
   
 
 
Loans and leases before allowance for loan and lease losses  30,170,274   28,634,181 
Allowance for loan and lease losses  (384,842)  (383,733)
   
 
   
 
 
Loans and leases, net(1) $29,785,432  $28,250,448 
   
 
   
 
 
Portfolio of loans serviced for others $16,124,233  $16,877,169 
   
 
   
 
 


(1) Includes loans held for sale.

1411


Loan and Lease Activity(Figure 5)

                     
      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
      
 
      9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
      
 
 
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
Originations:
                
Real estate:                
 Permanent:                
  One-to-four family $3,896,869  $2,481,022  $10,548,555  $7,113,855 
  Multifamily  75,185   49,187   184,076   108,885 
  Commercial  124,806   48,601   275,245   175,375 
   
   
   
   
 
   Total permanent loans  4,096,860   2,578,810   11,007,876   7,398,115 
   
   
   
   
 
 Construction:                
  One-to-four family  62,180   54,377   151,273   27,720 
  Multifamily  30,371   13,950   57,267   38,938 
  Commercial  16,656   29,385   57,732   111,108 
   
   
   
   
 
   Total construction loans  109,207   97,712   266,272   177,766 
   
   
   
   
 
    Total real estate loans originated  4,206,067   2,676,522   11,274,148   7,575,881 
   
   
   
   
 
Retail consumer  1,431,291   948,632   3,719,802   2,885,687 
Automobile  909,477   1,012,926   2,916,836   2,478,734 
Consumer finance  128,536   73,931   353,302   185,352 
Leases  152,279   110,428   327,796   321,013 
Corporate banking  443,732   512,600   1,365,735   1,265,413 
   
   
   
   
 
   Total loans and leases originated  7,271,382   5,335,039   19,957,619   14,712,080 
   
   
   
   
 
Acquired through business combinations and purchases  2,737   2,637   409,826   213,992 
   
   
   
   
 
Sales and principal reductions:                
 Loans sold  1,067,083   527,011   2,715,313   1,652,269 
 Loans exchanged for mortgage backed securities  225,498   809,167   5,991,223   5,066,120 
 Principal reductions  3,447,925   2,943,422   9,733,849   8,262,966 
   
   
   
   
 
    Total sales and principal reductions  4,740,506   4,279,600   18,440,385   14,981,355 
   
   
   
   
 
    Increase (decrease) before net items $2,533,613  $1,058,076  $1,927,060  $(55,283)
   
   
   
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Originations:
        
Real estate:        
Permanent:        
One-to-four family $1,161,546  $3,095,718 
Multifamily  75,992   51,440 
Commercial  128,270   90,213 
   
 
   
 
 
Total permanent loans  1,365,808   3,237,371 
   
 
   
 
 
Construction:        
One-to-four family  88,851   35,556 
Multifamily  30,741   19,283 
Commercial  117,233   10,830 
   
 
   
 
 
Total construction loans  236,825   65,669 
   
 
   
 
 
Total real estate loans originated  1,602,633   3,303,040 
   
 
   
 
 
Retail consumer  1,054,029   1,079,290 
Automobile  664,636   981,114 
Consumer finance  105,633   101,927 
Leases  155,279   101,571 
Corporate banking  515,264   448,326 
   
 
   
 
 
Total loans and leases originated  4,097,474   6,015,268 
   
 
   
 
 
Acquired through purchases  470,472   3,765 
   
 
   
 
 
Sales and principal reductions:        
Loans sold  314,460   763,051 
Loans exchanged for mortgage backed securities  72,749   3,419,116 
Principal reductions  2,606,192   3,025,830 
   
 
   
 
 
Total sales and principal reductions  2,993,401   7,207,997 
   
 
   
 
 
Increase (decrease) before net items $1,574,545  $(1,188,964)
   
 
   
 
 

Investment and Mortgage-Backed Securities

Figures 6 and 7 summarize our investment and mortgage-backed securities portfolios at September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2002.2003. The amounts reflected represent the fair value of securities available for sale and the amortized cost of securities held to maturity.

Investment Securities(Figure 6)

            
     9/30/03 12/31/02
     
 
     (Dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
        
 U.S. Treasury and agency securities $97,934  $91,462 
 Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions  40,323   1,898 
 Corporate and other securities  132,254   116,735 
   
   
 
  Total investment securities available for sale  270,511   210,095 
   
   
 
Held to Maturity
        
 U.S. Treasury and agency securities  262    
 Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions  3,660   3,943 
 Corporate and other securities  30   30 
   
   
 
  Total investment securities held to maturity  3,952   3,973 
   
   
 
   Total $274,463  $214,068 
   
   
 
 Weighted average rate  5.40%  5.64%
   
   
 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
        
U.S. Treasury and agency securities $92,862  $101,406 
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions  39,719   40,180 
Corporate capital trust  85,061   115,908 
Other securities  14,325   15,766 
   
 
   
 
 
Total investment securities available for sale  231,967   273,260 
   
 
   
 
 
Held to Maturity
        
U.S. Treasury and agency securities  262    
Securities of U.S. states and political subdivisions  3,409   3,480 
Corporate capital trust and other securities  25   25 
   
 
   
 
 
Total investment securities held to maturity  3,696   3,505 
   
 
   
 
 
Total $235,663  $276,765 
   
 
   
 
 
Weighted average rate  5.02%  5.48%
   
 
   
 
 

1512


Mortgage-Backed Securities(Figure 7)

             
      9/30/03 12/31/02
      
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
        
 Participation certificates:        
  U.S. government and agency issues $10,317,012  $10,051,046 
 Collateralized mortgage obligations:        
  U.S. government and agency issues  657,857   1,068,518 
  Private issues  103,416   417,044 
   
   
 
   Total mortgage-backed securities available for sale  11,078,285   11,536,608 
   
   
 
Held to Maturity
        
 Participation certificates:        
  U.S. government and agency issues  211,148   311,398 
  Private issues  26,151   51,717 
 Collateralized mortgage obligations:        
  U.S. government and agency issues  33,016   96,130 
  Private issues  22,021   81,536 
   
   
 
   Total mortgage-backed securities held to maturity  292,336   540,781 
   
   
 
    Total $11,370,621  $12,077,389 
   
   
 
  Weighted average rate  4.67%  4.95%
   
   
 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Available for Sale
        
Participation certificates:        
U.S. government and agency issues $7,036,737  $9,670,524 
Collateralized mortgage obligations:        
U.S. government and agency issues  429,867   511,601 
Private issues  8,536   11,673 
   
 
   
 
 
Total mortgage-backed securities available for sale  7,475,140   10,193,798 
   
 
   
 
 
Held to Maturity
        
Participation certificates:        
U.S. government and agency issues  157,265   186,740 
Private issues  17,353   20,454 
Collateralized mortgage obligations:        
U.S. government and agency issues  23,116   25,994 
Private issues  14,390   18,261 
   
 
   
 
 
Total mortgage-backed securities held to maturity  212,124   251,449 
   
 
   
 
 
Total $7,687,264  $10,445,247 
   
 
   
 
 
Weighted average rate  4.44%  4.57%
   
 
   
 
 

Asset Quality

Charter One has a Reserve Adequacy Committee that sets target levels for theThe allowance for loan and lease losses. The Committee meets quarterly and its membership includes management as well as Directors. That Committee considers several factors as it sets target levelslosses totaled $384.8 million at March 31, 2004, which was 1.28% of reserves that are deemed adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. Those factors include internal measurements of asset quality (such as charge-off trends, delinquency data, asset classification trends, and nonperforming and underperforming loan trends), the overall economic environment in which Charter One operates, and the size and mix of the loan and lease portfolio. All outstandingtotal loans and leases are considered when evaluating the adequacyat March 31, 2004, and represented 5.5 years coverage of the allowance for loan and lease losses. These various factors are utilized to calculate a range of reserves. Based upon the range calculated, the Committee then sets target levels for reserves. See also “Provision for Loan and Lease Losses” for further discussion.annualized first quarter 2004 net charge-offs.

16


Analysis of the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses(Figure 8)

                     
      Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
      
 
      9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
      
 
 
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
                
 Balance, beginning of period $376,393  $267,155  $328,017  $255,478 
 Provision for loan and lease losses  37,663   47,695   134,494   131,689 
 Acquired through business combination        4,969   3,184 
 Loans and leases charged off:                
  One-to-four family  (655)  (643)  (2,361)  (4,675)
  Commercial real estate  (474)  (290)  (1,227)  (1,208)
  Retail consumer  (2,819)  (2,308)  (8,893)  (10,096)
  Automobile  (15,869)  (16,429)  (45,947)  (63,024)
  Consumer finance  (4,396)  (5,160)  (12,908)  (20,610)
  Leases     (519)  (8,156)  (2,780)
  Corporate banking  (6,610)  (4,776)  (16,507)  (10,813)
   
   
   
   
 
   Total charge-offs  (30,823)  (30,125)  (95,999)  (113,206)
   
   
   
   
 
 Recoveries:                
  One-to-four family  31   881   89   915 
  Commercial real estate  68   488   277   618 
  Retail consumer  1,044   484   2,025   1,246 
  Automobile  4,279   3,574   12,955   9,105 
  Consumer finance  329   238   669   333 
  Leases  228   430   1,227   430 
  Corporate banking  143   1,980   632   3,008 
   
   
   
   
 
   Total recoveries  6,122   8,075   17,874   15,655 
   
   
   
   
 
    Net loan and lease charge-offs  (24,701)  (22,050)  (78,125)  (97,551)
   
   
   
   
 
 Balance, end of period $389,355  $292,800  $389,355  $292,800 
   
   
   
   
 
 Net charge-offs to average loans and leases (annualized)  .37%  .35%  .40%  .51%
         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Allowance for loan and lease losses:
        
Balance, beginning of period $383,733  $328,017 
Provision for loan and lease losses  18,616   61,471 
Loans and leases charged off:        
One-to-four family  (827)  (670)
Commercial real estate  (872)  (500)
Retail consumer  (2,534)  (3,478)
Automobile  (13,679)  (16,450)
Consumer finance  (3,479)  (4,537)
Leases     (6,061)
Corporate banking  (2,516)  (7,245)
   
 
   
 
 
Total charge-offs  (23,907)  (38,941)
   
 
   
 
 
Recoveries:        
One-to-four family  11   17 
Commercial real estate  64   148 
Retail consumer  634   433 
Automobile  4,421   4,115 
Consumer finance  228   105 
Leases  433   393 
Corporate banking  609   168 
   
 
   
 
 
Total recoveries  6,400   5,379 
   
 
   
 
 
Net loan and lease charge-offs  (17,507)  (33,562)
   
 
   
 
 
Balance, end of period $384,842  $355,926 
   
 
   
 
 
Net charge-offs to average loans and leases (annualized)  .24%  .52%

In determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses, management reviews and evaluates the potential credit risk inherent in the loan and lease portfolio. All outstanding loans and leases are considered in this evaluation process. The evaluation process includes such factors as historical loss experience, credit scores, delinquencies, loss migration analysis, concentration of credit and the current economic environment. If this evaluation process indicates a need for either a higher or lower allowance for loan and lease losses, that increase or reduction is made via the provision for loan and lease losses. This evaluation process is performed no less than

13


quarterly and it is applied on a consistent basis. Based upon this analysis, management believes that the allowance for loan and lease losses at March 31, 2004 was adequate to absorb losses inherent in the loan and lease portfolio.

Figure 9 sets forth information concerning nonperforming and underperforming assets for the periods reported. Underperforming assets consist of (1) nonperforming assets (nonaccrual loans and leases, restructured real estate mortgage loans, and real estate acquired through foreclosure and other collateral owned) and (2) accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days.

17


Nonperforming and Underperforming Assets(Figure 9)

             
      9/30/03 12/31/02
      
 
      (Dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming assets:
        
 Nonaccrual loans and leases:        
  Real estate mortgage loans:        
   One-to-four family $22,784  $27,904 
   Multifamily and commercial  11,333   5,369 
   Construction and land  22,974   9,885 
   
   
 
    Total real estate mortgage loans  57,091   43,158 
  Retail consumer  10,405   13,937 
  Automobile      
  Consumer finance  42,589   40,227 
  Leases  6,569   6,211 
  Corporate banking  25,078   39,098 
   
   
 
    Total nonaccrual loans and leases  141,732   142,631 
 Restructured real estate mortgage loans  481   501 
   
   
 
    Total nonperforming loans and leases  142,213   143,132 
 Real estate and other collateral owned  47,249   40,776 
   
   
 
    Total nonperforming assets $189,462  $183,908 
   
   
 
Ratio of:        
 Nonperforming loans and leases to total loans and leases  .51%  .55%
 Nonperforming assets to total assets  .44   .44 
 Nonperforming assets to total loans, leases and real estate and other collateral owned  .67   .70 
 Allowance for loan and lease losses to:        
  Nonperforming loans and leases  273.78   229.17 
  Total loans and leases before allowance  1.37   1.24 
Accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days:
        
 Real estate mortgage loans:        
  One-to-four family $21,239  $25,643 
  Multifamily and commercial      
  Construction and land      
   
   
 
   Total real estate mortgage loans  21,239   25,643 
 Retail consumer  2,654   4,758 
 Automobile  2,680   3,621 
 Consumer finance  23,298   26,739 
 Leases     19 
 Corporate banking  311   1,536 
   
   
 
   Total accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days $50,182  $62,316 
   
   
 
Total underperforming assets $239,644  $246,224 
   
   
 
Ratio of:        
 Underperforming assets to total assets  .55%  .59%
 Underperforming assets to total loans, leases and real estate and other collateral owned  .85   .94 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Nonperforming assets:
        
Nonaccrual loans and leases:        
Real estate mortgage loans:        
One-to-four family $24,143  $23,301 
Multifamily and commercial  34,296   33,692 
Construction and land  25,114   25,161 
   
 
   
 
 
Total real estate mortgage loans  83,553   82,154 
Retail consumer  10,163   9,818 
Automobile      
Consumer finance  43,733   42,843 
Leases  6,201   6,360 
Corporate banking  25,073   28,408 
   
 
   
 
 
Total nonaccrual loans and leases  168,723   169,583 
Restructured loans     474 
   
 
   
 
 
Total nonperforming loans and leases  168,723   170,057 
Real estate and other collateral owned  29,793   35,654 
   
 
   
 
 
Total nonperforming assets $198,516  $205,711 
   
 
   
 
 
Ratio of:        
Nonperforming loans and leases to total loans and leases  .57%  .60%
Nonperforming assets to total assets  .48   .48 
Nonperforming assets to total loans, leases and real estate and other collateral owned  .67   .73 
Allowance for loan and lease losses to:        
Nonperforming loans and leases  228.09   225.65 
Total loans and leases before allowance  1.28   1.34 
         
Accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days:
        
Real estate mortgage loans:        
One-to-four family $21,576  $21,549 
Multifamily and commercial      
Construction and land      
   
 
   
 
 
Total real estate mortgage loans  21,576   21,549 
   
 
   
 
 
Retail consumer  2,144   2,722 
Automobile  2,035   2,771 
Consumer finance  15,340   17,839 
Leases     52 
Corporate banking  412   522 
   
 
   
 
 
Total accruing loans and leases delinquent more than 90 days $41,507  $45,455 
   
 
   
 
 
Total underperforming assets $240,023  $251,166 
   
 
   
 
 
Ratio of:        
Underperforming assets to total assets  .58%  .59%
Underperforming assets to total loans, leases and real estate and other collateral owned  .81   .89 

Loans and leases not reflected in the table above, but where known information about possible credit problems of borrowers causes management to have serious doubts as to the ability of the borrower to comply with present repayment terms and that may result in disclosure of such loans and leases as underperforming assets in the future, are commonly referred to as “potential problem loans and leases.” The amount included in potential problem loans and leases results from an evaluation, on a loan-by-loan basis, of loans and leases classified as “substandard.” The amount of potential problem loans and leases was $32.5$38.4 million at September 30, 2003, $25.7 million at June 30, 2003, $61.9and $32.7 million at March 31, 20032004 and $14.8 million at

14


December 31, 2002.2003, respectively. The vast majority of our potential problem loans and leases, as well as our underperforming assets, are collateralized.

18


SOURCES OF FUNDS

Deposits

Composition of Deposits(Figure 10)

                    
     9/30/03 12/31/02
     
 
         Weighted     Weighted
         Average     Average
     Amount Rate Amount Rate
     
 
 
 
     (Dollars in thousands)
Checking accounts:                
 Interest-bearing $5,810,478   .93% $7,460,530   1.80%
 Noninterest-bearing  2,760,848      2,189,903    
   
       
     
  Total checking accounts  8,571,326   .63   9,650,433   1.39 
Money market and savings accounts  8,686,491   1.01   8,157,534   1.51 
   
       
     
  Total transactions accounts  17,257,817   .82   17,807,967   1.45 
Certificates of deposit  10,788,421   3.13   9,719,876   3.61 
   
       
     
   Total deposits, net $28,046,238   1.71  $27,527,843   2.21 
   
       
     
Including the effect of interest rate swaps      1.60%      2.06%
                 
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
      Weighted     Weighted
      Average     Average
  Amount
 Rate
 Amount
 Rate
      (Dollars in thousands)    
Checking accounts:                
Interest-bearing $4,944,405   .82% $5,666,346   .85%
Noninterest-bearing  3,454,577      2,532,616    
   
 
       
 
     
Total checking accounts  8,398,982   .48   8,198,962   .59 
Money market and savings accounts  8,406,630   .92   8,686,356   .97 
   
 
       
 
     
Total transactions accounts  16,805,612   .70   16,885,318   .78 
Certificates of deposit  10,133,389   2.95   10,318,001   2.97 
   
 
       
 
     
Total deposits, net $26,939,001   1.55  $27,203,319   1.61 
   
 
       
 
     
Including the effect of interest rate swaps      1.41%      1.49%

Investment securities and mortgage-backed securities with a par value of $578.8$611.6 million at September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 and $489.0$637.9 million at December 31, 2002,2003, were pledged to secure public deposits and for other purposes required or permitted by law.

Borrowings

At September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, borrowings consisted primarily of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”)FHLB advances. These positions were secured by our investment in the stock of the FHLB, as well as $11.4$12.7 billion in certain real estate loans and $4.4$2.1 billion in mortgage-backed securities.

FHLB Advances(Figure 11)

                   
    9/30/03 12/31/02
    
 
        Weighted     Weighted
        Average     Average
    Amount Rate Amount Rate
    
 
 
 
    (Dollars in thousands)
Short-term $1,686,800   1.44% $2,595,000   1.34%
Long-term:                
 Fixed-rate advances  5,711,606   5.67   6,024,560   5.68 
 Variable-rate advances  2,409,605   1.14   409,605   1.23 
   
       
     
Total advances  9,808,011   3.83   9,029,165   4.23 
Plus unamortized premium on advances  12,173      8,760    
   
       
     
  Total advances, net $9,820,184   3.79  $9,037,925   4.18 
   
       
     
Including the effect of interest rate swaps      3.88%      4.26%
                 
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
      Weighted     Weighted
      Average     Average
  Amount
 Rate
 Amount
 Rate
      (Dollars in thousands)    
Short-term $2,985,800   1.30% $1,719,800   1.43%
Long-term:                
Fixed rate advances  3,255,760   5.41   5,706,614   5.70 
Variable rate advances  2,409,605   1.15   2,409,604   1.19 
   
 
       
 
     
Total advances  8,651,165   2.80   9,836,018   3.85 
Plus unamortized premium on advances  10,442      11,275    
   
 
       
 
     
Total advances, net $8,661,607   2.77  $9,847,293   3.81 
   
 
       
 
     
Including the effect of interest rate swaps      2.91%      3.89%

On January 27, 2004, we prepaid $2.3 billion in fixed rate FHLB advances with a weighted average cost of 6.27%, and incurred a prepayment penalty of $164.5 million before tax. These FHLB advances were due to mature between June 2005 and January 2006.

Interest Rate Swaps

We use interest rate swaps as one of the tools to manage our interest rate risk profile (defined as the sensitivity of our earnings and economic value to changes in interest rates). We utilize fixed receipt callable interest rate swaps to convert certain longer-term callable certificates of deposit into short-term and medium-term variable instruments. Under certain of these agreements totaling $135.0$260.0 million in notional principal amount, we have agreed to receive interest from the counterparty on a notional amount at a fixed rate defined in the agreement and to pay interest at a floating rate indexed to LIBOR during the entire term of the interest rate swap. In other agreements totaling $1.8$2.2 billion in notional principal amount, we have agreed to receive interest from the counterparty on a notional amount at a fixed rate defined in the agreement, and to pay interest at a fixed rate, converting to floating rate indexed to LIBOR after the first two years of the interest rate swap term. Such interest rate swaps are designated and qualify as fair value hedges under SFAS No. 133. We have assumed no ineffectiveness in the respective hedging

15


relationships. Any gain or loss on the interest rate swap was offset by a gain or loss on the certificates of deposit during the period of change in fair values.

We utilize fixed payment interest rate swaps to convert certain floating-ratefloating rate FHLB advances into fixed-ratefixed rate instruments. Under these agreements totaling $409.6 million in notional principal amount, we have agreed to pay interest to the counterparty on a notional principal amount at a fixed rate defined in the agreement and receive interest at a floating rate indexed to LIBOR. The amounts of interest exchanged are calculated on the basis of

19


notional principal amounts. Such interest rate swaps are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133. We have assumed no ineffectiveness in the respective hedging relationships. Any gain or loss on the interest rate swaps was offset by the expected future cash flows on the FHLB advances during the period of change in fair values.

We utilized a fixed receipt interest rate swap to convert our $400.0 million of subordinated notes into a variable instrument. Under this agreement, we have agreed to receive interest from the counterparty on a notional amount at a fixed rate defined in the agreement and to pay interest at a floating rate indexed to LIBOR. Such interest rate swap is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge under SFAS No. 133. We have assumed no ineffectiveness in the hedging relationship. Any gain or loss on the interest rate swap was offset by a gain or loss on the subordinated notes during the period of change in fair values.

In May 2002,Additionally, we entered into $575.0 million of fixed payment and variable receipt interest rate swaps related to the issuance of the Bank’s subordinated notes.notes discussed above. However, these interest rate swaps did not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133. For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, the net unrealized loss attributed to these interest rate swaps decreased $7.0$1.5 million to an ending balance of $18.9$12.6 million. The corresponding interest rate swap liabilities were recognized in our Consolidated StatementsStatement of Financial Condition at September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 under the caption “Accrued expenses and other liabilities.”

Information on the interest rate swaps, by maturity date, is as follows:

Interest Rate Swaps(Figure 12)

                           
    9/30/03 12/31/02
    
 
    Notional Receiving Paying Notional Receiving Paying
    Principal Interest Interest Principal Interest Interest
    Amount Rate Rate Amount Rate Rate
    
 
 
 
 
 
    (Dollars in thousands)
Fixed Payment and Fixed
Receipt(1)
                        
 2007 $1,005,000   4.31%  2.75% $1,005,000   4.31%  2.75%
 2008  760,000   3.59   1.95          
   
           
         
  Total $1,765,000   4.00%  2.40% $1,005,000   4.31%  2.75%
   
           
         
Fixed Payment and Variable Receipt                        
 2003 $206,638   1.12%  3.58% $409,605   1.42%  3.55%
 2004  375,000   1.13   3.66   375,000   1.40   3.66 
 2006  402,967   1.12   3.84   200,000   1.40   4.69 
   
           
         
  Total $984,605   1.13%(2)  3.71% $984,605   1.41%(2)  3.82%
   
           
         
Variable Payment and Fixed Receipt                        
 2004 $   %  % $315,000   2.80%  1.57%
 2005  135,000   2.18   1.13          
 2007           555,000   5.51   1.55 
 2012  400,000   5.76   1.13   400,000   5.76   1.75 
   
           
         
  Total $535,000   4.86%  1.13%(2) $1,270,000   4.92%  1.62%(2)
   
           
         
                         
      3/31/04         12/31/03  
  
  Notional Receiving Paying Notional Receiving Paying
  Principal Interest Interest Principal Interest Interest
  Amount
 Rate
 Rate
 Amount
 Rate
 Rate
          (Dollars in thousands)        
Fixed Payment and Fixed Receipt(1)                        
2007 $1,005,000   4.31%  2.75% $1,005,000   4.31%  2.75%
2008  940,000   3.65   1.99   940,000   3.65   1.99 
2009  260,000   3.58   1.96          
   
 
           
 
         
Total $2,205,000   3.94%  2.33% $1,945,000   3.99%  2.38%
   
 
           
 
         
Fixed Payment and Variable Receipt                        
2004 $375,000   1.12%  3.66% $375,000   1.18%  3.66%
2006  609,605   1.10   3.57   609,605   1.16   3.57 
   
 
           
 
         
Total $984,605   1.11%(2)  3.60% $984,605   1.17%(2)  3.60%
   
 
           
 
         
Variable Payment and Fixed Receipt                        
2005 $140,000   2.30%  1.13% $230,000   2.29%  1.17%
2006  120,000   2.20   1.12          
2012  400,000   5.76   1.12   400,000   5.76   1.18 
   
 
           
 
         
Total $660,000   4.38%  1.12%(2) $630,000   4.49%  1.18%(2)
   
 
           
 
         


(1) Converts to variable payment indexed to LIBOR after the first two years of the interest rate swap agreement.
(2) Rates are based upon LIBOR.

Additionally, as of March 31, 2004, we have entered into forward fixed payment and variable receipt interest rate swaps totaling $3.7$3.5 billion in notional principal amount that are not reflected in Figure 12the table above. Under these agreements, we have agreed to pay interest to the counterparty on a notional principal amount at a fixed rate defined in the agreement and receive interest at a floating rate indexed to LIBOR. TheseSettlements under these forward interest rate swaps become effectivebegin between October 2003April 2004 and August 2004.January 2005. The forward interest rate swaps mature between JanuaryApril 2006 and AugustJanuary 2007. The weighted average fixed payment rate on these forward interest rate swaps is 2.85%3.03%. The forward interest rate swaps will convert certain floating-ratefloating rate FHLB advances into fixed-ratefixed rate instruments. Such interest rate swaps are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges under SFAS No. 133.

16


Information on these forward interest rate swaps, by effective date, is as follows:

20


Forward Interest Rate Swaps(Figure 13)

           
        Paying
    Notional Interest
    Amount Rate
    
 
    (Dollars in thousands)
Fixed Payment and Variable Receipt Forward Interest Rate Swaps Effective Date:        
 Fourth quarter 2003 $206,638   3.05%
 First quarter 2004  1,000,000   2.87 
 Second quarter 2004  1,500,000   2.84 
 Third quarter 2004  1,000,000   2.79 
   
     
  Total $3,706,638   2.85%
   
     
         
      Paying
  Notional Interest
  Amount
 Rate
  (Dollars in thousands)
Fixed Payment and Variable Receipt Forward
Interest Rate Swaps Effective Date:
        
Second quarter 2004 $1,500,000   2.84%
Third quarter 2004  1,000,000   2.79 
First quarter 2005  1,000,000   3.57 
   
 
     
Total $3,500,000   3.03%
   
 
     

In January 2004, we terminated $1.0 billion of our forward interest rate swaps. A deferred after-tax loss of $8.4 million was included in other comprehensive income and will be amortized over the next 24 months as the related interest expense on FHLB advances is recognized.

The fair value of the Company’sour interest rate swap contracts is estimated as the difference in the present value of future cash flows between the Company’sour existing agreements and current market rate agreements of the same duration. Information on the fair values of the interest rate swaps is as follows:

Fair Value of Interest Rate Swaps(Figure 14)

           
    9/30/03 12/31/02
    
 
    (Dollars in thousands)
Unrealized gain (loss):        
 Fair value hedges $63,316  $84,341 
 Cash flow hedges  (29,031)  (10,152)
 Unhedged interest rate swaps  (18,879)  (25,905)
   
   
 
  Total fair value $15,406  $48,284 
   
   
 
         
  3/31/04
 12/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Unrealized gain (loss):        
Fair value hedges $68,429  $44,750 
Cash flow hedges  (56,778)  (10,495)
Unhedged interest rate swaps  (12,629)  (14,151)
   
 
   
 
 
Total fair value $(978) $20,104 
   
 
   
 
 

The net benefit of interest rate swaps included in interest expense is as follows:

Net Benefit of Interest Risk Management(Figure 15)

                   
    Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
    
 
    9/30/03 9/30/02 9/30/03 9/30/02
    
 
 
 
    (Dollars in thousands)
Interest expense (income):                
 Deposits $(7,136) $(11,003) $(24,326) $(34,386)
 FHLB advances  2,508   1,808   7,087   5,294 
 Subordinated notes  (4,528)  (3,898)  (13,353)  (5,635)
 Unhedged interest rate swaps  3,996   3,089   11,654   4,441 
   
   
   
   
 
  Total net benefit $(5,160) $(10,004) $(18,938) $(30,286)
   
   
   
   
 
         
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04
 3/31/03
  (Dollars in thousands)
Interest expense (income):        
Deposits $(8,948) $(9,782)
FHLB advances  3,034   2,244 
Subordinated notes  (4,599)  (4,391)
Unhedged interest rate swaps  4,098   3,798 
   
 
   
 
 
Total net benefit $(6,415) $(8,131)
   
 
   
 
 

Liquidity

Our principal sources of funds are deposits, advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements, repayments and maturities of loans and securities, proceeds from the sale of loans and securities and funds provided by operations. While scheduled loan, security and interest-bearing deposit amortization and maturity are relatively predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan and mortgage-backed securities repayments are greatly influenced by economic conditions, the general level of interest rates and competition. We utilize particular sources of funds based on comparative costs and availability. We generally manage the pricing of deposits to maintain a steady deposit balance, but from time to time may decide to supplement deposits with longer term and/or lower cost alternative sources of funds such as FHLB advances and federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements. We may, from time to time, decide to price deposits aggressively for strategic reasons which may result in significant deposit inflows.

17


Contractual Obligations

A comprehensive table of significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations to third parties by payment date was disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. There have been no material changes to that disclosure, except for our prepayment of $2.3 billion in fixed rate FHLB advances on January 27, 2004. See “Borrowings” above for further discussion.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

In the ordinary course of business, we enter into off-balance-sheet financial instruments consisting of commitments to extend credit, commercial letters of credit, standby letters of credit and commitments to purchase or sell assets. Such financial instruments are recorded in the financial statements when they are funded or the related fees are incurred or received. We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet our commitments. As of September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, there were outstanding commitments to originate $2.1$2.4 billion of mortgage loans and other loans and leases, all at market rates. Terms of the commitments extend up to nine months, but are generally less than two months. Additionally, there were outstanding unfunded consumer lines of credit of $5.1$5.4 billion and corporate banking lines of credit of $371.4$396.5 million as of September 30, 2003.March 31, 2004. Substantially all of the consumer

21


loans, including consumer lines of credit, are secured by equity in the borrowers’ residences. The Company doesWe do not expect all of these lines to be used by the borrowers. Outstanding letters of credit totaled $136.4$138.1 million as of September 30, 2003.March 31, 2004.

Capital and Dividends

On April 23, 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or approximately 22 million shares, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. This program replaced the repurchase program that had been in effect since July 18, 2000 and under which the Company repurchased approximately 15.0 million shares for a total cost of $394.8 million. The Company repurchased 6.6 million shares under the new authorization during the nine months ended September 30, 2003 at an average cost of $31.00 per share. This brought the total number of shares repurchased under this program to 14.6 million shares at an average cost of $30.99 per share.

Charter One, a financial holding company, is subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve Board (“FRB”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 as amended, and the regulations of the FRB, including various capital requirements. The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the OCC.Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possibly discretionary, actions by each regulator that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on our financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines, specific capital guidelines must be met that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The institution’s capital classification is also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require Charter One and the Bank to individually maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, and of tier 1 capital to average assets. The actual regulatory capital ratios calculated for Charter One and the Bank, along with the capital amounts and ratios for capital adequacy purposes and the amounts required to be categorized as “well capitalized,” are as follows:

Regulatory Capital(Figure 16)

                                      
   9/30/03
   
               For Capital            
   Actual Adequacy Purposes To Be "Well Capitalized"
   
 
 
   Amount Ratio Amount Ratio     Amount Ratio
   
 
 
 
     
 
   (Dollars in thousands)
Charter One:
                                    
 Total capital to risk-weighted assets     $3,449,929   11.42%     $2,417,224  >8.00%     $3,021,530  >10.00%
 Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets      2,673,060   8.85       1,208,612  >4.00       1,812,918  >6.00 
 Tier 1 capital to average assets      2,673,060   6.18       1,729,630  >4.00       N/A   N/A 
Charter One Bank, N.A.:
                                    
 Total capital to risk-weighted assets      3,481,323   11.53       2,415,181  >8.00       3,018,976  >10.00 
 Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets      2,371,535   7.86       1,207,590  >4.00       1,811,386  >6.00 
 Tier 1 capital to average assets      2,371,535   5.51       1,720,835  >4.00       2,151,044  >5.00 
                          
   12/31/02
   
           For Capital        
   Actual Adequacy Purposes To Be "Well Capitalized"
   
 
 
   Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Amount Ratio
   
 
 
 
 
 
   (Dollars in thousands)
Charter One:
                        
 Total capital to risk-weighted assets $3,239,604   11.67% $2,220,734  >8.00% $2,775,917  >10.00%
 Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  2,513,577   9.05   1,110,367  >4.00   1,665,550  >6.00 
 Tier 1 capital to average assets  2,513,577   6.10   1,648,861  >4.00   N/A   N/A 
Charter One Bank, N.A.:
                        
 Total capital to risk-weighted assets  3,150,686   11.36   2,219,719  >8.00   2,774,649  >10.00 
 Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  2,091,615   7.54   1,109,860  >4.00   1,664,789  >6.00 
 Tier 1 capital to average assets  2,091,615   5.11   1,636,187  >4.00   2,045,234  >5.00 
                                 
  3/31/04
                      To Be "Well Capitalized"
          For Capital Under Prompt Corrective
  Actual
 Adequacy Purposes
 Action Provisions
  Amount
 Ratio
 Amount
 Ratio
 Amount
 Ratio
          (Dollars in thousands)            
Charter One:
                                
Total capital to risk-weighted assets $3,574,657   11.49% $2,488,922   >   8.00% $3,111,152   >   10.00%
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets 2,789,894   8.97  1,244,461   >   4.00 1,866,691   >   6.00
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to average assets 2,789,894   6.60  1,690,645   >   4.00 2,113,306   >   N/A
               
 
                 
Charter One Bank:
                                
Total capital to risk-weighted assets  3,460,350   11.13   2,488,136   >   8.00   3,110,170   >   10.00 
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  2,483,439   7.98   1,244,068   >   4.00   1,866,102   >   6.00 
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to average assets  2,483,439   5.88   1,689,565   >   4.00   2,111,957   >   5.00 
               
 
           
 
     

18


                                 
  12/31/03
                      To Be "Well Capitalized"
          For Capital Under Prompt Corrective
  Actual
 Adequacy Purposes
 Action Provisions
  Amount
 Ratio
 Amount
 Ratio
 Amount
 Ratio
Charter One:         (Dollars in thousands)            
Total capital to risk-weighted assets $3,573,655   11.68% $2,448,394   >   8.00% $3,060,493   >   10.00%
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  2,790,462   9.12   1,224,197   >   4.00   1,836,296   >   6.00 
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to average assets  2,790,462   6.50   1,716,047   >   4.00   N/A       N/A 
               
 
                 
Charter One Bank:
                                
Total capital to risk-weighted assets.  3,525,567   11.52   2,447,262   >   8.00   3,059,077   >   10.00 
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets  2,409,716   7.88   1,223,631   >   4.00   1,835,446   >   6.00 
               
 
           
 
     
Tier 1 capital to average assets  2,409,716   5.65   1,706,068   >   4.00   2,132,585   >   5.00 
               
 
           
 
     

Management believes that, as of September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, Charter One and the Bank individually met the capital adequacy requirements to which they were subject. Events beyond management’s control, such as fluctuations in interest rates or a downturn in the economy in areas in which the institution’s loans and securities are concentrated

22


could adversely affect future earnings and, consequently, the institution’s ability to meet its future capital requirements.

Quarterly Stock Prices and Dividends(Figure 17)

                      
       Three Months Ended    
   
   9/30/03 6/30/03 3/31/03 12/31/02 9/30/02
   
 
 
 
 
Market price of common stock (NYSE: CF):
                    
 High $33.20  $32.59  $30.74  $31.48  $33.42 
 Low  30.10   27.24   27.05   23.89   25.81 
 Close  30.60   31.18   27.66   28.73   29.72 
Dividends declared and paid  .26   .24   .22   .22   .21 
                     
  Three Months Ended
  3/31/04 12/31/03 9/30/03 6/30/03 3/31/03
Market price of common stock (NYSE: CF)
                    
High $37.96  $34.87  $33.20  $32.59  $30.74 
Low  32.91   30.31   30.10   27.24   27.05 
Close  35.36   34.55   30.60   31.18   27.66 
Dividends declared and paid  .26   .26   .26   .24   .22 

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

Management considers our interest-sensitivity profile when deciding on sources of funds. At September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, our one-year gap was 6.57%-2.02% of total interest-earning assets.

A comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis regarding market risk was disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 Form 10-K.2003. The assumptions used in our model have been updated as of September 30, 2003.March 31, 2004. The table below indicates the estimated impact on net interest income under the various interest rate scenarios as a percentage of base case net interest income projections.

     
Changes in Estimated Percentage Change
Interest Rates in Future Net Interest Income
(basis points)(1)12 Months

 12 Months
+200 over one year  (7.817.25)%
+100 over one year  (3.983.60)
-100- 100 over one year  2.882.40 


(1) In general, short and long-term rates are assumed to increase or decrease, in parallel fashion, across all four quarters and then remain unchanged. However, the rates paid on core deposits are assumed to reprice at only half the increment in the case of the up and down 100 basis points scenarios and up 200 basis points scenario.increment.

Actual results will differ from simulated results due to timing, magnitude, and frequency of interest rate changes, as well as changes in market conditions and management strategies.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

An evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in RuleSection 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”)) as of September 30, 2003March 31, 2004 was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and several other members of the Company’s senior management. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as currently in effect are effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management (including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods

19


specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2003,March 31, 2004, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

The Company intends to continually review and evaluate the design and effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures and to improve its controls and procedures over time and to correct any deficiencies that it may discover in the future. The goal is to ensure that senior management has timely access to all material financial and non-financial information concerning the Company’s business. While the Company believes the present design of its disclosure controls and procedures is effective to achieve its goal, future events affecting its business may cause the Company to modify its disclosure controls and procedures.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On April 23, 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 10% of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or approximately 22 million shares, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The plan does not have an expiration date. Information on the shares purchased during the first quarter of 2004 is as follows.

Quarterly Stock Repurchase Activity(Figure 18)

                 
          Total Number of Maximum Number of
          Shares Purchased Shares that May Yet
  Total Number of Average Price As Part of Publicly Be Purchased
  Shares Purchased
 Per Share
 Announced Plan
 Under the Plan
January 1, 2004 — January 31, 2004           6,424,163(1)
February 1, 2004 — February 29, 2004  1,715,900  $35.72   1,715,900   4,708,263 
March 1, 2004 — March 31, 2004  21,200  $36.41   21,200   4,687,063 
   
 
       
 
     
Total  1,737,100  $35.73   1,737,100     
   
 
       
 
     


(1)Amount represents the number of shares available to be repurchased under the plan as of December 31, 2003.

ITEM 5. Other Information

Cash Dividend On October 22, 2003,April 21, 2004, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.29 per share, up 11.5% from $.26 per share.share for the last quarter. The cash dividend is payable NovemberMay 20, 20032004 to shareholders of record on

23


November May 6, 2003. This quarterly payout will bring the cash dividend to $.98 per share for the full year of 2003, up 18.1% from the $.83 per share paid in 2002.

2004.

ITEM 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a) 
(a)Exhibits: See Index to Exhibits.
(b)Reports on Form 8-K:
On January 20, 2004, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K containing a news release regarding its intention to prepay certain FHLB advances, as well its outlook on 2004 earnings per share.
On January 21, 2004, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K containing a news release clarifying its 2004 earnings guidance.
On January 28, 2004, the Company filed a report on Form 8-K containing its presentation materials for the Citigroup Smith Barney Financial Services Conference held in New York, New York on January 28, 2004.

(b)  Reports on Form 8-K: None20


SIGNATURES

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements 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.

     
 CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.  

Date:November 10, 2003/s/ Charles John Koch

    
Date: May 10, 2004/s/ Charles John Koch


Charles John Koch
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal
Executive Officer)  

Date:November 10, 2003/s/ Richard W. Neu

    
Date: May 10, 2004/s/ Richard W. Neu


Richard W. Neu
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(Duly Authorized Officer and Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)  

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

   
EXHIBIT
NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
 
DESCRIPTION
3.1 Registrant’s Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and currently in effect, filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
3.2 Registrant’s Bylaws, as amended and restated and currently in effect, filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
4.1 Form of Certificate of Common Stock, as currently in effect, filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
4.2 Amended and Restated Stockholder Protection Rights Agreement, dated October 20, 1999, between the Company and Fleet National Bank (f/k/a BankBoston, N.A.), as rights agent, filed as Exhibit 2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on October 30, 1999 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
4.3 The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, with copies of all instruments defining rights of holders of long-term debt of Charter One and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 
 
10.1 Registrant’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan, filed on January 22, 1988 as Exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-16207), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
10.2 Registrant’s Directors’ Stock Option Plan, filed on January 22, 1988 as Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-16207), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
10.3 Charter One Bank, F.S.B. Executive Incentive Goal Achievement Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 (File No. 000-16311) is incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
10.4 First American Savings Bank, F.S.B. Nonqualified Retirement Plan and First Amendment thereto, filed as Exhibit 10.17 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993 (File No. 000-16311), are incorporated herein by reference.

 
 
10.5FirstFed Michigan Corporation 1991 Stock Option Plan, filed on November 1, 1995 as an exhibit to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-61273), is incorporated herein by reference.

10.6 Amendment 1, dated May 3, 1996, to Forms of Supplemental Retirement Agreements, dated October 31, 1995, between Charter One and Charles John Koch, Richard W. Neu, John David Koch, Mark D. Grossi, and Robert J. Vana filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 000-16311), is incorporated herein by reference. The Agreements, originally filed on July 25, 1995 as Exhibits 10.4 and 10.5 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 33-61273), are incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.710.6 Amended and Restated Employment Agreements, effective August 1, 1999, between Charter One Financial, Inc. and Charles John Koch, Richard W. Neu, John D. Koch, Mark D. Grossi, and Robert J. Vana filed as Exhibit 10.8 to Registrant’s Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 (File No. 000-16311), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.810.7 Alliance Bancorp 1997 Long-Term Incentive Stock Benefit Plan, filed as an attachment to the proxy statement for the annual meeting of stockholders of Alliance held on May 28, 1997 (File No. 000-20082), is incorporated herein by reference.

 
10.910.8 Hinsdale Financial Corporation 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan, filed as an attachment to the proxy

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statement for the annual meeting of stockholders of Alliance held on February 8, 1995 (File No. 000-20082), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1010.9 Hinsdale Financial Corporation 1992 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors and the Hinsdale Financial Corporation 1992 Incentive Stock Option Plan, filed as attachments to the proxy statement

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for the annual meeting of stockholders of Alliance held on February 10, 1993 (File No. 000-20082) is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1110.10 Charter One Financial, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1210.11 1992 Stock-Based Compensation Plan of RCSB Financial, Inc., filed on October 8, 1997, as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment Number One on Form S-8 to Form S-4 (File No.��333-33259), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1310.12 Home Federal Savings Bank Stock Compensation Program, filed on September 29, 1997 as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment Number One on Form S-8 to Form S-4 (File No. 333-33169), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1410.13 The RCSB Financial, Inc. Non-Employee Director Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated on December 1, 1998, filed as Exhibit 10.16 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 000-16311), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1510.14 ALBANK Financial Corporation 1992 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees, as amended and restated as of December 18, 1995, filed as Exhibit 10.11 to ALBANK’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 000-19843), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1610.15 ALBANK Financial Corporation 1995 Stock Incentive Plan for Outside Directors, filed as Exhibit 10.12.1 to ALBANK’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (File No. 000-19843), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1710.16 ALBANK Financial Corporation 1992 Stock Incentive Plan for Outside Directors, filed as an appendix to the Proxy Statement for the 1992 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of ALBANK held on October 26, 1992 (File No. 001-19843), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1810.17 Employment Agreement, dated November 30, 1998, between Charter One Financial, Inc. and Herbert G. Chorbajian, filed as Exhibit 10.20 to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (File No. 000-16311), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.1910.18 Charter One Financial, Inc. Top Executive Incentive Goal Achievement Plan, filed on October 1, 1998 as Annex EAppendix A to the Prospectus contained inRegistrant’s Proxy Statement for the Registrant’s Registration Statement2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on Form S-4April 22, 2003 (File No. 333-65137)001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.2010.19 Charter One Bank, N.A.’s Director Non-Stock Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.20 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.2110.20 Charter One Bank, N.A.’s Non-Stock Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.2210.21 Charter One Bank, N.A.’s Stock Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.2310.22 Master Trust Agreement for Charter One Financial, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plans, filed as Exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

  
10.2410.23 Amendment No. 1 to the amended and restated Charter One Financial, Inc. 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Registrant’’Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

10.24Charter One Financial, Inc. 2004 Senior Executive Stock Unit Deferred Compensation Plan and Charter One Financial, Inc. 2004 Senior Executive Cash Deferred Compensation Plan, effective February 1, 2004, filed as Exhibit 10.24 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

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10.25Charter One Financial, Inc. 2004 Senior Executive Stock Unit Deferred Compensation Plan Agreements, effective February 1, 2004, between Charter One Financial, Inc. and Charles John Koch, Richard W. Neu, John D. Koch, Mark D. Grossi, and Robert J. Vana, filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

10.26Amendment 2, dated July 31, 2002 (but effective March 20, 2001), to Forms of Supplemental Retirement Agreements between Charter One Financial, Inc. and Charles John Koch, Richard W. Neu, John D. Koch, Mark D. Grossi, and Robert J. Vana, filed as Exhibit 10.26 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

10.27Amendment 3, dated February 1, 2004, to Forms of Supplemental Retirement Agreements between Charter One Financial, Inc. and Charles John Koch, Richard W. Neu, John D. Koch, Mark D. Grossi, and Robert J. Vana, filed as Exhibit 10.27 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 (File No. 001-15495), is incorporated herein by reference.

11 Statement Regarding Computation of Per Share Earnings

 
 
31.1 Certification Required by Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a) (Chief Executive Officer)

 
 
31.2 Certification Required by Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a) (Chief Financial Officer)

 
 
32 Certifications Required by Section 1350 of Title 18 of the United States Code

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