UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

or

For the transition period from __________ to __________.

Commission file number: 001-09383

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

1108 FIFTH AVENUE, SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California94901

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code (707) 863-6000

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.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted  pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements about Westamerica Bancorporation (the “Company”) for which it claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, future credit quality and performance, the appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses, loan growth or reduction, mitigation of risk in the Company’s loan and investment securities portfolios, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of the Company or its management or board of directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements.  Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", “estimates”, "intends", "targeted", "projected", “forecast”, "continue", "remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Management’s current knowledge and belief and include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future financial condition and results of operations. A number of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control, could cause future results to differ materially from those contemplated. These factors include but are not limited to (1) the length and severity of difficulties in the global, national and California economies and the effects of government efforts to address those difficulties; (2) liquidity levels in capital markets; (3) fluctuations in asset prices including, but not limited to stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities; (4) the effect of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; (5) economic uncertainty created by terrorist threats and attacks on the United States, the actions taken in response, and the uncertain effect of these events on the national and regional economies; (6) changes in the interest rate environment; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8) competitive pressure in the banking industry; (9) operational risks including a failure or breach in data processing or security systems or those of third party vendors and other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks or fraud; (10) volatility of interest rate sensitive loans, deposits and investments; (11) asset/liability management risks and liquidity risks; (12) the effect of natural disasters, including earthquakes, fire, flood, drought, and other disasters, on the uninsured value of the Company’s assets and of loan collateral, the financial condition of debtors and issuers of investment securities, the economic conditions affecting the Company’s market place, and commodities and asset values; (13) changes in the securities markets and (14) the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings. However, the reader should not consider the above-mentioned factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this report to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date forward looking statements are made, except as may be required by law. The reader is directed to the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018, for further discussion of factors which could affect the Company's business and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made in this report.

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1    Financial Statements

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited)

(In thousands)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.      

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.              

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.              

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.                

WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated financial statements.

⁽¹⁾ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC")

⁽²⁾ Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB")

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

2018.

Note 2: Accounting Policies

The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note 1 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. 2018. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in this discussion, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, it is reasonably possible conditions could change materially affecting results of operations and financial conditions.

Application of these principles requires the Company to make certain estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain accounting policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment writedown or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility. The fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based either on quoted market prices or are provided by other third-partythird-party sources, when available.

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

In the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018, 2019, the Company adopted the following new accounting guidance:

FASB Accounting Standard Update (ASU) 2014-09, ASU 2016-02,RevenueLeases (Topic 606): Revenue from Contracts with Customers,842), was issued May 2014. The ASU specifies a standardized approach for revenue recognition across industries and transactions. The ASU also requires additional disclosures. The scope of the ASU does not include revenue streams covered by other ASU topics; thus, Topic 606 does not apply to revenue related to financial instruments, guarantees and leases, which are the primary sources of the Company’s net interest income.

Approximately 73% of the Company’s revenue, including all of its net interest income and a portion of its noninterest income, is out of scope of the guidance. The contracts that are in scope of the guidance are primarily related to service charges and fees on deposit accounts, merchant processing fees, debit card fees, ATM processing fees, trust fees and other service charges, commissions and fees. The Company’s revenue recognition practices within the scope of the ASU as described below did not change in any material regard upon adoption of the ASU.

Service Charges on Deposit Accounts: The Company earns fees from its deposit customers for transaction-based, account maintenance, and overdraft services. Transaction-based fees are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer’s request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs. Service charges on deposits are withdrawn from the customer’s account balance.

Merchant Processing Services and Debit Card Fees: The Company earns interchange fees from cardholder transactions conducted through the payment networks. Interchange fees from cardholder transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder.

Trust Fees: The Company earns trust fees from its contracts with customers to manage assets for investment or custody services. These fees are primarily earned over time as the Company provides the contracted monthly services and are generally assessed based on a tiered scale of the market value of assets under management (AUM) at month-end. Other related services provided, which are based on a fixed fee schedule, are recognized when the services are rendered.

Gains/Losses on Sales of OREO: The Company records a gain or loss from the sale of OREO when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed. The Company does not finance the sale of OREO.

The Company adopted the ASU on January 1, 2018 and no cumulative adjustment was required.

FASB ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, was issued January 2016. The ASU addresses certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure of financial instruments. Most notably, the ASU changes the income statement impact of equity investments held by the Company and the requirement for the Company to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes (Note 9).

The Company was required to adopt the ASU provisions on January 1, 2018, and for those equity securities with readily determinable fair values, the Company elected the retrospective transition approach with a cumulative effect adjustment to the balance sheet and for those equity securities that do not have readily determinable fair values, the Company elected the prospective transition approach. The impact of the adoption of this accounting standard on the Company’s consolidated financial statements will be subject to the price volatility of the equity investments. As a result of implementing the ASU provisions, effective January 1, 2018, the Company recorded a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings of $142 thousand.

FASB ASU 2018-02, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, was issued February 2018. The ASU eliminates the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 by allowing a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. The Company early adopted the provisions of the ASU effective January 1, 2018, by reclassifying the Company’s $3,625 thousand stranded tax effect.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2016-02,Leases (Topic 842), was issued February 25, 2016. The provisions of the new standard require lessees to recognize most leases on-balance sheet, increasing reported assets and liabilities. Lessor accounting remains substantially similar to current U.S. GAAP.

The Company will be required to adoptadopted the ASU provisions effective January 1, 2019, and plans to electelected the modified retrospective transition approach. Management is evaluatingThe Company elected the impact thatpackage of practical expedients provided in the ASU, will havewhich allowed the Company to rely on lease classification determinations made under prior accounting guidance and forego reevaluation of (i) whether any existing contracts are or contain a lease, (ii) whether existing leases are operating or finance leases, and (iii) the Company’sinitial direct cost for any existing leases. The Company also elected to combine lease and non-lease components and exempt short-term leases with an original term of one year or less from on-balance sheet recognition. The implementing entry recognized a lease liability of $15.3 million and right-of-use asset of $15.3 million for facilities leases. The change in occupancy and equipment expense was not material.

FASB ASU 2017-08, Receivables – Non-Refundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities, was issued March 2017. The ASU shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the ASU requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity.

The Company adopted the ASU provisions on January 1, 2019. The implementing entry reduced the carrying value of investment securities, specifically obligations of states and political subdivisions, by $3.1 million and reduced retained earnings by $2.8 million, net of tax. The change in premium amortization method was not material to revenue recognition.

FASB ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, was issued August 2017.  The ASU expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements.  AsThe ASU also provides for a one-time reclassification of December 31, 2017,prepayable assets from held-to-maturity (HTM) to available for sale (AFS) regardless of derivative use.

The Company adopted the Company leased 58 of its operating facilities; the remaining minimum lease payments were $17.5 million. ASU provisions on January 1, 2019. The Company does not expect a material change currently engage in noninterest expenses upon adoptiontrading activities or use derivative instruments to control interest rate risk, even though such activities may be permitted with the approval of the new standard.Company’s Board of Directors. The Company evaluated the prepayable assets in the HTM portfolio and did not effect a one-time reclassification of prepayable assets from HTM to the AFS upon implementation.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

FASB ASU 2016-13,2016-13,Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326)326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, was issued on June 16, 2016. The ASU significantly changes estimates for credit losses related to financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other contracts. For estimating credit losses, the FASB is replacing the incurred loss model with the current expected credit loss (CECL) model, which will accelerate recognition of credit losses.  Additionally, credit losses relating to debt securities available-for-sale will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses under the new standard. The Company will also be required to provide additional disclosures related to the financial assets within the scope of the new standard.

The Company will be required to adopt the ASU provisions on January 1, 2020. Management has commenced an implementation project to include evaluatingevaluated available data, definingdefined portfolio segments of loans with similar attributes, and selectingselected loss estimate models for each identified loan portfolio segment. Management has preliminarily measured historical loss rates for each portfolio segment. Management has also segmented debt securities held to maturity, selected methods to estimate losses for each segment, and preliminarily measured a loss estimate. The ultimate adjustment to the allowance for loan losses will be accomplished through an offsetting after-tax adjustment to shareholders’ equity. Management has also segmented debt securities held to maturity and selected methods to estimate losses for each segment. Economic conditions and the composition of the Company’s loan portfolio and debt securities held to maturity at the time of adoption will influence the extent of the adopting accounting adjustment. Management expects to develop an aggregate loss estimate by December 31, 2019.

FASB ASU 2017-082018-13, Receivables – Non-Refundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities, was issued March 2017. The ASU will shorten the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the ASU requires the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The ASU does not require an accounting change for securities held at a discount; the discount continues to be amortized to maturity.

The Company will be required to adopt the ASU provisions on January 1, 2019. Management has evaluated the impact the ASU will have on the Company’s financial statements relative to shareholder’s equity and the change in monthly earnings and the impact is not expected to be material.

FASB ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities, was issued August 2017. The ASU will expand and refine hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and align the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. The ASU also provides for a one-time reclassification of prepayable assets from held-to-maturity (HTM) to available for sale (AFS) regardless of derivative use.

The Company will be required to adopt the ASU provisions on January 1, 2019. The Company does not currently engage in trading activities or use derivative instruments to control interest rate risk, even though such activities may be permitted with the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company has evaluated the prepayable assets in the HTM portfolio and will not effect a one-time reclassification of prepayable assets from HTM to the AFS upon implementation.

FASB ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820)820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, was issued August 2018.  The ASU is part of the disclosure framework project, where the primary focus is to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the financial statements.  The ASU removes, modifies and adds disclosure requirements related to Fair Value Measurements.

The provisions of the ASU are effective January 1, 2020 with the option to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of the ASU.  The Company early adopted the provisions to remove and/or modify relevant disclosures in Note 9the “Fair Value Measurements” note to the unaudited consolidated financial statements.  The requirement to include additional disclosures will be adopted by the Company January 1, 2020.  The additional disclosures will not affect the financial results upon adoption.