ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
This discussion is designed to provide insight into management’s assessment of significant trends related to the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital resources, and interest rate sensitivity. It should be read in conjunction with the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this report.
Forward Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023 (this “Form 10-Q”) contains certain forward-looking statements about the Company and the Bank that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements that are not historical or current facts, including statements about future financial and operational results, expectations, or intentions are forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect management's current views of future events and operations. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to the Company as of the date of this Form 10-Q. It is important to note that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve and are subject to significant risks, contingencies, and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond our control and which may cause our actual results and performance to differ materially from anticipated results or performance or those contained or implied by such forward-looking statements including, but not limited to:
| • | general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which business is conducted, or conditions in the real estate or securities markets or the banking industry which could affect liquidity in the capital markets, the volume of loan origination, deposit flows, real estate values, the levels of non-interest income and the amount of loan losses; |
| • | liquidity of banking institutions both domestically and internationally, including sources and availability of funds, depositor behavior in response adverse economic developments, and the ability to attract and retain deposits and manage liquidity; |
| • | the reduction in the value of securities portfolios due to rising interest rates; |
| • | recent bank failures and other adverse developments in the financial sector that affects customer and investor confidence and resulting deposit volatility and uncertainty and disruption in capital markets; |
| • | changes in existing loan portfolio composition and credit quality, and changes in loan loss requirements; |
| • | legislative or regulatory changes which may adversely affect the Company’s business, including the interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and regulatory pressure to increase capital levels; |
| • | continued inflation, including the rising cost of oil and gas, and its impact on our customers’ businesses and ability to repay loans; |
| • | climate conditions, including the drought experienced in California over the past several years followed by the flooding due to the unusually large amounts of precipitation experienced this past winter, and their impact on the economy; |
| • | the Company’s success in implementing its business initiatives, including expanding its product line, adding new branches, and successfully building its brand image; |
| • | changes in interest rates which may reduce or increase net interest margin and net interest income; |
| • | increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or non-financial institutions; |
| • | technological changes which may be more difficult to implement or more expensive than anticipated; |
| • | changes in borrowing facilities, capital markets, and investment opportunities which may adversely affect the business; |
| • | changes in accounting principles, policies, or guidelines which may cause conditions to be perceived differently; |
| • | litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, which may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than anticipated along with the costs and effects of litigation and of adverse outcomes of such litigation; |
| • | the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than anticipated; |
| • | the ability to originate loans with attractive terms and acceptable credit quality; |
| • | the ability to attract and retain key members of management; |
| • | the ability to realize cost efficiencies; |
| • | a failure or breach of our operational or security systems or infrastructure, including cyber-attacks on us or third party vendors or service providers; |
| • | a return of recessionary conditions and increased unemployment that could result in deterioration in credit quality of our loan portfolio and/or the value of the collateral securing the repayment of those loans, and/or reduce demand for our products and services; |
| • | United States tax policies, including our effective income tax rate; |
| • | possible impact by the transition from London Inter-bank Offering Rate (“LIBOR”) to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) or other indices as a reference rate;
|
| • | risks related to natural disasters, earthquakes, wildfires, terrorist attacks, threats of war or actual war, including the current military actions involving the Russian Federation and Ukraine and the recent conflict in the Middle East, supply chain interruptions, and health epidemics may impact our operations, revenues, costs, and stock price; and |
| • | risks related to the transaction that is the subject of the Agreement of Reorganization and Merger dated October 10, 2023, by and among Central Valley Community Bancorp and Community West Bancshares (the “Reorganization Agreement”) pursuant to which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger transaction not satisfying the conditions to closing the transaction, including the companies not receiving the regulatory approvals and the shareholder approvals of the transaction and as a result not completing the transaction in accordance with the terms of the Reorganization Agreement. |
For additional information regarding risks that may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, available in the “Investor Relations” section of our website, https://www.communitywest.com/sec-filings/documents. The Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any obligation) to update or alter such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
Financial Overview and Highlights
Community West Bancshares (“CWBC”) incorporated under the laws of the state of California, is a bank holding company headquartered in Goleta, California providing full-service banking and lending through its wholly-owned subsidiary Community West Bank (“CWB” or the “Bank”), which has seven California branch banking offices in Goleta, Ventura, Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Oxnard, and Paso Robles and one wholly-owned subsidiary, 445 Pine LLC which was formed to hold certain repossessed property. These entities are collectively referred to herein as the “Company.”
Financial Result Highlights for the Third Quarter of 2023
The Company’s financial results for the third quarter were as follows:
| • | Net income was $2.3 million, or $0.25 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $3.5 million, or $0.39 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2022. |
| • | Net interest income was $10.5 million for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $11.9 million in the third quarter of 2022. |
| • | A provision (credit) for credit losses of $43 thousand was recorded for the third quarter of 2023, compared to $298 thousand for the third quarter of 2022. |
| • | Net interest margin was 3.98% for the third quarter of 2023, compared to 4.39% for the third quarter of 2022. |
| • | Return on average assets was 0.83% for the third quarter of 2023, compared to 1.25% for the third quarter of 2022. |
| • | Return on average common equity was 7.72% for the third quarter of 2023, compared to 12.65% for the third quarter 2022. |
| • | Cash and cash equivalents increased $75.9 million to $140.6 million at September 30, 2023 from $64.7 million at December 31, 2022 as management took steps to increase on-balance sheet liquidity during 2023. |
| • | Loans held for investment were $934.2 million at September 30, 2023, compared to $934.3 million at December 31, 2022. |
| • | Total assets increased by $48.8 million at September 30, 2023 to $1.14 billion, compared to $1.09 billion at December 31, 2022. |
| • | Total demand deposits decreased $3.6 million to $664.5 million at September 30, 2023, compared to $668.2 million at December 31, 2022. During the same period, certificates of deposit balances increased $44.6 million to $251.6 million at September 30, 2023 from $206.9 million at December 31, 2022. |
| • | Book value per common share increased to $13.11 at September 30, 2023, compared to $12.80 at December 31, 2022. |
| • | The Bank remains well-capitalized with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.84% at September 30, 2023, compared to 10.34% at December 31, 2022. |
The impact to the Company from these items, and others of both a positive and negative nature, will be discussed in more detail as they pertain to the Company’s overall comparative performance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 throughout the analysis sections of this report on Form 10-Q.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The Company's significant accounting policies conform with generally accepted accounting Principles ("GAAP") and are described in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the Notes to Financial Statements section in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. In applying those accounting policies, management of the Company is required to exercise judgment in determining many of the methodologies, assumptions and estimates to be utilized. Certain of the critical accounting estimates are more dependent on such judgement and in some cases may contribute to volatility in the Company's reported financial performance should the assumptions and estimates used change over time due to changes in circumstances. The more significant areas in which management of the Company applies critical assumptions and estimates include the following:
The Company adopted the CECL requirements of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 using the modified retrospective transition approach, and recorded a net decrease of $1.6 million to the beginning balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2023, for the cumulative effect adjustment (net of tax effects). The Company uses the WARM method as the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses under CECL. The calculation of the ACL is adjusted using qualitative factors for current conditions and for reasonable and supportable forecast periods. Loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio are individually evaluated for a required ACL and are not included in the collective evaluation. Expected credit losses for loans evaluated individually are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, when the Company determines that foreclosure is probable, the fair value of the collateral securing the loan, less estimated selling costs.
Although management uses the best information available to make these estimates, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary due to economic, operating, regulatory, and other conditions that may be beyond the Company’s control. Changes in the circumstances considered when determining management's estimates and assumptions could result in changes in those estimates and assumptions, which could result in adjustment of the ACL in future periods. A discussion of facts and circumstances considered by management in determining the ACL is included in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 4 - Loans Held for Investment in our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and in Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Item 1 - Financial Statements in this Form 10-Q.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
A summary of our results of operations and financial condition and select metrics is included in the following table:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | (in thousands, except per share amounts) | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 2,252 | | | $ | 3,478 | | | $ | 6,837 | | | $ | 10,073 | |
Basic earnings per share | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | 0.77 | | | $ | 1.16 | |
Diluted earnings per share | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 0.39 | | | $ | 0.76 | | | $ | 1.13 | |
Net interest margin | | | 3.98 | % | | | 4.39 | % | | | 4.07 | % | | | 4.09 | % |
Return on average assets | | | 0.83 | % | | | 1.25 | % | | | 0.84 | % | | | 1.19 | % |
Return on average common equity | | | 7.72 | % | | | 12.65 | % | | | 8.01 | % | | | 12.66 | % |
The following table sets forth a summary financial overview for the comparable three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | |
| | (in thousands, except per share amounts) | |
Consolidated Income Statement Data: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest and dividend income | | $ | 14,553 | | | $ | 12,654 | | | $ | 1,899 | | | $ | 42,853 | | | $ | 35,860 | | | $ | 6,993 | |
Interest expense | | | 4,034 | | | | 731 | | | | 3,303 | | | | 10,587 | | | | 2,191 | | | | 8,396 | |
Net interest income | | | 10,519 | | | | 11,923 | | | | (1,404 | ) | | | 32,266 | | | | 33,669 | | | | (1,403 | ) |
Provision (credit) for credit losses | | | 43 | | | | 298 | | | | (255 | ) | | | (667 | ) | | | 266 | | | | (933 | ) |
Net interest income after provision (credit) for credit losses | | | 10,476 | | | | 11,625 | | | | (1,149 | ) | | | 32,933 | | | | 33,403 | | | | (470 | ) |
Non-interest income | | | 1,081 | | | | 872 | | | | 209 | | | | 2,989 | | | | 3,214 | | | | (225 | ) |
Non-interest expenses | | | 8,363 | | | | 7,610 | | | | 753 | | | | 26,051 | | | | 22,693 | | | | 3,358 | |
Income before provision for income taxes | | | 3,194 | | | | 4,887 | | | | (1,693 | ) | | | 9,871 | | | | 13,924 | | | | (4,053 | ) |
Provision for income taxes | | | 942 | | | | 1,409 | | | | (467 | ) | | | 3,034 | | | | 3,851 | | | | (817 | ) |
Net income | | $ | 2,252 | | | $ | 3,478 | | | $ | (1,226 | ) | | $ | 6,837 | | | $ | 10,073 | | | $ | (3,236 | ) |
Earnings per share - basic | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 0.40 | | | $ | (0.15 | ) | | $ | 0.77 | | | $ | 1.16 | | | $ | (0.39 | ) |
Earnings per share - diluted | | $ | 0.25 | | | $ | 0.39 | | | $ | (0.14 | ) | | $ | 0.76 | | | $ | 1.13 | | | $ | (0.37 | ) |
Interest Rates and Differentials
The following table illustrates average yields on interest earning assets and average rates on interest bearing liabilities for the periods indicated:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | Average Balance | | | Interest | | | Average Yield/Cost(1) | | | Average Balance | | | Interest | | | Average Yield/Cost(1) | |
Interest-Earning Assets | | (in thousands) | |
Federal funds sold and interest-earning deposits | | $ | 70,564 | | | $ | 903 | | | | 5.08 | % | | $ | 76,265 | | | $ | 401 | | | | 2.09 | % |
Investment securities | | | 22,568 | | | | 319 | | | | 5.61 | % | | | 65,148 | | | | 386 | | | | 2.35 | % |
Loans (2) | | | 955,609 | | | | 13,331 | | | | 5.53 | % | | | 935,169 | | | | 11,867 | | | | 5.03 | % |
Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,048,741 | | | | 14,553 | | | | 5.51 | % | | | 1,076,582 | | | | 12,654 | | | | 4.66 | % |
Nonearning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and due from banks | | | 2,114 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,177 | | | | | | | | | |
Allowance for credit losses | | | (12,107 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (11,031 | ) | | | | | | | | |
Other assets | | | 35,121 | | | | | | | | | | | | 38,022 | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 1,073,869 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,105,750 | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-Bearing Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing demand deposits | | | 388,385 | | | | 1,908 | | | | 1.95 | % | | | 465,317 | | | | 325 | | | | 0.28 | % |
Savings deposits | | | 17,797 | | | | 13 | | | | 0.29 | % | | | 25,133 | | | | 14 | | | | 0.22 | % |
Time deposits | | | 242,794 | | | | 1,909 | | | | 3.12 | % | | | 151,130 | | | | 189 | | | | 0.50 | % |
Total interest-bearing deposits | | | 648,976 | | | | 3,830 | | | | 2.34 | % | | | 641,580 | | | | 528 | | | | 0.33 | % |
FHLB advances and other borrowings | | | 90,217 | | | | 204 | | | | 0.90 | % | | | 90,764 | | | | 203 | | | | 0.89 | % |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 739,193 | | | | 4,034 | | | | 2.17 | % | | | 732,344 | | | | 731 | | | | 0.40 | % |
Noninterest-Bearing Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 200,804 | | | | | | | | | | | | 248,538 | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities | | | 18,209 | | | | | | | | | | | | 15,789 | | | | | | | | | |
Stockholders' equity | | | 115,663 | | | | | | | | | | | | 109,079 | | | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | | $ | 1,073,869 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,105,750 | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income and margin (3) | | | | | | $ | 10,519 | | | | 3.98 | % | | | | | | $ | 11,923 | | | | 4.39 | % |
Net interest spread (4) | | | | | | | | | | | 3.34 | % | | | | | | | | | | | 4.26 | % |
Total cost of funds (including the effect of non-interest bearing demand deposits) (5) | | | | | | | | | | | 1.70 | % | | | | | | | | | | | 0.30 | % |
(2) | Includes nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale, and is net of deferred fees, related direct costs, premiums, and discounts, but excludes the ACL. Interest income includes net accretion/(amortization) of deferred fees, costs, premiums, and discounts of $70 thousand and $112 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
(3) | Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average interest earning assets. |
(4) | Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. |
(5) | Total cost of funds (including the effect of noninterest-bearing demand deposits) is calculated by dividing total interest expense by the sum of total interest-bearing liabilities and noninterest-bearing demand deposits. |
The following table illustrates average yields on interest earning assets and average rates on interest bearing liabilities for the periods indicated:
| | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | Average Balance | | | Interest | | | Average Yield/Cost(1) | | | Average Balance | | | Interest | | | Average Yield/Cost(1) | |
Interest-Earning Assets | | (in thousands) | |
Federal funds sold and interest-earning deposits | | $ | 81,525 | | | $ | 2,924 | | | | 4.80 | % | | $ | 143,455 | | | $ | 812 | | | | 0.76 | % |
Investment securities | | | 24,911 | | | | 948 | | | | 5.09 | % | | | 45,903 | | | | 858 | | | | 2.50 | % |
Loans (2) | | | 953,511 | | | | 38,981 | | | | 5.47 | % | | | 912,414 | | | | 34,190 | | | | 5.01 | % |
Total interest-earning assets | | | 1,059,947 | | | | 42,853 | | | | 5.41 | % | | | 1,101,772 | | | | 35,860 | | | | 4.35 | % |
Nonearning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and due from banks | | | 2,037 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2,177 | | | | | | | | | |
Allowance for credit losses | | | (12,199 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (10,805 | ) | | | | | | | | |
Other assets | | | 36,848 | | | | | | | | | | | | 38,195 | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 1,086,633 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,131,339 | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-Bearing Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing demand deposits | | | 401,262 | | | | 5,032 | | | | 1.68 | % | | | 493,332 | | | | 917 | | | | 0.25 | % |
Savings deposits | | | 20,148 | | | | 38 | | | | 0.25 | % | | | 24,827 | | | | 47 | | | | 0.25 | % |
Time deposits | | | 235,437 | | | | 4,788 | | | | 2.72 | % | | | 163,666 | | | | 634 | | | | 0.52 | % |
Total interest-bearing deposits | | | 656,847 | | | | 9,858 | | | | 2.01 | % | | | 681,825 | | | | 1,598 | | | | 0.31 | % |
FHLB advances and other borrowings | | | 93,352 | | | | 729 | | | | 1.04 | % | | | 90,257 | | | | 593 | | | | 0.88 | % |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 750,199 | | | | 10,587 | | | | 1.89 | % | | | 772,082 | | | | 2,191 | | | | 0.38 | % |
Noninterest-Bearing Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | | 204,719 | | | | | | | | | | | | 236,531 | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities | | | 17,535 | | | | | | | | | | | | 16,352 | | | | | | | | | |
Stockholders' equity | | | 114,180 | | | | | | | | | | | | 106,374 | | | | | | | | | |
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | | $ | 1,086,633 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,131,339 | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest income and margin (3) | | | | | | $ | 32,266 | | | | 4.07 | % | | | | | | $ | 33,669 | | | | 4.09 | % |
Net interest spread (4) | | | | | | | | | | | 3.52 | % | | | | | | | | | | | 3.97 | % |
Total cost of funds (including the effect of non-interest bearing demand deposits) (5) | | | | | | | | | | | 1.48 | % | | | | | | | | | | | 0.29 | % |
(2) | Includes nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale, and is net of deferred fees, related direct costs, premiums, and discounts, but excludes the ACL. Interest income includes net accretion/(amortization) of deferred fees, costs, premiums, and discounts of $316 thousand and $784 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. |
(3) | Net interest margin is computed by dividing net interest income by total average interest earning assets. |
(4) | Net interest spread represents the average yield earned on interest-earning assets less the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. |
(5) | Total cost of funds (including the effect of noninterest-bearing demand deposits) is calculated by dividing total interest expense by the sum of total interest-bearing liabilities and noninterest-bearing demand deposits. |
The table below sets forth the relative impact on net interest income of changes in the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and changes in rates earned and paid by the Company on such assets and liabilities. For purposes of this table, nonaccrual loans have been included in the average loan balances.
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 versus 2022 | | | 2023 versus 2022 | |
| Increase (Decrease) Due to Changes in (1) | | | Increase (Decrease) Due to Changes in (1) | |
| | Volume | | | Rate | | | Total | | | Volume | | | Rate | | | Total | |
| | (in thousands) | | | (in thousands) | |
Interest income: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal funds sold and interest-earning deposits | | $ | (30 | ) | | $ | 532 | | | $ | 502 | | | $ | (352 | ) | | $ | 2,464 | | | $ | 2,112 | |
Investment securities | | | (252 | ) | | | 185 | | | | (67 | ) | | | (393 | ) | | | 483 | | | | 90 | |
Loans, net | | | 259 | | | | 1,205 | | | | 1,464 | | | | 1,530 | | | | 3,261 | | | | 4,791 | |
Total interest income | | | (23 | ) | | | 1,922 | | | | 1,899 | | | | 785 | | | | 6,208 | | | | 6,993 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest expense: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing demand deposits | | | (54 | ) | | | 1,637 | | | | 1,583 | | | | (172 | ) | | | 4,287 | | | | 4,115 | |
Savings deposits | | | (4 | ) | | | 3 | | | | (1 | ) | | | (9 | ) | | | — | | | | (9 | ) |
Time deposits | | | 116 | | | | 1,604 | | | | 1,720 | | | | 279 | | | | 3,875 | | | | 4,154 | |
FHLB advances and other borrowings | | | (1 | ) | | | 2 | | | | 1 | | | | 21 | | | | 115 | | | | 136 | |
Total interest expense | | | 57 | | | | 3,246 | | | | 3,303 | | | | 119 | | | | 8,277 | | | | 8,396 | |
Net increase | | $ | (80 | ) | | $ | (1,324 | ) | | $ | (1,404 | ) | | $ | 666 | | | $ | (2,069 | ) | | $ | (1,403 | ) |
(1) | Changes due to both volume and rate have been allocated proportionately between changes in volume and rate. |
Comparison of interest income, interest expense, and net interest margin
The Company’s primary source of revenue is interest income. Interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was $14.6 million and $42.9 million, respectively, compared to $12.7 million and $35.9 million for three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. Total interest income in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was positively impacted by an increase in the rates earned on the average outstanding balances of interest-earning assets. The average rate earned on loans during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, was 5.53% and 5.47%, respectively, compared to 5.03% and 5.01% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively. This increase in the rates earned on loans resulted from increased loan rates on new originations, loan prepayment revenue, and the impact of higher benchmark interest rates for variable rate loans. Interest income was also positively impacted by increases of 2.99% and 4.04% in the yield received on federal funds sold and interest earning deposits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, respectively, compared to the same periods in the prior year. These increases were attributable to higher rates earned for overnight deposits and money market deposits due to increases in the federal funds rate. The annualized yield on interest-earning assets for the third quarter of 2023 was 5.51% compared to 4.66% for the third quarter of 2022. The annualized yield on interest-earning assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was 5.41% compared to 4.35% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Interest expense for the third quarter and year-to-date periods ending September 30, 2023 was $4.0 million and $10.6 million, respectively. These amounts represented increases of $3.3 million and $8.4 million, respectively, when compared to the same periods in 2022. The increase in interest expenses compared to the prior year periods was primarily due to an increase in the rates paid on deposit accounts. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, the cost of interest bearing deposits was 2.34% and 2.01%, respectively, compared to 0.33% and 0.31% during the comparable periods in the prior year. Including the impact of non-interest bearing deposits, the total cost of deposits was 1.79% for the third quarter of 2023 compared to 0.24% for the third quarter of 2022. Year-to-date total cost of deposits (including the impact of non-interest bearing deposits) for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 was 1.53% compared to 0.23% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. These increases reflect competitive pricing pressures and the Company’s decision to increase wholesale funding in response to the current operating environment.
The cost of other borrowings was 0.90% and 0.89% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, the cost of other borrowings was 1.04% and 0.88%, respectively. The increased cost of other borrowings in the year-to-date period was the result of the use of overnight advances from FHLB and an advance on the Company’s line of credit to support the Company's liquidity during the first quarter of 2023. These amounts were repaid during the second quarter of 2023.
The total cost of funds for the quarter and year to date periods ended September 30, 2023, were 2.17% and 1.89%, respectively. The total cost of funds for the quarter and year to date periods ended September 30, 2022, were 0.40% and 0.38%, respectively.
The net impact of the changes in yields on interest earning assets and the rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities was a decrease in the net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2023, to 3.98% compared to 4.39% for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The net impact of the changes in yields on interest earning assets and the rates paid on interest bearing liabilities was a decrease in the net interest margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, to 4.07% compared to 4.09% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.
Provision for credit losses
The provision for credit losses consisted of the following components for the periods indicated:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | (in thousands, except per share amounts) | |
Provision (credit) for credit losses for: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans | | $ | (58 | ) | | $ | 298 | | | $ | (680 | ) | | $ | 266 | |
Available-for-sale securities | | | 103 | | | | - | | | | 103 | | | | - | |
Off-balance sheet commitments | | | (2 | ) | | | 2 | | | | (90 | ) | | | 2 | |
Total provision (credit) for credit losses(1) | | $ | 43 | | | $ | 300 | | | $ | (667 | ) | | $ | 268 | |
(1) In accordance with the applicable GAAP rules in place at the time, the only item reported on the Provision (credit) for credit losses line on the consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 was the provision for credit losses for loans. The provision for credit losses for off-balance sheet commitments for those periods was recorded in other non-interest expense.
The Company recorded net loan recoveries of $45 thousand net loan charge-offs of $51 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company recorded net loan recoveries of $239 thousand and $443 thousand for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The percentage of nonaccrual loans to the total loan portfolio was 0.34% as of September 30, 2023, compared to 0.02% at December 31, 2022. The ACL compared to net nonaccrual loans was 380% as of September 30, 2023, compared to 5,102% as of December 31, 2022. Total past due loans increased to $4.6 million as of September 30, 2023, from $2.9 million as of December 31, 2022.
During the quarter ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a $103 thousand provision for credit losses for corporate debt securities classified as available-for-sale due to downgrades in the credit ratings of certain issuers of those debt securities.
Non-Interest Income
The following table summarizes the Company's non-interest income for the periods indicated:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Other loan fees | | $ | 248 | | | $ | 292 | | | $ | (44 | ) | | $ | 703 | | | $ | 915 | | | $ | (212 | ) |
Gains from loan sales, net | | | 24 | | | | 49 | | | | (25 | ) | | | 110 | | | | 245 | | | | (135 | ) |
Document processing fees | | | 88 | | | | 114 | | | | (26 | ) | | | 268 | | | | 337 | | | | (69 | ) |
Service charges | | | 149 | | | | 114 | | | | 35 | | | | 470 | | | | 295 | | | | 175 | |
Other | | | 572 | | | | 303 | | | | 269 | | | | 1,438 | | | | 1,422 | | | | 16 | |
Total non-interest income | | $ | 1,081 | | | $ | 872 | | | $ | 209 | | | $ | 2,989 | | | $ | 3,214 | | | $ | (225 | ) |
Total non-interest income increased by $209 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in other income for the period was primarily the result of a $278 thousand gain (included in other income) from the valuation of two parcels (related to one borrower) which were repossessed and transferred to other assets acquired through foreclosure during the quarter. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in other loan fees, which decreased by $44 thousand for the three months ended September 30, 2023, due to a decrease in the volume of new originations of Farmer Mac loans.
Total non-interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $3.0 million, a decrease of $0.2 million compared to $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease was primarily due to lower origination fee income from Farmer Mac loans and lower loan sale gains due to lower loan sales volume during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in service charges due to an increase in the volume of nonsufficient funds and account analysis charges during the period.
Non-Interest Expenses
The following table summarizes the Company's non-interest expenses for the periods indicated:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | | | Increase | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | (Decrease) | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Salaries and employee benefits | | $ | 5,114 | | | $ | 4,823 | | | $ | 291 | | | $ | 15,864 | | | $ | 14,784 | | | $ | 1,080 | |
Occupancy, net | | | 1,093 | | | | 1,046 | | | | 47 | | | | 3,326 | | | | 3,064 | | | | 262 | |
Professional services | | | 672 | | | | 653 | | | | 19 | | | | 2,442 | | | | 1,687 | | | | 755 | |
Data processing | | | 349 | | | | 302 | | | | 47 | | | | 1,075 | | | | 919 | | | | 156 | |
Depreciation | | | 180 | | | | 173 | | | | 7 | | | | 543 | | | | 535 | | | | 8 | |
FDIC assessment | | | 331 | | | | 131 | | | | 200 | | | | 789 | | | | 466 | | | | 323 | |
Advertising and marketing | | | 179 | | | | 196 | | | | (17 | ) | | | 671 | | | | 687 | | | | (16 | ) |
Other | | | 445 | | | | 286 | | | | 159 | | | | 1,341 | | | | 551 | | | | 790 | |
Total non-interest expenses | | $ | 8,363 | | | $ | 7,610 | | | $ | 753 | | | $ | 26,051 | | | $ | 22,693 | | | $ | 3,358 | |
Total non-interest expenses increased by $0.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2023, compared to the same period in 2022. The increase in non-interest expenses for the periods presented is primarily due to increases in salaries and employee benefits, FDIC assessments, and other expenses. Salaries and employee benefits increased in the three months ended September 30, 2023, due to increased pressure on wages and benefits as a result of increased inflation and low unemployment as well as increases in benefits and insurance costs. The increase in the assessment fees paid to the FDIC was the result of a change in the Company's funding mix. The increase in other expenses was mainly the result of collection and legal expense recoveries during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
During the first nine months of 2023, total non-interest expenses increased by $3.4 million to $26.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023, compared to $22.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The increase over the prior year was due to a $1.1 million increase in salaries and benefits due to wage competition, increased benefit and insurance costs, and an increase in stock based compensation expense. During the first nine months of 2023, professional services expenses increased by $755 thousand due to increased accounting and consulting costs related to testing the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting as required for institutions over $1 billion in total assets and to support strategic and technology initiatives. The increase in other expenses is primarily related to $992 thousand collection and legal expense recovery in the first nine months of 2022.
Income Taxes
Income tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, was $0.9 million and $3.0 million, respectively, compared to $1.4 million and $3.9 million in the same periods during 2022. The combined state and federal effective income tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, were 29.5% and 28.8%, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 and 2022, were 30.7% and 27.7%, respectively. The lower effective tax rate for the year-to-date period in 2022 was the result of the fact that the income recorded from the proceeds from a bank owned life insurance policy in the first quarter of 2022 was non-taxable to the Company.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and their respective tax basis including operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. Net deferred tax assets of $5.7 million and $5.1 million at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively, are reported in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets.
Accounting standards Codification Topic 740, Income Taxes, requires that companies assess whether a valuation allowance should be established against their deferred tax assets based on the consideration of all available evidence using a “more likely than not” standard. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets if, based on weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. Management evaluates the Company’s deferred tax assets for recoverability using a consistent approach which considers the relative impact of negative and positive evidence, including the Company’s historical profitability and projections of future taxable income. The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets and record a charge to income if management determines, based on available evidence at the time the determination is made, that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets may not be realized. There was no valuation allowance on deferred tax assets at September 30, 2023, or December 31, 2022.
The Company is subject to the provisions of ASC 740 - "Income Taxes" ("ASC 740"). ASC 740 prescribes a more likely than not threshold for the financial statement recognition of uncertain tax positions. ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for income taxes by prescribing a minimum recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. On a quarterly basis, the Company undergoes a process to evaluate whether income tax accruals are in accordance with ASC 740 guidance on uncertain tax positions. There were no uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
BALANCE SHEET ANALYSIS
Total assets increased $48.8 million to $1.14 billion at September 30, 2023, from $1.09 billion at December 31, 2022. The increase in total assets was mainly due to an increase of $75.9 million in cash and cash equivalents that resulted from an increase in total deposits and proceeds from the maturities of securities. The increase in cash and cash equivalents was part of management's plans during the first nine months of 2023 to solidify the Company's on-balance sheet liquidity position.
Total liabilities increased $45.4 million to $1.02 billion at September 30, 2023, from $0.98 billion at December 31, 2022, mostly due to an increase in deposits of $41.0 million. The increase in total deposits was the result of increases in the balances of interest-bearing deposits of $28.6 million to $456.8 million at September 30, 2023, and in certificate of deposit account balances of $44.6 million to $251.6 million at September 30, 2023. These increases were primarily due to an increase in wholesale funding accounts obtained by the Company. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in noninterest-bearing demand deposits of $25.7 million.
Total stockholders’ equity increased $3.4 million to $116.1 million at September 30, 2023, from $112.7 million at December 31, 2022. The $6.8 million increase in retained earnings from net income was partially offset by the $1.6 million charge to retained earnings from the adoption of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, a $2.1 million decrease as a result of dividends paid on common stock, and a decrease in the fair value of available for sale securities, net of tax, of $420 thousand during the nine months ended September 30, 2023. Book value per common share was $13.11 at September 30, 2023, compared to $12.80 at December 31, 2022.
Selected Balance Sheet Accounts
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | | | Increase (Decrease) | | | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 140,619 | | | $ | 64,690 | | | $ | 75,929 | | | | 117.4 | % |
Investment securities available-for-sale | | | 15,124 | | | | 26,688 | | | | (11,564 | ) | | | (43.3 | )% |
Investment securities held-to-maturity | | | 2,158 | | | | 2,557 | | | | (399 | ) | | | (15.6 | )% |
Loans held for sale | | | 18,435 | | | | 21,033 | | | | (2,598 | ) | | | (12.4 | )% |
Loans held for investment, net | | | 922,112 | | | | 923,544 | | | | (1,432 | ) | | | (0.2 | )% |
Total assets | | | 1,140,299 | | | | 1,091,502 | | | | 48,797 | | | | 4.5 | % |
Total deposits | | | 916,093 | | | | 875,084 | | | | 41,009 | | | | 4.7 | % |
FHLB advances and other borrowings | | | 90,000 | | | | 90,000 | | | | — | | | | 0.0 | % |
Total stockholder's equity | | | 116,062 | | | | 112,650 | | | | 3,412 | | | | 3.0 | % |
The table below summarizes the distribution of the Company’s loans held for investment at the end of each of the periods indicated.
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Manufactured housing | | $ | 325,068 | | | $ | 315,825 | |
Commercial real estate | | | 556,945 | | | | 545,317 | |
Commercial | | | 38,232 | | | | 59,070 | |
SBA | | | 1,687 | | | | 3,482 | |
HELOC | | | 2,556 | | | | 2,613 | |
Single family real estate | | | 10,615 | | | | 8,709 | |
Consumer | | | 52 | | | | 107 | |
Gross loans held for investment | | | 935,155 | | | | 935,123 | |
Deferred costs, net | | | (883 | ) | | | (787 | ) |
Discount on SBA loans | | | (25 | ) | | | (27 | ) |
Loans held for investment | | | 934,247 | | | | 934,309 | |
Allowance for credit losses | | | (12,135 | ) | | | (10,765 | ) |
Loans held for investment, net | | $ | 922,112 | | | $ | 923,544 | |
The Company had $18.4 million and $21.0 million of loans held for sale at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. Loans held for sale at September 30, 2023, consisted of $4.7 million of SBA loans and $13.7 million of commercial agriculture FSA guaranteed loans. Loans held for sale at December 31, 2022, consisted of $5.2 million in SBA loans and $15.9 million of commercial agriculture FSA guaranteed loans.
Concentrations of Lending Activities
The Company’s lending activities are primarily driven by the customers served in the market areas where the Company has branch offices on the Central Coast of California. The Company monitors concentrations within selected categories such as geography and product. The Company originates manufactured housing, commercial, SBA, construction, real estate, and consumer loans to customers through branch offices located in the Company’s primary markets. The Company’s business is concentrated in these areas and the loan portfolio includes significant credit exposure to the manufactured housing and commercial real estate markets of these areas. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, manufactured housing loans comprised 34.8% and 33.8%, respectively, of gross loans held for investment. As of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, commercial real estate loans accounted for approximately 59.6% and 58.3% of gross loans held for investment, respectively. Approximately 27.5% and 24.5% of these commercial real estate loans were owner-occupied at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. Substantially all of these loans are secured by first liens with average loan to value ratios at origination of 49.8% and 50.4% at September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company was within internally established concentration policy limits at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
Asset Quality
For all banks and bank holding companies, asset quality plays a significant role in the overall financial condition of the institution and results of operations. The Company measures asset quality in terms of nonaccrual loans as a percentage of gross loans, and net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans. Net charge-offs are calculated as the difference between charged-off loans and recovery payments received on previously charged-off loans.
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Nonaccrual loans | | $ | 3,195 | | | $ | 211 | |
Nonaccrual loans to gross loans | | | 0.34 | % | | | 0.02 | % |
Net charge-offs (recoveries) (annualized) to average loans | | | (0.03 | )% | | | (0.06 | )% |
Allowance for credit losses to nonaccrual loans (net of government guaranteed portion) | | | 380 | % | | | 5,102 | % |
Allowance for credit losses to gross loans | | | 1.30 | % | | | 1.15 | % |
The following table summarizes nonaccrual loans by loan segment:
| | At September 30, 2023 | | | At December 31, 2022 | |
| | Nonaccrual Balance | | | % of Total Nonaccrual | | | % of Total Loans | | | Nonaccrual Balance | | | % of Total Nonaccrual | | | % of Total Loans | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
Manufactured housing | | $ | 727 | | | | 22.76 | % | | | 0.08 | % | | $ | 61 | | | | 28.91 | % | | | 0.01 | % |
Commercial real estate | | | 2,277 | | | | 71.27 | % | | | 0.24 | % | | | — | | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
Commercial | | | 50 | | | | 1.56 | % | | | 0.01 | % | | | — | | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
HELOC | | | 141 | | | | 4.41 | % | | | 0.02 | % | | | — | | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
Single family real estate | | | — | | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | 150 | | | | 71.09 | % | | | 0.01 | % |
Total nonaccrual loans | | $ | 3,195 | | | | 100.00 | % | | | 0.35 | % | | $ | 211 | | | | 100.00 | % | | | 0.02 | % |
The following table reflects the recorded investment in certain types of loans at the dates indicated:
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Loans 30 through 89 days past due | | $ | 4,461 | | | $ | 2,880 | |
Loans 90 days or more past due | | | 178 | | | | — | |
Total past due loans | | $ | 4,639 | | | $ | 2,880 | |
Collateral Dependent Loans
Beginning on January 1, 2023, the Company evaluates loans collectively for purposes of determining the ACL in accordance with ASC 326. Collective evaluation is based on aggregating loans deemed to possess similar risk characteristics. In certain instances, the Company may identify loans that it believes no longer possess risk characteristics similar to other loans in the portfolio. Loans that are deemed by management to no longer possess risk characteristics similar to other loans in the portfolio, or that have been identified as collateral dependent, are evaluated individually for purposes of determining an appropriate lifetime ACL. The Company uses a discounted cash flow approach, using the loan’s effective interest rate, for determining the ACL on individually evaluated loans, unless the loan is deemed collateral dependent, which requires evaluation based on the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral, less estimated costs to sell. The Company may increase or decrease the ACL for collateral dependent loans based on changes in the estimated fair value of the collateral. Changes in the ACL for all other individually evaluated loans are based substantially on the Company’s evaluation of cash flows expected to be received from such loans.
The following table presents the amortized cost basis of collateral dependent loans by class of loans and by collateral type as of September 30, 2023:
| | Manufactured Homes | | | Single Family Residence | | | Machinery & Equipment | | | Total | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Manufactured housing | | $ | 1,014 | | | $ | — | | | $ | — | | | $ | 1,014 | |
Commercial real estate | | | 2,277 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 2,277 | |
Commercial | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,210 | | | | 1,210 | |
Single family real estate | | | — | | | | 141 | | | | — | | | | 141 | |
Total | | $ | 3,291 | | | $ | 141 | | | $ | 1,210 | | | $ | 4,642 | |
Prior to the adoption of ASC 326, a loan was considered impaired when, based on current information, it was probable that the Company would have been unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal and/or interest under the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered by management in determining impairment included payment status, collateral value, and the probability of collecting scheduled principal and/or interest payments. Loans that experienced insignificant payment delays or payment shortfalls generally were not classified as impaired. Management determined the significance of payment delays or payment shortfalls on a case-by-case basis. When determining the possibility of impairment, management considered the circumstances surrounding the loan and the borrower, including the length of the delay, the reasons for the delay, the borrower's prior payment record and the amount of the shortfall in relation to the principal and interest owed. For collateral-dependent loans, the Company used the fair value of collateral method to measure impairment. All other loans were measured for impairment based on the present value of future cash flows.
The following schedule summarizes impaired loans and specific reserves by loan class as of December 31, 2022:
| | Manufactured Housing | | | Commercial Real Estate | | | Commercial | | | SBA | | | HELOC | | | Single Family Real Estate | | | Consumer | | | Total Loans | |
Recorded Investment: | | (in thousands) | |
Impaired loans with an allowance recorded | | $ | 2,918 | | | $ | 209 | | | $ | 67 | | | $ | 41 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 208 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 3,443 | |
Impaired loans with no allowance recorded | | | 1,166 | | | | — | | | | 1,297 | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 151 | | | | — | | | | 2,614 | |
Total loans individually evaluated for impairment | | | 4,084 | | | | 209 | | | | 1,364 | | | | 41 | | | | — | | | | 359 | | | | — | | | | 6,057 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Related allowance for impaired loans | | | 157 | | | | 18 | | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | — | | | | 8 | | | | — | | | | 184 | |
Total impaired loans, net | | $ | 3,927 | | | $ | 191 | | | $ | 1,364 | | | $ | 40 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 351 | | | $ | — | | | $ | 5,873 | |
Allowance For Credit Losses
The Company adopted the CECL requirements of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023. The Company uses the WARM method as the basis for the estimation of expected credit losses under CECL. The WARM method utilizes a historical average annual charge-off rate over a historical lookback period as a foundation for estimating credit losses for the remaining outstanding balances of loans in a segment at a particular consolidated balance sheet date. The calculation of the ACL is adjusted using qualitative factors for current conditions and for reasonable and supportable forecast periods. Loans that do not share risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio are individually evaluated for a required allowance for credit loss and are not included in the collective evaluation, as discussed above.
During the three months ended September 30, 2023, the allowance for credit losses decreased by $13 thousand to $12.1 million. This decrease in the required ACL during the quarter was primarily due to a decline in the required allowance for loans evaluated on a collective basis of $140 thousand due to a decrease in net loan balances. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in the ACL that is derived from qualitative factors related to substandard loans during the period.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the allowance for credit losses on loans increased by $1.4 million from $10.8 million at December 31, 2022. When the Company adopted the provisions of ASC 326 on January 1, 2023, it recorded the required $1.8 million increase in the ACL directly to retained earnings (net of tax). During the first nine months of 2023, the Company recorded a provision (credit) for credit losses for loans of $(680) thousand. This decrease in allowance for credit losses during the nine months ended September 30, 2023 (after the adjustment for the adoption of ASC 326) was primarily due to a reduction in the qualitative factor related to the percentage of the state of California that was experiencing a drought. In addition, the allowance for credit losses also declined due to a reduction in the portion of the allowance derived from historical losses. Offsetting these decreases was an increase in the qualitative factor related to substandard loans, discussed above.
The following table summarizes the activity in the ACL by loan type.
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Allowance for credit losses: | | (in thousands) | |
Balance at beginning of period | | $ | 12,148 | | | $ | 10,866 | | | $ | 10,765 | | | $ | 10,404 | |
Impact of adoption of ASC 326 | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1,811 | | | | — | |
Provision (credit) for credit losses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Manufactured housing | | | (54 | ) | | | (77 | ) | | | (151 | ) | | | 1,258 | |
Commercial real estate | | | 44 | | | | 182 | | | | (110 | ) | | | (467 | ) |
Commercial | | | (46 | ) | | | 24 | | | | (372 | ) | | | (475 | ) |
SBA | | | (4 | ) | | | 174 | | | | (70 | ) | | | (67 | ) |
HELOC | | | 1 | | | | (6 | ) | | | (2 | ) | | | 7 | |
Single family real estate | | | 1 | | | | — | | | | 26 | | | | 10 | |
Consumer | | | — | | | | 1 | | | | (1 | ) | | | — | |
Total provision (credit) for credit losses | | | (58 | ) | | | 298 | | | | (680 | ) | | | 266 | |
Recoveries of loans previously charged-off: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Manufactured housing | | | 8 | | | | 88 | | | | 74 | | | | 123 | |
Commercial real estate | | | 20 | | | | 20 | | | | 59 | | | | 60 | |
Commercial | | | 13 | | | | 13 | | | | 37 | | | | 183 | |
SBA | | | 4 | | | | 4 | | | | 69 | | | | 246 | |
HELOC | | | — | | | | 6 | | | | — | | | | 12 | |
Single family real estate | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Consumer | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | 1 | |
Total recoveries | | | 45 | | | | 131 | | | | 239 | | | | 625 | |
Loans charged-off: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Manufactured housing | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Commercial real estate | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Commercial | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
SBA | | | — | | | | 182 | | | | — | | | | 182 | |
HELOC | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Single family real estate | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Consumer | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total charged-off | | | — | | | | 182 | | | | — | | | | 182 | |
Net charge-offs (recoveries) | | | (45 | ) | | | 51 | | | | (239 | ) | | | (443 | ) |
Balance at end of period | | $ | 12,135 | | | $ | 11,113 | | | $ | 12,135 | | | $ | 11,113 | |
Investment Securities
The investment securities portfolio of the Company is utilized as collateral for borrowings, required collateral for public deposits, and to manage liquidity, capital, and interest rate risk.
The carrying value of investment securities was as follows:
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Securities available-for-sale (at fair value) | | | | | | |
U.S. government agency notes | | $ | 3,493 | | | $ | 4,107 | |
U.S. government agency CMO | | | 3,978 | | | | 4,296 | |
U.S. Treasury securities | | | — | | | | 9,970 | |
Corporate debt securities | | | 7,653 | | | | 8,315 | |
Total securities available for sale | | | 15,124 | | | | 26,688 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Securities held-to-maturity (at amortized cost): US government agency MBS | | | 2,158 | | | | 2,557 | |
Equity securities (at fair value): Farmer Mac class A stock | | | 309 | | | | 225 | |
Total investment securities | | $ | 17,591 | | | $ | 29,470 | |
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we recorded an allowance for credit losses for available-for-sale securities (through the provision for credit losses) of $103 thousand related to corporate debt securities whose issuers experienced downgrades in their credit ratings to below what is considered to be investment grade during the quarter. The ACL was determined using the discounted cash flow method, using estimated loss rates that were derived from averages for corporate debt securities with similar credit ratings. To date, none of the issuers of these debt securities have missed an interest payment. Management monitors the credit ratings of the corporate debt issuers on a monthly basis and will make appropriate adjustments to the ACL as necessary.
Other Assets Acquired Through Foreclosure
The following table represents the changes in other assets acquired through foreclosure:
| | Three Months Ended September 30, | | | Nine Months Ended September 30, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
| | (in thousands) | |
Balance, beginning of period | | $ | 65 | | | $ | 2,250 | | | $ | 2,250 | | | $ | 2,518 | |
Additions | | | 1,511 | | | | — | | | | 1,576 | | | | — | |
Proceeds from dispositions | | | (46 | ) | | | — | | | | (2,551 | ) | | | (372 | ) |
(Loss)/gain on sales, net | | | (19 | ) | | | — | | | | 236 | | | | 104 | |
Balance, end of period | | $ | 1,511 | | | $ | 2,250 | | | $ | 1,511 | | | $ | 2,250 | |
Other assets acquired through foreclosure consist primarily of properties acquired as a result of, or in-lieu-of, foreclosure. Properties or other assets (primarily manufactured housing) are classified as other real estate owned and other repossessed assets and are reported at fair value at the time of foreclosure less estimated costs to sell. Costs relating to development or improvement of the assets are capitalized to the extent that they are deemed to be recoverable and increase the value of the property; otherwise, those costs are expensed. Costs related to holding the assets are charged to expense. The Company did not have any valuation allowances against foreclosed assets as of September 30, 2023 or December 31, 2022.
Deposits
The following table provides the balance and percentage change in the Company’s deposits:
| | September 30, 2023 | | | December 31, 2022 | | | Increase (Decrease) | | | Percent Increase (Decrease) | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 190,817 | | | $ | 216,494 | | | $ | (25,677 | ) | | | (11.9 | )% |
Interest-bearing demand deposits | | | 456,808 | | | | 428,173 | | | | 28,635 | | | | 6.7 | % |
Savings | | | 16,905 | | | | 23,490 | | | | (6,585 | ) | | | (28.0 | )% |
Certificates of deposit ($250,000 or more) | | | 14,911 | | | | 6,693 | | | | 8,218 | | | | 122.8 | % |
Other certificates of deposit | | | 236,652 | | | | 200,234 | | | | 36,418 | | | | 18.2 | % |
Total deposits | | $ | 916,093 | | | $ | 875,084 | | | $ | 41,009 | | | | 4.7 | % |
Deposits are the primary source of funding the Company’s asset growth. Total deposits increased 4.7% to $916.1 million at September 30, 2023, from $875.1 million at December 31, 2022. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits were $190.8 million at September 30, 2023, a $25.7 million decrease compared to $216.5 million at December 31, 2022. Interest-bearing demand deposits increased $28.6 million to $456.8 million at September 30, 2023, compared to $428.2 million at December 31, 2022. Certificates of deposit, which include brokered deposits, increased $44.6 million to $251.6 million at September 30, 2023, compared to $206.9 million at December 31, 2022. Total brokered deposits increased by $60.5 million to $191.1 million at September 30, 2023 from $130.6 million at December 31, 2022.
The Bank is a member of Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) and Insured Cash Sweep ("ICS"). CDARS and ICS provide a mechanism for obtaining FDIC insurance for large deposits. At September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company had $209.3 million and $120.3 million, respectively, of CDARS and ICS deposits.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Liquidity for a bank is the ongoing ability to fund asset growth and business operations, to accommodate liability maturities, and deposit withdrawals and meet contractual obligations through unconstrained access to funding at reasonable market rates. Liquidity management involves forecasting funding requirements and maintaining sufficient capacity to meet the needs and accommodate fluctuations in asset and liability levels due to changes in our business operations or unanticipated events.
The ability to have readily available funds sufficient to repay fully maturing liabilities is of primary importance to depositors, creditors, and regulators. CWB's available liquidity is represented by cash and amounts due from banks and non-pledged marketable securities. CWB manages its liquidity risk through operating, investing, and financing activities. Liquidity requirements can also be met through short-term borrowings or the disposition of short-term assets. In order to ensure funds are available, when necessary, on at least a quarterly basis CWB projects the amount of funds that will be required.
The Company has established policies as well as analytical tools to manage liquidity. Proper liquidity management ensures that sufficient funds are available to meet normal operating demands in addition to unexpected customer demand for funds, such as high levels of deposit withdrawals or increased loan demand, in a timely and cost-effective manner. CWB’s liquidity management is viewed from a long-term and short-term perspective, as well as from an asset and liability perspective. Management monitors liquidity through regular reviews of maturity profiles, funding sources, and loan and deposit forecasts to minimize funding risk. The Bank has asset/liability committees (“ALCO”) at the Board and Bank management level to review asset/liability management and liquidity issues.
The Company, through CWB, has a blanket lien credit line with FHLB. FHLB advances are collateralized in the aggregate by CWB’s eligible loans and securities. Total fixed rate FHLB advances were $90.0 million at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022. The Company also had $27.0 million of letters of credit with FHLB at September 30, 2023 to secure public funds. At September 30, 2023, CWB had pledged to the FHLB $9.5 million of securities and $382.7 million of loans. At September 30, 2023, based on the amounts of loans and securities pledged, CWB had $124.8 million available for additional borrowing. At December 31, 2022, CWB had pledged to the FHLB securities with a carrying value of $21.1 million and $232.6 million of loans.
CWB has established a credit line with the FRB. There were no outstanding FRB advances as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022. At September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, there were $289.3 million and $248.6 million of loans pledged to the FRB, respectively. CWB had $98.0 million in borrowing capacity as of September 30, 2023.
CWBC has a $10.0 million revolving line of credit which matures in September of 2025, unless renewed. During the first quarter of 2023, the Company advanced $10.0 million from the line of credit which was subsequently repaid during the second quarter of 2023. The Company must maintain a compensating deposit account with the lender of $1 million. In addition, the Company must maintain a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.65 to one, a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 7.0%, a minimum total risked based capital ratio of 10.0% and a maximum net non-accrual ratio of not more than 3.0%. The Company was in compliance with all of the required debt covenants at September 30, 2023. As of September 30, 2023, there were no outstanding balances on the revolving line of credit.
The Company has federal funds purchased lines at correspondent banks with a total borrowing capacity of $20.0 million. There were no borrowings outstanding under these agreements as of September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022.
The Company continues to face strong competition for core deposits. The liquidity ratio of the Company was 15.3% and 10.4% at September 30, 2023, and December 31, 2022, respectively. The Company’s liquidity ratio fluctuates in conjunction with loan funding demands. The liquidity ratio consists of the sum of cash and due from banks, deposits in other financial institutions, available-for-sale investments, and loans held for sale, divided by total assets.
As a legal entity, separate and distinct from the Bank, CWBC must rely on its own resources for its liquidity. CWBC’s routine funding requirements primarily consisted of certain operating expenses, common stock dividends, and interest payments on the other borrowings. CWBC obtains funding to meet its obligations from dividends collected from CWB and fees charged for services provided to CWB and has the capability to issue equity and debt securities. Federal banking laws and regulatory requirements regulate the amount of dividends that may be paid by a banking subsidiary without prior regulatory approval. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, CWBC declared and paid dividends of $0.7 million and $2.1 million, respectively. On October 27, 2023, the Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.08 per share dividend payable on November 30, 2023, to stockholders of record on November 14, 2023. The Company anticipates that it will continue to pay quarterly cash dividends in the future, although there can be no assurance that payments of such dividends will continue or that they will not be reduced.
Our material cash requirements may include funding existing loan commitments, funding equity investments, withdrawal/maturity of existing deposits, repayment of borrowings, operating lease payments, and expenditures necessary to maintain current operations.
The Company enters into contractual obligations in the normal course of business as a source of funds for its asset growth and to meet required capital needs. The following schedule summarizes maturities and principal payments due on our contractual obligations excluding interest:
| | At September 30, 2023 | |
| | Less than 1 year | | | More than 1 year | | | Total | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
Time deposits | | $ | 183,127 | | | $ | 68,436 | | | $ | 251,563 | |
FHLB advances and other borrowings | | | — | | | | 90,000 | | | | 90,000 | |
Operating lease obligations | | | 1,040 | | | | 4,185 | | | | 5,225 | |
Total | | $ | 184,167 | | | $ | 162,621 | | | $ | 346,788 | |
In the ordinary course of business, we enter into various transactions to meet the financing needs of our customers, which, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, are not included in our consolidated balance sheets. These transactions include off-balance sheet commitments, including commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. The following table presents a summary of the Company's commitments to extend credit by expiration period.
| | At September 30, 2023 | |
| | Less than 1 year | | | More than 1 year | | | Total | |
| | (dollars in thousands) | |
Loan commitments to extend credit | | $ | 59,960 | | | $ | 37,112 | | | $ | 97,072 | |
Standby letters of credit | | | — | | | | — | | | | — | |
Total | | $ | 59,960 | | | $ | 37,112 | | | $ | 97,072 | |
Capital Resources
Maintaining capital strength continues to be a long-term objective for the Company. Capital is necessary to sustain growth, provide protection against unanticipated declines in asset values, and to safeguard depositor funds. Capital is also a source of funds for loan demand and enables the Company to effectively manage its assets and liabilities. The Company has the capacity to issue 60,000,000 total shares of common stock, of which 8,850,312 have been issued at September 30, 2023. Conversely, the Company may decide to repurchase shares of its outstanding common stock, depending on the market price and other relevant factors.
CWB is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements could trigger certain mandatory or discretionary actions that, if undertaken, could have a material effect on the Company's business and financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, CWB must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of its assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgements by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
In 2019, the federal banking agencies jointly issued a final rule, which provides for an additional optional, simplified measure of capital adequacy, the community bank leverage ratio framework. Under this framework, the bank would choose the option of using the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR). A CBLR bank may opt out of the framework at any time, without restriction, by reverting to the generally applicable risk-based capital rules. As of the fourth quarter 2021, the Company rescinded its CBLR election.
The following tables illustrate the Bank’s regulatory ratios and the Federal Reserve’s current adequacy guidelines as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
| | Total Capital (To Risk- Weighted Assets) | | | Tier 1 Capital (To Risk- Weighted Assets) | | | Common Equity Tier 1 (To Risk- Weighted Assets) | | | Leverage Ratio/Tier 1 Capital (To Average Assets) | |
September 30, 2023 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CWB's actual regulatory ratios | | | 13.27 | % | | | 12.09 | % | | | 12.09 | % | | | 10.84 | % |
Minimum capital requirements | | | 8.00 | % | | | 6.00 | % | | | 4.50 | % | | | 4.00 | % |
Well-capitalized requirements | | | 10.00 | % | | | 8.00 | % | | | 6.50 | % | | | 5.00 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
December 31, 2022 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
CWB's actual regulatory ratios | | | 12.56 | % | | | 11.44 | % | | | 11.44 | % | | | 10.34 | % |
Minimum capital requirements | | | 8.00 | % | | | 6.00 | % | | | 4.50 | % | | | 4.00 | % |
Well-capitalized requirements | | | 10.00 | % | | | 8.00 | % | | | 6.50 | % | | | 5.00 | % |
The adoption of CECL on January 1, 2023, resulted in a $1.6 million reduction to stockholders’ equity, net of $0.7 million in taxes. Banking organizations that experienced a reduction in retained earnings from the adoption of CECL have the option to elect a phase-in approach for up to 3 years of the “day 1” adverse impact to regulatory capital. The Company made this election and will phase in the impact of the transition to CECL over a three-year period, starting with the first quarter of 2023.
There are no conditions or events since September 30, 2023 that management believes have changed the Company’s or the Bank’s risk-based capital category.
Supervision and Regulation
Banking is a complex, highly regulated industry. The primary goals of the regulatory scheme are to maintain a safe and sound banking system, protect depositors and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (“FDIC”) insurance fund, and facilitate the conduct of sound monetary policy. In furtherance of these goals, Congress and the states have created several largely autonomous regulatory agencies and enacted numerous laws that govern banks, bank holding companies, and the financial services industry. Consequently, the growth and earnings performance of the Company can be affected not only by management decisions and general economic conditions but also by the requirements of applicable state and federal statutes, regulations, and the policies of various governmental regulatory authorities, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), and FDIC.
The system of supervision and regulation applicable to financial services businesses governs most aspects of the business of CWBC and CWB, including: (i) the scope of permissible business; (ii) investments; (iii) reserves that must be maintained against deposits; (iv) capital levels that must be maintained; (v) the nature and amount of collateral that may be taken to secure loans; (vi) the establishment of new branches; (vii) mergers and consolidations with other financial institutions; and (viii) the payment of dividends.
Laws or regulations are enacted which may have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting, or expanding the scope of permissible activities, or changing the competitive balance between banks and other financial and non-financial institutions. Proposals to change the laws and regulations governing the operations of banks and bank holding companies are frequently made in Congress and by various bank and other regulatory agencies. Future changes in the laws, regulations or policies that impact the Company cannot necessarily be predicted, but they may have a material effect on the Company’s business and earnings.
For a detailed discussion of the regulatory scheme governing the Company and CWB, please see the discussion in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Supervision and Regulation."
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures about market risk are set forth in Item 7A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. There has been no material change in these disclosures as previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K. For further discussion of interest rate risk, see Item 7. "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity - Interest Rate Risk.”
The Company expects to see continued volatility in the economic markets and government responses to inflation, rising interest rates, the threat of a pending recession in the U.S. economy, and the conflict involving the Russian Federation and Ukraine and the unrest resulting from the recent conflict in the Middle East. These changing conditions and governmental responses could have impacts on the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated income statements of the Company.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e). Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s management, which includes the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiary) required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
Disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and implemented, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving an entity’s disclosure objectives. The likelihood of achieving such objectives is affected by limitations inherent in disclosure controls and procedures. These include the fact that human judgment in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns in internal control can occur because of human failures such as simple errors or mistakes or intentional circumvention of the established process.
The Company’s management, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated whether there was any change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2023, and determined that there was no change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2023, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
The Company is involved in various other litigation matters of a routine nature that are being handled and defended in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. In the opinion of management, based in part on consultation with legal counsel, the resolution of these litigation matters is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
Investing in our common stock involves various risks which are particular to our Company, our industry, and our market area. Several risk factors that may have a material adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition are discussed in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022.
As previously noted, the Company has entered into the Reorganization Agreement pursuant to which the Company and Central Valley Community Bancorp (Fresno, California) will combine in an all-stock merger transaction. While the Company has historically been successful on a standalone basis, the Company does have risk related to failing to successfully satisfy the conditions to close the transaction and closing the transaction in accordance with the terms of the Reorganization Agreement which include the companies not receiving the regulatory approvals and the shareholder approvals of the transaction as required by the Reorganization Agreement. The failure to close the transaction could have an adverse effect on the Company’s reputation, ability to attract and maintain deposit and/or loan customers, retain employees (including key personnel), and maintain investor confidence. The occurrence of any such events could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and stock trading value.
Other than as identified above, there has been no material change in the Company’s risk factors as previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 10-K.
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
None.
ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
None.
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
Not applicable.
None.
The following Exhibits are filed herewith.
Exhibit Number | |
| |
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
| |
| Certification of Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
| |
| Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as Amended, and 18 U.S.C. 1350. |
| |
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
* | This certification is furnished to, but shall not be deemed filed, with the Commission. This certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by reference. |
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.
COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES
(Registrant)
Date: November 13, 2023 | BY: | /s/ Richard Pimentel |
| Richard Pimentel |
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| |
| On Behalf of Registrant and as a Duly Authorized Officer |
| and as Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
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