The Company’s general and administrative expenses totaled $3.4 million and $10.6 million for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, respectively, compared to $2.9 million and $6.9 million for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002, respectively. The increase during the three-month period ended September 30, 2003 compared to the three-month period ended September 30, 2002 is primarily due to higher personnel and occupancy costs related to the growth of the Company. During the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, the Company recorded $320,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, in costs associated with the early extinguishment of fixed-rate FHLB advances, compared to $508,000 for both the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002. The $320,000 prepayment penalty incurred from the early extinguishment of debt during the third quarter of 2003 was offset by the $395,000 gain on sale of securities during the same period. INCOME TAXES The Company’s effective tax rate declined to 37.61% and 39.26% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2003, respectively, compared to 39.26% and 40.80% for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2002, respectively. The decline in the Company’s effective tax rate includes the realization of tax benefits from certain multi-family and commercial real estate loans located in California Enterprise Zones, as well as the recognition of affordable housing tax credits. BALANCE SHEET AND CAPITAL The Company had total consolidated assets of $1.45 billion at September 30, 2003, an increase of 3% and 93% from $1.41 billion and $753.0 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. The Company experienced a record increase in loans held for investment during the third quarter of 2003 due to the Realignment, as the Company retained 91% of its core loan originations. Additionally, the Company’s securities portfolio totaled $449.0 million, a decrease of 23% and an increase of 88% from $581.2 million and $238.3 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. The decline in securities during the third quarter of 2003 reflects the strategic transition of the front loaded growth in lower yielding mortgage-backed securities into the Company’s higher yielding multi-family and commercial real estate loans. This transition of balance sheet geography during the third quarter of 2003 resulted in lower balance sheet growth than experienced in prior quarters. The effects of this transition is also reflected in the Company’s average assets of $1.36 billion for the third quarter of 2003, compared to ending total assets at September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2003 of $1.45 billion and $1.41 billion, respectively, since the majority of the reduction in securities occurred early in the third quarter, while the funding of the loans occurred throughout the quarter. The Company anticipates significant continued balance sheet growth as it enters the fourth quarter of 2003 as indicated by the Company’s $270 million core loan origination pipeline at October 1, 2003. The Company intends to continue to retain the vast majority of its multi-family and commercial real estate loan originations, while maintaining approximately the same percentage mix of loans held for investment and investment securities that existed at September 30, 2003. The Company’s deposits totaled $566.4 million at September 30, 2003, an increase of 7% and 73% from $529.6 million and $328.1 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. The increase in deposits from September 30, 2002 is primarily attributable to the growth of the Bank’s money market accounts and time deposits. The Company continued to successfully mature the composition of its deposit base as the focus on attracting money market deposits resulted in transaction accounts now accounting for more than 57% of total deposits at September 30, 2003 versus 49% at September 30, 2002. Of the Company’s money market deposits at September 30, 2003, the majority was from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties, with business deposits accounting for $51.6 million or 17% of the total. The Company continues to focus on attracting money market deposits and other transaction accounts, which increased $32.5 million to $324.6 million, or 11% during the quarter. The Company’s time deposits totaled $241.9 million at September 30, 2003, an increase of 2% and 46% from $237.6 million and $165.9 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. Borrowings totaled $755.6 million, a decrease of 1% and an increase of 98% from $765.5 million and $380.9 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. FHLB advances totaled $686.6 million, an increase of 13% and 222% from $606.7 million and $213.4 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively. During the quarter, the Company utilized the opportunity presented by the current interest rate environment to lower the cost and extend the duration of its liabilities at extraordinarily low rates, in anticipation that rates may rise at some point in the future. In September 2003, the Company issued an additional $7.5 million of trust preferred securities with an interest rate of three month LIBOR plus 290 basis points. The initial interest rate was established at 4.04%. The proceeds from this issuance were contributed to the Bank, to support further growth. All repurchase agreements were paid off to a zero balance at September 30, 2003, from $68.8 million and $99.4 million at June 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively, as the Company chose to further extend the duration of its borrowings in light of increased volatility and in anticipation of potentially higher interest rates at some point in the future. The Company’s loans held for sale continue to be funded by a warehouse line of credit. 5/15
|