Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis is intended to assist readers in understanding our financial condition and results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this "Form 10-Q") and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 15, 2022. Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this Form 10-Q to "we," "our," "us," "the Company," and "First Western" refer to First Western Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, including First Western Trust Bank, which we sometimes refer to as "the Bank" or "our Bank."
The following discussion contains "forward-looking statements" that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs, and expected performance. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, or beliefs about future events may, and often do, vary from actual results and the differences can be material. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements." Also, see the risk factors and other cautionary statements described under the heading "Item 1A - Risk Factors" included in our Annual Report Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 15, 2022 and in Part II–Item 1A of this Form 10-Q. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Company Overview
We are a financial holding company founded in 2002 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. We provide a fully integrated suite of wealth management services to our clients including banking, trust, and investment management products and services. Our mission is to be the best private bank for the Western wealth management client. We target entrepreneurs, professionals, and high-net worth individuals, typically with $1.0 million-plus in liquid net worth, and their related philanthropic and business organizations, which we refer to as the "Western wealth management client." We believe that the Western wealth management client shares our entrepreneurial spirit and values our sophisticated, high-touch wealth management services that are tailored to meet their specific needs. We partner with our clients to solve their unique financial needs through our expert integrated services provided in a team approach.
We offer our services through a branded network of boutique private trust bank offices, which we believe are strategically located in affluent and high-growth markets in locations across Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, and California. Our profit centers, which are comprised of private bankers, lenders, wealth planners, and portfolio managers, under the leadership of a local chairman and/or president, are also supported centrally by teams providing management services such as operations, risk management, credit administration, marketing, technology support, human capital, and accounting/finance services, which we refer to as support centers.
From 2004, when we opened our first profit center, until September 30, 2022, we have expanded our footprint into thirteen full service profit centers, three loan production offices, and two trust offices located across five states. As of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we had $2.73 billion in total assets, $80.7 million in total revenues, and provided fiduciary and advisory services on $5.92 billion of assets under management ("AUM").
Response to COVID-19
The spread of COVID-19 caused significant disruptions in the U.S. economy since it was declared a pandemic in March of 2020 by the World Health Organization. Disruptions include temporary closures of many businesses that led to a loss of revenues and a rapid increase in unemployment, disrupted global supply chains, market downturns and volatility, changes in consumer behavior related to pandemic fears, and related emergency response legislation. The changes have impacted our clients and their industries, as well as the financial services industry.
The Company activated its Business Continuity Management Plan in early 2020 in response to the emergence of COVID-19 and has continued to adjust as the crisis continues to impact our markets, clients, and business. A majority of our associates have been working remotely since early 2020. All of our offices are open, functioning, and continue to operate as usual. We are taking additional precautions within our profit centers, including enhanced cleaning procedures and physical distancing measures, to ensure the safety of our clients and our associates.
A provision in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") created the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), which is administered by the Small Business Administration ("SBA"). The PPP is intended to provide loans to small businesses to pay their employees, rent, mortgage interest, and utilities. The loans may be forgiven conditioned upon the client providing payroll documentation evidencing their compliant use of funds and otherwise complying with the terms of the program. The Bank is an approved SBA lender and participated in all rounds of the program.