2 Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of such words as estimate, project, believe, intend, anticipate, plan, seek, expect and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include: Statements of our goals, intentions and expectations; Statements regarding our business plans and prospects and growth and operating strategies; Statements concerning trends in our provision for loan losses and charge-offs; Statements regarding the asset quality of our loan portfolio; and Estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events: Significantly increased competition among depository and other financial institutions; Inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments; General economic conditions, either nationally or in our market areas, including employment prospects and conditions that are worse than expected; Decreased demand for our products and services and lower revenue and earnings because of a recession; Adverse changes and volatility in credit markets; Legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business; Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; Changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; Changes in laws or governmental regulations affecting financial institutions, including changes in regulatory costs and capital requirements; The timing and the amount of revenue that we may recognize; Changes in expense trends (including, but not limited to trends affecting non-performing assets, charge offs and provisions for loan losses); Changes in consumer spending, borrowing and spending habits; The impact of the current governmental effort to restructure the U.S. Financial and regulatory system; Inability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us; Adverse changes and volatility in real estate markets; The strength or weakness of the real estate markets and of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and its impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward- looking statements. |