Income Tax Expense
The estimated effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2022 was 31.0% as compared to 31.8% for the second quarter of 2021. The estimated effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2022 was 29.3%, a decrease of 2.5% as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2021 due primarily to higher discrete tax items during the first quarter of 2022. The discrete items for the first quarter of 2022 related to the change in the geographical mix regarding state apportionment and a higher favorable deduction for the vesting of restricted stock awards in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the prior year period.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, which involve elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of the instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on-balance sheet instruments.
At June 30, 2022, the Company had $388.2 million in unused commitments and $55.3 million in standby and commercial letters of credit. At December 31, 2021, the Company had $385.8 million in unused commitments and $50.0 million in standby and commercial letters of credit.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations of a short-term nature. The Company’s primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, loan repayments and maturities and sales of securities. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows, mortgage prepayments and security sales are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and competition.
The Company regularly reviews the need to adjust its investments in liquid assets based upon its assessment of (1) expected loan demand, (2) expected deposit flows, (3) yields available on interest-earning deposits and securities, and (4) the objectives of its asset/liability management program. Excess liquidity is generally invested in interest-earning deposits and short- and intermediate-term securities.
The Company’s most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents. The levels of these assets are dependent on its operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $1.3 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. Securities classified as AFS and equity investments, which provide additional sources of liquidity, totaled $467.8 million at June 30, 2022 and $568.9 million at December 31, 2021. There were no securities pledged as collateral at June 30, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
The Company has no material commitments or demands that are likely to affect its liquidity other than set forth below. In the event loan demand were to increase faster than expected, or any unforeseen demand or commitment were to occur, the Company could access its borrowing capacity with the FHLB or FRBNY or obtain additional funds through brokered certificates of deposit.
At June 30, 2022, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $477.4 million from the FHLB and $97.8 million at the FRBNY discount window. At December 31, 2021, the Company had available borrowing capacity of $532.1 million from the FHLB and $137.0 million at the FRBNY discount window. The Company had no borrowings outstanding from the FHLB or FRBNY at June 30, 2022 or December 31, 2021.
The Company’s primary investing activities are the origination of loans, and to a lesser extent, the purchase of loans and securities. For the second quarter of 2022, the Company’s loan production was $512.8 million, as compared to $265.4 million for the second quarter of 2021. For the six months ended June 30, 2022, the Company’s loan production was $1.0 billion, as compared to $501.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2021.