Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan. Affinity Bank sponsors a deferred compensation plan under which eligible directors were previously able to defer the receipt of compensation that otherwise would have been payable to them for their service as a director. Effective June 30, 2015, the plan has been frozen with respect to further deferral contributions and any new participants. However, directors who previously deferred compensation under the plan maintain a benefit under the plan until the deferred compensation is distributed to them in accordance with their previous elections and the terms of the plan. Until their benefits are distributed under the plan, the deferred compensation will be credited with earnings, compounded quarterly, at a rate equal to the average pre-tax return for the immediately preceding ten-year period on shares in the Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Admiral Shares, as published in the fund’s annual report for December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year.
PROPOSAL II—RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee of Affinity Bancshares, Inc. has approved the engagement of Wipfli LLP to be our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2021, subject to the ratification of the engagement by our stockholders. At the annual meeting, stockholders will consider and vote on the ratification of the Audit Committee’s engagement of Wipfli LLP for the year ending December 31, 2021. A representative of Wipfli LLP is expected to be available during the annual meeting and may respond to appropriate questions and make a statement if he or she so desires.
Even if the engagement of Wipfli LLP is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such change would be in the best interests of Affinity Bancshares, Inc. and its stockholders.
On January 20, 2021, Affinity Bancshares, Inc. became the successor corporation to Community First Bancshares, Inc., as a result of the mutual-to-stock conversion of Community First Bancshares, MHC. On January 7, 2020, our predecessor, Community First Bancshares, Inc. engaged Wipfli LLP as Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm. This change in accountants was the result of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC, Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s previous independent registered public accounting firm, combining its practice (the “Practice Combination”) with Wipfli LLP effective October 1, 2019; however, at the time of the Practice Combination, Community First Bancshares, Inc. and Porter Keadle Moore, LLC were engaged in a consultation with the Office of the Chief Accountant (the “OCA”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to an independence matter regarding the use of a tax template provided to Community First Bancshares, Inc. by Porter Keadle Moore, LLC. This matter was subsequently cleared by the OCA staff on December 31, 2019. With the non-objection of the OCA for Porter Keadle Moore, LLC to continue to serve as Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm, Porter Keadle Moore, LLC effectively resigned as Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm as of January 6, 2020 and Wipfli LLP, as the successor to Porter Keadle Moore, LLC following the Practice Combination, was engaged as Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s independent registered public accounting firm. Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s Audit Committee was notified of the Practice Combination and the effective resignation of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC and approved the engagement of Wipfli LLP.
During the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and the subsequent interim period prior to the engagement of Wipfli LLP, Community First Bancshares, Inc. did not consult with Wipfli LLP regarding the application of accounting principles to a specific completed or proposed transaction or regarding the type of audit opinion that might be rendered by Wipfli LLP on Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s financial statements, and Wipfli LLP did not provide any written or oral advice that was an important factor considered by Community First Bancshares, Inc. in reaching a decision as to any such accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue, and Community First Bancshares, Inc. did not consult with Wipfli LLP regarding any of the matters or events set forth in Item 304(a)(2)(ii) of Regulation S-K.
The reports of Porter Keadle Moore, LLC on the financial statements of Community First Bancshares, Inc. for the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 contained no adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle. In connection with its audits for the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 and reviews of Community First Bancshares, Inc.’s financial statements through January 6, 2020, there were no disagreements with Porter Keadle Moore, LLC on any matter of accounting
18