Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses | Note 5. Loans Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses Loans receivable at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are summarized as follows: September 30, December 31, 2024 2023 (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential Investor-Owned $ 332,380 $ 343,689 Owner-Occupied 145,065 152,311 Multifamily residential 678,029 550,559 Nonresidential properties 383,277 342,343 Construction and land 631,461 503,925 Total mortgage loans 2,170,212 1,892,827 Nonmortgage loans: Business loans 28,499 19,779 Consumer loans (1) 4,021 8,966 Total non-mortgage loans 32,520 28,745 Total loans, gross 2,202,732 1,921,572 Net deferred loan origination costs 1,565 468 Allowance for Credit Losses ( 23,966 ) ( 26,154 ) Loans receivable, net $ 2,180,331 $ 1,895,886 (1) As of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, consumer loans include $ 3.0 million and $ 8.0 million, respectively, of microloans. The Company’s lending activities are conducted principally in metropolitan New York City. The Company primarily grants loans secured by real estate to individuals and businesses pursuant to an established credit policy applicable to each type of lending activity in which it engages. Although collateral provides assurance as a secondary source of repayment, the Company ordinarily requires the primary source of repayment to be based on the borrowers’ ability to generate continuing cash flows. The Company also evaluates the collateral and creditworthiness of each customer. The credit policy provides that depending on the borrowers’ creditworthiness and type of collateral, credit may be extended up to predetermined percentages of the market value of the collateral or on an unsecured basis. Real estate is the primary form of collateral. Other important forms of collateral are time deposits and marketable securities. For disclosures related to the allowance for credit losses and credit quality, the Company does not have any disaggregated classes of loans below the segment level. Credit-Quality Indicators : Internally assigned risk ratings are used as credit-quality indicators, which are reviewed by management on a quarterly basis. The objectives of the Company’s risk-rating system are to provide the Board of Directors and senior management with an objective assessment of the overall quality of the loan portfolio, to promptly and accurately identify loans with well-defined credit weaknesses so that timely action can be taken to minimize credit loss, to identify relevant trends affecting the collectability of the loan portfolio, to isolate potential problem areas and to provide essential information for determining the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. Below are the definitions of the internally assigned risk ratings: • Strong Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower collateralized at least 90 percent by an unimpaired deposit account at the Company. • Good Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower in a well-established enterprise in excellent financial condition with strong liquidity and a history of consistently high level of earnings, cash flow and debt service capacity. • Satisfactory Pass – Loans to a new or existing borrower of average strength with acceptable financial condition, satisfactory record of earnings and sufficient historical and projected cash flow to service the debt. • Performance Pass – Existing loans that evidence strong payment history but document less than average strength, financial condition, record of earnings, or projected cash flows with which to service the debt. • Special Mention – Loans in this category are currently protected but show one or more potential weaknesses and risks which may inadequately protect collectability or borrower’s ability to meet repayment terms at some future date if the weakness or weaknesses are not monitored or remediated. • Substandard – Loans that are inadequately protected by the repayment capacity of the borrower or the current sound net worth of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans in this category have well defined weaknesses and risks that jeopardize the repayment. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that some loss may be sustained if the deficiencies are not remediated. • Doubtful – Loans that have all the weaknesses of loans classified as “Substandard” with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of current existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. Loans within the top four categories above are considered pass rated, as commonly defined. Risk ratings are assigned as necessary to differentiate risk within the portfolio. Risk ratings are reviewed on an ongoing basis and revised to reflect changes in the borrowers’ financial condition and outlook, debt service coverage capability, repayment performance, collateral value and coverage as well as other considerations. The following tables present credit risk ratings by loan segment as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023: September 30, 2024 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Construction Total 1-4 Family Multifamily Nonresidential and Land Business Consumer Loans (in thousands) Risk Rating: Pass $ 464,585 $ 663,943 $ 380,850 $ 619,268 $ 27,238 $ 4,018 $ 2,159,902 Special mention 5,547 8,305 2,415 7,386 1,227 — 24,880 Substandard 7,313 5,781 12 4,807 34 3 17,950 Total $ 477,445 $ 678,029 $ 383,277 $ 631,461 $ 28,499 $ 4,021 $ 2,202,732 December 31, 2023 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Construction Total 1-4 Family Multifamily Nonresidential and Land Business Consumer Loans (in thousands) Risk Rating: Pass $ 485,747 $ 546,471 $ 339,726 $ 497,266 $ 19,759 $ 8,966 $ 1,897,935 Special mention 2,150 1,109 2,527 — — — 5,786 Substandard 8,103 2,979 90 6,659 20 — 17,851 Total $ 496,000 $ 550,559 $ 342,343 $ 503,925 $ 19,779 $ 8,966 $ 1,921,572 An aging analysis of loans, as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, is as follows: September 30, 2024 30-59 60-89 90 Days 90 Days Days Days or More Nonaccrual or More Current Past Due Past Due Past Due Total Loans Accruing (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential Investor-Owned $ 329,899 $ — $ 2,045 $ 436 $ 332,380 $ 436 $ — Owner-Occupied 142,777 — 421 1,867 145,065 1,867 — Multifamily residential 664,695 — 8,649 4,685 678,029 4,685 — Nonresidential properties 380,862 — 2,415 — 383,277 — — Construction and land 623,474 — 3,180 4,807 631,461 4,807 — Nonmortgage loans: Business 27,650 222 447 180 28,499 180 — Consumer 3,482 263 276 — 4,021 — — Total $ 2,172,839 $ 485 $ 17,433 $ 11,975 $ 2,202,732 $ 11,975 $ — December 31, 2023 30-59 60-89 90 Days 90 Days Days Days or More Nonaccrual or More Current Past Due Past Due Past Due Total Loans Accruing (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential Investor-Owned $ 342,896 $ — $ — $ 793 $ 343,689 $ 793 $ — Owner-Occupied 150,181 — — 2,130 152,311 2,130 — Multifamily residential 546,471 1,109 — 2,979 550,559 2,979 — Nonresidential properties 342,343 — — — 342,343 — — Construction and land 497,266 — — 6,659 503,925 6,659 — Nonmortgage loans: Business 19,240 366 8 165 19,779 165 — Consumer 7,423 536 1,007 — 8,966 — — Total $ 1,905,820 $ 2,011 $ 1,015 $ 12,726 $ 1,921,572 $ 12,726 $ — The following schedules detail the composition of the allowance for credit losses on loans and the related recorded investment in loans as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, and as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023: For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2024 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Total 1-4 1-4 Multifamily Nonresidential Construction Business Consumer For the (in thousands) Allowance for Credit Losses: Balance, beginning of period $ 4,415 $ 2,012 $ 4,365 $ 3,176 $ 4,807 $ 531 $ 6,848 $ 26,154 Provision (benefit) charged to expense ( 227 ) ( 185 ) 302 ( 35 ) 2,010 683 ( 2,122 ) 426 Charge-offs — — — ( 7 ) — ( 502 ) ( 2,683 ) ( 3,192 ) Recoveries — — — — — 9 569 578 Balance, end of period $ 4,188 $ 1,827 $ 4,667 $ 3,134 $ 6,817 $ 721 $ 2,612 $ 23,966 Ending balance: individually $ — $ — $ — $ — $ — $ 180 $ — $ 180 Ending balance: collectively 4,188 1,827 4,667 3,134 6,817 541 2,612 23,786 Total $ 4,188 $ 1,827 $ 4,667 $ 3,134 $ 6,817 $ 721 $ 2,612 $ 23,966 Loans: Ending balance: individually $ 436 $ 1,867 $ 4,685 $ — $ 4,807 $ 180 $ — $ 11,975 Ending balance: collectively 331,944 143,198 673,344 383,277 626,654 28,319 4,021 2,190,757 Total $ 332,380 $ 145,065 $ 678,029 $ 383,277 $ 631,461 $ 28,499 $ 4,021 $ 2,202,732 For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2024 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Total 1-4 1-4 Multifamily Nonresidential Construction Business Consumer For the (in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Balance, beginning of period $ 4,188 $ 1,946 $ 4,185 $ 2,297 $ 6,796 $ 987 $ 3,662 $ 24,061 Provision (benefit) charged to expense — ( 119 ) 482 844 21 183 ( 610 ) 801 Losses charged-off — — — ( 7 ) — ( 450 ) ( 634 ) ( 1,091 ) Recoveries — — — — — 1 194 195 Balance, end of period $ 4,188 $ 1,827 $ 4,667 $ 3,134 $ 6,817 $ 721 $ 2,612 $ 23,966 For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2023 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Total 1-4 1-4 Multifamily Nonresidential Construction Business Consumer For the (in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Balance, beginning of period $ 3,863 $ 1,723 $ 8,021 $ 2,724 $ 2,683 $ 120 $ 15,458 $ 34,592 Provision (benefit) charged to expense 33 257 653 ( 20 ) 2,276 193 ( 2,029 ) 1,363 Impact of CECL adoption 766 146 ( 3,962 ) 578 ( 911 ) 236 57 ( 3,090 ) Charge-offs — — — — — — ( 6,092 ) ( 6,092 ) Recoveries — — — — — 3 638 641 Balance, end of period $ 4,662 $ 2,126 $ 4,712 $ 3,282 $ 4,048 $ 552 $ 8,032 $ 27,414 Ending balance: individually $ — $ 71 $ — $ — $ — $ 204 $ — $ 275 Ending balance: collectively 4,662 2,055 4,712 3,282 4,048 348 8,032 27,139 Total $ 4,662 $ 2,126 $ 4,712 $ 3,282 $ 4,048 $ 552 $ 8,032 $ 27,414 Loans: Ending balance: individually $ 396 $ 2,134 $ — $ — $ 6,657 $ 209 $ — $ 9,396 Ending balance: collectively 346,686 149,732 553,694 321,472 404,726 18,207 10,416 1,804,933 Total $ 347,082 $ 151,866 $ 553,694 $ 321,472 $ 411,383 $ 18,416 $ 10,416 $ 1,814,329 For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2023 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Total 1-4 1-4 Multifamily Nonresidential Construction Business Consumer Total (in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Balance, beginning of period $ 4,776 $ 2,152 $ 4,738 $ 3,238 $ 3,189 $ 450 $ 9,630 $ 28,173 Provision (benefit) charged to expense ( 114 ) ( 26 ) ( 26 ) 44 859 99 ( 86 ) 750 Losses charged-off — — — — — — ( 1,592 ) ( 1,592 ) Recoveries — — — — — 3 80 83 Balance, end of period $ 4,662 $ 2,126 $ 4,712 $ 3,282 $ 4,048 $ 552 $ 8,032 $ 27,414 For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 Mortgage Loans Nonmortgage Loans Total 1-4 1-4 Multifamily Nonresidential Construction Business Consumer For the (in thousands) Allowance for loan losses: Balance, beginning of year $ 3,863 $ 1,723 $ 8,021 $ 2,724 $ 2,683 $ 120 $ 15,458 $ 34,592 Provision (benefit) charged to expense ( 214 ) 143 306 ( 126 ) 3,035 235 ( 2,142 ) 1,237 Impact of CECL adoption 766 146 ( 3,962 ) 578 ( 911 ) 236 57 ( 3,090 ) Charge-offs — — — — — ( 63 ) ( 7,227 ) ( 7,290 ) Recoveries — — — — — 3 702 705 Balance, end of year $ 4,415 $ 2,012 $ 4,365 $ 3,176 $ 4,807 $ 531 $ 6,848 $ 26,154 Ending balance: individually $ — $ 72 $ — $ — $ — $ 161 $ — $ 233 Ending balance: collectively 4,415 1,940 4,365 3,176 4,807 370 6,848 25,921 Total $ 4,415 $ 2,012 $ 4,365 $ 3,176 $ 4,807 $ 531 $ 6,848 $ 26,154 Loans: Ending balance: individually $ 793 $ 2,130 $ 2,979 $ — $ 6,659 $ 165 $ — $ 12,726 Ending balance: collectively 342,896 150,181 547,580 342,343 497,266 19,614 8,966 1,908,846 Total $ 343,689 $ 152,311 $ 550,559 $ 342,343 $ 503,925 $ 19,779 $ 8,966 $ 1,921,572 Loans are considered impaired when current information and events indicate all amounts due may not be collectable according to the contractual terms of the related loan agreements. Impaired loans are identified by applying normal loan review procedures in accordance with the allowance for credit losses methodology. Management periodically assesses loans to determine whether impairment exists. Any loan that is, or will potentially be, no longer performing in accordance with the terms of the original loan contract is evaluated to determine impairment. The following information relates to impaired loans as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023 and as of and for the year ended December 31, 2023: Unpaid Recorded Recorded Total Average Interest Income Principal With No With Recorded Related Recorded Recognized As of and For the Nine Months Ended Balance Allowance Allowance Investment Allowance Investment on a Cash Basis (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential $ 2,284 $ 2,303 $ — $ 2,303 $ — $ 2,452 $ 19 Multifamily residential 4,603 4,685 — 4,685 — 4,379 5 Nonresidential properties — — — — — 317 — Construction and land 4,807 4,807 — 4,807 — 5,612 1,059 Nonmortgage loans: Business 180 — 180 180 180 222 2 Consumer — — — — — — — Total $ 11,874 $ 11,795 $ 180 $ 11,975 $ 180 $ 12,982 $ 1,085 Unpaid Recorded Recorded Total Average Interest Income Principal With No With Recorded Related Recorded Recognized As of and For the Nine Months Ended Balance Allowance Allowance Investment Allowance Investment on a Cash Basis (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential $ 2,517 $ 2,081 $ 449 $ 2,530 $ 71 $ 6,478 $ 40 Multifamily residential — — — — — 958 — Nonresidential properties — — — — — 531 — Construction and land 6,650 6,657 — 6,657 — 8,438 — Nonmortgage loans: Business 209 — 209 209 204 83 — Consumer — — — — — — — Total $ 9,376 $ 8,738 $ 658 $ 9,396 $ 275 $ 16,488 $ 40 Unpaid Recorded Recorded Total Average Interest Income Principal With No With Recorded Related Recorded Recognized As of and for the Year Ended Balance Allowance Allowance Investment Allowance Investment on a Cash Basis (in thousands) Mortgage loans: 1-4 Family residential $ 2,906 $ 2,475 $ 448 $ 2,923 $ 72 $ 4,812 $ 82 Multifamily residential 2,966 2,979 — 2,979 — 1,463 151 Nonresidential properties — — — — — 198 — Construction and land 6,650 6,659 — 6,659 — 8,211 — Nonmortgage loans: Business 165 — 165 165 161 104 — Consumer — — — — — — — Total $ 12,687 $ 12,113 $ 613 $ 12,726 $ 233 $ 14,788 $ 233 The Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2022-02 on January 1, 2023 . Since adoption, the Company modified one loan with borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. These modifications may include a reduction in interest rate, an extension in term, principal forgiveness and/or other than insignificant payment delay. At September 30, 2024 , there was one loan with modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. At December 31, 2023, there were no loans with modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2022-02 on January 1, 2023, the Company classified certain loans as troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) loans when credit terms to a borrower in financial difficulty were modified, in accordance with ASC 310-40. With the adoption of ASU 2022-02 as of January 1, 2023, the Company has ceased to recognize or measure for new TDRs but those existing at December 31, 2022 will remain until settled. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, there were 19 and 21 troubled debt restructured loans totaling $ 5.3 million and $ 5.9 million of which $ 4.6 million and $ 5.2 million are on accrual status, respectively. There were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans have been modified in a troubled debt restructuring. At September 30, 2024, there was one loan in the amount of $ 0.2 million that was modified to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties. At December 31, 2023, there were no modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties. Write-off and write-down of Microloans In 2020, the Company entered into a business arrangement with the FinTech startup company Grain Technologies, Inc. ("Grain"). Grain’s product is a mobile application geared to the underbanked, minorities and new generations entering the financial services market. In employing this mobile application, the Bank uses non-traditional underwriting methodologies to provide revolving credit to borrowers who otherwise may gravitate to using alternative non-bank lenders. Under the terms of its former agreement with Grain, the Bank was the lender for Grain-originated microloans with credit lines currently up to $ 1,500 and, where applicable, the depository for related security deposits. Grain originated and serviced these microloans and is responsible for maintaining compliance with the Bank's origination and servicing standards, as well as applicable regulatory and legal requirements. If a microloan was found to be fraudulent, became 90 days delinquent upon 90 days of origination or defaulted due to a failure of Grain to properly service the microloan, the Bank’s applicable standards for origination or servicing were deemed to have not been complied with and the microloan was put back to Grain, who then became responsible for the microloan and any related losses. The microloans put back to Grain were accounted for as an “other asset,” specifically referred to herein as the “Grain Receivable.” On November 1, 2023, Ponce Financial Group, Inc. and Grain signed a Perpetual Software License Agreement in order for the Bank to assume the servicing of the remaining microloans. In order to facilitate the transfer of the servicing responsibilities to the Bank, Grain granted the Bank a perpetual right and license to use the Grain software, including the source code to service the remaining loans. At September 30, 2024 , the Bank had 8,428 microloans outstanding with an aggregate balance totaling $ 3.0 million and which were performing, in management’s opinion, comparably to similar portfolios, offset by an $ 2.6 million allowance for credit losses, resulting in $ 0.5 million in microloans. From inception of the microloan arrangement through September 30, 2024 , 45,322 microloans amounting to $ 24.0 million have been deemed to be fraudulent and put back to Grain. The Company has written-down a total of $ 15.3 million, net of recoveries, of the microloans receivable and received $ 6.8 million in cash. The Bank also opted to use the $ 1.8 million grant it received from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Rapid Response Program to defray the microloans receivable. The application of those amounts resulted in no net receivable. Additionally, the Company wrote-off its equity investment in Grain of $ 1.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2022. As of September 30, 2024 , the Company’s total microloans exposure was $ 0.5 million of the remaining microloans, net of allowance for credit losses, excluding $ 1.5 million of security deposits by microloan borrowers. The $ 0.2 million of recoveries for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and the $ 1.3 million recoveries for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 related to microloans is included in non-interest expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Total Microloans Exposure as of September 30, 2024 (in thousands) Microloans Receivable from Grain Microloans originated - put back (inception-to-September 30, 2024) $ 23,932 Write-downs, net of recoveries (inception-to-date as of September 30, 2024) ( 15,287 ) Cash receipts (inception-to-September 30, 2024) ( 6,819 ) Grant/reserve (inception-to-September 30, 2024) ( 1,826 ) Net receivable as of September 30, 2024 $ — Microloans Receivable from Borrowers Microloans receivable as of September 30, 2024 $ 3,033 Allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2024 (1) ( 2,570 ) Microloans, net of allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2024 $ 463 Investments Investment in Grain $ 1,000 Investment write-off in the third quarter of 2022 ( 1,000 ) Net investment as of September 30, 2024 $ — Total exposure related to microloans as of September 30, 2024 (2) $ 463 (1) Excludes $ 1.5 million of security deposits by microloan borrowers reported in deposits in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Financial Conditions. (2) Total remaining exposure to microloan borrowers. These loans are now serviced by the Bank. Off-Balance Sheet Credit Losses Also included within the scope of the CECL standard are off-balance sheet loan commitments, which includes the unfunded portion of committed lines of credit and construction loans. The Company estimates expected credit losses over the contractual period in which the company is exposed to credit risk through a contractual obligation to extend credit, unless that obligation is unconditionally cancellable by the Company. The allowance for credit losses on off-balance sheet exposures is adjusted as a provision for credit loss expense. The Company uses similar assumptions and risk factors that are developed for collectively evaluated financing receivables. This estimate includes consideration of the likelihood that funding will occur and an estimate of expected credit losses on commitments to be funded over its estimated life. At September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the allowance for off-balance sheet credit losses was $ 3.0 million and $ 3.6 million, respectively, which is included in the "Other liabilities" on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition. During the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, the Company had $ 0.3 million in benefit for credit losses and $ 0.4 million in provision for credit losses, respectively, and $ 0.6 million in benefit for credit losses and $ 1.9 million in provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, for off-balance-sheet items, which are included in "(Benefit) provision for contingencies" on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table presents the activity in the allowance for off-balance-sheet credit losses: For the Nine Months Ended For the Year Ended September 30, 2024 December 31, 2023 (in thousands) Allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitment at beginning of period $ 3,613 $ 354 Impact on CECL adoption — 948 (Benefit) provision for credit losses ( 581 ) 2,311 Allowance for credit losses on unfunded commitment at end of period $ 3,032 $ 3,613 |