The ALLL at September 30, 2019 was $10,509,000 and at December 31, 2018 was $10,225,000. The ratio of ALLL to total loans outstanding at September 30, 2019 was 1.37% compared to 1.42% at December 31, 2018. There were no nonperforming loans at September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.
The ALLL has been established and is maintained to absorb reasonably estimated and probable losses in the loan portfolio. An ongoing assessment is performed to determine if the balance is adequate. Charges or credits are made to expense to cover any deficiency or reduce any excess, as required. The current methodology consists of two components: 1) estimated credit losses on individually evaluated loans that are determined to be impaired in accordance with FASB ASC 310, “Allowance for Credit Losses,” and 2) estimated credit losses inherent in the remainder of the loan portfolio in accordance with FASB ASC 450, “Contingencies.” Estimated credit losses is an estimate of the current amount of loans that is probable the Company will be unable to collect according to the original terms.
For loans that are individually evaluated, the Company uses two impairment measurement methods: 1) the present value of expected future cash flows and 2) collateral value. For the remainder of the portfolio, the Company groups loans with similar risk characteristics into eight segments and applies historical loss rates to each segment based on a five fiscal-year look-back period. In addition, qualitative factors including credit concentration risk, national and local economic conditions, nature and volume of loan portfolio, legal and regulatory factors, downturns in specific industries including losses in collateral value, trends in credit quality at the Company and in the banking industry and trends in risk-rating agencies are also considered.
The Company also utilizes ratio analysis to evaluate the overall reasonableness of the ALLL compared to its peers and required levels of regulatory capital. Federal and state agencies review the Company’s methodology for maintaining the ALLL. These agencies may require the Company to adjust the ALLL based on their judgments and interpretations about information available to them at the time of their examinations.
The following table presents information on the Company’s provision for loan losses and analysis of the ALLL:
The Bank had no property carried as other real estate owned as of September 30, 2019 or September 30, 2018.
Total operating expenses for the Third Quarter of 2019 were up 7.1%, or $2,033,000, compared to the Third Quarter of 2018 and were up 8.3%, or $6,821,000, for the Nine Months Ended 2019 compared to the Nine Months Ended 2018.
Personnel expense for the Third Quarter of 2019 increased $1,767,000 compared to the Third Quarter of 2018 and increased $4,876,000 to $68,594,000 for the Nine Months Ended 2019 compared to the Nine Months Ended 2018 as the Company continued to invest in the technology and staff required to win and support new business, annual salary merit increases, and increased retirement plan costs.
Equipment expense for the Third Quarter of 2019 increased $120,000, or 8.4%, compared to the Third Quarter of 2018 and $425,000, or 10.2%, for the Nine Months Ended 2019 from the Nine Months Ended 2018. Outside service expense for the Third Quarter of 2019 increased $243,000, or 12.8%, compared to the Third Quarter of 2018 and $768,000, or 13.6%, for the Nine Months Ended 2019 from the Nine Months Ended 2018. These increases were the result of the continued strategic investment in technology to win and support new business and the ongoing restructuring of the IT organization.
Financial Condition
Total assets at September 30, 2019 were $1,781,010,000, an increase of $85,834,000, or 5.1%, from December 31, 2018. The most significant changes in asset balances during this period were increases in payments in excess of funding of $47,448,000 and loans of $45,797,000. These were partially offset by a decrease of $13,943,000 in investment securities and a decrease of $8,195,000 in cash and cash equivalents. Changes in cash and cash equivalents reflect the Company’s daily liquidity position and are affected by the changes in the other asset balances and changes in deposit and accounts and drafts payable balances.
Total liabilities at September 30, 2019 were $1,534,393,000, an increase of $69,065,000, or 4.7%, from December 31, 2018. Accounts and drafts payable at September 30, 2019 were $762,075,000, an increase of $67,715,000, or 9.8%, from December 31, 2018. Total shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2019 was $246,617,000, a $16,769,000, or 7.3%, increase from December 31, 2018. Total shareholders’ equity increased as a result of net income of $24,033,000 and the change in accumulated other comprehensive income of $10,059,000. This was offset by dividends paid of $11,317,000 and share repurchases of $7,799,000.
Accounts and drafts payable will fluctuate from period-end to period-end due to the payment processing cycle, which results in lower balances on days when payments clear and higher balances on days when payments are issued. For this reason, average balances are a more meaningful measure of accounts and drafts payable (for average balances refer to the tables under the “Distribution of Assets, Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity; Interest Rate and Interest Differential” section of this report).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The balance of liquid assets consisting of cash and cash equivalents, which include cash and due from banks, interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions, federal funds sold and other short-term investments, was $222,738,000 at September 30, 2019, a decrease of $8,195,000, or 3.5%, from December 31, 2018. At September 30, 2019, these assets represented 12.5% of total assets. These funds are the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ primary source of liquidity to meet future expected and unexpected loan demand, depositor withdrawals or reductions in accounts and drafts payable.
Secondary sources of liquidity include the investment portfolio and borrowing lines. Total investment in securities was $427,591,000 at September 30, 2019, a decrease of $13,943,000 from December 31, 2018. These assets represented 24.0% of total assets at September 30, 2019. Of this total, 76% were state and political subdivision securities. Of the total portfolio, 8.3% mature in one year or less, 25.4% mature in one to five years, and 66.3% mature in five or more years.
The Bank has unsecured lines of credit at correspondent banks to purchase federal funds up to a maximum of $83,000,000 at the following banks: US Bank, $20,000,000; UMB Bank, $20,000,000; Wells Fargo Bank, $15,000,000; PNC Bank, $12,000,000; Frost National Bank, $10,000,000; and JPM Chase Bank, $6,000,000. The Bank also has secured lines of credit with the Federal Home Loan Bank of $191,241,000 collateralized by commercial mortgage loans. The Company also has secured lines of credit with UMB Bank of $50,000,000 and First Tennessee Bank of $50,000,000 collateralized by state and political subdivision securities. There were no amounts outstanding under any line of credit as of September 30, 2019 or December 31, 2018.
The deposits of the Company’s banking subsidiary have historically been stable, consisting of a sizable volume of core deposits related to customers that utilize other commercial products of the Bank. The accounts and drafts payable generated by the Company has also historically been a stable source of funds. The Company is part of the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) and Insured Cash Sweep (“ICS”) deposit placement programs. Time deposits include $50,115,000 of CDARS deposits and interest-bearing demand deposits include $66,160,000 of ICS deposits. These programs offer the Bank’s customers the ability to maximize Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage. The Company uses these programs to retain or attract deposits from existing customers.
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Net cash flows provided by operating activities were $39,774,000 for the Nine Months Ended 2019 compared with $38,796,000 for the Nine Months ended 2018, an increase of $978,000. Net cash flows from investing and financing activities fluctuate greatly as the Company actively manages its investment and loan portfolios and customer activity influences changes in deposit and accounts and drafts payable balances. Other causes for the changes in these account balances are discussed earlier in this report. Due to the daily fluctuations in these account balances, the analysis of changes in average balances, also discussed earlier in this report, can be more indicative of underlying activity than the period-end balances used in the statements of cash flows. Management anticipates that cash and cash equivalents, maturing investments and cash from operations will continue to be sufficient to fund the Company’s operations and capital expenditures in 2019, which are estimated to range from $4 million to $6 million.
The Company faces market risk to the extent that its net interest income and fair market value of equity are affected by changes in market interest rates. For information regarding the market risk of the Company’s financial instruments, see Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”
There are several trends and uncertainties that may impact the Company’s ability to generate revenues and income at the levels that it has in the past. In addition, these trends and uncertainties may impact available liquidity. Those that could significantly impact the Company include the general levels of interest rates, business activity, and energy costs as well as new business opportunities available to the Company.
As a financial institution, a significant source of the Company’s earnings is generated from net interest income. Therefore, the prevailing interest rate environment is important to the Company’s performance. A major portion of the Company’s funding sources are the non-interest bearing accounts and drafts payable generated from its payment and information processing services. Accordingly, higher levels of interest rates will generally allow the Company to earn more net interest income. Conversely, a lower interest rate environment will generally tend to depress net interest income. The Company actively manages its balance sheet in an effort to maximize net interest income as the interest rate environment changes. This balance sheet management impacts the mix of earning assets maintained by the Company at any point in time. For example, in a low interest rate environment, short-term relatively lower rate liquid investments may be reduced in favor of longer-term relatively higher yielding investments and loans. If the primary source of liquidity is reduced in a low interest rate environment, a greater reliance would be placed on secondary sources of liquidity including borrowing lines, the ability of the Bank to generate deposits, and the investment portfolio to ensure overall liquidity remains at acceptable levels.
The overall level of economic activity can have a significant impact on the Company’s ability to generate revenues and income, as the volume and size of customer invoices processed may increase or decrease. Higher levels of economic activity increase both fee income (as more invoices are processed) and balances of accounts and drafts payable.
The relative level of energy costs can impact the Company’s earnings and available liquidity. Lower levels of energy costs will tend to decrease transportation and energy invoice amounts resulting in a corresponding decrease in accounts and drafts payable. Decreases in accounts and drafts payable generate lower interest income.
New business opportunities are an important component of the Company’s strategy to grow earnings and improve performance. Generating new customers allows the Company to leverage existing systems and facilities and grow revenues faster than expenses.
The Basel III Capital Rules require FDIC insured depository institutions to meet and maintain several minimum capital standards: a common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 6.0%, a total capital to risk-based assets of 8.0%, and a 4.0% Tier 1 capital to total assets leverage ratio.
Common equity Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common stockholders’ equity and retained earnings. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common equity Tier 1 and Additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital generally includes certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital (common equity Tier 1 capital plus Additional Tier 1 capital) and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital is comprised of capital instruments and related surplus meeting specified requirements. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for loan losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and, for non-advanced approaches institutions like Cass that have exercised a one-time opt-out election regarding the treatment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. The calculation of all types of regulatory capital is subject to deductions and adjustments specified in applicable regulations.
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In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets, are multiplied by a risk weight factor assigned by the regulations based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. For example, a risk weight of 0% is assigned to cash and U.S. government securities, a risk weight of 50% is generally assigned to prudently underwritten first lien one to four-family residential mortgages, a risk weight of 100% is assigned to commercial and consumer loans, a risk weight of 150% is assigned to certain past due loans, and a risk weight of between 0% to 600% is assigned to permissible equity interests, depending on certain specified factors.
Fully phased-in as of January 1, 2019, the Basel III Capital Rules require banking organizations, like Cass, to maintain:
•
a minimum ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% capital conservation buffer;
•
a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus a 2.5% capital conservation buffer;
•
a minimum ratio of total capital (that is, Tier 1 plus Tier 2 capital) to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the 2.5% capital conservation buffer; and
•
a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average consolidated assets.
The capital conservation buffer is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a ratio of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the minimum but below the conservation buffer will face limitations on the payment of dividends, common stock repurchases and discretionary cash payments to executive officers based on the amount of the shortfall.
The Company and the Bank continue to exceed all regulatory capital requirements, as evidenced by the following capital amounts and ratios:
| September 30, 2019 | | December 31, 2018 |
(Dollars in thousands) | Amount | | Ratio | | Amount | | Ratio |
Total capital (to risk-weighted assets): | | | | | | | | | |
Cass Information Systems, Inc. | $ | 246,640 | | 19.72% | | $ | 244,660 | | 21.38% |
Cass Commercial Bank | | 150,239 | | 19.08% | | | 137,894 | | 18.31% |
Common Equity Tier I Capital (to risk-weighted assets): | | | | | | | | | |
Cass Information Systems, Inc. | $ | 236,131 | | 18.88% | | $ | 234,435 | | 20.49% |
Cass Commercial Bank | | 142,198 | | 18.06% | | | 130,037 | | 17.26% |
Tier I capital (to risk-weighted assets): | | | | | | | | | |
Cass Information Systems, Inc. | $ | 236,131 | | 18.88% | | $ | 234,435 | | 20.49% |
Cass Commercial Bank | | 142,198 | | 18.06% | | | 130,037 | | 17.26% |
Tier I capital (to average assets): | | | | | | | | | |
Cass Information Systems, Inc. | $ | 236,131 | | 13.41% | | $ | 234,435 | | 13.89% |
Cass Commercial Bank | | 142,198 | | 16.99% | | | 130,037 | | 15.35% |
Inflation
The Company’s assets and liabilities are primarily monetary, consisting of cash, cash equivalents, securities, loans, payables and deposits. Monetary assets and liabilities are those that can be converted into a fixed number of dollars. The Company's consolidated balance sheet reflects a net positive monetary position (monetary assets exceed monetary liabilities). During periods of inflation, the holding of a net positive monetary position will result in an overall decline in the purchasing power of a company. Management believes that replacement costs of equipment, furniture, and leasehold improvements will not materially affect operations. The rate of inflation does affect certain expenses, such as those for employee compensation, which may not be readily recoverable in the price of the Company’s services.
Impact of New and Not Yet Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 – “Leases (ASC Topic 842).” The ASU improves financial reporting about leasing transactions. The ASU affects all companies and other organizations that lease assets such as real estate, airplanes, and manufacturing equipment. Consistent with current generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP—which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet—the new ASU will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. The ASU also requires disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements, providing additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements. The Company elected to apply ASU 2016-02 as of the beginning of the period of adoption (January 1, 2019) and will not restate comparative periods. The Company has elected to apply the package of practical expedients allowed by the new standard under which the Company need not reassess (i) whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, (ii) the lease classification for any expired or existing leases and (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. Adoption of the ASU resulted in the recognition of lease liabilities totaling $7,808,000 and the right-of-use assets totaling $7,383,000. The initial balance sheet gross up upon adoption was related to operating leases of certain real estate properties. See Note 14 – Leases for additional disclosures related to leases.
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In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13 – “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.” The ASU requires measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held. Under this standard, the Company will be required to hold an allowance equal to the expected life-of-loan losses on the loan portfolio. The standard is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has formed a cross-functional working group under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer comprised of individuals from various functional areas including credit, risk management, finance, and accounting to address the adoption and implementation of the ASU. The group is currently working through the implementation plan and is in the process of developing an in-house solution to use in the adoption of the ASU. The Company is also utilizing an external consultant to assist with the implementation plan. The Company expects to recognize a one-time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for loan losses as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the new standard is effective, but cannot yet determine the magnitude of any such one-time adjustment or the overall impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, the Company manages its interest rate risk through measurement techniques that include gap analysis and a simulation model. As part of the risk management process, asset/liability management policies are established and monitored by management. The policy objective is to limit the change in annualized net interest income to 15.0% from an immediate and sustained parallel change in interest rates of 200 basis points. Based on the Company’s most recent evaluation, management does not believe the Company’s risk position at September 30, 2019 has changed materially from that at December 31, 2018.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report and concluded that, as of such date, these controls and procedures were effective.
There were no changes in the Third Quarter of 2019 in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified by the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer in connection with their evaluation that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended).
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS |
| The Company is the subject of various pending or threatened legal actions and proceedings, including those that arise in the ordinary course of business. Management believes the outcome of all such proceedings will not have a material effect on the businesses or financial conditions of the Company or its subsidiaries. |
ITEM 1A. | RISK FACTORS |
| The Company has included in Part I, Item 1A of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, a description of certain risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company’s business, future performance or financial condition (the “Risk Factors”). There are no material changes to the Risk Factors as disclosed in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
| None. |
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ITEM 3. | DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES |
| None. |
ITEM 4. | MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES |
| Not applicable. |
ITEM 5. | OTHER INFORMATION |
| (a) | | None. |
| (b) | | There have been no material changes to the procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to the Company’s Board of Directors implemented in the Third Quarter of 2019. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| CASS INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC. |
| | |
| | |
DATE: November 7, 2019 | By | /s/ Eric H. Brunngraber |
| | Eric H. Brunngraber |
| | Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | (Principal Executive Officer) |
| | |
| | |
DATE: November 7, 2019 | By | /s/ P. Stephen Appelbaum |
| | P. Stephen Appelbaum |
| | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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