UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010 |
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _______ to________ . |
Commission File Number 001-13695 |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
Delaware | 16-1213679 | |||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |||
5790 Widewaters Parkway, DeWitt, New York | 13214-1883 | |||
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) | |||
(315) 445-2282 | ||||
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code) | ||||
NONE | ||||
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted to its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Sec.232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer x Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o.
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x .
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
33,126,169 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, were outstanding on April 30, 2010.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | |||||
Part | I. | Financial Information | |||
Item | 1. | Financial Statements (Unaudited) | |||
Consolidated Statements of Condition | |||||
March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009_____________________________________________ | 3 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Income | |||||
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009________________________________________ | 4 | ||||
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity | |||||
Three months ended March 31, 2010_______________________________________________ | 5 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | |||||
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009________________________________________ | 6 | ||||
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | |||||
Three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009________________________________________ | 7 | ||||
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements | |||||
March 31, 2010_______________________________________________________________ | 8 | ||||
Item | 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations______ | 20 | ||
Item | 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk_____________________________ | 34 | ||
Item | 4. | Controls and Procedures________________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Part | II. | Other Information | |||
Item | 1. | Legal Proceedings____________________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 1A. | Risk Factors_________________________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds____________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities__________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 4. | (Removed and Reserved)_______________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 5. | Other Information_____________________________________________________________ | 35 | ||
Item | 6. | Exhibits____________________________________________________________________ | 36 | ||
2
Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
March 31, | December 31, | |
2010 | 2009 | |
Assets: | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $208,267 | $361,876 |
Available-for-sale investment securities (cost of $1,049,608 and $1,083,811 respectively) | 1,066,707 | 1,096,547 |
Held-to-maturity investment securities (fair value of $630,467 and $340,932) | 625,218 | 335,936 |
Other securities, at cost | 54,640 | 54,644 |
Loans held for sale | 1,002 | 1,779 |
Loans | 3,062,522 | 3,099,485 |
Allowance for loan losses | (42,095) | (41,910) |
Net loans | 3,020,427 | 3,057,575 |
Core deposit intangibles, net | 14,329 | 15,933 |
Goodwill | 297,692 | 297,692 |
Other intangibles, net | 3,791 | 4,046 |
Intangible assets, net | 315,812 | 317,671 |
Premises and equipment, net | 77,407 | 76,896 |
Accrued interest receivable | 27,605 | 25,139 |
Other assets | 88,715 | 74,750 |
Total assets | $5,485,800 | $5,402,813 |
Liabilities: | ||
Noninterest-bearing deposits | $724,097 | $736,816 |
Interest-bearing deposits | 3,264,180 | 3,187,670 |
Total deposits | 3,988,277 | 3,924,486 |
Borrowings | 754,606 | 754,779 |
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts | 102,005 | 101,999 |
Accrued interest and other liabilities | 62,515 | 55,852 |
Total liabilities | 4,907,403 | 4,837,116 |
Commitments and contingencies (See Note H) | ||
Shareholders' equity: | ||
Preferred stock $1.00 par value, 500,000 shares authorized, 0 shares issued | - | - |
Common stock, $1.00 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 33,909,725 and | 33,910 | 33,631 |
33,630,700 shares issued, respectively | ||
Additional paid-in capital | 219,118 | 216,481 |
Retained earnings | 349,273 | 342,539 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (5,774) | (8,784) |
Treasury stock, at cost (828,552 and 830,392 shares, respectively) | (18,130) | (18,170) |
Total shareholders' equity | 578,397 | 565,697 |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $5,485,800 | $5,402,813 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
3
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands, Except Per-Share Data)
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
2010 | 2009 | ||
Interest income: | |||
Interest and fees on loans | $44,673 | $46,791 | |
Interest and dividends on taxable investments | 10,933 | 10,307 | |
Interest and dividends on nontaxable investments | 5,446 | 6,001 | |
Total interest income | 61,052 | 63,099 | |
Interest expense: | |||
Interest on deposits | 8,603 | 13,570 | |
Interest on borrowings | 7,703 | 7,757 | |
Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts | 1,464 | 1,586 | |
Total interest expense | 17,770 | 22,913 | |
Net interest income | 43,282 | 40,186 | |
Less: provision for loan losses | 1,820 | 2,810 | |
Net interest income after provision for loan losses | 41,462 | 37,376 | |
Noninterest income: | |||
Deposit service fees | 10,519 | 8,985 | |
Mortgage banking and other services | 923 | 2,331 | |
Benefit plan administration, consulting and actuarial fees | 7,899 | 7,007 | |
Trust, investment and asset management fees | 2,376 | 2,033 | |
Total noninterest income | 21,717 | 20,356 | |
Operating expenses: | |||
Salaries and employee benefits | 22,936 | 22,962 | |
Occupancy and equipment | 6,225 | 6,211 | |
Data processing and communications | 5,114 | 4,850 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,859 | 2,105 | |
Legal and professional fees | 1,300 | 1,284 | |
Office supplies and postage | 1,249 | 1,375 | |
Business development and marketing | 1,014 | 1,292 | |
FDIC insurance premiums | 1,572 | 1,375 | |
Other | 2,924 | 2,947 | |
Total operating expenses | 44,193 | 44,401 | |
Income before income taxes | 18,986 | 13,331 | |
Income taxes | 4,984 | 2,866 | |
Net income | $14,002 | $10,465 | |
Basic earnings per share | $0.42 | $0.32 | |
Diluted earnings per share | $0.42 | $0.32 | |
Dividends declared per share | $0.22 | $0.22 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. |
4
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010
(In Thousands, Except Share Data)
Accumulated | |||||||
Common Stock | Additional | Other | |||||
Shares | Amount | Paid-In | Retained | Comprehensive | Treasury | ||
Outstanding | Issued | Capital | Earnings | Loss | Stock | Total | |
Balance at December 31, 2009 | 32,800,308 | $33,631 | $216,481 | $342,539 | ($8,784) | ($18,170) | $565,697 |
Net income | 14,002 | 14,002 | |||||
Other comprehensive income, net of tax | 3,010 | 3,010 | |||||
Dividends declared: | |||||||
Common, $0.22 per share | (7,268) | (7,268) | |||||
Common stock issued under employee stock plan, | |||||||
including tax benefits of $431 | 280,865 | 279 | 1,339 | 40 | 1,658 | ||
Stock-based compensation | 1,298 | 1,298 | |||||
Balance at March 31, 2010 | 33,081,173 | $33,910 | $219,118 | $349,273 | ($5,774) | ($18,130) | $578,397 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
5
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
2010 | 2009 | ||
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax: | |||
Change in pension liabilities | $307 | $1,074 | |
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments used in cash flow hedges | 105 | 187 | |
Unrealized (losses) gains on securities: | |||
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period | 4,362 | (4,240) | |
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax: | 4,774 | (2,979) | |
Income tax (expense) benefit related to other comprehensive (loss) income | (1,764) | 999 | |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: | 3,010 | (1,980) | |
Net income | 14,002 | 10,465 | |
Comprehensive income | $17,012 | $8,485 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
6
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)
(In Thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
2010 | 2009 | |
Operating activities: | ||
Net income | $14,002 | $10,465 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||
Depreciation | 2,449 | 2,522 |
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,859 | 2,105 |
Net amortization(accretion) of premiums & discounts on securities, loans and borrowings | 796 | (24) |
Stock-based compensation | 1,298 | 835 |
Provision for loan losses | 1,820 | 2,810 |
Amortization of mortgage servicing rights | 192 | 135 |
Income on bank-owned life insurance policies | (141) | (101) |
Net gain on sale of loans and other assets | (125) | (235) |
Net change in loans originated for sale | 941 | (15,904) |
Change in other assets and liabilities | (11,659) | (17,702) |
Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities | 11,432 | (15,094) |
Investing activities: | ||
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity investment securities | 28,375 | 16,666 |
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale investment securities | 35,765 | 74,615 |
Purchases of held-to-maturity investment securities | (318,451) | (53,849) |
Purchases of available-for-sale investment securities | (1,560) | (64,800) |
Sales of other securities | 7 | 212 |
Purchases of other securities | (3) | (9) |
Net decrease in loans | 35,329 | 30,067 |
Capital expenditures | (2,999) | (1,876) |
Net cash (used in)/provided by investing activities | (223,537) | 1,026 |
Financing activities: | ||
Net change in demand deposits, NOW accounts and savings accounts | 124,096 | 167,452 |
Net change in time deposits | (60,305) | (6,098) |
Net change in borrowings | (173) | (3,704) |
Issuance of common stock | 1,658 | 429 |
Cash dividends paid | (7,211) | (7,180) |
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements | 431 | 86 |
Net cash provided by financing activities | 58,496 | 150,985 |
Change in cash and cash equivalents | (153,609) | 136,917 |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 361,876 | 213,753 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $208,267 | $350,670 |
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: | ||
Cash paid for interest | $17,814 | $23,028 |
Supplemental disclosures of noncash financing and investing activities: | ||
Dividends declared and unpaid | 7,268 | 7,203 |
Transfers from loans to other real estate | 1,244 | 601 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
7
COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
March 31, 2010
NOTE A: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The interim financial data as of March 31, 2010 and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009 is unaudited; however, in the opinion of Community Bank System, Inc (“the Company”), the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other interim period.
NOTE B: ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Critical Accounting Policies
Allowance for Loan Losses
Management continually evaluates the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, and performs a formal review of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis. The allowance reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses incurred in the loan portfolio. Determination of the allowance is subjective in nature and requires significant estimates. The Company’s allowance methodology consists of two broad components - general and specific loan loss allocations.
The general loan loss allocation is composed of two calculations that are computed on five main loan categories: commercial, consumer direct, consumer indirect, home equity and residential real estate. The first calculation determines an allowance level based on historical net charge-off data for each loan category (commercial loans exclude balances with specific loan loss allocations). The second calculation is qualitative and takes into consideration eight qualitative environmental factors: levels and trends in delinquencies and impaired loans; levels of and trends in charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans; effects of any changes in risk selection and underwriting standards, and other changes in lending policies, procedure, and practices; experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff; national and local economic trends and conditions; industry condition; and effects of changes in credit concentrations. These two calculations are added together to determine the general loan loss allocation. The specific loan loss allocation relates to individual commercial loans that are both greater than $0.5 million and in a nonaccruing status with respect to interest. Specific losses are based on discounted estimated cash flows, including any cash flows resulting from the conversion of collateral or collateral shortfalls. The allowance levels computed from the specific and general loan loss allocation methods are combined with unallocated allowances, if any, to derive the required allowance for loan losses to be reflected on the Consolidated Statement of Condition. As it has in prior periods, the Company strives to refine and enhance its loss evaluation and estimation processes continually. In 2009, t he Company developed and utilized more granular historical loss factors on a portfolio specific basis, as well as enhanced its use of both Company specific and macro economic qualitative factors. These enhancements did not result in a significant change to the determined reserve levels.
Loan losses are charged off against the allowance, while recoveries of amounts previously charged off are credited to the allowance. A provision for loan loss is charged to operations based on management’s periodic evaluation of factors previously mentioned.
Investment Securities
The Company has classified its investments in debt and equity securities as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale. Held-to-maturity securities are those for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity, and are reported at cost, which is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Securities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at fair market value with net unrealized gains and losses reflected as a separate component of shareholders' equity, net of applicable income taxes. None of the Company's investment securities have been classified as trading securities at March 31, 2010.
Fair values for investment securities are based upon quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based upon quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility. See Notes C and I for further information.
8
Investment securities are reviewed regularly for other-than-temporary impairment. An unrealized loss is generally deemed to be other-than-temporary and a credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of the expected future cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment write-down is recorded in earnings, while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), provided the Company does not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is more likely than not that the Company will not be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. In determining whether a credit loss exists and the period over which the fair value of the debt security is expec ted to recover management considers the following factors: the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost; the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer; any external credit ratings; the level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the debt securities; the level of credit enhancement provided by the structure; and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. If an equity security is deemed other-than-temporarily impaired, the full impairment is considered credit related and a charge to earnings would be recorded.
The specific identification method is used in determining the realized gains and losses on sales of investment securities and other-than-temporary impairment charges. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized and accreted, respectively, on a systematic basis over the period to maturity or estimated life of the related security. Purchases and sales of securities are recognized on a trade date basis.
Income Taxes
The Company and its subsidiaries file a consolidated federal income tax return. Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes currently payable or refundable as well as deferred taxes that are based on temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are reported in the financial statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled.
Benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority having full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position meeting the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be measured at the largest amount of benefit for which the likelihood of realization upon ultimate settlement exceeds 50 percent.
Intangible Assets
Intangible assets include core deposit intangibles, customer relationship intangibles and goodwill arising from acquisitions. Core deposit intangibles and customer relationship intangibles are amortized on either an accelerated or straight-line basis over periods ranging from 8 to 20 years. The initial and ongoing carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums, and company-specific risk indicators.
The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated. If so, the implied fair value of the reporting units’ goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value over fair value.
Retirement Benefits
The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to eligible employees. The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees and officers. Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including discount rate, rate of future compensation increases and expected return on plan assets.
Subsequent Events
Companies are required to evaluate events and transactions that occur after the balance sheet date but before the date the financial statements are issued, or available to be issued in the case of non-public entities. They must recognize in the financial statements the effect of all events or transactions that provide additional evidence of conditions that existed at the balance sheet date, including the estimates inherent in the financial preparation process. Entities shall not recognize the impact of events or transactions that provide evidence about conditions that did not exist at the balance sheet date but arose after that date. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the time of filing these financial statements with the SEC and noted no subsequent events requiring financial statement rec ognition or disclosure.
9
New Accounting Pronouncements
In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU 2010-6, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (Topic 820), Improving Disclosures About Fair Value Measurements. This guidance requires new disclosures as follows: 1) transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 and the reasons for the transfers, 2) additional breakout of asset and liability categories and 3) purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be reported separately in the Level 3 rollforward. This guidance was effective for the Company for first quarter 2010 reporting, with the exception of item 3, which is effective beginning with first quarter 2011 reporting, and did not impact the Company’s consolidated finan cial statements.
On January 1, 1010, we adopted ASU 2009-16 - Transfers and Servicing (Topic 860) - Accounting For Transfers of Financial Assets which is a codification of guidance issued in June 2009. This guidance removes the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity. The guidance also establishes conditions for accounting and reporting of a transfer of a portion of a financial asset, modifies the asset sale/derecognition criteria, and changes how retained interests are initially measured. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2010, we adopted ASU 2009-17 - Consolidations (Topic 810) - Improvements to Financial Reporting by Enterprises Involved with Variable Interest Entities, which is a codification of guidance issued in June 2009. This guidance removes the scope exception for qualifying special-purpose entities, contains new criteria for determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity (VIE) and increases the frequency of required reassessments to determine whether an entity is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. VIEs are assessed for consolidation under Topic 810 when we hold variable interests in these entities. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
NOTE C: INVESTMENT SECURITIES
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities as of March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | ||||||||
Gross | Gross | Estimated | Gross | Gross | Estimated | ||||
Amortized | Unrealized | Unrealized | Fair | Amortized | Unrealized | Unrealized | Fair | ||
(000's omitted) | Cost | Gains | Losses | Value | Cost | Gains | Losses | Value | |
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | $463,303 | $3,496 | $2,074 | $464,725 | $153,761 | $2,185 | $538 | $155,408 | |
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 91,988 | 2,667 | 0 | 94,655 | 112,162 | 1,963 | 0 | 114,125 | |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 69,858 | 1,328 | 168 | 71,018 | 69,939 | 1,496 | 110 | 71,325 | |
Other securities | 69 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 74 | |
Total held-to-maturity portfolio | $625,218 | $7,491 | $2,242 | $630,467 | $335,936 | $5,664 | $648 | $340,932 | |
Available-for-Sale Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | 289,063 | 21,698 | 19 | 310,742 | 302,430 | $19,339 | $29 | 321,740 | |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 452,654 | 13,627 | 1,752 | 464,529 | 462,161 | 15,132 | 1,883 | 475,410 | |
Corporate debt securities | 35,552 | 1,574 | 0 | 37,126 | 35,561 | 1,556 | 0 | 37,117 | |
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations | 10,603 | 575 | 0 | 11,178 | 10,917 | 567 | 0 | 11,484 | |
Pooled trust preferred securities | 70,653 | 0 | 24,632 | 46,021 | 71,002 | 0 | 26,988 | 44,014 | |
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 190,703 | 6,932 | 863 | 196,772 | 201,361 | 6,088 | 1,042 | 206,407 | |
Marketable equity securities | 380 | 0 | 41 | 339 | 379 | 2 | 6 | 375 | |
Total available-for-sale portfolio | $1,049,608 | $44,406 | $27,307 | $1,066,707 | $1,083,811 | $42,684 | $29,948 | $1,096,547 |
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A summary of investment securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than or greater than twelve months is as follows:
As of March 31, 2010
Less than 12 Months | 12 Months or Longer | Total | |||||||
Gross | Gross | Gross | |||||||
Fair | Unrealized | Fair | Unrealized | Fair | Unrealized | ||||
(000's omitted) | Value | Losses | Value | Losses | Value | Losses | |||
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | $240,027 | $2,074 | $0 | $0 | $240,027 | $2,074 | |||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 13,262 | 168 | 0 | 0 | 13,262 | 168 | |||
Total held-to-maturity portfolio | 253,289 | 2,242 | 0 | 0 | 253,289 | 2,242 | |||
Available-for-Sale Portfolio: | |||||||||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 27,379 | 637 | 8,284 | 1,115 | 35,663 | 1,752 | |||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | 983 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 983 | 19 | |||
Pooled trust preferred securities | 0 | 0 | 46,021 | 24,632 | 46,021 | 24,632 | |||
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 29,364 | 241 | 9,359 | 622 | 38,723 | 863 | |||
Marketable equity securities | 380 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 380 | 41 | |||
Total available-for-sale portfolio | 58,106 | 938 | 63,664 | 26,369 | 121,770 | 27,307 | |||
Total investment portfolio | $311,395 | $3,180 | $63,664 | $26,369 | $375,059 | $29,549 |
As of December 31, 2009
Less than 12 Months | 12 Months or Longer | Total | |||||||
Gross | Gross | Gross | |||||||
Fair | Unrealized | Fair | Unrealized | Fair | Unrealized | ||||
(000's omitted) | Value | Losses | Value | Losses | Value | Losses | |||
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. treasury and agency securities | $67,435 | $538 | $0 | $0 | $67,435 | $538 | |||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 10,408 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 10,408 | 110 | |||
Total held-to-maturity portfolio | 77,843 | 648 | 0 | 0 | 77,843 | 648 | |||
Available-for-Sale Portfolio: | |||||||||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 31,179 | 854 | 4,074 | 1,029 | 35,253 | 1,883 | |||
U.S. treasury and agency securities | 973 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 973 | 29 | |||
Pooled trust preferred securities | 0 | 0 | 44,014 | 26,988 | 44,014 | 26,988 | |||
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 32,636 | 522 | 6,403 | 520 | 39,039 | 1,042 | |||
Marketable equity securities | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 6 | |||
Total available-for-sale portfolio | 64,807 | 1,411 | 54,491 | 28,537 | 119,298 | 29,948 | |||
Total investment portfolio | $142,650 | $2,059 | $54,491 | $28,537 | $197,141 | $30,596 |
Included in the available-for-sale portfolio are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current par value of $72.3 million and unrealized losses of $24.6 million at March 31, 2010. The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust-preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies. The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools. All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before the super senior tranche is impacted. As of March 31, 2010, an additional 31% - 39% of the underlying collateral in these securities would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in an expectation of non-receipt of contractual cash flows.
11
In determining if unrealized losses are other-than-temporary, management considers the following factors: the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost; the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuers; any external credit ratings; the level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the debt securities; the level of credit enhancement provided by the structure; and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying banks and insurance companies that make up the collateral pool. Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss. Therefore, the Company determined an other-than-temporary impairment did not exist at March 31, 2010. To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell the underlying securities. Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change those evaluations.
Management does not believe any individual unrealized loss as of March 31, 2010 represents an other-than-temporary impairment. The unrealized losses reported pertaining to government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities relate primarily to securities issued by GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC, who are currently rated AAA by Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s and are guaranteed by the U.S. government. The obligations of state and political subdivisions are general purpose debt obligations of various states and political subdivisions. The unrealized losses in the portfolios are primarily attributable to changes in interest rates. The Company does not intend to sell these securities, nor is it more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell these securities prior to recovery of the amortized cost.
The amortized cost and estimated fair value of debt securities at March 31, 2010, by contractual maturity, are shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately.
Held-to-Maturity | Available-for-Sale | |||||
Amortized | Fair | Amortized | Fair | |||
(000's omitted) | Cost | Value | Cost | Value | ||
Due in one year or less | $14,290 | $14,441 | $44,349 | $45,061 | ||
Due after one through five years | 63,927 | 66,727 | 219,707 | 230,924 | ||
Due after five years through ten years | 401,940 | 400,682 | 324,617 | 342,348 | ||
Due after ten years | 53,073 | 53,962 | 259,249 | 240,085 | ||
Subtotal | 533,230 | 535,812 | 847,922 | 858,418 | ||
Collateralized mortgage obligations | 0 | 0 | 10,603 | 11,178 | ||
Mortgage-backed securities | 91,988 | 94,655 | 190,703 | 196,772 | ||
Total | $625,218 | $630,467 | $1,049,228 | $1,066,368 |
NOTE D: INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for each type of identifiable intangible asset are as follows:
As of March 31, 2010 | As of December 31, 2009 | |||||||
Gross | Net | Gross | Net | |||||
Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | Carrying | Accumulated | Carrying | |||
(000's omitted) | Amount | Amortization | Amount | Amount | Amortization | Amount | ||
Amortizing intangible assets: | ||||||||
Core deposit intangibles | $60,595 | ($46,266) | $14,329 | $60,595 | ($44,662) | $15,933 | ||
Other intangibles | 7,894 | (4,103) | 3,791 | 7,894 | (3,848) | 4,046 | ||
Total amortizing intangibles | $68,489 | ($50,369) | $18,120 | $68,489 | ($48,510) | $19,979 |
The estimated aggregate amortization expense for each of the five succeeding fiscal years ended December 31 is as follows:
Apr-Dec 2010 | $4,098 |
2011 | 3,488 |
2012 | 2,901 |
2013 | 2,260 |
2014 | 1,703 |
Thereafter | 3,670 |
Total | $18,120 |
Shown below are the components of the Company’s goodwill at March 31, 2010:
(000’s omitted) | December 31, 2009 | Activity | March 31, 2010 | ||
Goodwill | $302,516 | $0 | $302,516 | ||
Accumulated impairment | (4,824) | 0 | (4,824) | ||
Goodwill, net | $297,692 | $0 | $297,692 |
12
During the first quarter, the Company performed its annual internal valuation of goodwill for impairment by comparing the fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value. Results of the valuations indicate there was no goodwill impairment. Based on the goodwill valuations performed in the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2009, the Company recognized an impairment charge on the carrying value of the goodwill associated with Nottingham. Additional declines in Nottingham’s projected operating results may cause future impairment to its remaining goodwill balance.
NOTE E: MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES
The Company sponsors two business trusts, Community Statutory Trust III and Community Capital Trust IV (“Trust IV”), of which 100% of the common stock is owned by the Company. The trusts were formed for the purpose of issuing company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities to third-party investors and investing the proceeds from the sale of such preferred securities solely in junior subordinated debt securities of the Company. The debentures held by each trust are the sole assets of that trust. Distributions on the preferred securities issued by each trust are payable quarterly at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate being earned by the trust on the debentures held by that trust and are recorded as interest expense in the consolidated financial statements. The pr eferred securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the debentures. The Company has entered into agreements which, taken collectively, fully and unconditionally guarantee the preferred securities subject to the terms of each of the guarantees. The terms of the preferred securities of each trust are as follows:
Issuance | Par | Maturity | ||||
Trust | Date | Amount | Interest Rate | Date | Call Provision | Call Price |
III | 7/31/2001 | $24.5 million | 3 month LIBOR plus 3.58% (3.83%) | 7/31/2031 | 5 year beginning 2006 | 103.00% declining to par in 2011 |
IV | 12/8/2006 | $75 million | 3 month LIBOR plus 1.65% (1.91%) | 12/15/2036 | 5 year beginning 2012 | Par |
Upon the issuance of Trust IV, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the variable rate trust preferred securities into a fixed rate security for a term of five years at a fixed rate of 6.43%. Additional interest expense of $848,000 was recognized based on the interest rate swap agreement for the three months ended March 31, 2010, compared to $550,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
NOTE F: BENEFIT PLANS
The Company provides a qualified defined benefit pension plan and other post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to qualified employees and retirees, an unfunded supplemental pension plan for certain key executives, and an unfunded stock balance plan for certain of its nonemployee directors which was frozen effective December 31, 2009. The Company terminated its post-retirement medical program for current and future employees effective December 31, 2009. Remaining plan participants will include only existing retirees, or those active and eligible employees who retire prior to December 31, 2010. During the first quarter, the Company made a contribution to its defined benefit pension plan of $15.0 million. No other contributions are required in 2010. The Company accrues for th e estimated cost of these benefits through charges to expense during the years that employees earn these benefits. The net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31 is as follows:
Pension Benefits | Post-retirement Benefits | ||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | ||||
March 31, | March 31, | ||||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |
Service cost | $693 | $874 | $0 | $200 | |
Interest cost | 954 | 919 | 49 | 154 | |
Expected return on plan assets | (1,618) | (1,172) | 0 | 0 | |
Amortization of unrecognized net loss | 592 | 691 | 4 | 15 | |
Amortization of prior service (credit)/cost | (47) | (31) | (264) | 13 | |
Amortization of transition obligation | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
Net periodic benefit expense/(income) | $574 | $1,281 | ($211) | $392 |
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NOTE G: EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share are computed based on the weighted-average common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted-average shares outstanding adjusted for the dilutive effect of restricted stock and the assumed exercise of stock options during the year. The dilutive effect of options is calculated using the treasury stock method of accounting. The treasury stock method determines the number of common shares that would be outstanding if all the dilutive options (those where the average market price is greater than the exercise price) were exercised and the proceeds were used to repurchase common shares in the open market at the average market price for the applicable time period. There were approximately 1.8 million weighted-average anti-dilutive st ock options outstanding at March 31, 2010 compared to approximately 2.1 million weighted-average anti-dilutive stock options outstanding at March 31, 2009 that were not included in the computation below. The following is a reconciliation of basic to diluted earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009.
Three Months Ended March 31, | ||
(000's omitted, except per share data) | 2010 | 2009 |
Net income | $14,002 | $10,465 |
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards | (112) | (49) |
Income available to common shareholders | 13,890 | 10,416 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic | 32,824 | 32,651 |
Basic earnings per share | $0.42 | $0.32 |
Net income | $14,002 | $10,465 |
Income attributable to unvested stock-based compensation awards | (112) | (49) |
Income available to common shareholders | 13,890 | 10,416 |
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | 32,824 | 32,651 |
Assumed exercise of stock options | 238 | 167 |
Weighted-average shares – diluted | 33,062 | 32,818 |
Diluted earnings per share | $0.42 | $0.32 |
Stock Repurchase Program
On July 22, 2009, the Company announced an authorization to repurchase up to 1,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with securities laws and regulations through December 31, 2011. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion. There were no treasury stock purchases during the first three months of 2010.
NOTE H: COMMITMENTS, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND RESTRICTIONS
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 consist primarily of commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to customers, generally having fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses that may require payment of a fee. These commitments consist principally of unused commercial and consumer credit lines. Standby letters of credit generally are contingent upon the failure of the customer to perform according to the terms of an underlying contract with a third party. The credit risks associated with commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit are essentially the same as that involved with extending loans to customers and are subject to the Company’s normal credit policies. Collateral may be obtained based on management’s assessment of the customer’s creditworthiness.
The contract amount of commitments and contingencies are as follows:
(000's omitted) | March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 |
Commitments to extend credit | $563,473 | $573,179 |
Standby letters of credit | 18,523 | 19,121 |
Total | $581,996 | $592,300 |
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NOTE I: FAIR VALUE
Accounting standards allow entities an irrevocable option to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. The Company has elected to value loans held for sale at fair value in order to more closely match the gains and losses associated with loans held for sale with the gains and losses on forward sales contracts. Accordingly, the impact on the valuation will be recognized in the Company’s consolidated statement of income. All mortgage loans held for sale are current and in performing status.
Accounting standards establish a framework for measuring fair value and require the disclosure about such fair value instruments. It defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). Inputs used to measure fair value are classified into the following hierarchy:
● | Level 1 – | Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. | |
● | Level 2 – | Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, or quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or inputs other | |
than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability. | |||
● | Level 3 – | Significant valuation assumptions not readily observable in a market. |
A financial instrument’s categorization within the valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following tables set forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.
March 31, 2010 | ||||
(000's omitted) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Fair Value |
Available-for-sale investment securities: | ||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | $983 | $309,759 | $0 | $310,742 |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 0 | 464,529 | 0 | 464,529 |
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 0 | 196,772 | 0 | 196,772 |
Corporate debt securities | 0 | 37,126 | 0 | 37,126 |
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations | 0 | 11,178 | 0 | 11,178 |
Pooled trust preferred securities | 0 | 0 | 46,021 | 46,021 |
Marketable equity securities | 339 | 0 | 0 | 339 |
Total available-for-sale investment securities | 1,322 | 1,019,364 | 46,021 | 1,066,707 |
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale | 0 | 0 | 106 | 106 |
Mortgage loans held for sale | 0 | 1,002 | 0 | 1,002 |
Interest rate swap | 0 | (4,988) | 0 | (4,988) |
Total | $1,322 | $1,015,378 | $46,127 | $1,062,827 |
December 31, 2009 | ||||
(000's omitted) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Fair Value |
Available-for-sale investment securities: | ||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | $973 | $320,767 | $0 | $321,740 |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 0 | 475,410 | 0 | 475,410 |
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 0 | 206,407 | 0 | 206,407 |
Corporate debt securities | 0 | 37,117 | 0 | 37,117 |
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations | 0 | 11,484 | 0 | 11,484 |
Pooled trust preferred securities | 0 | 0 | 44,014 | 44,014 |
Marketable equity securities | 375 | 0 | 0 | 375 |
Total available-for-sale investment securities | 1,348 | 1,051,185 | 44,014 | 1,096,547 |
Forward sales contracts | 0 | 119 | 0 | 119 |
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale | 0 | 0 | 31 | 31 |
Mortgage loans held for sale | 0 | 1,779 | 0 | 1,779 |
Interest rate swap | 0 | (5,093) | 0 | (5,093) |
Total | $1,348 | $1,047,990 | $44,045 | $1,093,383 |
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The valuation techniques used to measure fair value for the items in the table above are as follows: |
· | Available for sale investment securities – The fair value of available-for-sale investment securities is based upon quoted prices, if available. If quoted prices are not available, fair values are measured using quoted market prices for similar securities or model-based valuation techniques. Level 1 securities include U.S. Treasury and marketable equity securities that are traded by dealers or brokers in active over-the-counter markets. Level 2 securities include U.S. agency securities, mortgage-backed securities issued by government-sponsored entities, municipal securities and corporate debt securities that are valued by reference to prices for similar securities or through model-based techniques in which all significant inputs, such as dealer quotes, reported trades, trade execution data, LIBOR swap yield curve, market prepayment speeds, credit information, market spreads, a nd security’s terms and conditions, are observable. Securities classified as Level 3 include pooled trust preferred securities in less liquid markets. The value of these instruments is determined using multiple pricing models or similar techniques as well as significant unobservable inputs such as judgment or estimation by the Company in the weighting of the models. |
· | Mortgage loans held for sale – Mortgage loans held for sale are carried at fair value, which is determined using quoted secondary-market prices of loans with similar characteristics and, as such, have been classified as a Level 2 valuation. The unpaid principal value of mortgage loans held for sale at March 31, 2010 is $1.0 million. The unrealized gain on mortgage loans held for sale of $21,000 was recognized in mortgage banking and other income in the consolidated statement of income for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. |
· | Forward sales contracts – The Company enters into forward sales contracts to sell certain residential real estate loans. Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of these forward sales contracts is primarily measured by obtaining pricing from certain government-sponsored entities and reflects the underlying price the entity would pay the Company for an immediate sale on these mortgages. These instruments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. |
· | Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale – The Company enters into various commitments to originate residential real estate loans for sale. Such commitments are considered to be derivative financial instruments and, therefore, are carried at estimated fair value in the other asset or other liability section of the consolidated balance sheet. The estimated fair value of these commitments is determined using quoted secondary market prices obtained from certain government-sponsored entities. Additionally, accounting guidance requires the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan to be included in the fair value measurement of the derivative. The expected net future cash flows are based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated net servicing income. The valuation model incorporates assu mptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such assumptions include estimates of the realization rate, cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds. The determination of expected net cash flows is considered a significant unobservable input contributing to the Level 3 classification of commitments to originate real estate loans for sale. |
· | Interest rate swap – The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements to modify the repricing characteristics of certain of its interest-bearing liabilities. The fair value of these interest rate swaps, which are traded in over-the-counter markets, where quoted market prices are not readily available, are measured using models for which the significant assumptions such as yield curves and option volatilities are market observable and, therefore, classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. |
The changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized in the following tables:
Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||
2010 | 2009 | ||||||
(000's omitted) | Pooled trust preferred securities | Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale | Total | Pooled trust preferred securities | Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale | Total | |
Beginning balance | $44,014 | $31 | $44,045 | $49,866 | $0 | $49,866 | |
Total gains (losses) included in earnings | 25 | (31) | (6) | 26 | 0 | 26 | |
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income | 2,356 | 0 | 2,356 | (1,968) | 0 | (1,968) | |
Sales/calls/principal reductions | (374) | 0 | (374) | (357) | 0 | (357) | |
Commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale, net | 0 | 106 | 106 | 0 | 271 | 271 | |
Ending balance | $46,021 | $106 | $46,127 | $47,567 | $271 | $47,838 |
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Assets and liabilities measured on a non-recurring basis:
March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | ||||||||
(000's omitted) | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Fair Value | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total Fair Value | |
Impaired loans | $0 | $0 | $3,032 | $3,032 | $0 | $0 | $5,771 | $5,771 | |
Goodwill | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 2,500 | 2,500 | |
Mortgage servicing rights | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 | 1,608 | 1,608 | |
Total | $0 | $0 | $3,032 | $3,032 | $0 | $0 | $9,879 | $9,879 |
Originated mortgage servicing rights are recorded at their fair value at the time of sale of the underlying loan, and are amortized in proportion to and over the estimated period of net servicing income. In accordance with GAAP, the Company must record impairment charges, on a nonrecurring basis, when the carrying value of certain strata exceeds their estimated fair value. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is based on a valuation model incorporating inputs that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income. Such inputs include estimates of the cost of servicing loans, appropriate discount rate and prepayment speeds and are considered to be unobservable and contribute to the Level 3 classification of mortgage servicing rights. The amount of impairment recognized is the amount by which the carrying value of the capitalized servicing right s for a stratum exceed estimated fair value. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance. No valuation allowance was required at March 31, 2010. |
Loans are generally not recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Periodically, the Company records nonrecurring adjustment to the carrying value of loans based on fair value measurements for partial charge-offs of the uncollectible portions of those loans. Nonrecurring adjustments also include certain impairment amounts for collateral-dependent loans calculated when establishing the allowance for credit losses. Such amounts are generally based on the fair value of the underlying collateral supporting the loan and, as a result, the carrying value of the loan less the calculated valuation amount does not necessarily represent the fair value of the loan. Real estate collateral is typically valued using independent appraisals or other indications of value based on recent comparable sales of similar properties or assu mptions generally observable in the marketplace, adjusted based on non-observable inputs and the related nonrecurring fair value measurement adjustments and have generally been classified as Level 3. Estimates of fair value used for other collateral supporting commercial loans generally are based on assumptions not observable in the marketplace and, therefore, such valuations have been classified as Level 3.
The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment. The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to the carrying amount of that reporting unit in order to determine if impairment is indicated. If so, the implied fair value of the reporting units’ goodwill is compared to its carrying amount and the impairment loss is measured by the excess of the carrying value of the goodwill over fair value of the goodwill. In such situations, the Company performs a discounted cash flow modeling technique that requires management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit that enable the Company to calculate the implied fair value of th e goodwill. It also requires use of a discount rate that reflects the current return requirement of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums and company-specific risk indicators. As a result of the significant declines the equity markets experienced in 2008 and 2009, management determined a triggering event had occurred and the goodwill associated with Nottingham Advisors, Inc., one of the Company’s wealth management businesses, was tested for impairment during the fourth quarter of 2008 and 2009. Based on the goodwill valuation performed in the fourth quarter of 2009 using Level 3 inputs, the Company recognized an impairment charge and wrote down the carrying value of the goodwill by $3.1 million.
The Company determines fair values based on quoted market values where available or on estimates using present values or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including, but not limited to, the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. In that regard, the derived fair value estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument. Certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial instruments are excluded from fair value disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company. The fair value of investment securities has been disclosed in Note C.& #160; The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of the Company’s other financial instruments at March 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||
Carrying | Fair | Carrying | Fair | |||
(000's omitted) | Value | Value | Value | Value | ||
Financial assets: | ||||||
Loans | $3,062,522 | $3,061,603 | $3,099,485 | $3,089,287 | ||
Financial liabilities: | ||||||
Deposits | 3,988,277 | 4,000,102 | 3,924,486 | 3,939,951 | ||
Borrowings | 754,605 | 820,323 | 754,779 | 821,987 | ||
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts | 102,005 | 89,729 | 101,999 | 84,431 |
17
The following is a further description of the principal valuation methods used by the Company to estimate the fair values of its financial instruments.
Loans – Fair values for variable rate loans that reprice frequently are based on carrying values. Fair values for fixed rate loans are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality.
Deposits – The fair value of demand deposits, interest-bearing checking deposits, savings accounts and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of time deposit obligations are based on current market rates for similar products.
Borrowings – Fair values for long-term borrowings are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar borrowings.
Subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts – The fair value of subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts are estimated using discounted cash flows and interest rates currently being offered on similar securities.
Other financial assets and liabilities – Cash and cash equivalents, accrued interest receivable and accrued interest payable have fair values which approximate the respective carrying values because the instruments are payable on demand or have short-term maturities and present relatively low credit risk and interest rate risk.
NOTE J: DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company is party to derivative financial instruments in the normal course of its business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to manage its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments have been limited to interest rate swap agreements, commitments to originate real estate loans held for sale and forward sales commitments. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
The Company enters into forward sales commitments for the future delivery of residential mortgage loans, and interest rate lock commitments to fund loans at a specified interest rate. The forward sales commitments are utilized to reduce interest rate risk associated with interest rate lock commitments and loans held for sale. Changes in the estimated fair value of the forward sales commitments and interest rate lock commitments subsequent to inception are based on changes in the fair value of the underlying loan resulting from the fulfillment of the commitment and changes in the probability that the loan will fund within the terms of the commitment, which is affected primarily by changes in interest rates and the passage of time. At inception and during the life of the interest rate lock commitment, the Co mpany includes the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of the loan as part of the fair value measurement of the interest rate lock commitments. These derivatives are recorded at fair value. The fair value of the forward sales commitments at March 31, 2010 was immaterial.
The Company utilizes interest rate swap agreements as part of the management of interest rate risk to modify the repricing characteristics of certain of its borrowings. The interest rate swap has been designated as a qualifying cash flow hedge. See further details of interest rate swap agreements in Note E.
The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments, their estimated fair values, and balance sheet location as of March 31, 2010:
Asset Derivatives | Liability Derivatives | ||||||
(000's omitted) | Location | Notional | Fair Value | Location | Notional | Fair Value | |
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||
Interest rate swap agreement | Other liabilities | $75,000 | $4,988 | ||||
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | |||||||
Commitments to originate real estate loans for sale | Other assets | $6,818 | $106 | ||||
Total derivatives | $106 | $4,988 |
18
The following table presents the Company’s derivative financial instruments and the location of the net gain or loss recognized in the statement of income for the three months ended March 31, 2010:
(000's omitted) | Location | Gain/(loss) recognized in the Statement of Income for the Three Months Ending March 31, 2010 |
Interest rate swap agreement | Interest on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated subsidiary trusts | ($848) |
Interest rate lock commitments | Mortgage banking and other services | 106 |
Total | ($742) |
The amount of gain recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2010 in other comprehensive income related to the interest rate swap accounted for as a hedging instrument was approximately $65,000. The amount of loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income (effective portion) amounted to approximately $848,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and is located in interest expense on subordinated debt held by unconsolidated trusts.
NOTE K: SEGMENT INFORMATION
Operating segments are components of an enterprise, which are evaluated regularly by the “chief operating decision maker” in deciding how to allocate resources and assess performance. The Company’s chief operating decision maker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Company has identified Banking as its reportable operating business segment. The banking segment provides full-service banking to consumers, businesses and governmental units in northern, central and western New York as well as Northern Pennsylvania.
Immaterial operating segments of the Company’s operations, which do not have similar characteristics to the banking segment and do not meet the quantitative thresholds requiring disclosure, are included in the “Other” category. Revenues derived from these segments include administration, consulting and actuarial services to sponsors of employee benefit plans, broker-dealer and investment advisory services, asset management services to individuals, corporate pension and profit sharing plans, trust services and insurance commissions from various insurance related products and services. The accounting policies used in the disclosure of business segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies (See Note A, Sum mary of Significant Accounting Policies of the most recent Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed with the SEC on March 11, 2010).
Information about reportable segments and reconciliation of the information to the consolidated financial statements follows:
(000's omitted) | Banking | Other | Eliminations | Consolidated Total |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2010 | ||||
Net interest income | $43,255 | $27 | $0 | $43,282 |
Provision for loan losses | 1,820 | 0 | 0 | 1,820 |
Noninterest income | 11,442 | 10,687 | (412) | 21,717 |
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,630 | 229 | 0 | 1,860 |
Other operating expenses | 34,574 | 8,172 | (412) | 42,334 |
Income before income taxes | $16,673 | $2,313 | $0 | $18,986 |
Assets | $5,461,506 | $38,467 | ($14,173) | $5,485,800 |
Goodwill | $287,411 | $10,281 | $0 | $297,692 |
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 | ||||
Net interest income | $40,172 | $14 | $0 | $40,186 |
Provision for loan losses | 2,810 | 0 | 0 | 2,810 |
Noninterest income | 11,316 | 9,309 | (269) | 20,356 |
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,847 | 258 | 0 | 2,105 |
Other operating expenses | 34,381 | 8,184 | (269) | 42,296 |
Income before income taxes | $12,450 | $881 | ($0) | $13,331 |
Assets | $5,299,402 | $40,262 | ($14,931) | $5,324,733 |
Goodwill | $287,965 | $13,185 | $0 | $301,150 |
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Introduction
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) primarily reviews the financial condition and results of operations of Community Bank System, Inc. (the “Company” or “CBSI”) as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and 2009, although in some circumstances the fourth quarter of 2009 is also discussed in order to more fully explain recent trends. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear on pages 3 through 19. All references in the discussion to the financial condition and results of operations are to those of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Unless otherwise noted, the term “this year” refers to results in calendar year 2010, “first quarter” refers to the quarter ended March 31, 2010, earnings per share (“EPS”) figures refer to diluted EPS, and net interest income and net interest margin are presented on a fully tax-equivalent (“FTE”) basis.
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those proposed by such forward-looking statements are set herein under the caption, “Forward-Looking Statements,” on page 34.
Critical Accounting Policies
As a result of the complex and dynamic nature of the Company’s business, management must exercise judgment in selecting and applying the most appropriate accounting policies for its various areas of operations. The policy decision process not only ensures compliance with the latest generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), but also reflects management’s discretion with regard to choosing the most suitable methodology for reporting the Company’s financial performance. It is management’s opinion that the accounting estimates covering certain aspects of the business have more significance than others due to the relative importance of those areas to overall performance, or the level of subjectivity in the selection process. These estimates affect the reported amount s of assets and liabilities and disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Management believes that critical accounting estimates include:
· | Allowance for loan losses – The allowance for loan losses reflects management’s best estimate of probable loan losses in the Company’s loan portfolio. Determination of the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective. It requires significant estimates including the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans and the amount of estimated losses on pools of homogeneous loans which is based on historical loss experience and consideration of current economic trends, all of which may be susceptible to significant change. |
· | Investment securities – Investment securities are classified as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale, or trading. The appropriate classification is based partially on the Company’s ability to hold the securities to maturity and largely on management’s intentions with respect to either holding or selling the securities. The classification of investment securities is significant since it directly impacts the accounting for unrealized gains and losses on securities. Unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income or loss, as a separate component of shareholders’ equity and do not affect earnings until realized. The fair values of investment securities are generally determined by reference to quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, f air values are based on quoted market prices of comparable instruments, or a discounted cash flow model using market estimates of interest rates and volatility. Investment securities with significant declines in fair value are evaluated to determine whether they should be considered other-than–temporarily impaired. An unrealized loss is generally deemed to be other-than-temporary and a credit loss is deemed to exist if the present value of the expected future cash flows is less than the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The credit loss component of an other-than-temporary impairment write-down is recorded in earnings, while the remaining portion of the impairment loss is recognized in other comprehensive income (loss), provided the Company does not intend to sell the underlying debt security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security prior to recovery. |
· | Retirement benefits – The Company provides defined benefit pension benefits and post-retirement health and life insurance benefits to eligible employees. The Company also provides deferred compensation and supplemental executive retirement plans for selected current and former employees and officers. Expense under these plans is charged to current operations and consists of several components of net periodic benefit cost based on various actuarial assumptions regarding future experience under the plans, including, but not limited to, discount rate, rate of future compensation increases, mortality rates, future health care costs and expected return on plan assets. |
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· | Provision for income taxes - The Company is subject to examinations from various taxing authorities. Such examinations may result in challenges to the tax return treatment applied by the Company to specific transactions. Management believes that the assumptions and judgments used to record tax related assets or liabilities have been appropriate. Should tax laws change or the taxing authorities determine that management’s assumptions were inappropriate, an adjustment may be required which could have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations. |
· | Intangible assets - As a result of acquisitions, the Company has acquired goodwill and identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill represents the cost of acquired companies in excess of the fair value of net assets at the acquisition date. Goodwill is evaluated at least annually, or when business conditions suggest an impairment may have occurred and will be reduced to its carrying value through a charge to earnings if impairment exists. Core deposits and other identifiable intangible assets are amortized to expense over their estimated useful lives. The determination of whether or not impairment exists is based upon discounted cash flow modeling techniques that require management to make estimates regarding the amount and timing of expected future cash flows. It also requires them to select a discount rate that reflects the current return requirements of the market in relation to present risk-free interest rates, required equity market premiums and company-specific risk indicators, all of which are susceptible to change based on changes in economic conditions and other factors. Future events or changes in the estimates used to determine the carrying value of goodwill and identifiable intangible assets could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations. |
A summary of the accounting policies used by management is disclosed in Note A, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” on pages 50-55 of the most recent Form 10-K (fiscal year ended December 31, 2009) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2010.
Executive Summary
The Company’s business philosophy is to operate as a community bank with local decision-making, principally in non-metropolitan markets, providing a broad array of banking and financial services to retail, commercial and municipal customers.
The Company’s core operating objectives are: (i) grow the branch network, primarily through a disciplined acquisition strategy, and certain selective de novo expansions, (ii) build high-quality, profitable loan and deposit portfolios using both organic and acquisition strategies, (iii) increase the noninterest income component of total revenues through development of banking-related fee income, growth in existing financial services business units, and the acquisition of additional financial services and banking businesses, and (iv) utilize technology to deliver customer-responsive products and services and reduce operating costs.
Significant factors management reviews to evaluate achievement of the Company’s operating objectives and its operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to: net income and earnings per share, return on assets and equity, net interest margins, noninterest income, operating expenses, asset quality, loan and deposit growth, capital management, performance of individual banking and financial services units, liquidity and interest rate sensitivity, enhancements to customer products and services, technology advancements, market share, peer comparisons, and the performance of acquisition and integration activities.
First quarter net income of $14.0 million, or $0.42 per share, was 34% higher than the first quarter of 2009’s reported earnings of $10.5 million, or $0.32 per share. The increase was due to higher revenue from both increased net interest income, as a result of increased earning assets and higher net interest margin, and non-interest income. Also contributing to higher net income was a lower provision for loan losses and lower expenses as a result of cost management initiatives taken in 2009. These were partially offset by a higher effective income tax rate due to a higher proportional level of fully taxable income.
Asset quality in the first quarter of 2010 remained stable, and favorable as compared to peer financial organizations. Loan charge-offs and the provision for loan losses were below those experienced in the fourth and first quarters of 2009. Nonperforming loan and delinquency ratios were above the first quarter of 2009, but they continue to be below long-term historical levels. The Company experienced year-over-year growth in interest-earning assets, despite a small net decrease in average loans. The investment portfolio, including cash equivalents, increased as compared to both December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009 due to the net liquidity created from organic deposit growth. Average deposits increased in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to both the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first quarter of 2009, reflective of organic growth in core deposits. External borrowings were down slightly from both the fourth and first quarters of 2009.
Net Income and Profitability
As shown in Table 1, net income for the quarter of $14.0 million increased $3.5 million or 34% versus the first quarter of 2009. Earnings per share for the first quarter of $0.42 were $0.10 higher than the EPS generated in the same period of last year. First quarter net interest income of $43.3 million was up $3.1 million or 7.7% from the comparable prior year period. The current quarter’s provision for loan losses decreased $1.0 million as compared to the first quarter of 2009 and decreased $0.8 million from the fourth quarter of 2009, reflective of lower levels of net charge-offs, stable asset quality, and a decline in the loan portfolio. First quarter noninterest income was $21.7 million, up $1.4 million or 6.7% from the first quarter of 2009. Operating expenses of $44. 2 million for the quarter declined $0.2 million or 0.5% from the comparable prior year period.
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As reflected in Table 1, the primary reasons for higher earnings in the quarter were higher net interest income and noninterest income, as well as lower provision for loan losses and lower operating expenses, partially offset by higher income taxes. Net interest income for the first quarter of 2010 increased as compared to the comparable period of 2009 as a result of a 3.3% increase in interest-earning assets and a higher net interest margin. Noninterest income increased, despite a $1.5 million decline in mortgage-banking related revenue, reflective of the record secondary market activities experienced by the Company in the first quarter of 2009. Contributing to the increase was higher deposit service fees, and growth in the Company’s employee benefits consulting and plan administration business and wealth management revenues as a result of both new client and services generation and improving market conditions as compared to the first quarter of 2009. Lower net charge-offs, generally stable asset quality, and a decline in loan levels were the primary reasons for the decrease in loan loss provision. Operating expenses decreased for the quarter, due to effective cost management programs across the Company.
A condensed income statement is as follows:
Table 1: Summary Income Statements
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
(000's omitted, except per share data) | 2010 | 2009 | |
Net interest income | $43,282 | $40,186 | |
Provision for loan losses | 1,820 | 2,810 | |
Noninterest income | 21,717 | 20,356 | |
Operating expenses | 44,193 | 44,401 | |
Income before taxes | 18,986 | 13,331 | |
Income taxes | 4,984 | 2,866 | |
Net income | $14,002 | $10,465 | |
Diluted earnings per share | $0.42 | $0.32 |
Net Interest Income
Net interest income is the amount by which interest and fees on earning assets (loans, investments and cash) exceed the cost of funds, primarily interest paid to the Company's depositors and interest on external borrowings. Net interest margin is the difference between the gross yield on earning assets and the cost of interest-bearing funds as a percentage of earning assets.
As shown in Table 2, net interest income (with nontaxable income converted to a fully tax-equivalent basis) for the first quarter of 2010 was $47.0 million, a $2.8 million increase from the same period last year. A $157 million increase in first quarter interest-earning assets combined with an 11-basis point increase in net interest margin versus the prior year had a greater impact than the $93 million increase in average interest-bearing liabilities. As reflected in Table 3, the volume increase from interest-bearing assets and the rate decrease on interest-bearing liabilities had a $7.9 million favorable impact on net interest income, while the volume increase from interest bearing liabilities and rate decrease on interest bearing assets had a $5.1 million unfavorable impact on net interest income. The lower cost of funding had a greater favorable impact on net interest margin than the lower yields on interest-bearing assets.
Average investments and cash equivalents for the first quarter were $221 million higher than the respective period of 2009, reflective of the net liquidity generated from deposit growth. First quarter average loan balances declined $64.3 million as compared to the first quarter of 2009, primarily from continued principal amortization in the Company’s consumer mortgage and home equity portfolios, combined with its decision to sell the majority of its longer-term, lower rate mortgage originations over the last year, as well as declines in the consumer installment portfolio as a result of lower consumer spending in response to weaker economic conditions. In comparison to the prior year, total average interest-bearing deposits were up $99 million or 3.2% for the quarter reflective of organic growth in core deposits offset by a reduction in time deposits. Quarterly average borrowings declined slightly as compared to the first quarter of 2009.
The net interest margin of 3.93% for the first quarter increased 11 basis points versus the same period in the prior year. The improvement was primarily attributable to a 50-basis point decrease in the cost of funds, partially offset by a 38-basis point decrease in the earning-asset yield, as compared to the prior year period. The decrease in the earning asset yield is due to a 72-basis point decline in the investment yields for the first quarter and a 15-basis point decline in the loan yields for the first quarter, as compared to the like period of 2009. The change in the earning-asset yield is primarily a result of variable and adjustable-rate loans repricing downward and lower rates on fixed rate new loan volume due to the decline in interest rates to levels below those prevalent in prior years, a s well as the Company’s holdings of lower yielding cash instruments.
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The first quarter cost of funds decreased versus the prior year quarter due to a 68-basis point decrease in interest-bearing deposit rates, a higher proportion of funding being supplied from non-interest bearing deposits, and a six-basis point decrease in the average interest rate paid on external borrowings. The decreased cost of funds was reflective of disciplined deposit pricing, whereby interest rates on selected categories of deposit accounts were lowered throughout 2009 and the first three months of 2010 in response to market conditions. Additionally, the proportion of customer deposits in higher cost time deposits has declined eight percentage points over the last twelve months, while the percentage of deposits in non-interest bearing and lower cost checking accounts increased three percentage points. 60;The rate paid on long-term borrowings was impacted by the approximately 90 basis point decrease in the three-month LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rates) over the last twelve months, from which the interest rate on $25 million of the mandatorily redeemable preferred securities is based.
Table 2 below sets forth information related to average interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and their associated yields and rates for the periods indicated. Interest income and yields are on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a marginal income tax rate of 38.46% in 2009 and 2008. Average balances are computed by accumulating the daily ending balances in a period and dividing by the number of days in that period. Loan yields and amounts earned include loan fees. Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans and loans held for sale.
Table 2: Quarterly Average Balance Sheet
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | ||||||
March 31, 2010 | March 31, 2009 | ||||||
Avg. | Avg. | ||||||
Average | Yield/Rate | Average | Yield/Rate | ||||
(000's omitted except yields and rates) | Balance | Interest | Paid | Balance | Interest | Paid | |
Interest-earning assets: | |||||||
Cash equivalents | $187,030 | $115 | 0.25% | $155,306 | $96 | 0.25% | |
Taxable investment securities (1) | 1,071,958 | 11,146 | 4.22% | 842,496 | 10,541 | 5.07% | |
Nontaxable investment securities (1) | 518,959 | 8,708 | 6.81% | 559,344 | 9,579 | 6.95% | |
Loans (net of unearned discount) | 3,076,230 | 44,795 | 5.91% | 3,140,524 | 46,908 | 6.06% | |
Total interest-earning assets | 4,854,177 | 64,764 | 5.41% | 4,697,670 | 67,124 | 5.79% | |
Noninterest-earning assets | 570,868 | 537,582 | |||||
Total assets | $5,425,045 | $5,235,252 | |||||
Interest-bearing liabilities: | |||||||
Interest checking, savings and money market deposits | $2,095,769 | 2,915 | 0.56% | $1,691,147 | 3,051 | 0.73% | |
Time deposits | 1,126,324 | 5,688 | 2.05% | 1,432,149 | 10,519 | 2.98% | |
Borrowings | 856,662 | 9,167 | 4.34% | 862,036 | 9,343 | 4.40% | |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | 4,078,755 | 17,770 | 1.77% | 3,985,332 | 22,913 | 2.33% | |
Noninterest-bearing liabilities: | |||||||
Demand deposits | 716,172 | 651,298 | |||||
Other liabilities | 57,071 | 52,490 | |||||
Shareholders' equity | 573,047 | 546,132 | |||||
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $5,425,045 | $5,235,252 | |||||
Net interest earnings | $46,994 | $44,211 | |||||
Net interest spread | 3.64% | 3.46% | |||||
Net interest margin on interest-earnings assets | 3.93% | 3.82% | |||||
Fully tax-equivalent adjustment | $3,712 | $4,025 |
(1) Averages for investment securities are based on historical cost basis and the yields do not give effect to changes in fair value that is reflected as a component of
shareholders’ equity and deferred taxes.
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As discussed above and disclosed in Table 3 below, the quarterly change in net interest income (fully tax-equivalent basis) may be analyzed by segregating the volume and rate components of the changes in interest income and interest expense for each underlying category.
Table 3: Rate/Volume
1st Quarter 2010 versus 1st Quarter 2009 | |||
Increase (Decrease) Due to Change in (1) | |||
(000's omitted) | Volume | Rate | Net Change |
Interest earned on: | |||
Cash equivalents | $20 | ($1) | $19 |
Taxable investment securities | 2,571 | (1,966) | 605 |
Nontaxable investment securities | (680) | (191) | (871) |
Loans (net of unearned discount) | (949) | (1,164) | (2,113) |
Total interest-earning assets (2) | 2,186 | (4,546) | (2,360) |
Interest paid on: | |||
Interest checking, savings and money market deposits | 644 | (780) | (136) |
Time deposits | (1,961) | (2,870) | (4,831) |
Borrowings | (811) | 636 | (175) |
Total interest-bearing liabilities (2) | 526 | (5,669) | (5,143) |
Net interest earnings (2) | 1,496 | 1,287 | 2,783 |
(1) The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of such change in each component.
(2) Changes due to volume and rate are computed from the respective changes in average balances and rates and are not a summation of the changes of the
components.
Noninterest Income
The Company’s sources of noninterest income are of three primary types: 1) general banking services related to loans, deposits and other core customer activities typically provided through the branch network and electronic banking channels (performed by Community Bank, N.A. (“CBNA”) and First Liberty Bank and Trust); 2) employee benefit trust, administration, actuarial and consulting services (performed by BPAS); and 3) wealth management services, comprised of trust services (performed by the trust unit within CBNA), investment and insurance products (performed by Community Investment Services, Inc. and CBNA Insurance Agency, Inc.) and asset management (performed by Nottingham Advisors, Inc. or “Nottingham”). Additionally, the Company has periodic transactions, most often net gains (losses) from th e sale of investment securities and prepayment of debt instruments.
Table 4: Noninterest Income
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | |
Deposit service fees | $10,519 | $8,985 | |
Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees | 7,899 | 7,007 | |
Wealth management services | 2,376 | 2,033 | |
Other banking services | 440 | 313 | |
Mortgage banking | 483 | 2,018 | |
Total noninterest income | $21,717 | $20,356 | |
Noninterest income/total income (FTE) | 31.6% | 31.5% |
As displayed in Table 4, noninterest income was $21.7 million in the first quarter, an increase of $1.4 million or 6.7% from the prior year level. General recurring banking fees of $11.0 million for the first quarter were up $1.7 million or 18% as compared to the prior year period, driven by organic core deposit account growth and higher electronic banking and debit-card related revenues. Benefit trust, administration, consulting and actuarial fees increased $0.9 million as compared to the prior year period driven by a combination of new client and service generation and increased asset-based revenue. Wealth management services revenue increased $0.3 million or 17%, reflective of favorable market comparisons and generally improving demand for their products.
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Offsetting these increases for the quarter, residential mortgage banking revenue decreased $1.5 million in comparison to the prior year, reflective of the record secondary market activities experienced in the first quarter of 2009. Residential mortgage banking income totaled $0.5 million for the first quarter of 2010, as compared to $2.0 million in the first quarter of 2009. Residential mortgage banking income consists of realized gains or losses from the sale of residential mortgage loans and the origination of mortgage loan servicing rights, unrealized gains and losses on residential mortgage loans held for sale and related commitments, mortgage loan servicing fees and other mortgage loan-related fee income. Included in first quarter mortgage banking income is $0.1 million of recovery of an impairment ch arge taken in a prior period for the fair value of the mortgage servicing rights due primarily to a decrease in the expected prepayment speed of the Company’s sold loan portfolio with servicing retained. Residential mortgage loans sold to investors, primarily Fannie Mae, totaled $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to $98.6 million for the comparable 2009 period. Residential mortgage loans held for sale and recorded at fair value at March 31, 2010 totaled $1.0 million. Future revenue generation from mortgage banking activities will be dependent on market conditions and the trend in long-term interest rates.
The ratio of noninterest income to total income (FTE basis) was 31.6% for the quarter, versus 31.5% for the comparable period in 2009. The slight increase was a function of higher noninterest income from all major categories except mortgage banking, combined with proportionally smaller increases in net interest income.
Operating Expenses
Table 5 below sets forth the quarterly results of the major operating expense categories for the current and prior year, as well as efficiency ratios (defined below), a standard measure of expense utilization effectiveness commonly used in the banking industry.
Table 5: Operating Expenses
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | |
Salaries and employee benefits | $22,936 | $22,962 | |
Occupancy and equipment | 6,225 | 6,211 | |
Data processing and communications | 5,114 | 4,850 | |
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,859 | 2,105 | |
Legal and professional fees | 1,300 | 1,284 | |
Office supplies and postage | 1,249 | 1,375 | |
Business development and marketing | 1,014 | 1,292 | |
FDIC insurance premiums | 1,572 | 1,375 | |
Other | 2,924 | 2,947 | |
Total operating expenses | $44,193 | $44,401 | |
Operating expenses/average assets | 3.30% | 3.43% | |
Efficiency ratio | 61.6% | 65.3% |
As shown in Table 5, first quarter 2010 operating expenses were $44.2 million, a decrease of $0.2 million or 0.5% from the prior year level. Implementation of several expense reduction initiatives allowed the Company to report lower total operating expenses despite year-over-year increases in merit-based compensation, as well as higher technology and processing-related costs. The Company continues to have significant resources dedicated to the conversion of its core banking system, which is scheduled for the third quarter 2010.
Compensation expense increased $0.8 million from the first quarter of 2009, offset by a $1.0 million decrease in retirement plan expense primarily due to modifications to the Company’s defined benefit pension plan, and the fourth quarter 2009 termination of its post-retirement medical program for current and future employees, offset by a higher contribution to the Company’s 401(k) Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“401(k) Plan”). The defined benefit pension plan was modified to a new plan design, which combines service credits in the Cash Balance Plan with additional contributions to be made to the 401(k) Plan. Additionally, effective January 1, 2010, the Company increased its matching discretionary contribution to the 401(k) Plan for participant’s who contribute 6% of eligible compensation from a maximum 3.5% to 4.5%.
Additional changes to operating expenses can be attributable to lower business development and marketing expenses ($0.3 million), lower amortization of intangible assets ($0.2 million) and lower office supplies and postage ($0.1 million), partially offset by an increased level of FDIC insurance premiums ($0.2 million), and higher volume-based data processing and communication costs ($0.3 million). In May 2009, the FDIC basic insurance coverage limit of $250,000 was extended through December 31, 2013. This change combined with a significant depletion of the general insurance fund due to a major increase in the number and magnitude of bank failures have resulted in significant increases in the FDIC assessment rates that are expected to remain at similar levels during the remainder of 2010. The Company is als o participating in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program (“TAGP”) that provides unlimited coverage for transaction deposit accounts and for which a supplemental 10-basis point premium is assessed. In the second quarter of 2009, the FDIC assessed an emergency special assessment equal to five basis points on a bank’s assets less Tier 1 capital. This amounted to $2.5 million of additional premiums recognized in June 2009. No additional assessments were levied in the second half of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.
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The Company’s efficiency ratio (recurring operating expenses excluding intangible amortization, acquisition and core system conversion expenses divided by the sum of net interest income (FTE) and recurring noninterest income) was 61.6% for the first quarter, 3.7 percentage points below the comparable quarter of 2009. This resulted from operating expenses (as described above) increasing 0.3%, while recurring operating income increased at a faster rate of 6.4% due to a 6.3% increase in net interest income and a 6.7% increase in noninterest income year over year. Operating expenses, excluding acquisition and core system conversion expenses as a percentage of average assets decreased 13 basis points for the quarter, as operating expenses decreased 0.3%, and average assets increased 3.6%, in comparison to the same time period last year.
Income Taxes
The first quarter effective income tax rate was 26.3%, compared to the 21.5% effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2009. The higher effective tax rate for 2010 was principally a result of a higher proportion of income being generated from fully taxable sources.
Investments
As reflected in Table 6 below, the carrying value of investments (including unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities) was $1.69 billion at the end of the first quarter, an increase of $259.4 million from December 31, 2009 and an increase of $328.1 million from March 31, 2009. The book value (excluding unrealized gains) of investments increased $255.1 million from December 31, 2009 and $326.8 million from March 31, 2009. Throughout 2009 cash equivalents remained above historical levels, as the Company maintained the liquidity provided by the 2008 Citizens branch acquisition and organic deposit growth in anticipation of improved investment opportunities in future periods. A portion of the Company’s significant liquidity position was deployed during the first quarter of 2010 through the pur chase of $317 million of intermediate-term U.S. Treasury Notes. The overall mix of securities within the portfolio over the last year has changed, with an increase in the proportion of U.S. Treasury Notes and a decrease in the proportion of obligations of state and political subdivisions and small decreases in all other security categories. The change in the carrying value of investments is impacted by the amount of net unrealized gains in the available-for-sale portfolio at a point in time. At March 31, 2010, the portfolio had a $17.1 million net unrealized gain, an increase of $4.4 million from the unrealized gain at December 31, 2009 and an increase of $1.3 million from the unrealized gain at March 31, 2009. This fluctuation is indicative of the liquidity risk associated with the pooled trust preferred securities, interest rate movements during the respective time periods and the changes in the size and composition of the portfolio.
Table 6: Investments
March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | March 31, 2009 | |||||||
Amortized | Amortized | Amortized | |||||||
Cost/Book | Fair | Cost/Book | Fair | Cost/Book | Fair | ||||
(000's omitted) | Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | Value | |||
Held-to-Maturity Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | $463,303 | $464,725 | $153,761 | $155,408 | $46,874 | $49,025 | |||
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 91,988 | 94,655 | 112,162 | 114,125 | 50,603 | 50,900 | |||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 69,858 | 71,018 | 69,939 | 71,325 | 17,333 | 17,655 | |||
Other securities | 69 | 69 | 74 | 74 | 95 | 95 | |||
Total held-to-maturity portfolio | 625,218 | 630,467 | 335,936 | 340,932 | 114,905 | 117,675 | |||
Available-for-Sale Portfolio: | |||||||||
U.S. Treasury and agency securities | 289,063 | 310,742 | 302,430 | 321,740 | 352,307 | 378,018 | |||
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | 452,654 | 464,529 | 462,161 | 475,410 | 554,793 | 563,639 | |||
Corporate debt securities | 35,552 | 37,126 | 35,561 | 37,117 | 35,588 | 35,356 | |||
Government agency collateralized mortgage obligations | 10,603 | 11,178 | 10,917 | 11,484 | 20,811 | 21,292 | |||
Pooled trust preferred securities | 70,653 | 46,021 | 71,002 | 44,014 | 72,206 | 47,567 | |||
Government agency mortgage-backed securities | 190,703 | 196,772 | 201,361 | 206,407 | 197,042 | 202,673 | |||
Marketable equity securities | 380 | 339 | 379 | 375 | 398 | 389 | |||
Available-for-sale portfolio | 1,049,608 | 1,066,707 | 1,083,811 | 1,096,547 | 1,233,145 | 1,248,934 | |||
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale portfolio | 17,099 | 0 | 12,736 | 0 | 15,789 | 0 | |||
Total available-for-sale portfolio | 1,066,707 | 1,066,707 | 1,096,547 | 1,096,547 | 1,248,934 | 1,248,934 | |||
Total | $1,691,925 | $1,697,174 | $1,432,483 | $1,437,479 | $1,363,839 | $1,366,609 |
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Included in the available-for-sale portfolio, as detailed in Table 7, are pooled trust preferred, class A-1 securities with a current par value of $72.3 million and unrealized losses of $24.6 million at March 31, 2010. The underlying collateral of these assets is principally trust preferred securities of smaller regional banks and insurance companies. The Company’s securities are in the super-senior cash flow tranche of the investment pools. All other tranches in these pools will incur losses before this tranche is impacted. As of March 31, 2010, an additional 31% - 39% of the underlying collateral would have to be in deferral or default concurrently to result in the non-receipt of contractual cash flows. The market for these securities at March 31, 2010 is not active and market s for similar securities are also not active. The inactivity was evidenced first by a significant widening of the bid-ask spread in the brokered markets in which these securities trade and then by a significant decrease in the volume of trades relative to historical levels.
The fair value of these securities was determined using a discounted cash flow model that incorporated market estimates of interest rates and volatility, as well as, observable quoted prices for similar assets in markets that have not been active. These assumptions may have a significant effect on the reported fair values. The use of different assumptions, as well as changes in market conditions, could result in materially different fair values.
The Company does not consider these investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of March 31, 2010. In determining if unrealized losses are other-than-temporary, management considers the following factors: the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuers, any external credit ratings, the level of excess cash flows generated from the underlying collateral supporting the principal and interest payments of the debt securities, the level of credit enhancement provided by the structure, and the Company’s ability and intent to hold the security for a period sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. A detailed review of the pooled trust preferred securities was completed for the quarter ended March 31 , 2010. This review included an analysis of collateral reports, a cash flow analysis, including varying degrees of projected deferral/default scenarios, and a review of various financial ratios of the underlying issuers. Based on the analysis performed, significant further deferral/defaults and further erosion in other underlying performance conditions would have to exist before the Company would incur a loss. Based on the analysis performed, the Company determined an other-than-temporary impairment did not exist at March 31, 2010. To date, the Company has received all scheduled principal and interest payments and expects to fully collect all future contractual principal and interest payments. The Company does not intend to sell the underlying securities. These securities represent less than 1% of the Company’s average earning assets for the quarter ending March 31, 2010 and, thus, are not relied upon for meeting the daily liquidity need s of the Company. Subsequent changes in market or credit conditions could change those evaluations.
Table 7: Pooled Trust Preferred Securities as of March 31, 2010
(000’s omitted) | PreTSL XXVI | PreTSL XXVII | PreTSL XXVIII | |||
Single issuer or pooled | Pooled | Pooled | Pooled | |||
Class | A-1 | A-1 | A-1 | |||
Book value at 3/31/10 | $22,839 | $23,507 | $24,307 | |||
Fair value at 3/31/10 | 14,740 | 15,250 | 16,031 | |||
Unrealized loss at 3/31/10 | $8,099 | $8,257 | $8,276 | |||
Rating (Moody’s/Fitch/S&P) | (A1/A/BB) | (A3/A/BBB-) | (A3/A/BBB-) | |||
Number of depository institutions/companies in issuance | 64/74 | 42/49 | 45/56 | |||
Deferrals and defaults as a percentage of collateral | 28.3% | 25.1% | 18.2% | |||
Excess subordination | 27.48% | 32.18% | 37.32% |
Loans
As shown in Table 8, loans ended the first quarter at $3.06 billion, down $37.0 million (1.2%) from year-end 2009 and down $41.2 million (1.3%) versus one year earlier. The first quarter of 2010 loan decline was comprised of a reduction in the business lending portfolio ($20.1 million) and the consumer installment portfolio ($23.9 million), partially offset by an increase in the consumer mortgage portfolio ($7.1 million) despite the sale of $11.8 million of mortgage loans in the secondary market during the first quarter.
Table 8: Loans
(000's omitted) | March 31, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | March 31, 2009 | ||||||
Business lending | $1,062,628 | 34.7% | $1,082,753 | 34.9% | $1,078,593 | 34.7% | |||
Consumer mortgage | 1,035,902 | 33.8% | 1,028,805 | 33.2% | 1,026,934 | 33.1% | |||
Consumer installment | 963,992 | 31.5% | 987,927 | 31.9% | 998,214 | 32.2% | |||
Total loans | $3,062,522 | 100.0% | $3,099,485 | 100.0% | $3,103,741 | 100.0% |
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The combined total of general-purpose business lending, including agricultural-related and dealer floor plans, as well as mortgages on commercial property is characterized as the Company’s business lending activity. The business lending portfolio decreased $20.1 million in the first three months of 2010 and decreased $16.0 million versus one year ago. Customer demand has softened somewhat due to economic conditions. The Company maintains its commitment to generating growth in its business portfolio in a manner that adheres to its twin goals of maintaining strong asset quality and producing profitable margins. The Company has invested in additional personnel, technology and business development resources over the past few years to further strengthen its capabilities in this key business are a.
Consumer mortgages increased $9.0 million year-over-year and $7.1 million in the first three months of 2010. During the first quarter of 2010, the Company originated $12.8 million of residential mortgages for sale to others, principally Fannie Mae. Longer-term fixed rate residential mortgages sold to investors totaled $11.8 million in the first quarter of 2010 as compared to $98.6 million in the first quarter of 2009. Consumer mortgage volume has been relatively strong over the last year due to continued low long-term interest rates and comparatively stable real estate valuations in the Company’s primary markets. The consumer real estate portfolio does not include exposure to subprime, Alt-A, or other higher-risk mortgage products. The Company’s solid performance during a tumultuous period in the overall industry is a testament to the stable, low-risk profile of its portfolio and its ability to successfully meet customer needs at a time when some national mortgage lenders are restricting their lending activities in many of the Company’s markets. Interest rates and expected duration continue to be the most significant factors in determining whether the Company chooses to retain, versus sell and service, portions of its new mortgage production.
Consumer installment loans, both those originated directly (such as personal installment and home equity loans and lines of credit), and indirectly (originated predominantly in automobile, marine and recreational vehicle dealerships), declined $23.9 million in the first quarter of 2010 and decreased $34.2 million on a year-over-year basis. The origination and utilization of consumer installment and home equity loans has faced somewhat softer demand over the past year due to lower consumer spending and deleveraging activities in response to weaker economic conditions. Declines in both new and used vehicle sales in 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 adversely impacted the Company’s ability to generate the same level of new loan volume it has in previous years. The Company is focused on maintaining the solid profitability produced by its in-market and contiguous market indirect portfolio, while continuing to pursue its disciplined, long-term approach to expanding its dealer network. It is expected that improved economic conditions in the future will enable the Company to produce indirect loan growth more in line with its longer-term historical experience.
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Asset Quality
Table 9 below exhibits the major components of nonperforming loans and assets and key asset quality metrics for the periods ending March 31, 2010 and 2009 and December 31, 2009.
Table 9: Nonperforming Assets
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | ||||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | 2009 | |||
Nonaccrual loans | ||||||
Business lending | $13,159 | $11,207 | $7,816 | |||
Consumer installment | 724 | 980 | 1,272 | |||
Consumer mortgage | 4,368 | 4,077 | 4,273 | |||
Total nonaccrual loans | 18,251 | 16,264 | 13,361 | |||
Accruing loans 90+ days delinquent | ||||||
Business lending | 118 | 662 | 367 | |||
Consumer installment | 93 | 197 | 128 | |||
Consumer mortgage | 719 | 891 | 452 | |||
Total accruing loans 90+ days delinquent | 930 | 1,750 | 947 | |||
Restructured loans | ||||||
Business lending | 0 | 896 | 977 | |||
Nonperforming loans | ||||||
Business lending | 13,277 | 12,765 | 9,160 | |||
Consumer installment | 817 | 1,177 | 1,400 | |||
Consumer mortgage | 5,087 | 4,968 | 4,725 | |||
Total nonperforming loans | 19,181 | 18,910 | 15,285 | |||
Other real estate (OREO) | 1,479 | 1,429 | 1,383 | |||
Total nonperforming assets | $20,660 | $20,339 | $16,668 | |||
Allowance for loan losses to total loans | 1.37% | 1.35% | 1.29% | |||
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans | 219% | 222% | 262% | |||
Nonperforming loans to total loans | 0.63% | 0.61% | 0.49% | |||
Nonperforming assets to total loans and other real estate | 0.67% | 0.66% | 0.54% | |||
Delinquent loans (30 days old to nonaccruing) to total loans | 1.43% | 1.48% | 1.33% | |||
Net charge-offs (annualized) to quarterly average loans outstanding | 0.22% | 0.22% | 0.30% | |||
Loan loss provision to net charge-offs (quarterly) | 111% | 148% | 120% |
As displayed in Table 9, nonperforming assets at March 31, 2010 were $20.7 million, a $0.3 million increase versus the level at the end of 2009 and an increase of $4.0 million as compared to the very favorable level one year earlier. Other real estate owned (“OREO”) increased $0.1 million from one-year ago and remained consistent with year-end 2009, a result of the Company managing 20 OREO properties at both March 31, 2010 and 2009. No single property has a carrying value in excess of $290,000 in 2010 and $320,000 in 2009. Nonperforming loans were 0.63% of total loans outstanding at the end of the first quarter, two and 14 basis points higher than the levels at December 31, 2009 and March 31, 2009, respectively.
Approximately 9% of the increase in nonperforming loans from March 2009 to March 2010 is related to the consumer mortgage portfolio. Collateral values of residential properties within the Company’s market area are not experiencing the magnitude of declines in value that other parts of the country have encountered. However, the economic slowdown, increased unemployment levels and the resulting pressure on consumers and businesses alike have resulted in higher nonperforming levels. Nonperforming consumer installment loans declined from March 2009 to March 2010. The remaining portion of the increase in nonperforming loans from March 2009 to March 2010 is related to the business lending portfolio, which is comprised of business loans broadly diversified by industry type. With the ec onomic downturn, the financial performance and position of certain of the Company’s business customers has deteriorated and consequently the level of non-accrual loans has risen. The allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans ratio, a general measure of coverage adequacy, was 219% at the end of the first quarter, compared to 222% at year-end 2009 and 262% at March 31, 2009, reflective of the higher level of nonperforming loans.
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Members of senior management, special asset officers, and lenders review all delinquent and nonaccrual loans and OREO regularly, in order to identify deteriorating situations, monitor known problem credits and discuss any needed changes to collection efforts, if warranted. Based on the group’s consensus, a relationship may be assigned a special assets officer or other senior lending officer to review the loan, meet with the borrowers, assess the collateral and recommend an action plan. This plan could include foreclosure, restructuring loans, issuing demand letters, or other actions. The Company’s larger criticized credits are also reviewed on a quarterly basis by senior credit administration, special assets and commercial lending management to monitor their status and discuss relationship management plans. Commercial lending management reviews the criticized loan portfolio on a monthly basis.
Delinquent loans (30 days through nonaccruing) as a percent of total loans was 1.43% at the end of the first quarter, five basis points below the 1.48% at year-end 2009 and ten basis points higher than the very favorable level of 1.33% at March 31, 2009. The commercial loan delinquency ratio at the end of the first quarter increased in comparison to December 31, 2009 and was lower as compared to March 31, 2009. The delinquency rate for installment loans decreased as compared to the December 31, 2009 and increased slightly as compared to March 31, 2009. The mortgage loan delinquency ratio at the end of the first quarter of 2010 was lower than at December 31, 2009 and consistent with the level one year ago. The Company’s success at keeping the non-performing and delinquency ratios at favorab le levels despite weak economic conditions was the result of its continued focus on maintaining strict underwriting standards, as well as effective utilization of its collection and recovery capabilities.
Table 10: Allowance for Loan Losses Activity
Three Months Ended | |||
March 31, | |||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | |
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of period | $41,910 | $39,575 | |
Charge-offs: | |||
Business lending | 1,368 | 1,144 | |
Consumer mortgage | 88 | 75 | |
Consumer installment | 1,475 | 2,027 | |
Total charge-offs | 2,931 | 3,246 | |
Recoveries: | |||
Business lending | 285 | 109 | |
Consumer mortgage | 28 | 6 | |
Consumer installment | 983 | 799 | |
Total recoveries | 1,296 | 914 | |
Net charge-offs | 1,635 | 2,332 | |
Provision for loans losses | 1,820 | 2,810 | |
Allowance for loan losses at end of period | $42,095 | $40,053 | |
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding: | |||
Business lending | 0.41% | 0.39% | |
Consumer mortgage | 0.02% | 0.03% | |
Consumer installment | 0.20% | 0.49% | |
Total loans | 0.22% | 0.30% |
As displayed in Table 10, net charge-offs during the first three months of 2010 were $1.6 million, $0.7 million lower than the equivalent 2009 period. The business lending portfolio experienced a small increase in the level of charge-offs as compared to the first quarter of 2009, while the consumer mortgage and consumer installment portfolios experienced lower levels of net charge-offs as compared to the equivalent prior year quarter. The net charge-off ratio (net charge-offs as a percentage of average loans outstanding) for the first quarter was 0.22%, eight basis points lower than the comparable quarter of 2009. Net charge-offs and the corresponding net charge-off ratios continue to be below average long-term historical levels.
The business lending net charge-off ratio for the first quarter of 0.41% increased two basis points versus the prior year level. The consumer mortgage portfolio experienced a net charge-off ratio of 0.02% for the quarter, versus 0.03% in the previous year. The consumer installment net charge-off ratio for the first quarter declined 29 basis points from the first quarter of 2009. As compared to the fourth quarter of 2009, the consumer mortgage and consumer installment net charge-off ratios improved by three basis points and 15 basis points, respectively, while the business lending portfolio net charge-off ratio was higher by 13 basis points.
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For the quarter ended March 31, 2010, a $1.8 million loan loss provision was recorded compared to $2.8 million for the first quarter of 2009. The first quarter 2010 loan loss provision was $0.2 million higher than the level of net charge-offs, due mostly to higher levels of nonperforming loans and increases in qualitative risk factors attributable to the portfolio due to continued soft economic conditions. The allowance for loan losses of $42.1 million as of March 31, 2010 rose $2.0 million or 5.1% over the last 12 months, while the loan portfolio declined 1.3% during the same time period. Contributing to the changes was increasing nonperforming and delinquency trends experienced over the last twelve months. The ratio of allowance for loan loss to loans outstanding increased two basis points to 1.37% at quarter-end, as compared to the level at December 31, 2009 and increased eight basis points from the level at March 31, 2009.
Deposits
As shown in Table 11, average deposits of $3.9 billion in the first quarter were up $163.7 million compared to the first quarter 2009 and $51.9 million versus the fourth quarter of last year. The mix of average deposits changed throughout 2009 and this continued in the first quarter of 2010. The weightings of non-time deposits (interest checking, non-interest checking, savings and money markets accounts) have increased from their year-ago levels, while the proportion of time deposits decreased. This change in deposit mix reflects the Company’s focus on expanding core account relationships and reducing higher cost time deposit balances, as well as the preference of certain customers to hold more funds in liquid accounts in the low interest rate environment. This shift in mix, combined with the Company’s ability to reduce rates due to market conditions, resulted in the quarterly cost of interest-bearing deposits declining from 1.76% in the first quarter of 2009 to 1.08% in the most recent quarter. The Company continues to focus heavily on growing its core (non-time) deposits through enhanced marketing and training programs and new product offerings introduced over the last few years.
Average first quarter non-public fund deposits declined $13.6 million or 0.4% versus the fourth quarter of 2009 and were up $124.2 million or 3.6% compared to the year earlier period. Average public fund deposits in the first quarter increased $65.5 million or 21% from fourth quarter 2009 and $39.5 million or 12% from the first quarter of 2009.
Table 11: Quarterly Average Deposits
March 31, | December 31, | March 31, | ||||
(000's omitted) | 2010 | 2009 | 2009 | |||
Demand deposits | $716,172 | $714,491 | $651,298 | |||
Interest checking deposits | 689,513 | 665,797 | 609,750 | |||
Savings deposits | 513,705 | 485,950 | 470,417 | |||
Money market deposits | 892,551 | 817,795 | 610,980 | |||
Time deposits | 1,126,324 | 1,202,311 | 1,432,149 | |||
Total deposits | $3,938,265 | $3,886,344 | $3,774,594 | |||
Non-public fund deposits | $3,563,892 | $3,577,459 | $3,439,732 | |||
Public fund deposits | 374,373 | 308,885 | 334,862 | |||
Total deposits | $3,938,265 | $3,886,344 | $3,774,594 |
Borrowings
At the end of the first quarter, external borrowings of $856.6 million were consistent with borrowings at December 31, 2009 and declined $2.2 million versus the end of the first quarter of 2009. The cost of funds on total borrowings in the first quarter of 4.34% was six basis points below that of the year earlier period. This decline was mostly attributable to lower rates paid on the variable rate portion of the Company’s trust preferred securities.
Shareholders’ Equity
Total shareholders’ equity of $578.4 million at the end of the first quarter increased $12.7 million from the balance at December 31, 2009. This change consisted of net income of $14.0 million, $1.7 million from shares issued under the employee stock plan, $1.3 million from employee stock options earned and an $3.0 million increase in other comprehensive income, partially offset by dividends declared of $7.3 million. The change in other comprehensive loss was comprised of a $2.7 million increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the available for sale investment portfolio, a positive $0.2 million adjustment to the funded status of the Company’s retirement plans, and a $0.1 million increase in the after-tax market value adjustment on the interest rate swap. Over the past 12 months, total shareholders’ equity increased by $31.2 million, as net income, the change in the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, shares issued under the employee stock option plan, and a higher market value adjustment on investments more than offset dividends declared.
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The Company’s Tier I leverage ratio, a primary measure of regulatory capital for which 5% is the requirement to be “well-capitalized,” was 7.56% at the end of the first quarter, up 17 basis points from year-end 2009 and 40 basis points higher than its level one year ago. The increase in the Tier I leverage ratio compared to December 31, 2009 is the result of the shareholders’ equity excluding intangibles and other comprehensive income items increasing 3.6% while average assets excluding intangibles increased at a slower pace of 1.3%. The Tier I leverage ratio increased as compared to the prior year’s first quarter as average assets excluding intangibles and the other comprehensive income market value adjustment increased 4.1% while shareholders’ equity, excluding intangibles an d the market value adjustment, increased at a higher 9.9% rate. The tangible equity-to-assets ratio of 5.43% increased 23 basis points from December 31, 2009 and increased 69 basis points versus March 31, 2009. The increase in the tangible equity ratio from the prior year was mostly attributable to an increase in the investment market value adjustment, higher retained earnings, lower intangible levels and relatively low growth in other assets.
The dividend payout ratio (dividends declared divided by net income) for the first three months of 2010 was 51.9%, down from 68.8% for the first three months of 2009. The ratio decreased because net income increased 33.8% while dividends declared increased 0.9%, due to slightly more shares outstanding.
Liquidity
Liquidity risk is measured by the Company’s ability to raise cash when needed at a reasonable cost and minimize any loss. The Company must be capable of meeting all obligations to its customers at any time and, therefore, the active management of its liquidity position is critical. Given the uncertain nature of our customers' demands as well as the Company's desire to take advantage of earnings enhancement opportunities, the Company must have available adequate sources of on and off-balance sheet funds that can be acquired in time of need. Accordingly, in addition to the liquidity provided by balance sheet cash flows, liquidity must be supplemented with additional sources such as credit lines from correspondent banks, the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”), and the Federal Reserve Bank. Othe r funding alternatives may also be appropriate from time to time, including wholesale and retail repurchase agreements, large certificates of deposit, and brokered CD relationships.
The Company's primary approach to measuring liquidity is known as the Basic Surplus/Deficit model. It is used to calculate liquidity over two time periods: first, the amount of cash that could be made available within 30 days (calculated as liquid assets less short-term liabilities); and second, a projection of subsequent cash availability over an additional 60 days. The minimum policy level of liquidity under the Basic Surplus/Deficit approach is 7.5% of total assets for both the 30 and 90-day time horizons. As of March 31, 2010, this ratio was 18.0% for 30 days and 17.9% for 90 days, excluding the Company's capacity to borrow additional funds from the FHLB.
To measure longer-term liquidity, a baseline projection of loan and deposit growth for five years is made to reflect how current liquidity levels could change over time. This five-year measure reflects adequate liquidity to fund loan and other asset growth over the next five years.
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Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains comments or information that constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Moreover, the Company’s plans, objectives and intentions are subject to change based on various factors (some of which are beyond the Company’s control). Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include: (1) risks related to credit quality, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity; (2) the strength of the U.S. economy in general and the strength of the local economies where the Company conducts its business; (3) the effect of, and changes in, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; (4) inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; (5) the timely development of new products and services and customer perception of the overall value thereof (including, but not limited to, features, pricing and quality) compared to competing products and services; (6) changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; (7) technological changes; (8) any acquisitions or mergers that might be considered or consummated by the Company and the costs and factors associated therewith; (9) the ability to maintain and increase market share and control expenses; (10) the effect of changes in laws and regulations (including laws and regulations concerning taxes, banking, securities and insurance) and accounting principles generally accept ed in the United States; (11) changes in the Company’s organization, compensation and benefit plans and in the availability of, and compensation levels for, employees in its geographic markets; (12) the costs and effects of litigation and of any adverse outcome in such litigation; (13) other risk factors outlined in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time; and (14) the success of the Company at managing the risks of the foregoing.
The foregoing list of important factors is not all-inclusive. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made. If the Company does update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, investors and others should not conclude that the Company would make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements.
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Market risk is the risk of loss in a financial instrument arising from adverse changes in market rates, prices or credit risk. Credit risk associated with the Company's loan portfolio has been previously discussed in the asset quality section of Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. Management believes that the tax risk of the Company's municipal investments associated with potential future changes in statutory, judicial and regulatory actions is minimal. The Company has a minimal amount of credit risk in its investment portfolio because essentially all of the fixed-income securities in the portfolio are AA or higher rated. Therefore, almost all the market risk in the investment portfolio is related to interest rates.
The ongoing monitoring and management of both interest rate risk and liquidity, in the short and long term time horizons is an important component of the Company's asset/liability management process, which is governed by limits established in the policies reviewed and approved annually by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Board of Directors delegates responsibility for carrying out the policies to the Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”), which meets each month and is made up of the Company's senior management as well as regional and line-of-business managers who oversee specific earning asset classes and various funding sources. As the Company does not believe it is possible to reliably predict future interest rate movements, it has maintained an appropriate process and set of measurement tools, which enables it to identify and quantify sources of interest rate risk in varying rate environments. The primary tool used by the Company in managing interest rate risk is income simulation.
While a wide variety of strategic balance sheet and treasury yield curve scenarios are tested on an ongoing basis, the following reflects the Company's projected net interest income sensitivity over the subsequent twelve months based on:
· | Asset and liability levels using March 31, 2010 as a starting point. |
· | There are assumed to be conservative levels of balance sheet growth—low to mid single digit growth in loans and deposits, while using the cash flows from investment contractual maturities and prepayments to repay short-term capital market borrowings or reinvested in securities or cash equivalents. |
· | The prime rate and federal funds rates are assumed to move up 200 basis points over a 12-month period while moving the long end of the treasury curve to spreads over federal funds that are more consistent with historical norms. Deposit rates are assumed to move in a manner that reflects the historical relationship between deposit rate movement and changes in the federal funds rate. |
· | Cash flows are based on contractual maturity, optionality, and amortization schedules along with applicable prepayments derived from internal historical data and external sources. |
Net Interest Income Sensitivity Model
Change in interest rates | Calculated annualized increase (decrease) in projected net interest income at March 31, 2010 | ||
+200 basis points | $47,000 | ||
0 basis points (normalized yield curve) | ($2,594,000) |
The modeled net interest income (NII) reflects essentially no change in a rising rate environment from a flat rate scenario. The relatively unchanged NII in the rising rate environment results from fewer assets repricing upward (slower cash flows), increased liability rates on deposits, and an assumed flatter (normalized) yield curve. Even though short-term rates are assumed to move up 200 bps, the long end of the treasury curve was modeled to flatten and results in increased earning asset income being more than offset by assumed increases in interest bearing liability expense.
In the 0 basis point model, the current yield curve shifts to a normalized level based on historical spreads to the federal funds rate. The decrease in NII is largely due to faster investment cash flows and assets repricing to lower rates as corresponding liabilities are held at current levels. Despite Fed Funds trading near 0%, the Company believes intermediate and longer-term treasury rates could potentially fall further, and thus, the (normal yield curve) model tests the impact of this lower treasury rate scenario.
The analysis does not represent a Company forecast and should not be relied upon as being indicative of expected operating results. These hypothetical estimates are based upon numerous assumptions: the nature and timing of interest rate levels (including yield curve shape), prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, reinvestment/replacement of asset and liability cash flows, and other factors. While the assumptions are developed based upon current economic and local market conditions, the Company cannot make any assurances as to the predictive nature of these assumptions, including how customer preferences or competitor influences might change. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis does not reflect actions that ALCO might take in responding to or anticipating changes in interest rates.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a – 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, designed to: (i) record, process, summarize, and report within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules and forms, and (ii) accumulate and communicate to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. Based on management’s evaluation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, it has concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, these disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2010.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting in connection with the evaluation referenced in the paragraph above that occurred during the Company’s first quarter of 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Part II. Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject in the normal course of business to various pending and threatened legal proceedings in which claims for monetary damages are asserted. Management, after consultation with legal counsel, does not anticipate that the aggregate liability, if any, arising out of litigation pending against the Company or its subsidiaries will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There has not been any material change in the risk factors disclosure from that contained in the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009 (filed with the SEC on March 11, 2010).
a) Not applicable.
b) Not applicable.
c) | On July 22, 2009, the Company announced an authorization to repurchase up to 1,000,000 of its outstanding shares in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions in accordance with securities laws and regulations through December 31, 2011. Any repurchased shares will be used for general corporate purposes, including those related to stock plan activities. The timing and extent of repurchases will depend on market conditions and other corporate considerations as determined at the Company’s discretion. There were no treasury stock purchases in the first quarter of 2010. |
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
Not applicable.
Item 4. (Removed and Reserved)
Item 5. Other Information
Not applicable.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
10.1 | Employee Agreement dated January 29, 2010, by and among Community System, Inc., Community Bank N.A. and Brian D. Donahue. Incorporate by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2010 (Registration No. 001-13695).** |
31.1 | Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
31.2 | Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.* |
32.1 | Certification of Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*** |
32.2 | Certification of Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*** |
* Filed herewith.
** Denotes management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
***Furnished herewith.
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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.
Community Bank System, Inc.
Date: May 7, 2010 | /s/ Mark E. Tryniski |
Mark E. Tryniski, President and Chief Executive Officer | |
Date: May 7, 2010 | /s/ Scott Kingsley |
Scott Kingsley, Treasurer and ChiefFinancial Officer | |
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