related to the
COVID-19
pandemic still exist including, among other things, the ongoing impact to our customers, employees, vendors, counterparties and service providers; the impact to the financial services and banking industry; and the impact to the economy as a whole as well as the effect of actions taken, or that may yet be taken, or inaction by governmental authorities to contain the outbreak or to mitigate its impact. Certain industries continue to be impacted more severely than others, although all businesses have been impacted by the
COVID-19
pandemic to some degree during the first half of 2021 as they were in 2020. The economic pressures, existing and forecasted, as of end of each quarter during 2020, coupled with the implementation of an expected loss methodology for determining United’s provision for credit losses as required by CECL contributed to an increased provision for credit losses for the year of 2020. Also, in United’s mortgage banking segment, a market disruption caused by the
COVID-19
pandemic resulted in significant losses on mortgage banking derivatives in the first quarter of 2020.
The Company’s fee income has been reduced due to
COVID-19.
In keeping with guidance from regulators, the Company actively worked with
COVID-19
affected customers during 2020 to waive fees from a variety of sources, such as, but not limited to, insufficient funds and overdraft fees, ATM fees, account maintenance fees, etc. Should the pandemic and the global response escalate further as outbreaks occur, it is possible that the Company could reduce such fees in future periods; however, at this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of such an impact on the results of operations in future periods.
The Company’s interest income has and could continue to be reduced due to
COVID-19.
In keeping with guidance from regulators, the Company continues to work with
COVID-19
affected borrowers to defer their payments, interest, and fees. While interest and fees continue to accrue to income, through normal GAAP accounting, should eventual credit losses on these deferred payments emerge, the related loans would be placed on nonaccrual status and interest income and fees accrued would be reversed. In such a scenario, interest income in future periods could be negatively impacted. At this time, the Company is unable to project the materiality of such an impact on future deferrals to
COVID-19
affected borrowers, but recognizes the breadth of the economic impact may affect its borrowers’ ability to repay in future periods.
As of June 30, 2021, all of our capital ratios, and our subsidiary bank’s capital ratios, were in excess of all regulatory requirements. While we believe that we have sufficient capital to withstand a second economic recession brought about by
COVID-19,
our reported and regulatory capital ratios could be adversely impacted by further credit loss expense. We rely on cash on hand as well as dividends from our subsidiary bank to service our debt. If our capital deteriorates such that our subsidiary bank is unable to pay dividends to us for an extended period of time, we may not be able to service our debt.
We maintain access to multiple sources of liquidity. Wholesale funding markets have remained open to us. Rates for short-term funding were volatile throughout 2020, but have been more stable thus far in 2021. If funding costs become elevated for an extended period of time, it could have an adverse effect on our net interest margin. If an extended recession caused large numbers of our deposit customers to withdraw their funds, we might become more reliant on volatile or more expensive sources of funding.
For a discussion of the United’s liquidity and capital resources in light of the
COVID-19
pandemic please refer to the sections with the captions of “Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”).
Lending operations and accommodations to borrowers.
In keeping with regulatory guidance to work with borrowers during this unprecedented situation and as outlined in the CARES Act, the Company is executing a payment deferral program for its customers that are adversely affected by the pandemic. Depending on the demonstrated need of the client and within the guidance of the CARES Act, the Company is deferring either the full loan payment or the principal component of the loan payment for stated period of time. As of June 30, 2021, United has 238 eligible loan modifications in deferral under section 4013, “Temporary Relief from Troubled Debt Restructurings,” of the CARES Act on $66,364 of loans outstanding, down from 1,002 eligible loan modifications in deferral on $399,857 of loans outstanding at December 31, 2020. In accordance with the CARES Act, these deferrals are not considered troubled debt restructurings. It is possible that these deferrals could be extended further under the CARES Act; however, the volume of these future potential extensions is unknown. It is also possible that in spite of our best efforts to assist our borrowers and achieve full collection of our investment, these deferred loans could result in future charge-offs with additional credit loss expense charged to earnings; however, the amount of any future charge-offs on deferred loans is unknown.