OLD POINT FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
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| PART I | |
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Item 1. | | 3 |
Item 1A. | | 12 |
Item 1B. | | 23 |
Item 1C. | | 23 |
Item 2. | | 23 |
Item 3. | | 23 |
Item 4. | | 23 |
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| PART II | |
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Item 5. | | 24 |
Item 6. | | 25 |
Item 7. | | 25 |
Item 7A. | | 40 |
Item 8. | | 40 |
Item 9. | | 81 |
Item 9A. | | 81 |
Item 9B. | | 81 |
Item 9C. | | 81 |
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| PART III | |
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Item 10. | | 82 |
Item 11. | | 82 |
Item 12. | | 82 |
Item 13. | | 82 |
Item 14. | | 82 |
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| PART IV | |
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Item 15. | | 83 |
Item 16. | | 86 |
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GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND DEFINED TERMS
2022 Form 10-K | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 |
ACL | Allowance for Credit Losses |
ACLL | Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans, a component of ACL |
ASC | Accounting Standards Codification |
ASU | Accounting Standards Update |
Bank | The Old Point National Bank of Phoebus |
BHCA | The Bank Holding Company Act, of 1956, as amended |
CET1 | Common Equity Tier 1 |
CTO | Chief Technology Officer |
Company | Old Point Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries |
CBB | Community Bankers Bank |
CBLRF | Community Bank Leverage Ratio Framework |
EGRRCPA | Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act |
EPS | Earnings per share |
ESPP | Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
Exchange Act | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
FASB | Financial Accounting Standards Board |
FDIC | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
FFIEC | Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council |
FHLB | Federal Home Loan Bank |
Federal Reserve | Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System |
FRB | Federal Reserve Bank |
GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
Incentive Stock Plan | Old Point Financial Corporation 2016 Incentive Stock Plan |
ISO | Information Security Officer |
ISP | Information Security Policy |
IT | Information Technology |
NIM | Net Interest Margin |
Notes | The Company’s 3.50% fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2031 |
OAEM | Other Assets Especially Mentioned |
OREO | Other Real Estate Owned |
PPP | Paycheck Protection Program |
PPPLF | Paycheck Protection Program Liquidity Facility |
SEC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |
SBA | Small Business Administration |
SOFR | Secured overnight financing rate |
TDR | Troubled Debt Restructuring |
Wealth | Old Point Trust & Financial Services N.A. |
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which use language such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “intends” and similar expressions, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as estimates and assumptions made by, and information available to, management, as of the time such statements are made. These statements are inherently uncertain, and there can be no assurance that the underlying beliefs, estimates, or assumptions will prove to be accurate. Actual results, performance, achievements, or trends could differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such statements. The actual results or developments anticipated may not be realized or, even if substantially realized, they may not have the expected consequences to or effects on the Company or its businesses or operations. Forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may include, without limitation: statements regarding strategic business initiatives and the future financial impact of those initiatives; expected future operations and financial performance; current and future interest rate levels and fluctuations and potential impacts on the Company’s NIM, future financial and economic conditions, industry conditions, and loan demand; impacts of economic uncertainties; performance of loan and securities portfolios, asset quality, future levels of the ACL and the provision for credit losses and the level of future charge-offs; deposit growth; management’s belief regarding liquidity and capital resources; changes in NIM and items affecting NIM; expected future recovery of investments in debt securities; expected impact of unrealized losses on earnings and regulatory capital of the Company or the Bank; liquidity and capital levels; cybersecurity risks; inflation; the effect of future market and industry trends; and other statements that include projections, predictions, expectations, or beliefs about future events or results, or otherwise are not statements of historical fact.
These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties due to factors that could have a material adverse effect on the operations and prospects of the Company including, but not limited to, changes in or the effects of:
| • | interest rates and yields, such as increases or volatility in short-term interest rates or yields on U.S. Treasury bonds and increase or volatility in U.S. Treasury bonds and increases or volatility in mortgage interest rates, and the impacts on macroeconomic conditions, customer and client behavior, the Company’s funding costs, and the Company’s loan and securities portfolios; |
| • | inflation and its impacts on economic growth and customer and client behavior; |
| • | adverse developments in the financial services industry, such as the bank failures in 2023, responsive measures to mitigate and manage such developments, related supervisory and regulatory actions and costs, and related impacts on customer and client behavior; |
| • | the sufficiency of liquidity; |
| • | general economic and business conditions in the United States generally and particularly in the Company’s service area, including unemployment levels, supply chain disruptions, higher inflation, slowdowns in economic growth and the impacts on customer and client behavior; |
| • | conditions within the financial markets and in the banking industry, as well as the financial condition and capital adequacy of other participants in the banking industry, and the market reactions thereto; |
| • | monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the effect of these policies on interest rates and business in our markets and any changes associated with the current administration; |
| • | conditions in the banking industry and the financial condition and capital adequacy of other participants in the banking industry, and market, supervisory and regulatory reactions thereto; |
| • | the quality or composition of the loan or securities portfolios and changes therein; |
| • | effectiveness of expense control initiatives; |
| • | an insufficient ACL or volatility in the ACL resulting from the CECL methodology, either alone or as may be affected by inflation, changing interest rates, or other factors; |
| • | the Company’s liquidity and capital positions; |
| • | the value of securities held in the Company’s investment portfolios; |
| • | the Company’s technology, efficiency, and other strategic initiatives; |
| • | the legislative/regulatory climate, regulatory initiatives with respect to financial institutions, products and services, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (the CFPB) and the regulatory and enforcement activities of the CFPB; |
| • | future levels of government defense spending particularly in the Company’s service areas; |
| • | uncertainty over future federal spending or budget priorities, particularly in connection with the Department of Defense, on the Company’s service areas; |
| • | the impact of potential changes in the political landscape and related policy changes, including monetary, regulatory and trade policies; |
| • | the U.S. Government’s guarantee of repayment of student or small business loans purchased by the Company; |
| • | potential claims, damages and fines related to litigation or government actions; |
| • | demand for loan products and the impact of changes in demand on loan growth; |
| • | changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities; |
| • | the effects of management’s investment strategy and strategy to manage the NIM; |
| • | the level of net charge-offs on loans; |
| • | performance of the Company’s dealer/indirect lending program; |
| • | the strength of the Company’s counterparties; |
| • | the Company’s ability to compete in the market for financial services and increased competition from both banks and non-banks, including fintech companies; |
| • | demand for financial services in the Company’s market area; |
| • | the Company’s ability to develop and maintain secure and reliable electronic systems; |
| • | any interruption or breach of security in the Company’s information systems or those of the Company’s third-party vendors or their service providers; |
| • | reliance on third parties for key services; |
| • | cyber threats, attacks, or events; |
| • | the impact of changes in the political landscape and related policy changes, including monetary, regulatory, and trade policies; |
| • | the potential adverse effects of unusual and infrequently occurring events, such as weather-related disasters, terrorist acts, financial crises, political crises, war, and other geopolitical conflicts, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine or in the Middle East, or public health events, and of governmental and societal responses thereto, on, among other things, the Company’s operations, liquidity and credit quality; |
| • | the use of inaccurate assumptions in management’s modeling systems; |
| • | technological risks and developments; |
| • | the commercial and residential real estate markets; |
| • | the demand in the secondary residential mortgage loan markets; |
| • | expansion of the Company’s product offerings; |
| • | effectiveness of expense control initiatives; |
| • | changes in management; and |
| • | changes in accounting principles, standards, rules and interpretations and elections made by the Company thereunder, and the related impact on the Company’s financial statements. |
These risks and uncertainties, and the factors discussed in more detail in Item 1A. “Risk Factors,” should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “could,” or similar expressions, are not statements of historical fact. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the Company does not intend or assume any obligation to update, revise or clarify any forward-looking statements that may be made from time-to-time or on behalf of the Company, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. In addition, past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future results.
PART I
General
Old Point Financial Corporation (the Company) was incorporated under the laws of Virginia on February 16, 1984, for the purpose of acquiring all the outstanding common stock of The Old Point National Bank of Phoebus (the Bank), in connection with the reorganization of the Bank into a one-bank holding company structure. At the annual meeting of the stockholders on March 27, 1984, the proposed reorganization was approved by the requisite stockholder vote. At the effective date of the reorganization on October 1, 1984, the Bank merged into a newly formed national bank as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, with each outstanding share of common stock of the Bank being converted into five shares of common stock of the Company.
The Company completed a spin-off of its trust department as of April 1, 1999. The organization is chartered as Old Point Trust & Financial Services, N.A. (Wealth). Wealth is a nationally chartered trust company. The purpose of the spin-off was to have a corporate structure more ready to compete in the field of wealth management. Wealth is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
The Bank is a national banking association founded in 1922. As of the end of 2023, the Bank had 14 branch offices, serving the Hampton Roads localities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg/James City County, York County, and Isle of Wight County. The Bank offers a complete line of consumer, mortgage and business banking services, including loan, deposit, and cash management services to individual and commercial customers.
The Company’s primary activity is as a holding company for the common stock of the Bank and Wealth. The principal business of the Company is conducted through its subsidiaries.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company had assets of $1.4 billion, gross loans of $1.1 billion, deposits of $1.2 billion, and stockholders' equity of $106.8 million.
Human Capital Resources
The Company strives to foster a culture of respect, teamwork, ownership, responsibility, initiative, integrity, and service and believes our officers and employees are our most important assets. We believe our people are critical to the Company’s performance and the achievement of our strategic goals, and they represent a key element of how the Company’s businesses compete and succeed.
Acquiring and retaining strong talent is a top strategic priority for the Company. We provide a competitive compensation and benefits program to help meet the needs of our employees, including benefits that incentivize retention and reward longevity. We support the health and well-being of our employees through a comprehensive program designed to increase employee focus on wellness and prevention, including through the benefit plans and health incentives offered. We work to encourage and support the growth and development of our employees and, wherever possible, seek to fill positions by promotion and transfer from within the Company. We have created development plans that are designed to encourage an employee’s advancement and growth within our organization, and we aim to provide employees with the skills and opportunities needed to achieve their goals and become leaders in our businesses.
At December 31, 2023, the Company employed 293, or 291 full-time equivalent, employees. We consider relations with our employees to be strong. We strive for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the customers and communities we serve. Our selection and promotion processes are merit-based and include the active recruitment of minorities and women. At December 31, 2023, women represented 70% of our employees, and racial and ethnic minorities represented 25% percent of our employees. We also aim for our employees to develop their careers in our businesses. At December 31, 2023, 23% percent of our employees have been employed by the Company for at least 15 years.
Market Area and Competition
The Company’s primary market area is located in Hampton Roads, situated in the southeastern corner of Virginia and boasting the world’s largest natural deepwater harbor. The Hampton Roads Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the 37th most populous MSA in the United States according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 census and the 3rd largest deposit market in Virginia, after Richmond and the Washington Metropolitan area, according to the FDIC. Hampton Roads includes the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and the counties of Isle of Wight, Gloucester, James City, Mathews, York, and Surry. The financial services industry remains highly competitive and is constantly evolving. The Company experiences strong competition from national, regional, and other community financial institutions and credit unions, as well as finance companies, mortgage companies, wealth management companies, insurance companies, and fintech companies. The market area is serviced by 51 banks, savings institutions, and credit unions and, in addition, branches of virtually every major brokerage house serve the Company’s market area. The Company continues to build a stronger presence, expanding into additional markets in the last four years, which includes a commercial loan production office based in Richmond, Virginia.
The banking business in Virginia, and in the Company’s primary service areas in the Hampton Roads MSA, is highly competitive and dominated by a relatively small number of large banks with many offices operating over a wide geographic area. As a result, the Bank faces intense competition in all areas of its business. Among the advantages such large banks have over the Company is their ability to finance wide-ranging advertising campaigns, and by virtue of their greater total capitalization, to have substantially higher lending limits than the Company. Factors such as interest rates offered, the number and location of branches and the types of products offered, as well as the reputation of the institution affect competition for deposits and loans. The Company competes by emphasizing customer service and technology, establishing long-term customer relationships, and building customer loyalty, and providing products and services to address the specific needs of the Company’s customers. The Company targets individual and small-to-medium size business customers which generally establishes a more durable deposit base. Competition among providers of financial products and services continues to increase as technology advances have lowered the barriers to entry for financial technology companies, with customers having the opportunity to select from a growing variety of traditional and nontraditional alternatives, and from a growing selection of products and services at banking institutions that are based on new financial technology. The ability of non-banking financial institutions to provide services previously limited to commercial banks has intensified competition. Because nonbank financial institutions are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as banks and bank holding companies, they can often operate with greater flexibility and lower cost structures. The Company also faces competitive pressure from large credit unions in the area.
Wealth faces intense competition in all aspects and areas of its business from both regulated and unregulated financial services organizations, including a broad range of financial institutions, investment firms, benefits consultants, wealth companies, insurance companies, investment counseling firms, and various financial technology companies. Because Wealth focuses on managing client investment assets to generate fee income, Wealth faces significant competition from financial technology companies that offer products and services that automate asset management or asset selection and, in turn, may charge lower asset management or administrative fees. Wealth’s non-bank competitors are not subject to the same regulatory restrictions as Wealth, and therefore may be able to operate with greater flexibility and lower cost structures. Wealth competes by emphasizing proactive, holistic solutions and top-tier client service, and focuses on developing client relationships that serve as a source of recurring fee-based income.
The Company continues to build a strong presence in the business banking market, as well as expanding into other fee-based lines of business. The Company provides comprehensive mortgage origination and insurance services in addition to comprehensive business services that offer increased opportunities for new fee-based revenue streams and to cross sell additional products.
Available Information
The Company maintains a website on the Internet at www.oldpoint.com. The Company makes available free of charge, on or through its website, its proxy statements, annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with the SEC. This reference to the Company’s Internet address shall not, under any circumstances, be deemed to incorporate the information available at such Internet address into this Form 10-K or other SEC filings. The information available at the Company’s Internet address is not part of this Form 10-K or any other report filed by the Company with the SEC. The Company's SEC filings can also be obtained on the SEC’s website on the Internet at www.sec.gov.
Regulation and Supervision
General. Bank holding companies, banks and their affiliates are extensively regulated under both federal and state law. The following summary briefly describes significant provisions of currently applicable federal and state laws and certain regulations, proposed regulations, and the potential impact of such provisions. This summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provisions or proposals. Because regulation of financial institutions changes regularly and is the subject of constant legislative and regulatory debate, no assurance can be given as to how federal and state regulation and supervision of financial institutions may change in the future and affect the Company’s, the Bank’s, and Wealth’s operations. See “Risks Related to the Regulation of the Company” below in Item 1A of this report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
As a public company, the Company is subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which include, but are not limited to, the filing of annual, quarterly, and other reports with the SEC. The Company is also required to comply with other laws and regulations of the SEC applicable to public companies.
As a national bank, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision, and regular examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the Comptroller). The prior approval of the Comptroller or other appropriate bank regulatory authority is required for a national bank to merge with another bank or purchase the assets or assume the deposits of another bank. In reviewing applications seeking approval of merger and acquisition transactions, the bank regulatory authorities will consider, among other things, the competitive effect and public benefits of the transactions, the capital position of the constituent organizations and the combined organization, the risks to the stability of the U.S. banking or financial system, the applicant's performance record under the Community Reinvestment Act (the CRA) and fair housing initiatives, the data security and cybersecurity infrastructure of the constituent organizations and the combined organization, and the effectiveness of the subject organizations in combating money laundering activities. Each depositor's account with the Bank is insured by the FDIC to the maximum amount permitted by law. The Bank is also subject to certain regulations promulgated by the FRB and applicable provisions of Virginia law, insofar as they do not conflict with or are not preempted by federal banking law.
As a non-depository national banking association, Wealth is subject to regulation, supervision, and regular examination by the Comptroller. Wealth's exercise of fiduciary powers must comply with regulations promulgated by the Comptroller at 12 C.F.R. Part 9 and with Virginia law.
The regulations of the FRB, the Comptroller and the FDIC govern most aspects of the Company's business, including deposit reserve requirements, investments, loans, certain check clearing activities, issuance of securities, payment of dividends, branching, and numerous other matters. Further, the federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted guidelines and released interpretive materials that establish operational and managerial standards to promote the safe and sound operation of banks and bank holding companies. These standards relate to the institution's key operating functions, including but not limited to internal controls, internal audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate exposure, asset growth, asset quality, earnings, compensation of management, information systems, data security and cybersecurity, and risk management. As a consequence of the extensive regulation of commercial banking activities in the United States, the Company's business is particularly susceptible to changes in state and federal legislation and regulations, which may have the effect of increasing the cost of doing business, limiting permissible activities or increasing competition.
As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to the BHCA and regulation and supervision by the FRB. A bank holding company is required to obtain the approval of the FRB before making certain acquisitions or engaging in certain activities. Bank holding companies and their subsidiaries are also subject to restrictions on transactions with insiders and affiliates.
A bank holding company is required to obtain the approval of the FRB before it may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any bank, and before it may acquire ownership or control of the voting shares of any bank if, after giving effect to the acquisition, the bank holding company would own or control more than 5 percent of the voting shares of such bank. The approval of the FRB is also required for the merger or consolidation of bank holding companies.
As a Virginia bank holding company, the Company is subject to the bank holding company laws of Virginia and is subject to regulation and supervision by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (the Virginia SCC). Applicable Virginia bank holding company laws generally limit the activities of a bank holding company to managing or controlling banks, or any other activity that is closely related to managing or controlling banks, and applicable Virginia law requires prior notice to the Virginia SCC before a bank holding company may acquire more than 5% of the shares of, or otherwise gain control of, any entity other than a bank, bank holding company or other financial institution.
Pursuant to the BHCA, the FRB has the power to order any bank holding company or its subsidiaries to terminate any activity or to terminate its ownership or control of any subsidiary when the FRB has reasonable grounds to believe that continuation of such activity or ownership constitutes a serious risk to the financial soundness, safety, or stability of any bank subsidiary of the bank holding company.
The Company is required to file periodic reports with the FRB and provide any additional information the FRB may require. The FRB also has the authority to examine the Company and its subsidiaries, as well as any arrangements between the Company and its subsidiaries, with the cost of any such examinations to be borne by the Company. Banking subsidiaries of bank holding companies are also subject to certain restrictions imposed by federal law in dealings with their holding companies and other affiliates.
Regulatory Environment. Banking and other financial services statutes, regulations and policies are continually under review by the U.S. Congress, state legislatures and federal and state regulatory agencies. The scope of the laws and regulations, and the intensity of the supervision to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject, have increased in recent years, initially in response to the 2008 financial crisis, and more recently in light of other factors, including continued turmoil and stress in the financial markets, technological factors, market changes, and increased scrutiny of proposed bank mergers and acquisitions by federal and state bank regulators. Regulatory enforcement and fines have also increased across the banking and financial services sector.
The Company continues to experience ongoing regulatory reform and these regulatory changes could have a significant effect on how we conduct business. The specific impacts of regulatory reforms, including but not limited to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd Frank Act), which was enacted in 2010, or the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (the EGRRCPA), which was enacted in 2018, cannot yet be fully predicted and will depend to a large extent on the specific regulations that are likely to be adopted in the future.
Capital Requirements and Prompt Corrective Action. The FRB, the Comptroller and the FDIC have adopted risk-based capital adequacy guidelines for bank holding companies and banks pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) and the Basel III Capital Accords. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Capital Resources" in Item 7 of this report on Form 10-K.
The federal banking agencies have broad powers to take prompt corrective action to resolve problems of insured depository institutions. Under the FDICIA, there are five capital categories applicable to bank holding companies and insured institutions, each with specific regulatory consequences. The extent of the agencies' powers depends on whether the institution in question is "well capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly undercapitalized" or "critically undercapitalized." These terms are defined under uniform regulations issued by each of the federal banking agencies. If the appropriate federal banking agency determines that an insured institution is in an unsafe or unsound condition, it may reclassify the institution to a lower capital category (other than critically undercapitalized) and require the submission of a plan to correct the unsafe or unsound condition.
Failure to meet statutorily mandated capital guidelines or more restrictive ratios separately established for a financial institution could subject the Company and its subsidiaries to a variety of enforcement remedies, including issuance of a capital directive, the termination of deposit insurance by the FDIC, a prohibition on accepting or renewing brokered deposits, limitations on the rates of interest that the institution may pay on its deposits, and other restrictions on its business. In addition, an institution may not make a capital distribution, such as a dividend or other distribution that is in substance a distribution of capital to the owners of the institution if following such a distribution the institution would be undercapitalized. Thus, if the making of such dividend would cause the Bank to become undercapitalized, it could not pay a dividend to the Company. Based on the Bank’s current financial condition, the Company does not expect that this provision will have any impact on its ability to receive dividends or other distributions from the Bank.
Basel III Capital Framework. The federal bank regulatory agencies have adopted rules to implement the Basel III capital framework as outlined by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and standards for calculating risk-weighted assets and risk-based capital measurements (collectively, the Basel III Capital Rules). For purposes of these capital rules, (i) common equity Tier 1 capital (CET1) consists principally of common stock (including surplus) and retained earnings; (ii) Tier 1 capital consists principally of CET1 plus non-cumulative preferred stock and related surplus, and certain grandfathered cumulative preferred stock and trust preferred securities; and (iii) Tier 2 capital consists of other capital instruments, principally qualifying subordinated debt and preferred stock, and limited amounts of an institution's allowance for credit losses. Each regulatory capital classification is subject to certain adjustments and limitations, as implemented by the Basel III Capital Rules. The Basel III Capital Rules also establish risk weightings that are applied to many classes of assets held by community banks, including, importantly, applying higher risk weightings to certain commercial real estate loans.
The Basel III Capital Rules also include a requirement that banks maintain additional capital, or a capital conservation buffer (as described below), which is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. The Basel III Capital Rules require banks to maintain (i) a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, plus a 2.5% "capital conservation buffer" (which is added to the 4.5% CET1 ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum ratio of CET1 to risk-weighted assets of at least 7%), (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 6.0% Tier 1 capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.5%), (iii) a minimum ratio of total (that is, Tier 1 plus Tier 2) capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8.0%, plus the capital conservation buffer (which is added to the 8.0% total capital ratio, effectively resulting in a minimum total capital ratio of 10.5%) and (iv) a minimum leverage ratio of 4%, calculated as the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average adjusted assets, subject to certain adjustments and limitations.
As of December 31, 2023, the Bank met all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III Final Rules, including the capital conservation buffer.
In July 2023, the Federal Reserve Board and the FDIC issued proposed rules to implement the final components of the Basel III agreement, often known as the “Basel III endgame.” These proposed rules contain provisions that apply to banks with $100 billion or more in total assets and that will significantly alter how those banks calculate risk-based assets. These proposed rules do not apply to holding companies or banks with less than $100 billion in assets, such as the Company and the Bank, but the final impacts of these rules cannot yet be predicted. The comment window for these proposed rules closed on November 30, 2023.
Community Bank Leverage Ratio. As required by the EGRRCPA, the federal banking agencies have implemented the CBLRF, which is based on the ratio of a bank’s tangible equity capital to average total consolidated assets. To qualify for the CBLRF, a bank must have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, limited amounts of off-balance sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities, and a leverage ratio greater than 9%. A bank that elects the CBLRF and has a leverage ratio greater than 9% will be considered to be in compliance with Basel III capital requirements and exempt from the complex Basel III calculations and will also be deemed “well capitalized” under Prompt Corrective Action regulations, discussed above. As of December 31, 2023, the Bank has not elected to opt into the CBLRF.
Small Bank Holding Company. The EGRRCPA also expanded the category of bank holding companies that may rely on the Federal Reserve Board’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement by raising the maximum amount of assets a qualifying bank holding company may have from $1 billion to $3 billion. In addition to meeting the asset threshold, a bank holding company must not engage in significant nonbanking activities, not conduct significant off-balance sheet activities, and not have a material amount of debt or equity securities outstanding and registered with the SEC (subject to certain exceptions). The Federal Reserve Board may, in its discretion, exclude any bank holding company from the application of the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement if such action is warranted for supervisory purposes.
In August 2018, the Federal Reserve Board issued an interim final rule to apply the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement to bank holding companies with consolidated total assets of less than $3 billion. The policy statement, which, among other things, exempts certain bank holding companies from minimum consolidated regulatory capital ratios that apply to other bank holding companies. As a result of the interim final rule, which was effective August 30, 2018, the Company expects that it will be treated as a small bank holding company and will not be subject to regulatory capital requirements. The comment period on the interim final rule closed on October 29, 2018, and, to date, the Federal Reserve Board has not issued a final rule to replace the interim final rule. The Bank remains subject to the regulatory capital requirements described above.
Insurance of Accounts, Assessments and Regulation by the FDIC. The Bank’s deposits are insured by the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) of the FDIC up to the standard maximum insurance amount for each deposit insurance ownership category. The basic limit on FDIC deposit insurance coverage is $250,000 per depositor. Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA), the FDIC may terminate deposit insurance upon a finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations as an insured institution, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order, or condition imposed by the FDIC, subject to administrative and potential judicial hearing and review processes. The FDIC may also suspend deposit insurance temporarily during the hearing process for the permanent termination of insurance if the institution has no tangible capital. If deposit insurance is terminated, the deposits at the institution at the time of termination, less subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured for a period from six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. Management is aware of no existing circumstances that could result in termination of the Bank’s deposit insurance.
The DIF is funded by assessments on banks and other depository institutions calculated based on average consolidated total assets less average tangible equity (defined as Tier 1 capital). As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the FDIC has adopted a large-bank pricing assessment scheme, set a target “designated reserve ratio” (described in more detail below) of 2% for the DIF and, in lieu of dividends, provides for a lower assessment rate schedule when the reserve ratio reaches 2% and 2.5%. An institution's assessment rate is based on a statistical analysis of financial ratios that estimates the likelihood of failure over a three-year period, which considers the institution’s weighted average CAMELS composite rating, and is subject to further adjustments including those related to levels of unsecured debt and brokered deposits (not applicable to banks with less than $10 billion in assets). At December 31, 2023, total base assessment rates for institutions that have been insured for at least five years with assets of less than $10 billion range from 2.5 to 32 basis points.
The Dodd-Frank Act transferred to the FDIC increased discretion with regard to managing the required amount of reserves for the DIF, or the “designated reserve ratio.” The FDIA requires that the FDIC consider the appropriate level for the designated reserve ratio on at least an annual basis. On October 18, 2022, the FDIC adopted a final rule to increase initial base deposit insurance assessment rate schedules uniformly by 2 basis points, beginning in the first quarterly assessment period of 2023. As a result of this final rule, the total base assessment rates beginning with the first assessment period of 2023 for institutions with less than $10 billion in assets that have been insured for at least five years range from 2.5 to 32 basis points. This increase in assessment rate schedules is intended to increase the likelihood that the reserve ratio reaches 1.35 percent by the statutory deadline of September 30, 2028. The new assessment rate schedules will remain in effect unless and until the reserve ratio meets or exceeds 2 percent. Progressively lower assessment rate schedules will take effect when the reserve ratio reaches 2 percent, and again when it reaches 2.5 percent.
In November 2023, the FDIC issued a final rule to implement a special DIF assessment following the FDIC’s use of the “systemic risk” exception to the least-cost resolution test in connection with the failures and resolutions of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Banks with less than $5 billion of uninsured deposits, such as the Bank, are exempt from this special assessment.
Incentive Compensation. The Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller and the FDIC have issued regulatory guidance intended to ensure that the incentive compensation policies of banking organizations do not undermine the safety and soundness of such organizations by encouraging excessive risk-taking. The Federal Reserve Board will review, as part of the regular, risk-focused examination process, the incentive compensation arrangements of banking organizations, such as the Company, that are not "large, complex banking organizations." The findings will be included in reports of examination, and deficiencies will be incorporated into the organization's supervisory ratings. Enforcement actions may be taken against a banking organization if its incentive compensation arrangements, or related risk-management control or governance processes, pose a risk to the organization's safety and soundness and the organization is not taking prompt and effective measures to correct the deficiencies.
The Dodd-Frank Act requires the federal banking agencies and the SEC to establish joint regulations or guidelines prohibiting incentive-based payment arrangements at specified regulated entities with at least $1 billion in total consolidated assets, that encourage inappropriate risks by providing an executive officer, employee, director, or principal shareholder with excessive compensation, fees or benefits that could lead to material financial loss to the entity. In 2016, the SEC and the federal banking agencies proposed rules that prohibit covered financial institutions (including bank holding companies and banks) from establishing or maintaining incentive-based compensation arrangements that encourage inappropriate risk taking by providing covered persons (consisting of senior executive officers and significant risk takers, as defined in the rules) with excessive compensation, fees or benefits that could lead to material financial loss to the financial institution. The proposed rules outline factors to be considered when analyzing whether compensation is excessive and whether an incentive-based compensation arrangement encourages inappropriate risks that could lead to material loss to the covered financial institution and establishes minimum requirements that incentive-based compensation arrangements must meet to be considered to not encourage inappropriate risks and to appropriately balance risk and reward. The proposed rules also impose additional corporate governance requirements on the boards of directors of covered financial institutions and impose additional record-keeping requirements. The comment period for these proposed rules has closed and a final rule has not yet been published. If the rules are adopted as proposed, they will restrict the way executive compensation is structured.
In October 2022, the SEC adopted a final rule directing national securities exchanges and associations, including Nasdaq, the exchange on which the Company’s common stock is listed, to implement listing standards that require listed companies to adopt policies mandating the recovery or “clawback” of excess incentive compensation earned by a current or former executive officer during the three fiscal years preceding the date the listed company is required to prepare an accounting restatement, including to correct an error that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current period. In February 2023, Nasdaq posted its initial rule filing with the SEC to implement this directive and the Nasdaq's listing standards pursuant to the SEC's rule became effective on October 2, 2023.
Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. The Bank is a member of the FHLB of Atlanta, which is one of 11 regional FHLBs that provide funding to their members for making housing loans as well as for affordable housing and community development loans. Each FHLB serves as a reserve, or central bank, for the members within its assigned region. Each FHLB makes loans to members in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of the FHLB. As a member, the Bank must purchase and maintain stock in the FHLB. Additional information related to the Bank’s FHLB stock can be found in “Note 14. Fair Value Measurements” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” of this report on Form 10-K.
Community Reinvestment Act. The Company is subject to the requirements of the CRA, which imposes on financial institutions an affirmative and ongoing obligation to meet the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of those institutions. A financial institution's efforts in meeting community credit needs are currently assessed based on specified factors. These factors also are considered in evaluating mergers, acquisitions, and applications to open a branch or facility. At its last evaluation in 2022, the Bank received an “Outstanding” CRA rating.
On October 24, 2023, the federal banking regulatory agencies jointly issued a final rule to modernize CRA regulations consistent with the following key goals: (1) to encourage banks to expand access to credit, investment, and banking services in low- and moderate-income communities; (2) to adapt to changes in the banking industry, including internet and mobile banking and the growth of non-branch delivery systems; (3) to provide greater clarity and consistency in the application of the CRA regulations, including adoption of a new metrics-based approach to evaluating bank retail lending and community development financing; and (4) to tailor CRA evaluations and data collection to bank size and type, recognizing that differences in bank size and business models may impact CRA evaluations and qualifying activities. Most of the final CRA rule’s requirements will be applicable beginning January 1, 2026, with certain requirements, including the data reporting requirements, applicable as of January 1, 2027. The Bank is evaluating the expected impact of the modernized CRA regulations, but currently does not anticipate any material impact to its business, operations, or financial condition due to the modified CRA regulations.
Confidentiality and Required Disclosures of Customer Information. The Company and the Bank are subject to various laws and regulations that address the privacy of nonpublic personal financial information of consumers. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and certain regulations issued thereunder protect against the transfer and use by financial institutions of consumer nonpublic personal information. A financial institution must provide to its customers, at the beginning of the customer relationship and annually thereafter, the institution's policies and procedures regarding the handling of customers' nonpublic personal financial information. These privacy provisions generally prohibit a financial institution from providing a customer's personal financial information to unaffiliated third parties unless the institution discloses to the customer that the information may be so provided, and the customer is given the opportunity to opt out of such disclosure. Certain exceptions may apply to the requirement to deliver an annual privacy notice based on how a financial institution limits sharing of nonpublic personal information and whether the institution’s disclosure practices or policies have changed in certain ways since the last privacy notice was delivered.
The Company is also subject to various laws and regulations that attempt to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. The Bank Secrecy Act requires all financial institutions to, among other things, create a system of controls designed to prevent money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and imposes recordkeeping and reporting requirements. The USA Patriot Act facilitates information sharing among governmental entities and financial institutions for the purpose of combating terrorism and money laundering and requires financial institutions to establish anti-money laundering programs. Regulations adopted under the Bank Secrecy Act impose on financial institutions customer due diligence requirements, and the federal banking regulators expect that customer due diligence programs will be integrated within a financial institution’s broader Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering compliance program. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is responsible for helping to ensure that United States entities do not engage in transactions with "enemies" of the United States, as defined by various Executive Orders and Acts of Congress. If the Bank finds a name of an "enemy" of the United States on any transaction, account or wire transfer that is on an OFAC list, it must freeze such account or place transferred funds into a blocked account, file a suspicious activity report with the Treasury and notify the FBI.
These laws and programs impose compliance costs and create obligations and, in some cases, reporting obligations, and compliance with these laws, regulations, and obligations may require significant resources of the Company and the Bank.
Corporate Transparency Act. On January 1, 2021, as part of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). The CTA is a significant update to federal Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-money Laundering (BSA/AML) regulations. The CTA aims to eliminate the use of shell companies that facilitate the laundering of criminal proceeds and, for that purpose, directs the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to establish and maintain a national registry of beneficial ownership information for corporate entities. The CTA imposes additional reporting requirements on entities not previously subject to such beneficial ownership disclosure regulations and also contains exemptions for several different types of entities, including among others: (i) certain banks, bank holding companies, and credit unions; (ii) money transmitting businesses registered with FinCEN; and (iii) certain insurance companies. Reporting companies subject to the CTA will be required to provide specific information with respect to beneficial owner(s) – defined as an individual who, directly or indirectly exercises substantial control over the entity or owns or controls not less than 25% of the ownership interests of the entity – as well as satisfy initial filing obligations (for newly-formed reporting companies) and submit on-going periodic reports. Non-compliance with FinCEN regulations promulgated under the CTA may result in civil fines as well as criminal penalties.
In December 2021, FinCEN proposed the first of the three sets of rules that it will issue. Thereafter, on September 29, 2022, FinCEN issued the final rule to implement the beneficial ownership reporting requirements of the CTA, which was effective January 1, 2024. This rule does not apply to the Company or the Bank. Subsequent rulemakings are expected (i) to implement the CTA’s protocols for access to and disclosure of beneficial ownership information, and (ii) to revise the existing customer due diligence requirements that apply to the Company, the Bank, and many other financial institutions, to ensure consistency between these requirements and the beneficial ownership reporting rules. The Company will continue to monitor regulatory developments related to the CTA, including future FinCEN rulemakings, and will continue to assess the ultimate impact of the CTA on the Company. The Bank continues to evaluate the impact of this final rule on the Bank’s BSA/AML policies and procedures, and the impact of continuing litigation regarding the constitutionality of the CTA.
Cybersecurity. The federal banking agencies have adopted guidelines for establishing information security standards and cybersecurity programs for implementing safeguards under the supervision of a financial institution’s board of directors. These guidelines, along with related regulatory materials, increasingly focus on risk management and processes related to information technology and the use of third parties in the provision of financial products and services. The federal banking agencies expect financial institutions to establish lines of defense and ensure that their risk management processes also address the risk posed by compromised customer credentials, and also expect financial institutions to maintain sufficient business continuity planning processes to ensure rapid recovery, resumption and maintenance of the institution’s operations after a cyber-attack. If the Company, the Bank or Wealth fails to meet the expectations set forth in this regulatory guidance, the Company, the Bank or Wealth could be subject to various regulatory actions and any remediation efforts may require significant resources. In addition, all federal and state bank regulatory agencies continue to increase focus on cybersecurity programs and risks as part of regular supervisory exams.
On November 18, 2021, the federal bank regulatory agencies issued a final rule to improve the sharing of information about cyber incidents that may affect the U.S. banking system. The rule requires a banking organization to notify its primary federal regulator of any significant computer-security incident as soon as possible and no later than 36 hours after the banking organization determines that a cyber incident has occurred. Notification is required for incidents that have materially affected—or are reasonably likely to materially affect—the viability of a banking organization’s operations, its ability to deliver banking products and services, or the stability of the financial sector. In addition, the rule requires a bank service provider to notify affected banking organization customers as soon as possible when the provider determines that it has experienced a computer-security incident that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect banking organization customers for four or more hours. The rule became effective on May 1, 2022. With increased focus on cybersecurity, the Company, the Bank and Wealth continue to monitor related legislative, regulatory, and supervisory developments.
Consumer Laws and Regulations. The Company is also subject to certain consumer laws and regulations that are designed to protect consumers in transactions with banks. While the list set forth herein is not exhaustive, these laws and regulations include the Truth in Lending Act, the Truth in Savings Act, the Electronic Funds Transfer Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the Fair Housing Act, among others. These laws and regulations mandate certain disclosure requirements and regulate the manner in which financial institutions transact business with customers. The Company must comply with the applicable provisions of these consumer protection laws and regulations as part of its ongoing customer relations.
The CFPB is the federal regulatory agency responsible for implementing, examining, and enforcing compliance with federal consumer financial laws for institutions with more than $10 billion of assets and, to a lesser extent, smaller institutions. The CFPB supervises and regulates providers of consumer financial products and services and has rulemaking authority in connection with numerous federal consumer financial protection laws (for example, but not limited to, the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act). As a smaller institution (i.e., with assets of $10 billion or less), most consumer protection aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act will continue to be applied to the Company by the Federal Reserve Board and to the Bank and Wealth by the Comptroller. However, the CFPB may include its own examiners in regulatory examinations by a smaller institution's prudential regulators and may require smaller institutions to comply with certain CFPB reporting requirements. In addition, regulatory positions taken by the CFPB, and administrative and legal precedents established by CFPB enforcement activities, including in connection with supervision of larger bank holding companies and banks, could influence how the Federal Reserve Board and Comptroller apply consumer protection laws and regulations to financial institutions that are not directly supervised by the CFPB. The precise effect of the CFPB's consumer protection activities on the Company cannot be forecast at this time. As of December 31, 2023, the Company and the Bank are not subject to the direct supervision of the CFPB.
Mortgage Banking Regulation. In connection with making mortgage loans, the Bank is subject to rules and regulations that, among other things, establish standards for loan origination, prohibit discrimination, provide for inspections and appraisals of property, require credit reports on prospective borrowers, in some cases, restrict certain loan features and fix maximum interest rates and fees, require the disclosure of certain basic information to mortgagors concerning credit and settlement costs, limit payment for settlement services to the reasonable value of the services rendered and require the maintenance and disclosure of information regarding the disposition of mortgage applications based on race, gender, geographical distribution and income level. The Bank’s mortgage origination activities are subject to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Truth in Lending Act, Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and Home Ownership Equity Protection Act, and the regulations promulgated under these acts, among other state and federal laws, regulations, and rules.
The Bank’s mortgage origination activities are also subject to Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act. Certain provisions of Regulation Z require mortgage lenders to make a reasonable and good faith determination, based on verified and documented information, that a consumer applying for a mortgage loan has a reasonable ability to repay the loan according to its terms. Alternatively, mortgage lenders can originate “qualified mortgages,” which are generally defined as mortgage loans without negative amortization, interest-only payments, balloon payments, terms exceeding 30 years, and points and fees paid by a consumer equal to or less than 3% of the total loan amount. Under the EGRRCPA, most residential mortgages loans originated and held in portfolio by a bank with less than $10 billion in assets will be designated as “qualified mortgages.” Higher-priced qualified mortgages (e.g., subprime loans) receive a rebuttable presumption of compliance with ability-to-repay rules, and other qualified mortgages (e.g., prime loans) are deemed to comply with the ability-to-repay rules. The Bank originates first mortgage loans that comply with Regulation Z's “qualified mortgage” rules. The Bank also originates second mortgages, or equity loans, and these loans do not conform to the qualified mortgage criteria but comply with applicable ability-to-repay rules.
Volcker Rule. The Dodd-Frank Act prohibits bank holding companies and their subsidiary banks from engaging in proprietary trading except in limited circumstances, and places limits on ownership of equity investments in private equity and hedge funds (the Volcker Rule). The EGRRCPA, and final rules adopted to implement the EGRRCPA, exempt all banks with less than $10 billion in assets (including their holding companies and affiliates) from the Volcker Rule, provided that the institution has total trading assets and liabilities of five percent or less of total assets, subject to certain limited exceptions. The Company believes that its financial condition and its operations are not and will not be significantly affected by the Volcker Rule, amendments thereto, or its implementing regulations.
Call Reports and Examination Cycle. All institutions, regardless of size, submit a quarterly call report that includes data used by federal banking agencies to monitor the condition, performance, and risk profile of individual institutions and the industry as a whole. The EGRRCPA contained provisions expanding the number of regulated institutions eligible to use streamlined call report forms. In June 2019, consistent with the provisions of the EGRRCPA, the federal banking agencies issued a final rule to permit insured depository institutions with total assets of less than $5 billion that do not engage in certain complex or international activities to file the most streamlined version of the quarterly call report, and to reduce data reportable on certain streamlined call report submissions.
In December 2018, consistent with the provisions of the EGRRCPA, the federal banking agencies jointly adopted final rules that permit banks with up to $3 billion in total assets, that received a composite CAMELS rating of “1” or “2,” and that meet certain other criteria (including not having undergone any change in control during the previous 12-month period, and not being subject to a formal enforcement proceeding or order), to qualify for an 18-month on-site examination cycle.
Effect of Governmental Monetary Policies. As with other financial institutions, the earnings of the Company and the Bank are affected by general economic conditions as well as by the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Board. Such policies, which include regulating the national supply of bank reserves and bank credit, can have a major effect upon the source and cost of funds and the rates of return earned on loans and investments. The Federal Reserve Board exerts a substantial influence on interest rates and credit conditions, primarily through establishing target rates for federal funds, open market operations in U.S. Government securities, varying the discount rate on member bank borrowings and setting cash reserve requirements against deposits. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence the origination of loans, the purchase of investments, the generation of deposits, and rates received on loans and investment securities and paid on deposits. Fluctuations in the Federal Reserve Board’s monetary policies have had a significant impact on the operating results of commercial banks, including the Company and the Bank and are expected to continue to do so in the future.
Future Regulation. From time to time, various legislative and regulatory initiatives are introduced in Congress and state legislatures, as well as by regulatory agencies. Such initiatives may include proposals to expand or contract the powers of bank holding companies and depository institutions or proposals to substantially change the financial institution regulatory system. Such legislation could change banking statutes and the operating environment of the Company in substantial and unpredictable ways. If enacted, such legislation could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions, and other financial institutions. The Company cannot predict whether any such legislation will be enacted, and, if enacted, the effect that it, or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. A change in statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies applicable to the Company, the Bank, or Wealth could have a material effect on our business.
In addition to the other information contained in this report, including the information contained in “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” investors in the Company’s securities should carefully consider the factors discussed below. An investment in the Company’s securities involves risks. The factors below, among others, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, or capital position, or cause the Company’s results to differ materially from its historical results or the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in this report, in which case the trading price of the Company’s common stock could decline. The risk factors discussed below highlight the risks that the Company believes are material to the Company, but do not necessarily include all risk that an investor may face, and investors should not interpret the disclosure of a risk to state or imply that the risk has not already materialized.
Risk Factors Related to our Lending Activities and Economic Conditions
Weaknesses in economic or market conditions, or adverse developments in the financial services industry, could pose challenges for the Company and could adversely affect the results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition. Deterioration in, or uncertain, economic conditions could adversely affect the Company’s business which is directly affected by general economic and market conditions; broad trends in industry and finance; legislative and regulatory changes; changes in governmental monetary and fiscal policies; and inflation, all of which are beyond the Company’s control. Prolonged periods of inflation may impact profitability by negatively impacting fixed costs and expenses, including increasing funding costs and expense related to talent acquisition and retention, and negatively impacting the demand for products and services. Additionally, inflation may lead to a decrease in consumer and commercial purchasing power and increase default rates on loans. A deterioration in economic conditions, in particular a prolonged economic slowdown within the Company’s geographic region or a broader disruption in the economy, possibly as a result of a pandemic or other widespread public health emergency, acts of terrorism, or outbreak of domestic or international hostilities (including the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine or in the Middle East), or unanticipated events in the banking industry, such as high-profile bank failures in 2023, could result in the following consequences, any of which could hurt business materially: declines in real estate values and home sales and increases in the financial stress on borrowers and unemployment rates, all of which could lead to increases in loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures, and a deterioration in the value of collateral for loans made by our various business segments; an increase in the level of loan losses exceeding the level the Company has provided in its allowance for loans losses , which would reduce the Company’s earnings; a decline in demand for our products and services; changes in the fair value of financial instruments held by the Company or its subsidiaries; or declines in available sources or amounts of liquidity and funding. Events in the financial services industry, such as the high-profile bank failures in 2023, may also cause concern and uncertainty about the financial services industry generally, which may result in sudden deposit outflows, increased borrowing and funding costs, and increased competition for liquidity, any of which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Weaknesses in the commercial real estate markets could negatively affect the Company's financial performance and results of operations due to the Company's concentration in commercial real estate loans. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $578.1 million, or 53.5%, of total loans concentrated in commercial real estate, which includes, for purposes of this concentration, all construction loans, loans secured by multifamily residential properties, loans secured by farmland and loans secured by nonfarm, nonresidential properties. Commercial real estate loans are generally viewed as exposing the Company to a greater risk of loss than residential real estate and consumer loans. Commercial real estate loans typically involve larger loan balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers compared to residential real estate and consumer loans. Consequently, an adverse development with respect to one or a few commercial real estate loan or credit relationships could expose the Company to a significantly greater risk of loss compared to an adverse development with respect to one or a few residential real estate loans. Commercial real estate loans carry risks associated with the successful operation of a business if the properties are owner occupied. If the properties are non-owner occupied, the repayment of these loans may be dependent upon the profitability and cash flow from rent receipts. Repayment of commercial real estate loans may, to a greater extent than residential real estate loans, be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market or economy. Weak economic or market conditions may impair a borrower's business operations, slow the execution of new leases and lead to turnover in existing leases. The combination of these factors could result in deterioration in value of some of the Company's loans. The deterioration of one or more of the Company's significant commercial real estate loans could cause a significant increase in nonaccrual loans. An increase in nonaccrual loans could result in a loss of interest income from those loans, an increase in the provision for loan losses, and an increase in loan charge-offs, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial performance.
The federal bank regulatory agencies have recently expressed concerns about weaknesses in the current commercial real estate market. Banking regulators generally give commercial real estate lending greater scrutiny and may require banks with higher levels of commercial real estate loans to implement enhanced risk management practices, including stricter underwriting, internal controls, risk management policies, more granular reporting, and portfolio stress testing, as well as possibly higher levels of allowances for losses and capital levels as a result of commercial real estate lending growth and exposures. If the Company’s banking regulators determine that the Company’s commercial real estate lending activities are particularly risky and are subject to such heightened scrutiny, the Company may incur significant additional costs or be required to restrict certain of our commercial real estate lending activities. Additionally, failures in the Company’s risk management policies, procedures and controls could adversely affect its ability to manage this portfolio going forward and could result in an increased rate of delinquencies in, and increased losses from, this portfolio, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company's profitability depends significantly on local economic conditions and changes in the federal government's military or defense spending may negatively affect the local economy, which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The Company's success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the markets in which the Company operates. Unlike larger financial institutions that are more geographically diversified, the Company provides banking and financial services to customers primarily in the Hampton Roads MSA. The local economic conditions in this area have a significant impact on the demand for loans, the ability of the borrowers to repay these loans and the value of the collateral securing these loans. A significant decline in general economic conditions, caused by inflation, recession, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic calamities, unemployment or other factors beyond the Company's control could impact these local economic conditions.
In addition, Hampton Roads is home to one of the largest military installations in the world and one of the largest concentrations of Department of Defense personnel in the United States. Some of the Company's customers may be particularly sensitive to the level of federal government spending on the military or on defense-related products or to a protracted U.S. government shutdown. Federal spending is affected by numerous factors, including macroeconomic conditions, presidential administration priorities, and the ability of the federal government to enact relevant appropriations bills and other legislation. Any of these factors could result in future cuts to military or defense spending or increased uncertainty about federal spending, which could have a severe negative impact on individuals and businesses in the Company's primary service area.
Any adverse developments in the Company’s primary service area, such as related increase in unemployment rates or reduction in business development activities, could lead to reductions in loan demand, a reduction in the number of credit-worthy borrowers seeking loans, increases in loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures, a decline in the financial condition of borrowers and guarantors, and reductions in loan collateral value, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results and financial condition.
The Company also invests in the debt securities of corporate issuers, primarily financial institutions, that the Company views as having a strong financial position and earnings potential. However, a deterioration in economic or other conditions in the localities in which these institutions do business in could adversely affect their financial condition and results of operations, and therefore adversely affect the value of our investment.
Declines in loans outstanding could have a material adverse impact on the Company's operating results and financial condition. Growing and diversifying the loan portfolio is part of the Company's strategic initiative. If quality loan demand does not continue to increase and the Company's loan portfolio begins to decline, the Company expects that excess liquidity will be invested in marketable securities. Because loans typically yield higher returns than the Company's securities portfolio, a shift towards investments in the Company's asset mix would likely result in an overall reduction in net interest income and net interest margin. The principal source of earnings for the Company is net interest income, and the Company's net interest margin is a major determinant of the Company's profitability. The effects of a reduction in net interest income and net interest margin may be exacerbated by the intense competition for quality loans in the Company's primary service area and by rate reductions on loans currently held in the portfolio. As a result, a reduction in loans could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results and financial condition.
The small-to-medium size businesses the Company targets may have fewer financial resources to weather a downturn in the economy, which could materially harm operating results. The Company targets individual and small-to-medium size business customers. Small-to-medium size businesses frequently have smaller market shares than their competitors, may have fewer financial resources in terms of capital or borrowing capacity than larger entities, may be more vulnerable to economic downturns or periods of significant inflation, often need substantial additional capital to expand and compete and may experience significant volatility in operating results. Any one or more of these factors may impair a borrower's ability to repay a loan. In addition, the success of a small-to-medium size business often depends on the management talents and efforts of one person or a small group of persons, and the death, disability, or resignation of one or more of these persons could have a material adverse impact on the business and its ability to repay a loan. The Company also made some of these loans in recent years, and the borrowers may not have experienced a complete business or economic cycle. Economic downturns and other events that negatively impact businesses in the Company's primary service area could have a proportionately greater impact on small-to-medium-size businesses and accordingly could cause the Company to incur substantial credit losses that could negatively affect its results of operations and financial condition.
The allowance for credit losses (ACL) may not be adequate to cover actual losses, which could adversely affect our results of operations, business, and financial condition. The Company’s success depends significantly on the quality of our assets, particularly loans. Like all financial institutions, the Company is exposed to the risk that borrowers, guarantors, and related parties may fail to perform in accordance with the terms of their loans and leases and that the collateral securing the payment of loans may be insufficient to fully compensate the Company for the outstanding balance of the loan plus the costs to dispose of the collateral. The Company attempts to maintain an appropriate allowance for credit losses to provide for losses in our loan portfolio. The process to determine the allowance for credit losses uses models and assumptions that require difficult and complex judgments that are often interrelated. Because any estimate of credit losses is necessarily subjective and the accuracy of any estimate depends on the outcome of future events that are not within our control, we face the risk that charge-offs in future periods will exceed our allowance for credits losses and that additional provision for credit losses will be required, which would have an adverse effect on the Company’s net income. The allowance for credit losses is our best estimate of expected credit losses; however, there is no guarantee that it will be sufficient to address credit losses, particularly if the economic outlook deteriorates significantly and quickly. In such an event, the Company may increase its allowance for credit losses, which would reduce its earnings. Additionally, to the extent that economic conditions worsen, impacting our consumer and commercial borrowers or underlying collateral, and credit losses are worse than expected, as may be caused by inflation, an economic recession or otherwise, we may increase our provision for credit losses, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. The Company’s banking regulator, as part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance for credit losses and may require the Company to increase its allowance by recognizing additional provision for credit losses charged to expense, or to decrease the allowance by recognizing loan charge-offs. Any such required additional provisions for credit losses or charge-offs could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 326, “Financial Instruments—Credit Losses” (ASC 326), which replaces existing accounting principles for the recognition of loan losses based on losses that have been incurred with a requirement to record an allowance for credit losses that represents expected credit losses over the lifetime of all loans in the Company’s portfolio. Under ASC 326, the Company’s estimate of expected credit losses will be based on reasonable and supportable forecasts of future economic conditions and loan performance. While the adoption of ASC 326 does not affect ultimate loan performance or cash flows of the Company from making loans, recognizing an allowance based on expected credit losses may create more volatility in the level of the allowance for credit losses and the Company’s results of operations, including based on volatility in economic forecasts and expectations of loan performance in future periods, as actual results may differ materially from those estimates. If the Company is required to materially increase the level of allowance for credit losses for any reason, such increase could adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company is subject to physical and financial risks associated with climate change and other weather and natural disaster impacts. The Company is subject to the growing risk of climate change. Among the risks associated with climate change are more frequent severe weather events, such as hurricanes, tropical storms, tornados, winter storms, freezes, flooding, and other large-scale weather catastrophes. Such weather events in the Company’s markets subject us to significant risks and more frequent severe weather events magnify those risks. Large-scale weather catastrophes or other significant climate change effects that either damage or destroy residential or multifamily real estate underlying mortgage loans or real estate collateral, could decrease the value of our real estate collateral, or increase our delinquency rates in the affected areas and thus diminish the value of the Company’s loan portfolio. In addition, the effects of climate change may have a significant effect on the Company’s geographic markets and could disrupt our operations or the operations of our customers, third party service providers or supply chains more generally. Those disruptions could result in declines in economic conditions in the Company’s geographic markets or industries in which our borrowers operate and impact their ability to repay loans or maintain deposits. Climate change could also impact the Company’s assets or employees directly or lead to changes in customer preferences that could negatively affect our growth or business strategies. In addition, the SEC and federal banking regulators are increasingly focused on the physical and financial risks to financial institutions associated with climate change, which may result in increased requirements regarding the disclosure and management of climate risks and related lending activities, as well as increased compliance costs.
Risk Factors Related to our Industry
The Company is subject to interest rate risk and variations in interest rates may negatively affect its financial condition and results of operations. The Company's profitability depends in substantial part on its net interest margin, which is the difference between the rates received on loans and investments and the rates paid for deposits and other sources of funds. The net interest margin depends on many factors that are partly or completely outside of the Company's control, including competition; federal economic, monetary, and fiscal policies; market interest rates; and economic conditions. Because of the differences in the maturities and repricing characteristics of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, changes in interest rates do not produce equivalent changes in interest income earned on interest-earning assets and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. To combat rising inflation, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve increased the target range for the federal funds rate throughout 2022 and 2023 to its current range of 5.25% to 5.50%. While the FOMC foreshadowed decreases to the target rates in 2024, it also noted that it will continue to assess additional information and implications for monetary policy in determining future actions with respect to target rates. If market rates continue to rise or remain elevated for an extended period of time, the Company may experience more competitive pressures to increase the rates paid on deposits, which may decrease net interest income, a change in the mix of noninterest and interest-bearing accounts, reduced demand for loans or increases in the rate of default on existing loans. In addition, the Company could experience net interest margin compression if it is unable to maintain the current level of loans outstanding by continuing to originate new loans in the current higher rate environment, or if it experiences a decrease in deposit balances, which would require the Company to seek funding from other sources at relatively higher rates of interest. It is possible that significant or unexpected changes in interest rates may take place in the future, and the Company may not be able to accurately predict the nature or magnitude of such changes or how such changes may affect business or results of operations.
The Company’s investment portfolio consists of fixed income debt securities, classified as available for sale, whose market values fluctuate with changes in interest rates. Available for sale debt securities are carried at estimated fair value with the corresponding unrealized gains and losses recognized in other comprehensive income. Gains or losses are only recognized in net income upon the sale of the security. Additionally, under ASC 326 a loss is recognized for expected credit losses on available for sale debt securities or when the Company does not expect to recover its investment in a debt security, to the extent that the carrying amount of the security exceeds its market value. As a result of increases in market interest rates during 2022 and 2023, the market value of the Company’s investment portfolio declined significantly. While the Company does not intend to sell any of its securities prior to maturity, the portfolio serves as a source of liquidity and consists of securities available for sale, which may be sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, changes in deposit balances, general liquidity needs and other similar factors. If the Company sells any of its securities while in an unrealized loss position or determines that there is a credit loss with respect to any of the Company’s securities, the loss or impairment charge would be recognized in net income, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, while the regulatory capital of the Company or the Bank is currently not expected to be impacted by unrealized losses on securities, tangible common equity, a non-GAAP financial measure, is reduced for unrealized losses on securities, and regulatory capital would be reduced for any losses recognized in net income.
The Company generally seeks to maintain a neutral position in terms of the volume of assets and liabilities that mature or re-price during any period so that it may reasonably maintain its net interest margin; however, interest rate fluctuations, loan prepayments, loan production, deposit flows, and competitive pressures are constantly changing and influence the ability to maintain a neutral position. Generally, the Company's earnings will be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates depending upon the variance in volume of assets and liabilities that mature and re-price in any period. The extent and duration of the sensitivity will depend on the cumulative variance over time, the velocity and direction of changes in interest rates, shape, and slope of the yield curve, and whether the Company is more asset sensitive or liability sensitive. Accordingly, the Company may not be successful in maintaining a neutral position and, as a result, the Company's net interest margin may be affected.
The Company relies substantially on deposits obtained from customers in our target markets to provide liquidity and support growth, and liquidity risk could harm the Company’s ability to fund its operations, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition. Liquidity is essential to the Company’s business. While the Company relies on different sources to meet potential liquidity demands, the Bank’s business strategies are primarily based on access to funding from local customer deposits. Deposit levels may be affected by several factors, including interest rates paid by competitors, general interest rate levels, returns available to customers on alternative investments, conditions in the financial services industry specifically and general economic conditions that affect savings levels and the amount of liquidity in the economy, as well as by factors that impact customers’ perception of the Company’s financial condition and capital and liquidity levels. If deposit levels fall, reliance on a relatively low-cost source of funding could be reduced and interest expense would likely increase as alternative funding is obtained to replace lost deposits. Additionally, if a large number of the Bank’s depositors or depositors with a high concentration of deposits sought to withdraw their deposits suddenly, the Bank could encounter difficulty meeting such a significant deposit outflow, which could negatively impact the Company’s and the Bank’s profitability, reputation, and liquidity. Significant unanticipated deposit outflows have occurred at other financial institutions, and may occur in the future, compounded by the advances in technology that increase the speed at which deposits can be moved from bank to bank or outside the banking system, as well as the speed and reach with which information, concerns and rumors can spread through media, in each case potentially exacerbating liquidity concerns. While the Company believes its funding sources are adequate to meet any significant unanticipated deposit withdrawal, the Company may not be able to manage the risk of deposit volatility effectively, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity, business, financial condition, and results of operations. If local customer deposits are not sufficient to fund normal operations and growth, the Company will look to outside sources, such as borrowings from the FHLB, which is a secured funding source. Ability to access borrowings from the FHLB will be dependent upon whether and the extent to which collateral is held or can be provided to secure FHLB borrowings. Other sources may be federal funds purchased and brokered deposits, although the use of brokered deposits may be limited or discouraged by our banking regulators. The Company may also seek to raise funds through the issuance of shares of common stock, or other equity or equity-related securities, or debt securities including subordinated notes as additional sources of liquidity.
If the Company is unable to access funding sufficient to support business operations and growth strategies or is unable to access such funding on acceptable terms to the Company, this could have a substantial negative effect on the Company’s liquidity. The Company may not be able to implement its business strategies, originate loans, invest in securities, pay its expenses, distribute dividends to its stockholders, or fulfill its debt obligations or deposit withdrawal demands. A lack of liquidity also could result in the Company being forced to sell securities in an unrealized loss position. All these factors could have a material adverse impact on financial performance, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company’s liquidity could be impaired by an inability to access short-term funding or the inability to monetize liquid assets. If significant volatility or disruptions occur in the wholesale funding or investment securities markets, the Company’s ability to access short-term liquidity could be materially impaired. In addition, other factors outside of the Company’s control could limit the Company’s ability to access short-term funding or to monetize liquid assets, including by selling investment securities at an attractive price or at all, such as operational issues that impact third parties in the funding or securities markets or unforeseen significant deposit outflows. The Company’s inability to access short-term funding or inability to monetize liquid assets could impair the Company’s ability to make new loans or meet existing lending commitments and could adversely impact the Company’s overall liquidity and regulatory capital.
Consumers may increasingly decide not to use banks to complete their financial transactions, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial condition and operations. Technology and other changes are allowing parties to complete financial transactions through alternative methods that historically have involved banks. For example, consumers can now maintain funds that would have historically been held as bank deposits in brokerage accounts, mutual funds, general-purpose reloadable prepaid cards, or in other types of assets, including crypto currencies or other digital assets. Consumers can also complete transactions such as paying bills or transferring funds directly without the assistance of banks. The process of eliminating banks as intermediaries, known as “disintermediation,” could result in the loss of fee income, as well as the loss of customer deposits and the related income generated from those deposits. The loss of these revenue streams and the loss of deposits as a lower cost source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Competition from other financial institutions and financial intermediaries may adversely affect the Company’s future success, profitability, financial condition, and results of operations. The Company faces substantial competition in all aspects of its operations, including originating loans and attracting deposits, from a variety of competitors. Growth and success depend on the Company’s ability to compete effectively in this highly competitive financial services environment. The competition in originating loans and attracting deposits comes principally from other banks, mortgage banking companies, consumer finance companies, savings associations, credit unions, brokerage firms, insurance companies and other institutional lenders and purchasers of loans and includes firms that attract customers primarily through digital and online products which may offer greater convenience to customers than traditional banking products and services. Many competitors offer products and services that are not offered by the Company, and many have substantially greater resources, name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans and deposits more aggressively and may have larger lending limits that would allow them to serve the credit needs of larger clients. Moreover, technological innovation continues to contribute to greater competition in financial services markets as technological advances enable more companies to provide financial products and services traditionally provided by banks, such as real-time transfer and payment systems. Some of the financial services organizations with which the Company competes are not subject to the same degree of regulation as bank holding companies and federally insured national banks and may have broader geographic service areas and lower cost structures. As a result, these competitors may have certain advantages over the Company in accessing funding and providing various services. Increased competition could require an increase of rates paid on deposits or lower the rates offered on loans, which could adversely affect the Company’s profitability. In addition, failure to compete effectively to attract new and retain current customers in the Company’s markets could cause it to lose market share, slow its growth rate and may have an adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.
The soundness of other financial institutions may adversely affect the Company. Financial services institutions are interrelated due to certain relationships, including trading, clearing and counterparty relationships. The Company has exposure to a variety of industries and counterparties, and routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including commercial banks, brokers and dealers, investment banks and institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of a default by a counterparty or client. In the past, defaults by, or even speculation about, one or more financial services institutions or the financial services industry generally have led to market-wide liquidity problems, which could result in defaults and, as a result, impair the confidence of the Company’s counterparties and ultimately affect the Company’s ability to effect transactions. Additionally, confidence in the safety and soundness of regional and community banks specifically or the banking system generally could impact where customers choose to maintain deposits, which could materially adversely impact the Company’s liquidity, loan funding capacity, ability to raise funds and results of operations. The Company could also be impacted by current or future negative perceptions about the prospects for the financial services industry, which could worsen over time and result in downward pressure on, and continued or accelerated volatility of, bank securities.
Market risk affects the earnings of Wealth. The fee structure of Wealth is generally based upon the market value of accounts under administration. Most of these accounts are invested in equities of publicly traded companies and debt obligations of both government agencies and publicly traded companies. As such, fluctuations in the equity and debt markets in general have had a direct impact upon the earnings of Wealth.
The Bank is required to maintain capital to meet regulatory requirements, and the Bank’s failure to maintain sufficient capital could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, liquidity, results of operation and ability to maintain regulatory compliance. The Bank is required to meet regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity. The Basel III Capital Rules apply higher risk weightings to many types of loans and securities. This may result in the Bank being forced to limit originations of certain types of commercial and mortgage loans, thereby reducing the amount of credit available to borrowers and limiting opportunities to earn interest income from the loan portfolio, which could have a detrimental impact on the Company's net income. From time to time, regulators implement changes to these regulatory capital adequacy guidelines. Additionally, regulators may require the Bank to maintain higher levels of regulatory capital based on its condition, risk profile or conditions in the banking industry or economy. Because the Company qualifies under the Federal Reserve’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, the Company is not subject to the Basel III Capital Rules. However, if the Basel III Capital Rules were applied to the Company in the future, this may create additional compliance burdens for the Company.
If the Company were to require additional capital, including to fund additional capital contributions to the Bank, it could be required to access the capital markets on short notice and in relatively weak economic conditions, which could result in raising capital that significantly dilutes existing stockholders. Additionally, the Company may be forced to limit banking operations and activities, and growth of loan portfolios and interest income, to focus on retention of earnings to improve capital levels. Higher capital levels may also lower the Company's return on equity and result in regulatory actions if the Bank was unable to comply with such requirements. The Bank’s failure to remain “well capitalized” for bank regulatory purposes could affect customer confidence, FDIC insurance costs and costs of funds, as well as the Company’s and the Bank’s ability to grow, business, financial condition, and results of operations. Under regulatory rules, if the Bank ceases to be a “well capitalized” institution for bank regulatory purposes, the interest rates it pays and its ability to accept brokered deposits may be restricted.
Risk Factors Related to our Operations and Technology
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to operational risk, which could adversely affect business, financial condition, and results of operation. The Company and its subsidiaries, like all businesses, are subject to operational risk, including the risk of loss resulting from human error, fraud, or unauthorized transactions due to inadequate or failed internal processes and systems, and external events that are wholly or partially beyond the Company's control (including, for example, sudden increases in customer transaction volume, electrical or telecommunications outages, natural disasters, and cyber-attacks). Operational risk also encompasses compliance (legal) risk, which is the risk of loss from violations of, or noncompliance with, laws, rules, regulations, prescribed practices, or ethical standards. The Company and its subsidiaries have established a system of internal controls to address these risks, but there are inherent limitations to such risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that are not anticipated, identified, or monitored. Any losses resulting from operational risk could take the form of explicit charges, increased operational costs, litigation costs, harm to reputation or forgone opportunities, loss of customer business, or the unauthorized release, misuse, loss, or destruction of proprietary information, any and all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
System failures, interruptions, breaches of security, or the failure of a third-party provider to perform its obligations could adversely impact the Company's business operations and financial condition. Communications and information systems are essential to the conduct of the Company's businesses, as such systems are used to manage customer relationships, general ledger, deposits, and loans, as well as for other functions. While the Company has established policies and procedures to prevent or limit the impact of systems failures, interruptions and security breaches, the Company's information, security, and other systems may stop operating properly or become disabled or damaged as a result of a number of factors, including events beyond the Company's control, such as sudden increases in customer transaction volume, electrical or telecommunications outages, natural disasters, and cyber-attacks. Information security risks have increased in recent years and hackers, activists and other external parties have become more technically sophisticated and well-resourced. These parties use a variety of methods to attempt to breach security systems and access the data of financial services institutions and their customers. The Company may not have the resources or technical sophistication to anticipate or prevent rapidly evolving types of cyber-attacks. In addition, any compromise of the security systems could deter customers from using the Bank's website and online banking service, both of which involve the transmission of confidential information. The security and authentication precautions imposed by the Company and the Bank may not protect the systems from compromises or breaches of security, which would adversely affect the Company's results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, the Company relies on third parties to provide key components of its business operations, such as data processing, recording, and monitoring transactions, online banking interfaces and services, internet connections and network access outsources certain data processing to certain third-party providers. Accordingly, the Company's operations are exposed to risk that these third-party providers will not perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service agreements. If the third-party providers encounter difficulties, or if the Company has difficulty in communicating with them, the Company's ability to deliver products and services to its customers and otherwise conduct its business could be adversely affected, and the Company's reputation may be harmed. Further, each of these third-party providers faces the risk of a cyber-attack, information breach or loss, or technology failure, and there is no assurance that they have not or will not experience a system or network breach, a breach of a third-party provider's technology may cause loss to the Company's customers. Any failure by a third-party provider to maintain performance, reliability and security of these systems could have a significant adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Replacing these third-party providers could also create significant delay and expense, and the Company cannot provide any assurance that it could negotiate terms with alternative service sources that are as favorable or could obtain similar services as found in the Company’s existing systems without expending substantial resources. Consequently, use of such third parties creates an unavoidable inherent risk to the Company’s business operations. Threats to information security also exist in the processing of customer information through various other vendors and their personnel.
The occurrence of any systems failure, interruption or breach of security, or the failure of a third-party provider to perform its obligations, could expose the Company to risks of data loss or data misuse, could result in violations of applicable privacy and other laws, could damage the Company's reputation and result in a loss of customers and business, or could subject it to additional regulatory scrutiny, civil litigation, or possible financial liability and costly response measures. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
The Company and its subsidiaries, including the Bank, and its and their employees and customers may in the future be the target of criminal cyberattacks; and we could be exposed to liability and remedial costs, and our reputation and business could suffer. The Company’s business relies on the secure processing, transmission, storage, and retrieval of confidential, proprietary, and other information in our computer and data management systems and networks, and in the computer and data management systems and networks of third parties. In addition, to access our network, products and services, the Company’s customers and third parties may use personal mobile devices or computing devices that are outside of our network environment and are subject to their own cybersecurity risks. The Company, its customers, regulators and other third parties, including other financial services institutions and companies engaged in data processing, have been subject to, and are likely to continue to be the target of criminal cyber-attacks, phishing schemes and similar fraudulent activity and cyber incidents. One such event occurred during September 2022, when in a cybersecurity incident an email account of the Company was accessed by an authorized user, which may have compromised certain information about the Company and its customers. The Company expects these threats to continue. As the numerous and evolving cybersecurity threats, including advanced and persistent cyber-attacks and schemes, utilized by cybercriminals in attempts to obtain unauthorized access to our systems or our customers’ accounts have become increasingly more complex and sophisticated and may be difficult to detect for periods of time, we– like many other major financial institutions – may not be able to anticipate, safeguard against, or respond to, these acts adequately. As these threats continue to evolve and increase, we – like many other major financial institutions – may be required to devote significant additional resources in order to modify and enhance our security controls and to identify and remediate any security vulnerabilities.
The Company and the Bank also face indirect technology, cybersecurity and operational risks relating to the customers, clients and other third parties with whom the Company and the Bank do business or upon whom the Company and the Bank rely to facilitate or enable business activities, including, for example, financial counterparties, regulators, providers of critical infrastructure such as internet access, and software providers. As a result of increasing consolidation, interdependence and complexity of financial entities and technology systems, a technology failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach that significantly degrades, deletes, or compromises the systems or data of one or more financial entities could have a material impact on counterparties or other market participants, including the Company and the Bank. This consolidation, interconnectivity and complexity increases the risk of operational failure, on both individual and industry-wide bases, as disparate systems need to be integrated, often on an accelerated basis. Any third-party technology failure, cyber-attack or other information or security breach, termination or constraint could, among other things, adversely affect the Company and the Bank’s ability to effect transactions, service their clients, manage their exposure to risk or expand their business.
Though it is difficult to determine what, if any, harm may directly result from any specific cyber incident or cyber-attack, any failure to maintain the security of, or any actual or perceived loss or unauthorized disclosure or use of, customer or account information may result in a material loss or have material consequences. The public perception that a cyber-attack on the Bank’s systems have been successful, whether or not this perception is correct, may damage the Bank’s reputation with customers and third parties with whom the Bank does business. Actual or perceived loss or unauthorized disclosure or use of personal information and identify theft risks, in particular could cause serious reputational harm. Damage to our reputation could adversely affect deposits and loans and otherwise negatively affect the Company’s business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, it is possible that a cyber incident and any material fraudulent activity, cyber-attacks, breaches of our information security or successful penetration or circumvention of our system security may cause us significant negative consequences, including loss of Bank customers and financial assets and business opportunities, disruption to our operations and business, or misappropriation of our and/or our customers’ confidential information, and may expose us to additional regulatory scrutiny or may result in a violation of applicable privacy laws and other laws, litigation exposure, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, loss of confidence in our security measures, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensatory costs, devotion of substantial management time, costs associated with customer notification and credit monitoring services, increased costs to maintain insurance coverage (including increased deposit insurance premiums), or additional compliance costs, all of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.
The Company's accounting estimates and risk management processes rely on analytical and forecasting models. Processes that management uses to measure the allowance for credit losses, fair value of financial instruments, as well as the processes used to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and other market measures on the Company's earnings performance and liquidity, depend upon the use of analytical and forecasting models. These models include assumptions about future credit losses, discount rates, future interest rates and economic conditions, that may not be accurate, particularly in times of market stress or other unforeseen circumstances. Even if these assumptions are accurate, the models may prove to be inadequate or inaccurate because of other flaws in their design or their implementation.
If the model that management uses for the calculation of the allowance for credit losses is inadequate, the Company may not be able to accurately predict the timing and extent of expected credit losses and record an accurate allowance for these credit losses. If the models that management uses for interest rate risk and asset-liability management are inadequate, the Company may incur increased or unexpected losses upon changes in market interest rates or other market measures and may be unable to maintain sufficient liquidity. If the models that management uses to measure the fair value of financial instruments are inadequate, the fair value of such financial instruments may fluctuate unexpectedly or may not accurately reflect what the Company could realize upon sale or settlement of such financial instruments. Any such failure in management's analytical or forecasting models could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The Company is dependent on key personnel and the loss of one or more of those key personnel could harm its business. The banking business in Virginia, and in the Company's primary service area in the Hampton Roads MSA, is highly competitive and dominated by a relatively small number of large banks. Competition for qualified employees and personnel in the banking industry is intense and there are a limited number of qualified persons with knowledge of and experience in the Virginia community banking industry, which could increase labor costs. In addition, the Company’s ability to attract and retain employees could be impacted by changing workforce concerns, expectations, practices, and preferences, including remote and hybrid work preferences, labor shortages and competition for labor, which could increase labor costs. The Company's success depends to a significant degree upon its ability to attract and retain qualified management, loan origination, administrative, marketing, and technical personnel and upon the continued contributions of and customer relationships developed by management and other key personnel.
In particular, the Company believes that its success is highly dependent upon the capabilities of its senior executive management. The Company believes that its management team, comprised of individuals who have worked in the banking industry for many years, is integral to implementing the Company's business plan. The loss of any of the Company’s senior executive management could disrupt the Company’s operations and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to build on the efforts they have undertaken, and the Company may not be able to find adequate replacements. Most recently, the Company hired a new Chief Financial Officer in October 2023. Management transitions may create uncertainty and involve a diversion of resources and management attention, be disruptive to the Company’s daily operations or impact public or market perception, any of which could negatively impact our ability to operate effectively or execute our strategies and result in a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. The Company has entered into employment agreements with certain members of executive management, and the loss of the services of one or more of them could harm the Company's business.
The Company may not be able to compete effectively without the appropriate use of current technology. The use of technology in the financial services market, including the banking industry, evolves frequently. The Company may be unable to attract and maintain banking relationships with certain customers if it does not offer appropriate technology-driven products and services. In addition to better serving customers, the effective use of technology may increase efficiency and reduce costs. Developing or acquiring access to new technologies and incorporating those technologies into the Company’s products and services or using them to expand the Company’s products and services, may require significant investments, may take considerable time to complete, and ultimately may not be successful. The Company may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products or services or be successful in marketing these products and services to its customers. As a result, the Company's ability to compete effectively may be impaired, which could lead to a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations and could lead to the incurrence of additional expense. Additionally, any future implementation of technological changes and upgrades to maintain current systems may cause operational and customer challenges upon implementation and for some time afterwards. Key challenges include service interruptions, transaction processing errors and system conversion delays, which may cause the Company to lose customers or fail to comply with applicable laws, and may cause the incurrence of additional expenses, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.
Risks Related to the Regulation of the Company
The Company may be adversely affected by changes in government monetary policy. As a bank holding company, the Company's business is affected by the monetary policies established by the FRB, which regulates the national money supply in order to mitigate recessionary and inflationary pressures. The policies directly and indirectly influence the rate of interest earned on loans and paid on borrowings and interest-bearing deposits and can also affect the value of financial instruments held by the Company.
These policies determine, to a significant extent, the Company's cost of funds for lending and investing, and can also affect the Company’s borrowers. Changes in these policies are beyond the Company’s controls and are difficult to predict. These policies may have an adverse effect on deposit levels, net interest margin, loan demand or the Company's business and operations.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to extensive regulation which could adversely affect them. The Company is subject to extensive regulation by federal, state, and local governmental authorities and is subject to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on part or all of its operations. Regulations adopted by these agencies, which are generally intended to protect depositors and customers rather than to benefit stockholders, govern a comprehensive range of matters including, without limitation, ownership and control of the Company's shares, acquisition of other companies and businesses, permissible activities that the Company and its subsidiaries may engage in, maintenance of adequate capital levels and other aspects of operations. See “Regulation and Supervision” included in Item 1. Business, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more detailed description of certain regulatory requirements applicable to the Company and the Bank. These regulations are costly to comply with and could limit the Company's growth by restricting certain of its activities. Failure to comply with these laws, rules and regulations could result in financial, structural, and operational penalties, including receivership. The laws, rules, and regulations applicable to the Company could change at any time. The extent and timing of any regulatory reform as well as any effect on the Company’s business and financial results, are uncertain. Regulatory changes could subject the Company to more demanding regulatory compliance requirements, which could affect the Company in unpredictable and adverse ways. Such changes could subject the Company to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products it may offer and/or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Legislation or regulation may also impose unexpected or unintended consequences, the impact of which is difficult to predict. Failure to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil money penalties and/or damage to the Company's reputation, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
The CFPB may increase our regulatory compliance burden and could affect the consumer financial products and services that the Company offers. The CFPB significantly influences consumer financial laws, regulation and policy through rulemaking related to enforcement of the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibitions against unfair, deceptive, and abusive consumer finance products or practices, which are directly affecting the business operations of financial institutions offering consumer financial products or services, including the Company. This agency’s broad rulemaking authority includes identifying practices or acts that are unfair, deceptive, or abusive in connection with any consumer financial transaction, financial product, or service. In particular, the CFPB’s interpretation of the Dodd-Frank Act’s prohibitions against unfair, deceptive, and abusive consumer finance products or practices and the application of those prohibitions to so-called “junk fees” may ultimately affect products or services currently offered by the Company and its subsidiaries and may affect the amount of revenue that may be derived from these products and services in the future, especially revenue from overdraft products offered by the Bank. Although the CFPB has jurisdiction over banks with $10 billion or greater in assets, rules, regulations, and policies issued by the CFPB may also apply to the Company or its subsidiaries by virtue of the adoption of such policies and practices by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. Further, the CFPB may include its own examiners in regulatory examinations by the Company’s primary regulators. The limitations and restrictions imposed by the CFPB may produce significant, material effects on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Increased scrutiny and evolving expectations from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders with respect to environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices may impose additional costs on the Company or expose it to new or additional risks. As a regulated financial institution and a publicly traded company, the Company is facing increasing scrutiny from customers, regulators, investors, and other stakeholders related to ESG practices and disclosure. Investor advocacy groups, investment funds, influential investors, and regulators are increasingly focused on these practices, especially as they relate to climate risk, hiring practices, the diversity of the work force, and racial and social justice issues. Views about ESG are diverse, dynamic, and rapidly changing. Failure to adapt to or comply with regulatory requirements or investor or stakeholder expectations and standards could negatively impact the Company’s reputation, ability to attract and retain certain customers and employees, and stock price. New government regulations could also result in new or more stringent forms of ESG oversight and expanded mandatory and voluntary reporting, diligence, and disclosure. ESG related costs, including with respect to compliance with any additional regulatory or disclosure requirements or expectations, could adversely impact our results of operations.
Failure to comply with the USA Patriot Act, OFAC, the Bank Secrecy Act and related FinCEN guidelines and related regulations could have a material impact on the Company. Bank regulatory agencies routinely examine financial institutions for compliance with the USA Patriot Act, OFAC, the Bank Secrecy Act and related FinCEN guidelines and related regulations. Failure to maintain and implement adequate programs as required by these obligations to combat terrorist financing, elder abuse, human trafficking, anti-money laundering and other suspicious activity and to fully comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal, financial and reputational consequences for the Company. For example, such a failure could cause a bank regulatory agency not to approve a merger or acquisition transaction or to prohibit such a transaction even if formal approval is not required to restrict the Company’s ability to pay dividends or to require the Company to obtain regulatory approvals to proceed with certain aspects of its business. In addition, such a failure could result in a regulatory authority imposing a formal enforcement action or civil money penalty for regulatory violations.
Current and to-be-effective laws and regulations addressing consumer privacy and data use and security could increase our costs and failure to comply with such laws and regulations could impact our business, financial condition, and reputation. The Company is subject to a number of laws concerning consumer privacy and data use and security, including information safeguard rules under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. These rules require that financial institutions develop, implement, and maintain a written, comprehensive information security program containing safeguards that are appropriate to the financial institution’s size and complexity, the nature and scope of the financial institution’s activities and the sensitivity of any customer information at issue. The United States has experienced a heightened legislative and regulatory focus on privacy and data security, including requiring consumer notification in the event of a data breach. In addition, most states have enacted security breach legislation requiring varying levels of consumer notification in the event of certain types of security breaches, and certain states, including Virginia, have enacted significant new consumer data privacy protections that can significantly limit a company’s use of customer financial data and impose significant compliance burdens on companies that collect or use that data. Additional new regulations in these areas may increase compliance costs, which could negatively impact the Company’s earnings. In addition, failure to comply with these privacy and data use and security laws and regulations, including by reason of inadvertent disclosure of confidential information, could result in fines, sanctions, penalties, or other adverse consequences and loss of consumer confidence, which could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations, and reputation.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
The Company’s common stock price may be volatile, which could result in losses to investors. Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for stockholder to resell the Company’s common stock when the stockholder wants and at prices the stockholder finds attractive. The common stock price has been volatile in the past, and several factors could cause the price to fluctuate in the future. These factors include, but are not limited to, actual or anticipated variations in earnings, changes in analysts’ recommendations or projections with regard to the Company’s common stock or the markets and businesses in which the Company operates, stock performance of other companies deemed to be peers, perceptions in the marketplace regarding the Company and/or its competitors, and reports of trends and concerns and other issues related to the financial services industry. Fluctuations in our common stock price may be unrelated to the Company’s performance. General market fluctuations, including real or anticipated changes in the strength of the local economy, industry factors and general economic and political conditions and events, could adversely affect the price of our common stock, and the current market price may not be indicative of future market prices. Additionally, in the past, securities class action lawsuits have been instituted against some companies following periods of volatility in the market price of its securities. The Company could in the future be the target of similar litigation, which could result in substantial costs and divert management’s attention and resources from normal business.
The Company's substantial dependence on dividends from its subsidiaries may prevent it from paying dividends to its stockholders and adversely affect its business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company is a separate legal entity from its subsidiaries and does not have significant operations or revenues of its own. The Company substantially depends on dividends from its subsidiaries to pay dividends to stockholders and to pay its operating expenses. The availability of dividends from the subsidiaries is limited by various statutes and regulations. It is possible, depending upon the financial condition of the Company and other factors, that the Comptroller could assert that payment of dividends by the subsidiaries is an unsafe or unsound practice. In the event the subsidiaries are unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not be able to pay dividends on the Company's common stock, service debt or pay operating expenses. Consequently, the inability to receive dividends from the subsidiaries could adversely affect the Company's financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and limit stockholders' return, if any, to capital appreciation. Any declaration and payment of dividends on the Company’s common stock will depend on the Company’s earnings and financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements, the general economic and regulatory climate, the Company’s ability to service any equity or debt obligations senior to the common stock, and other facts deemed relevant by the Company’s Board of Directors. Also, the Company has made, and will continue to make, capital management decisions and policies consistent with the Company’s business plans, capital availability, projected liquidity needs and other factors, that could adversely impact the amount of dividends, if any, paid to our stockholders. Although the Company has historically paid cash dividends to holders of its common stock, holders of common stock are not entitled to receive dividends, and any future determination relating to our dividend policy will be made by the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors.
The trading volume of our common stock may not provide adequate volume for investors, and future sales of the Company's common stock by stockholders or the perception that those sales could occur may cause the common stock price to decline. Although the Company's common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ stock market, the trading volume in the common stock may be lower than that of other larger financial institutions. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of the common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which the Company has no control. Given these factors, a stockholder may have difficult selling shares of the Company’s common stock at an attractive price (or at all). Additionally, stockholders may not be able to sell a substantial number of the Company’s common stock shares for the same price at which stockholders could sell a smaller number of shares. Given the potential for lower relative trading volume in the common stock, significant sales of the common stock in the public market, or the perception that those sales may occur, could cause the trading price of the Company's common stock to decline or to be lower than it otherwise might be in the absence of these sales or perceptions.
Future issuances of the Company's common stock could adversely affect the market price of the common stock and could be dilutive. The Company may issue additional shares of common stock or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, shares of the Company's common stock. Issuances of a substantial number of shares of common stock, or the expectation that such issuances might occur, could materially adversely affect the market price of the common stock and could be dilutive to stockholders. Any decision the Company makes to issue common stock in the future will depend on market conditions and other factors, and the Company cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing, or nature of possible future issuances of common stock. Accordingly, holders of the Company's common stock bear the risk that future issuances of securities will reduce the market price of the common stock and dilute their stock holdings in the Company.
General Risk Factors
Negative public opinion could damage the Company's reputation and adversely impact the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operation. Reputation risk, or the risk to the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operation from negative public opinion, is inherent in the financial services industry. Negative public opinion can result from actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending or foreclosure practices, regulatory compliance, corporate governance and sharing or inadequately protecting customer information, and from actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to those activities. Negative public opinion once was driven primarily by adverse news coverage in traditional media, but the widespread use of social media platforms facilitates the rapid dissemination of information or misinformation, which may increase the risk of negative public opinion and potential harm to the Company’s reputation. Negative public opinion could adversely affect the Company's ability to keep and attract customers and employees, could impair the confidence of counterparties and business parties, could expose it to litigation and regulatory action, and could adversely affect its access to the capital markets. Damage to the Company's reputation could adversely affect deposits and loans and otherwise negatively affect the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operation.
The Company may need to raise additional capital in the future and such capital may not be available when needed or at all. The Company may need to raise additional capital in the future to provide it with sufficient capital resources and liquidity to meet its commitments and business needs, particularly if its asset quality or earnings were to deteriorate significantly. Economic conditions and the loss of confidence in financial institutions may increase the Company's cost of funding and limit access to certain customary sources of capital, including inter-bank borrowings, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank's discount window. The Company's ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on, among other things, conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of the Company's control, and the Company's financial performance.
The Company cannot assure that such capital will be available on acceptable terms or at all. Any occurrence that may limit the Company's access to the capital markets, such as a decline in the confidence of debt purchasers, depositors of the Bank or counterparties participating in the capital markets, or a downgrade of the parent company or the Bank's ratings, may adversely affect the Company's capital costs and its ability to raise capital and, in turn, its liquidity. Moreover, if the Company needs to raise capital in the future, it may have to do so when many other financial institutions are also seeking to raise capital and would have to compete with those institutions for investors. An inability to raise additional capital on acceptable terms when needed could have a material adverse effect on the Company's liquidity, business, financial condition, and results of operations.
Natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war or terrorism, pandemics or endemics, climate change and other external events could significantly impact our business. Natural disasters, including severe weather events of increasing strength and frequency due to climate change, acts of war (including the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East) or terrorism, pandemics or endemics and other adverse external events could have a significant adverse impact on the business operations of the Company, third parties who perform operational services for the Company or its customers and the Company’s borrowers and customers. Such events could affect the stability of the Company’s deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in lost revenue, or cause the Company to incur additional expenses. Although management has established disaster recovery policies and procedures, the occurrence of any such event could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.
The Company or any of its subsidiaries may become party from time to time to various claims, lawsuits, and other actions, all of which are subject to many uncertainties such that expenses and ultimate exposure with respect to many of these matters cannot be ascertained. From time to time, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, directors and management are, or may become, the subject of various claims and legal actions by customers, employees, stockholders, and others. The Company’s insurance may not cover all claims that may be asserted against it in legal or administrative actions or costs that it may incur defending such actions, and any claims asserted against the Company, regardless of merit or eventual outcome may adversely affect the Company’s reputation. Any judgments or settlements in any pending litigation or future claims, litigation or investigation could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, financial condition, and results of operations.
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments |
None.
The Company considers cybersecurity a subset of information security, and as such, cybersecurity risks and controls are assessed in our information security risk assessment and managed in our ISP. The ISP is developed and maintained utilizing the FFIEC Information Technology Examination Handbook and represents the standards, policies, procedures, and guidelines defining the Company’s security requirements and related activities, which includes risk management and risk assessment practices. Management has designated the ISO, along with the IT Steering Committee, with implementing and monitoring the ISP. The Company’s IT department is led by CTO, Senior Vice President of IT who has over 30 years of experience in the IT field, and other key personnel who have years of experience and various certifications related to assessing and managing cybersecurity risk. Additionally, the Company has established a comprehensive enterprise risk management program to monitor risks related to its operations, including cybersecurity risk, and the Company’s ISO has primary responsibility for the information security risk management program. Management also engages the services of third parties to assist IT with their tasks. The Company believes that risk management is a component of overall governance, and that IT risk management is a component of overall risk management.
The Company recognizes that our overall security culture contributes to the effectiveness of our ISP. The Company maintains an information security risk management program that identifies, prioritizes, and provides a formal structure for the internal and external risks that impact the organization. The Board of Directors sets the tone and direction for the Company’s use of IT and has identified the Audit Committee as having primary responsibility for oversight of the Company’s risk exposures and risk assessments and policies, including risks related to cybersecurity. The Board of Directors and Audit Committee approve and periodically review and re-approve the ISP and other IT related policies. While the Board of Directors may delegate the design, implementation, and monitoring of certain IT activities to the CTO, Senior Vice President of IT or designee, the full Board of Directors remains responsible for overseeing IT strategies and policies, including cybersecurity. To help carry out their responsibilities, Directors, management, and all employees are periodically trained to understand IT activities and risks, including cybersecurity risks. Management, via the Senior Vice President of IT and ISO, or combination, provides a status report to the Board of Directors at least annually, with more frequent communications, as necessary. The report describes the overall status of the ISP and material matters related to the program, including security breaches, cybersecurity assessments, cybersecurity awareness training for employees and the Board of Directors and results of incident response testing.
The Company utilizes third-party threat analysis tools such as penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to assist in understanding and supporting the measurement of information security related risks. Additionally, the Company uses third-party tools to help management identify current cybersecurity risks and control maturity levels, and to evaluate overall cybersecurity preparedness. The Company has also implemented an action plan designed to identify potential actions that would improve our overall cybersecurity posture, and periodically reevaluates both cybersecurity risks and controls to assure they are commensurate with our size and complexity and are keeping pace with the overall cybersecurity threat environment.
Management also obtains, analyzes, and responds to information from various sources on cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities that may affect the Company, while incorporating available information on cybersecurity events into our ISP. Additionally, management develops, maintains, and updates a repository of cybersecurity threat and vulnerability information that may be used in conducting risk assessments, and ultimately provide updates to the Board of Directors on cybersecurity risk trends. The Company has not experienced any cybersecurity incidents in the past that have individually or in the aggregate had a materially adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.
Additionally, the Company conducts due diligence in the selection and on-going monitoring of third-party service providers. Management is responsible for ensuring that such third parties use suitable information security controls when providing services to us. As part of the oversight of third-party service providers, management will determine whether cybersecurity risks are identified, measured, mitigated, monitored, and reported by such third parties.
As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned and leased buildings in the normal course of business. It owns its main office, which houses its corporate headquarters and includes a branch at 101 East Queen Street, Hampton, Virginia. Additionally, the Company owns its Wealth headquarters. As of March 19, 2024, the Bank operated 14 branches in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
For more information concerning the amounts recorded for premises and equipment and commitments under current leasing agreements, see “Note 4. Premises and Equipment” and “Note 5. Leases” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any material pending legal proceedings before any court, administrative agency, or other tribunal.
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |
None.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Name (Age) And Present Position | Served as an Executive Officer Since | Principal Occupation During Past Five Years |
Robert F. Shuford, Jr. (59) | | |
Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer Old Point Financial Corporation | 2003 | Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank since 2020. Executive Vice President/Bank of the Company since 2015; Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President/Operations of the Company from 2003 to 2015
President & Chief Executive Officer of the Bank since 2015; Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the Bank from 2012 to 2015; Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the Bank from 2003 to 2012; Chairman of the Board of the Bank |
| | |
Paul M. Pickett (56) | | |
Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President/Finance Old Point Financial Corporation | 2023 | Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President/Finance of the Company since 2023; Chief Financial Officer for First Region Bancshares, Inc. from 2020 to 2023; Chief Financial Officer for Odyssey Engines, LLC from 2016 to 2020 (filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in June 2020 after Mr. Pickett departed); partner in public accounting firms from 1992 to 2016; a Certified Public Accountant
Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President of the Bank |
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Donald S. Buckless (59) | | |
Chief Lending Officer & Senior Vice President Old Point Financial Corporation | 2016 | Chief Lending Officer & Senior Vice President of the Company since 2016
Chief Lending Officer & Executive Vice President of the Bank since 2016; Chief Lending Officer & Senior Vice President of the Bank from 2015 to 2016 |
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Thomas L. Hotchkiss (68) | | |
Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President Old Point National Bank | 2019 | Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President of the Bank since 2019; Chief Credit Officer of finanical institution in Maryland from February 2015 to February 2019 |
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A. Eric Kauders, Jr. (54) | | |
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Old Point Wealth Management | 2021 | Senior Vice President/Wealth of the Company since September 2021
President and Chief Executive Officer of Wealth since September 2021; Managing Director at Bank of America Private Bank from 2008 to 2021 |
| | |
Susan R. Ralston (60) | | |
Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President Old Point National Bank | 2019 | Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President of the Bank since 2019; President & Founder of Ralston Coaching and Consulting, LLC from 2018 to 2019; Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President of Dollar Bank from 2016 to 2018. Mrs. Ralston informed the Company of her resignation on March 21, 2024 with her last day being April 19, 2024.
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Joseph R. Witt (63) | | |
President, Financial Services, Chief Strategy Officer Old Point Financial Corporation | 2008 | Executive Vice President/Financial Services since 2020. Chief Business Development Officer & Senior Vice President of the Company since 2015; Chief Administrative Officer & Senior Vice President/Administration of the Company from 2012 to 2015; Senior Vice President/Corporate Banking/Human Resources of the Company from 2010 to 2012; Senior Vice President/Corporate Banking of the Company from 2008 to 2010
Chief Strategy Officer & President, Financial Services of the Bank beginning in 2020. Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Business Development Officer of the Bank from 2015 to 2019; Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer of the Bank from 2012 to 2015; Executive Vice President/Corporate Banking & Human Resources Director of the Bank from 2010 to 2012 |
PART II
Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities |
The common stock of the Company is quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "OPOF". The approximate number of stockholders of record as of March 19, 2024, was 1,535. On that date, the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $16.48. Payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and is subject to various regulatory restrictions. Additional information related to restrictions on funds available for dividend declaration can be found in “Note 15. Regulatory Matters” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not have an effective share repurchase program that was authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors.
Pursuant to the Company’s equity compensation plans, participants may exercise stock options by surrendering shares of the Company’s common stock that the participants already own. Additionally, participants may also surrender shares upon the vesting of restricted stock awards to pay certain taxes. Shares surrendered by participants of these plans are valued at current market prices pursuant to the terms of the applicable awards. No such surrenders occurred during 2023.
Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
The following discussion is intended to assist readers in understanding and evaluating the financial condition, changes in financial condition and the results of operations of the Company, consisting of the parent company (the Parent) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Bank and Wealth. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and other financial information contained elsewhere in this report. In addition to current and historical information, the following discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to the Company’s future business, financial condition, or results of operations. For a description of certain factors that may have a significant impact on the Company’s future business, financial condition, or results of operations, see “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” prior to Item 1. “Business.”
Overview
The Company’s primary goals are to maximize earnings by maintaining strong asset quality and deploying capital in profitable growth initiatives that will enhance long-term stockholder value. The Company operates in three principal business segments: the Bank, Wealth, and the Company as a separate segment, the Parent. Revenues from the Bank’s operations consist primarily of interest earned on loans and investment securities, fees earned on deposit accounts, debit card interchange, and treasury and commercial services and mortgage banking income. Wealth’s operating revenues consist principally of income from fiduciary and asset management fees. The Parent’s revenues are mainly fees and dividends received from the Bank and Wealth.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 2023, was $7.7 million ($1.54 per diluted share) compared to $9.1 million ($1.80 per diluted share) for the year ended December 31, 2022. Assets as of December 31, 2023, were $1.4 billion, an increase of $91.0 million or 6.7% compared to assets as of December 31, 2022.
Key factors affecting comparisons of consolidated net income for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are discussed below. Comparisons are to prior year unless otherwise stated.
| • | Loans held for investment (net of deferred fees and costs), increased 5.1%. |
| • | Total deposits were $1.2 billion at December 31, 2023, up $74.4 million, or 6.4%. |
| • | Average earning assets increased $100.2 million, or 8.1%. |
| • | Interest income increased $18.6 million, or 38.7%. |
| • | Interest expense increased $14.8 million, or 411.2%, due primarily to increased expense from FHLB borrowings and higher interest rates on deposits. |
| • | Consolidated net interest margin (NIM) was 3.61% for 2023 compared to 3.60% in 2022. |
| • | Losses on the sales of available-for-sale securities decreased by $1.7 million in 2023 compared to 2022. |
| • | Liquidity, defined as cash and due from banks, unpledged securities, and available secured borrowing capacity, totaled $342.5 million, representing 23.7% of total assets. |
For more information about financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Capital Management and Dividends
Total equity was $106.8 million at December 31, 2023, compared to $98.7 million at December 31, 2022. Total capital increased $8.0 million at December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022 due to current year earnings and an increase in the market value of investment securities resulting in lower unrealized losses on securities available-for-sale, which are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends paid and the adoption of the CECL standard related to the calculation of expected credit losses. The unrealized loss in market value of securities available-for-sale was a result of rising market interest rates since the securities were purchased rather than credit quality issues. The Company does not expect these unrealized losses to affect the earnings or regulatory capital of the Company or its subsidiaries.
For the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company declared dividends of $0.56 per share. Annual dividends per share increased 7.7% over dividends of $0.52 per share declared in 2022. The Board of Directors of the Company continually reviews the amount of cash dividends per share and the resulting dividend payout ratio in light of changes in economic conditions, current and future capital requirements, and expected future earnings. The Company’s principal goals related to the maintenance of capital are to provide adequate capital to support the Company’s risk profile consistent with the Board approved risk appetite, provide financial flexibility to support future growth and client needs, comply with relevant laws, regulations, and supervisory guidance, and provide a competitive return to stockholders. Risk-based capital ratios, which include CET1 capital, Tier 1 capital and Total capital for the Bank are calculated based on regulatory guidance related to the measurement of capital and risk-weighted assets. See “Table 13. Regulatory Capital” below for additional information.
The Company had a share repurchase program which was authorized by the Board of Directors in October 2021 to repurchase up to 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock through November 30, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 268,095 shares, or $6.7 million of its common stock under the repurchase program. At the expiration of the repurchase program, the Company had made aggregate stock repurchases of 274,695 shares for an aggregate cost of $6.8 million. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not have an effective share repurchase program that was authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors.
At December 31, 2023, the book value per share of the Company’s common stock was $21.19, and tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) was $20.82, compared to $19.75 and $19.37, respectively, at December 31, 2022. Refer to “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” below, for information about non-GAAP financial measures, including a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company are in accordance with U.S. GAAP and conform to general practices within the banking industry. The Company’s financial position and results of operations are affected by management’s application of accounting policies, including estimates, assumptions, and judgments made to arrive at the carrying value of assets and liabilities and amounts reported for revenues, expenses, and related disclosures. Different assumptions in the application of these policies could result in material changes in the Company’s consolidated financial position and/or results of operations. Those accounting policies with the greatest uncertainty and that require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments affecting the application of these policies, and the greatest likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported under different conditions, or using different assumptions, are described below.
Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
The ACLL represents the estimated balance the Company considers adequate to absorb expected credit losses over the expected contractual life of the loan portfolio. The ACLL is estimated using a loan-level discounted cash flows method for all loans with the exception of its automobile, farmland, and consumer portfolios. For the automobile, farmland, and consumer portfolios, the Company has elected to pool those loans based on similar risk characteristics to determine the ACLL using the remaining life method.
Determining the appropriateness of the ACLL is complex and requires judgment by management about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Subsequent evaluations of the then-existing loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the ACLL in future periods. There are both internal factors (i.e., loan balances, credit quality, and the contractual lives of loans) and external factors (i.e., economic conditions such as trends in interest rates, GDP, inflation, and unemployment) that can impact the ACLL estimate.
For instance, the Company considers the Virginia and regional unemployment rate as an external economic variable in developing the ACLL. The quantitative ACLL estimate is sensitive to changes in the unemployment rate. Because current economic conditions and forecasts can change and future events are inherently difficult to predict, the anticipated amount of estimated credit losses on loans and therefore the appropriateness of the ACLL, could change significantly. It is difficult to estimate how potential changes in any one economic factor or input might affect the overall ACLL because changes in those factors and inputs may not occur at the same rate and may not be consistent across all loan types. Additionally, changes in factors and inputs may be directionally inconsistent, such that improvement in one factor may offset deterioration in others.
The Company reviews its ACLL estimation process regularly for appropriateness as the economic and internal environment are constantly changing. While the ACLL estimate represents management’s current estimate of expected credit losses, due to uncertainty surrounding internal and external factors, there is potential that the estimate may not be adequate over time to cover credit losses in the portfolio. While management uses available information to estimate expected losses on loans, future changes in the ACLL may be necessary based on changes in portfolio composition, portfolio credit quality, economic conditions and/or other factors.
For further information concerning accounting policies, refer to “Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
Results of Operations
Net Interest Income
The principal source of earnings for the Company is net interest income. Net interest income is the difference between interest and fees generated by earning assets and interest expense paid to fund them. Changes in the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, as well as their respective yields and rates, have a significant impact on the level of net interest income. The NIM is calculated by dividing net interest income by average earning assets, or on a fully tax-equivalent basis, tax-equivalent net interest income by average earning assets.
Net interest income was $48.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The NIM was 3.61% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to 3.60% for the year ended December 31, 2022. Net interest income, on a fully tax-equivalent basis (non-GAAP), was $48.4 million in 2023, an increase of $3.7 million from 2022. On a fully tax-equivalent basis (non-GAAP), NIM was 3.62% in 2022 and 2023. Year-over-year, average investment yields were higher by 117 basis points, average loan yields increased 72 basis points, and average interest-bearing liability costs increased 149 basis points. Year-over-year NIM was impacted by 2023 having earning assets repricing to higher yields and interest-bearing liabilities at higher average rates compared to 2022. Beginning in 2022 and continuing in 2023, market interest rates increased significantly, and while the Company expects asset yields to continue to rise, the cost of funds is expected to continue to rise as well. The Company cannot predict the impact that future fluctuations in interest rates will have on the Company’s NIM. For more information about these FTE financial measures, please see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
Average loans, which includes both loans held for investment and loans held for sale, increased $158.3 million to $1.1 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to 2022. Average loans held for investment included $257 thousand and $5.2 million of average balances of loans originated under the PPP for 2023 and 2022, respectively. The increase in average loans outstanding in 2023 compared to 2022 was due primarily to growth in the real estate-construction, real estate-mortgage, real estate-commercial, and other segments of the loan portfolio. Average securities available for sale decreased $22.8 million for 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to sales and maturities of certain securities. The average yield on the securities portfolio on a taxable-equivalent basis increased 117 basis points for 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to rising interest rates during 2023 and purchases of securities at higher average yields relative to the average yield of the portfolio as a whole. Average interest-bearing deposits in other banks, consisting primarily of excess cash reserves maintained at the FRB, decreased $36.4 million during 2023, compared to 2022, due primarily to utilizing cash to fund growth in higher yielding loans and securities. The average yield on interest-bearing deposits in other banks increased 453 basis points for 2023, compared to 2022. The FRB interest rate on excess cash reserve balances was 5.40 percent at December 31, 2023.
Average money market, interest-bearing demand deposits, and time deposits increased $116.2 million and average savings deposits decreased $21.9 million, for the year ended 2023, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2022, due to growth in consumer and business deposits and a shift from noninterest-bearing demand deposits. Average noninterest-bearing demand deposits decreased $48.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to December 31, 2022. The average cost of interest-bearing deposits increased 136 basis points for 2023 compared to the same 2022 period, due primarily to higher rates on deposits and a shift in composition to higher yielding deposits. Offered rates on interest-bearing deposit accounts increased in response to changes in market interest rates during the fourth quarter of 2022 and in 2023.While changes in rates take effect immediately for interest checking, money market and savings accounts, changes in the average cost of time deposits lag changes in pricing based on the repricing of time deposits at maturity.
Average borrowings increased $59.8 million year-over-year due primarily to the full year impact of $46.1 million in FHLB advances during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the additional $23.4 million of FHLB advances in 2023. The average cost of borrowings increased 98 basis points during 2023 compared to 2022 due primarily to the higher rates on FHLB advances in 2023 compared to 2022.
The Company believes that higher interest rates will continue to have effect on yields of cash reserves, variable rate loans, new loan originations and purchases of securities available for sale. Although the Company expects the cost of deposits and borrowings to increase in connection with higher rates, the extent to which higher interest rates affect NIM will depend on a number of factors, including (1) the Company’s ability to continue to grow loans because of competition for loans, and (2) the continued availability of funding through low-cost deposits, the level of competition for deposits and other lower-cost funding sources, and the Company’s ability to compete for deposits. The Company can give no assurance as to the timing or extent of further increases in market interest rates or the impact of rising interest rates or any other factor on the Company’s NIM. Alternatively, if market interest rates begin to decline, the Company believes that its NIM would be adversely affected as the Company generally expects its assets to reprice more quickly than its deposits and borrowings.
The following table shows an analysis of average earning assets, interest-bearing liabilities and rates and yields for the periods indicated. Nonaccrual loans are included in loans outstanding.
Table 1: Average Balance Sheets, Net Interest Income and Rates
| | | For the years ended December 31, | |
| | | 2023 | | | | 2022 | | | | 2021 | |
(dollars in thousands) | | | Average Balance | | | | Interest Income/ Expense | | | | Yield/ Rate** | | | | Average Balance | | | | Interest Income/ Expense | | | | Yield/ Rate** | | | | Average Balance | | | | Interest Income/ Expense | | | | Yield/ Rate | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans* | | $ | 1,078,303 | | | $ | 56,305 | | | | 5.22 | % | | $ | 919,990 | | | $ | 41,440 | | | | 4.50 | % | | $ | 841,748 | | | $ | 37,960 | | | | 4.51 | % |
Investment securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Taxable | | | 179,576 | | | | 7,177 | | | | 4.00 | % | | | 192,639 | | | | 4,936 | | | | 2.56 | % | | | 173,661 | | | | 3,284 | | | | 1.89 | % |
Tax-exempt* | | | 33,053 | | | | 910 | | | | 2.75 | % | | | 42,792 | | | | 1,258 | | | | 2.94 | % | | | 32,158 | | | | 953 | | | | 2.96 | % |
Total investment securities | | | 212,629 | | | | 8,087 | | | | 3.80 | % | | | 235,431 | | | | 6,194 | | | | 2.63 | % | | | 205,819 | | | | 4,237 | | | | 2.06 | % |
Interest-bearing due from banks | | | 38,746 | | | | 2,067 | | | | 5.33 | % | | | 75,111 | | | | 598 | | | | 0.80 | % | | | 145,425 | | | | 230 | | | | 0.16 | % |
Federal funds sold | | | 698 | | | | 34 | | | | 4.87 | % | | | 2,694 | | | | 21 | | | | 0.77 | % | | | 2,932 | | | | 3 | | | | 0.09 | % |
Other investments | | | 4,610 | | | | 326 | | | | 7.07 | % | | | 1,554 | | | | 87 | | | | 5.63 | % | | | 1,104 | | | | 70 | | | | 6.35 | % |
Total earning assets | | | 1,334,986 | | | $ | 66,819 | | | | 5.01 | % | | | 1,234,780 | | | $ | 48,340 | | | | 3.91 | % | | | 1,197,028 | | | $ | 42,500 | | | | 3.55 | % |
Allowance for credit losses | | | (11,694 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (9,958 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | (9,621 | ) | | | | | | | | |
Other nonearning assets | | | 105,759 | | | | | | | | | | | | 99,272 | | | | | | | | | | | | 98,597 | | | | | | | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 1,429,051 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,324,094 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,286,004 | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing transaction accounts | | $ | 85,939 | | | $ | 13 | | | | 0.02 | % | | $ | 78,167 | | | $ | 10 | | | | 0.01 | % | | $ | 71,841 | | | $ | 13 | | | | 0.02 | % |
Money market deposit accounts | | | 432,758 | | | | 6,766 | | | | 1.56 | % | | | 385,067 | | | | 697 | | | | 0.18 | % | | | 372,193 | | | | 879 | | | | 0.24 | % |
Savings accounts | | | 103,372 | | | | 31 | | | | 0.03 | % | | | 125,310 | | | | 39 | | | | 0.03 | % | | | 114,285 | | | | 46 | | | | 0.04 | % |
Time deposits | | | 220,674 | | | | 7,057 | | | | 3.20 | % | | | 159,889 | | | | 1,403 | | | | 0.88 | % | | | 180,255 | | | | 1,941 | | | | 1.08 | % |
Total time and savings deposits | | | 842,743 | | | | 13,867 | | | | 1.65 | % | | | 748,433 | | | | 2,149 | | | | 0.29 | % | | | 738,574 | | | | 2,879 | | | | 0.39 | % |
Federal funds purchased, repurchase | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
agreements and other borrowings | | | 4,245 | | | | 40 | | | | 0.94 | % | | | 6,170 | | | | 69 | | | | 1.12 | % | | | 14,178 | | | | 35 | | | | 0.25 | % |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | 67,248 | | | | 3,339 | | | | 4.97 | % | | | 5,606 | | | | 207 | | | | 3.69 | % | | | - | | | | - | | | | 0.00 | % |
Long term borrowings | | | 29,601 | | | | 1,181 | | | | 3.99 | % | | | 29,469 | | | | 1,180 | | | | 4.01 | % | | | 13,784 | | | | 544 | | | | 3.95 | % |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 943,837 | | | | 18,427 | | | | 1.95 | % | | | 789,678 | | | | 3,605 | | | | 0.46 | % | | | 766,536 | | | | 3,458 | | | | 0.45 | % |
Demand deposits | | | 374,716 | | | | | | | | | | | | 422,849 | | | | | | | | | | | | 391,673 | | | | | | | | | |
Other liabilities | | | 8,876 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5,221 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7,473 | | | | | | | | | |
Stockholders' equity | | | 101,622 | | | | | | | | | | | | 105,345 | | | | | | | | | | | | 120,322 | | | | | | | | | |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | | $ | 1,429,051 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,323,093 | | | | | | | | | | | $ | 1,286,004 | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest margin | | | | | | $ | 48,392 | | | | 3.62 | % | | | | | | $ | 44,735 | | | | 3.62 | % | | | | | | $ | 39,042 | | | | 3.26 | % |
*Computed on a fully tax-equivalent (non-GAAP) basis using a 21% rate, adjusting interest income by $193 thousand, $297 thousand, and $248 thousand, respectively.
**Annualized
Interest income and expense are affected by fluctuations in interest rates, by changes in volume of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, and by the interaction of rate and volume factors. The following table shows the direct causes of the year-to-year changes in the components of net interest income. The Company calculates the rate and volume variances using a formula prescribed by the SEC. Rate/volume variances, the third element in the calculation, are not show separately in the table, but are allocated to the rate and volume variances in proportion to the absolute dollar amounts of each.
Table 2: Volume and Rate Analysis*
| | For the years ended December 31, 2023 from 2022 Increase (Decrease) | | | For the years ended December 31, 2022 from 2021 Increase (Decrease) | |
| | Due to Changes in: | | | Due to Changes in: | |
(dollars in thousands) | | Volume | | | Rate | | | Total | | | Volume | | | Rate | | | Total | |
Earning Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans* | | $ | 7,131 | | | $ | 7,734 | | | $ | 14,865 | | | $ | 3,528 | | | $ | (48 | ) | | $ | 3,480 | |
Investment securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Taxable | | | (335 | ) | | | 2,576 | | | | 2,241 | | | | 359 | | | | 1,293 | | | | 1,652 | |
Tax-exempt* | | | (286 | ) | | | (62 | ) | | | (348 | ) | | | 315 | | | | (10 | ) | | | 305 | |
Total investment securities | | | (621 | ) | | | 2,514 | | | | 1,893 | | | | 674 | | | | 1,283 | | | | 1,957 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal funds sold | | | (16 | ) | | | 29 | | | | 13 | | | | - | | | | 18 | | | | 18 | |
Other investments** | | | (119 | ) | | | 1,827 | | | | 1,708 | | | | (82 | ) | | | 467 | | | | 385 | |
Total earning assets | | | 6,375 | | | | 12,104 | | | | 18,479 | | | | 4,120 | | | | 1,720 | | | | 5,840 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-Bearing Liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing transaction accounts | | | 1 | | | | 2 | | | | 3 | | | | 1 | | | | (4 | ) | | | (3 | ) |
Money market deposit accounts | | | 86 | | | | 5,983 | | | | 6,069 | | | | 30 | | | | (212 | ) | | | (182 | ) |
Savings accounts | | | (7 | ) | | | (1 | ) | | | (8 | ) | | | 4 | | | | (11 | ) | | | (7 | ) |
Time deposits | | | 533 | | | | 5,121 | | | | 5,654 | | | | (219 | ) | | | (319 | ) | | | (538 | ) |
Total time and savings deposits | | | 613 | | | | 11,105 | | | | 11,718 | | | | (184 | ) | | | (546 | ) | | | (730 | ) |
Federal funds purchased, repurchase | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
agreements and other borrowings | | | (22 | ) | | | (7 | ) | | | (29 | ) | | | (20 | ) | | | 54 | | | | 34 | |
Federal Home Loan Bank advances | | | 2,276 | | | | 856 | | | | 3,132 | | | | - | | | | 207 | | | | 207 | |
Long term borrowings | | | 5 | | | | (4 | ) | | | 1 | | | | 619 | | | | 17 | | | | 636 | |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | | 2,872 | | | | 11,950 | | | | 14,822 | | | | 415 | | | | (268 | ) | | | 147 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in net interest income | | $ | 3,503 | | | $ | 154 | | | $ | 3,657 | | | $ | 3,705 | | | $ | 1,988 | | | $ | 5,693 | |
* Computed on a fully tax-equivalent basis, non-GAAP, using a 21% rate.
** Other investments include interest-bearing balances due from banks.
The Company believes NIM may be affected in future periods by several factors that are difficult to predict, including (1) changes in interest rates, which may depend on the severity of adverse economic conditions, inflationary pressures, the timing and extent of any economic recovery, which are inherently uncertain; (2) possible changes in the composition of earning assets which may result from decreased loan demand as a result of the current economic environment; and (3) possible changes in the composition of interest-bearing liabilities, which may result from decreased deposit balances or increased competition for deposits, or from changes in the availability of certain types of wholesale funding.
Discussion of net interest income for the year ended December 31, 2021, has been omitted as such discussion was provided in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” under the heading “Net Interest Income” in the
Company’s 2022 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Provision for Credit Losses
The provision for credit losses is a charge against earnings necessary to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level consistent with management's evaluation of the portfolio. This expense is based on management's estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Management’s evaluation included credit quality trends, collateral values, discounted cash flow analysis, loan volumes, geographic, borrower and industry concentrations, the findings of internal credit quality assessments and results from external regulatory examinations. These factors, as well as identified individually evaluated loans, historical losses and current economic and business conditions were used in developing estimated loss factors for determining the credit loss provision on loans. Based on its analysis of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, management concluded that the provision was appropriate.
The provision for credit losses was $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. The increased level is primarily due to the increase in loans held for investment, to replenish the allowance for net charge-offs during the year, and an increase in expected credit losses related to the consumer automobile segment as reflected by increased delinquencies. Charged-off loans totaled $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023, compared to $2.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2022. Recoveries amounted to $676 thousand in 2023 and $977 thousand in 2022. The Company’s net loans charged off to average loans were 0.16% in 2023 as compared to 0.12% in 2022.
In considering current trends that may have an impact on future loan losses and therefore the ACL, management considers changes in both internal and external qualitative factors. These include (i) lending policies and procedures, including changes in underwriting standards and collections, charge offs, and recovery practices; (ii) international, national, regional, and local economic conditions; (iii) the nature and volume of the portfolio and terms of loans; (iv) the experience, depth, and ability of lending management (v) the volume and severity of past due loans and other similar conditions; (vi) the quality of the organization's loan review system; (vii) the value of underlying collateral for collateral dependent loans; (viii) concentrations of credit and changes in the levels of such concentrations; and (ix) other external factors such as legislation or regulatory requirements. Based on management’s assessment of these factors, on average an additional loss allocation of .51% was added to the loan segments at the adoption of CECL on January 1, 2023. This allocation was increased to an average additional loss allocation of .58% as of December 31, 2023.
The state of the local economy can have a significant impact on the level of loan charge-offs. If the economy begins to contract, nonperforming assets could increase as a result of declines in real estate values and home sales or increases in unemployment rates and financial stress on borrowers. Increased nonperforming assets would increase charge-offs and reduce earnings due to larger contributions to the provision for credit losses.
Noninterest Income
Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons in this section are between the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
Noninterest income increased $368 thousand or 11.8% for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022. This increase was driven primarily by the sale of the third-party administrator service line of business and smaller losses on available-for-sale securities partially offset by decreases in the gain on sales of fixed assets. In 2023, the Company recognized losses of $134 thousand compared to $1.9 million on sales of available-for-sale securities related to its reinvestment strategy to increase yields on the asset base. During 2023, the Company recognized gains on sales of fixed assets of $220 thousand compared to $1.7 million in 2022.
The Company continues to focus on diversifying noninterest income through efforts to expand Wealth and insurance activities, and a continued focus on business checking and other corporate services.
Discussion of noninterest income for the year ended December 31, 2021, has been omitted as such discussion was provided in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” under the heading “Noninterest Income” in the
Company’s 2022 Form 10-K which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and is incorporated by reference herein.
Noninterest Expense
Unless otherwise noted, all comparisons in this section are between the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2022.
The Company’s noninterest expense increased $4.8 million or 10.4%. Year-over-year increases were primarily related to salaries and employee benefits of $3.4 million, other operating expenses of $404 thousand, data processing of $380 thousand, and ATM and other losses $247 thousand. The increase in salaries and employee benefits was primarily driven by the addition of revenue producing officers and a return to normalized position vacancy levels.
The provision for income taxes is based upon the results of operations, adjusted for the effect of certain tax-exempt income, non-deductible expenses, and tax credits. In addition, certain items of income and expense are reported in different periods for financial reporting and tax return purposes. The tax effects of these temporary differences are recognized currently in the deferred income tax provision or benefit. Deferred tax assets or liabilities are computed based on the difference between the financial statement and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using the applicable enacted marginal tax rate.
The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were 14.7% and 13.9%, respectively. The increase in the effective tax rate was affected by less tax-exempt interest income and a larger amount of disallowed interest expense.
Discussion of noninterest expense and income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2021, has been omitted as such discussion was provided in Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis,” under the heading “Noninterest Expense” in the
Company’s 2022 Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on March 31, 2023, and is incorporated by reference herein.
Balance Sheet Review
At December 31, 2023, the Company had total assets of $1.4 billion, an increase of $91.0 million or 6.7% compared to assets as of December 31, 2022.
Net loans held for investment increased $51.5 million or 5.1%, from $1.0 billion at December 31, 2022, to $1.1 billion at December 31, 2023. This increase was driven by diversified loan growth in the following segments: construction and land development of $29.2 million, residential real estate of $24.8 million, and commercial real estate of $11.9 million. Cash and cash equivalents increased $59.5 million or 309.1% from December 31, 2022 to December 31, 2023 as additional liquidity was provided by growth in deposit accounts and FHLB advances. Securities available for sale decreased $21.2 million or 9.4% over the same period due primarily to the sales and maturities of certain securities.
Total deposits of $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2023, increased $74.4 million, or 6.4%, from December 31, 2022. Noninterest-bearing deposits decreased $86.6 million, or 20.7%, savings deposits increased $71.2 million, or 12.2%, and time deposits increased $89.8 million, or 58.7%, driven by depositors seeking increased yields. Decreases in overnight repurchase agreements and federal funds purchased were offset by increases in FHLB advances and long-term borrowings, resulting in a net increase of $9.3 million to $71.8 million at December 31, 2023 from $62.5 million at December 31, 2022, as the Company used additional borrowings to help fund loan growth during the year ended December 31, 2023.
Securities Portfolio
When comparing December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2022, securities available-for-sale decreased $21.2 million, or 9.4%. The investment portfolio plays a primary role in the management of the Company’s interest rate sensitivity. In addition, the portfolio serves as a source of liquidity and is used as needed to meet collateral requirements. The investment portfolio consists of securities available for sale, which may be sold in response to changes in market interest rates, changes in prepayment risk, increases in loan demand, general liquidity needs and other similar factors. These securities are carried at estimated fair value. At December 31, 2023 and 2022, all securities in the Company’s investment portfolio were classified as available for sale.
The following table sets forth a summary of the securities portfolio in dollar amounts at fair value and as a percentage of the Company’s total securities available for sale as of the dates indicated:
Table 3: Securities Portfolio
| | December 31, | |
(dollars in thousands) | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
U.S. Treasury securities | | $ | 3,857 | | | | 2 | % | | $ | 7,671 | | | | 3 | % |
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies | | | 42,735 | | | | 21 | % | | | 42,399 | | | | 19 | % |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | | | 50,597 | | | | 24 | % | | | 59,384 | | | | 26 | % |
Mortgage-backed securities | | | 81,307 | | | | 39 | % | | | 88,913 | | | | 39 | % |
Money market investments | | | 2,047 | | | | 1 | % | | | 1,816 | | | | 1 | % |
Corporate bonds and other securities | | | 23,735 | | | | 11 | % | | | 25,335 | | | | 11 | % |
| | | 204,278 | | | | 98 | % | | | 225,518 | | | | 99 | % |
Restricted securities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | $ | 4,242 | | | | 2 | % | | | 2,709 | | | | 1 | % |
Federal Reserve Bank stock | | | 892 | | | | - | | | | 683 | | | | - | |
Community Bankers' Bank stock | | | 42 | | | | - | | | | 42 | | | | - | |
| | | 5,176 | | | | | | | | 3,434 | | | | | |
Total Securities | | $ | 209,454 | | | | 100 | % | | $ | 228,952 | | | | 100 | % |
In order to utilize excess liquidity rather than holding excess cash reserves, the Company invested in U.S. government agencies and corporations, obligations of states and political subdivisions, and mortgage-backed securities. Net unrealized losses on the market value of securities available for sale were $22.2 million at December 31, 2023 and $26.3 million at December 31, 2022. The decline in market value of securities available for sale during 2023 was due primarily to the sales and maturities of certain securities.
The Company seeks to diversify its portfolio to minimize risk, including by purchasing (1) shorter-duration mortgage backed-securities to reduce interest rate risk and for cash flow and reinvestment opportunities and (2) securities issued by states and political subdivisions due to the tax benefits and the higher tax-adjusted yield obtained from these securities. All of the Company’s mortgage-backed securities are direct issues of United States government agencies or government-sponsored enterprises. Collectively, these entities provide a guarantee, which is either explicitly or implicitly supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government, that investors in such mortgage-backed securities will receive timely principal and interest payments. The Company also invests in the debt securities of corporate issuers, primarily financial institutions, that the Company views as having a strong financial position and earnings potential.
The following table summarizes the contractual maturity of the securities portfolio and their weighted average yields as of December 31, 2023:
Table 4: Maturity of Securities
(dollars in thousands) | | 1 year or less | | | 1-5 years | | | 5-10 years | | | Over 10 years | | | Total | |
U.S. Treasury securities | | $ | - | | | $ | 3,857 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 3,857 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | 1.70 | % | | | - | | | | - | | | | 1.70 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Obligations of U.S. Government agencies | | $ | 1,371 | | | $ | 3,210 | | | $ | 1,964 | | | $ | 36,190 | | | $ | 42,735 | |
Weighted average yield | | | 1.07 | % | | | 2.45 | % | | | 4.19 | % | | | 6.45 | % | | | 5.87 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Obligations of state and political subdivisions | | $ | 170 | | | $ | 1,443 | | | $ | 21,773 | | | $ | 27,211 | | | $ | 50,597 | |
Weighted average yield | | | 0.75 | % | | | 2.73 | % | | | 2.27 | % | | | 2.36 | % | | | 2.32 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Mortgage-backed securities | | $ | - | | | $ | 3,668 | | | $ | 7,334 | | | $ | 70,305 | | | $ | 81,307 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | 2.44 | % | | | 2.21 | % | | | 3.14 | % | | | 3.03 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Money market investments | | $ | 2,047 | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 2,047 | |
Weighted average yield | | | 3.57 | % | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3.57 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Corporate bonds and other securities | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 23,735 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 23,735 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | - | | | | 4.43 | % | | | - | | | | 4.43 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Home Loan Bank stock | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 4,242 | | | $ | 4,242 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 5.22 | % | | | 5.22 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Federal Reserve Bank stock | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 892 | | | $ | 892 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 3.57 | % | | | 3.57 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Community Bankers' Bank stock | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | - | | | $ | 42 | | | $ | 42 | |
Weighted average yield | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.00 | % |
Total Securities | | $ | 3,588 | | | $ | 12,178 | | | $ | 54,806 | | | $ | 138,882 | | | $ | 209,454 | |
Weighted average yield | | | 2.48 | % | | | 2.24 | % | | | 3.26 | % | | | 3.89 | % | | | 3.61 | % |
The table above is based on maturity; therefore, it does not reflect cash flow from principal payments or prepayments prior to maturity. The weighted average yield is calculated on a fully tax-equivalent basis using a 21% rate on a pro rata basis for each security based on its relative amortized cost.
For more information about the Company’s securities available-for-sale, including information about securities in an unrealized loss position as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, see “Note 2. Securities” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
Loan Portfolio
The following table shows a breakdown of total loans by segment at December 31, 2023 and 2022:
Table 5: Loan Portfolio
| | December 31, | |
(dollars in thousands) | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Commercial and industrial | | $ | 64,112 | | | $ | 72,578 | |
Real estate-construction | | | 107,179 | | | | 77,944 | |
Real estate-mortgage (1) | | | 283,853 | | | | 259,091 | |
Real estate-commercial (2) | | | 441,716 | | | | 429,863 | |
Consumer (3) | | | 180,155 | | | | 185,269 | |
Other | | | 3,237 | | | | 2,340 | |
Ending Balance | | $ | 1,080,252 | | | $ | 1,027,085 | |
(1) The real estate-mortgage segment included residential 1-4 family, multi-family, second mortgages and equity lines of credit.
(2) The real estate-commercial\l segment included commercial-owner occupied and commercial non-owner occupied.
(3) The consumer segment includes consumer automobile loans.
As of December 31, 2023, the total loan portfolio increased by $53.2 million or 5.2% from December 31, 2022, due to increases diversified over each segment besides Commercial and industrial and Consumer. PPP loans outstanding decreased $497 thousand to $33 thousand at December 31, 2023 from $530 thousand at December 31, 2022.
The maturity distribution and rate sensitivity of the Company's loan portfolio at December 31, 2023 is presented below:
TABLE 6: Maturity/Repricing Schedule of Loan Portfolio
| | As of December 31, 2023 | | | | |
(dollars in thousands) | | Commercial and industrial | | | Real estate- construction | | | Real estate- mortgage (1) | | | Real estate- commercial (2) | | | Consumer (3) | | | Other | | | Total | |
Variable Rate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Within 1 year | | $ | 12,165 | | | $ | 64,589 | | | $ | 63,691 | | | $ | 47,404 | | | $ | 7,353 | | | $ | 2,720 | | | $ | 197,922 | |
1 to 5 years | | | - | | | | 390 | | | | 25,679 | | | | 25,762 | | | | 2 | | | | 127 | | | | 51,960 | |
5 to 15 years | | | - | | | | 5,228 | | | | 39,295 | | | | 2,126 | | | | 26 | | | | - | | | | 46,675 | |
After 15 years | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | 77 | | | | - | | | | 77 | |
Fixed Rate: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Within 1 year | | $ | 1,607 | | | $ | 7,689 | | | $ | 7,154 | | | $ | 29,027 | | | $ | 1,338 | | | $ | 98 | | | $ | 46,913 | |
1 to 5 years | | | 27,606 | | | | 17,262 | | | | 42,513 | | | | 200,208 | | | | 94,951 | | | | - | | | | 382,540 | |
5 to 15 years | | | 22,734 | | | | 11,978 | | | | 39,307 | | | | 135,604 | | | | 67,300 | | | | 292 | | | | 277,215 | |
After 15 years | | | - | | | | 43 | | | | 66,214 | | | | 1,585 | | | | 9,108 | | | | - | | | | 76,950 | |
| | $ | 64,112 | | | $ | 107,179 | | | $ | 283,853 | | | $ | 441,716 | | | $ | 180,155 | | | $ | 3,237 | | | $ | 1,080,252 | |
(1) The real estate-mortgage segment included residential 1-4 family, multi-family, second mortgages and equity lines of credit.
(2) The real estate-commercial\l segment included commercial-owner occupied and commercial non-owner occupied.
(3) The consumer segment includes consumer automobile loans.
Nonperforming Assets
Nonperforming assets consist of nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest, nonperforming restructured loans, and other real estate owned (OREO). Refer to “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report Form 10-K for more information.
Nonperforming assets decreased by $115 thousand or 5.5%, from $2.1 million at December 31, 2022 to $2.0 million at December 31, 2023. The 2023 total consisted of $1.8 million in loans still accruing interest but past due 90 days or more and $188 thousand in nonaccrual loans. All nonaccrual loans are individually evaluated for reserves and secured by real estate at December 31, 2023. Individually evaluated loans are a component of the ACLL. When a loan changes from “90 days past due but still accruing interest” to “nonaccrual” status, the loan is normally reviewed for the need for individual reserve. If the need for individual reserve is identified, then the Company records a charge-off based on the value of the collateral or the present value of the loan’s expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. If the Company is waiting on an appraisal to determine the collateral’s value, management allocates funds to cover the deficiency to the ACLL based on information available to management at the time.
The adoption of ASC 326 replaced previous impaired loan and TDR accounting guidance, and the evaluation of ACLL includes loans previously designated as impaired or TDRs together with other loans that share similar risk characteristics. The recorded investment in impaired loans was $1.9 million as of December 31, 2022 as detailed in “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K. The majority of these loans were collateralized.
The following table summarizes information concerning credit ratios and nonperforming assets. Balances and ratios presented as of December 31, 2023, are in accordance with ASC 326, whereas balances and ratios presented as of December 31, 2022, are presented in accordance with previously applicable GAAP.
The Company continued to experience low levels of NPAs in 2023, however, the economic environment could impact performance, which could increase NPAs in future periods. Refer to “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K for more information.
Table 7: Nonperforming Assets
| | December 31, | | | December 31, | |
(dollars in thousands) | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Total loans | | $ | 1,080,252 | | | $ | 1,027,085 | |
Nonaccrual loans | | | 188 | | | | 1,243 | |
Loans past due 90 days or more and accruing interest | | | 1,780 | | | | 840 | |
Total Nonperforming Assets | | $ | 1,968 | | | $ | 2,083 | |
ACLL | | $ | 12,206 | | | $ | 10,526 | |
Nonaccrual loans to total loans | | | 0.02 | % | | | 0.12 | % |
ACLL to total loans | | | 1.13 | % | | | 1.02 | % |
ACLL to nonaccrual loans | | | 6492.55 | % | | | 846.82 | % |
Annualized year-to-date net charge-offs to average loans | | | 0.16 | % | | | 0.02 | % |
As shown in the table above, as of December 31, 2023 compared to December 31, 2022, the nonaccrual loan category decreased by $1.1 million or 84.9% and the 90-days past due and still accruing interest category increased by $940 thousand or 111.9%.
The nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2023, were related to three credit relationships. All loans in these relationships have been analyzed to determine whether the cash flow of the borrower and the collateral pledged to secure the loans is sufficient to cover outstanding principal balances. The Company has set aside individual allocations for those loans without sufficient cash flow or collateral and charged off any balance that management does not expect to collect. In the loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest at December 31, 2023, $35 thousand were student loans.
Management believes the Company has excellent credit quality review processes in place to identify problem loans quickly. For a detailed discussion of the Company’s nonperforming assets, refer to “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
Allowance for Credit Losses
At December 31, 2023, the ACL was $12.4 million and included an ACLL of $12.2 million and a reserve for unfunded commitments of $236 thousand. The increase in the ACLL during 2023 was due primarily to growth in the loan portfolio, the adoption of CECL, which resulted in an implementation adjustment on January 1, 2023, of $641 thousand, and an increase in expected credit losses related to the consumer automobile segment as reflected by the increased delinquencies. The following table summarizes the ACL at December 31, 2023.
Table 8: Allowance for Credit Losses
| | December 31, | |
(dollars in thousands) | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Total ACLL | | $ | 12,206 | | | $ | 10,526 | |
Total reserve for unfunded commitments | | | 236 | | | | - | |
Total ACL | | $ | 12,442 | | | $ | 10,526 | |
For more information regarding the ACL and ACLL, refer to “Note 1. Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and “Note 3. Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report on Form 10-K.
The ACLL represents an amount that, in management’s judgement, will be adequate to absorb expected credit losses in the loan portfolio; however, if elevated levels of risk are identified, provision for credit losses may increase in future periods. The following tables present the Company’s loan loss experience for the periods indicated:
Table 9: Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
For the year ended December 31, 2023
(dollars in thousands) | | Commercial and Industrial | | | Real Estate Construction | | | Real Estate - Mortgage (1) | | | Real Estate - Commercial | | | Consumer (2) | | | Other | | | Unallocated | | | Total | |
Allowance for credit losses on loans: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning | | $ | 673 | | | $ | 552 | | | $ | 2,575 | | | $ | 4,499 | | | $ | 2,065 | | | $ | 156 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | 10,526 | |
Day 1 impact of adoption of CECL | | | (11 | ) | | | 19 | | | | 87 | | | | 1,048 | | | | (365 | ) | | | (137 | ) | | | - | | | | 641 | |
Charge-offs | | | (492
| )
| | | - | | | | - | | | | - | | | | (1,613 | ) | | | (298 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,403 | ) |
Recoveries | | | 69 | | | | - | | | | 42 | | | | - | | | | 506 | | | | 59 | | | | - | | | | 676 | |
Provision for c losses | | | 334 | | | | 411 | | | | 200 | | | | 195 | | | | 1,234 | | | | 398 | | | | (6 | ) | | | 2,766 | |
Ending Balance | | $ | 573 | | | $ | 982 | | | $ | 2,904 | | | $ | 5,742 | | | $ | 1,827 | | | $ | 178 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 12,206 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average loans | | | 73,878 | | | | 92,429 | | | | 275,411 | | | | 437,826 | | | | 196,560 | | | | 2,199 | | | | | | | | 1,078,303 | |
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans | | | 0.57 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | -0.02 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | 0.56 | % | | | 10.87 | % | | | | | | | 0.16 | % |
For the year ended December 31, 2022 | |
(dollars in thousands) | | Commercial and Industrial | | | Real Estate Construction | | | Real Estate - Mortgage (1) | | | Real Estate - Commercial | | | Consumer (2) | | | Other | | | Unallocated | | | Total | |
Allowance for loan losses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Balance, beginning | | $ | 683 | | | $ | 459 | | | $ | 2,390 | | | $ | 4,787 | | | $ | 1,362 | | | $ | 184 | | | $ | - | | | $ | 9,865 | |
Charge-offs | | | (297 | ) | | | - | | | | (25 | ) | | | - | | | | (1,368 | ) | | | (332 | ) | | | - | | | | (2,022 | ) |
Recoveries | | | 134 | | | | - | | | | 61 | | | | 22 | | | | 648 | | | | 112 | | | | - | | | | 977 | |
Provision for loan losses | | | 153 | | | | 93 | | | | 149 | | | | (310 | ) | | | 1,423 | | | | 192 | | | | 6 | | | | 1,706 | |
Ending Balance | | $ | 673 | | | $ | 552 | | | $ | 2,575 | | | $ | 4,499 | | | $ | 2,065 | | | $ | 156 | | | $ | 6 | | | $ | 10,526 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average loans | | | 69,329 | | | | 67,570 | | | | 233,758 | | | | 405,970 | | | | 136,596 | | | | 5,729 | | | | | | | | 918,952 | |
Ratio of net charge-offs to average loans | | | 0.24 | % | | | 0.00 | % | | | -0.02 | % | | | -0.01 | % | | | 0.53 | % | | | 3.84 | % | | | | | | | 0.11 | % |
(1) The real estate-mortgage segment included residential 1-4 family, multi-family, second mortgages and equity lines of credit.
(2) The consumer segment includes consumer automobile loans.
The following table shows the amount of the ACLL allocated to each category and the ratio of corresponding outstanding loan balances at December 31, 2023 and 2022. Although the ACLL is allocated into these categories, the entire ACLL is available to cover credit losses in any category.
Table 10: Allocation of the Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans
| | December 31, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
(dollars in thousands) | | Amount | | | Percent of Loans to Total Loans | | | Amount | | | Percent of Loans to Total Loans | |
Commercial and industrial | | $ | 573 | | | | 5.93 | % | | $ | 673 | | | | 7.07 | % |
Real estate-construction | | | 982 | | | | 9.92 | % | | | 552 | | | | 7.59 | % |
Real estate-mortgage (1) | | | 2,904 | | | | 26.28 | % | | | 2,575 | | | | 25.23 | % |
Real estate-commercial | | | 5,742 | | | | 40.89 | % | | | 4,499 | | | | 41.85 | % |
Consumer (2) | | | 1,827 | | | | 16.68 | % | | | 2,065 | | | | 18.04 | % |
Other | | | 178 | | | | 0.30 | % | | | 156 | | | | 0.23 | % |
Unallocated | | | - | | | | - | | | | 6 | | | | - | |
Ending Balance | | $ | 12,206 | | | | 100.00 | % | | $ | 10,526 | | | | 100.00 | % |
(1) The real estate-mortgage segment included residential 1-4 family, multi-family, second mortgages and equity lines of credit.
(2) The consumer segment includes consumer automobile loans.
Deposits
The Company’s predominant source of funds is depository accounts, which are comprised of demand deposits, savings and money market accounts and time deposits. The Company’s deposits are principally provided by individuals and businesses located within the communities served.
The following table shows the average balances and average rates paid on deposits for the periods presented.
Table 11: Deposits
| | Years ended December 31, | |
| | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
(Dollars in thousands) | | Average Balance | | | Average Rate | | | Average Balance | | | Average Rate | |
Interest-bearing transaction | | $ | 85,939 | | | | 0.02 | % | | $ | 78,167 | | | | 0.01 | % |
Money market | | | 432,758 | | | | 1.56 | % | | | 385,067 | | | | 0.18 | % |
Savings | | | 103,372 | | | | 0.03 | % | | | 125,310 | | | | 0.03 | % |
Time deposits | | | 220,674 | | | | 3.20 | % | | | 159,889 | | | | 0.88 | % |
Total interest bearing | | | 842,743 | | | | 1.65 | % | | | 748,433 | | | | 0.29 | % |
Demand | | | 374,716 | | | | | | | | 422,849 | | | | | |
Total deposits | | $ | 1,217,459 | | | | | | | $ | 1,171,282 | | | | | |
The Company’s average total deposits were $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $46.2 million or 3.9% from average total deposits for the year ended December 31, 2022. Money market and time deposits had the largest increases from the prior year, totaling $47.7 million and $60.8 million, while savings and demand deposits decreased $21.9 million and $48.1 million as seen in the table above. This increase in money market and time deposits was driven in part by depositors seeking increased yields.
The average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits by the Company in 2023 was 1.65% compared to 0.29% in 2022. The Company remains focused on increasing lower-cost deposits by actively targeting new noninterest-bearing deposits and savings deposits.
As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the estimated amounts of total uninsured deposits were $220.3 million and $254.7 million, respectively. The following table shows maturities of the estimated amounts of uninsured time deposits at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The estimate of uninsured deposits generally represents deposit accounts that exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250,000 and is calculated based on the same methodologies and assumptions used for purposes of the Bank’s regulatory reporting requirements.
Table 12: Maturities of Uninsured Time Deposits
| | As of December 31, | |
(dollars in thousands) | | 2023 | | | 2022 | |
Maturing in: | | | | | | |
Within 3 months | | $ | 35,496 | | | $ | 13,369 | |
4 through 6 months | | | 11,839 | | | | 1,264 | |
7 through 12 months | | | 17,878 | | | | 8,307 | |
Greater than 12 months | | | 8,700 | | | | 22,861 | |
| | $ | 73,913 | | | $ | 45,801 | |
Capital Resources
Total stockholders' equity as of December 31, 2023, was $106.8 million, up 8.1% from $98.7 million on December 31, 2022. The increase was primarily related to current year earnings and an increase in the market value of investment securities resulting in lower unrealized losses in securities available-for-sale, which are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss, partially offset by dividends paid and the adoption of the CECL standard related to the calculation of expected credit losses. During 2023, the Company declared common stock dividends of $0.56 per share, compared to $0.52 per share declared in 2022.
The assessment of capital adequacy depends on such factors as asset quality, liquidity, earnings performance, and changing competitive conditions and economic forces. The adequacy of the Company’s and the Bank’s capital is regularly reviewed. The Company targets regulatory capital levels that will assure an adequate level of capital to support anticipated asset growth and to absorb potential losses. While the Company will continue to look for opportunities to invest capital in profitable growth, the Company will also consider investing capital in other transactions, such as share repurchases, that facilitate improving shareholder return, as measured by ROE and EPS.
The Bank’s capital position remains strong as evidenced by the regulatory capital measurements. Under the banking regulations, Total Capital is composed of core capital (Tier 1) and supplemental capital (Tier 2). Tier 1 capital consists of common stockholders' equity less goodwill. Tier 2 capital consists of certain qualifying debt and a qualifying portion of the ACL. In addition, the Bank has made the one-time irrevocable election to continue treating accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income under regulatory standards that were in place prior to the Basel III Capital Rules in order to eliminate volatility of regulatory capital that can result from fluctuations in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income and the inclusion of accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in regulatory capital, as would otherwise be required under the Basel III Capital Rule. As a result of this election, changes in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income, including unrealized losses on securities available for sale, do not affect regulatory capital amounts shown in the table below for the Bank, but transactions that would cause the Bank to realize such unrealized losses would affect such regulatory capital amounts.
Pursuant to applicable regulations and regulatory guidance, the Company is treated as a small bank holding company and will not be subject to regulatory capital requirements. For more information, refer to “Regulation and Supervision” included in Item 1, “Business” of this report on Form 10-K.
On September 17, 2019, the FDIC finalized a rule that introduces an optional simplified measure of capital adequacy for qualifying community banking organizations (i.e., the community bank leverage ratio (CBLR) framework), as required by the EGRRCPA. The CBLR framework is designed to reduce burden by removing the requirements for calculating and reporting risk-based capital ratios for qualifying community banking organizations that opt into the framework.
In order to qualify for the CBLR framework, a community banking organization must have a Tier 1 leverage ratio of greater than 9%, less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets, and limited amounts of off-balance-sheet exposures and trading assets and liabilities. A qualifying community banking organization that opts into the CBLR framework and meets all requirements under the framework will be considered to have met the well-capitalized ratio requirements under the Prompt Corrective Action regulations and will not be required to report or calculate risk-based capital. The CBLR framework was available for banks to begin using in their March 31, 2020, Call Report. The Bank did not opt into the CBLR framework.
The following is a summary of the Bank’s capital ratios as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. As shown below, these ratios were all well above the recommended regulatory minimum levels.
Table 13: Regulatory Capital
(dollars in thousands) | | | 2023 Regulatory Minimums | | | | December 31, 2023 | | | | 2022 Regulatory Minimums | | | | December 31, 2022 | |
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets | | | 4.500 | % | | | 11.45 | % | | | 4.500 | % | | | 10.80 | % |
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets | | | 6.000 | % | | | 11.45 | % | | | 6.000 | % | | | 10.80 | % |
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets | | | 8.000 | % | | | 12.46 | % | | | 8.000 | % | | | 11.70 | % |
Tier 1 Leverage to Average Assets | | | 4.000 | % | | | 9.46 | % | | | 4.000 | % | | | 9.43 | % |
Risk-Weighted Assets | | | | | | $ | 1,222,320 | | | | | | | $ | 1,177,600 | |
The Basel III Capital Rules established a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5 percent above the regulatory minimum risk-based capital ratios, which is not included in the table above. Including the capital conservation buffer, the minimum ratios are a Common Equity Tier 1 capital risk-based ratio of 7.0 percent, a Tier 1 capital risk-based ratio of 8.5 percent, and a Total capital risk-based ratio of 10.5 percent. The Bank exceeded these ratios as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022.
On July 14, 2021, the Company issued $30.0 million ($29.4 million, net of issuance costs) of 3.5 percent fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes due 2031 (the Notes) in a private placement transaction. The Notes initially bear interest at a fixed rate of 3.5 percent for five years and convert to three-month SOFR plus 286 basis points, resetting quarterly, thereafter. The Notes were structured to qualify as Tier 2 capital of the Company for regulatory purposes (should the Company be subject to regulatory capital requirements) and are included in the Company’s Tier 2 capital as of December 31, 2023 and 2022.
In 2022, the Company’s capital resources were impacted by its share repurchase program which was authorized by the Board of Directors in October 2021 and authorized repurchase of up to 10% of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock through November 30, 2022. During the year ended December 31, 2022, the Company repurchased 268,095 shares, or $6.7 million of its common stock under the program. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company did not have an effective share repurchase program that was authorized by the Company’s Board of Directors.
Year-end book value per share was $21.19 in 2023 and $19.75 in 2022. The common stock of the Company has not been extensively traded. The stock is quoted on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol “OPOF.” There were 1,535 stockholders of record of the Company as of March 19, 2024. This stockholder count does not include stockholders who hold their stock in a nominee registration.
Liquidity
Liquidity is the ability of the Company to meet present and future financial obligations through either the sale or maturity of existing assets or the acquisition of additional funds through liability management. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits with banks, federal funds sold, investments in securities and loans maturing within one year. Additional sources of liquidity available to the Company include cash flows from operations, loan payments and payoffs, deposit growth, maturities, calls and sales of securities, the issuance of brokered certificates of deposits and the capacity to borrow additional funds.
A major source of the Company’s liquidity is its large, stable deposit base. In addition, secondary liquidity sources are available through the use of borrowed funds if the need should arise, including secured advances from the FHLB and FRB. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $362.1 million in FHLB borrowing availability. The Company believes that the availability at the FHLB is sufficient to meet future cash-flow needs. As of year-end 2023 and 2022, the Company had $100.0 and $115.0 million available in federal funds lines of credit to address any short-term borrowing needs, respectively.
Based on the Company’s management of liquid assets, the availability of borrowed funds and the ability to generate liquidity through liability funding, management believes that the Company maintains overall liquidity sufficient to satisfy its depositors’ requirements and to meet its customers’ future borrowing needs. The Bank also participates in the IntraFi Cash Sweep, a product which provides the Bank the capability of providing additional deposit insurance to customers through three types of account arrangements. The Company experienced a change in liquidity mix beginning during the fourth quarter of 2022 and in 2023 as short-term FHLB borrowings were utilized to fund loan growth. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company’s ability to maintain sufficient liquidity may be affected by numerous factors, including economic conditions nationally and in the Company’s markets. The Company is closely monitoring changes in the industry and market conditions that may affect the Company’s liquidity, including the potential impacts on the Company’s liquidity of declines in the fair value of the Company’s securities portfolio as a result of rising market interest rates and developments in the financial services industry that may change the availability of traditional sources of liquidity or market expectations with respect to available sources and amounts of additional liquidity. Depending on its liquidity levels, its capital position, conditions in the capital markets and other factors, the Company may from time to time consider the issuance of debt, equity, other securities or other possible capital markets transactions, the proceeds of which could provide additional liquidity for the Company’s operations.