QNB Corp. & Subsidiary • 2000 Annual Report 13 Management’s Discussion and AnalysisManagement anticipates that mortgage-servicing income may continue to decline during 2001 despite an expected increase in the volume of mortgage loans sold and serviced. An increase in mortgage origination and sales activity should result from the decline in interest rates which has occurred during the first quarter of 2001 and which is expected to continue throughout the year. These lower interest rates lead to an increase in mortgage refinancing activity. However, lower interest rates also have the impact of increasing the amortization and impairment of the mortgage-servicing asset as existing loans are refinanced. The net gain on the sale of investment securities was $310,000 in 2000. This compares to a loss on the sale of investment securities of $139,000 during 1999. QNB Corp. owns a diversified portfolio of marketable equity securities. During 2000, gains on the sale from this portfolio contributed $216,000. This compares to gains of $118,000 in 1999 on the sale of equity securities. During the fourth quarter of 2000, QNB sold approximately $8,500,000 of agency issued mortgage-backed securities, callable agency securities and municipal securities. The proceeds of these funds were reinvested in non-agency issued mortgage-backed securities, corporate bonds and municipal securities. This transaction resulted in a gain of $94,000 and an increase in the yield between the securities purchases versus those sold. To accomplish this, QNB increased its weighted average maturity and credit risk in the portfolio to a small degree. Net losses on the sale of debt securities were approximately $257,000 in 1999. During the third and fourth quarters of 1999, in response to rising interest rates, QNB sold approximately $9,500,000 of securities yielding 6.25 percent, and reinvested the proceeds in securities yielding 7.50 percent. The net gain on the sale of investment securities was $66,000 in 1998. Net gains on the sale of equity securities were $38,000, while net gains on debt securities were approximately $28,000 in 1998. Student and residential mortgage loans to be sold are identified at origination. The net gain on the sale of loans was $76,000, $178,000 and $290,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998. Included within these amounts are gains on the sale of student loans of $41,000, $42,000 and $38,000, respectively. QNB sold approximately $2,240,000, $2,219,000 and $1,599,000 of loans to SallieMae during these three years. The amount of the gain depends upon the size and type of loans originated. The amount of the gain in both 2000 and 1999 compared to 1998 relative to the volume of the loans sold during these years is a result of the change in pricing for student loans by the U.S. Government. The amount of income, both interest income and gains on the sale, may continue to decline in the future depending upon action taken by the U.S. Government with regard to the allowable interest rate charged on student loans. The net gain on residential mortgage sales is directly related to the volume of mortgages sold and the timing of the sales relative to the interest rate environment. Net gains on the sale of residential mortgages were $35,000 in 2000, $136,000 in 1999 and $252,000 in 1998. Included in the gains on the sale of residential mortgages in these years were $20,000, $112,000 and $137,000 related to the recognition of the mortgage servicing assets. Significant interest rate swings during the three years has had a major impact on the volume of mortgages originated and the gains recorded on the sale of these mortgages. QNB sold approximately $1,921,000, $10,890,000 and $13,351,000 of residential mortgages in the secondary market in 2000, 1999 and 1998. Of the amount of loans sold in 1999, approximately $3,601,000 had been originated in 1998. Rising interest rates during the second half of 1999 and the first half of 2000 slowed the refinancing activity and reduced the origination of mortgage loans. QNB originated approximately $2,184,000 in mortgage loans held-for-sale in 2000 compared to $7,400,000 in 1999. Rising rates also had the impact of reducing the net gains on the sales. In contrast, declining interest rates to record low levels during 1998 presented an opportunity for many borrowers to refinance their mortgages at lower rates. This provided an opportunity for QNB to originate and sell more mortgages. During 1998, QNB originated approximately $15,321,000 in mortgage loans held-for-sale. As of December 31, 2000, there were $198,000 of residential mortgage loans held-for-sale. As of December 31, 1999, there were no residential mortgage loans held-for sale. These loans are accounted for at the lower of cost or market. With interest rates already having declined in 2001 and the expectation for further reductions during the year, QNB should have the opportunity to originate and sell more mortgage loans and increase the gain on the sale of these loans relative to 2000. Other operating income was $1,026,000, $865,000 and $690,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998. The $161,000 or 18.6 percent increase in 2000 is primarily the result of the following increases: $75,000 in ATM transaction income, $70,000 in debit card income, $22,000 in official check commissions, $16,000 in earnings on cash surrender value of life insurance and $11,000 in merchant processing income. The increase in ATM transaction income is the result of the implementation of an ATM surcharge for non-QNB customers in June 2000. The implementation of an ATM surcharge has had the impact of decreasing the number of transactions by non-QNB customers at QNB ATM machines. This has resulted in a reduction in interchange income of approximately $30,000. The increase in debit card income is a result of an increase in acceptance and usage of the card. Partially offsetting the above increases in other non-interest income were reductions in rental income on other real estate owned of $35,000 and mutual fund and annuity commission income of $12,000. The sale, during both 1999 and 2000, of the remaining properties classified as other real estate owned resulted in the elimination of rental income on these properties. The reduction in mutual fund income is a result of changing third party providers during the third quarter of 2000. The implementation in the fourth quarter of 2000 of a new retail non-deposit program in affiliation with Paragon Capital, Inc. and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. should result in an increase in mutual fund and annuity income in 2001. When comparing 1999 to 1998, the $175,000 or 25.4 percent increase is primarily the result of increased earnings on the cash surrender value of single premium life insurance policies that went into effect in September 1998. Also contributing to the increase in other operating income was higher debit card, merchant processing and check order income. The earnings on the cash surrender value of life insurance increased $121,000 when comparing 1999 to 1998. The $59,000 increase in debit card income and the $18,000 increase in merchant processing income were a result of the increase in the number of transactions. Commissions on check orders increased $25,000 in 1999 as a result of a restructure in QNB’s deposit products. During the third quarter of 1998, QNB restructured some of the features of its deposit products. One of the changes included the collection of fees on check reorders. Previously, many customers received free checks upon reorder. Also, as part of the product restructuring, many customers now receive a free QNB debit card. These customers previously paid an annual fee of $15. This change had the impact of reducing ATM card income by $14,000 in 1999. Also, negatively impacting other non-interest income was the sale of several revenue generating properties which reduced the income from other real estate owned by $55,000 in 1999. Most of the properties that generated rental income were disposed of during 1998. |