pursuing growth in higher quality, lower yielding loans, partially offset by loan growth as well as lower market interest rates and continued competition in the non-prime automobile loan business.
The consumer finance segment experienced annualized net recoveries for the year ended December 31, 2021 of 0.14 percent of average total loans, compared to net charge-offs of 1.54 percent for the year ended December 31, 2020. The decline in the net charge-off ratio for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 reflects a lower number of charge-offs during 2021 due to improvement in loan performance, and lower losses per loan charged off as a result of a strong used car market. Improvement in loan performance has resulted from the consumer finance segment continuing to purchase higher quality loans as well as borrowers benefitting from the government’s stimulus measures in response to the pandemic. At December 31, 2021, total delinquent loans as a percentage of total loans was 2.16 percent, compared to 3.08 percent at December 31, 2020. The allowance for loan losses was $24.8 million at December 31, 2021, compared to $23.5 million at December 31, 2020. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans decreased to 6.73 percent at December 31, 2021 from 7.53 percent at December 31, 2020 primarily a result of improving credit quality of the portfolio, which has resulted in lower net charge-offs, and lower reserves based on qualitative adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Management believes that the level of the allowance for loan losses is sufficient to absorb losses inherent in the portfolio. However, if there are further challenges to the economic recovery, including a resurgence in COVID-19 cases that results in economic disruption, additional provision for loan losses may be required in future periods. In addition, provision for loan losses may be higher in future periods if net charge-offs increase, including due to lower recoveries from sales of used automobiles if prices decline.
Capital and Dividends. The Corporation declared cash dividends during the year ended December 31, 2021 totaling $1.58 per share. The Corporation declared a quarterly cash dividend of 40 cents per share during the fourth quarter of 2021, which was paid on January 1, 2022. These dividends represent a payout ratio of 24.0 percent of earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2021 and 19.9 percent of earnings per share for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Board of Directors of the Corporation 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.
In November 2020, the Board of Directors authorized a program, effective November 17, 2020, to repurchase up to 365,000 shares of the Corporation’s common stock through November 30, 2021. During the fourth quarter and the year ended December 31, 2021, the Corporation repurchased $60,000 and $7.2 million, respectively, of its common stock. As of December 31, 2021, the Corporation has made aggregate common stock repurchases of 151,538 shares for an aggregate amount repurchased of $7.5 million under the share repurchase program. This share repurchase program expired on November 30, 2021.
On November 16, 2021, the Board of Directors authorized a new program, effective December 1, 2021, to repurchase up to $10.0 million of the Corporation’s common stock through November 30, 2022. During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Corporation repurchased 1,106 shares or $56,000 of its common stock under this share repurchase program.
About C&F Financial Corporation. C&F Financial Corporation’s common stock is listed for trading on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol CFFI. The common stock closed at a price of $53.25 per share on January 24, 2022. At December 31, 2021, the book value of the Corporation was $59.32 per share and the tangible book value per share was $51.66. For more information about the Corporation’s tangible book value per share, which is not calculated in accordance with GAAP, please see “Use of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliation of Certain Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” below.
C&F Bank operates 31 banking offices and 4 commercial loan offices located throughout the Hampton to Charlottesville corridor and the Northern Neck region in Virginia and offers full wealth management services through its subsidiary C&F Wealth Management, Inc. C&F Mortgage Corporation and its subsidiary C&F Select LLC provide mortgage loan origination services through offices located in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia. C&F Finance Company provides automobile, marine and RV loans through indirect lending programs offered in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia through its offices in Richmond and Hampton, Virginia.