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BankFinancial CORP - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020

or 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 For transition period from             to             

Commission File Number 0-51331

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified Its Charter)

 

Maryland

75-3199276

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

 

60 North Frontage Road, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 894-6900

  

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

 

BFIN

 

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark whether the issuer is a well-known seasoned issuer as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ☐    No  ☒.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  ☒   No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  ☒    No  ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer

 

 

Accelerated filer

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

 

Smaller reporting company

 

 

 

 

 

Emerging growth company

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ☐    No  ☒.

 

The aggregate market value of the registrant’s outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates on June 30, 2020 determined using a per share closing price on that date of $8.40, as quoted on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, was $116.5 million.

 

At  February 23, 2021, there were 14,732,765 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Part III)

 

    

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

 

Form 10-K Annual Report

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

Page

Number

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Business

1

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

7

Item 1B.

Unresolved Staff Comments

15

Item 2.

Properties

15

Item 3.

Legal Proceedings

16

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

16

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

16

Item 6.

Selected Financial Data

17

Item 7.

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

18

Item 7A.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

33

Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

33

Item 9.

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

63

Item 9A.

Controls and Procedures

63

Item 9B.

Other Information

63

 

 

 

 

PART III

 

 

 

 

Item 10.

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

63

Item 11.

Executive Compensation

63

Item 12.

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

63

Item 13.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

63

Item 14.

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

63

 

 

 

 

PART IV

 

 

 

 

Item 15.

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

63

Item 16.

Form 10-K Summary

65

 

 

 

Signatures

66

 

  

 

PART I

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements may include statements relating to our future plans, strategies and expectations, as well as our future revenues, expenses, earnings, losses, financial performance, financial condition, asset quality metrics and future prospects. Forward looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “continue,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “preliminary,” “project,” “plan,” or similar expressions. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date made.  They are frequently based on assumptions that may or may not materialize, and are subject to numerous uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward looking statements. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and are including this statement for the purpose of invoking these safe harbor provisions.

 

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated or projected and which could materially and adversely affect our operating results, financial condition or future prospects include, but are not limited to: (i) less than anticipated loan and lease growth due to intense competition for loans and leases, particularly in terms of pricing and credit underwriting; or a dearth of borrowers who meet our underwriting standards, or the coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences; (ii) the impact of re-pricing and competitors’ pricing initiatives on loan and deposit products; (iii) interest rate movements and their impact on the economy, customer behavior and our net interest margin; (iv) adverse economic conditions in general, or specific events such as the COVID-19 pandemic or terrorism, and in the markets in which we lend that could result in increased delinquencies in our loan portfolio or a decline in the value of our investment securities and the collateral for our loans; (v) declines in real estate values that adversely impact the value of our loan collateral, other real estate owned ("OREO"), asset dispositions and the level of borrower equity in their investments; (vi) borrowers that experience legal or financial difficulties that we do not currently foresee; (vii) results of supervisory monitoring or examinations by regulatory authorities, including the possibility that a regulatory authority could, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for loan losses or adversely change our loan classifications, write-down assets, reduce credit concentrations or maintain specific capital levels; (viii) changes, disruptions or illiquidity in national or global financial markets; (ix) the credit risks of lending activities, including risks that could cause changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and charge-offs or changes in estimates relating to the computation of our allowance for loan losses; (x) monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; (xi) factors affecting our ability to access deposits or cost-effective funding, and the impact of competitors' pricing initiatives on our deposit products; (xii) legislative or regulatory changes that have an adverse impact on our products, services, operations and operating expenses; (xiii) higher federal deposit insurance premiums; (xiv) higher than expected overhead, infrastructure and compliance costs; (xv) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (xvi) the effects of any federal government shutdown; and (xvii) privacy and cybersecurity risks, including the risks of business interruption and the compromise of confidential customer information resulting from intrusions.

 

These risks and uncertainties, together with the Risk Factors and other information set forth in Item 1A below, should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement in the future, or to reflect circumstances and events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement was made.

 

BankFinancial Corporation

 

BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois (the “Company”), became the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, F.S.B. (the “Bank”) in 2005, when we consummated a plan of conversion and reorganization that the Bank and its predecessor holding companies, BankFinancial MHC, Inc. and BankFinancial Corporation, a federal corporation, adopted in 2004. BankFinancial Corporation, the Maryland corporation, was organized in 2004 to facilitate the mutual-to-stock conversion and to become the holding company for the Bank upon its completion.

 

Following the approval of applications that the Company filed with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bank filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Company became a bank holding company and the Bank became a national bank in 2016. As a result of the Bank’s conversion from a federal savings bank charter to a national bank charter, the Bank changed its name from BankFinancial, F.S.B. to BankFinancial, National Association.

 

We manage our operations as one unit, and thus do not have separate operating segments. Our chief operating decision-makers use consolidated results to make operating and strategic decisions.

 

BankFinancial, National Association

 

The Bank is a full-service, national bank principally engaged in the business of commercial, family and personal banking. The Bank offers our customers a broad range of loan, deposit, trust and other financial products and services through 19 full-service banking offices located in Cook, DuPage, Lake and Will Counties, Illinois and through our Internet Branch, www.bankfinancial.com.

 

The Bank’s primary business is making loans and accepting deposits. The Bank also offers our customers a variety of financial products and services that are related or ancillary to loans and deposits, including cash management, funds transfers, bill payment and other online and mobile banking transactions, automated teller machines, safe deposit boxes, trust services, wealth management, and general insurance agency services.

 

The Bank’s lending area consists of the counties where our branch offices are located, contiguous counties in the State of Illinois, as well as six commercial credit origination and customer service offices for the Commercial Finance, Commercial Real Estate and Equipment Finance Divisions of the Bank.

 

We originate deposits predominantly from the areas where our branch offices are located. We rely on our favorable locations, customer service, competitive pricing, our Internet Branch and related deposit services such as cash management to attract and retain these deposits. While we accept certificates of deposit in excess of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) deposit insurance limits, we generally do not solicit such deposits because they are more difficult to retain than core deposits and at times are more costly than wholesale deposits.

 

 

 

Lending Activities

 

Our loan portfolio consists primarily of multi-family real estate, nonresidential real estate, commercial loans and commercial leases, which collectively represented $966.5 million, or 95.7%, of our gross loan portfolio of $1.010 billion at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, $452.2 million, or 44.8%, of our loan portfolio consisted of multi-family mortgage loans; $108.7 million, or 10.8%, of our loan portfolio consisted of nonresidential real estate loans; and $405.1 million, or 40.1%, of our loan portfolio consisted of commercial loans and leases.  At December 31, 2020,  $41.7 million, or 4.1%, of our loan portfolio consisted of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans, of which $8.3 million, or 0.8%, were loans to investors secured by non-owner occupied residential properties, including home equity loans and lines of credit.

 

Deposit Activities

 

Our deposit accounts consist principally of savings accounts, NOW accounts, checking accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and IRAs and other retirement accounts. We provide commercial checking accounts and related services such as treasury services. We also provide low-cost checking account services. We rely on our favorable locations, customer service, competitive pricing, our Internet Branch and related deposit services such as cash management to attract and retain deposit accounts.

 

At December 31, 2020, our deposits totaled $1.394 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $1.067 billion, or 76.6% of total deposits, and noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $326.2 million, or 23.4% of total deposits. Savings, money market and NOW account deposits totaled $814.4 million, or 58.4% of total deposits, and certificates of deposit totaled $253.0 million, or 18.2% of total deposits, of which $188.0 million had maturities of one year or less.

 

Related Products and Services

 

The Bank provides trust and financial planning services through our Trust Department. The Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Financial Assurance Services, Inc. (“Financial Assurance”), sells property and casualty insurance and other insurance products on an agency basis. For the year ended December 31, 2020, Financial Assurance recorded net income of $33,000. At December 31, 2020, Financial Assurance had one full-time employee. The Bank’s other wholly-owned subsidiary, BFIN Asset Recovery Company, LLC (formerly BF Asset Recovery Corporation), holds title to and sells certain Bank-owned real estate acquired through foreclosure and collection actions, and recorded a net loss of $8,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Website and Stockholder Information

 

The website for the Company and the Bank is www.bankfinancial.com. Information on this website does not constitute part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The Company makes available, free of charge, its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, its Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such forms are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Copies of these documents are available to stockholders at the website for the Company and the Bank, www.bankfinancial.com, under “Investor Relations,” and through the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.

 

Competition

 

We face significant competition in originating loans and attracting deposits. The Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Area and many of the other geographic markets in which we operate generally have a high concentration of financial institutions, many of which are significantly larger institutions that have greater financial resources than we have, and many of which are our competitors to varying degrees. Our competition for loans and leases comes principally from commercial banks, savings banks, mortgage banking companies, the U.S. Government, credit unions, leasing companies, insurance companies, real estate conduits and other companies that provide financial services to businesses and individuals. Our most direct competition for deposits has historically come from commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions. We face additional competition for deposits from online financial institutions and non-depository competitors such as the mutual fund industry, securities and brokerage firms and insurance companies.

 

We seek to meet this competition by emphasizing personalized service and efficient decision-making tailored to individual needs. We do not rely on any individual, group or entity for a material portion of our loans or our deposits.

 

Employees

 

At December 31, 2020, the Bank had 188 full-time employees and 42 part-time employees. Our employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit and we consider our working relationship with our employees to be good.

 

Supervision and Regulation

 

General

 

The Bank is a national bank, regulated and supervised primarily by the OCC. The Bank is also subject to regulation by the FDIC in more limited circumstances because the Bank’s deposits are insured by the FDIC. This regulatory and supervisory structure establishes a comprehensive framework of the activities in which a depository institution may engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund, depositors and the banking system. Under this system of federal regulation, depository institutions are periodically examined to ensure that they satisfy applicable standards with respect to their capital adequacy, assets, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market interest rates. The OCC examines the Bank and prepares reports for the consideration of its Board of Directors on any identified deficiencies, if any. After completing an examination, the OCC issues a report of examination and assigns a rating (known as an institution’s CAMELS rating). Under federal law and regulations, an institution may not disclose the contents of its reports of examination or its CAMELS ratings to the public.

 

 

The Bank is a member of, and owns stock in, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (“FHLB”) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) has limited regulatory jurisdiction over the Bank with regard to reserves it must maintain against deposits, check processing and certain other matters. The Bank’s relationship with its depositors and borrowers also is regulated in some respects by both federal and state laws, especially in matters concerning the ownership of deposit accounts, and the form and content of the Bank’s consumer loan documents.

 

The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of federal law. As such, it is subject to supervision and examination by the FRB.

 

There can be no assurance that laws, rules and regulations, and regulatory policies will not change in the future. Such changes could make compliance more difficult or expensive or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects. Any change in the laws or regulations, or in regulatory policy, whether by the OCC, the FDIC, the FRB, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) or the United States ("U.S.") Congress could have a material adverse impact on the Company, the Bank and their respective operations.

 

The following summary of laws and regulations applicable to the Bank and Company is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws and regulations involved.

 

Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications. On March 22, 2020, the federal banking agencies issued an interagency statement to provide additional guidance to financial institutions who are working with borrowers affected by the coronavirus (“COVID-19”). The statement provided that agencies will not criticize institutions for working with borrowers and will not direct supervised institutions to automatically categorize all COVID-19 related loan modifications as troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). The agencies have confirmed with staff of the Financial Accounting Standards Board that short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief, are not TDRs. This includes short-term (e.g., six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or other delays in payment that are insignificant. Borrowers considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented.

 

The statement further provided that working with borrowers that are current on existing loans, either individually or as part of a program for creditworthy borrowers who are experiencing short-term financial or operational problems as a result of COVID-19, generally would not be considered TDRs. For modification programs designed to provide temporary relief for current borrowers affected by COVID-19, financial institutions may presume that borrowers that are current on payments are not experiencing financial difficulties at the time of the modification for purposes of determining TDR status, and thus no further TDR analysis is required for each loan modification in the program.

 

The statement indicated that the agencies’ examiners will exercise judgment in reviewing loan modifications, including TDRs, and will not automatically adversely risk rate credits that are affected by COVID-19, including those considered TDRs.

 

In addition, the statement noted that efforts to work with borrowers of one- to-four family residential mortgages, where the loans are prudently underwritten, and not past due or carried on non-accrual status, will not result in the loans being considered restructured or modified for the purposes of their risk-based capital rules. With regard to loans not otherwise reportable as past due, financial institutions are not expected to designate loans with deferrals granted due to COVID-19 as past due because of the deferral.

 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The CARES Act, which became law on March 27, 2020, provided over $2 trillion to combat COVID-19 and stimulate the economy. The law had several provisions relevant to financial institutions, including:

 

 

Allowing institutions not to characterize loan modifications relating to the COVID-19 pandemic as a troubled debt restructuring and also allowing them to suspend the corresponding impairment determination for accounting purposes.

 

 

The ability of a borrower of a federally backed mortgage loan (VA, FHA, USDA, Freddie and Fannie) experiencing financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 pandemic to request forbearance from paying their mortgage by submitting a request to the borrower’s servicer affirming their financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency. Such a forbearance will be granted for up to 180 days, which can be extended for an additional 180-day period upon the request of the borrower. During that time, no fees, penalties or interest beyond the amounts scheduled or calculated as if the borrower made all contractual payments on time and in full under the mortgage contract will accrue on the borrower’s account. Except for vacant or abandoned property, the servicer of a federally backed mortgage is prohibited from taking any foreclosure action, including any eviction or sale action, for not less than the 60-day period beginning March 18, 2020, which period has subsequently been extended by administrative action.

 

 

The ability of a borrower of a multi-family federally backed mortgage loan that was current as of February 1, 2020, to submit a request for forbearance to the borrower’s servicer affirming that the borrower is experiencing financial hardship during the COVID-19 emergency. A forbearance will be granted for up to 30 days, which can be extended for up to two additional 30-day periods upon the request of the borrower, with future extensions granted by administrative action. During the time of the forbearance, the multi-family borrower cannot evict or initiate the eviction of a tenant or charge any late fees, penalties or other charges to a tenant for late payment of rent. Additionally, a multi-family borrower that receives a forbearance may not require a tenant to vacate a dwelling unit before a date that is 30 days after the date on which the borrower provides the tenant notice to vacate and may not issue a notice to vacate until after the expiration of the forbearance.

 

The Paycheck Protection Program.  The CARES Act provides approximately $350 billion to fund loans to eligible small businesses through the Small Business Administration’s (“SBA”) 7(a) loan guaranty program. These loans will be 100% federally guaranteed (principal and interest) through December 31, 2020 (which date was subsequently extended). An eligible business can apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan up to 2.5 times its average monthly “payroll costs" limited to a loan amount of $10.0 million. The proceeds of the loan can be used for payroll (excluding individual employee compensation over $100,000 per year), mortgage, interest, rent, insurance, utilities and other qualifying expenses. PPP loans will have: (a) an interest rate of 1.0%, (b) a two-year loan term to maturity; and (c) principal and interest payments deferred for six months from the date of disbursement. The SBA will guarantee 100% of the PPP loans made to eligible borrowers. The entire principal amount of the borrower’s PPP loan, including any accrued interest, is eligible to be reduced by the loan forgiveness amount under the PPP so long as employee and compensation levels of the business are maintained and 75% of the loan proceeds are used for payroll expenses, with the remaining 25% of the loan proceeds used for other qualifying expenses.

 

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. On December 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law, which also contains provisions that could directly impact financial institutions, including extending the authority granted to banks under the CARES Act to elect to temporarily suspend the requirements under U.S. GAAP for loan modifications related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The act directs financial regulators to support community development financial institutions and minority depository institutions and directs Congress to re-appropriate $429 billion in unobligated CARES Act funds. The PPP, which was originally established under the CARES Act, was also extended under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021.

 

 

 

Federal Banking Regulation

 

Business Activities. As a national bank, the Bank derives its lending and investment powers from the National Bank Act, as amended, and the regulations of the OCC. Under these laws and regulations, the Bank may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential and nonresidential real estate, commercial business and consumer loans and leases, certain types of securities and certain other loans and assets. Unlike federal savings banks, national banks are not generally subject to specified percentage of assets on various types of lending. The Bank may also establish subsidiaries that engage in activities permitted for the Bank as well as certain other activities.

 

Capital Requirements.   Federal regulations require FDIC-insured depository institutions, including national banks, to meet several minimum capital standards: a common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 4.5%, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio of 6.0%, a total capital to risk-based assets of 8% and a 4% Tier 1 capital to total assets leverage ratio.

 

For purposes of the regulatory capital requirements, common equity Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common stockholders’ equity and retained earnings. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common equity Tier 1 and Additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital generally includes certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital (common equity Tier 1 capital plus Additional Tier 1 capital) and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital is comprised of capital instruments and related surplus meeting specified requirements, and may include cumulative preferred stock and long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, intermediate preferred stock and subordinated debt. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for loan losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and, for institutions that have exercised an opt-out election regarding the treatment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. Institutions that have not exercised the AOCI opt-out have AOCI incorporated into common equity Tier 1 capital (including unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities). Calculation of all types of regulatory capital is subject to deductions and adjustments specified in the regulations.

 

In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets a bank has for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, assets, including certain off-balance-sheet assets (e.g., recourse obligations, direct credit substitutes, residual interests) are multiplied by a risk weight factor assigned by the regulations based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. For example, a risk weight of 0% is assigned to cash and U.S. government securities, a risk weight of 50% is generally assigned to prudently underwritten first lien one-to-four family residential mortgages and certain qualifying multi-family mortgage loans, a risk weight of 100% is assigned to commercial, commercial real estate and consumer loans, a risk weight of 150% is assigned to certain past due loans and high volatility commercial real estate loans, and a risk weight of between 0% to 600% is assigned to permissible equity interests, depending on certain specified factors.

 

In addition to establishing the minimum regulatory capital requirements, regulations limit capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management if the institution does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The capital conservation buffer requirement was fully implemented at 2.5% on January 1, 2019.

 

At December 31, 2020, the Bank’s capital exceeded all applicable regulatory requirements, the Bank was considered well-capitalized and it had an appropriate capital conservation buffer.

 

The Company and the Bank each have adopted Regulatory Capital Plans that provide that the Bank will maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 7.5% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.5%. The capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Plans will be adjusted if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Plans, neither the Company nor the Bank will pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the established capital levels. In addition, in accordance with its Regulatory Capital Plan, the Company expects it will continue to maintain its ability to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank by holding a combination of cash, liquid assets and credit availability equal to at least $5.0 million for that purpose.

 

Legislation enacted in 2018 required the federal banking agencies, including the OCC, to establish a “community bank leverage ratio” of between 8% to 10% of average total consolidated assets for qualifying institutions with less than $10 billion of assets. The OCC has adopted a final rule that established 9% as the community bank leverage ratio, effective March 31, 2020. Institutions with capital meeting the specified requirement and electing to follow the alternative framework will be deemed to comply with the applicable regulatory capital requirements, including the risk-based requirements.

 

The CARES Act lowered the community bank leverage ratio to 8%, with federal regulation making the reduced ratio effective April 23, 2020.  Another rule was issued to transition back to the 9% community bank leverage ratio by increasing the ratio to 8.5% for calendar year 2021 and to 9% thereafter.

 

 

Loans-to-One-Borrower. A national bank generally may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of unimpaired capital and surplus. An additional amount may be loaned, equal to 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if the loan is secured by readily marketable collateral, which generally does not include real estate. As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was in compliance with the loan-to-one-borrower limitations.

 

Dividends. Federal law and OCC regulations govern cash dividends by a national bank. A national bank is authorized to pay such dividends from undivided profits but must receive prior OCC approval if the total amount of dividends (including the proposed dividend) exceeds its net income in that year and the prior two years less dividends previously paid. A national bank may not pay a dividend if the dividend does not comply with applicable regulatory capital requirements and may be further limited in payment of cash dividends if it does not maintain the capital conservation buffer described previously.

 

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. All national banks have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and related federal regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate- income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a national bank, the OCC is required to evaluate and rate the bank’s record of compliance with the CRA. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices based on the characteristics specified in those statutes. A national bank’s failure to comply with the provisions of the CRA could, at a minimum, result in regulatory restrictions on certain of its activities such as branching or mergers. The failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in enforcement actions by the OCC, as well as other federal regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice.

 

In June 2020, the OCC issued a final rule clarifying and expanding the activities that qualify for CRA credit and, according to the agency, seeking to create a more consistent and objective method for evaluating CRA performance.  The final rule was effective October 1, 2020, but compliance with the revised requirements is not mandatory until January 1, 2024 for institutions of the Bank’s asset size.

 

The Bank’s CRA performance has been rated as “Outstanding,” the highest possible CRA rating, in each of the nine CRA performance evaluations that have been conducted by the Bank’s primary federal regulator  since 1998.

 

Transactions with Related Parties. A national bank’s authority to engage in transactions with its “affiliates” is limited by OCC regulations and by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation W. The term “affiliates” for these purposes generally means any company that controls or is under common control with an insured depository institution, although operating subsidiaries of national banks are generally not considered affiliates for the purposes of Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. The Company is an affiliate of the Bank. In general, transactions with affiliates must be on terms that are at least as favorable to the national bank as comparable transactions with non-affiliates. In addition, certain types of these transactions are restricted to an aggregate percentage of the bank’s capital. Collateral in specified amounts must be provided by affiliates in order to receive loans or other forms of credit from the bank.

 

The Bank’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% stockholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is currently governed by the requirements of Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation O of the FRB. These provisions generally require that extensions of credit to insiders be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features (subject to an exception for lending programs open to employees generally). In addition, there are limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate based on a percentage of the Bank’s capital. Extensions of credit in excess of specified limits must receive the prior approval of the Bank’s Board of Directors. Extensions of credit to executive officers are subject to additional restrictions. The Bank does not extend new credit to executive officers or members of the Board of Directors.

 

Enforcement. The OCC has primary enforcement responsibility over national banks. This includes authority to bring enforcement actions against the Bank, its directors, officers and employees and all “institution-affiliated parties,” including stockholders, attorneys, appraisers and accountants who knowingly or recklessly participate in wrongful action likely to have an adverse effect on an insured institution. Formal enforcement action may range from the issuance of a capital directive or cease and desist order to the removal of officers and/or directors, receivership, conservatorship or the termination of deposit insurance. Civil monetary penalties cover a wide range of violations of laws and regulations, unsafe and unsound practices and certain other actions.  The maximum penalties that can be assessed are generally based on the type and severity of the violation, unsafe and unsound practice or other action, and are adjusted annually for inflation.  Civil monetary penalties for violations of the National Bank Act currently range from $10,366  to $51,827 per day, unless a finding of reckless disregard is made, in which case the civil monetary penalty may be as high as $2,073,133 per day. The FDIC has authority to recommend to the OCC that an enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular insured bank. If action is not taken by the OCC, the FDIC has authority to take action under specified circumstances.

 

Standards for Safety and Soundness. Federal law requires each federal banking agency to prescribe certain standards for insured depository institutions under its jurisdiction. The federal banking agencies adopted Interagency Guidelines Prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness to implement the safety and soundness standards required under federal law. The guidelines set forth the standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. The guidelines address matters such as internal controls and information systems, internal audit systems, credit underwriting, loan documentation, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, compensation, fees and benefits. A subsequent set of guidelines was issued for information security. If the OCC determines that a national bank fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, it may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard and take other appropriate action.

 

Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. Federal law requires that federal bank regulators take “prompt corrective action” with respect to institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. For this purpose, the law establishes five capital categories: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized. The applicable OCC regulations were amended to incorporate the previously mentioned increased regulatory capital standards that were effective January 1, 2015. Under the amended regulations, an institution is deemed to be “well-capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 10.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 5.0% or greater and a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 6.5% or greater. An institution is “adequately capitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of 8.0% or greater, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or greater, a leverage ratio of 4.0% or greater and a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 4.5% or greater. An institution is “undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 8.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 4.0% or a common equity Tier 1 ratio of less than 4.5%. An institution is deemed to be “significantly undercapitalized” if it has a total risk-based capital ratio of less than 6.0%, a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of less than 4.0%, a leverage ratio of less than 3.0% or a common equity Tier 1 ratio of less than 3.0%. An institution is considered to be “critically undercapitalized” if it has a ratio of tangible equity (as defined in the regulations) to total assets that is equal to or less than 2.0%.

 

 

The regulations provide that a capital restoration plan must be filed with the OCC within 45 days of the date a national bank receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized.” Any holding company for the bank required to submit a capital restoration plan must guarantee the lesser of an amount equal to 5.0% of the bank’s assets at the time it was notified or deemed to be undercapitalized by the OCC, or the amount necessary to restore the bank to adequately capitalized status. This guarantee remains in place until the OCC notifies the bank that it has maintained adequately capitalized status for each of four consecutive calendar quarters, and the OCC has the authority to require payment and collect payment under the guarantee. Various restrictions, including as to growth and capital distributions, also apply to “undercapitalized” institutions. If an “undercapitalized” institution fails to submit an acceptable capital plan, it is treated as “significantly undercapitalized.” “Significantly undercapitalized” institutions must comply with one or more additional restrictions including, but not limited to, an order by the OCC to sell sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, a requirement to reduce total assets, cease receipt of deposits from correspondent banks, or dismiss officers or directors and restrictions on interest rates paid on deposits, compensation of executive officers and capital distributions by the parent holding company. Critically undercapitalized institutions are subject to the appointment of a receiver or conservator. The OCC may also take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions against undercapitalized institutions, including the issuance of a capital directive.

 

At December 31, 2020, the Bank met the criteria for being considered “well-capitalized.” The previously referenced final rule establishing an elective “community bank leverage ratio” regulatory capital requirement provides that a qualifying institution whose capital exceeds the community bank leverage ratio and opts to use that framework will be considered “well-capitalized” for purposes of prompt corrective action.

 

Insurance of Deposit Accounts. The Bank’s deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund of the FDIC. Deposit accounts in the Bank are insured up to $250,000 for each separately insured depositor.

 

The FDIC charges insured depository institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund.  Under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s risk-based assessment system, institutions deemed less risky of failure pay lower assessments. Assessments for institutions of less than $10 billion of assets are based on financial measures and supervisory ratings derived from statistical modeling estimating the probability of an institution’s failure within three years.

 

The FDIC has authority to increase insurance assessments. A significant increase in insurance premiums would likely have an adverse effect on the operating expenses and results of operations of the Bank. The Bank cannot predict what its insurance assessment rates will be in the future.

 

An insured institution’s deposit insurance may be terminated by the FDIC upon an administrative finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or regulatory condition imposed in writing. The management of the Bank does not know of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of deposit insurance.

 

Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements. National banks are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service, on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.

 

Federal Reserve System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System, which consists of 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. As a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in its regional Federal Reserve Bank, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in specified amounts. The Bank is also required to maintain noninterest-earning reserves against its transaction accounts, such as negotiable order of withdrawal and regular checking accounts. The balances maintained to meet the reserve requirements may be used to satisfy liquidity requirements imposed by the OCC’s regulations. As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was in compliance with all of these requirements. The FRB also provides a backup source of funding to depository institutions through the regional Federal Reserve Banks pursuant to section 10B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation A. In general, eligible depository institutions have access to three types of discount window credit-primary credit, secondary credit, and seasonal credit. All discount window loans must be collateralized to the satisfaction of the lending regional Federal Reserve Bank.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which consists of 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks. The Federal Home Loan Bank System provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions. As a member of the FHLB, the Bank is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB in specified amounts. As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was in compliance with this requirement.

 

 

The USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act

 

The USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act require financial institutions to develop programs to detect and report money-laundering and terrorist activities, as well as suspicious activities. The USA PATRIOT Act also gives the federal government powers to address terrorist threats through enhanced domestic security measures, expanded surveillance powers, increased information sharing and broadened anti-money laundering requirements. The federal banking agencies are required to take into consideration the effectiveness of controls designed to combat money-laundering activities in determining whether to approve a merger or other acquisition application of a member institution. Accordingly, if we engage in a merger or other acquisition, our controls designed to combat money laundering would be considered as part of the application process. In addition, non-compliance with these laws and regulations could result in fines, penalties and other enforcement measures. We have developed policies, procedures and systems designed to comply with these laws and regulations.

 

Holding Company Regulation

 

The Company, as a company controlling a national bank, is a bank holding company subject to regulation and supervision by, and reporting to, the FRB. The FRB has enforcement authority over the Company and any nonbank subsidiaries. Among other things, this authority permits the FRB to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a risk to the Bank.

 

The Company's activities are limited to the activities permissible for bank holding companies, which generally include activities deemed by the FRB to be closely related or a proper incident to banking or managing or controlling banks. A bank holding company that meets certain criteria may elect to be regulated as a financial holding company and thereby engage in a broader array of financial activities, such as underwriting equity securities and insurance. The Company has not, up to now, elected to be regulated as a financial holding company.

 

Federal law prohibits a bank holding company from acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of a class of voting securities of, or all or substantially all of the assets of, another bank or bank holding company, without prior written approval of the FRB. In evaluating applications by bank holding companies to acquire banks, the FRB considers, among other things, the financial and managerial resources and future prospects of the parties, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the Deposit Insurance Fund, the convenience and needs of the community, competitive factors and compliance with anti-money laundering laws.

 

 

Capital. Bank holding companies with greater than $3 billion in total consolidated assets are subject to consolidated regulatory capital requirements. The asset threshold was previously $1 billion, which applied to the Company, but federal legislation required the FRB to raise the threshold to $3 billion. That change became effective on August 30, 2018. As a result, holding companies such as the Company with less than $3 billion of assets are not subject to consolidated capital requirements unless otherwise advised by the FRB.

 

Source of Strength Doctrine. The “source of strength doctrine” requires bank holding companies to provide assistance to their subsidiary depository institutions in the event the subsidiary depository institution experiences financial difficulty. The FRB has issued regulations requiring that all bank holding companies serve as a source of financial and managerial strength to their subsidiary depository institutions. To facilitate its ability to serve as a source of strength for the Bank, the Company has adopted a Regulatory Capital Plan, as described earlier under "Federal Bank Regulation: Capital Requirements".

 

Capital Distributions. The FRB has issued a policy statement regarding the payment of dividends by bank holding companies. In general, the policy provides that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the prospective rate of earnings retention by the holding company appears consistent with the organization’s capital needs, asset quality and overall supervisory financial condition. Separate regulatory guidance provides for prior consultation with Federal Reserve Bank supervisory staff concerning dividends in certain circumstances, such as where the company’s net income for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid over that period, is insufficient to fully fund the dividend or the company’s overall rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company’s capital needs and overall financial condition. The ability of a bank holding company to pay dividends may be restricted if a subsidiary bank becomes undercapitalized. FRB regulatory guidance also indicates that a bank holding company should inform Federal Reserve Bank staff prior to redeeming or repurchasing common stock or perpetual preferred stock if the bank holding company is experiencing financial weaknesses or the repurchase or redemption would result in a net reduction, at the end of a quarter, in the amount of such equity instruments outstanding compared with the beginning of the quarter in which the redemption or repurchase occurred. FRB regulations require prior approval for a bank holding company to redeem equity securities if the gross consideration, when combined with net consideration paid for all such redemptions during the preceding 12 months, will equal 10% or more of the holding company’s consolidated net worth. There is an exception for bank holding companies that meet specified qualitative criteria. These regulatory policies may affect the ability of the Company to pay dividends, repurchase shares of its common stock or otherwise engage in capital distributions.

 

Change in Control Regulations

 

Under the Change in Bank Control Act, no person may acquire control of a bank holding company such as the Company unless the FRB has been given 60 days’ prior written notice and has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition, taking into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquiror and the competitive effects of the acquisition. Control, as defined under federal law, means ownership, control of or holding irrevocable proxies representing more than 25% of any class of voting stock, control in any manner of the election of a majority of the company’s directors, or a determination by the regulator that the acquiror has the power to direct, or directly or indirectly to exercise a controlling influence over, the management or policies of the institution.  

 

There is a presumption of control upon the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting stock if the holding company involved has its shares registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, of the holding company involved does not have its shares registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if no other persons will own, control or hold the power to vote a greater percentage of that class of voting security after the acquisition.

 

The Federal Reserve Board has adopted a final rule, effective September 30, 2020, that revises its framework for determining whether a company, under the Bank Holding Company Act, has a “controlling influence” over a bank or savings and loan holding company.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted in response to public concerns regarding corporate accountability in connection with certain accounting scandals. The stated goals of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are to increase corporate responsibility, to provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies, and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures pursuant to the securities laws. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally applies to all companies that file or are required to file periodic reports with the SEC, under the Exchange Act.

 

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act includes specific additional disclosure requirements, requires the SEC and national securities exchanges to adopt extensive additional disclosure, corporate governance and other related rules, and mandates further studies of certain issues by the SEC.

 

Federal Securities Laws

 

The Company’s common stock is registered with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The Company is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities is subject to risks inherent in our business and the industry in which we operate. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and all other information included in this report. The risks described below may adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition to these risks and the other risks and uncertainties described in Item 1, “Business–Forward Looking Statements,” and Item 7, “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” there may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results. The value or market price of our securities could decline due to any of these identified or other risks. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods.

 

 

 

Risks Related to Competitive Matters 

 

Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive environment

 

We face substantial competition in all phases of our operations from a variety of different competitors. Our future growth and success will depend on our ability to compete effectively in this highly competitive environment. To date, our competitive strategies have focused on attracting deposits in our local markets, and growing our loan and lease portfolio by emphasizing specific commercial loan and lease products in which we have significant experience and expertise, identifying and targeting markets in which we believe we can effectively compete with larger institutions and other competitors, and offering competitive pricing to commercial borrowers with appropriate risk profiles. We compete for loans, leases, deposits and other financial services with other commercial banks, thrifts, credit unions, brokerage houses, mutual funds, insurance companies, real estate conduits, mortgage brokers and specialized finance companies. Many of our competitors offer products and services that we do not offer, and some offer loan structures and have underwriting standards that are not as restrictive as our required loan structures and underwriting standards. Some larger competitors have substantially greater resources and lending limits, name recognition and market presence that benefits them in attracting business. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans, leases and deposits more aggressively than we do, and because of their larger capital bases, their underwriting practices for smaller loans may be subject to less regulatory scrutiny than they would be for smaller banks. Newer competitors may be more aggressive in pricing loans, leases and deposits in order to increase their market share. Some of the financial institutions and financial services organizations with which we compete are not subject to the extensive regulations or taxation imposed on national banks and their holding companies. As a result, these nonbank competitors have certain advantages over us in accessing funding and in providing various financial services.

 

Changes in market interest rates could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations

 

Our financial condition and results of operations are significantly affected by changes in market interest rates because our assets, primarily loans and leases, and our liabilities, primarily deposits, are monetary in nature. Our results of operations depend substantially on our net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income that we earn on our interest-earning assets and the interest expense that we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities. Market interest rates are affected by many factors beyond our control, including inflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, domestic and international events, and changes in the U.S. and other financial markets. Our net interest income is affected not only by the level and direction of interest rates, but also by the shape of the yield curve and relationships between interest sensitive instruments and key driver rates, including credit risk spreads, and by balance sheet growth, customer loan and deposit preferences and the timing of changes in these variables which themselves are impacted by changes in market interest rates. As a result, changes in market interest rates, and especially a decline in interest rates, can significantly affect our net interest income as well as the fair market valuation of our assets and liabilities, particularly if they occur more quickly or to a greater extent than anticipated.

 

While we take measures intended to manage the risks from changes in market interest rates, we cannot control or accurately predict changes in market rates of interest, loan prepayments or payoffs, deposit attrition due to changes in interest rates, or be sure that our protective measures are adequate. If the interest rates paid on deposits and other interest-bearing liabilities increase at a faster rate than the interest rates received on loans and other interest-earning assets, our net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected.  We would also incur a higher cost of funds to retain our deposits in a rising interest rate environment. While the higher payment amounts we would receive on adjustable-rate or variable-rate loans in a rising interest rate environment may increase our interest income, some borrowers may be unable to afford the higher payment amounts, and this could result in a higher rate of default. Rising interest rates also may reduce the demand for loans and the value of fixed-rate investment securities.

 

Consumers and businesses are increasingly using non-banks to complete their financial transactions, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations

 

Technology and other changes are allowing consumers and businesses to complete financial transactions that historically have involved banks through alternative methods. For example, the wide acceptance of Internet-based commerce and mobile device applications has resulted in a number of alternative payment processing systems and lending platforms in which banks play only minor roles. Customers can now maintain funds in prepaid debit cards or digital currencies, and pay bills and transfer funds directly without the direct assistance of banks. The diminishing role of banks as financial intermediaries has resulted and could continue to 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 potential loss of lower cost deposits as a source of funds could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Risks Related to our Business Strategy

 

New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks

 

From time to time, we may seek to implement new lines of business, particularly in our Equipment Finance, Commercial Finance and Treasury Services operations, or offer new products and services within existing lines of business in our current markets or new markets. There are substantial risks and uncertainties associated with these efforts, particularly in instances where credit risks may be volatile due to changing economic conditions.  In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. As occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic with respect to certain Equipment Finance products, initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and price and profitability targets may not prove feasible, which could in turn have a material negative effect on our operating results.

 

 

Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

 

The continuing impacts of the novel COVID-19 outbreak, and associated governmental responses, could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations

 

In December 2019, COVID-19 was reported in China, and, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared it a pandemic. On March 12, 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States was declared a national emergency. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant economic dislocation in the United States as many state and local governments have ordered non-essential businesses to close and residents to shelter in place at home. This has resulted in a slow-down in economic activity and a related increase in unemployment in many markets in which we do business.  In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Federal Reserve Board has reduced the benchmark fed funds rate to a target range of 0% to 0.25%, and the yields on short- and medium-term U.S. Treasury securities have declined significantly compared to December 31, 2019. Certain state and local governments and federal agencies restrict judicial enforcement of leases or loan terms, liens and security interests, and are also requiring lenders to provide forbearance and other relief to borrowers (e.g., waiving late payment and other fees). The federal banking agencies have encouraged financial institutions to prudently work with affected borrowers and recently passed legislation has provided relief from reporting loan classifications due to modifications related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Certain industries have been particularly hard-hit, including the travel and hospitality industry, the restaurant industry and the retail industry. Finally, the spread of the coronavirus has caused us to modify our business practices, including employee travel, employee work locations, and cancellation of physical participation in meetings, events and conferences. We may take further actions as may be required by government authorities or that we determine are in the best interests of our employees, customers and business partners.

 

Given the ongoing and dynamic nature of the circumstances, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business. The extent and duration of such impact will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain, including when COVID-19 can be controlled and abated and when and how the economy may be reopened.

 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the related adverse local and national economic consequences, we could be subject to any of the following risks, any of which could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, and results of operations:

 

demand for our products and services may decline, making it difficult to grow assets and income;

 

as the result of the decline in the Federal Reserve Board’s target federal funds rate, the yield on our assets may decline to a greater extent than the decline in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities, reducing our net interest margin and spread and reducing net income;

 

higher amounts of liquidity held by borrowers or depositors may continue to result in lower demand for loans and lower fee income related to deposit account activity.

 

a sustained material decrease in net income or a net loss over several quarters could result in a decrease in the rate of our quarterly cash dividend;

 

if the economy is unable to fully reopen, and high levels of unemployment continue for an extended period of time, loan delinquencies, problem assets, and foreclosures may increase, resulting in increased charges and reduced income;

 

collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, which could cause loan losses to increase;

 

our allowance for loan losses may have to be increased if borrowers experience financial difficulties beyond forbearance periods, which will adversely affect our net income;

 

the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us;

 

our wealth management and trust revenues may decline with continuing market volatility;

 

a prolonged weakness in economic conditions resulting in a reduction of future projected earnings could result in our recording a valuation allowance against our current outstanding deferred tax assets;

 

litigation, regulatory enforcement risk and reputation risk regarding our participation in the PPP and the risk that the SBA may not fund some or all PPP loan guarantees;

 

the occurrence of what management would deem to be a triggering event that could, under certain circumstances, cause management to perform impairment testing on our goodwill or core deposit and customer relationships intangibles that could result in an impairment charge being recorded for that period, that would adversely impact our results of operations and the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us;

 

we rely on third-party vendors for certain services and the unavailability of a critical service due to the COVID-19 outbreak could have an adverse effect on us; and

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation premiums may increase if the agency experiences additional resolution costs.

 

Moreover, our future success and profitability substantially depends on the management skills of our executive officers and directors, many of whom have held officer and director positions with us for many years. The unanticipated loss or unavailability of key employees due to the pandemic could harm our ability to operate our business or execute our business strategy. We may not be successful in finding and integrating suitable replacements or successors in the event of key employee loss or unavailability.

 

Any one or a combination of the factors identified above could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects.

 

 

Risks Related to Operational Matters

 

We are subject to information security and operational risks relating to our use of technology and our communications and information systems, including the risk of cyber-attack or cyber-theft

 

Communications and information systems are essential to the conduct of our business, as we use such systems to manage our customer relationships, general ledger and virtually all other aspects of our business. We depend on the secure processing, storage and transmission of confidential and other information in our data processing systems, computers, networks and communications systems. Although we take numerous protective measures and otherwise endeavor to protect and maintain the privacy and security of confidential data, these systems may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, other malicious code, cyber-attacks, cyber-theft and other events that could have a security impact. If one or more of such events were to occur, this potentially could jeopardize confidential and other information processed and stored in, and transmitted through, our systems or otherwise cause interruptions or malfunctions in our or our customers' operations. We may be required to expend significant additional resources to modify our protective measures or to investigate and remediate vulnerabilities or other exposures, and we may be subject to litigation and financial losses that are not fully covered by our insurance. Security breaches involving our network or Internet banking systems could expose us to possible liability and deter customers from using our systems. We rely on specific software and hardware systems to provide the security and authentication necessary to protect our network and Internet banking systems from compromises or breaches of our security measures. These precautions may not fully protect our systems from compromises or breaches of our security measures that could result in damage to our reputation and our business. Although we perform most data processing functions internally, we outsource certain services to third parties. If our third-party providers encounter operational difficulties or security breaches, it could affect our ability to adequately process and account for customer transactions, which could significantly affect our business operations.

 

Our operations rely on numerous external vendors

 

We rely on numerous external vendors to provide us with products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations. Accordingly, our operations are exposed to risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements. The failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements because of changes in the vendor's organizational structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason, could be disruptive to our operations, which in turn could have a material negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We also could be adversely affected to the extent such an agreement is not renewed by the third-party vendor or is renewed on terms less favorable to us.

 

Our business and operations could be significantly impacted if we or our third-party vendors suffer failure or disruptions of information processing systems, systems failures or security breaches

 

We have become increasingly dependent on communications, data processing and other information technology systems to manage and conduct our business and support our day-to-day banking, investment, and trust activities, some of which are provided through third-parties. If we or our third-party vendors encounter difficulties or become the subject of a cyber-attack on or other breach of their operational systems, data or infrastructure, or if we have difficulty communicating with any such third-party system, our business and operations could suffer. Any failure or disruption to our systems, or those of a third-party vendor, could impede our transaction processing, service delivery, customer relationship management, data processing, financial reporting or risk management. Although we take ongoing monitoring, detection, and prevention measures and perform penetration testing and periodic risk assessments, our computer systems, software and networks and those of our third-party vendors may be or become vulnerable to unauthorized access, loss or destruction of data (including confidential client information), account takeovers, unavailability of service, computer viruses, denial of service attacks, malicious social engineering or other malicious code, or cyber-attacks beyond what we can reasonably anticipate and such events could result in material loss. If any of our financial, accounting or other data processing systems fail or have other significant shortcomings, we could be materially adversely affected. Security breaches in our online banking systems could also have an adverse effect on our reputation and could subject us to possible liability. Additionally, we could suffer disruptions to our systems or damage to our network infrastructure from events that are wholly or partially beyond our control, such as electrical or telecommunications outages, natural disasters, widespread health emergencies or pandemics, or events arising from local or larger scale political events, including terrorist acts. There can be no assurance that our policies, procedures and protective measures designed to prevent or limit the effect of a failure, interruption or security breach, or the policies, procedures and protective measures of our third-party vendors, will be effective. If significant failure, interruption or security breaches do occur in our processing systems or those of our third-party providers, we could suffer damage to our reputation, a loss of customer business, additional regulatory scrutiny, or exposure to civil litigation, additional costs and possible financial liability. In addition, our business is highly dependent on our ability to process, record and monitor, on a continuous basis, a large number of transactions. To do so, we are dependent on our employees and therefore, the potential for operational risk exposure exists throughout our organization, including losses resulting from human error. We could be materially adversely affected if one or more of our employees cause a significant operational breakdown or failure. If we fail to maintain adequate infrastructure, systems, controls and personnel relative to our size and products and services, our ability to effectively operate our business may be impaired and our business could be adversely affected.

 

Customer or employee fraud subjects us to additional operational risks

 

Employee errors or omissions, particularly with respect to information security controls, and employee and customer misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Our loans to businesses and individuals and our deposit relationships and related transactions are also subject to exposure to the risk of loss due to fraud and other financial crimes. Misconduct by our employees could include concealing unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence. We have not experienced any material financial losses from employee errors, misconduct or fraud. However, if our internal controls fail to prevent or promptly detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

If our enterprise risk management framework is not effective at mitigating risk and loss to us, we could suffer unexpected losses and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected

 

Our enterprise risk management framework seeks to achieve an appropriate balance between risk and return, which is critical to optimizing stockholder value. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including credit, liquidity, operational, regulatory compliance and reputational. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

We continually encounter technological change, and may have fewer resources than many of our larger competitors to continue to invest in technological improvements

 

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We also may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers.

 

Risks Related to our Lending Activities

 

Our commercial real estate loans constitute a concentration of credit and thus are subject to enhanced regulatory scrutiny and require us to utilize enhanced risk management techniques

 

A substantial portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate. Our commercial real estate loan portfolio generally consists of multi-family mortgage loans originated in selected geographic markets and nonresidential real estate loans originated predominantly in the Chicago market. At December 31, 2020, our loan portfolio included $452.2 million in multi-family mortgage loans, or 44.8% of total loans, and $87.8 million in non-owner occupied nonresidential real estate loans, or 8.7% of total loans. These commercial real estate loans represented 321.95% of the Bank’s $168.0 million total risk-based capital at December 31, 2020, and thus are considered a concentration of credit for regulatory purposes. Concentrations of credit are pools of loans whose collective performance has the potential to affect a bank negatively even if each individual transaction within the pool is soundly underwritten. When loans in a pool are sensitive to the same economic, financial, or business development, that sensitivity, if triggered, could cause the sum of the transactions to perform as if it were a single, large exposure. As such, concentrations of credit add a dimension of risk that compounds the risk inherent in individual loans.

 

The OCC expects banks to implement board-approved policies and procedures to identify, measure, monitor, and control concentration risks, taking into account the potential impact on earnings and capital under stressed market conditions, economic downturns, and periods of general market illiquidity as well as normal market conditions. Enhanced risk management is required for commercial real estate concentrations exceeding 300% of total risk-based capital. The Bank has established board-approved policies and procedures to identify, measure, monitor, control and stress test its concentrations of credit. The Bank has taken other specific steps to mitigate concentrations of credit risk, including the establishment of concentrations of credit limits based on loan type and geography, the maintenance of capital in excess of the minimum regulatory requirements, the establishment of appropriate underwriting standards for specific loan types and geographic markets, active portfolio management and an emphasis on originating multi-family loans that qualify for 50% risk-weighting under the regulatory capital rules. At December 31, 2020, $238.1 million of the Bank’s multi-family loans, or 52.6% of the Bank’s total multi-family loan portfolio, qualified for 50% risk-weighting under the regulatory capital rules. The Bank’s earnings and capital could be materially and adversely impacted if economic, financial, or business developments were to occur that materially and adversely impacted all or a material portion of the Bank’s commercial real estate loans and caused them to perform as a single, large exposure.

 

Repayment of our commercial and commercial real estate loans typically depends on the cash flows of the borrower. If a borrower's cash flows weaken or become uncertain, the loan may need to be classified, the collateral securing the loan may decline in value and we may need to increase our loan loss reserves or record a charge-off

 

We underwrite our commercial and commercial real estate loans primarily based on the historical and expected cash flows of the borrower. Although we consider collateral in the underwriting process, it is a secondary consideration that generally relates to the risk of loss in the event of a borrower default. We follow the OCC's published guidance for assigning risk-ratings to loans, which emphasizes the strength of the borrower's cash flow. The OCC's loan risk-rating guidance provides that the primary consideration in assigning risk-ratings to commercial and commercial real estate loans is the strength of the primary source of repayment, which is defined as a sustainable source of cash under the borrower's control that is reserved, explicitly or implicitly, to cover the debt obligation. The OCC's loan risk-rating guidance typically does not consider secondary repayment sources until the strength of the primary repayment source weakens, and collateral values typically do not have a significant impact on a loan's risk rating until a loan is classified. Consequently, if a borrower's cash flows weaken or become uncertain, the loan may need to be classified, whether or not the loan is performing or fully secured. In addition, real estate appraisers typically place significant weight on the cash flows generated by income-producing real estate and the reliability of the cash flows in performing valuations. Thus, economic or borrower-specific conditions that cause a decline in a borrower's cash flows could cause our loan classifications to increase and the appraised value of the collateral securing our loans to decline, and require us to increase our loan loss reserves, record charge-offs, or increase our capital levels.

 

Repayment of our lease loans is typically dependent on the cash flows of the lessee, which may be unpredictable, and the collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value

 

We lend money to small and mid-sized independent leasing companies to finance the debt portion of leases. A lease loan results when a leasing company discounts the equipment rental revenue stream owed to the leasing company by a lessee. Our lease loans entail many of the same types of risks as our commercial loans. Lease loans generally are non-recourse to the leasing company, and, consequently, our recourse is limited to the lessee and the leased equipment. As with commercial loans secured by equipment, the equipment securing our lease loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value. We rely on the lessee’s continuing financial stability, rather than the value of the leased equipment, for the repayment of all required amounts under lease loans. In the event of a default on a lease loan, the proceeds from the sale of the leased equipment may not be sufficient to satisfy the outstanding unpaid amounts under the terms of the loan. At December 31, 2020, our lease loans totaled $325.6 million, or 32.2% of our total loan portfolio.

 

 

Our loan portfolio includes loans to healthcare providers, and the repayment of these loans is largely dependent upon the receipt of direct or indirect governmental reimbursements

 

At December 31, 2020, we had $125.5 million of loans and unused commitments to a variety of healthcare providers, including lines of credit secured by healthcare receivables. The repayment of these lines of credit is largely dependent on the borrower's receipt of payments and reimbursements under Medicaid, Medicare and in some cases private insurance contracts for the services they have provided. The ability of the borrowers to service loans we have made to them may be adversely impacted by the financial ability of the federal government or individual state governments to make direct reimbursement payments, or, via managed care organizations operating under agreements with the federal government or individual states, to make indirect reimbursements for the services provided. The failure of a direct or indirect payor to make reimbursements owed to the operators of these facilities, or a significant delay in the making of such reimbursements, could adversely affect the ability of the operators of these facilities to repay their obligations to us. In addition, changes to national health care policy involving private health insurance policies may also affect the business prospects and financial condition or operations of commercial loan customers and commercial lessees involved in health care-related businesses.

 

If our allowance for loan losses is not sufficient to cover actual losses, our earnings would be adversely impacted

 

In the event that our loan customers do not repay their loans according to their terms, and the collateral securing the repayment of these loans is insufficient to cover any remaining loan balance, including expenses of collecting the loan and managing and liquidating the collateral, we could experience significant loan losses or increase our provision for loan losses or both, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. At December 31, 2020, our allowance for loan losses was $7.8 million, which represented 0.77% of total loans and 634.81% of nonperforming loans as of that date. In determining the amount of our allowance for loan losses, we rely on internal and external loan reviews, our historical experience and our evaluation of economic conditions, among other factors. In addition, we make various estimates and assumptions about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets, if any, serving as collateral for the repayment of our loans. We also make judgments concerning our legal positions and the priority of our liens and security interests in contested legal or bankruptcy proceedings, and at times, we may lack sufficient information to establish adequate specific reserves for loans involved in such proceedings. We base these estimates, assumptions and judgments on information that we consider reliable, but if an estimate, assumption or judgment that we make ultimately proves to be incorrect, additional provisions to our allowance for loan losses may become necessary. In addition, our emphasis on loan and lease growth and on increasing our portfolios of commercial business loans, as well as any future credit deterioration, including as a result of COVID-19, could require us to increase our allowance for loan losses in the future. In addition, as an integral part of their supervisory and/or examination process, the OCC periodically reviews the methodology for and the sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses. The OCC has the authority to require us to recognize additions to the allowance based on their inclusion, exclusion or modification of risk factors or differences in judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

 

We extend credit to businesses pursuant to the Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We are subject to additional credit and compliance risks related to our participation in the Paycheck Protection Program

 

The CARES Act included the PPP as a loan program administered through the SBA. On December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the PPP through March 31, 2021. Under the PPP, small businesses and other entities and individuals can apply for loans from existing SBA lenders and other approved regulated lenders that enroll in the program, subject to detailed qualifications and eligibility criteria.

 

Because of the short timeframe between the passing of the CARES Act and implementation of the PPP, some of the rules and guidance relating to PPP were issued after lenders began processing PPP applications. Also, there was and continues to be uncertainty in the laws, rules and guidance relating to the PPP. Since the opening of the PPP, several banks have been subject to litigation regarding the procedures used in processing PPP applications, and several banks have been subject to litigation regarding the payment of fees to agents that assisted borrowers in obtaining PPP loans. In addition, some banks and borrowers have received negative media attention associated with PPP loans. Although we believe that we have administered the PPP in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations and guidance, we may be exposed to litigation risk and negative media attention related to our participation in the PPP. If any such litigation is not resolved in in our favor, it may result in significant financial liability to us or adversely affect our reputation. In addition, litigation can be costly, regardless of its outcome. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage caused by PPP-related litigation or media attention could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The PPP has also attracted interest from federal and state enforcement authorities, oversight agencies, regulators, and U.S. Congressional committees. State Attorneys General and other federal and state agencies may assert that they are not subject to the provisions of the CARES Act and the PPP regulations entitling us to rely on borrower certifications, and take more aggressive action against us for alleged violations of the provisions governing the PPP, or applicable fair lending laws or regulations. Federal and state regulators can impose or request that we consent to substantial penalties, sanctions, restrictions and requirements if they determine there are violations of laws, rules or regulations or weaknesses or failures with respect to general standards of safety and soundness, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, results of operation and financial condition, and thereby adversely affect your investment.

 

We also have potential credit risk exposure on PPP loans if the SBA determines that there is a deficiency in the manner in which we originated, funded or serviced loans, including any issue with the eligibility of a borrower to receive a PPP loan. In the event of a loss resulting from a borrower default on a PPP loan or a determination by the SBA that there was a deficiency in the manner in which we originated, funded or serviced a PPP loan, the SBA may deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty or, if the SBA has already paid under the guaranty, seek recovery of any loss related to the deficiency from us.

 

We are subject to environmental liability risk associated with lending activities

 

A significant portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate, and we could become subject to environmental liabilities with respect to one or more of these properties. During the ordinary course of business, we may foreclose on and take title to properties securing defaulted loans. In doing so, there is a risk that hazardous or toxic substances could be found on these properties. If so, we may be liable for remediation costs, as well as for personal injury and property damage, civil fines and criminal penalties regardless of when the hazardous conditions or toxic substances first affected any particular property. Environmental laws may require us to incur substantial expenses to address unknown liabilities and may materially reduce the affected property’s value or limit our ability to use or sell the affected property. In addition, future laws or more stringent interpretations or enforcement policies with respect to existing laws may increase our exposure to environmental liability. Although we have policies and procedures to perform an environmental review before initiating any foreclosure action on nonresidential real property, these reviews may not be sufficient to detect all potential environmental hazards. The remediation costs and any other financial liabilities associated with an environmental hazard could have a material adverse effect on us.

 

 

Risks Related to Laws and Regulations

 

New or changing tax, accounting, and regulatory rules and interpretations could have a significant impact on our strategic initiatives, results of operations, cash flows, and financial condition

 

The banking services industry is extensively regulated. In addition to regulation by our banking regulators, we also are directly subject to the requirements of entities that set and interpret the accounting standards such as the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and indirectly subject to the actions and interpretations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, which establishes auditing and related professional practice standards for registered public accounting firms and inspects registered firms to assess their compliance with certain laws, rules, and professional standards in public company audits. These regulations, along with the currently existing tax, accounting, securities, insurance, and monetary laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations, control the methods by which financial institutions and their holding companies conduct business, engage in strategic and tax planning and implement strategic initiatives, and govern financial reporting and disclosures. These laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies and interpretations are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time, particularly during periods in which the composition of the U.S. Congress and the leadership of regulatory agencies and public sector boards change due to the outcomes of national elections.

 

We could become subject to more stringent capital requirements, which could adversely impact our return on equity, require us to raise additional capital, or constrain us from paying dividends or repurchasing shares

 

Federal regulations establish minimum capital requirements for insured depository institutions, including minimum risk-based capital and leverage ratios, and define “capital” for calculating these ratios. The minimum capital requirements are: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 6% (increased from 4%); (iii) a total capital ratio of 8% (unchanged from current rules); and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. Unrealized gains and losses on certain “available-for-sale” securities holdings are to be included for purposes of calculating regulatory capital requirements unless a one-time opt-out was exercised. The Bank exercised this one-time opt-out option.

 

The regulations also establish a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.5% and the following minimum ratios: (i) a common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 7%, (ii) a Tier 1 to risk-based assets capital ratio of 8.5%, and (iii) a total capital ratio of 10.5%. An institution will be subject to limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses if its capital level falls below the buffer amount. These limitations will establish a maximum percentage of eligible retained income that can be utilized for such actions.

 

At December 31, 2020, the Bank has met all of these requirements, including the full 2.5% capital conservation buffer.

 

The application of these more stringent capital requirements could, among other things, result in lower returns on equity, require the raising of additional capital, and result in regulatory actions if we were to be unable to comply with such requirements. Furthermore, the imposition of liquidity requirements in connection with the implementation of Basel III could result in our having to lengthen the term of our funding, restructure our business models, and/or increase our holdings of liquid assets. Implementation of changes to asset risk weightings for risk-based capital calculations, items included or deducted in calculating regulatory capital and/or additional capital conservation buffers could result in management modifying its business strategy, and could limit our ability to make distributions, including paying out dividends or buying back shares. Specifically, the Bank’s ability to pay dividends will be limited if it does not have the capital conservation buffer required by the capital rules, which may limit our ability to pay dividends to stockholders. See “Supervision and Regulation-Federal Banking Regulation-Capital Requirements.”

 

Non-compliance with USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act, or other laws and regulations could result in fines or sanctions

 

Financial institutions are required under the USA PATRIOT and Bank Secrecy Acts to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money-laundering and terrorist activities. Financial institutions are also obligated to file suspicious activity reports with the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network if such activities are detected. These rules also require financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of customers seeking to open new financial accounts. Failure or the inability to comply with these regulations could result in fines or penalties, curtailment of expansion opportunities, intervention or sanctions by regulators and costly litigation or expensive additional controls and systems. During the last few years, several banking institutions have received large fines for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. In addition, the U.S. Government has previously imposed laws and regulations relating to residential and consumer lending activities that create significant new compliance burdens and financial risks. We have developed policies and continue to augment procedures and systems designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations, but these policies may not be effective to provide such compliance.

 

Monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations

 

In addition to being affected by general economic conditions, our earnings and growth are affected by the policies of the Federal Reserve Board. An important function of the Federal Reserve Board is to regulate the money supply and credit conditions. Among the instruments used by the Federal Reserve Board to implement these objectives are open market purchases and sales of U.S. government securities, adjustments of the discount rate and changes in banks’ reserve requirements against bank deposits. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence overall economic growth and the distribution of credit, bank loans, investments and deposits. Their use also affects interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

 

The monetary policies and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board have had a significant effect on the operating results of financial institutions in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future. The effects of such policies upon our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be predicted.

 

FDIC deposit insurance could increase in the future

 

The Dodd-Frank Act required the FDIC to base deposit insurance premiums on an institution's total assets minus its tangible equity instead of its deposits. The FDIC has adopted final regulations that base assessments on a combination of financial ratios and regulatory ratings. The FDIC also revised the assessment schedule and established adjustments that increase assessments so that the range of assessments is now 1.5 basis points to 30 basis points of total assets less tangible equity. If there are any changes in the Bank’s financial ratios and regulatory ratings that require adjustments that increase its assessment, or, if circumstances require the FDIC to impose additional special assessments or further increase its quarterly assessment rates, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.

 

 

Our sources of funds are limited because of our holding company structure

 

The Company is a separate legal entity from its subsidiaries and does not have significant operations of its own. Dividends from the Bank provide a significant source of cash for the Company. The availability of dividends from the Bank is limited by various statutes and regulations. Under these statutes and regulations, the Bank is not permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock to the Company, its sole stockholder, if the dividend would reduce the stockholders' equity of the Bank below the amount of the liquidation account established in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion. National banks may pay dividends without the approval of its primary federal regulator only if they meet applicable regulatory capital requirements before and after the payment of the dividends and total dividends do not exceed net income to date over the calendar year plus its retained net income over the preceding two years. In addition, in accordance with its Regulatory Capital Plan, the Company expects to maintain a combination of cash, liquid assets and credit availability equal to at least $5.0 million to facilitate its ability to serve as a source of financial strength to the Bank. If in the future, the Company utilizes its available cash for other purposes and the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends.

 

Risks Related to Economic Conditions

 

Adverse changes in local economic conditions and adverse conditions in an industry on which a local market in which we do business depends could negatively affect our financial condition or results of operations

 

Except for our commercial equipment leasing and healthcare lending activities, which we conduct on a nationwide basis, and our multi-family lending activities, which we conduct in selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas, including, but not limited to, the Metropolitan Statistical Areas for Chicago, Illinois, Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, Denver, Colorado, Tampa, Florida, and Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, our loan and deposit activities are generally conducted in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Chicago, Illinois. Our loan and deposit activities are directly affected by, and our financial success depends on, economic conditions within the local markets in which we do business, as well as conditions in the industries on which those markets are economically dependent. A deterioration in local economic conditions, as a result of COVID-19 or otherwise, or in the condition of an industry on which a local market depends could adversely affect such factors as unemployment rates, business formations and expansions, housing demand, apartment vacancy rates and real estate values in the local market, and this could result in, among other things, a decline in loan and lease demand, a reduction in the number of creditworthy borrowers seeking loans, an increase in loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, an increase in classified and nonaccrual loans, a decrease in the value of the collateral for our loans, and a decline in the net worth and liquidity of our borrowers and guarantors. Any of these factors could negatively affect our financial condition or results of operations.

 

In addition, our loan portfolio includes fixed- and adjustable-rate first mortgage loans, home equity loans and home equity lines of credit secured by one-to-four family residential properties primarily located in the Chicago metropolitan area. Residential real estate lending is sensitive to regional and local economic conditions that may significantly impact the ability of borrowers to meet their loan payment obligations, making loss levels difficult to predict. Residential loans with high combined loan-to-value ratios generally are more sensitive to declining property values than those with lower combined loan-to-value ratios and therefore may experience a higher incidence of default and severity of losses. In addition, if the borrowers sell their homes, the borrowers may be unable to repay their loans in full from the sale proceeds. As a result, these loans may experience higher rates of delinquencies, defaults and losses, which could in turn adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois continue to experience significant financial difficulties, and this could adversely impact certain borrowers and the economic vitality of the City and State

 

The City of Chicago and the State of Illinois are experiencing significant financial difficulties, including material pension funding shortfalls. These issues could impact the economic vitality of the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois and the businesses operating there, encourage businesses to leave the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois, and discourage new employers from starting or moving businesses to there. These issues could also result in delays in the payment of accounts receivable owed to borrowers that conduct business with the State of Illinois and Medicaid payments to nursing homes and other healthcare providers in Illinois, and impair their ability to repay their loans when due.

 

Risks Related to Accounting Matters

 

A new accounting standard may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has adopted a new accounting standard that will be effective for the Company and the Bank for our first fiscal year after December 15, 2022.  This standard, referred to as Current Expected Credit Loss, or CECL, will require financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on loans, and recognize the expected credit losses as allowances for loan losses.  This will change the current method of providing allowances for loan losses that are probable, which may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and to greatly increase the types of data we will need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Accordingly, regardless of any actual changes to the composition or performance of our loan portfolio, the new accounting standard may require an increase in our allowance for loan losses or expenses incurred to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses, and may therefore have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Changes in management’s estimates and assumptions may have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and our financial condition or operating results

 

In preparing periodic reports we are required to file under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including our consolidated financial statements, our management is and will be required under applicable rules and regulations to make estimates and assumptions as of a specified date. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and experience as of that date and are subject to substantial risk and uncertainty. Materially different results may occur as circumstances change and additional information becomes known. Areas requiring significant estimates and assumptions by management include our evaluation of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses and the valuation of deferred taxes.

 

 

Other Risks Related to Our Business

 

We are required to transition from the use of the LIBOR interest rate index

 

We have certain loans indexed to LIBOR to calculate the loan interest rate. The LIBOR index will be discontinued December 31, 2021. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR. The implementation of a substitute index or indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers may incur significant expenses in effecting the transition, may result in reduced loan balances if borrowers do not accept the substitute index or indices, and may result in disputes or litigation with customers over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute index or indices, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Additionally, since alternative rates are calculated differently, the transition may change our market risk profile, requiring changes to risk and pricing models.

 

Trading activity in the Company's common stock could result in material price fluctuations

 

It is possible that trading activity in the Company's common stock, including short-selling, activity related to the exclusion or inclusion of the Company's common stock in an index such as the Russell 2000, or sales by significant shareholders for any reason, could result in material price fluctuations of the price per share of the Company's common stock.  In particular, due to the increase in the value of certain common stocks currently in the Russell 2000, and the decline in the Company's common stock price since May 2020, it is possible that the Company's common stock may be excluded from the Russell 2000 index upon the annual rebalancing of the index in the second quarter of 2021.  The potential or actual exclusion of the Company's common stock from the Russell 2000 may affect the ability of certain institutional shareholders to continue ownership of the Company's common stock within an investment fund or portfolio linked directly or indirectly to the Russell 2000 index.

 

Various factors may make takeover attempts that you might want to succeed more difficult to achieve, which may affect the value of shares of our common stock

 

Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, federal regulations, Maryland law and various other factors may make it more difficult for companies or persons to acquire control of the Company without the consent of our board of directors. You may want a takeover attempt to succeed because, for example, a potential acquirer could offer a premium over the then prevailing price of our shares of common stock. Provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws also may make it difficult to remove our current board of directors or management if our board of directors opposes the removal. We have elected to be subject to the Maryland Business Combination Act, which places restrictions on mergers and other business combinations with large stockholders. In addition, our articles of incorporation provide that certain mergers and other similar transactions, as well as amendments to our articles of incorporation, must be approved by stockholders owning at least two-thirds of our shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter unless first approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies. If approved by at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies, the action must still be approved by a majority of our shares entitled to vote on the matter. In addition, a director can be removed from office, but only for cause, if such removal is approved by stockholders owning at least two-thirds of our shares of common stock entitled to vote on the matter. However, if at least two-thirds of the number of our authorized directors, assuming no vacancies, approves the removal of a director, the removal may be with or without cause, but must still be approved by a majority of our voting shares entitled to vote on the matter. Additional provisions include limitations on the voting rights of any beneficial owners of more than 10% of our common stock. Our bylaws, which can only be amended by the board of directors, also contain provisions regarding the timing, content and procedural requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations.

 

Societal responses to climate change could adversely affect our business and performance, including indirectly through impacts on our customers

 

Concerns over the long-term impacts of climate change have led and will continue to lead to governmental efforts around the world to mitigate those impacts. Consumers and businesses also may change their behavior on their own as a result of these concerns. We and our customers will need to respond to new laws and regulations as well as consumer and business preferences resulting from climate change concerns. We and our customers may face cost increases, asset value reductions, operating process changes and other issues. The impact on our customers will likely vary depending on their specific attributes, including reliance on or role in carbon intensive activities. Among the impacts to us could be a drop in demand for our products and services, particularly in certain sectors. In addition, we could face reductions in creditworthiness on the part of some customers or in the value of assets securing loans. Our efforts to take these risks into account in making lending and other decisions, including by increasing our business with climate-friendly companies, may not be effective in protecting us from the negative impact of new laws and regulations or changes in consumer or business behavior.

 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

 

We conduct our business at 19 banking offices located in the Chicago metropolitan area, and from a corporate office.  We own our banking offices other than our corporate office, and our Chicago-Lincoln Park and Northbrook banking offices, which are leased. We also operate six commercial credit origination and customer service offices for the Commercial Finance, Commercial Real Estate and Equipment Finance Divisions of the Bank, all of which are leased. We believe that all of our properties and equipment are well maintained, in good operating condition and adequate for all of our present and anticipated needs.

 

We believe our facilities in the aggregate are suitable and adequate to operate our banking and related business. Additional information with respect to premises and equipment is presented in Note 6 of "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, based on currently available information, the resolution of these legal actions is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

ITEM 4.

MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

Our shares of common stock are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “BFIN.” The approximate number of holders of record of the Company’s common stock as of January 31, 2021 was 1,056. Certain shares of the Company’s common stock are held in “nominee” or “street” name, and accordingly, the number of beneficial owners of such shares is not known or included in the foregoing number.

 

Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

The Company had no sales of unregistered stock during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Repurchases of Equity Securities

 

On October 29, 2020, the Board increased the total number of shares authorized for repurchase from 5,810,755 shares to 6,210,755 shares, an increase of 400,000 shares and extended the expiration date of the Company's share repurchase authorization from October 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had repurchased 5,776,491 shares of its common stock out of the 6,210,755 shares of common stock authorized under the current share repurchase authorization. Pursuant to the current share repurchase authorization, as of December 31, 2020, there were 434,264 shares of common stock remaining authorized for repurchase through April 30, 2021.

 

Period

  Total Number of Shares Purchased     Average Price Paid per Share    

Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs

   

Maximum Number of Shares that May Yet be Purchased under the Plans or Programs

 

October 1, 2020 through October 31, 2020

    48,863     $ 7.40       48,863       440,264  

November 1, 2020 through November 30, 2020

                      440,264  

December 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020

    6,000       8.88       6,000       434,264  
      54,863               54,863          

 

 

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following information is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. For additional information, please refer to Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and related notes included in Item 8 of this Annual Report.

   

At and For the Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 
   

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

 

Selected Financial Condition Data:

                                       

Total assets

  $ 1,596,842     $ 1,488,015     $ 1,585,325     $ 1,625,558     $ 1,620,037  

Loans, net

    1,002,578       1,168,008       1,323,793       1,314,651       1,312,952  

Securities, at fair value

    23,829       60,193       88,179       93,383       107,212  

Deposits

    1,393,544       1,284,757       1,352,484       1,340,051       1,339,390  

Borrowings

    4,000       61       21,049       60,768       51,069  

Equity

    172,930       174,372       187,150       197,634       204,780  
                                         

Selected Operating Data:

                                       

Interest income

  $ 52,875     $ 65,408     $ 61,287     $ 56,179     $ 50,928  

Interest expense

    6,988       13,217       9,217       6,089       3,970  

Net interest income

    45,887       52,191       52,070       50,090       46,958  

Provision for (recovery of) loan losses

    55       3,825       145       (87 )     (239 )

Net interest income after provision for (recovery of) loan losses

    45,832       48,366       51,925       50,177       47,197  

Noninterest income

    5,366       6,172       14,877       6,408       6,545  

Noninterest expense

    38,438       38,641       40,754       40,391       41,542  

Income before income taxes

    12,760       15,897       26,048       16,194       12,200  

Income tax expense (1) (2)

    3,597       4,225       6,706       7,190       4,698  

Net income

  $ 9,163     $ 11,672     $ 19,342     $ 9,004     $ 7,502  

Basic earnings per common share

  $ 0.61     $ 0.75     $ 1.11     $ 0.49     $ 0.40  

Diluted earnings per common share

  $ 0.61     $ 0.75     $ 1.11     $ 0.49     $ 0.39  

 

   

At and For the Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 

Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:

                                       

Performance Ratios:

                                       

Return on assets (ratio of net income to average total assets)

    0.59 %     0.77 %     1.24 %     0.56 %     0.49 %

Return on equity (ratio of net income to average equity)

    5.27       6.58       9.92       4.44       3.60  

Net interest rate spread (3)

    2.91       3.31       3.30       3.15       3.19  

Net interest margin (4)

    3.09       3.60       3.51       3.28       3.28  

Efficiency ratio (5)

    75.00       66.21       60.88       71.49       77.64  

Noninterest expense to average total assets

    2.48       2.54       2.61       2.50       2.72  

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities

    138.79       131.78       133.34       131.70       135.09  

Dividends declared per share

  $ 0.40     $ 0.40     $ 0.37     $ 0.28     $ 0.21  

Dividend payout ratio

    65.28 %     53.69 %     33.34 %     57.23 %     55.07 %

Asset Quality Ratios:

                                       

Nonperforming assets to total assets (6)

    0.09 %     0.07 %     0.17 %     0.29 %     0.44 %

Nonperforming loans to total loans

    0.12       0.07       0.11       0.18       0.25  

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

    634.81       901.06       558.34       349.31       246.12  

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

    0.77       0.65       0.64       0.63       0.62  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans outstanding

    0.01       (0.37 )           0.03       (0.11 )

Capital Ratios:

                                       

Equity to total assets at end of period

    10.83 %     11.72 %     11.81 %     12.16 %     12.64 %

Average equity to average assets

    11.23       11.68       12.51       12.53       13.62  

Tier 1 leverage ratio (Bank only)

    10.10       10.89       11.03       11.08       10.27  

Other Data:

                                       

Number of full-service offices

    19       19       19       19       19  

Employees (full-time equivalents)

    210       222       236       236       246  

 


(1) Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes a $200,000 valuation reserve related to the Company's Illinois NOL carryforward.

(2)

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2017 includes a $2.5 million increase to expense related to the Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017.

(3)

The net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities for the period.

(4)

The net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets for the period.

(5)

The efficiency ratio represents noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and noninterest income.

(6)

Nonperforming assets include nonperforming loans and other real estate owned.

 

 

 

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The discussion and analysis that follows focuses on certain factors affecting our consolidated financial condition at December 31, 2020 and 2019, and our consolidated results of operations for the two years ended December 31, 2020. Our consolidated financial statements, the related notes and the discussion of our critical accounting policies appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report should be read in conjunction with this discussion and analysis.

 

Overview

 

2020 In Review

 

In 2020, the COVID-19 global pandemic and periodic local civil unrest events required rapid innovation in our operations and the adaptation of our Business Plan to the significant changes in market conditions that occured and are now expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

 

As our first priority, we implemented extensive health security protocols in February 2020 for our customers and our associates in all facilities.  To ensure continuity of operations within new health security protocols, we developed and deployed new electronic transaction processing capabilities and revised operating procedures. We also implemented additional physical security measures in response to civil unrest events in the vicinity of certain branch offices.

 

Beginning in March 2020, state and local government restrictions on business activity resulted in material reductions in national and local economic activity, including a sharp increase in unemployment.  To ensure appropriate credit discipline in a highly uncertain environment, we implemented revised underwriting standards and enhanced reserve requirements for multi-family and nonresidential real estate loans. Similarly, we temporarily made the financial qualification parameters for commercial loans and leases more stringent to adjust historical financial performance and repayment capacity for the possibility of significant declines in revenues and maximum usage of working capital credit facilities. 

 

In April and May of 2020, we provided loan payment forbearance arrangements to 182 borrowers with a total of $98.1 million in outstanding principal balance.  At December 31, 2020, all borrowers with a COVID-19 loan forbearance agreement were current on all scheduled loan payments, with $53,000 in remaining deferred principal payments scheduled for repayment by June, 2021.  We also extended $11.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans to 315 small businesses with over 2,400 employees.  In response to substantial growth in core deposits resulting from the liquidity provided by the CARES Act of 2020 fiscal stimulus and Federal Reserve Board monetary stimulus, we took various steps to reduce retail and wholesale certificate of deposit balances.

 

As economic activity recovered in the third quarter of 2020, we focused our credit origination activities on our highest-quality borrowers, with a special emphasis on originations of federal, state and local government commercial lease and commercial finance transactions.  In the fourth quarter, 2020, we continued to restore our standard commercial credit underwriting criteria, released new credit products in the Equipment Finance Division, expanded multi-family lending operations, and commenced the expansion of Commercial Finance Division and Treasury Services products for release in 2021. 

 

The Company ended 2020 in strong financial and operational condition.  We gained momentum in our commercial credit originations and maintained our historical asset quality and credit discipline.  We also maintained operating expense discipline notwithstanding investments in the further expansion of our commercial credit origination capabilities and the necessary expenditures for health security, physical security and information security.

 

Goals for 2021

 

Despite the adverse impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and rapid changes in market conditions during 2020, the actions we took in 2020 to expand our commercial credit capabilities further strengthen our ability to achieve the asset generation necessary to meet our financial objectives. We will incur some additional expenses in 2021 for personnel, marketing and technology to support these credit, business deposit and noninterest income generation activities, but will seek to offset these costs as much as possible within our consistent operating expense discipline.  In anticipation of the gradual dissipation of COVID-19-stimulus related deposits, we will also increase our focus on the origination of core business deposit accounts balances and related noninterest income as part of our investment in Treasury Services capabilities for Equipment Finance, Commercial Finance and nonresidential real estate borrowers.  With cautious optimism concerning recovery in both public health and economic condition in 2021, we look forward to building upon the Company’s manifest strengths and achieving its potential in 2021 and future years.

 

Financial Results of Operations

 

We recorded net income of $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and basic and diluted earnings per common share for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $0.61.

 

Total loans declined by $165.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, primarily due to a $111.5 million decline in multi-family mortgage loans and a $56.3 million decline in commercial line of credit balances resulting from COVID-19 fiscal stimulus payments to healthcare providers. Total deposits increased by $108.8 million, primarily due to a $257.8 million increase in core retail and business deposits, partially offset by a $93.9 million decrease in retail certificates of deposit, and a $55.2 million decrease in wholesale certificates of deposits. As a result of the changes in the loan and deposit portfolios, the Company’s liquid assets were 31.5% of total assets at December 31, 2020.

 

Asset Quality and Capital Adequacy

 

Our asset quality remained stable in 2020. The ratio of nonperforming loans to total loans was 0.12% and the ratio of nonperforming assets to total assets was 0.09% at December 31, 2020. Nonperforming commercial-related loans represented 0.03% of total commercial-related loans at December 31, 2020. Our allowance for losses on loans and leases increased to 0.77% of total loans as of December 31, 2020, compared to 0.65% at December 31, 2019, reflecting the increased inherent credit risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Our capital position remained strong with a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 10.79%. Throughout 2020, the Company maintained its quarterly dividend rate at $0.10 per common share. The Company repurchased 508,699 common shares during the year ended December 31, 2020, which represented 3.3% of the Company’s common shares that were outstanding on December 31, 2019. The Company’s book value per share increased in 2020 by 2.6% to $11.71 per share at December 31, 2020.

 

 

Results of Operations

 

Net Income

 

We recorded net income of $9.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net income of $11.7 million for 2019. The decrease in net income was primarily due to decreased net interest income and noninterest income.  Our basic and diluted earnings per share of common stock was $0.61 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $0.75 per share of common stock for the year ended December 31, 2019.

 

Net Interest Income

 

Net interest income is our primary source of revenue. Net interest income equals the excess of interest income plus fees earned on interest-earning assets over interest expense incurred on interest-bearing liabilities. The level of interest rates and the volume and mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities impact net interest income. Interest rate spread and net interest margin are utilized to measure and explain changes in net interest income. Interest rate spread is the difference between the yield on interest-earning assets and the rate paid for interest-bearing liabilities that fund those assets. The net interest margin is expressed as the percentage of net interest income to average interest-earning assets. The net interest margin exceeds the interest rate spread because noninterest-bearing sources of funds, principally noninterest-bearing demand deposits and stockholders' equity, also support interest-earning assets.

 

The accounting policies underlying the recognition of interest income on loans, securities, and other interest-earning assets are included in Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Average Balance Sheets

 

The following table sets forth average balance sheets, average yields and costs, and certain other information. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect of these adjustments would not be material. Average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans are included in the computation of average balances, but have been reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees and expenses, and discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or expense.

   

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
   

Average Outstanding Balance

   

Interest

   

Yield/Rate

   

Average Outstanding Balance

   

Interest

   

Yield/Rate

   

Average Outstanding Balance

   

Interest

   

Yield/Rate

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest-earning Assets:

                                                                       

Loans

  $ 1,100,642     $ 50,467       4.59 %   $ 1,257,506     $ 60,568       4.82 %   $ 1,289,121     $ 57,052       4.43 %

Securities

    54,449       854       1.57       79,984       2,082       2.60       105,831       2,229       2.11  

Stock in FHLB and FRB

    7,490       345       4.61       7,657       364       4.75       8,212       428       5.21  

Other

    321,220       1,209       0.38       103,664       2,394       2.31       81,941       1,578       1.93  

Total interest-earning assets

    1,483,801       52,875       3.56       1,448,811       65,408       4.51       1,485,105       61,287       4.13  

Noninterest-earning assets

    64,754                       70,808                       73,930                  

Total assets

  $ 1,548,555                     $ 1,519,619                     $ 1,559,035                  

Interest-bearing Liabilities:

                                                                       

Savings deposits

  $ 165,733     $ 145       0.09     $ 152,567     $ 424       0.28     $ 157,350     $ 286       0.18  

Money market accounts

    268,222       946       0.35       245,730       2,230       0.91       278,366       1,985       0.71  

NOW accounts

    296,612       585       0.20       269,856       1,150       0.43       279,422       856       0.31  

Certificates of deposit

    335,938       5,312       1.58       427,044       9,324       2.18       352,731       5,434       1.54  

Total deposits

    1,066,505       6,988       0.65       1,095,197       13,128       1.20       1,067,869       8,561       0.80  

Borrowings

    2,612                   4,216       89       2.11       45,870       656       1.43  

Total interest-bearing liabilities

    1,069,117       6,988       0.65       1,099,413       13,217       1.20       1,113,739       9,217       0.83  

Noninterest-bearing deposits

    279,407                       213,946                       226,605                  

Noninterest-bearing liabilities

    26,121                       28,774                       23,630                  

Total liabilities

    1,374,645                       1,342,133                       1,363,974                  

Equity

    173,910                       177,486                       195,061                  

Total liabilities and equity

  $ 1,548,555                     $ 1,519,619                     $ 1,559,035                  

Net interest income

          $ 45,887                     $ 52,191                     $ 52,070          

Net interest rate spread (1)

                    2.91 %                     3.31 %                     3.30 %

Net interest-earning assets (2)

  $ 414,684                     $ 349,398                     $ 371,366                  

Net interest margin (3)

                    3.09 %                     3.60 %                     3.51 %

Ratio of interest-earning assets to interest-bearing liabilities

    138.79 %                     131.78 %                     133.34 %                

 


(1)

Net interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.

(2)

Net interest-earning assets represents total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.

(3)

Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by average total interest-earning assets.

 

Net interest income decreased by $6.3 million, or 12.1%, to $45.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $52.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Loan interest income for the year ended December 31, 2020 includes amortized fees of $162,000 from Paycheck Protection Program loans.  The decrease in net interest income was primarily attributable to a decrease in the average yield on interest-earning assets, which was partially offset by a decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities and an increase in total average interest-earning assets. Our net interest rate spread decreased 40 basis points to 2.91% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 3.31% for 2019. Our net interest margin decreased 51 basis points to 3.09% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 3.60% for 2019. The yield on interest-earning assets decreased 95 basis points, or 21.1%, to 3.56% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 4.51% for 2019. The cost of interest-bearing liabilities decreased 55 basis points, or 45.8%, to 0.65% for the year ended December 31, 2020, from 1.20% for 2019. Total average interest-earning assets increased $35.0 million to $1.484 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $1.449 billion for 2019. Our average interest-bearing liabilities decreased $30.3 million to $1.069 billion for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $1.099 billion for 2019.

 

Rate/Volume Analysis

 

The following table presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for the major categories of our interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Information is provided for each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with respect to changes attributable to changes in volume (i.e., changes in average balances multiplied by the prior-period average rate), and changes attributable to rate (i.e., changes in average rate multiplied by prior-period average balances). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume that cannot be segregated have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020 vs. 2019

   

2019 vs. 2018

 
   

Increase (Decrease) Due to

           

Increase (Decrease) Due to

         
   

Volume

   

Rate

   

Total Decrease

   

Volume

   

Rate

   

Total Increase (Decrease)

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Interest-earning assets:

                                               

Loans

  $ (7,306 )   $ (2,795 )   $ (10,101 )   $ (1,425 )   $ 4,941     $ 3,516  

Securities

    (548 )     (680 )     (1,228 )     (607 )     460       (147 )

Stock in FHLB and FRB

    (8 )     (11 )     (19 )     (28 )     (36 )     (64 )

Other

    2,014       (3,199 )     (1,185 )     468       348       816  

Total interest-earning assets

    (5,848 )     (6,685 )     (12,533 )     (1,592 )     5,713       4,121  

Interest-bearing liabilities:

                                               

Savings deposits

    34       (313 )     (279 )     (9 )     147       138  

Money market accounts

    190       (1,474 )     (1,284 )     (255 )     500       245  

NOW accounts

    106       (671 )     (565 )     (31 )     325       294  

Certificates of deposit

    (1,752 )     (2,260 )     (4,012 )     1,309       2,581       3,890  

Borrowings

    (25 )     (64 )     (89 )     (782 )     215       (567 )

Total interest-bearing liabilities

    (1,447 )     (4,782 )     (6,229 )     232       3,768       4,000  

Change in net interest income

  $ (4,401 )   $ (1,903 )   $ (6,304 )   $ (1,824 )   $ 1,945     $ 121  

 

Provision for Loan Losses

 

We establish provisions for loan losses, which are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level we consider necessary to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, we consider past and current loss experience, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or events change. We assess the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and make provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance.

 

A loan balance is classified as a loss and charged-off when it is confirmed that there is no readily apparent source of repayment for the portion of the loan that is classified as loss. Confirmation can occur upon the receipt of updated third-party appraisal valuation information indicating that there is a low probability of repayment upon sale of the collateral, the final disposition of collateral where the net proceeds are insufficient to pay the loan balance in full, our failure to obtain possession of certain consumer-loan collateral within certain time limits specified by applicable federal regulations, the conclusion of legal proceedings where the borrower’s obligation to repay is legally discharged (such as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding), or when it appears that further formal collection procedures are not likely to result in net proceeds in excess of the costs to collect.

 

We recorded a provision for loan losses of $55,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The provision for or recovery of loan losses is a function of the allowance for loan loss methodology we use to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for inherent loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted. The portion of the allowance for loan losses attributable to loans collectively evaluated for impairment increased $91,000, or 1.2%, to $7.7 million at December 31, 2020 from $7.6 million at December 31, 2019. Although the loans collectively evaluated for impairment decreased $164.6 million, or 14.0%, to $1.007 billion at December 31, 2020 from $1.172 billion at December 31, 2019, the allowance for loan losses increased due to increased inherent credit risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Net recoveries were $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to net charge-offs of $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. For further analysis and information on how we determine the appropriate level for the allowance for loan losses and analysis of credit quality, see “Critical Accounting Policies,” “Risk Classification of Loans” and “Allowance for Loan Losses.” There were $28,000 of reserves established for loans individually evaluated for impairment at December 31, 2020 compared to no reserves at December 31, 2019.

 

The 2019 net charge-offs and the related $4.0 million provision for loan losses were primarily due to a $4.4 million loss recorded on the sale of a Chicago commercial credit exposure that experienced an unexpected deterioration in the second quarter of 2019. The sold loans were originated in 2016 to two affiliated wholesale fuel distributors.

 

 

Noninterest Income

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

         
   

2020

   

2019

   

Change

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Deposit service charges and fees

  $ 3,196     $ 3,844     $ (648 )

Loan servicing fees

    552       451       101  

Mortgage brokerage and banking fees

    98       149       (51 )

Gain on sale of equity securities

          295       (295 )

Loss on disposal of other assets

    (5 )     (44 )     39  

Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income

    961       844       117  

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance

    70       136       (66 )

Other

    494       497       (3 )

Total noninterest income

  $ 5,366     $ 6,172     $ (806 )

 

Our noninterest income decreased by $806,000, or 13.1%, to $5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $6.2 million in 2019.  Deposit service charges and fees decreased $648,000, or 16.9%, due to reduced non-sufficient funds return charges and negative balance fees.  Loan servicing fees increased $101,000, or 22.4%, to $552,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $451,000 in 2019, primarily due to increased commercial credit facilities fees of $133,000.  We recorded a gain on sale of equity securities for the year ended December 31, 2019 of $295,000.  Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income increased by $117,000, or 13.9%, to $961,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $844,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 due to increased assets under management.  

 

Noninterest Expense

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

         
   

2020

   

2019

   

Change

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Compensation and benefits

  $ 21,323     $ 21,266     $ 57  

Office occupancy and equipment

    7,361       7,075       286  

Advertising and public relations

    564       657       (93 )

Information technology

    3,194       3,272       (78 )

Professional fees

    1,356       1,307       49  

Supplies, telephone and postage

    1,232       1,328       (96 )

Amortization of intangibles

    34       61       (27 )

Nonperforming asset management

    146       105       41  

Operations of other real estate owned

    17       52       (35 )

FDIC insurance premiums

    348       127       221  

Other

    2,863       3,391       (528 )

Total noninterest expense

  $ 38,438     $ 38,641     $ (203 )

 

Noninterest expense decreased by $203,000, or 0.5%, to $38.4 million, for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $38.6 million, for the year ended December 31, 2019.  The decrease in noninterest expense was due in substantial part to decreases in expense for advertising and public relations, information technology, supplies, telephone and postage and other noninterest expense, offset by increases in expense for compensation and benefits and office occupancy and equipment.  Office occupancy and equipment increased $286,000, or 4.0%, to $7.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $7.1 million in 2019, due primarily to increased office building expense, real estate taxes and COVID-19 cleaning and sanitation costs, partially offset by decreased snow removal costs.  Information technology expense decreased $78,000, or 2.4%, to $3.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $3.3 million in 2019, primarily due to the renegotiation of contracts relating to system upgrades  and cybersecurity prevention.  FDIC insurance expense increased by $221,000 to $348,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $127,000 in 2019 due to the receipt of the FDIC's small bank assessment credit in 2019. Other noninterest expense decreased $528,000, or 15.6%, to $2.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, due to the reversal of a $116,000 reserve established for the open letters of credit related to a loan charge-off that was recorded in the second quarter 2019, combined with a decrease in organization dues and subscriptions and supervisory assessments.   Supplies and office occupancy expense for the year ended December 31,2020 included $451,000 in expenses related to damage and enhanced security relating to civil unrest and additional cleaning and sanitation costs related to COVID-19.

 

Income Taxes

 

For the year ended December 31, 2020 we recorded income tax expense of $3.6 million, compared to $4.2 million recorded in 2019. The effective tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2020 was 28.18%, compared to 26.57% for the same period in 2019.

 

Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019

 

Total assets increased $108.8 million, or 7.3%, to $1.597 billion at December 31, 2020, from $1.488 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase in total assets was primarily due to an increase in cash and cash equivalents which were partially offset by decreases in loans receivable and securities.  Net loans decreased $165.4 million, or 14.2%, to $1.003 billion at December 31, 2020, from $1.168 billion at December 31, 2019. Securities decreased by $36.4 million, or 60.4%, to $23.8 million at December 31, 2020, from $60.2 million at December 31, 2019, primarily due to the decrease of $33.5 million of investments in certificates of deposit.  Cash and cash equivalents increased $313.2 million to $503.5 million at December 31, 2020, from $190.3 million at December 31, 2019.

 

Our loan portfolio consists primarily of multi-family real estate, nonresidential real estate, construction and land loans, commercial loans and commercial leases, which together totaled 95.7% of gross loans at December 31, 2020 from $1.168 billion at December 31, 2019.  Net loans receivable decreased $165.4 million, or 14.2%, to $1.003 billion at December 31, 2020. Multi-family mortgage loans decreased by $111.5 million, or 19.8%; nonresidential real estate loans decreased $26.0 million, or 19.3%; commercial loans and leases decreased $13.3 million, or 3.2%; and one-to-four family residential mortgage loans decreased by $14.1 million, or 25.2%. The decrease in multi-family loans was primarily due to a significant amount of loan prepayments. The loan prepayments generated $605,000 of prepayment penalty income for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $568,000 of prepayment income for 2019.

 

Our allowance for loan losses increased by $119,000, or 1.6%, to $7.8 million at December 31, 2020, from $7.6 million at December 31, 2019. The increase reflected net recoveries of $64,000 in 2020, and a $55,000 provision for loan losses in 2020.

 

Securities decreased $36.4 million, or 60.4%, to $23.8 million at December 31, 2020, from $60.2 million at December 31, 2019, due primarily to proceeds from maturities of $77.8 million and repayments of $2.7 million on residential mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations. These repayments were partially offset by investments in FDIC-insured certificates of deposit issued by other insured depository institutions of $44.1 million.

 

Total liabilities increased $110.3 million, or 8.4%, to $1.424 billion at December 31, 2020, from $1.314 billion at December 31, 2019, primarily due to increases in total deposits and borrowings. Total deposits increased $108.8 million, or 8.5%, to $1.394 billion at December 31, 2020, from $1.285 billion at December 31, 2019. Money market accounts increased $52.2 million, or 21.2% to $297.8 million at December 31, 2020, from $245.6 million at December 31, 2019. Interest-bearing NOW accounts increased $63.8 million, or 23.4%, to $337.0 million at December 31, 2020, from $273.2 million at December 31, 2019.  Savings accounts increased $26.4 million, or 17.2%, to $179.6 million at December 31, 2020, from $153.2 million at December 31, 2019. Noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $115.4 million, or 54.8%, to $326.2 million at December 31, 2020, from $210.8 million at December 31, 2019. Retail certificates of deposit decreased $93.9 million, or 27.9%, to $243.1 million at December 31, 2020, from $336.9 million at December 31, 2019. Wholesale certificates of deposit decreased $55.2 million, or 84.8%, to $9.9 million at December 31, 2020, from $65.1 million at December 31, 2019. Core deposits (which consist of savings, money market, noninterest-bearing demand and NOW accounts) were 81.8% and 68.7% of total deposits at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

Total stockholders’ equity was $172.9 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $174.4 million at December 31, 2019. The decrease in total stockholders’ equity was primarily due to the combined impact of our repurchase of 508,699 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $4.6 million, and our declaration and payment of cash dividends totaling $6.0 million, during the year ended December 31, 2020. These items were partially offset by net income of $9.2 million that we recorded for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Securities

 

Our investment policy is established by our Board of Directors. The policy emphasizes safety of the investment, liquidity requirements, potential returns, cash flow targets, and consistency with our interest rate risk management strategy.

 

At December 31, 2020, our mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations (“CMOs”) reflected in the following table were issued by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises and agencies, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae, and are obligations which the federal government has affirmed its commitment to support. All securities reflected in the table were classified as available-for-sale at December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018.

 

The following table sets forth the composition, amortized cost and fair value of our securities.

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
    Amortized Cost    

Fair Value

    Amortized Cost    

Fair Value

    Amortized Cost    

Fair Value

 
   

(In thousands)

 

Available-for-sale securities:

                                               

Securities:

                                               

Certificates of deposits

  $ 15,117     $ 15,117     $ 48,666     $ 48,666     $ 73,507     $ 73,507  

Municipal securities

    402       409       505       513       509       509  

Total

    15,519       15,526       49,171       49,179       74,016       74,016  

Mortgage-backed Securities:

                                               

Mortgage-backed securities - residential

    5,826       6,108       7,727       8,037       10,116       10,478  

CMOs and REMICs - residential

    2,193       2,195       2,986       2,977       3,676       3,685  

Total mortgage-backed securities

    8,019       8,303       10,713       11,014       13,792       14,163  
    $ 23,538     $ 23,829     $ 59,884     $ 60,193     $ 87,808     $ 88,179  

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
   

Amortized

Cost

   

Fair Value

   

Amortized

Cost

   

Fair Value

   

Amortized

Cost

   

Fair Value

 
   

(In thousands)

 

Equity Investments (1)

                                               

Visa Class B Shares

  $     $     $     $     $     $ 3,427  

 

(1)

Equity investments are included in Other Assets in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.

 

The fair values of marketable equity securities are generally determined by quoted prices, in active markets, for each specific security. If quoted market prices are not available for a marketable equity security, we determine its fair value based on the quoted price of a similar security traded in an active market. The fair values of debt securities are generally determined by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities. The fair value of a security is used to determine the amount of any unrealized gains or losses that must be reflected in our other comprehensive income and the net recorded value of our securities.

 

We evaluate marketable investment securities with significant declines in fair value on a quarterly basis to determine whether they should be considered other-than-temporarily impaired under current accounting guidance, which generally provides that if a security is in an unrealized loss position, whether due to general market conditions or industry or issuer-specific factors, the holder of the securities must assess whether the impairment is other-than-temporary.

 

Portfolio Maturities and Yields

 

The composition and maturities of the securities portfolio and the mortgage-backed securities portfolio at December 31, 2020 are summarized in the following table. Maturities are based on the final contractual payment dates, and do not reflect the impact of prepayments or early redemptions that may occur. Municipal securities yields have not been adjusted to a tax-equivalent basis, as the amount is immaterial.

 

   

One Year or Less

   

More than One Year through Five Years

   

More than Five Years through Ten Years

   

More than Ten Years

 
   

Amortized Cost

   

Weighted Average Yield

   

Amortized Cost

   

Weighted Average Yield

   

Amortized Cost

   

Weighted Average Yield

   

Amortized Cost

   

Weighted Average Yield

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Securities:

                                                               

Certificates of deposit

  $ 14,869       0.54 %   $ 248       0.35 %   $       %   $       %

Municipal securities

    402       4.00                                      
      15,271       0.63       248       0.35                          
                                                                 

Mortgage-backed Securities:

                                                               

Pass-through securities:

                                                               

Fannie Mae

                904       2.75       366       3.77       1,961       3.15  

Freddie Mac

                            9       2.22       345       3.17  

Ginnie Mae

                10       2.25                   2,231       3.26  

CMOs and REMICs

                161       1.79                   2,032       0.46  
                  1,075       2.60       375       3.73       6,569       2.36  

Total securities

  $ 15,271       0.63 %   $ 1,323       2.18 %   $ 375       3.73 %   $ 6,569       2.36 %

 

The Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve System as a result of its conversion to a national bank charter in 2016. The aggregate cost of our FRB common stock as of December 31, 2020 was $4.7 million based on its par value. The Bank is also a member of the FHLB System. Members of the FHLB System are required to hold a certain amount of common stock to qualify for membership in the FHLB System and to be eligible to borrow funds under the FHLB’s advance program. The aggregate cost of our FHLB common stock as of December 31, 2020 was $2.8 million based on its par value. There is no market for FRB and FHLB common stock. We purchased 4,100 shares of FHLB capital stock during 2019 and none in 2020.  We redeemed no shares of FHLB capital stock in 2020 and 2019. We purchased no shares of FRB common stock in 2020 and 2019.  We redeemed 540,000 shares of FRB common stock in 2019 and none in 2020. As a member of the FHLB, we are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, at December 31, 2020, we owned 293,100 shares of excess FHLB common stock.

 

The Bank, as a member of Visa USA, received 51,404 unrestricted shares of Visa, Inc. Class B common stock in connection with Visa, Inc.’s initial public offering in 2007 and a related retroactive responsibility plan. The retroactive responsibility plan obligates all former Visa USA members to indemnify Visa USA, in proportion to their equity interests in Visa USA, for certain litigation losses and expenses, including settlement expenses, for the lawsuits covered by the retrospective responsibility plan. Due to the restrictions that the retrospective responsibility plan imposes on the Company’s Visa, Inc. Class B shares, the Company had not recorded the Class B shares as an asset.

 

The Bank sold 25,702 shares of Visa Class B common stock in the fourth quarter of 2018 and recorded a gain of $3.6 million. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, when an orderly transaction for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer is identified, we use the valuation techniques permitted under ASC 820 Fair Value to evaluate the observed transaction(s) and adjust the fair value of the equity investment. Based on the existing transfer restriction and the uncertainty of the outcome of the Visa litigation mentioned above, the 25,702 Visa Class B shares that the Company owned as of December 31, 2018 were recorded at $3.4 million in other assets with a corresponding gain. The Bank sold its remaining 25,702 shares of Visa Class B common stock in the first quarter of 2019 and recorded a gain of $295,000.

 

Loan Portfolio

 

We originate multi-family mortgage loans, nonresidential real estate loans, commercial loans and commercial equipment leases. In addition, we also originate consumer loans, and purchase and sell loan participations from time-to-time. Our principal loan products are discussed in Note 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio by type of loan.

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 
   

Amount

   

Percent

   

Amount

   

Percent

   

Amount

   

Percent

   

Amount

   

Percent

   

Amount

   

Percent

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

One-to-four family residential

  $ 41,691       4.13 %   $ 55,750       4.75 %   $ 70,371       5.29 %   $ 97,814       7.40 %   $ 135,218       10.25 %

Multi-family mortgage

    452,241       44.78       563,750       47.99       619,870       46.56       588,383       44.52       542,887       41.15  

Nonresidential real estate

    108,658       10.76       134,674       11.46       152,442       11.45       169,971       12.86       182,152       13.81  

Construction and land

    499       0.05                   172       0.01       1,358       0.10       1,302       0.09  

Commercial loans and leases

    405,057       40.10       418,343       35.61       486,800       36.57       462,628       35.00       455,602       34.53  

Consumer

    1,812       0.18       2,211       0.19       1,539       0.12       1,597       0.12       2,255       0.17  
      1,009,958       100.00 %     1,174,728       100.00 %     1,331,194       100.00 %     1,321,751       100.00 %     1,319,416       100.00 %

Net deferred loan origination costs

    371               912               1,069               1,266               1,663          

Allowance for loan losses

    (7,751 )             (7,632 )             (8,470 )             (8,366 )             (8,127 )        

Total loans, net

  $ 1,002,578             $ 1,168,008             $ 1,323,793             $ 1,314,651             $ 1,312,952          

 

 

23

 

We engage in multi-family lending activities in the Chicago Metropolitan Statistical Areas and in other carefully selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas outside of our primary lending area. At December 31, 2020, $219.9 million, or 48.6%, of our multi-family loans were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Chicago, Illinois, while $63.0 million, or 13.9%, were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Dallas, Texas; $44.8 million, or 9.9%, were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Denver, Colorado; $15.3 million, or 3.4%, were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Tampa, Florida; and $15.8 million, or 3.5%, were in the Metropolitan Statistical Area for Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina.   We engage in commercial lending and commercial equipment finance activities on a nationwide basis

 

Loan Portfolio Maturities

 

The following table summarizes the scheduled repayments of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2020. Demand loans, loans having no stated repayment schedule or maturity and overdraft loans are reported as being due in one year or less.

 

   

Within One Year

   

One Year Through Five Years

   

Beyond Five Years

   

Total

 
   

(In thousands)

 

Scheduled Repayments of Loans:

                               

One-to-four family residential

  $ 3,889     $ 9,791     $ 28,011     $ 41,691  

Multi-family mortgage

    22,413       71,383       358,445       452,241  

Nonresidential real estate

    42,233       58,577       7,848       108,658  
Construction and land     499                   499  

Commercial loans and leases

    163,162       240,735       1,160       405,057  

Consumer

    317       956       539       1,812  
    $ 232,513     $ 381,442     $ 396,003     $ 1,009,958  

 

   

Total

 

Loans Maturing After One Year:

       

Predetermined (fixed) interest rates

  $ 321,894  

Adjustable interest rates

    455,551  
    $ 777,445  

 

Nonperforming Loans and Assets

 

We review loans on a regular basis, and generally place loans on nonaccrual status when either principal or interest is 90 days or more past due. In addition, the Company places loans on nonaccrual status when we do not expect to receive full payment of interest or principal. Interest accrued and unpaid at the time a loan is placed on nonaccrual status is reversed from interest income. Interest payments received on nonaccrual loans are recognized in accordance with our significant accounting policies. Once a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, the borrower must generally demonstrate at least six months of payment performance before the loan is eligible to return to accrual status. We may have loans classified as 90 days or more delinquent and still accruing. Generally, we do not utilize this category of loan classification unless: (1) the loan is repaid in full shortly after the period end date; (2) the loan is well secured and there are no asserted or pending legal barriers to its collection; or (3) the borrower has remitted all scheduled payments and is otherwise in substantial compliance with the terms of the loan, but the processing of loan payments actually received or the renewal of the loan has not occurred for administrative reasons. At December 31, 2019, we had one loan in this category.

 

We typically obtain new third-party appraisals or collateral valuations when we place a loan on nonaccrual status, conduct impairment testing or complete a troubled debt restructuring (“TDR”) unless the existing valuation information for the collateral is sufficiently current to comply with the requirements of our Appraisal and Collateral Valuation Policy (“ACV Policy”). We also obtain new third-party appraisals or collateral valuations when the judicial foreclosure process concludes with respect to real estate collateral, and when we otherwise acquire actual or constructive title to real estate collateral. In addition to third-party appraisals, we use updated valuation information based on Multiple Listing Service data, broker opinions of value, actual sales prices of similar assets sold by us and approved sales prices in response to offers to purchase similar assets owned by us to provide interim valuation information for consolidated financial statement and management purposes. Our ACV Policy establishes the maximum useful life of a real estate appraisal at 18 months. Because appraisals and updated valuations utilize historical or “ask-side” data in reaching valuation conclusions, the appraised or updated valuation may or may not reflect the actual sales price that we will receive at the time of sale.

24

 

Real estate appraisals may include up to three approaches to value: the sales comparison approach, the income approach (for income-producing property) and the cost approach. Not all appraisals utilize all three approaches. Depending on the nature of the collateral and market conditions, we may emphasize one approach over another in determining the fair value of real estate collateral. Appraisals may also contain different estimates of value based on the level of occupancy or planned future improvements. “As-is” valuations represent an estimate of value based on current market conditions with no changes to the use or condition of the real estate collateral. “As-stabilized” or “as-completed” valuations assume the real estate collateral will be improved to a stated standard or achieve its highest and best use in terms of occupancy. “As-stabilized” or “as-completed” valuations may be subject to a present value adjustment for market conditions or the schedule of improvements.

 

As part of the asset classification process, we develop an exit strategy for real estate collateral or OREO by assessing overall market conditions, the current use and condition of the asset, and its highest and best use. For most income–producing real estate, we believe that investors value most highly a stable income stream from the asset; consequently, we perform a comparative evaluation to determine whether conducting a sale on an “as-is,” “as-stabilized” or “as-improved” basis is most likely to produce the highest net realizable value. If we determine that the “as-stabilized” or “as-improved” basis is appropriate, we then complete the necessary improvements or tenant stabilization tasks, with the applicable time value discount and improvement expenses incorporated into our estimates of the expected costs to sell. As of December 31, 2020, substantially all impaired real estate loan collateral and OREO were valued on an “as-is basis.”

 

Estimates of the net realizable value of real estate collateral also include a deduction for the expected costs to sell the collateral or such other deductions from the cash flows resulting from the operation and liquidation of the asset as are appropriate. For most real estate collateral subject to the judicial foreclosure process, we apply a 10.0% deduction to the value of the asset to determine the expected costs to sell the asset. This estimate includes one year of real estate taxes, sales commissions and miscellaneous repair and closing costs. If we receive a purchase offer that requires unbudgeted repairs, or if the expected resolution period for the asset exceeds one year, we then include, on a case-by-case basis, the costs of the additional real estate taxes and repairs and any other material holding costs in the expected costs to sell the collateral. For OREO, we apply a 7.0% deduction to determine the expected costs to sell, as expenses for real estate taxes and repairs are expensed when incurred.

 

Nonperforming Assets Summary

 

The following table below sets forth the amounts and categories of our nonperforming loans and nonperforming assets.

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Nonaccrual loans

                                       

One-to-four family residential

  $ 925     $ 512     $ 1,247     $ 2,024     $ 2,855  

Multi-family mortgage

                      371       187  

Nonresidential real estate

    296       288       270             260  
      1,221       800       1,517       2,395       3,302  

Loans past due over 90 days, still accruing - commercial leases

          47                    
                                         

Other real estate owned

                                       

One-to-four family residential

    157       186       875       827       1,565  

Multi-family mortgage

                276             370  

Nonresidential real estate

                74       1,520       1,066  

Land

                1       4       894  
      157       186       1,226       2,351       3,895  

Total nonperforming assets

  $ 1,378     $ 1,033     $ 2,743     $ 4,746     $ 7,197  
                                         

Ratios

                                       

Nonperforming loans to total loans

    0.12 %     0.07 %     0.11 %     0.18 %     0.25 %

Nonperforming assets to total assets

    0.09       0.07       0.17       0.29       0.44  

 

Nonperforming Assets
 

Nonperforming assets totaled $1.4 million at December 31, 2020, and $1.0 million at December 31, 2019.   One residential loan with a recorded balance of $33,000 was transferred to OREO during the year ended December 31, 2020. We continue to experience modest quantities of defaults on residential loans principally due either to the borrower’s personal financial condition or death, and/or deteriorated collateral value.

 

Loan Extensions and Modifications

 

Maturing loans are subject to our standard loan underwriting policies and practices. Due to the need to obtain updated borrower and guarantor financial information, collateral information or to prepare revised loan documentation, loans in the process of renewal may appear as past due because the information needed to underwrite a renewal of the loan is not available to us prior to the maturity date of the loan. At times, short-term administrative extensions, which are typically 90 days in duration, are granted to facilitate proper underwriting. In general, loan modifications are subject to a risk-adjusted pricing analysis.

 

 

When appropriate, we evaluate loan extensions or modifications in accordance with ASC 310-40 and related federal regulatory guidance concerning TDRs and the FFIEC workout guidance to determine the required treatment for nonaccrual status and risk classification purposes. In general, if we grant a loan modification or extension that involves either the absence of principal amortization (other than for revolving lines of credit which are customarily granted on interest-only terms), or if we grant a material extension of an existing loan amortization period in excess of our underwriting standards, the loan will be placed on nonaccrual status and impairment testing conducted to determine whether a specific valuation allowance or loss classification / charge-off is required. If the loan is well secured by an abundance of collateral and the collectability of both interest and principal is probable, the loan may remain on accrual status, but it will be classified as a TDR due to the concession made in the loan principal amortization payment component. A loan in full compliance with the payment requirements specified in a loan modification will not be considered as past due, but may nonetheless be placed on nonaccrual status or be classified as a TDR, as appropriate under the circumstances.

 

In accordance with the FFIEC workout guidance, the Company will restructure a note into two separate notes (A/B structure), charging off the entire B portion of the note. The A note is structured with appropriate loan-to-value and cash flow coverage ratios that provide for a high likelihood of repayment. The A note is classified as a nonperforming note until the borrower has displayed a historical payment performance for a reasonable time prior to and subsequent to the restructuring. A period of sustained repayment for at least six months generally is required to return the note to accrual status provided that management has determined that the performance is reasonably expected to continue. The A note will be classified as a restructured note (either performing or nonperforming) through the calendar year of the restructuring that the historical payment performance has been established.

 

Troubled Debt Restructurings

 

The Company had no TDRs at December 31, 2020 and 2019.  Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides that a qualified loan modification is exempt by law from classification as a TDR pursuant to US GAAP.  In addition, the Revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working With Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (“OCC Bulletin 2020-50”) provides more limited circumstances in which a loan modification is not subject to classification as a TDR and also defined the circumstances where the borrower’s loan is reported as current on loan payments. Pursuant to these new capabilities, we developed several loan forbearance programs to assist borrowers with managing cash flows disrupted due to COVID-19.  For additional discussion of these programs, see Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Risk Classification of Loans

 

Our policies, consistent with regulatory guidelines, provide for the classification of loans and other assets that are considered to be of lesser quality as substandard, doubtful, or loss assets, or designated as special mention.

 

A substandard asset is inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Assets so classified must have a well-defined weakness, or weaknesses, that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. The risk-rating guidance published by the OCC clarifies that a loan with a well-defined weakness does not have to present a probability of default for the loan to be rated substandard, and that an individual loan’s loss potential does not have to be distinct for the loan to be rated substandard. An asset classified as doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in one classified as substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable. Assets classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted; such balances are promptly charged-off as required by applicable federal regulations. A special mention asset has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.

 

Based on a review of our loans at December 31, 2020, classified loans consisted of $6.5 million of performing substandard loans and $1.2 million of nonperforming loans. As of December 31, 2020, we had $2.0 million of loans designated as special mention.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses

 

We establish provisions for loan losses, which are charged to operations in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level we consider necessary to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, we consider past and current loss experience, trends in nonaccrual loans, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from the estimates as more information becomes available or events change.

 

We provide for loan losses based on the allowance method. Accordingly, all loan losses are charged to the related allowance and all recoveries are credited to it. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are provided by charges to income based on various factors that, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable incurred credit losses. We review the loan portfolio on an ongoing basis and make provisions for loan losses on a quarterly basis to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). The allowance for loan losses consists of two components:

 

 

specific allowances established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, construction and land, commercial loans and leases for which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measured value of the loan; and

   

 

 

general allowances for loan losses for each loan class based on historical loan loss experience; and adjustments to historical loss experience (general allowances), maintained to cover uncertainties that affect our estimate of probable incurred credit losses for each loan class.

 

 

The adjustments to historical loss experience are based on our evaluation of several factors, including levels of, and trends in, past due and classified loans; levels of, and trends in, charge-offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans, including any credit concentrations in the loan portfolio; experience, and ability of lending management and other relevant staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions.

 

We evaluate the allowance for loan losses based upon the combined total of the specific and general components. Generally, when the loan portfolio increases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology results in a higher dollar amount of estimated probable incurred credit losses than would be the case without the increase. Conversely, when the loan portfolio decreases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology generally results in a lower dollar amount of estimated probable losses than would be the case without the decrease.

 

We review our loan portfolio on an ongoing basis to determine whether any loans require classification and impairment testing in accordance with applicable regulations and accounting principles. When we classify loans as either substandard or doubtful and in certain other cases, we review the collateral and future cash flow projections to determine if a specific reserve is necessary. The allowance for loan losses represents amounts that have been established to recognize incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the date of the consolidated financial statements. When we classify problem loans as loss, we charge-off such amounts.

 

Our calculation of the general component of the allowance for loan losses includes the FASB disclosure requirement that each loan portfolio category must be segmented into specific loan classes (FASB Standards Update 2010-20 (ASU 210-20), “Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivables and the Allowance for Credit Losses”). Loan class segmentation tables are presented in Note 4 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. To maintain consistency, the loan class segmentation was also applied within the 12-quarter loss history that we use to calculate the general component of the allowance for loan losses, inherent risk factor weightings were adjusted based on our evaluation of their relevance to the new loan classes, and duplicative historical loss factors were eliminated from the loan class segmentation.

 

While we use the best information available to make evaluations, future adjustments to the allowance may become necessary if conditions differ substantially from the information that we used in making the evaluations. Our determinations as to the risk classification of our loans and the amount of our allowance for loan losses are subject to review by our regulatory agencies, which can require that we establish additional loss allowances.

 

Net Charge-offs and Recoveries

 

The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses.

 

   

At or For the Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

   

2017

   

2016

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Balance at beginning of year

  $ 7,632     $ 8,470     $ 8,366     $ 8,127     $ 9,691  

Charge-offs

                                       

One-to-four family residential real estate

    (9 )     (222 )     (231 )     (318 )     (539 )

Multi-family mortgage

                (35 )     (10 )     (79 )

Nonresidential real estate

          (83 )     (93 )     (165 )     (1,718 )

Commercial loans and leases

          (4,443 )     (140 )            

Consumer

    (62 )     (31 )     (19 )     (10 )     (25 )
      (71 )     (4,779 )     (518 )     (503 )     (2,361 )

Recoveries

                                       

One-to-four family residential real estate

    37       75       206       145       321  

Multi-family mortgage

    94       31       34       70       162  

Nonresidential real estate

                      17       200  

Construction and land

                2             35  

Commercial loans and leases

    4       10       234       596       316  

Consumer

                1       1       2  
      135       116       477       829       1,036  

Net (charge-offs) recoveries

    64       (4,663 )     (41 )     326       (1,325 )

Provision for (recovery of) loan losses

    55       3,825       145       (87 )     (239 )

Balance at end of year

  $ 7,751     $ 7,632     $ 8,470     $ 8,366     $ 8,127  
                                         

Ratios

                                       

Net (charge-offs) recoveries to average loans outstanding

    0.01 %     (0.37 )%     %     0.03 %     (0.11 )%

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans

    634.81       901.06       558.34       349.31       246.12  

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

    0.77       0.65       0.64       0.63       0.62  

 

We recorded a provision for loan losses of $55,000 in 2020, compared to $3.8 million in 2019.  The provision for or recovery of loan losses is a function of the allowance for loan loss methodology that we use to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for inherent loan losses after net charge-offs have been deducted. The portion of the allowance for loan losses attributable to loans collectively evaluated for impairment increased $91,000, or 1.2%, to $7.7 million at December 31, 2020 from $7.6 million at December 31, 2019. The reserve established for loans individually evaluated for impairment increased $28,000, to $28,000 at December 31, 2020, from none at December 31, 2019. Net recoveries were $64,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020 and we had net charge-offs of $4.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. In 2019, we recorded a $4.4 million loss on the sale of a Chicago commercial credit exposure that experienced an unexpected deterioration in the second quarter of 2019. 

 

A loan balance is classified as a loss and charged-off when it is confirmed that there is no readily apparent source of repayment for the portion of the loan that is classified as loss. Confirmation can occur upon the receipt of updated third-party appraisal valuation information indicating that there is a low probability of repayment upon sale of the collateral, the final disposition of collateral where the net proceeds are insufficient to pay the loan balance in full, our failure to obtain possession of certain consumer-loan collateral within certain time limits specified by applicable federal regulations, the conclusion of legal proceedings where the borrower’s obligation to repay is legally discharged (such as a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding), or when it appears that further formal collection procedures are not likely to result in net proceeds in excess of the costs to collect.

 

 

Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses

 

The following table sets forth our allowance for loan losses allocated by loan category. The allowance for loan losses allocated to each category is not necessarily indicative of future losses in any particular category and does not restrict the use of the allowance to absorb losses in other categories.

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
   

Allowance for Loan Losses

   

Loan Balances by Category

   

Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans

   

Allowance for Loan Losses

   

Loan Balances by Category

   

Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans

   

Allowance for Loan Losses

   

Loan Balances by Category

   

Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

One-to-four family residential

  $ 518     $ 41,691       4.13 %   $ 675     $ 55,750       4.75 %   $ 699     $ 70,371       5.29 %

Multi-family mortgage

    4,062       452,241       44.78       3,676       563,750       47.99       3,991       619,870       46.56  

Nonresidential real estate

    1,569       108,658       10.76       1,176       134,674       11.46       1,476       152,442       11.45  

Construction and land

    12       499       0.05                         4       172       0.01  

Commercial loans and leases

    1,536       405,057       40.10       2,065       418,343       35.61       2,272       486,800       36.57  

Consumer

    54       1,812       0.18       40       2,211       0.19       28       1,539       0.12  
    $ 7,751     $ 1,009,958       100.00 %   $ 7,632     $ 1,174,728       100.00 %   $ 8,470     $ 1,331,194       100.00 %

 

   

At December 31,

 
   

2017

   

2016

 
   

Allowance for Loan Losses

   

Loan Balances by Category

   

Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans

   

Allowance for Loan Losses

   

Loan Balances by Category

   

Percent of Loans in Each Category to Total Loans

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

One-to-four family residential

  $ 850     $ 97,814       7.40 %   $ 1,168     $ 135,218       10.25 %

Multi-family mortgage

    3,849       588,383       44.52       3,647       542,887       41.15  

Nonresidential real estate

    1,605       169,971       12.86       1,794       182,152       13.81  

Construction and land

    32       1,358       0.10       32       1,302       0.09  

Commercial loans and leases

    2,012       462,628       35.00       1,447       455,602       34.53  

Consumer

    18       1,597       0.12       39       2,255       0.17  
    $ 8,366     $ 1,321,751       100.00 %   $ 8,127     $ 1,319,416       100.00 %

 

 

Sources of Funds

 

Deposits. At December 31, 2020, our deposits totaled $1.394 billion. Interest-bearing deposits totaled $1.067 billion and noninterest-bearing demand deposits totaled $326.2 million. NOW, savings and money market accounts totaled $814.4 million. At December 31, 2020, we had $253.0 million of certificates of deposit outstanding, of which $188.0 million had maturities of one year or less. Although a significant portion of our certificates of deposit are shorter-term certificates of deposit, we believe, based on historical experience and our current pricing strategy, that we will retain a significant portion of the non-brokered accounts upon maturity.

 

The following table sets forth the distribution of total deposit accounts, by account type.

 

   

Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
   

Average Balance

   

Percent

   

Weighted Average Rate

   

Average Balance

   

Percent

   

Weighted Average Rate

   

Average Balance

   

Percent

   

Weighted Average Rate

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Noninterest-bearing demand:

                                                                       

Retail

  $ 134,065       9.96 %     %   $ 123,496       9.43 %     %   $ 132,053       10.20 %     %

Commercial

    145,342       10.80             90,450       6.91             94,552       7.30        

Total noninterest-bearing demand

    279,407       20.76             213,946       16.34             226,605       17.50        

Savings deposits

    165,733       12.31       0.09       152,567       11.66       0.28       157,350       12.16       0.18  

Money market accounts

    268,222       19.93       0.35       245,730       18.77       0.91       278,366       21.50       0.71  

Interest-bearing NOW accounts

    296,612       22.04       0.20       269,856       20.61       0.43       279,422       21.59       0.31  

Certificates of deposit

    335,938       24.96       1.58       427,044       32.62       2.18       352,731       27.25       1.54  
    $ 1,345,912       100.00 %           $ 1,309,143       100.00 %           $ 1,294,474       100.00 %        

 

The following table sets forth certificates of deposit by time remaining until maturity at December 31, 2020:

 

   

Maturity

         
    3 Months or Less    

Over 3 to 6 Months

   

Over 6 to 12 Months

    Over 12 Months    

Total

 
   

(In thousands)

 

Certificates of deposit less than $100,000

  $ 37,169     $ 26,969     $ 40,046     $ 36,741     $ 140,925  

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more

    36,548       20,354       26,954       28,219       112,075  

Total certificates of deposit

  $ 73,717     $ 47,323     $ 67,000     $ 64,960     $ 253,000  

 

Borrowings. Our borrowings consist primarily of Federal Home Loan Bank advances and repurchase agreements. The following table sets forth information concerning balances and interest rates on our borrowings.

 

   

At or For the Years Ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2018

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Balance at end of year

  $ 4,000     $ 61     $ 21,049  

Average balance during year

    2,612       4,216       45,870  

Maximum outstanding at any month end

    4,000       20,574       60,983  

Weighted average interest rate at end of year

    %     0.25 %     2.51 %

Average interest rate during year

          2.11       1.43  

 

At December 31, 2020, we had the capacity to borrow an additional $315.6 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB. Furthermore, we had unpledged securities that could be used to support in excess of $7.5 million of additional FHLB borrowings.

 

At December 31, 2020, we had a line of credit with the FRB. At December 31, 2020, there were no outstanding federal funds borrowings and there was no outstanding balance on the line of credit.

 

On April 1,2020, the Company established a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit with a correspondent bank.  Interest is payable at a rate of Prime rate minus 0.75%.  The line of credit will mature on April 1, 2021.  The line of credit had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2020.

 

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes have been prepared in conformity with US GAAP, which generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without considering changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation, if any, is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.

 

Management of Interest Rate Risk

 

Qualitative Analysis. A significant form of market risk is interest rate risk. Interest rate risk results from timing differences in the maturity or repricing of our assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts (i.e., forward loan commitments), the effect of loan prepayments and deposit withdrawals, the difference in the behavior of lending and funding rates arising from the use of different indices and “yield curve risk” arising from changing rate relationships across the spectrum of maturities for constant or variable credit risk investments. In addition to directly affecting net interest income, changes in market interest rates can also affect the amount of new loan originations, the ability of borrowers to repay variable-rate loans, the volume of loan prepayments and refinancings, the carrying value of investment securities classified as available-for-sale and the flow and mix of deposits.

 

The general objective of our interest rate risk management is to determine the appropriate level of risk given our business strategy and then manage that risk in a manner that is consistent with our policy to reduce, to the extent possible, the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Our Asset/Liability Management Committee (“ALCO”), which consists of certain members of senior management, evaluates the interest rate risk inherent in certain assets and liabilities, our operating environment and capital and liquidity requirements, and modifies our lending, investing and deposit gathering strategies accordingly. The Board of Directors then reviews the ALCO’s activities and strategies, the effect of those strategies on our net interest margin, and the effect that changes in market interest rates would have on the economic value of our loan and securities portfolios as well as the intrinsic value of our deposits and borrowings.

 

We actively evaluate interest rate risk in connection with our lending, investing and deposit activities. In an effort to better manage interest rate risk, we have de-emphasized the origination of residential mortgage loans, and have increased our emphasis on the origination of nonresidential real estate loans, multi-family mortgage loans, commercial loans and leases. In addition, depending on market interest rates and our capital and liquidity position, we generally sell all or a portion of our longer-term, fixed-rate residential loans, usually on a servicing-retained basis. Further, we primarily invest in shorter-duration securities, which generally have lower yields compared to longer-term investments. Shortening the average maturity of our interest-earning assets by increasing our investments in shorter-term loans and securities, as well as loans with variable rates of interest, helps to better match the maturities and interest rates of our assets and liabilities, thereby reducing the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Finally, we have classified our entire investment portfolio as available-for-sale so as to provide flexibility in liquidity management.

 

We utilize a combination of analyses to monitor the Bank’s exposure to changes in interest rates. The economic value of equity analysis is a model that estimates the change in net portfolio value (“NPV”) over a range of interest rate scenarios. NPV is the discounted present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance-sheet contracts. In calculating changes in NPV, we assume estimated loan prepayment rates, reinvestment rates and deposit decay rates that seem most likely based on historical experience during prior interest rate changes.

 

Our net interest income analysis utilizes the data derived from the dynamic GAP analysis, described below, and applies several additional elements, including actual interest rate indices and margins, contractual limitations such as interest rate floors and caps and the U.S. Treasury yield curve as of the balance sheet date. In addition, we apply consistent parallel yield curve shifts (in both directions) to determine possible changes in net interest income if the theoretical yield curve shifts occurred instantaneously. Net interest income analysis also adjusts the dynamic GAP repricing analysis based on changes in prepayment rates resulting from the parallel yield curve shifts.

 

Our dynamic GAP analysis determines the relative balance between the repricing of assets and liabilities over multiple periods of time (ranging from overnight to five years). Dynamic GAP analysis includes expected cash flows from loans and mortgage-backed securities, applying prepayment rates based on the differential between the current interest rate and the market interest rate for each loan and security type. This analysis identifies mismatches in the timing of asset and liability repricing but does not necessarily provide an accurate indicator of interest rate risk because it omits the factors incorporated into the net interest income analysis.

 

Quantitative Analysis. The following table sets forth, as of December 31, 2020, the estimated changes in the Bank’s NPV and net interest income that would result from the designated instantaneous parallel shift in the U.S. Treasury yield curve. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results.

 

   

Estimated Increse (Decrease) in NPV

   

Increase (Decrease) in Estimated Net Interest Income

 

Change in Interest Rates (basis points)

 

Amount

   

Percent

   

Amount

   

Percent

 
   

(Dollars in thousands)

 

+400

  $ 19,057       10.76 %   $ 11,840       29.27 %

+300

    17,718       10.00       9,118       22.54  

+200

    12,181       6.87       6,089       15.05  

+100

    4,641       2.62       2,940       7.27  

0

                               
-25     (5,883 )     (3.32 )     (366 )     (0.90 )

 

The table set forth above indicates that at December 31, 2020, in the event of an immediate 25 basis point decrease in interest rates, the Bank would be expected to experience a 3.32% decrease in NPV and a $366,000 decrease in net interest income. In the event of an immediate 200 basis point increase in interest rates, the Bank would be expected to experience a 6.87% increase in NPV and a $6.1 million increase in net interest income. This data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates, such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors, which could reduce the actual impact on NPV and net interest income, if any.

 

Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodology used in the above interest rate risk measurements. Modeling changes in NPV and net interest income requires that we make certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. The NPV and net interest income table presented above assumes that the composition of our interest-rate-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured and, accordingly, the data does not reflect any actions that we may undertake in response to changes in interest rates, such as changes in rates paid on certain deposit accounts based on local competitive factors. The table also assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration to maturity or the repricing characteristics of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although the NPV and net interest income table provides an indication of our sensitivity to interest rate changes at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and will differ from actual results.

 

30

 

Liquidity Management

 

Liquidity Management – Bank. The overall objective of our liquidity management is to ensure the availability of sufficient cash funds to meet all financial commitments and to take advantage of investment opportunities. We manage liquidity in order to meet deposit withdrawals on demand or at contractual maturity, to repay borrowings as they mature, and to fund new loans and investments as opportunities arise.

 

Our primary sources of funds are deposits, principal and interest payments on loans and securities, and, to a lesser extent, wholesale borrowings, the proceeds from maturing securities and short-term investments, and the proceeds from the sales of loans and securities. The scheduled amortizations of loans and securities, as well as proceeds from borrowings, are predictable sources of funds. Other funding sources, however, such as deposit inflows, mortgage prepayments and mortgage loan sales are greatly influenced by market interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

 

Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Our primary investing activities are the origination for investment of multi-family mortgage loans, nonresidential real estate loans, commercial loans and leases and the purchase of investment securities and mortgage-backed securities. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, our loans originated or purchased for investment totaled $651.9 million and $793.7 million, respectively. Purchases of securities totaled $44.1 million and $83.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. These activities were funded primarily by principal repayments on loans and securities, and the sale of securities.

 

During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, principal repayments on loans totaled $817.4 million and $942.7 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, principal repayments on securities totaled $2.7 million and $3.1 million, respectively. During the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, proceeds from maturities and sales of securities totaled $77.8 million and $111.6 million, respectively. There were no sales of loans during the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Loan origination commitments totaled $31.1 million at December 31, 2020, and consisted of $23.1 million of fixed-rate loans and $8.0 million of adjustable-rate loans. Unused lines of credit and standby letters of credit granted to customers totaled $200.2 million and $6.7 million, respectively, at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020, there were no commitments to sell mortgages.

 

Deposit flows are generally affected by the level of market interest rates, the interest rates and other terms and conditions on deposit products offered by our banking competitors, and other factors, including goverment fiscal stimulus payments to households and businesses. We had net deposit increases of $108.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 and net deposit decreases of $67.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. Certificates of deposit that are scheduled to mature in one year or less at December 31, 2020 totaled $188.0 million.

 

We anticipate that we will have sufficient funds available to meet current loan commitments and lines of credit and maturing certificates of deposit that are not renewed or extended. We generally remain fully invested and may utilize additional sources of funds through FHLB advances, of which $4.0 million was outstanding at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2020 we had the ability to borrow an additional $315.6 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB. Furthermore, we have unpledged securities that could be used to support borrowings in excess of $7.5 million. Finally, at December 31, 2020, we had a line of credit available with the FRB. At December 31, 2020, there was no outstanding balance on this credit line.

 

Liquidity Management - Company. The liquidity needs of the Company on an unconsolidated basis consist primarily of operating expenses, dividends to stockholders and stock repurchases. The primary sources of liquidity for the Company currently are $11.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and any cash dividends it may receive from the Bank.  On April 1, 2020, the Company established a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit with a correspondent bank.  Interest is payable at a rate of Prime rate minus 0.75%.  The line of credit will mature on April 1, 2021.  The line of credit had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2020.

 

During 2020, we paid $4.6 million to repurchase shares of our common stock and paid $6.0 million in cash dividends to stockholders, using the dividends received from the Bank.

 

As of December 31, 2020, we were not aware of any known trends, events or uncertainties that had or were reasonably likely to have a material impact on our liquidity. As of December 31, 2020, we had no other material commitments for capital expenditures.

 

Capital Management

 

Capital Management - Bank. The overall objectives of our capital management are to ensure the availability of sufficient capital to support loan, deposit and other asset and liability growth opportunities and to maintain capital to absorb unforeseen losses or write-downs that are inherent in the business risks associated with the banking industry. We seek to balance the need for higher capital levels to address such unforeseen risks and the goal to achieve an adequate return on the capital invested by our stockholders.

 

The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations, involve the quantitative measurement of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. The failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in regulatory actions. The final rules implementing Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective in 2015. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital.

 

In addition, as a result of the legislation, the federal banking agencies developed a “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (the ratio of a bank’s tangible equity capital to average total consolidated assets) for financial institutions with assets of less than $10 billion. A “qualifying community bank” that exceeds this ratio will be deemed to be in compliance with all other capital and leverage requirements, including the capital requirements to be considered “well capitalized” under Prompt Corrective Action statutes. The federal banking agencies may consider a financial institution’s risk profile when evaluating whether it qualifies as a community bank for purposes of the capital ratio requirement. The federal banking agencies must set the minimum capital for the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio at not less than 8% and not more than 10%. Pursuant to Section 4012 of the CARES Act and related interim final rules, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio was 8% beginning in the second quarter and for the remainder of calendar year 2020, and will be 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. A financial institution can elect to be subject to this new definition, and opt-out of this new definition, at any time. As a qualified community bank, we elected to be subject to this definition beginning the second quarter of 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the Bank's Community Bank Leverage Ratio was 10.10%.

 

 

The prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications, including well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. Adequately capitalized institutions require regulatory approval to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, a financial institution’s capital distributions, asset growth and expansion are limited, and the submission of a capital restoration is required.

 

The Company and the Bank have each adopted Regulatory Capital Plans that require the Bank to maintain a Tier 1 leverage ratio of at least 7.5% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.5%. The minimum capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Plans will be increased and other minimum capital requirements will be established if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Plans, the Bank will not pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the established minimum capital levels or the capital levels required for capital adequacy plus the capital conservation buffer (“ CCB”). The minimum CCB is 2.5%.  As of December 31, 2020 the Bank was well-capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events that management believes have changed the Bank’s prompt corrective action capitalization category.

 

Capital Management - Company. Total stockholders’ equity was $172.9 million at December 31, 2020, compared to $174.4 million at December 31, 2019. The decrease in total stockholders’ equity was primarily due to the combined impact of our repurchase of 508,699 shares of our common stock at a total cost of $4.6 million, and our declaration and payment of cash dividends totaling $6.0 million, during the year ended December 31, 2020. These items were partially offset by net income of $9.2 million that we recorded for the year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Cash Dividends. Our Board of Directors declared four quarterly cash dividends totaling $6.0 million during 2020, consisting of a cash dividend of $0.10 per share for each quarter of 2020.

 

Stock Repurchase Program.  On October 29, 2020, the Board increased the total number of shares authorized for repurchase from 5,810,755 shares to 6,210,755 shares, an increase of 400,000 shares and extended the expiration date of the Company's share repurchase authorization from October 31, 2020 to April 30, 2021. As of December 31, 2020, the Company had repurchased 5,776,491 shares of its common stock out of the 6,210,755 shares of common stock authorized under the current share repurchase authorization. Pursuant to the current share repurchase authorization, as of December 31, 2020, there were 434,264 shares of common stock remaining authorized for repurchase through April 30, 2021.

 

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations

 

Commitments. As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, unused lines of credit and commitments to sell loans. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process afforded to loans that we make. Although we consider commitments to extend credit in determining our allowance for loan losses, at December 31, 2020, we had made no provision for losses on commitments to extend credit, and had no specific or general allowance for losses on such commitments, as we have had no historical loss experience with commitments to extend credit and we believed that no probable and reasonably estimable losses were inherent in our portfolio as a result of our commitments to extend credit.  For additional information, see Note 13 of the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Contractual Obligations. In the ordinary course of our operations, we enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include operating leases for premises and equipment.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Critical accounting policies are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially result in materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that the most critical accounting policies upon which our financial condition and results of operation depend, and which involve the most complex subjective decisions or assessments, are as follows:

 

Allowance for Loan Losses. Arriving at an appropriate level of allowance for loan losses involves a high degree of judgment. Our allowance for loan losses provides for probable incurred losses based upon evaluations of known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. We review the level of the allowance on a quarterly basis and establish the provision for loan losses based upon historical loan loss experience, the nature and volume of the loan portfolio, information about specific borrower situations, estimated collateral values, economic conditions and other factors to assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Among the material estimates that we must make to establish the allowance are loss exposure at default; the amount and timing of future cash flows on affected loans; the value of collateral; and a determination of loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the loan portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Although -we believe that we use the best information available to us to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance may be necessary if borrower financial, collateral valuation or economic conditions differ substantially from the information and assumptions used in making the evaluation. In addition, as an integral part of their supervisory and/or examination process, our regulatory agencies periodically review the methodology and sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses. These agencies may require us to recognize additions to the allowance based on their inclusion, exclusion or modification of risk factors or differences in judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination. A large loss could deplete the allowance and require increased provisions to replenish the allowance, which would negatively affect earnings.

 

Income Taxes.  We consider accounting for income taxes a critical accounting policy due to the subjective nature of certain estimates that are involved in the calculation.  We use the asset/liability method of accounting for income taxes in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. Under GAAP, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is dependent upon judgments made following management’s periodic evaluation of all available positive and negative evidence, including prior pre-tax losses and the events or conditions that caused them, forecasts of future taxable income, and current and future economic and business conditions.

 

 

In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets at December 31, 2020, the Company concluded that it was more likely than not that the Company will not realize the full benefits of deductible differences at December 31, 2020, and therefore, recorded a $200,000 valuation allowance (6.0%) of the Company's $3.4 million in deferred State of Illinois tax assets due to declines in interest income and deposit fee income attributable to the Company’s operations in Illinois that occurred during 2020.  We determined a valuation allowance was not required for any deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019.

 

 

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

For information regarding market risk see Item 7 - “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Management of Interest Rate Risk.”

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

 

Management of BankFinancial Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management evaluates the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and tests for reliability of recorded financial information through a program of ongoing internal audits. Any system of internal control, no matter how well designed, has inherent limitations, including the possibility that a control can be circumvented or overridden and misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected. Also, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.

 

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Management assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2020, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, based on the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting described in the “2013 Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.” Based on this assessment, management concludes that, as of December 31, 2020, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective.

 

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

 

/s/ Paul A. Cloutier

F. Morgan Gasior

 

Paul A. Cloutier

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors BankFinancial Corporation

 

Opinion on the Financial Statements

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition of BankFinancial Corporation and Subsidiary (the Company) as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Basis for Opinion

 

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

 

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Critical Audit Matters

 

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses – General Component Qualitative Factors

 

As described in Notes 1 and 4 to the consolidated financial statements, the allowance for loan losses is established through a provision for loan losses and represents an amount which, in management’s judgment, will be adequate to absorb losses in the loan portfolio. The Company’s allowance for loan losses balance was $7.8 million at December 31, 2020 and consists of a specific and general component totaling $28 thousand and $7.7 million, respectively. Management estimates the allowance based on loan losses believed to be inherent in the Company’s loan portfolio at the balance sheet date. The specific component is established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, construction and land, commercial, and commercial lease loans for which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measured value of the loan. Management develops the general component based on historical loan loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors not reflected in the historical loss experience. Historical loss ratios are measured on a weighted, rolling twelve-quarter basis. The qualitative factors used by the Company include factors specific to the loan class, such as the change in credit quality during the period, the inherent risk factor, and the concentration of risk factor, as well as national and local economic risk factors. The adjustments for qualitative factors require a significant amount of judgment by management and involve a high degree of estimation uncertainty.

 

We identified the qualitative factor component of the allowance for loan losses as a critical audit matter as auditing the underlying qualitative factors required significant auditor judgment as amounts determined by management rely on analysis that is highly subjective and includes significant estimation uncertainty.

 

Our audit procedures related to the qualitative factor component of the allowance for loan losses included the following, among others:

 

 

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls related to the allowance for loan losses and tested such controls for design and operating effectiveness, including controls related to management’s establishment, review and approval of the qualitative factors, and the  completeness and accuracy of data used in determining qualitative factors.

 

We evaluated the appropriateness of management’s methodology for estimating the allowance for loan losses.

 

We tested the completeness and accuracy of data used by management in determining qualitative factor adjustments by agreeing them to internal and external source data.

 

We tested management’s conclusions regarding the appropriateness of the qualitative factor adjustments and agreed the impact to the allowance for loan losses calculation.

 

 

/s/ RSM LLP

 

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2019

 

Chicago, Illinois

February 25, 2021

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Assets

        

Cash and due from other financial institutions

 $14,115  $9,785 

Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions

  489,381   180,540 

Cash and cash equivalents

  503,496   190,325 

Securities, at fair value

  23,829   60,193 

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses: December 31, 2020, $7,751 and December 31, 2019, $7,632

  1,002,578   1,168,008 

Other real estate owned, net

  157   186 

Stock in Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") and Federal Reserve Bank ("FRB"), at cost

  7,490   7,490 

Premises and equipment, net

  24,675   24,346 

Accrued interest receivable

  3,941   4,563 

Bank-owned life insurance

  19,015   18,945 

Deferred taxes

  2,741   3,873 

Other assets

  8,920   10,086 

Total assets

 $1,596,842  $1,488,015 
         

Liabilities

        

Deposits

        

Noninterest-bearing

 $326,188  $210,762 

Interest-bearing

  1,067,356   1,073,995 

Total deposits

  1,393,544   1,284,757 

Borrowings

  4,000   61 

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

  8,670   10,222 

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

  17,698   18,603 

Total liabilities

  1,423,912   1,313,643 

Commitments and contingent liabilities

 
         

Stockholders’ equity

        

Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 25,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

      

Common Stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized; 14,769,765 shares issued at December 31, 2020 and 15,278,464 shares issued at December 31, 2019

  148   153 

Additional paid-in capital

  107,815   112,420 

Retained earnings

  64,754   61,573 

Accumulated other comprehensive income

  213   226 

Total stockholders’ equity

  172,930   174,372 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $1,596,842  $1,488,015 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

 

   

For the years ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Interest and dividend income

               

Loans, including fees

  $ 50,467     $ 60,568  

Securities

    854       2,082  

Other

    1,554       2,758  

Total interest income

    52,875       65,408  

Interest expense

               

Deposits

    6,988       13,128  

Borrowings

          89  

Total interest expense

    6,988       13,217  

Net interest income

    45,887       52,191  

Provision for loan losses

    55       3,825  

Net interest income after provision for loan losses

    45,832       48,366  
                 

Noninterest income

               

Deposit service charges and fees

    3,196       3,844  

Loan servicing fees

    552       451  

Mortgage brokerage and banking fees

    98       149  

Gain on sale of equity securities

          295  

Loss on disposal of other assets

    (5 )     (44 )

Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income

    961       844  

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance

    70       136  

Other

    494       497  

Total noninterest income

    5,366       6,172  
                 

Noninterest expense

               

Compensation and benefits

    21,323       21,266  

Office occupancy and equipment

    7,361       7,075  

Advertising and public relations

    564       657  

Information technology

    3,194       3,272  

Professional fees

    1,356       1,307  

Supplies, telephone, and postage

    1,232       1,328  

Amortization of intangibles

    34       61  

Nonperforming asset management

    146       105  

Operations of other real estate owned

    17       52  

FDIC insurance premiums

    348       127  

Other

    2,863       3,391  

Total noninterest expense

    38,438       38,641  

Income before income taxes

    12,760       15,897  

Income tax expense

    3,597       4,225  

Net income

  $ 9,163     $ 11,672  

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

  $ 0.61     $ 0.75  

Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

    14,951,656       15,594,883  

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(In thousands)

 

   

For the years ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Net income

  $ 9,163     $ 11,672  

Unrealized holding loss on securities arising during the period

    (18 )     (62 )

Tax effect

    5       17  

Comprehensive loss, net of tax

    (13 )     (45 )

Comprehensive income

  $ 9,150     $ 11,627  

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(In thousands, except shares and per share data)

 

  Common Stock  Additional Paid-in Capital  Retained Earnings  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income  

Total

 

Balance at January 1, 2019

 $165  $130,547  $56,167  $271  $187,150 

Net income

        11,672      11,672 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect

           (45)  (45)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock (1,203,050 shares)

  (12)  (18,127)        (18,139)

Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.40 per share)

        (6,266)     (6,266)

Balance at December 31, 2019

 $153  $112,420  $61,573  $226  $174,372 

Net income

        9,163      9,163 

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax effect

           (13)  (13)

Repurchase and retirement of common stock (508,699 shares)

  (5)  (4,605)        (4,610)

Cash dividends declared on common stock ($0.40 per share)

        (5,982)     (5,982)

Balance at December 31, 2020

 $148  $107,815  $64,754  $213  $172,930 

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

 

   

For the years ended December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

 

Cash flows from operating activities

               

Net income

  $ 9,163     $ 11,672  

Adjustments to reconcile to net income to net cash from operating activities

               

Provision for loan losses

    55       3,825  

Depreciation

    1,673       1,613  

Amortization of premiums and discounts on securities

    6       8  

Amortization of intangibles

    34       61  

Amortization of servicing assets

    78       85  

Net change in net deferred loan origination costs

    541       157  

Gain on sale of other real estate owned

    (22 )     (111 )

Gain on sale of equity securities

          (295 )

Loss on disposal of other assets

    5       44  

Other real estate owned valuation adjustments

          38  

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance

    (70 )     (136 )

Net change in:

               

Deferred income tax

    1,137       2,362  

Accrued interest receivable

    622       389  

Other assets

    1,300       3,864  

Accrued interest payable and other liabilities

    (1,005 )     (2,202 )

Net cash from operating activities

    13,517       21,374  

Cash flows from investing activities

               

Securities

               

Proceeds from maturities

    77,762       107,921  

Proceeds from principal repayments

    2,691       3,076  

Proceeds from sale of equity securities

          3,722  

Purchases of securities

    (44,113 )     (83,081 )

Net decrease in loans receivable

    164,666       151,501  

Redemption of FHLB and FRB stock

          540  

Purchase of FHLB and FRB stock

          (4 )

Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned

    120       1,299  

Other real estate owned capitalized expenditures

    (47 )      

Purchase of premises and equipment, net

    (2,007 )     (798 )

Net cash from investing activities

    199,072       184,176  

Cash flows from financing activities

               

Net change in:

               

Deposits

    108,787       (67,727 )

Borrowings

    3,939       (20,988 )

Advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance

    (1,552 )     (309 )

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

    (4,610 )     (18,139 )

Cash dividends paid on common stock

    (5,982 )     (6,266 )

Net cash from (used in) financing activities

    100,582       (113,429 )

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    313,171       92,121  

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

    190,325       98,204  

Ending cash and cash equivalents

  $ 503,496     $ 190,325  
                 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

               

Interest paid

  $ 7,035     $ 13,446  

Income taxes paid

    191       349  

Income taxes refunded

    14       18  

Loans transferred to other real estate owned

    33       186  

Recording of right of use asset in exchange for lease obligations in other assets and other liabilities

    111       6,694  

 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation: BankFinancial Corporation, a Maryland corporation headquartered in Burr Ridge, Illinois, is the owner of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of BankFinancial, National Association (the “Bank”). BankFinancial Corporation is a registered Bank Holding Company and its wholly-owned bank subsidiary is operating as BankFinancial, National Association.

 

Principles of Consolidation: The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of and transactions of BankFinancial Corporation, the Bank, and the Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Financial Assurance Services, Inc. and BFIN Asset Recovery Company, LLC (formerly BF Asset Recovery Corporation) (collectively, “the Company”) and have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company’s revenues, operating income, and assets are primarily from the banking industry. To supplement loan originations, the Company purchases loans. The loan portfolio is concentrated in loans that are primarily secured by real estate.

 

Use of Estimates: The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates and assumptions are based on the best available information, actual information, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

COVID-19: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) as a global pandemic.  The declaration of a global pandemic indicates that almost all public commerce and related business activities must be, to varying degrees, curtailed with the goal of decreasing the rate of new infections. The outbreak of COVID-19 has adversely impacted, and could further adversely impact, a broad range of industries in which the Company’s customers operate and impair their ability to fulfill their financial obligations to the Company. On March 3, 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee reduced the target federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 1.00% to 1.25%. This rate was further reduced to a target range of 0% to 0.25% on March 16, 2020. These reductions in interest rates and other effects of the COVID-19 outbreak may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. As a result of the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, economic uncertainties have arisen which are likely to negatively impact net interest income and noninterest income. Other financial impacts could occur though such potential impact is unknown at this time.

 

Subsequent events: The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and/or disclosures through the date the Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were issued. 

 

Interest-bearing Deposits in Other Financial Institutions: Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions maturing in less than 90 days are carried at cost.

 

Cash Flows: Cash and cash equivalents include cash, deposits with other financial institutions maturing in less than 90 days, and daily federal funds sold. Net cash flows are reported for customer loan and deposit transactions, interest bearing deposits in other financial institutions, borrowings, and advance payments by borrowers for taxes and insurance.

 

Securities: Debt securities are classified as available-for-sale when they might be sold before maturity. Securities available-for-sale are carried at fair value, with unrealized holding gains and losses reported in other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax. Interest income includes amortization of purchase premium or discount. Premiums and discounts on securities are amortized on the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments, except for mortgage-backed securities where prepayments are anticipated. Gains and losses on sales are based on the amortized cost of the security sold. Declines in the fair value of securities below their cost that are other-than-temporary are reflected as realized losses. In determining if losses are other-than-temporary, management considers: (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost or adjusted cost, as applicable, (2) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, and (3) whether the Company has the intent to sell the debt security or it is more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell the debt security before the anticipated recovery.

 

Securities also include investments in certificates of deposit with maturities of greater than 90 days. These certificates of deposit are placed with insured institutions for varying maturities and amounts that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”).

 

Equity Securities: Equity securities are accounted for in accordance with ASC 321-10 Investments - Equity Securities. Our equity securities may be classified into two categories and accounted for as follows:

 

 

Equity securities with a readily determinable fair value are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in earnings. Any dividends received are recorded in interest income.

  

 

 

Equity securities without a readily determinable fair value are reported at their cost minus impairment, if any, plus or minus changes resulting from observable price changes in orderly transactions for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer and their impact on fair value. Any dividends received are recorded in interest income.

 

The fair value of equity investments with readily determinable fair values is primarily obtained from third-party pricing services. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, when an orderly transaction for the identical or similar investment of the same issuer is identified, we use the valuation techniques permitted under ASC 820 Fair Value to evaluate the observed transaction(s) and adjust the fair value of the equity investment.

 

ASC 321-10 also provides guidance related to accounting for impairment of equity securities without readily determinable fair values. The qualitative assessment to determine whether impairment exists requires the use of our judgment in certain circumstances. If, after completing the qualitative assessment we conclude an equity investment without a readily determinable fair value is impaired, a loss for the difference between the equity investment’s carrying value and its fair value may be recognized as a reduction to noninterest income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) Stock: The Bank is a member of the FHLB system. Members are required to own a certain amount of stock based on the level of borrowings and other factors, and may invest in additional amounts. FHLB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

 

40

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Federal Reserve Bank (“FRB”) Stock: The Bank is a member of its regional Federal Reserve Bank. FRB stock is carried at cost, classified as a restricted security, and periodically evaluated for impairment based on ultimate recovery of par value. Both cash and stock dividends are reported as income.

 

Loans and Loan Income: Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at the principal balance outstanding, net of the allowance for loan losses, premiums and discounts on loans purchased, and net deferred loan costs. Interest income on loans is recognized in income over the term of the loan based on the amount of principal outstanding.

 

Premiums and discounts associated with loans purchased are amortized over the contractual term of the loan using the level–yield method. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income using the level-yield method without anticipating prepayments.

 

Interest income is reported on the interest method. Interest income is generally discontinued at the earlier of when a loan is 90 days past due or when we do not expect to receive full payment of interest or principal. Past due status is based on the contractual terms of the loan.

 

All interest accrued but not received for loans that have been placed on nonaccrual status is reversed against interest income. Interest received on such loans is accounted for on the cash–basis or cost–recovery method until qualifying for return to accrual status. Once a loan is placed on nonaccrual status, the borrower must generally demonstrate at least six months of payment performance before the loan is eligible to return to accrual status. Generally, the Company utilizes the “90 days delinquent, still accruing” category of loan classification when: (1) the loan is repaid in full shortly after the period end date; (2) the loan is well secured and there are no asserted or pending legal barriers to its collection; or (3) the borrower has remitted all scheduled payments and is otherwise in substantial compliance with the terms of the loan, but the processing of payments actually received or the renewal of a loan has not occurred for administrative reasons.

 

Impaired Loans: Impaired loans principally consist of nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”). A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, management believes that it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due (both principal and interest) according to the original contractual terms of the loan agreement. Once a loan is determined to be impaired, the amount of impairment is measured based on the loan's observable fair value, the fair value of the underlying collateral less selling costs if the loan is collateral-dependent, or the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan's effective interest rate. If the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the bank's allowance for the impaired collateral dependent loan under ASC 310-10-35 is based on fair value (less costs to sell), but the charge-off (the confirmed “loss”) is based on the appraised value. The remaining recorded investment in the loan after the charge-off will have a loan loss allowance for the amount by which the estimated fair value of the collateral (less costs to sell) is less than its appraised value.

 

Impaired loans with specific reserves are reviewed quarterly for any changes that would affect the specific reserve. Any impaired loan for which a determination has been made that the economic value is permanently reduced is charged-off against the allowance for loan losses to reflect its current economic value in the period in which the determination has been made.

 

At the time a collateral-dependent loan is initially determined to be impaired, we review the existing collateral appraisal. If the most recent appraisal is greater than a year old, a new appraisal is obtained on the underlying collateral. Appraisals are updated with a new independent appraisal at least annually and are formally reviewed by our internal appraisal department upon receipt of a new appraisal. All impaired loans and their related reserves are reviewed and updated each quarter.

 

Troubled Debt Restructurings: A loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulties that leads to a restructuring of the loan, and the Company grants concessions to the borrower in the restructuring that it would not otherwise consider. These concessions may include rate reductions, principal forgiveness, extension of maturity date and other actions intended to minimize potential losses.

 

In determining whether a debtor is experiencing financial difficulties, the Company considers if the debtor is in payment default or would be in payment default in the foreseeable future without the modification, the debtor declared or is in the process of declaring bankruptcy, there is substantial doubt that the debtor will continue as a going concern, the debtor has securities that have been or are in the process of being delisted, the debtor's entity-specific projected cash flows will not be sufficient to service any of its debt, or the debtor cannot obtain funds from sources other than the existing creditors at a market rate for debt with similar risk characteristics.

 

In determining whether the Company has granted a concession, the Company assesses, if it does not expect to collect all amounts due, whether the current value of the collateral will satisfy the amounts owed, whether additional collateral or guarantees from the debtor will serve as adequate compensation for other terms of the restructuring, and whether the debtor otherwise has access to funds at a market rate for debt with similar risk characteristics.

 

Periodically, the Company will restructure a note into two separate notes (A/B structure), charging off the entire B portion of the note. The A note is structured with appropriate loan-to-value and cash flow coverage ratios that provide for a high likelihood of repayment. The A note is classified as a nonperforming note until the borrower has displayed a historical payment performance for a reasonable time prior to and subsequent to the restructuring. A period of sustained repayment for at least six months generally is required to return the note to accrual status provided that management has determined that the performance is reasonably expected to continue. The A note will be classified as a restructured note (either performing or nonperforming) through the calendar year of the restructuring that the historical payment performance has been established.

 

Allowance for Loan Losses: The Company establishes provisions for loan losses, which are charged to the Company’s results of operations to maintain the allowance for loan losses to absorb probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, the Company considers past and current loss experience, trends in classified loans, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of nonperforming and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from the estimates as more information becomes available or events change.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

The Company provides for loan losses based on the allowance method. Accordingly, all loan losses are charged to the related allowance and all recoveries are credited to it. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are provided by charges to income based on various factors that, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable incurred credit losses. The Company reviews the loan portfolio on an ongoing basis and makes provisions for loan losses on a quarterly basis to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with US GAAP. The allowance for loan losses consists of two components:

 

specific allowances established for any impaired residential non-owner occupied mortgage, multi-family mortgage, nonresidential real estate, construction and land, commercial, and commercial lease loans for which the recorded investment in the loan exceeds the measured value of the loan; and

 

general allowances for loan losses for each loan class based on historical loan loss experience; and adjustments to historical loss experience (general allowances), maintained to cover uncertainties that affect our estimate of probable incurred credit losses for each loan class.

 

The adjustments to historical loss experience are based on our evaluation of several factors, including levels of, and trends in, past due and classified loans; levels of, and trends in, charge–offs and recoveries; trends in volume and terms of loans, including any credit concentrations in the loan portfolio; experience and ability of lending management and other relevant staff; and national and local economic trends and conditions.

 

The Company evaluates the allowance for loan losses based upon the combined total of the specific and general components. Generally, when the loan portfolio increases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology results in a higher dollar amount of estimated probable incurred credit losses than would be the case without the increase. Conversely, when the loan portfolio decreases, absent other factors, the allowance for loan loss methodology generally results in a lower dollar amount of estimated probable losses than would be the case without the decrease.

 

The loss ratio used in computing the required general loan loss reserve allowance for a given class of loan consists of (i) the actual loss ratio (measured on a weighted, rolling twelve-quarter basis), (ii) the change in credit quality within the specific loan class during the period, (iii) the actual inherent risk factor assigned to the specific loan class and (iv) the actual concentration of risk factor assigned to the specific loan class (collectively, the “Specific Loan Class Risk Factors”). The Specific Loan Class Risk Factors are weighted equally in the calculation. In addition, two additional quantitative factors, the National Economic risk factor and the Local Economic risk factor, are also components of the computation but are given different weightings in their computation due to their relative applicability to the specific loan class in the context of the effect of national and local economic conditions on their risk profile and performance.

 

Mortgage Servicing Rights: Mortgage servicing rights are recognized separately when they are acquired through sales of loans. When mortgage loans are sold, servicing rights are initially recorded at fair value and gains on sales of loans are recorded in the statement of operations. Fair value is based on market prices for comparable mortgage servicing contracts, when available, or alternatively, is based on a valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. The valuation model incorporates assumptions that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income, such as the servicing cost per loan, the discount rate, the escrow float rate, an inflation rate, ancillary income, prepayment speeds and default rates and losses. The Company compares the valuation model inputs and results to published industry data in order to validate the model results and assumptions. All classes of servicing assets are subsequently measured using the amortization method which requires servicing rights to be amortized into noninterest income in proportion to, and over the period of, the estimated future net servicing income of the underlying loans.

 

Servicing assets are evaluated for impairment based upon the fair value of the rights as compared to carrying amount. Impairment is determined by stratifying rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. Impairment is recognized through a valuation allowance for an individual grouping, to the extent that fair value is less than the carrying amount. If the Company later determines that all or a portion of the impairment no longer exists for a particular grouping, a reduction of the allowance may be recorded as an increase to income. Changes in valuation allowances are reported with amortization and impairment of servicing assets on the statement of operations. The fair values of servicing rights are subject to significant fluctuations as a result of changes in estimated and actual prepayment speeds and default rates and losses.

 

Servicing fee income that is reported on the statement of operations as loan servicing fees is recorded for fees earned for servicing loans. The fees are based on a contractual percentage of the outstanding principal; or a fixed amount per loan and are recorded as income when earned. Late fees and ancillary fees related to loan servicing are not material.

 

First mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. The unpaid principal balances of these loans were $48.4 million and $63.4 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Custodial escrow balances maintained in connection with the foregoing loan servicing activities were $1.9 million and $2.2 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Capitalized mortgage servicing rights are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition. Servicing rights were $257,000 and $335,000 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, with no valuation allowance at December 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

Other Real Estate Owned ("OREO"): Foreclosed assets are initially recorded at fair value less cost to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. Physical possession of residential real estate property collateralizing a consumer mortgage loan occurs when the legal title is obtained upon completion of foreclosure or when the borrower conveys all interest in the property to satisfy the loan through completion of a deed in lieu of foreclosure or through a similar legal agreement. These assets are subsequently accounted for at a lower of cost or fair value less estimated cost to sell. If fair value declines subsequent to foreclosure, a valuation allowance is recorded through expense. Operating expenses, gains and losses on disposition, and changes in the valuation allowance are reported in noninterest expense as operations of other real estate owned.

 

Premises and Equipment: Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is included in noninterest expense and is computed on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Useful lives are estimated to be 25 to 40 years for buildings and improvements that extend the life of the original building, ten to 20 years for routine building improvements, five to 15 years for furniture and equipment, two to five years for computer hardware and software and no greater than four years on automobiles. The cost of maintenance and repairs is charged to expense as incurred and significant repairs are capitalized.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Lease Accounting: The Company adopted FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”), including the adoption of the practical expedients, effective January 1, 2019. Leases (Topic 842) establishes a right of use model that requires a lessee to record a right of use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. The Company enters into operating leases in the normal course of business primarily for several of its branch and corporate locations. At adoption, January 1, 2019, the Company recorded assets and liabilities of $6.7 million as a result of recording additional lease contracts where the Company is lessee. The Company did not restate comparative periods.

 

Currently the Company is obligated under four non-cancellable operating lease agreements for three branch properties and its corporate office. The leases have varying terms, the longest of which will end in 2032. The Company's lease agreements include options to renew at the Company's discretion. The extensions are not reasonably certain to be exercised; therefore, they were not considered in the calculation of the ROU asset and lease liability. The Company has also elected not to recognize leases with original lease terms of 12 months or less (short-term leases) in the Company's Statement of Financial Condition.  The ROU assets are included in other assets and the lease obligations are included in other liabilities in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

Other Intangible Assets: Intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination with definite useful lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values. Core deposit intangible assets (“CDI”), are recognized at the time of acquisition based on valuations prepared by independent third parties or other estimates of fair value. In preparing such valuations, variables such as deposit servicing costs, attrition rates, and market discount rates are considered. CDI assets are amortized to expense over their useful lives. CDI were $7,000 and $41,000 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated statements of financial condition.

 

Bank-Owned Life Insurance: The Company has purchased life insurance policies on certain key executives. The Company owned life insurance is recorded at the amount that can be realized under the insurance contract at the balance sheet date, which is the cash surrender value adjusted for other charges or other amounts due that are probable at settlement.

 

Long-Term Assets: Premises and equipment, right of use assets, core deposit and other intangible assets, and other long-term assets are reviewed for impairment when events indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable from future undiscounted cash flows. If impaired, the assets are recorded at fair value.

 

Loan Commitments and Related Financial Instruments: Financial instruments include off-balance-sheet credit instruments, such as commitments to make loans and commercial letters of credit, issued to meet customer financing needs. The face amount for these items represents the exposure to loss, before considering customer collateral or ability to repay. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.

 

Income Taxes: Income tax expense is the total of the current year income tax due or refundable and the change in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Under US GAAP, a deferred tax asset valuation allowance is required to be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The determination of the realizability of the deferred tax assets is highly subjective and dependent upon judgment concerning management’s evaluation of both positive and negative evidence, the forecasts of future taxable income, applicable tax planning strategies, and assessments of current and future economic and business conditions. The Company considers both positive and negative evidence regarding the ultimate realizability of our deferred tax assets. Examples of positive evidence may include the existence, if any, of taxes paid in available carry-back years and the likelihood that taxable income will be generated in future periods. Examples of negative evidence may include a cumulative loss in the current year and prior two years and negative general business and economic trends. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period of the enactment date.

 

This analysis is updated quarterly and adjusted as necessary. At December 31, 2020, the Company had a net deferred tax asset of $2.7 million, net of a $200,000 valuation allowance against the Illinois net operating loss deduction carryforward.  The net deferred tax asset was $3.9 million at December 31, 2019.

 

A tax position is recognized as a benefit only if it is "more likely than not" that the tax position would be sustained in a tax examination, presuming that a tax examination will occur. The amount recognized is the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely to be realized on examination. For tax positions not meeting the "more likely than not" test, no tax benefit is recorded.

 

Retirement Plans: Employee 401(k) and profit sharing plan expense is the amount of matching contributions and any annual discretionary contribution made at the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Earnings per Common Share: Basic earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is net income divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effect of potential common shares.

 

Loss Contingencies: Loss contingencies, including claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, are recorded as liabilities when the likelihood of loss is probable and an amount or range of loss can be reasonably estimated. Management does not believe that there are such matters that will have a material effect on the financial statements as of December 31, 2020.

 

Restrictions on Cash: The Bank is required to maintain reserve balances in cash or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank, based on a percentage of deposits.  As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Bank has met the requirements.

 

The nature of the Company’s business requires that it maintain amounts with banks and federal funds sold which, at times, may exceed federally insured limits.  Management monitors these correspondent relationships and the Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

 

Fair Values of Financial Instruments: Fair values of financial instruments are estimated using relevant market value information and other assumptions, as more fully disclosed in a separate note. Fair value estimates involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment regarding interest rates, credit risk, prepayments, and other factors, especially in the absence of broad markets for particular items. Changes in assumptions or in market conditions could significantly affect the estimates.

 

43

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

 

Comprehensive Income: Comprehensive income consists of net income and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) includes unrealized gains and losses on securities, net of tax, which is also recognized as separate components of stockholders’ equity.

 

Transfers of Financial Assets: Transfers of financial assets are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been relinquished. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when the assets have been isolated from the Company, the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.

 

Operating Segments: While management monitors the revenue streams of the various products and services, operations are managed and financial performance is evaluated on a Company-wide basis. Operating results are not reviewed by senior management to make resource allocation or performance decisions. Accordingly, all of the financial service operations are considered by management to be aggregated in one reportable operating segment.

 

Reclassifications: Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior year’s financial statements to conform to the current year’s presentation. Reclassifications had no effect on prior year net income or stockholders’ equity.

 

Newly Issued Not Yet Effective Accounting Standards

 

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” (“ASU 2016-13”). These amendments require the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Financial institutions and other organizations will now use forward-looking information to better inform their credit loss estimates. Many of the loss estimation techniques applied today will still be permitted, although the inputs to those techniques will change to reflect the full amount of expected credit losses. In addition, the ASU amends the accounting for credit losses on available-for-sale debt securities and purchased financial assets with credit deterioration. For SEC filers who are smaller reporting companies, ASU 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022.

 

 

NOTE 2 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Amounts reported in earnings per share reflect earnings available to common stockholders for the period divided by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period, exclusive of the effect of potential common shares. Stock options and restricted stock are regarded as potential common stock and are considered in the diluted earnings per share calculations to the extent that they would have a dilutive effect if converted to common stock. There were no potential dilutive common shares for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Net income available to common stockholders

 $9,163  $11,672 

Basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

  14,951,656   15,594,883 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

 $0.61  $0.75 

 

 

NOTE 3 – SECURITIES

 

The fair value of securities and the related gross unrealized gains and losses recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income is as follows:

 

Available-for-Sale Securities

 

Amortized

Cost

  

Gross

Unrealized

Gains

  

Gross

Unrealized

Losses

  

Fair Value

 

December 31, 2020

                

Certificates of deposit

 $15,117  $  $  $15,117 

Municipal securities

  402   7      409 

Mortgage-backed securities - residential

  5,826   282      6,108 

Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential

  2,193   3   (1)  2,195 
  $23,538  $292  $(1) $23,829 

December 31, 2019

                

Certificates of deposit

 $48,666  $  $  $48,666 

Municipal securities

  505   8      513 

Mortgage-backed securities - residential

  7,727   310      8,037 

Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential

  2,986   4   (13)  2,977 
  $59,884  $322  $(13) $60,193 

 

Mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations reflected in the preceding table were issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities and agencies, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and Ginnie Mae, and are obligations which the government has affirmed its commitment to support.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 3 – SECURITIES (continued)

 

The amortized cost and fair values of securities available-for-sale at December 31, 2020 by contractual maturity are shown below. Securities not due at a single maturity date are shown separately. Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

 

  

December 31, 2020

 
  Amortized Cost  

Fair Value

 

Due in one year or less

 $15,271  $15,278 

Due after one year through five years

  248   248 
   15,519   15,526 

Mortgage-backed securities - residential

  5,826   6,108 

Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential

  2,193   2,195 
  $23,538  $23,829 

 

Investment securities available-for-sale with carrying amounts of $1.2 million and $2.0 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, were pledged as collateral on customer repurchase agreements and for other purposes as required or permitted by law.

 

Sales of equity securities were as follows:

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Proceeds

 $  $3,722 

Gross gains

     295 

Gross losses

      

 

Securities available-for-sale with unrealized losses at December 31, 2020 and 2019 not recognized in income are as follows:

 

  

Less than 12 Months

  

12 Months or More

  

Total

 
  

Count

  

Fair Value

  

Unrealized Loss

  

Count

  

Fair Value

  

Unrealized Loss

  

Count

  

Fair Value

  

Unrealized Loss

 

December 31, 2020

                                    

Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential

    $  $   3  $1,588  $(1)  3  $1,588  $(1)
                                     

December 31, 2019

                                    

Collateralized mortgage obligations - residential

  3  $1,566  $(10)  1  $937  $(3)  4  $2,503  $(13)

 

The Company evaluates marketable investment securities with significant declines in fair value on a quarterly basis to determine whether they should be considered other-than-temporarily impaired under current accounting guidance, which generally provides that if a marketable security is in an unrealized loss position, whether due to general market conditions or industry or issuer-specific factors, the holder of the securities must assess whether the impairment is other-than-temporary.

 

Certain collateralized mortgage obligations that the Company holds in its investment portfolio were in an unrealized loss position at December 31, 2020, but the unrealized loss was not considered significant under the Company’s impairment testing methodology. In addition, the Company does not intend to sell these securities, and it is not likely that the Company will be required to sell the securities before their anticipated recovery occurs.

 

The Bank sold 25,702 shares of Visa Class B common stock in the first quarter of 2019 and recorded a gain of $295,000.  The Company had no marketable securities as of December 31, 2020.

 

45

 
 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE

 

Loans receivable are as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $41,691  $55,750 

Multi-family mortgage

  452,241   563,750 

Nonresidential real estate

  108,658   134,674 

Construction and land

  499    

Commercial loans and leases

  405,057   418,343 

Consumer

  1,812   2,211 
   1,009,958   1,174,728 

Net deferred loan origination costs

  371   912 

Allowance for loan losses

  (7,751)  (7,632)

Loans, net

 $1,002,578  $1,168,008 

 

Loan Origination/Risk Management. The Company has certain lending policies and procedures in place that are designed to maximize loan income within an acceptable level of risk. The Company reviews and approves these policies and procedures on a periodic basis. A reporting system supplements the review process by providing management with frequent reports related to loan production, loan quality, concentrations of credit, loan delinquencies and nonperforming and potential problem loans via trend and risk rating migration. The Company requires title insurance insuring the priority of our lien on real estate collateral, fire and extended coverage casualty insurance, and, if appropriate, flood insurance, in order to protect our security interest in the underlying real property collateral.

 

The majority of the loans the Company originates are commercial-related loans, such as multi-family, nonresidential real estate, commercial loans and leases, and construction and land loans. In addition, we originated one-to-four family residential mortgage loans and consumer loans until December 31, 2017. We also occasionally purchase and sell loan participations. The following briefly describes our principal loan products.

 

The Company originates real estate loans principally secured by first liens, both non-owner occupied and owner occupied commercial real estate. The non-owner occupied commercial real estate properties are predominantly multi-family apartment buildings, office buildings, light industrial buildings, shopping centers and mixed-use developments and, to a much lesser extent, more specialized properties such as nursing homes and other healthcare facilities.

 

Multi-family mortgage loans generally are secured by multi-family rental properties such as apartment buildings, including subsidized apartment units. In general, loan amounts range between $500,000 and $5.0 million at December 31, 2020. Approximately 51.4% of the collateral is located outside of our primary market area; however, we do not have a concentration in any single market in excess of 25% of our loan portfolio outside of our primary market area. In underwriting multi-family mortgage loans, the Company considers a number of factors, which include the projected net cash flow to the loan’s debt service requirement (generally requiring a minimum ratio of 120%), the age and condition of the collateral, the financial resources and income level of the borrower, the borrower’s experience in owning or managing similar properties and, proximity to diverse employment opportunities. Multi-family mortgage loans are generally originated in amounts up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loan. Personal guarantees are usually obtained on multi-family mortgage loans if the borrower/property owner is a legal entity.

 

Loans secured by multi-family mortgages generally involve a greater degree of credit risk as a result of several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on income producing properties, and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans. Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by multi-family mortgages typically depends upon the successful operation of the related real estate property. If the cash flow from the project is reduced below acceptable thresholds, the borrower’s ability to repay the loan may be impaired.

 

The Company emphasizes nonresidential real estate loans with initial principal balances between $500,000 and $5.0 million. Substantially all of our nonresidential real estate loans are secured by properties located in our primary market area. The Company’s nonresidential real estate loans are generally written as three- or five-year adjustable-rate mortgages or mortgages with balloon maturities of three or five years. Amortization on these loans is typically based on 20- to 30-year schedules. The Company also originates some 15-year fixed-rate, fully amortizing loans.

 

In the underwriting of nonresidential real estate loans, the Company generally lends up to 80% of the property’s appraised value. Decisions to lend are based on the economic viability of the property as the primary source of repayment and the creditworthiness of the borrower. In evaluating a proposed commercial real estate loan, we emphasize the ratio of the property’s projected net cash flow to the loan’s debt service requirement (generally requiring a minimum ratio of 120%), computed after deduction for a vacancy factor and property expenses we deem appropriate. Personal guarantees are usually pursued and obtained from nonresidential real estate borrowers.

 

Nonresidential real estate loans generally carry higher interest rates and have shorter terms and typically involve larger loan balances concentrated with single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. In addition, the payment of loans secured by income-producing properties typically depends on the successful operation of the related real estate project and thus may be subject to a greater extent to adverse conditions in the real estate market and in the general economy.

 

The Company makes various types of secured and unsecured commercial loans to customers in our market area for the purpose of financing equipment acquisition, expansion, working capital and other general business purposes. The terms of these loans generally range from less than one year to five years. The loans are either negotiated on a fixed-rate basis or carry adjustable interest rates indexed to (i) a lending rate that is determined internally, or (ii) a short-term market rate index.

 

46

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

Commercial credit decisions are based upon our assessment of the borrower’s cash flow, proposed collateral, business and credit history and any additional positive or negative credit risk factors. The Company determines the borrower’s ability to repay in accordance with the proposed terms of the loans and we assess the risks involved. An evaluation is made of the borrower to determine character and capacity to manage. Personal guarantees of the principals are pursued and usually obtained. In addition to evaluating the loan borrower’s financial statements, we consider the adequacy of the primary and secondary sources of repayment for the loan. Independent reports of the borrower’s credit history supplement our analysis of the borrower’s creditworthiness and at times are supplemented with inquiries to other banks and trade investigations. Moreover, certain assets listed on personal financial statements are verified. Proposed collateral for a secured transaction also is analyzed to determine its marketability. Commercial business loans generally have higher interest rates because they have a higher risk of default since their repayment generally depends on the successful operation of the borrower’s business and the sufficiency of any collateral. Pricing of commercial loans is based primarily on the credit risk of the borrower, with due consideration given to borrowers with appropriate deposit relationships.

 

The Company also lends money to small and mid-size leasing companies for equipment financing leases. Generally, commercial leases are secured by an assignment by the leasing company of the lease payments and by a secured interest in the equipment being leased. In most cases, the lessee acknowledges our security interest in the leased equipment and agrees to send lease payments directly to us. Consequently, the Company underwrites lease loans by examining the creditworthiness of the lessee rather than the lessor. Lease loans generally are non-recourse to the leasing company.

 

Generally, the Company’s commercial leases are secured primarily by technology equipment, medical equipment, material handling equipment and other capital equipment. Lessees tend to be publicly-traded companies with investment-grade rated debt or companies that have not issued public debt and therefore do not have a public debt rating. Typically, commercial leases to these lessees have a maximum maturity of five years and a maximum outstanding credit exposure of $10.0 million to any single entity. In addition, the Company will originate commercial finance leases to lessees with below investment-grade public debt ratings and have a maximum outstanding credit exposure of $10.0 million to any single entity.  Lease loans are almost always fully amortizing, with fixed interest rates.

 

Although the Company does not actively originate construction and land loans presently, construction and land loans generally consist of land acquisition loans to help finance the purchase of land intended for further development, including single-family homes, multi-family housing and commercial income property, development loans to builders in our market area to finance improvements to real estate, consisting mostly of single-family subdivisions, typically to finance the cost of utilities, roads, sewers and other development costs.

 

Until December 31, 2017, the Company offered conforming and non-conforming, fixed-rate and adjustable-rate residential mortgage loans with maturities of up to 30 years and maximum loan amounts generally of up to $2.5 million. One-to-four family residential mortgage loans were generally underwritten according to Fannie Mae guidelines, and loans that conformed to such guidelines are referred to as “conforming loans.” Private mortgage insurance is required for first mortgage loans with loan-to-value ratios in excess of 80%.

 

The ability of the Company’s borrowers to repay their loans, and the value of the collateral securing such loans, could be adversely impacted by economic weakness in its local markets as a result of unemployment, declining real estate values, or increased residential, office, industrial and retail shopping vacancies due to changes in business conditions. This not only could result in the Company experiencing charge-offs and/or nonperforming assets, but also could necessitate an increase in the provision for loan losses. These events, if they were to recur, would have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations and its capital.

 

The following tables present the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the loans receivable by portfolio segment and based on impairment method:

 

  

Allowance for loan losses

  

Loan Balances

 
  

Individually evaluated for impairment

  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  

Total

  

Individually evaluated for impairment

  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  

Total

 

December 31, 2020

                        

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $  $518  $518  $1,718  $39,973  $41,691 

Multi-family mortgage

     4,062   4,062   520   451,721   452,241 

Nonresidential real estate

  28   1,541   1,569   296   108,362   108,658 
Construction and land     12   12      499   499 

Commercial loans and leases

     1,536   1,536      405,057   405,057 

Consumer

     54   54      1,812   1,812 
  $28  $7,723  $7,751  $2,534  $1,007,424   1,009,958 

Net deferred loan origination costs

                      371 

Allowance for loan losses

                      (7,751)

Loans, net

                     $1,002,578 

 

47

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

  

Allowance for loan losses

  

Loan Balances

 
  

Individually evaluated for impairment

  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  

Total

  

Individually evaluated for impairment

  

Collectively evaluated for impairment

  

Total

 

December 31, 2019

                        

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $  $675  $675  $1,835  $53,915  $55,750 

Multi-family mortgage

     3,676   3,676   620   563,130   563,750 

Nonresidential real estate

     1,176   1,176   288   134,386   134,674 

Commercial loans and leases

     2,065   2,065      418,343   418,343 

Consumer

     40   40      2,211   2,211 
  $  $7,632  $7,632  $2,743  $1,171,985   1,174,728 

Net deferred loan origination costs

                      912 

Allowance for loan losses

                      (7,632)

Loans, net

                     $1,168,008 

 

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment:

 

  Beginning balance  

Provision for (recovery of) loan losses

  Loans charged off  

Recoveries

  Ending balance 

December 31, 2020

                    

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $675  $(185) $(9) $37  $518 

Multi-family mortgage

  3,676   292      94   4,062 

Nonresidential real estate

  1,176   393         1,569 

Construction and land

     12         12 

Commercial loans and leases

  2,065   (533)     4   1,536 

Consumer

  40   76   (62)     54 
  $7,632  $55  $(71) $135  $7,751 
                     

December 31, 2019

                    

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $699  $123  $(222) $75  $675 

Multi-family mortgage

  3,991   (346)     31   3,676 

Nonresidential real estate

  1,476   (217)  (83)     1,176 

Construction and land

  4   (4)         

Commercial loans and leases

  2,272   4,226   (4,443)  10   2,065 
Consumer  28   43   (31)     40 
  $8,470  $3,825  $(4,779) $116  $7,632 

 

Impaired loans

 

The following tables present loans individually evaluated for impairment by class of loans:

 

  

Loan Balance

  

Recorded Investment

  

Partial Charge- off

  

Allowance for Loan Losses Allocated

  

Average Investment in Impaired Loans

  

Interest Income Recognized

 

December 31, 2020

                        

With no related allowance recorded

                        

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $2,069  $1,718  $363  $  $1,782  $42 

Multi-family mortgage - Illinois

  520   520         594   31 
   2,589   2,238   363      2,376   73 
                         

With an allowance recorded - nonresidential real estate

  280   296      28   289    
  $2,869  $2,534  $363  $28  $2,665  $73 
                         
                         

December 31, 2019

                        

With no related allowance recorded

                        

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $2,168  $1,835  $339  $  $2,208  $51 

Multi-family mortgage - Illinois

  620   620         637   37 

Nonresidential real estate

  280   288         589   2 
  $3,068  $2,743  $339  $  $3,434  $90 

 

48

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

Nonaccrual loans

 

The following tables present the recorded investment in nonaccrual and loans 90 days or more past due still on accrual by class of loans:

 

  Loan Balance  Recorded Investment  

Loans Past Due Over 90 Days, still accruing

 

December 31, 2020

            

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $946  $925  $ 

Nonresidential real estate

  280   296    
  $1,226  $1,221  $ 

December 31, 2019

            

One-to-four family residential real estate

 $598  $512  $ 

Nonresidential real estate

  280   288    

Commercial loans and leases

  47      47 
  $925  $800  $47 

 

Nonaccrual loans and impaired loans are defined differently. Some loans may be included in both categories, and some may only be included in one category. Nonaccrual loans include both smaller balance homogeneous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment and individually classified impaired loans.

 

The Company’s reserve for uncollected loan interest was $133,000 and $81,000 at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. When a loan is on non-accrual status and the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt, all payments are applied to principal under the cost recovery method. Alternatively, when a loan is on non-accrual status but there is doubt concerning only the ultimate collectability of interest, contractual interest is credited to interest income only when received, under the cash basis method pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 310–10, as applicable. In all cases, the average balances are calculated based on the month–end balances of the financing receivables within the period reported pursuant to the provisions of FASB ASC 310–10, as applicable.

 

Past Due Loans

 

The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment of loans by class of loans:

 

  

30-59 Days Past Due

  

60-89 Days Past Due

  

90 Days or Greater Past Due

  

Total Past Due

  

Loans Not Past Due

  

Total

 
December 31, 2020                        

One-to-four family residential real estate loans:

                        

Owner occupied

 $252  $211  $834  $1,297  $32,078  $33,375 

Non-owner occupied

  3   132   91   226   8,090   8,316 

Multi-family mortgage:

                        

Illinois

  86         86   221,943   222,029 

Other

              230,212   230,212 

Nonresidential real estate

        296   296   108,362   108,658 
Construction and land              499   499 

Commercial loans and leases:

                        

Commercial

  4,886         4,886   72,809   77,695 

Asset-based

              1,740   1,740 

Equipment finance:

                        

Government

  2,468         2,468   100,272   102,740 

Investment-rated

  618   225      843   86,417   87,260 

Other

  853   2,487      3,340   132,282   135,622 

Consumer

  6   5      11   1,801   1,812 
  $9,172  $3,060  $1,221  $13,453  $996,505  $1,009,958 

 

49

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

  

30-59 Days Past Due

  

60-89 Days Past Due

  

90 Days or Greater Past Due

  

Total Past Due

  

Loans Not Past Due

  

Total

 
December 31, 2019                        

One-to-four family residential real estate loans:

                        

Owner occupied

 $777  $340  $507  $1,624  $43,365  $44,989 

Non-owner occupied

  280   15      295   10,466   10,761 

Multi-family mortgage:

                        

Illinois

  981   302      1,283   246,680   247,963 

Other

              315,787   315,787 

Nonresidential real estate

        288   288   134,386   134,674 

Commercial loans and leases:

                        

Commercial

              133,976   133,976 

Asset-based

              11,738   11,738 

Equipment finance:

                        

Government

              33,555   33,555 

Investment-rated

  826      47   873   101,015   101,888 

Other

  543   136      679   136,507   137,186 

Consumer

  24   37      61   2,150   2,211 
  $3,431  $830  $842  $5,103  $1,169,625  $1,174,728 

 

U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program

 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act") was passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. Under the most recently published guidance, the U.S. Small Business Administration ("SBA") will forgive PPP loans if all employee retention criteria are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. For the year ended December 31, 2020, we allocated approximately $11 million to the PPP based on the expected 100% guaranty of the SBA.

 

The following table presents the PPP activity:

 

  

Number of loans

  

Originated

  

Balance

 

For the Year Ended December 31, 2020

            

Paycheck protection program loan originations

  315  $11,160     
             

December 31, 2020

            

Paycheck protection program loans

  290      $10,180 

 

COVID-19 Loan Forbearance Programs

 

Section 4013 of the CARES Act provides that a qualified loan modification is exempt by law from classification as a Troubled Debt Restructuring ("TDR") pursuant to US GAAP. In addition, the Revised Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working With Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (“OCC Bulletin 2020-50”) provides more limited circumstances in which a loan modification is not subject to classification as a TDR and also defined the circumstances where the borrower’s loan is reported as current on loan payments. Pursuant to these new capabilities, we developed several loan forbearance programs to assist borrowers with managing cash flows disrupted due to COVID-19.

 

Our Apartment and Commercial Real Estate COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement permitted borrowers who qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act to make an election to pay scheduled interest and escrow payments (if applicable) for a four-month period beginning in April 2020, and pay all deferred principal payments by December 2020.

 

Our Small Investment Property COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement permitted borrowers with loan balances under $750,000 who qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act to make an election to pay scheduled interest and escrow payments (if applicable) for a four-month period beginning in April 2020, and pay all deferred principal payments by December 2020. In addition, the borrower could elect to defer the May 2020 loan payment entirely, with all deferred interest amounts due by December 2020 and all deferred principal amounts due by June 30, 2021.

 

CARES Act Section 4013 and OCC Bulletin 2020-35 forbearance agreements are available to qualified commercial loan and commercial finance borrowers, and to commercial equipment lessees.

 

For residential mortgage and consumer loans, relief under CARES Act Section 4013 or OCC Bulletin 2020-35 forbearance agreements are available to qualified borrowers with terms consistent with secondary residential mortgage market standards established by Fannie Mae.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

The following table summarizes the remaining loan forbearance modifications at December 31, 2020:

 

      

Principal

  

Remaining Amounts

 
  

Number of loans

  

Balance

  

Deferred

 
             

Small Investment Property COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement

            

Multi-family mortgage

  8  $3,092  $17 

Nonresidential real estate

  10   3,363   22 

Apartment and Commercial Real Estate COVID-19 Qualified Limited Forbearance Agreement

            

Nonresidential real estate

  2   2,480   6 

One-to-four family residential real estate

  10   1,402   8 
             
   30  $10,337  $53 

 

Troubled Debt Restructurings

 

The Company evaluates loan extensions or modifications not qualified under Section 4013 of the CARES Act or under OCC Bulletin 2020-35 in accordance with FASB ASC 340-10 with respect to the classification of the loan as a TDR.


Under ASC 340-10, if the Company grants a loan extension or modification to a borrower experiencing financial difficulties for other than an insignificant period of time that includes a below–market interest rate, principal forgiveness, payment forbearance or other concession intended to minimize the economic loss to the Company, the loan extension or loan modification is classified as a TDR. In cases where borrowers are granted new terms that provide for a reduction of either interest or principal then due and payable, management measures any impairment on the restructured loan in the same manner as for impaired loans as noted above.

 

The Company had no TDRs at December 31, 2020 and 2019.  During the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no loans modified and classified as TDRs. During the years ending December 31, 2020 and 2019, there were no TDR loans that subsequently defaulted within twelve months of their modification.

 

A loan is considered to be in payment default once it is 90 days contractually past due under the modified terms.

 

To determine whether a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty, an evaluation is performed of the probability that the borrower will be in payment default on any of its debt in the foreseeable future without the modification. This evaluation is performed under the Company’s internal underwriting policy.

 

Credit Quality Indicators:

 

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt, including current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information, and current economic trends, among other factors. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans based on credit risk.

 

This analysis includes non-homogeneous loans, such as commercial and commercial real estate loans. This analysis is performed on a monthly basis. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:

 

Special Mention. A Special Mention asset has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special Mention assets are not adversely classified and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.

 

Substandard. Loans categorized as substandard continue to accrue interest, but exhibit a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that may jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. The loans continue to accrue interest because they are well secured and collection of principal and interest is expected within a reasonable time. The risk rating guidance published by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency clarifies that a loan with a well-defined weakness does not have to present a probability of default for the loan to be rated Substandard, and that an individual loan’s loss potential does not have to be distinct for the loan to be rated Substandard.

 

Nonaccrual. An asset classified Nonaccrual has all the weaknesses inherent in one classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, highly questionable and improbable.

 

Loans not meeting the criteria above that are analyzed individually as part of the above described process are considered “Pass” rated loans.

 

51

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 4 – LOANS RECEIVABLE (continued)

 

Based on the most recent analysis performed, the risk category of loans by class of loans are as follows:

 

  

Pass

  

Special Mention

  

Substandard

  

Nonaccrual

  

Total

 
December 31, 2020                    

One-to-four family residential real estate loans:

                    

Owner occupied

 $32,089  $-  $452  $834  $33,375 

Non-owner occupied

  8,164   27   34   91   8,316 

Multi-family mortgage:

                    

Illinois

  222,029            222,029 

Other

  230,212            230,212 

Nonresidential real estate

  106,280   1,998   84   296   108,658 
Construction and land  499            499 

Commercial loans and leases:

                    

Commercial

  72,809      4,886      77,695 

Asset-based

  1,740            1,740 

Equipment finance:

                    

Government

  102,740            102,740 

Investment-rated

  87,260            87,260 

Other

  134,617      1,005      135,622 

Consumer

  1,802   5   5      1,812 
  $1,000,241  $2,030  $6,466  $1,221  $1,009,958 

 

  

Pass

  

Special Mention

  

Substandard

  

Nonaccrual

  

Total

 
December 31, 2019                    

One-to-four family residential real estate loans:

                    

Owner occupied

 $43,908  $36  $533  $512  $44,989 

Non-owner occupied

  10,696   30   35      10,761 

Multi-family mortgage:

                    

Illinois

  247,757      206      247,963 

Other

  315,787            315,787 

Nonresidential real estate

  134,134   162   90   288   134,674 

Commercial loans and leases:

                    

Commercial

  125,630   8,346         133,976 

Asset-based

  11,738            11,738 

Equipment finance:

                    

Government

  33,555            33,555 

Investment-rated

  101,381   507         101,888 

Other

  136,289   761   136      137,186 

Consumer

  2,153   5   53      2,211 
  $1,163,028  $9,847  $1,053  $800  $1,174,728 

 

 

NOTE 5 - OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED

 

Real estate that is acquired through foreclosure or a deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as OREO until it is sold. When real estate is acquired through foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure, it is recorded at its fair value, less the estimated costs of disposal. If the fair value of the property is less than the loan balance, the difference is charged against the allowance for loan losses.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 5 - OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED (continued)

 

The following represents the roll forward of OREO and the composition of OREO properties.

 

  

At and For the Years Ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Beginning balance

 $186  $1,226 

New foreclosed properties

  33   186 
Capitalized improvements  47    

Valuation adjustments

     (38)

Sales

  (109)  (1,188)

Ending balance

 $157  $186 

 

  

December 31, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 
  

Balance

  

Valuation Allowance

  

Net OREO Balance

  

Balance

  

Valuation Allowance

  

Net OREO Balance

 
One–to–four family residential $157  $  $157  $186  $  $186 

 

Activity in the valuation allowance is as follows:

 

  

At and For the Years Ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Beginning of year

 $  $23 

Additions charged to expense

     38 

Reductions from sales of other real estate owned

     (61)

End of year

 $  $ 

 

At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the balance of OREO includes no foreclosed residential real estate properties recorded as a result of obtaining physical possession of the property without title. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the recorded investment of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process was $187,000 and $237,000, respectively.

 

 

NOTE 6 – PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

 

Year-end premises and equipment are as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Land and land improvements

 $11,989  $11,918 

Buildings and improvements

  31,145   30,585 

Furniture and equipment

  10,111   9,454 

Computer equipment

  4,798   4,326 
   58,043   56,283 

Accumulated depreciation

  (33,368)  (31,937)
  $24,675  $24,346 

 

Depreciation of premises and equipment was $1.7 million and $1.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

53

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

NOTE 7 - LEASES

 

The following table represents the classification of the Company's right of use and lease liabilities:

 

 

Statement of Financial

Condition Location

 

December 31, 2020

  

December 31, 2019

 

Operating Lease Right of Use Asset:

         

Gross carrying amount

 $6,694  $ 

New lease obligation

  111   6,694 

Accumulated amortization

  (1,730)  (848)

Net recorded value

Other assets

 $5,075  $5,846 
          

Operating Lease Liabilities:

         

Right of use lease obligations

Other liabilities

 $5,075  $5,846 

 

Amortization expense was $882,000 and $848,000 for the years ended  December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.  At December 31, 2020, the weighted-average remaining lease term for the operating leases was 8.2 years and the weighted-average discount rate used in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was 3.13%. The Company utilized the FHLB fixed rate advance rate for the term most closely aligning with the remaining lease term at inception.

 

  

For the year ended December 31, 2020

  

For the year ended December 31, 2019

 

Lease cost:

        

Operating lease cost

 $882  $848 

Short-term lease cost

  152   112 

Sublease income

  (74)  (51)

Total lease cost

 $960  $909 
         

Other information:

        

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:

        

Operating cash flows from operating leases

 $948  $901 

 

Future minimum payments under non-cancellable operating leases with terms longer than 12 months, are as follows at December 31, 2020. Future minimum payments on shorter term leases are excluded as the amounts are insignificant.

 

Twelve months ended December 31,

    

2021

 $962 

2022

  1,002 

2023

  956 

2024

  501 

2025

  507 

Thereafter

  2,217 

Total future minimum operating lease payments

  6,145 

Amounts representing interest

  (1,070)

Present value of net future minimum operating lease payments

 $5,075 

 

54

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

NOTE 8 - DEPOSITS

 

Composition of deposits is as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Noninterest-bearing demand deposits

 $326,188  $210,762 

Interest-bearing NOW accounts

  336,994   273,168 

Money market accounts

  297,801   245,610 

Savings deposits

  179,561   153,183 

Certificates of deposit

  253,000   402,034 
  $1,393,544  $1,284,757 

 

Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC Insurance limit of $250,000 were $30.7 million and $89.3 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Certificates of deposits include wholesale certificates totaling $9.9 million and $65.1 million at December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Of those certificates, $18.9 million are brokered at December 31, 2019 and none at December 31, 2020.

 

Scheduled maturities of certificates of deposit for the next five years as of December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

2021

 $188,040 

2022

  54,384 

2023

  8,160 

2024

  2,238 

2025

  178 
  $253,000 

 

 

NOTE 9 — BORROWINGS

 

At year-end, advances from the FHLB were as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 
  Contractual Rate  

Amount

  Contractual Rate  

Amount

 

Fixed-rate advance from FHLB, due within 1 year

  % $4,000   % $ 

 

The Company maintains a collateral pledge agreement covering secured advances whereby the Company has agreed to keep on hand, free of all other pledges, liens, and encumbrances, specifically identified whole first mortgages on improved residential property not more than 90-days delinquent to secure advances from the FHLB. All of the Bank’s FHLB common stock is pledged as additional collateral for these advances. At December 31, 2020, $25.4 million and $328.1 million of first mortgage and multi-family mortgage loans, respectively, collateralized potential advances. At December 31, 2020, we had the ability to borrow an additional $315.6 million under our credit facilities with the FHLB. The Company also had available pre-approved overnight federal funds borrowing. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, there was no outstanding balance on these lines.

 

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase, which are included with borrowings on the consolidated balance sheet, are shown below.

 

  

Overnight and Continuous

  

Up to 30 days

  

30 - 90 days

  

Greater Than 90 days

  

Total

 

December 31, 2019

                    
Repurchase agreements and repurchase-to-maturity transactions $61  $  $  $  $61 
Gross amount of recognized liabilities for repurchase agreements in Statement of Financial Condition                 $61 

 

There were no repurchase agreements and repurchase-to-maturity transactions at  December 31, 2020.

 

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase were secured by a mortgage-backed security with a carrying amount of $2.0 million at December 31, 2019. As the security's value fluctuates due to market conditions, the Company has no control over the market value.  The Company is obligated to promptly transfer additional securities if the market value of the securities falls below the repurchase price, per the agreement.

 

On April 1, 2020, the Company established a $5.0 million unsecured line of credit with a correspondent bank. Interest is payable at a rate of Prime rate minus 0.75%. The line of credit will mature on April 1, 2021. The line of credit had no outstanding balance at December 31, 2020.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

 

NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES

 

The income tax expense is as follows:

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Current expense

 $2,460  $1,863 

Deferred expense

  1,137   2,362 

Total income tax expense

 $3,597  $4,225 

 

A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes computed at the statutory federal corporate tax rate of 21% for 2020 and 2019, to the income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations follows:

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Expense computed at the statutory federal tax rate

 $2,680  $3,339 

State and local taxes, net of federal income tax effect

  720   892 
Other, net  (3)  (6)

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

  200    
  $3,597  $4,225 

Effective income tax rate

  28.18%  26.57%

 

Retained earnings at December 31, 2020 and 2019 include $14.9 million for which no deferred federal income tax liability has been recorded. This amount represents an allocation of income to bad debt deductions for tax purposes alone.

 

The net deferred tax asset is as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Gross deferred tax assets

        

Allowance for loan losses

 $2,075  $2,043 

Alternative minimum tax and net operating loss carryforwards

  3,999   4,452 

Lease liability

  1,358   1,565 

Tax deductible goodwill and core deposit intangible

  63   314 

Other

  505   741 
   8,000   9,115 

Gross deferred tax liabilities

        

Net deferred loan origination costs

  (873)  (1,013)

Purchase accounting adjustments

  (1,570)  (1,623)

Right of use asset

  (1,358)  (1,565)

Other

  (1,180)  (958)

Unrealized gain on securities

  (78)  (83)
   (5,059)  (5,242)
Valuation allowance  (200)   
  $2,741  $3,873 

 

As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company’s net deferred tax asset (“DTA”) was $2.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively.

 

A DTA valuation allowance is required under ASC 740 when the realization of a DTA is assessed and the assessment indicates that it is “more likely than not” (i.e., more than 50% likely) that all or a portion of the DTA will not be realized. All available evidence, both positive and negative must be considered to determine whether, based on the weight of that evidence, a valuation allowance against the net DTA is required. Objectively verifiable evidence is assigned greater weight than evidence that is not objectively verifiable. The valuation allowance is analyzed quarterly for changes affecting the DTA.

 

The Company’s ability to realize the DTA is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the tax attributes underlying the DTA become deductible. The amount of the DTA that will ultimately be realized will be impacted by the Company’s future taxable income, any changes to the many variables that could impact future taxable income and the then applicable corporate tax rate. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, valuation allowances of $200,000 and zero were attributed to the Illinois net loss deduction carryforwards. 

 

At December 31, 2020, the Company had a federal net operating loss carryforward of $7.2 million relating to its acquisition of Downers Grove National Bank, which is subject to utilization limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and will begin to expire in 2030, and $225,000 of alternative minimum tax credit carryforward that does not expire and is subject to utilization limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. At December 31, 2020, the Company had a state net operating loss carryforward for the State of Illinois of $44.7 million, which will begin to expire in 2023 and fully expires in 2025.

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 10 – INCOME TAXES (continued)

 

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

 

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Beginning of year

 $244  $198 

Additions based on tax positions related to the current year

  61   62 

Additions for tax positions of prior years

  2    

Reductions due to the statute of limitations and reductions for tax positions of prior years

  (30)  (16)

End of year

 $277  $244 

 

The Company does not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly increase or decrease in the next twelve months. The Company recognizes interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense. At December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company has immaterial amounts accrued for potential interest and penalties.

 

The Company and its subsidiary are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income tax of the various states where the Company does business. The Company is no longer subject to examination by the federal taxing authorities for years before 2017 and the Illinois taxing authorities for years before 2017.

 

 

NOTE 11– REGULATORY MATTERS

 

The Bank is subject to regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. The capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations, involve the quantitative measurement of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators. The failure to meet minimum capital requirements can result in regulatory actions. The final rules implementing Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's capital guidelines for U.S. banks (Basel III rules) became effective in 2015. The net unrealized gain or loss on available-for-sale securities is not included in computing regulatory capital.

 

In addition, as a result of the legislation, the federal banking agencies developed a “Community Bank Leverage Ratio” (the ratio of a bank’s tangible equity capital to average total consolidated assets) for financial institutions with assets of less than $10 billion. A “qualifying community bank” that exceeds this ratio will be deemed to be in compliance with all other capital and leverage requirements, including the capital requirements to be considered “well capitalized” under Prompt Corrective Action statutes. The federal banking agencies may consider a financial institution’s risk profile when evaluating whether it qualifies as a community bank for purposes of the capital ratio requirement. The federal banking agencies must set the minimum capital for the new Community Bank Leverage Ratio at not less than 8% and not more than 10%. Beginning in the second quarter 2020 and until the end of the year, a banking organization that has a leverage ratio of 8% or greater and meets certain other criteria  may elect to use the Community Bank Leverage Ratio framework; and qualified community banks will have until January 1, 2022, before the Community Bank Leverage Ratio requirement is re-established at greater than 9%. Pursuant to Section 4012 of the CARES Act and related interim final rules, the Community Bank Leverage Ratio will be 8% beginning in the second quarter and for the remainder of calendar year 2020, 8.5% for calendar year 2021, and 9% thereafter. A financial institution can elect to be subject to this new definition, and opt-out of this new definition, at any time. As a qualified community bank, we elected to be subject to this definition beginning the second quarter of 2020.

 

Prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications: well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized, and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. If only adequately capitalized, regulatory approval is required to accept brokered deposits. If undercapitalized, capital distributions are limited, as is asset growth and expansion, and capital restoration plans are required.

 

The minimum capital ratios set forth in the Regulatory Capital Plans will be increased and other minimum capital requirements will be established if and as necessary. In accordance with the Regulatory Capital Plans, the Bank will not pursue any acquisition or growth opportunity, declare any dividend or conduct any stock repurchase that would cause the Bank's total risk-based capital ratio and/or its Tier 1 leverage ratio to fall below the established minimum capital levels or the capital levels required for capital adequacy plus the capital conservation buffer (“ CCB”). The minimum CCB is 2.5%.

 

As of December 31, 2020, the Bank was well-capitalized, with all capital ratios exceeding the well-capitalized requirement. There are no conditions or events that management believes have changed the Bank’s prompt corrective action capitalization category.

 

The Bank is subject to regulatory restrictions on the amount of dividends it may declare and pay to the Company without prior regulatory approval, and to regulatory notification requirements for dividends that do not require prior regulatory approval.

 

The Bank's Community Bank Leverage Ratio was:

 

  

Actual

  

Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes

 
  

Amount

  

Ratio

  

Amount

  

Ratio

 

December 31, 2020

                

Community Bank Leverage Ratio

 $160,236   10.10% $126,964   8.00%

 

 

57

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 11– REGULATORY MATTERS (continued)

 

Actual and required capital amounts and ratios for the Bank were:

 

  

Actual

  

Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes

  

To be Well-Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions

 
  

Amount

  

Ratio

  

Amount

  

Ratio

  

Amount

  

Ratio

 
December 31, 2019                        

Total capital (to risk-weighted assets)

 $170,203   16.38% $83,130   8.00% $103,913   10.00%

Tier 1 (core) capital (to risk-weighted assets)

  162,455   15.63   62,348   6.00   83,130   8.00 

Common Tier 1 (CET1)

  162,455   15.63   46,761   4.50   67,543   6.50 

Tier 1 (core) capital (to adjusted average total assets)

  162,455   10.89   59,666   4.00   74,583   5.00 

 

 

 

NOTE 12 – EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

 

Profit Sharing Plan/401(k) Plan. The Company has a defined contribution plan (“profit sharing plan”) covering all of its eligible employees. Employees are eligible to participate in the profit sharing plan after attainment of age 21 and completion of one year of service. The Company provides a match of $0.50 on each $1.00 of contribution up to 6% of eligible compensation beginning April 1, 2007. The Company may also contribute an additional amount annually at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Contributions totaling $331,000 and $323,000 were made for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

 

 

NOTE 13 – LOAN COMMITMENTS AND OTHER OFF-BALANCE-SHEET ACTIVITIES

 

The Company is party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk. The Company uses these financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of customers and to effectively manage exposure to interest rate risk. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, unused lines of credit, and commitments to sell loans. When viewed in terms of the maximum exposure, those instruments may involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of financial condition. Credit risk is the possibility that a counterparty to a financial instrument will be unable to perform its contractual obligations. Interest rate risk is the possibility that, due to changes in economic conditions, the Company’s net interest income will be adversely affected.

 

The following is a summary of the contractual or notional amount of each significant class of off-balance-sheet financial instruments outstanding. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparty for commitments to extend credit, standby letters of credit, and unused lines of credit is represented by the contractual notional amount of these instruments.

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Financial instruments wherein contractual amounts represent credit risk

        

Commitments to extend credit

 $31,131  $19,737 

Standby letters of credit

  6,668   6,119 

Unused lines of credit

  200,240   149,771 

 

Commitments to extend credit are generally made for periods of 60 days or less. The fixed-rate loans commitment totaled $23.1 million with interest rates ranging from 2.65% to 9.83% and maturities ranging from 1 to 30 years.

 

Since many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customers. 

 

 

NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE

 

Fair value is the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair values:

 

 

Level 1 – Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

  

 

 

Level 2 – Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

  

 

 

Level 3 – Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

 

The Company used the following methods and significant assumptions to estimate the fair value of each type of financial instrument:

 

Securities: The fair values of debt securities are generally determined by matrix pricing, which is a mathematical technique widely used in the industry to value debt securities without relying exclusively on quoted prices for the specific securities, but rather by relying on the securities’ relationship to other benchmark quoted securities (Level 2).

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE (continued)

 

Impaired Loans: The fair value of impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available for similar loans and collateral underlying such loans. Non-real estate collateral may be valued using an appraisal, net book value per the borrower’s financial statements, or aging reports, adjusted or discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of the valuation, and management’s expertise and knowledge of the client and client’s business, resulting in a Level 3 fair value classification. Impaired loans are evaluated on a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted in accordance with the allowance policy.

 

Other Real Estate Owned: Assets acquired through or instead of loan foreclosure are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell when acquired, establishing a new cost basis. These assets are subsequently accounted for at lower of cost or fair value less estimated costs to sell. Fair value is commonly based on recent real estate appraisals which are updated no less frequently than annually. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach or a combination of approaches including comparable sales and the income approach with data from comparable properties. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the independent appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Real estate owned properties are evaluated on a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly.

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets that were accounted for at fair value and are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

 

  

Fair Value Measurements Using

     
  

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)

  

Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)

  

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

  

Fair Value

 

December 31, 2020

                

Securities:

                

Certificates of deposit

 $  $15,117  $  $15,117 

Municipal securities

     409      409 

Mortgage-backed securities – residential

     6,108      6,108 

Collateralized mortgage obligations – residential

     2,195      2,195 
  $  $23,829  $  $23,829 
                 

December 31, 2019

                

Securities:

                

Certificates of deposit

 $  $48,666  $  $48,666 

Municipal securities

     513      513 

Mortgage-backed securities - residential

     8,037      8,037 

Collateralized mortgage obligations – residential

     2,977      2,977 
  $  $60,193  $  $60,193 

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s assets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis:

 

  

Fair Value Measurement Using

     
  

Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)

  

Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)

  

Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

  

Fair Value

 

December 31, 2020

                

Impaired loans - nonresidential real estate

 $  $  $268  $268 

 

Impaired loans, which are measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral for collateral–dependent loans, had a carrying amount of $296,000 with a valuation allowance of $28,000 at December 31, 2020. At December 31, 2019 there were no impaired loans that were measured for impairment using the fair value of the collateral for collateral-dependent loans and which had specific valuation allowances. There is an increase in the provision for loan losses of $28,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to no specific provision for loan losses for the year ended  December 31, 2019.

 

 

59

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 14 – FAIR VALUE (continued)

 

At December 31, 2020 and 2019 there were no OREO properties with valuation allowances.

 

The following table presents quantitative information, based on certain empirical data with respect to Level 3 fair value measurements for financial instruments measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at December 31,  2020:

 

  

Fair Value

 Valuation Technique Unobservable Input 

Range (Weighted Average)

 
December 31, 2020           

Impaired loans - nonresidential real estate

 $268 

Sales comparison

 

Discount applied to valuation

  22.0%

 

The carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments are as follows:

 

      

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2020 Using:

     
  Carrying Amount  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 

Financial assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $503,496  $14,115  $489,381  $  $503,496 

Securities

  23,829      23,829      23,829 

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses

  1,002,578         1,004,854   1,004,854 
FHLB and FRB stock  7,490            N/A 

Accrued interest receivable

  3,941      52   3,889   3,941 

Financial liabilities

                    

Certificates of deposit

  253,000      253,906      253,906 

Borrowings

  4,000      3,998      3,998 

 

      

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2019 Using:

     
  

Carrying

Amount

  

Level 1

  

Level 2

  

Level 3

  

Total

 

Financial assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $190,325  $9,785  $180,540  $  $190,325 

Securities available-for-sale

  60,193      60,193      60,193 

Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses

  1,168,008         1,177,459   1,177,459 

FHLB and FRB stock

  7,490            N/A 

Accrued interest receivable

  4,563      252   4,311   4,563 

Financial liabilities

                    

Certificates of deposit

  402,034      402,914      402,914 

Borrowings

  61      61      61 

 

Loans: The exit price observations are obtained from an independent third-party using its proprietary valuation model and methodology and may not reflect actual or prospective market valuations. The valuation is based on the probability of default, loss given default, recovery delay, prepayment, and discount rate assumptions.

 

While the above estimates are based on management’s judgment of the most appropriate factors, as of the balance sheet date, there is no assurance that the estimated fair values would have been realized if the assets were disposed of or the liabilities settled at that date, since market values may differ depending on the various circumstances. The estimated fair values would also not apply to subsequent dates.

 

In addition, other assets and liabilities that are not financial instruments, such as premises and equipment, are not included in the above disclosures.

 

 

NOTE 15 — REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS

 

All of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers in the scope of ASC 606 is recognized within noninterest income. The following table presents the Company's sources of noninterest income. Items outside of the scope of the ASC 606 are noted as such.

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Deposit service charges and fees

 $3,196  $3,844 

Loan servicing fees (1)

  552   451 

Mortgage brokerage and banking fees (1)

  98   149 

Gain on sale of equity securities (1)

     295 

Loss on disposal of other assets

  (5)  (44)

Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income

  961   844 

Earnings on bank-owned life insurance (1)

  70   136 

Other (1)

  494   497 

Total noninterest income

 $5,366  $6,172 

 

(1)

Not within the scope of ASC 606

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 15 — REVENUE FROM CONTRACTS WITH CUSTOMERS (continued)

 

A description of the Company's revenue streams accounted for under ASC 606 follows:

 

Deposit service charges and fees: The Company earns fees from its deposit customers based on specific types of transactions, account maintenance and overdraft services. Transaction-based fees, which include services such as ATM use fees, stop payment charges, statement rendering, and ACH fees, are recognized at the time the transaction is executed as that is the point in time the Company fulfills the customer's request. Account maintenance fees, which relate primarily to monthly maintenance, are earned over the course of a month, representing the period over which the Company satisfies the performance obligation. Overdraft fees are recognized at the point in time that the overdraft occurs. Service charges on deposits are withdrawn from the customer's account balance.

 

Interchange income: The Company earns interchange fees from debit cardholder transactions conducted through the Visa payment network. Interchange fees from cardholder transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder. Interchange income is included in deposit service charges and fees. Interchange income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

 

Trust and insurance commissions and annuities income: The Company earns trust, insurance commissions and annuities income from its contracts with trust customers to manage assets for investment, and/or to transact on their accounts. These fees are primarily earned over time as the Company provides the contracted monthly or quarterly services and are generally assessed based on a tiered scale of the market value of assets under management (AUM) at month-end. Fees that are transaction based, including trade execution services, are recognized at the point in time that the transaction is executed, i.e., the trade date. Other related services provided include fees the Company earns, which are based on a fixed fee schedule, are recognized when the services are rendered.

 

Gains/losses on sales of OREO and other assets: The Company records a gain or loss from the sale of OREO and other assets when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed. When the Company finances the sale of OREO to the buyer, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the OREO asset is derecognized and the gain or loss on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. In determining the gain or loss on the sale, the Company adjusts the transaction price and related gain (loss) on sale if a significant financing component is present. OREO sales for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 were not financed by the Company.

 

 

NOTE 16 – COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Condensed financial information of BankFinancial Corporation as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 and for the two years then ended are as follows:

 

Condensed Statements of Financial Condition

 

  

December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Assets

        

Cash in subsidiary

 $10,996  $6,864 

Investment in subsidiary

  161,678   164,847 

Deferred tax asset

  393   558 

Other assets

  658   2,115 
  $173,725  $174,384 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

        

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 $795  $12 

Total stockholders’ equity

  172,930   174,372 
  $173,725  $174,384 

 

Condensed Statements of Operations

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Dividends from subsidiary

 $13,713  $21,200 

Other expense

  1,625   1,600 

Income before income tax and undistributed subsidiary excess distributions

  12,088   19,600 

Income tax benefit

  (231)  (433)

Income before equity in undistributed subsidiary excess distributions

  12,319   20,033 

Equity in undistributed subsidiary excess distributions

  (3,156)  (8,361)

Net income

 $9,163  $11,672 

 

61

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Table amounts in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

NOTE 16 – COMPANY ONLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (continued)

 

Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

 

  

For the years ended December 31,

 
  

2020

  

2019

 

Cash flows from operating activities

        

Net income

 $9,163  $11,672 

Adjustments:

        

Equity in undistributed subsidiary excess distributions

  3,156   8,361 

Change in other assets

  1,622   2,643 

Change in accrued expenses and other liabilities

  783   (2,634)

Net cash from operating activities

  14,724   20,042 

Cash flows from financing activities

        

Repurchase and retirement of common stock

  (4,610)  (18,139)

Cash dividends paid on common stock

  (5,982)  (6,266)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (10,592)  (24,405)

Net change in cash in subsidiary

  4,132   (4,363)

Beginning cash in subsidiary

  6,864   11,227 

Ending cash in subsidiary

 $10,996  $6,864 

 

 

NOTE 17 – SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (unaudited)

 

  

For the year ended December 31, 2020

 
  

First Quarter

  

Second Quarter

  

Third Quarter

  

Fourth Quarter

 

Interest income

 $14,653  $13,194  $12,485  $12,543 

Interest expense

  2,684   1,869   1,488   947 

Net interest income

  11,969   11,325   10,997   11,596 

Provision for (recovery of) loan losses

  471   42   (187)  (271)

Net interest income after provision for (recovery of) loan losses

  11,498   11,283   11,184   11,867 

Noninterest income

  1,398   1,163   1,264   1,541 

Noninterest expense

  9,628   9,249   9,787   9,774 

Income before income taxes

  3,268   3,197   2,661   3,634 

Income tax expense

  850   845   713   1,189 

Net income

 $2,418  $2,352  $1,948  $2,445 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

 $0.16  $0.16  $0.13  $0.17 

 

The Company’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 included $605,000 of income related to loan prepayments, $255,000 of commercial credit facilities fees, and $162,000 of fee income from the Paycheck Protection Program and a modest increase in trust income. These increases were partially offset by a reduction of deposit services income related to retail account activity. The Company’s noninterest expense for the fourth quarter of 2020 was consistent with the prior quarter despite increases in occupancy expenses related to COVID-19 health security and risk mitigation, real estate taxes on branch facilities, personnel expenses related to equipment finance incentive plans and recruiting expenses related to the addition of originations and underwriting personnel for the Bank's Commercial Finance  Division and Treasury Services Department.

 

  

For the year ended December 31, 2019

 
  

First Quarter

  

Second Quarter

  

Third Quarter

  

Fourth Quarter

 

Interest income

 $16,526  $16,522  $16,628  $15,732 

Interest expense

  3,307   3,419   3,386   3,105 

Net interest income

  13,219   13,103   13,242   12,627 

Provision for (recovery of) loan losses

  (87)  3,957   (134)  89 

Net interest income

  13,306   9,146   13,376   12,538 

Noninterest income

  1,624   1,426   1,474   1,648 

Noninterest expense

  10,098   9,472   9,509   9,562 

Income before income taxes

  4,832   1,100   5,341   4,624 

Income tax expense

  1,281   293   1,417   1,234 

Net income

 $3,551  $807  $3,924  $3,390 

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

 $0.22  $0.05  $0.26  $0.22 

 

The Company recorded net income of $3.4 million, or $0.22 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2019.  The Company’s net interest income before provision for loan losses was $12.6 million due to the decline in the loan portfolio and lower market yields. The Company’s fourth quarter 2019 noninterest expense includes a $24,000 net recovery of non-performing loans expenses due to collections of previous recognized expenses.

 

62

 


 
 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.

 CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report (“Evaluation Date”). Based upon that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

(b) Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

 

The annual report of management on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting is set forth under “Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” under Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”  This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. As the Company is a non-accelerated filer, management’s report is not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act that permit the Company to provide only the management’s report in this annual report.

 

(c) Changes in internal controls.

 

There were no changes made in our internal controls during the fourth quarter of 2020 or, to our knowledge, in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, these controls.

 

See the Certifications pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report.

 

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Information concerning directors and executive officers of the Company is incorporated herein by reference from our definitive Proxy Statement related to our 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Proxy Statement”), specifically the sections captioned “Election of Directors; Information with Respect to Directors and Executive Officers.”

 

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

 

Information concerning Section 16(a) compliance is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the sections captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management - Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports.”

 

Code of Ethics

 

We have adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and persons performing similar functions. A copy of our Code of Ethics was attached as Exhibit 14 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2006. We have also adopted a Code of Business Conduct, pursuant to NASDAQ requirements, that applies generally to our directors, officers, and employees.

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Executive Compensation.”

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Information concerning securities ownership of certain owners and management is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock by Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.”

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Information concerning relationships and transactions is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Transactions with Certain Related Persons.”

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Information concerning principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference from our Proxy Statement, specifically the section captioned “Ratification of the Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

 

 

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)(1) Financial Statements

 

The following consolidated financial statement of the registrant and its subsidiaries are filed as part of this document under Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”

 

 

(A)

Reports of Independent Registered Accounting Firms

   

 

 

(B)

Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition at December 31, 2020 and 2019

   

 

 

(C)

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

   

 

 

(D)

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

 

 

 

(E)

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

   

 

 

(F)

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019

   

 

 

(G)

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules

 

None.

 

(a)(3) Exhibits

 

The documents set forth below are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference to the location indicated.

 

 

 

Exhibit

 

Location

3.1

 

Articles of Incorporation of BankFinancial Corporation

 

Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

3.2

 

Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation

 

Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

3.3

 

Articles of Amendment to Charter of BankFinancial Corporation

 

Exhibit 3.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

3.4

 

Restated Bylaws of BankFinancial Corporation

 

Exhibit 3.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 4, 2014

4.1

 

Form of Common Stock Certificate of BankFinancial Corporation

 

Exhibit 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

4.2

 

Description of Registrant's Securities

 

Exhibit 4.2 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 2020.

10.1

 

BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2008

10.2

 

BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Paul A. Cloutier

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2008

10.3

 

Form of Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement

 

Exhibit 10.8 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 5, 2006

10.4

 

BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with F. Morgan Gasior

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2008

10.5

 

BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with Paul A. Cloutier

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2008

10.6

 

BankFinancial Corporation Employment Agreement with Elizabeth A. Doolan

 

Exhibit 10.28 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2009.

10.7

 

BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Elizabeth A. Doolan

 

Exhibit 10.29 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2009.

10.8

 

BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with Gregg T. Adams

 

Exhibit 10.30 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of the Company originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2010.

10.9

 

BankFinancial FSB Employment Agreement with John G. Manos

 

Exhibit 10.31 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of the Company originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2010.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit

 

Location

10.10

 

Form of Extension of Term of Employment Period, for Named Executive Officers of BankFinancial FSB (pursuant to terms of existing agreements)

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 29, 2016

10.11

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and F. Morgan Gasior

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017

10.12

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and Paul A. Cloutier

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017

10.13

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial, National Association and John G. Manos

 

Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 26, 2017

10.14

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial Corporation and F. Morgan Gasior

 

Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2017

10.15

 

Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between BankFinancial Corporation and Paul A. Cloutier

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 1, 2017

10.16

 

Form of Extension of Term of Employment Period, for Named Executive Officers of BankFinancial, National Association (pursuant to terms of existing agreements)

 

Exhibit 10.2 to the Report on Form 8-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 19, 2018

14

 

Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers

 

Exhibit 14 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 27, 2006

21

 

Subsidiaries of Registrant

 

Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Company, originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2004

23.1

 

Consent of RSM US LLP

 

Filed herewith

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Filed herewith

32

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

 

Furnished herewith

101

 

The following financial statements from the BankFinancial Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, formatted in Inline Extensive Business Reporting Language (iXBRL): (i) consolidated statements of financial condition, (ii) consolidated statements of operations, (iii) consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv)consolidated statements of changes in stockholders' equity, (v)consolidated statements of cash flows and (vi) the notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

Filed herewith

104   Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)   Filed herewith

 

*

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

ITEM 16.

FORM 10-K SUMMARY

 

Not Applicable.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

BANKFINANCIAL CORPORATION

Date:

February 25, 2021

By:

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

 

 

 

F. Morgan Gasior

 

 

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

 

(Duly Authorized Representative)

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 
         

Signatures

 

Title

 

Date

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ F. Morgan Gasior

 

Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

February 25, 2021

F. Morgan Gasior

 

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Paul A. Cloutier

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

February 25, 2021

Paul A. Cloutier

 

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Elizabeth A. Doolan

 

Senior Vice President and Controller

 

February 25, 2021

Elizabeth A. Doolan

 

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Cassandra J. Francis

 

Director

 

February 25, 2021

Cassandra J. Francis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ John M. Hausmann

 

Director

 

February 25, 2021

John M. Hausmann

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas F. O'Neill

 

Director

 

February 25, 2021

Thomas F. O'Neill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Terry R. Wells

 

Director

 

February 25, 2021

Terry R. Wells

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Glen R. Wherfel

 

Director

 

February 25, 2021

Glen R. Wherfel

 

 

 

 
         
 

 

Director

 

 
Debra R. Zukonik        
         

 

 

66