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CARVER BANCORP INC - Quarter Report: 2008 December (Form 10-Q)

form10q.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q


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

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2008

OR

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

For the transition period from _________ to _________

Commission File Number: 1-13007

CARVER BANCORP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
13-3904174
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
   
75 West 125th Street, New York, New York
10027
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (718) 230-2900


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. x Yes o No


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

o Large Accelerated Filer
£ Accelerated Filer
o Non-accelerated Filer
x Smaller Reporting Company

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Common Stock, par value $0.01
 
2,470,037
Class
 
Outstanding at February 11, 2009
 


 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

         
Page
PART I.
 
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
           
   
Item 1.
 
Financial Statements
 
           
       
2
           
       
3
           
       
4
           
       
5
           
       
6
           
   
Item 2.
 
14
           
   
Item 3.
 
32
           
   
Item 4.
 
32
           
PART II.
 
OTHER INFORMATION
 
           
   
Item 1.
 
33
           
   
Item 1A.
 
33
           
   
Item 2.
 
34
           
   
Item 3.
 
34
           
   
Item 4.
 
34
           
   
Item 5.
 
34
           
   
Item 6.
 
35
           
36
           
35

 
ITEM 1.
Financial Statements
 
CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
(unaudited)
 
   
December 31,
   
March 31,
 
   
2008
   
2008
 
         
(As Restated)
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents:
           
Cash and due from banks
  $ 20,954     $ 15,920  
Federal funds sold
    -       10,500  
Interest earning deposits
    947       948  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    21,901       27,368  
Securities:
               
Available-for-sale, at fair value (including pledged as collateral of $29,397 and $20,621 at  December 31 and March 31, 2008, respectively)
    29,442       20,865  
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (including pledged as collateral of $15,525 and $16,643 at  December 31 and March 31, 2008, respectively; fair value of $15,912 and $17,167 at  December 31 and March 31, 2008, respectively)
    16,169       17,307  
Total securities
    45,611       38,172  
                 
Loans held-for-sale
    21,563       23,767  
                 
Loans receivable:
               
Real estate mortgage loans
    579,309       578,957  
Commercial business loans
    55,554       52,109  
Consumer loans
    1,793       1,728  
Allowance for loan losses
    (5,512 )     (4,878 )
Total loans receivable, net
    631,144       627,916  
                 
Office properties and equipment, net
    15,621       15,780  
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost
    3,117       1,625  
Bank owned life insurance
    9,400       9,141  
Accrued interest receivable
    3,645       4,063  
Goodwill
    -       6,370  
Core deposit intangibles, net
    418       532  
Other assets
    37,484       41,437  
Total assets
  $ 789,904     $ 796,171  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Deposits
  $ 621,534     $ 654,663  
Advances from the FHLB-New York and other borrowed money
    91,524       58,625  
Other liabilities
    9,561       9,835  
Total liabilities
    722,619       723,123  
                 
Minority interest
    19,150       19,150  
                 
Stockholders' equity:
               
Common stock (par value $0.01 per share: 10,000,000 shares authorized; 2,524,691 shares issued;  2,475,037 and 2,481,706 shares outstanding at December 31 and March 31, 2008, respectively)
    25       25  
Additional paid-in capital
    24,188       24,113  
Retained earnings
    24,085       30,005  
Treasury stock, at cost (49,654 and 42,985 shares at December 31 and March 31, 2008, respectively)
    (760 )     (670 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    597       425  
Total stockholders' equity
    48,135       53,898  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 789,904     $ 796,171  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements


CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)


   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                         
Interest Income:
                       
Loans
  $ 9,800     $ 11,403     $ 30,093     $ 33,579  
Mortgage-backed securities
    578       518       1,742       1,494  
Investment securities
    39       328       209       1,183  
Federal funds sold
    4       68       44       109  
Total interest income
    10,421       12,317       32,088       36,365  
                                 
Interest expense:
                               
Deposits
    3,016       5,069       10,516       13,970  
Advances and other borrowed money
    991       932       2,699       2,962  
Total interest expense
    4,007       6,001       13,215       16,932  
                                 
Net interest income before provision for loan losses
    6,414       6,316       18,873       19,433  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
    431       222       770       222  
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
    5,983       6,094       18,103       19,211  
                                 
Non-interest income:
                               
Depository fees and charges
    732       666       2,114       1,981  
Loan fees and service charges
    264       327       1,070       1,218  
Write-down of loans held for sale
    -       -       (16 )     -  
Gain on sale of securities
    -       102       -       181  
Gain (loss) on loans
    (208 )     75       38       103  
Other
    407       2,008       1,309       2,284  
Total non-interest income
    1,195       3,178       4,515       5,767  
                                 
Non-interest expense:
                               
Employee compensation and benefits
    2,968       3,413       9,998       9,731  
Net occupancy expense
    1,223       908       3,142       2,673  
Equipment, net
    794       827       2,103       1,931  
Federal deposit insurance premiums
    233       18       389       56  
Other
    2,515       2,797       6,740       7,271  
Goodwill Impairment
    6,370       -       6,370       -  
Total non-interest expense
    14,103       7,963       28,742       21,662  
                                 
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (6,925 )     1,309       (6,124 )     3,316  
Income tax benefit
    (550 )     (268 )     (1,293 )     (168 )
Minority Interest
    124       -       361       -  
Net income (loss)
  $ (6,499 )   $ 1,577     $ (5,192 )   $ 3,484  
                                 
Earnings (loss) per common share:
                               
Basic
  $ (2.63 )   $ 0.63     $ (2.10 )   $ 1.40  
Diluted
  $ (2.63 )   $ 0.62     $ (2.10 )   $ 1.36  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
 
CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
(in thousands)
 
(Unaudited)
 
   
Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
OPERATIONS
           
Net income (loss)
  $ (5,192 )   $ 3,484  
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Provision for loan losses
    770       222  
Provision for REO losses
    53       -  
Goodwill impairment charge
    6,370       -  
Stock based compensation expense
    3       97  
Depreciation and amortization expense
    1,340       1,264  
Amortization of other intangibles
    141       157  
Gain on sale of securities
    -       (181 )
Gain on loans
    (38 )     (103 )
Originations of loans held-for-sale
    (9,097 )     (14,546 )
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale
    10,600       12,506  
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Decrease in loan premiums and discounts and deferred charges
    174       170  
Increase (Decrease) in premiums and discounts - securities
    4       (429 )
Decrease (Increase) in accrued interest receivable
    418       (173 )
Decrease (Increase) in other assets
    3,201       (22,571 )
Decrease (Increase) in other liabilities
    (231 )     2,848  
Net cash provided by (used in)  operating activities
    8,516       (17,255 )
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchases of securities:
               
Available-for-sale securites
    (12,446 )     (11,728 )
Proceeds from principal payments, maturities and calls of securities:
               
Available-for-sale
    4,153       7,358  
Held-to-maturity
    1,107       1,497  
Proceeds from sale of available for sale securities
    -       16,396  
Originations of loans held-for-investment
    (103,290 )     (134,856 )
Loans purchased from third parties
    -       (17,455 )
Principal collections on loans
    99,374       101,468  
(Purchase) redemption of FHLB-NY stock
    (1,492 )     1,002  
Additions to premises and equipment
    (1,181 )     (1,808 )
Proceeds from sale of real estate owned
    949       -  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (12,826     (38,126 )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Net (decrease) increase in deposits
    (33,129 )     27,321  
Net borrowing of  FHLB advances and other borrowings
    32,872       11,080  
Capital contribution by minority interest
    -       19,150  
Common stock repurchased
    (159 )     (254 )
Dividends paid
    (741 )     (724 )
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (1,157 )     56,573  
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (5,467 )     1,192  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    27,368       17,350  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 21,901     $ 18,542  
                 
Supplemental information:
               
Noncash Transfers-
               
Change in unrealized loss on valuation of available-for-sale  investments, net
  $ 276     $ 93  
                 
Cash paid for-
               
Interest
  $ 13,152     $ 16,321  
Income taxes
  $ 129     $ 902  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements


CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Common Stock
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Treasury Stock
   
Retained Earnings
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Total Stock-Holders’ Equity
 
Balance—March 31, 2008
                                   
(As Previously Reported)
  $ 25     $ 24,113     $ (670 )   $ 30,490     $ 425     $ 54,383  
Adjustment
    -       -       -       (485 )     -       (485 )
Balance - March 31, 2008 (As restated)
  $ 25     $ 24,113     $ (670 )   $ 30,005     $ 425     $ 53,898  
Net loss
    -       -       -       (5,192 )     -       (5,192 )
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    -       -       -       -       172       172  
Comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
    -       -       -       (5,192 )     172       (5,020 )
Effect of accounting change regarding pension plan measurement date pursuant to FASB statement no. 158
    -       -       -       13       -       13  
Dividends paid
    -       -       -       (741 )     -       (741 )
Treasury stock activity
    -       75       (90 )     -       -       (15 )
Balance - December 31, 2008
  $ 25     $ 24,188     $ (760 )   $ 24,085     $ 597     $ 48,135  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)


(1)
Organization
 
Nature of operations
 
Carver Bancorp, Inc.  (on a stand-alone basis, the “Company”, “Holding Company” or “Registrant”), incorporated in May 1996, is the holding company for Carver Federal Savings Bank (the “Bank” or “Carver Federal”).  Carver Federal’s material subsidiaries include CFSB Realty Corp. and Carver Community Development Corp.  (“CCDC”).  The Bank has a majority owned interest in Carver Asset Corporation, a real estate investment trust formed in February 2004.

“Carver,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refers to the Holding Company along with its consolidated subsidiaries.  The Bank was chartered in 1948 and began operations in 1949 as Carver Federal Savings and Loan Association, a federally chartered mutual savings and loan association.  The Bank converted to a federal savings bank in 1986.  On October 24, 1994, the Bank converted from mutual to stock form and issued 2,314,275 shares of its common stock, par value $0.01 per share.  On October 17, 1996, the Bank completed its reorganization into a holding company structure (the “Reorganization”) and became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Holding Company.

Carver Federal’s principal business consists of attracting deposit accounts through its branches and investing those funds in mortgage loans, small business loans and other investments permitted by federal savings banks.  The Bank has nine branches located throughout the City of New York that primarily serve the communities in which they operate.

 
(2)
A) Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Holding Company have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial condition, results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Holding Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of and for the periods shown have been included.
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements.  Amounts subject to significant estimates and assumptions are items such as the allowance for loan losses and lending–related commitments, valuation on mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”), goodwill and intangibles, pensions, assessment of other than temporary impairment and the fair value of financial instruments.  Actual results could differ from these estimates.
 
The unaudited consolidated financial statements presented herein should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Holding Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, as previously filed with the SEC.  The consolidated results of operations and other data for the three-month and nine months periods ended December 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 (“fiscal 2009”).
 

B) Reclassifications

Certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements presented for the prior year period have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.


(3)                   Restatement
 
During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, Carver became aware of certain adjustments to suspense accounts related to check return processing and automated clearing house (“ACH”) return processing that appeared to be incorrect.  A review of the suspense account reconciliations commenced and an analysis was performed on Carver’s accounting and financial reporting practices.   Since fiscal 2007 the review raised questions, most of which involved adjustments to various suspense accounts, and identified evidence that certain adjustments were incorrect. The review found evidence that, in the fiscal 2007 timeframe, suspense accounts adjustments for check returns and ACH returns were improper and resulted in aged suspense items not being properly cleared. As such, an adjustment of $761,000 was necessary to correct the fiscal 2007 financial statements to reflect charge-offs that should have been recorded in the period of the identified errors. This adjustment resulted in a reduction in diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2007 from $1.00 to $0.81, a decrease of $0.19, or 19%. The errors and irregularities identified in the course of the review revealed deficiencies in Carver’s accounting and financial control environment, some of which were determined to be a material weakness that requires corrective and remedial actions. For a description of the control deficiencies identified by management as a result of the review and Carver’s internal reviews described below, as well as management’s plan to remediate those deficiencies, see “Part I — Item 4 — Controls and Procedures.”
  
Concurrently with the review, Carver also conducted extensive internal reviews for the purpose of the preparation and certification of Carver’s fiscal 2009 financial statements and its assessment of internal controls over financial reporting. Carver’s procedures included expanded account reviews and expanded balance sheet reconciliations to ensure all accounts were fully reconciled, supported, and appropriately documented. Carver also implemented improvements to its quarterly and annual accounting close process to provide for more complete review of the financial results.
 
As a result of the issues identified in the review, the Finance and Audit Committee, in consultation with management and KPMG LLP, concluded on February 9, 2009 that Carver’s previously issued financial statements for fiscal 2007 (including the interim periods within those years), should no longer be relied upon because of certain accounting errors and irregularities in those financial statements. Accordingly, Carver will restate its previously issued financial statements for those periods by filing an amended 2008 10-K. Restated financial information is presented in this report, and will also be included in Carver’s Amended Annual Report on form 10-K for Fiscal 2008.

Set out below is the impact of the adjustment by financial statement line item in Carver’s consolidated statement of financial condition as of March 31,  2008 and consolidated changes in shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income for the nine months ended December 31, 2008.


CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(In thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

   
March 31,
         
March 31,
 
   
2008
         
2008
 
   
(As Previously Reported)
   
Adjustment
   
(As Restated)
 
ASSETS
                 
Cash and cash equivalents:
                 
Cash and due from banks
  $ 15,920     $ -     $ 15,920  
Federal funds sold
    10,500       -       10,500  
Interest earning deposits
    948       -       948  
Total cash and cash equivalents
    27,368               27,368  
Securities:
                       
Available-for-sale, at fair value
    20,865       -       20,865  
Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost
    17,307       -       17,307  
Total securities
    38,172       -       38,172  
                         
Loans held-for-sale
    23,767       -       23,767  
                         
Loans receivable:
                       
Real estate mortgage loans
    578,957       -       578,957  
Commercial business loans
    52,109       -       52,109  
Consumer loans
    1,728       -       1,728  
Allowance for loan losses
    (4,878 )     -       (4,878 )
Total loans receivable, net
    627,916       -       627,916  
                         
Office properties and equipment, net
    15,780       -       15,780  
Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock, at cost
    1,625       -       1,625  
Bank owned life insurance
    9,141       -       9,141  
Accrued interest receivable
    4,063       -       4,063  
Goodwill
    6,370       -       6,370  
Core deposit intangibles, net
    532       -       532  
Other assets
    41,859       (422 )     41,437  
Total assets
  $ 796,593     $ (422 )   $ 796,171  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                       
Liabilities:
                       
Deposits
  $ 654,663     $ -     $ 654,663  
Advances from the FHLB-New York and other borrowed money
    58,625       -       58,625  
Other liabilities
    9,772       63       9,835  
Total liabilities
    723,060       63       723,123  
                         
Minority interest
    19,150       -       19,150  
                         
Stockholders' equity:
                       
Common stock
    25       -       25  
Additional paid-in capital
    24,113       -       24,113  
Retained earnings
    30,490       (485 )     30,005  
Treasury stock, at cost
    (670 )     -       (670 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    425       -       425  
Total stockholders' equity
    54,383       (485 )     53,898  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 796,593     $ (422 )   $ 796,171  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements


CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
Common Stock
   
Additional Paid-In Capital
   
Treasury Stock
   
Retained Earnings
   
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
   
Total Stock-Holders’ Equity
 
Balance—March 31, 2008
                                   
(As Previously Reported)
  $ 25     $ 24,113     $ (670 )   $ 30,490     $ 425     $ 54,383  
Adjustment
    -       -       -       (485 )     -       (485 )
Balance - March 31, 2008 (As restated)
  $ 25     $ 24,113     $ (670 )   $ 30,005     $ 425     $ 53,898  
Net loss
    -       -       -       (5,192 )     -       (5,192 )
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    -       -       -       -       172       172  
Comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes:
    -       -       -       (5,192 )     172       (5,020 )
Effect of accounting change regarding pension plan measurement date pursuant to FASB statement no. 158
    -       -       -       13       -       13  
Dividends paid
    -       -       -       (741 )     -       (741 )
Treasury stock activity
    -       75       (90 )     -       -       (15 )
Balance - December 31, 2008
  $ 25     $ 24,188     $ (760 )   $ 24,085     $ 597     $ 48,135  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
(4)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding over the period of determination.  Diluted earnings per common share includes any additional common shares as if all potentially dilutive common shares were issued (for instance, stock options with an exercise price that is less than the average market price of the common shares for the periods stated).  For the purpose of these calculations, unreleased Employee Stock Ownership Program (ESOP) shares are not considered to be outstanding.  For the three-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, 28,557 and 60,823 shares of common stock were potentially issuable from the exercise of stock options with an exercise price that is less than the average market price of the common shares and unvested restricted stock grants for the same period.  For the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, 28,557 and 70,125 shares of common stock were potentially issuable from the exercise of stock options with an exercise price that is less than the average market price of the common shares for the same period.  For the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2008 the Bank sustained net losses, therefore, the effects of these stock options were not considered in computing fully diluted earnings per common share as they would be anti-dilutive.

(5)
Accounting for Stock Based Compensation

The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment ("SFAS No.  123R"), which requires that all stock-based compensation be recognized as an expense in the financial statements and that such cost be measured at the fair value of the award.  This statement was adopted using the modified prospective method of application, which requires the Company to recognize compensation expense on a prospective basis.  Therefore, prior period financial statements have not been restated.  Under this method, in addition to reflecting compensation expense for new share-based awards, expense is also recognized to reflect the remaining service period of awards that had been included in pro forma disclosures in prior periods.  SFAS No. 123R also requires that excess tax benefits related to stock option exercises be reflected as financing cash inflows instead of operating cash inflows.  Stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefit recognized for the three months ended December 31, 2008, totaled $11,000 and $4,000, respectively.  For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, stock-based compensation expense and the related tax benefit were $3,000 and $1,000, respectively.


(6)
Benefit Plans

Employee Pension Plan

The Bank has a non-contributory defined benefit pension plan covering all eligible employees.  The benefits are based on each employee’s term of service.  The Bank’s policy was to fund the plan with contributions equal to the maximum amount deductible for federal income tax purposes.  The pension plan was curtailed and future benefit accruals ceased as of December 31, 2000.

Directors’ Retirement Plan
 
Concurrent with the conversion to a stock form of ownership, the Bank adopted a retirement plan for non-employee directors.  The benefits are payable based on the term of service as a director.  The directors’ retirement plan was curtailed during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2001.

The following table sets forth the components of net periodic pension expense for the employee pension plan and directors’ retirement plan as follows (in thousands):
 
   
For Three Months Ended December 31,
 
   
Employee Pension Plan
   
Directors' Retirement Plan
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                         
Interest cost
  $ 37     $ 40     $ -     $ 1  
Expected return on assets
    (53 )     (55 )     -       -  
Unrecognized gain
    -       -       (5 )     -  
Net periodic (benefit) expense
  $ (16 )   $ (15 )   $ (5 )   $ 1  


   
For Nine Months Ended December 31,
 
   
Employee Pension Plan
   
Directors' Retirement Plan
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
                         
Interest cost
  $ 112     $ 120     $ -     $ 3  
Expected return on assets
    (160 )     (165 )     -       -  
Unrecognized gain
    -       -       (16 )     -  
Net periodic (benefit) expense
  $ (48 )   $ (45 )   $ (16 )   $ 3  
 
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 158 “Employer’s Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”, the Company recorded an addition to its retained earnings on April 1, 2008 to reflect a change of measurement date for plan assets and benefit obligation from December 31, 2007 to March 31, 2008.

(7)
Common Stock Dividend

On February 12, 2009, the Board of Directors of the Holding Company declared, for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, a cash dividend of ten cents ($0.10) per common share outstanding.  The dividend is payable on March 13, 2009 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 27, 2009.

(8)
Fair Value Measurements

On April 1, 2008, the Company adopted SFAS No.  157, "Fair Value Measurements,"(“SFAS No. 157”) which, among other things, defines fair value; establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value; and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis.  SFAS No.157 clarifies that fair value is an "exit" price, representing the amount that would be received when selling an asset, or paid when transferring a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants.  Fair value is thus a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.  As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:


 
·
Level 1– Inputs to the valuation methodology are quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
 
·
Level 2– Inputs to the valuation methodology include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial instrument.
 
·
Level 3– Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

A financial instrument’s categorization within this valuation hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

The following table presents, by SFAS No. 157 valuation hierarchy, assets that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2008, and that are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition:
 
   
Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2008, Using
 
(in thousands)
 
Quoted Prices in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets (Level 1)
   
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant 
Unobservable
 Inputs (Level 3)
   
Total Fair
Value
 
Loans held for sale
  $ -     $ 21,563     $ -     $ 21,563  
Mortgage servicing rights
  $ -     $ -     $ 612     $ 612  
Securities available for sale
  $ -     $ 29,397     $ 45     $ 29,442  
 
Instruments for which unobservable inputs are significant to their fair value measurement (i.e., Level 3) include mortgage servicing rights.  Level 3 assets accounted for 0.1% of the Company’s total assets at December 31, 2008.
 
The Company reviews and updates the fair value hierarchy classifications on a quarterly basis.  Changes from one quarter to the next that are related to the observable inputs to a fair value measurement may result in a reclassification from one hierarchy level to another.
 
A description of the methods and significant assumptions utilized in estimating the fair value of available-for-sale securities follows:
 
Where quoted prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.  Level 1 securities include highly liquid government securities and exchange-traded securities.
 
If quoted market prices are not available for the specific security, then fair values are estimated by using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows.  These pricing models primarily use market-based or independently sourced market parameters as inputs, including, but not limited to, yield curves, interest rates, equity or debt prices, and credit spreads.  In addition to market information, models also incorporate transaction details, such as maturity and cash flow assumptions.  Securities valued in this manner would generally be classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy and primarily include such instruments as mortgage-related securities and corporate debt.
 
In certain cases where there is limited activity or less transparency around inputs to the valuation, securities are classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.  In valuing certain securities, the determination of fair value may require benchmarking to similar instruments or analyzing default and recovery rates.  Quoted price information for mortgage servicing rights (“MSR”) is not available.  Therefore, MSR are valued using market-standard models to model the specific cash flow structure.  Key inputs to the model consist of principal balance of loans being serviced, servicing fees and prepayment rate.
 
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values.  Furthermore, while the Company believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with those of other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.


The following table presents information for assets classified by the Company within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy for the nine months ended December 31, 2008:

(in thousands)
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights
   
Securities Available for Sale
 
Beginning balance, April 1, 2008
  $ 605     $ 45  
Additions
    80       -  
Total unrealized loss
    (73 )     -  
Ending balance, December 31, 2008
  $ 612     $ 45  
 
 
(9)
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, "The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities (“SFAS No. 159”). SFAS No. 159 provides companies with the option of electing fair value as an alternative measurement for most financial assets and liabilities.  It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between companies that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities.  SFAS No. 159 requires companies to provide additional information that will help investors and other users of financial statements to more easily understand the effect of a company’s choice to use fair value on its earnings.  It also requires entities to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for which the company has chosen to use fair value on the face of the balance sheet.  Under SFAS No. 159, fair value is used for both the initial and subsequent measurement of the designated assets and/or liabilities, with the changes in value recognized in earnings.  SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007.  The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on April 1, 2008, but did not elect the fair value option for any eligible financial assets and liabilities through December 31, 2008.

Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments

In November 2007, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 109 (“SAB 109”).  SAB 109 supersedes Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 105 (“SAB 105”), "Application of Accounting Principles to Loan Commitments."  It clarifies that the expected net future cash flows related to the associated servicing of a loan should be included in the measurement of all written loan commitments that are accounted for at fair value through earnings.  However, it retains the guidance in SAB 105 that internally-developed intangible assets should not be recorded as part of the fair value of a derivative loan commitment.  The guidance is effective on a prospective basis to derivative loan commitments issued or modified in fiscal quarters beginning after December 15, 2007.  In conjunction with the adoption of SFAS 157 and SFAS 159, this guidance generally would result in higher fair values being recorded upon initial recognition of derivative loan commitments.  The adoption of SAB 109 had no material impact on the Bank’s financial condition or results of operations.

Business Combinations

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R, “Business Combinations (revised 2007).” (“SFAS No. 141R”) improves reporting by creating greater consistency in the accounting and financial reporting of business combinations, resulting in more complete, comparable, and relevant information for investors and other users of financial statements.  To achieve this goal, the new standard requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize all (and only) the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed; and requires the acquirer to disclose the information necessary to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination.  SFAS No. 141R applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first fiscal year that commences after December 15, 2008.

Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements.” (“SFAS No. 160”) improves the relevance, comparability, and transparency of financial information provided to investors by requiring all entities to report non-controlling (minority) interests in subsidiaries in the same way, i.e., as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  In addition, SFAS No. 160 eliminates the diversity that currently exists in accounting for transactions between an entity and non-controlling interests by requiring that they be treated as equity transactions.  SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008.

Sale with Repurchase Financing Agreements

In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 140-3, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets and Repurchase Financing Transactions.” The objective of this FSP is to provide implementation guidance on whether the security transfer and contemporaneous repurchase financing involving the transferred financial asset must be evaluated as one linked transaction or two separate de-linked transactions.


Current practice records the transfer as a sale and the repurchase agreement as a financing.  The FSP requires the recognition of the transfer and the repurchase agreement as one linked transaction, unless all of the following criteria are met: (1) the initial transfer and the repurchase financing are not contractually contingent on one another; (2) the initial transferor has full recourse upon default, and the repurchase agreement’s price is fixed and not at fair value; (3) the financial asset is readily obtainable in the marketplace and the transfer and repurchase financing are executed at market rates; and (4) the maturity of the repurchase financing is before the maturity of the financial asset.  The scope of this FSP is limited to transfers and subsequent repurchase financings that are entered into contemporaneously or in contemplation of one another.  The FSP will be effective for the Bank on March 31, 2009.  Early adoption is prohibited.  The FSP is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No.161”), an amendment of SFAS No. 133.  The standard requires enhanced disclosures about derivative instruments and hedged items that are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and related interpretations.  The standard will be effective for all of the Company’s interim and annual financial statements for periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early adoption permitted.  The standard expands the disclosure requirements for derivatives and hedged items and has no impact on how Carver accounts for these instruments. Since the provisions of SFAS No. 161 are disclosure related, our adoption of SFAS No. 161 will not have an impact on our financial condition or results of operations.

Elimination of QSPEs and Changes in the FIN 46(R) Consolidation Model

In April of 2008, the FASB voted to eliminate Qualifying Special Purpose Entities (QSPEs) from the guidance in SFAS No.140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishment of Liabilities" (“SFAS No.140”)  The revised standard has not been finalized and the proposals will be subject to a public comment period.   Currently, Carver does not have any of these assets or transactions with a QSPE, but this change may have a significant impact on Carver's consolidated financial statements as the Company may lose sales treatment for future asset sales to a QSPE.  This proposed revision could be effective as early as April 2010.
 
In connection with the proposed changes to SFAS 140, the FASB also is proposing three key changes to the consolidation model in FIN 46(R).  First, former QSPEs would now be included in the scope of FIN 46(R).  In addition, the FASB supports amending FIN 46(R) to change the method of analyzing which party to a variable interest entity (“VIE”) should consolidate the VIE to a primarily qualitative determination of control instead of today's risks and rewards model.  Finally, the proposed amendment is expected to require all VIEs and their primary beneficiaries to be re-evaluated quarterly.  The previous rules required reconsideration only when specified reconsideration events occurred.  The proposed amendment to FIN 46(R) is not expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations.
 
Disclosures about Transfers of Financial Assets and Involvement with Variable Interest Entities
 
In December of 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 140-4 and FIN 46(R)-8, "Disclosures by Public Entities (Enterprises) about Transfers of Financial Assets and Interests in Variable Interest Entities", which requires additional disclosures about transfers of financial assets and involvement with variable interest entities.  With respect to transfers of financial assets, the FSP's objectives require affected companies to provide financial statement users “with an understanding of” various matters including: the transferors continuing involvement with financial assets in certain securitization transactions, restrictions on assets reported in a company's balance sheet related to transferred assets, reporting of servicing rights and the impact on the transferor's financial statements where the transferor continues to be involved with securitization arrangements that are accounted for as secured borrowings.  With respect to an entity's involvement with variable interest entities (VIEs), the FSP's objectives require affected companies to provide financial statement users "with an understanding of" various matters including: significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a VIE should be consolidated and/or disclose information about the involvement with the VIE, restrictions on consolidated VIE assets reported on the company's balance sheet and the carrying amount of such assets, nature of the risks associated with the company's involvement with the VIE and how the involvement with the VIE impacts amounts reported in the company's financial statements.
 
As noted above, the Company has not previously transferred assets to QSPEs. The Company's main involvement with VIEs arises in connection with the New Market Tax Credit (NMTC) award that was transferred to an investor in a NMTC project.
 

ITEM 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 

Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which may be identified by the use of such words as “may,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “estimate,” “predict,” “continue,” and “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business that are subject to various factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from these estimates.   These factors include but are not limited to the following:

·
the Company's success in implementing its new business initiatives, including expanding its product line, adding new branches and ATM centers and successfully re-building its brand image;
 
·
increases in competitive pressure among financial institutions or non-financial institutions;
 
·
legislative or regulatory changes which may adversely affect the Company’s business;
 
·
technological changes which may be more difficult or expensive than anticipated;
 
·
changes in interest rates which may reduce net interest margins and net interest income;
 
·
changes in deposit flows, loan demand or real estate values which may adversely affect the business;
 
·
changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines which may cause conditions to be perceived differently;
   
·
litigation or other matters before regulatory agencies, whether currently existing or commencing in the future, which may delay the occurrence or non-occurrence of events longer than anticipated;
 
·
the ability to originate and purchase loans with attractive terms and acceptable credit quality;
 
·
the ability to realize cost efficiencies; and
   
·
general economic conditions, either nationally or locally in some or all areas in which business is conducted, or conditions in the securities markets or the banking industry which could affect liquidity in the capital markets, the volume of loan origination, deposit flows, real estate values, the levels of non-interest income and the amount of loan losses. 
 
Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in any other public statements that we make may turn out to be wrong.  They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties.   The forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company assumes no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

Overview

The following should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements, the notes thereto and other financial information included in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.
 
Carver Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the holding company for Carver Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered savings bank, and, on a parent-only basis, had minimal results of operations.  The Holding Company is headquartered in New York, New York.  The Holding Company conducts business as a unitary savings and loan holding company, and the principal business of the Holding Company consists of the operation of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Carver Federal.  Carver Federal was founded in 1948 to serve African-American communities whose residents, businesses and institutions had limited access to mainstream financial services.  The Bank remains headquartered in Harlem, and predominantly all its nine branches and sixteen stand-alone 24/7 ATM Centers are located in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods.  Many of these historically underserved communities have recently experienced unprecedented growth and diversification of incomes, ethnicity and economic opportunity, after decades of public and private investment.

Today, Carver Federal is the largest African- and Caribbean-American operated bank in the United States.  The Bank remains dedicated to expanding wealth enhancing opportunities in the communities it serves by increasing access to capital and financial advice for consumers, businesses and non-profit organizations, including faith-based institutions.  A measure of its progress in achieving this goal includes the Bank's "Outstanding" rating, awarded by the OTS following its most recent Community Reinvestment Act examination in 2006.  The examination report noted that 95% of Carver’s loan originations were within low- to moderate-income geographies, which far exceeded peer institutions.  The Bank has approximately $790 million in assets as of December 31, 2008 and employs approximately 154 employees as of December 31, 2008.


Carver Federal’s net income, like others in the thrift industry, is dependent primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between interest income earned on its interest-earning assets such as loans, investment and mortgage-backed securities portfolios and the interest paid on its interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings.  Carver Federal’s earnings are also affected by general economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates and government and regulatory policies.  Additionally, net income is affected by incremental provisions for loan losses, if any, non-interest income, operating expenses and tax benefits from the New Market Tax Credit (NMTC”) award.
 
Carver Federal engages in consumer and commercial banking services consistent with its community banking roots. The Bank provides deposit products including demand, savings and time deposits for consumers, businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies in its local market area within New York City.  In addition to deposit products, Carver Federal offers a number of other consumer and commercial banking products and services, including debit cards, online banking including online bill pay, and telephone banking.

The Bank’s primary market area for deposits consists of areas currently served by its branches, which are located in the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens boroughs of New York City.  The neighborhoods in which the Bank’s branches are located have historically been low- to moderate-income areas.

Carver Federal offers loan products in several asset classes, including commercial, residential and construction loans, business and consumer loans.  The Bank finances mortgage and loan products through deposit operations or borrowings.  Funds not used to originate mortgages and loans are invested primarily in U.S. government agency securities and mortgage-backed securities.

The Company’s officers actively monitor market developments as they relate to its deposit and lending businesses. Regarding deposits, the Bank’s competitive advantages include Carver Federal’s 60 year history in its market area, its active community involvement, long term customer relationships, and targeted products and services along with  personal service consistent with community banking. This history has allowed the Bank to retain and increase its market share among significant centers of influence including local houses of worship and other non-profit groups. In addition, the Bank’s depositors include a substantial base of supporters of the Bank’s presence in New York’s inner city communities, including public sector agencies and socially motivated depositors in the private sector. These depositors provide a stable base of funding for the Company’s operations, despite competitive pressures.

The Bank’s primary lending market includes the Bronx, Kings, New York and Queens Counties in New York City, and lower Westchester County, New York.  Although the Bank’s branches are primarily located in communities that were historically underserved by other financial institutions, the Bank has, in recent years, faced increased competition for deposits and mortgage lending in its market areas. In the last decade the Bank’s inner city communities experienced an unprecedented level of growth in housing development, consistent with New York City's explosive growth. This environment attracted new homeowners to low and moderate income communities in record numbers, fueling further investment in public amenities, private businesses and diversification of family income and ethnic origin.

Current economic indicators including construction permits, mortgages closed, housing prices, rent levels and foreclosure rates, suggest that in recent quarters New York City’s economy has entered a challenging period. However, while the development pipeline has stalled, thereby reducing, mortgage originations relative to peak years, rent levels are stable, particularly in the Bank’s core markets. While management believes that these economic indicators represent a more challenging environment in the near term, we note that the need for affordable housing, for sale and rental, are in constant demand. As such we believe that this demand will present opportunities for growth in our core lending business, including financing and refinancing of multi-family buildings and construction of affordable housing supported by public agencies targeting the low and moderate income communities in which we operate. These lines of business are not without competition. For example, the Bank competes with larger community banks in seeking multi-family real estate loans in the New York Metropolitan area market, as many banking institutions view this segment of the market as a low risk asset. In the non-profit segment, money center and large regional banks are significant competitors, given the opportunity to derive core deposits and loans supported by solid collateral and long term business relationships with government agencies. In sum, the overall weakness in the economy and the competitive nature of our marketplace will present challenges as the Bank seeks to expand lending and profitability.


Recent Market Developments

The financial services industry is facing unprecedented challenges in the face of the current national and global economic crisis. The global and U.S. economies are experiencing significantly reduced business activity as a result of among other factors, disruptions in the financial system during the past year. Dramatic declines in the housing market during the past year, with falling home prices and increasing foreclosures and unemployment, have resulted in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions, including government-sponsored entities and major commercial and investment banks. These write-downs, initially of mortgage-backed securities but spreading to credit default swaps and other derivative securities, have caused many financial institutions to seek additional capital; to merge with larger and stronger institutions; and, in some cases, to fail. The Company is fortunate that the markets it serves have been impacted to a lesser extent than many areas around the country.
 
In response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets, there have been several recent announcements of Federal programs designed to purchase assets from, provide equity capital to, and guarantee the liquidity of the industry.
 
On October 3, 2008, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (the "EESA") was signed into law. The EESA authorizes the U.S. Treasury to, among other things, purchase up to $700 billion of mortgages, mortgage-backed securities, and certain other financial instruments from financial institutions for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets. The Company did not materially originate or invest in sub-prime assets and, therefore, does not expect to participate in the sale of any of its assets into these programs. EESA also immediately increased the FDIC deposit insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 through December 31, 2009.
 
On October 14, 2008, the U.S. Department of Treasury (the “Treasury”) announced that it will purchase equity stakes in a wide variety of banks and thrifts. Under this program, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (the "TARP CPP"), the Treasury made $250 billion of capital available (from the $700 billion authorized by the EESA) to U.S. financial institutions in the form of preferred stock. In conjunction with the purchase of preferred stock, the Treasury will receive warrants to purchase common stock with an aggregate market price equal to 15% of the preferred investment.  Participating financial institutions will be required to adopt the Treasury's standards for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the Treasury holds equity issued under the TARP CPP.  On January 20, 2009, the Company announced that it completed the sale of $18.98 million in preferred stock to the Treasury in connection with Carver’s participation in the TARP CPP. Importantly, Carver is exempt from the requirement to issue a warrant to the Treasury to purchase shares of common stock, as the Bank is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (“CDFI”), conducting most of its depository and lending activities in disadvantaged communities. Therefore the investment will not dilute current common stock stockholders.
 
On January 16, 2009, Carver issued 18,980 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The preferred stock investment represents $18.98 million dollars, or approximately 3 percent of Carver's risk weighted assets as of December 31, 2008 and on a pro-forma basis as of  December 31, 2008 including capital received, the Bank’s capital ratios exceeded minimum regulatory capital requirements. The Treasury investment will substantially increase the Bank's capital ratios as provided below, producing a tangible capital ratio of 9.97%; core capital ratio of 9.99%; and risk-based capital ratio of 13.22%.
 
   
Proforma Capital Calculation at December 31,2008
 
                   
   
Tangible Equity
   
Core Capital
   
Risk-Based Capital
 
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
 
Capital level
  $ 60,736       7.69 %   $ 60,883       7.71 %   $ 66,395       10.40 %
TARP
    18,000       2.28 %     18,000       2.28 %     18,000       2.82 %
TARP Adjusted Capital level
    78,736       9.97 %     78,883       9.99 %     84,395       13.22 %
Less required capital level
    11,845       1.50 %     31,593       4.00 %     51,077       8.00 %
Excess capital
  $ 66,891       8.47 %   $ 47,290       5.99 %   $ 33,318       5.22 %
 
New Markets Tax Credit Award

In June 2006, Carver Federal was selected by the Treasury to receive an award of $59.0 million in New Markets Tax Credits (“NMTC”).  The NMTC award is used to stimulate economic development in low- to moderate-income communities.  The NMTC award enables the Bank to invest with community and development partners in economic development projects with attractive terms including, in some cases, below market interest rates, which may have the effect of attracting capital to underserved communities and facilitating the revitalization of the community, pursuant to the goals of the NMTC program.  The NMTC award provides a credit to Carver Federal against Federal income taxes when the Bank makes qualified investments.  The credits are allocated over seven years from the time of the qualified investment.  Recognition of the Bank’s NMTC award began in December 2006 when the Bank invested $29.5 million, one-half of its $59.0 million award.  In December 2007, the Bank invested an additional $10.5 million and transferred rights to $19.2 million to an investor in a NMTC project.  The Bank’s NMTC allocation was fully invested as of December 31, 2007.  During the seven year period, assuming the Bank meets compliance requirements, the Bank will receive 39% of the $40.0 million invested award amount in tax benefits (5% over each of the first three years, and 6% over each of the next four years).  The Company expects to receive the remaining NMTC tax benefit of approximately $10.6 million from its $40.0 million investment over the period ending March 31, 2014.  For the three months ended December 31, 2008, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $0.5 million related to the NMTC award


The Bank’s subsidiary, CCDC, was formed to facilitate its participation in local economic development and other community-based activities.  As part of its operations, CCDC monitors the portfolio of investments related to the $59.0 million NMTC award.  For financial reporting purposes, the $19.2 million transfer of rights to an investor in a NMTC project is reflected in the other assets and minority interest sections of the balance sheet as the entity to which the rights were transferred is required to be consolidated under accounting standards based on an evaluation of certain contractual arrangement's between the Company and the investor.  Under these arrangements, the Company has a contingent obligation to reimburse the investor for any loss or shortfall incurred as a result of the NTMC project being not in compliance with certain regulations that would void the investor’s ability to otherwise utilize tax credits stemming from the award.  The maximum possible loss to Carver from such an arrangement is approximately $7.4 million.  At December 31, 2008 Carver has not recorded any liability with respect to this obligation in accordance with Statement No. 5.

Critical Accounting Policies

Note 1 to the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements for fiscal 2008 included in its 2008 Form 10-K, as supplemented by this report, contains a summary of significant accounting policies and is incorporated by reference.  The Company believes its policies, with respect to the methodology for determining the allowance for loan losses and asset impairment judgments, including other than temporary declines in the value of the Company’s investment securities, and goodwill impairment involve a high degree of complexity and require management to make subjective judgments which often require assumptions or estimates about highly uncertain matters.  Changes in these judgments, assumptions or estimates could cause reported results to differ materially.  The following description of these policies should be read in conjunction with the corresponding section of the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.

The judgments used by management in applying the critical accounting policies discussed below may be affected by a further and prolonged deterioration in the economic environment, which may result in changes to future financial results. Specifically, subsequent evaluations of the loan portfolio, in light of the factors then prevailing, may result in significant changes in the allowance for loan losses in future periods, and the inability to collect on outstanding loans could result in increased loan losses. In addition, the valuation of certain securities in our investment portfolio could be negatively impacted by illiquidity or dislocation in marketplaces resulting in significantly depressed market prices thus leading to further impairments.

Goodwill Impairment

At September 30, 2008, the company reported Goodwill from its acquisition of Community Capital Bank in 2006 in the amount of $6.4 million.  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS No.142”) goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are no longer amortized, rather they are assessed, at least annually, for impairment.  The Company tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis as of January 31, or more often if events or circumstances indicate there may be impairment.  The Company has determined that all of its activities constitute one reporting and operating segment.

As outlined in SFAS No.142 the Goodwill impairment analysis involves a two-step test.  The first step, used to identify potential impairment, involves comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value including goodwill.  If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill is not considered impaired.  If the carrying value exceeds fair value, there is an indication of impairment and the second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment.  The second step involves calculating an implied fair value of goodwill for the reporting unit, in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination, which is the excess of the fair value of the reporting unit, as determined in the first step, over the aggregate fair values of the individual assets, liabilities and identifiable intangibles as if the reporting unit was being acquired in a business combination.  If the implied fair value of goodwill exceeds the carrying value of reporting unit goodwill, there is no impairment.  If the carrying value of reporting unit goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of the goodwill, an impairment charge is recorded in earnings for the excess.  Subsequent reversal of goodwill impairment losses is not permitted.

The Company commenced an interim goodwill impairment analysis during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, based on indications that the fair value of the Company’s reporting unit may have declined below its carrying value as a result of factors previously defined such as the further decline in the Company’s market capitalization relative to the book value of shareholders’ equity and the adverse market conditions impacting the financial services sector generally. This analysis, which incorporates the second step test noted above, was not completed as of the date of filing the second quarter fiscal 2009 10-Q.   The Company completed its interim impairment analysis during the third quarter ended December 31, 2008. A valuation specialist was engaged to assist management in its fair value assessment of goodwill. As a result of the finalization of the goodwill impairment analysis the Company determined that Goodwill was impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $6.4 million.


Securities Impairment
 
The Bank’s available-for-sale securities portfolio is carried at estimated fair value, with any unrealized gains and losses, net of taxes, reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/loss in stockholders’ equity.  Securities that the Bank has the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity and are carried at amortized cost.  The fair values of securities in the portfolio are based on published or securities dealers’ market values and are affected by changes in interest rates.  The Bank periodically reviews and evaluates the securities portfolio to determine if the decline in the fair value of any security below its cost basis is other-than-temporary.  The Bank generally views changes in fair value caused by changes in interest rates as temporary, which is consistent with its experience.  However, if such a decline is deemed to be other-than-temporary, the security is written down to a new cost basis and the resulting loss is charged to earnings.  At December 31, 2008, the Bank carried only temporarily impaired securities where the fair value of the security is below its cost basis.  It is management’s belief that the Bank’s securities portfolio consists of investments that are sound and will fully recover their value prior to maturity.  The portfolio has already shown indications of recovery.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for probable loan losses inherent in the portfolio as of December 31, 2008.  The increase in reserve is principally attributable to an increase in the general reserve provision based upon the Company’s assessment of current economic conditions and to a lesser extent, an increase in the actual recent loss experience for business loans.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2008, Carver changed its loan loss methodology for specifically classified loans to be consistent with the Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses released by the Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies on December 13, 2006.  Management is responsible for determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses and the periodic provisioning for estimated losses included in the consolidated financial statements.  The evaluation process is undertaken on a quarterly basis, but may increase in frequency should conditions arise that would require management’s prompt attention, such as business combinations and opportunities to dispose of non-performing and marginally performing loans by bulk sale or any development which may indicate an adverse trend.

The Company maintains a loan review system, which includes periodic review of its loan portfolio and the early identification of potential problem loans.  Such system takes into consideration, among other things, delinquency status, size of loans, types of collateral and financial condition of the borrowers.  Loan loss allowances are established for problem loans based on a review of such information and/or appraisals of the underlying collateral.  On the remainder of its loan portfolio, loan loss allowances are based upon a combination of factors including, but not limited to, actual loan loss experience, composition of loan portfolio, current economic conditions and management’s judgment.  Although management believes that adequate loan loss allowances have been established, actual losses are dependent upon future events and, as such, further additions to the level of the loan loss allowance may be necessary in the future.

The methodology employed for assessing the appropriateness of the allowance consists of the following criteria:

·           Establishment of loan loss allowance amounts for all specifically identified criticized and classified loans that have been designated as requiring attention by management’s internal loan review process, bank regulatory examinations or Carver Federal’s external auditors.

·           An average loss factor, giving effect to historical loss experience over several years and other qualitative factors, is applied to all loans not subject to specific review.

·           Evaluation of any changes in risk profile brought about by business combinations, customer knowledge, the results of ongoing credit quality monitoring processes and the cyclical nature of economic and business conditions.  An important consideration in performing this evaluation is the concentration of real estate related loans located in the New York City metropolitan area.

All new loan originations are assigned a credit risk grade which commences with loan officers and underwriters grading the quality of their loans one to five under a nine-category risk classification scale, the first five categories of which represent performing loans.  Reserves are held based on actual loss factors based on several years of loss experience and other qualitative factors applied to the outstanding balances in each loan category.  All loans are subject to continuous review and monitoring for changes in their credit grading.   Grading that falls into criticized or classified categories (credit grading six through nine) are further evaluated and reserved amounts are established for each loan based on each loan’s potential for loss and includes consideration of the sufficiency of collateral.  Any adverse trend in real estate markets could seriously affect underlying values available to protect against loss.


Other evidence used to support the amount of the allowance and its components includes:

 
·
Amount and trend of criticized loans;
 
·
Actual losses;
 
·
Peer comparisons with other financial institutions; and
 
·
Economic data associated with the real estate market in the Company’s lending market areas.

A loan is considered to be impaired, as defined by SFAS No.  114, “Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan” (“SFAS No.114”), when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all principal and interest amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement.  The Company tests loans covered under SFAS No.114 for impairment if they are on non-accrual status or have been restructured.  Consumer credit non-accrual loans are not tested for impairment because they are included in large groups of smaller-balance homogeneous loans that, by definition, are excluded from the scope of SFAS No.114.  Impaired loans are required to be measured based upon (i) the present value of expected future cash flows, discounted at the loan’s initial effective interest rate, (ii) the loan’s market price, or (iii) fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent.  If the loan valuation is less than the recorded value of the loan, an allowance must be established for the difference.  The allowance is established by either an allocation of the existing allowance for loan losses or by a provision for loan losses, depending on various circumstances.  Allowances are not needed when credit losses have been recorded so that the recorded investment in an impaired loan is less than the loan valuation.

Stock Repurchase Program

In August 2002, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to acquire up to 231,635 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, or approximately 10 percent of the then outstanding shares.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company has purchased a total of 176,174 shares at an average price of $15.72.

As noted in sections Recent Market Developments and “Item 1A, Risk Factors”, on January 16, 2009 the Company issued 18,980 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share to the Treasury pursuant to its participation in the TARP CPP. Among the conditions of the Treasury’s investment in the Company is a prohibition of stock repurchases by the Company during the time the Treasury holds the preferred stock, unless prior approval of the Treasury is obtained. Accordingly, Carver’s stock repurchase program has been suspended.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is a measure of the Bank’s ability to generate adequate cash to meet its financial obligations.  The principal cash requirements of a financial institution are to cover potential deposit outflows, fund increases in its loan and investment portfolios and ongoing operating expenses.  The Bank’s primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowed funds and principal and interest payments on loans, mortgage-backed securities and investment securities.  While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans, mortgage-backed securities and investment securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan and mortgage-backed securities prepayments are strongly influenced by changes in general interest rates, economic conditions and competition.

The Company monitors its liquidity utilizing guidelines that are contained in a policy developed by its management and approved by its Board of Directors.  The Company’s several liquidity measurements are evaluated on a frequent basis.  The Company was in compliance with this policy as of December 31, 2008.  Management believes the Company’s short-term assets have sufficient liquidity to cover loan demand, potential fluctuations in deposit accounts and to meet other anticipated cash requirements.  Additionally, the Company has other sources of liquidity including the ability to borrow from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB-NY”) utilizing unpledged mortgage-backed securities and certain mortgage loans, the sale of available-for-sale securities and the sale of certain mortgage loans.  At December 31, 2008, based on available collateral held at the FHLB-NY, the Company had the ability to borrow from the FHLB-NY an additional $20.9 million on a secured basis, utilizing mortgage-related loans and securities as collateral.

The unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows present the change in cash from operating, investing and financing activities.  During the nine months ended December 31, 2008, total cash and cash equivalents decreased by $5.5 million reflecting cash used in investing activities of $12.8 million and financing activities of $1.2 million, offset by cash provided by operating activities of $8.5 million.


Net cash used in investing activities was $12.8 million, primarily represents cash disbursed to fund mortgage loan originations of $103.3 million and purchases of available-for-sale securities of $12.4 million, offset partially by principal collections on loans of $99.4 million and proceeds from principal payments, maturities and calls of securities of $5.3 million.  Net cash used in financing activities was $1.2 million, primarily resulting from decreased deposits of $33.1 million, offset partially by an increase in borrowings of $32.9 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities during this period was $8.5 million, primarily due to a decrease in other assets of $3.2 million.

The levels of the Company’s short-term liquid assets are dependent on Carver Federal’s operating, investing and financing activities during any given period.  The most significant liquidity challenge the Bank faces is variability in its cash flows as a result of mortgage refinance activity.  When mortgage interest rates decline, customers’ refinance activities tend to accelerate, causing the cash flow from both the mortgage loan portfolio and the mortgage-backed securities portfolio to accelerate.  In contrast, when mortgage interest rates increase, refinance activities tend to slow, causing a reduction of liquidity.  However, in a rising rate environment, customers generally tend to prefer fixed rate mortgage loan products over variable rate products.

  The OTS requires that the Bank meet minimum capital requirements.  Capital adequacy is one of the most important factors used to determine the safety and soundness of individual banks and the banking system.  At December 31, 2008, the Bank exceeded all regulatory minimum capital requirements and qualified, under OTS regulations, as a well-capitalized institution.  The table below presents certain information relating to the Bank’s regulatory capital compliance at December 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands):
 
   
Tangible Equity
   
Core Capital
   
Risk-Based Capital
 
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
   
Amount
   
% of Adj.
Assets
 
Capital level
  $ 60,736       7.69 %   $ 60,883       7.71 %   $ 66,395       10.40 %
Less required capital level
    11,845       1.50 %     31,593       4.00 %     51,077       8.00 %
Excess capital
  $ 48,891       6.19 %   $ 29,290       3.71 %   $ 15,318       2.40 %
 
Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008

Assets

At December 31, 2008 total assets decreased $6.3 million, or 0.8%, to $789.9 million compared to $796.1 million at March 31, 2008, primarily as a result of decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $5.5 million, goodwill of $6.4 million and other assets of $4.0 million, partially offset by increases in total net loans receivable of  $3.2 million and investment securities of $7.4 million.

Cash and cash equivalents decreased $5.5 million, or 20.0%, to $21.9 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $27.4 million at March 31, 2008, primarily due to a $10.5 million decrease in federal funds sold offset by a $5.0 million increase in cash and due from banks. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents is the result of the Bank using excess liquidity to purchase higher yielding securities as a result of the significant decline in federal funds rates.

Total securities increased $7.4 million, or 19.5%, to $45.6 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $38.2 million at March 31, 2008, reflecting an increase of $8.6 million in available-for-sale securities and a $1.1 million decrease in held-to-maturity securities. Available-for-sale securities increased $8.6 million, or 41.1%, to $29.4 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $20.9 million at March 31, 2008, primarily due to purchases of Agency securities of $12.4 million. Held to maturity securities decreased $1.1 million, or 6.6%, to $16.2 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $17.3 million at March 31, 2008, primarily due to collection of normal principal repayments and maturities of securities. Additionally, the Bank continues its strategy of reducing lower yielding securities and replacing them with higher yielding loans. However, the Bank may invest in securities from time to time to help diversify its asset portfolio, manage liquidity and satisfy collateral requirements for certain deposits. There were no purchases of securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

Total loans receivable, net including loans held-for-sale, increased $1.1 million, or 0.2%, to $652.7 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $651.7 million at March 31, 2008.  The increase was primarily the result of an increase in commercial real estate loans of $26.7 million and an increase in commercial business loans of $3.4 million, offset by decreases in one- to four- family loans of $16.2 million and construction loans of $11.4 million. The Bank continues to grow its loan portfolio through focusing on origination of loans in the markets it serves and will continue to augment these originations with loan participations.


At December 31, 2008, construction loans represented 22.6% of the Bank’s total loan portfolio. Approximately 68% of the Bank’s construction loans are participations in loans originated by the Community Preservation Corporation (“CPC”). CPC is a non-profit mortgage lender whose mission is to enhance the quality and quantity of affordable housing in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area. The Bank’s construction lending activity is concentrated in the New York City market.

Although the New York City real estate market continues to be resilient relative to other real estate markets in certain parts of the U.S., the local economic environment may face challenges created by job losses on Wall Street and continued constraint in credit markets. This quarter is the first to reflect some deterioration in real estate and business conditions in New York City.  The Bank will continue to closely monitor trends.

Other assets decreased $4.0 million, or  9.5%, to $37.5 million at December 31,  2008, compared to $41.4 million at March 31, 2008, primarily due to receipt of a settlement receivable of $8.2 million from the sale of certain available for sale investments.

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Liabilities

Total liabilities decreased $0.5 million, or 0.1%, to $722.6 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $723.1 million at March 31, 2008. The decrease in total liabilities was primarily the result of a $33.1 million reduction in customer deposits, offset by an increase of $32.9 million in advances from the FHLB-NY and other borrowed money. The Bank made a strategic decision to allow higher cost certificates of deposit to run off and replaced them with lower cost borrowings to take advantage of the lower rate environment for borrowed money.

Deposits decreased $33.1 million, or 5.1%, to $621.5 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $654.7 million at March 31, 2008. The decrease in deposit balances was primarily the result of decreases in certificates of deposit of $23.5 million, savings accounts of $8.8 million, money market accounts of $0.3 million and demand accounts of $1.2 million, which were partially offset by an increase of $1.9 million in NOW accounts.

Advances from the FHLB-NY and other borrowed money increased $32.9 million, or 56.1%, to $91.5 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $58.6 million at March 31, 2008. The increase in advances and other borrowed money was primarily the result of an increase of $32.9 million in FHLB-NY advances. At December 31, 2008, based on available collateral held at the FHLB-NY, the Bank had the ability to borrow from the FHLB-NY an additional $20.9 million on a secured basis.

Stockholders’ Equity

Total stockholders’ equity decreased $5.8 million, or 10.7%, to $48.1 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $53.9 million at March 31, 2008.  The decrease in total stockholders’ equity was primarily attributable to a net loss for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 totaling $5.2 million, dividends paid of $0.7 million, partially offset by an increase of $0.1 million of accumulated other comprehensive income.  The Bank’s capital levels meet regulatory requirements of a well-capitalized financial institution.

Asset/Liability Management

The Company’s primary earnings source is net interest income, which is affected by changes in the level of interest rates, the relationship between the rates on interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, the impact of interest rate fluctuations on asset prepayments, the level and composition of deposits and the credit quality of earning assets.  Management’s asset/liability objectives are to maintain a strong, stable net interest margin, to utilize its capital effectively without taking undue risks, to maintain adequate liquidity and to manage its exposure to changes in interest rates.

The economic environment is uncertain regarding future interest rate trends.  Management regularly monitors the Company’s cumulative gap position, which is the difference between the sensitivity to rate changes on the Company’s interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  In addition, the Company uses various tools to monitor and manage interest rate risk, such as a model that projects net interest income based on increasing or decreasing interest rates.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Contractual Obligations
 
The Bank is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business in order to meet the financing needs of its customers and in connection with its overall investment strategy.  These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk.  In accordance with GAAP, these instruments are not recorded in the consolidated financial statements.  Such instruments primarily include lending obligations, including commitments to originate mortgage and consumer loans and to fund unused lines of credit.
 

As of December 31, 2008, the Bank had outstanding loan commitments as follows (in thousands):
 
Commitments to fund construction mortgage loans
  $ 61,192  
Commitments to commercial and consumer loans
    4,516  
Lines of credit
    15,248  
Letters of credit
    4,236  
    $ 85,192  

Analysis of Earnings
 
The Company’s profitability is primarily dependent upon net interest income and further affected by provisions for loan losses, non-interest income, non-interest expense and income taxes.  The earnings of the Company, which are principally earnings of the Bank, are significantly affected by general economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in market interest rates, and to a lesser extent by government policies and actions of regulatory authorities.
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information relating to Carver Federal’s average interest-earning assets, average interest-bearing liabilities, net interest income, interest rate spread and interest rate margin.  It reflects the average yield on assets and the average cost of liabilities.  Such yields and costs are derived by dividing annualized income or expense by the average balances of assets or liabilities, respectively, for the periods shown.  Average balances are derived from daily or month-end balances as available.  Management does not believe that the use of average monthly balances instead of average daily balances represents a material difference in information presented.  The average balance of loans includes loans on which the Company has discontinued accruing interest.  The yield and cost include fees, which are considered adjustments to yields.
 
 
CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCES
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
(Unaudited)
 
                                     
   
Three months ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Average
         
Average
   
Average
         
Average
 
Interest Earning Assets:
 
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/Cost
   
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/Cost
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Loans (1)
  $ 655,324     $ 9,800       5.98 %   $ 642,600     $ 11,403       7.10 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    44,636       578       5.18 %     38,317       518       5.41 %
Investment securities (2)
    6,382       39       2.42 %     21,439       328       6.07 %
Federal funds sold
    4,025       4       0.39 %     6,020       68       4.48 %
Total interest earning assets
    710,367       10,421       5.87 %     708,376       12,317       6.95 %
Non-interest earning assets
    76,436                       61,406                  
Total assets
  $ 786,803                     $ 769,782                  
                                                 
                                                 
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
Now Accounts
  $ 25,820     $ 13       0.20 %   $ 26,003       58       0.88 %
Savings and clubs
    118,456       145       0.49 %     129,669       282       0.86 %
Money market accounts
    44,424       218       1.95 %     42,096       352       3.32 %
Certificates of deposit
    359,731       2,627       2.90 %     385,035       4,364       4.50 %
Mortgagor's deposit
    2,965       14       1.87 %     2,745       13       1.88 %
Total deposits
    551,396       3,017       2.17 %     585,548       5,069       3.43 %
Borrowed money
    101,996       991       3.85 %     71,416       932       5.18 %
Total interest bearing liabilities
    653,392       4,008       2.43 %     656,964       6,001       3.62 %
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Demand
    52,442                       50,117                  
Other Liabilities
    6,869                       11,276                  
Total liabilities
    712,703                       718,357                  
Minority Interest
    19,150                       -                  
Stockholders' equity
    54,950                       51,425                  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 786,803                     $ 769,782                  
Net interest income
          $ 6,413                     $ 6,316          
                                                 
Average interest rate spread
                    3.44 %                     3.33 %
                                                 
Net interest margin
                    3.61 %                     3.57 %
                                                 
(1) Includes non-accrual loans
 
(2) Includes FHLB-NY stock
 

 
CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCES
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
(Unaudited)
 
                                     
   
Nine months ended December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
   
Average
         
Average
   
Average
         
Average
 
Interest Earning Assets:
 
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/Cost
   
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/Cost
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Loans (1)
  $ 656,636     $ 30,093       6.11 %   $ 633,335     $ 33,579       7.07 %
Mortgage-backed securities
    44,705       1,742       5.20 %     37,749       1,494       5.28 %
Investment securities (2)
    5,747       209       4.76 %     27,023       1,183       5.81 %
Federal funds sold
    4,060       44       1.44 %     3,049       109       4.74 %
Total interest earning assets
    711,148       32,088       6.02 %     701,156       36,365       6.91 %
Non-interest earning assets
    77,746                       63,448                  
Total assets
  $ 788,894                     $ 764,604                  
                                                 
                                                 
Interest Bearing Liabilities:
                                               
Deposits:
                                               
Now Accounts
  $ 24,460     $ 49       0.27 %   $ 25,303       116       0.61 %
Savings and clubs
    121,904       474       0.52 %     133,296       812       0.81 %
Money market accounts
    45,125       736       2.16 %     44,822       852       2.52 %
Certificates of deposit
    373,143       9,218       3.28 %     362,265       12,157       4.45 %
Mortgagor's deposit
    2,887       38       1.75 %     2,786       33       1.57 %
Total deposits
    567,519       10,515       2.46 %     568,472       13,970       3.26 %
Borrowed money
    87,261       2,699       4.11 %     76,252       2,962       5.16 %
Total interest bearing liabilities
    654,780       13,214       2.68 %     644,724       16,932       3.49 %
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Demand
    52,957                       52,574                  
Other Liabilities
    7,548                       11,753                  
Total liabilities
    715,285                       709,051                  
Minority Interest
    19,150                       -                  
Stockholders' equity
    54,459                       55,553                  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 788,894                     $ 764,604                  
Net interest income
          $ 18,874                     $ 19,433          
                                                 
Average interest rate spread
                    3.34 %                     3.42 %
                                                 
Net interest margin
                    3.54 %                     3.70 %
                                                 
(1) Includes non-accrual loans
 
(2) Includes FHLB-NY stock
 


Comparison of Operating Results for the Three Months and Nine Months Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

Overview

The Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million or a loss per share of ($2.63) for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to net income of $1.6 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.62 for the prior year period.   The net loss of $6.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 is the result of an increase in non-interest expense of $6.1 million, primarily due to the impairment charge of goodwill, as well as an increase in the provision for loan losses of $0.2 million, offset by increases in net interest income of $0.1 million and an income tax benefit of $0.3 million.

Carver’s net loss for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 was $5.2 million or a loss per share of ($2.10) compared to net income of $3.5 million for the prior year period and diluted earnings per share of $1.36 for the prior year period.  The net loss of $5.2 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 is the result of an increase in non-interest expense of $7.1 million,  primarily due to the impairment charge of goodwill as well as a decrease in non-interest income of $1.3 million and an increase in provision for loan losses of $0.5 million, offset by an increase in income tax benefit of $1.1 million.

Selected operating ratios for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are set forth in the table below and the following analysis discusses the changes in components of operating results:

 
CARVER BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
SELECTED KEY RATIOS
 
(Unaudited)
 
                         
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
Selected Financial Data:
 
December 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2008
   
2007
   
2008
   
2007
 
Return on average assets (1)(8)
 
NM
      0.82 %  
NM
      0.61 %
Return on average equity (2)(8)
 
NM
      12.27    
NM
      8.36  
Net interest margin (3)
    3.61 %     3.57       3.54 %     3.70  
Interest rate spread (4)
    3.44       3.33       3.34       3.42  
Efficiency ratio (5)
    101.61       83.87       95.66       85.96  
Operating expenses to average assets (6)
    6.36       4.14       4.05       3.78  
Average equity to average assets (7)
    6.98       6.68       6.90       7.27  
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
    1.09 x     1.08     1.06     1.09

(1) Net income (loss), annualized, divided by average total assets.
(2) Net income (loss), annualized, divided by average total equity.
(3) Net interest income, annualized, divided by average interest-earning assets.
(4) Combined weighted average interest rate earned less combined weighted average interest rate cost.
(5) Non-interest expense excluding Goodwill impairment divided by sum of net interest income plus non-interest income.
(6) Non-interest expense excluding Goodwill impairment, annualized, divided by average total assets.
(7) Total average equity divided by total average assets for the period.
(8) Due to net loss ratios are not meaningful
 
Interest Income

Interest income decreased by $1.9 million, or 15.4%, to $10.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $12.3 million for the prior year period.  The decrease in interest income was primarily the result of decreases in interest income on loans of $1.6 million and interest income on investment securities of $0.3 million. The decrease in interest income reflects a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets of 108 basis points to 5.87% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 as compared to 6.95% for the prior year period.  The decrease in yield on interest earning assets was primarily the result of a 112 basis points decrease in the yield on loans as a result of LIBOR and prime based construction loans repricing at lower rates. The decrease in interest income was also the result of the decline in the average balance of investment securities from $21.4 million in the prior year period to $6.4 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2008 due to securities maturing.


For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, interest income decreased $4.3 million, or 11.8%, to $32.1 million, compared to $36.4 million for the prior year period. The decrease in interest income was primarily the result of decreases in interest income on loans of $3.5 million and interest income on investment securities of $1.0 million, offset by an increase in interest income on mortgage-backed securities of $0.2  million. The decrease in interest income reflects a decrease in the yield on interest-earning assets of 89 basis points to 6.02% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 as compared to 6.91% for the prior year period.  The decrease in yield on interest earning assets was primarily the result of a 96 basis points decrease in the yield on loans as a result of LIBOR and prime rate based construction loans repricing at lower rates. The decrease in interest income was also the result of the decline in the average balance of investment securities from $27.0 million in the prior year period to $5.7 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2008 due to securities maturing.

Interest income on loans decreased by $1.6 million, or 14.1%, to $9.8 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $11.4 million for the prior year period.  These results were primarily driven by a yield decrease of 112 basis points to 5.98% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to 7.10% for the prior year period, primarily due to lower yields on construction and small business loans tied to Libor and Prime rate indices, which have fallen by 460 and 400 basis points, respectively, since December 31, 2007, offset by an increase in average loan balances of $12.7 million to $655.3 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $642.6 million for the prior year period.

For the nine month period ending December 31, 2008, interest income on loans decreased $3.5 million, or 10.4%, to $30.1 million compared to $33.6 million for the prior year period.  This decrease was driven by a decrease in yield of 96 basis points, offset by higher average loan balances of $23.3 million.

Interest income on investment and mortgage backed securities decreased by $0.3 million, or 27.1%, to $0.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.8 million for the prior year period.  Interest income on investment securities decreased by $0.3 million, or 88.1%, to $0.04 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.3 million for the prior year period.  The decrease in interest income on investment securities for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 was primarily the result of a $15.1 million, or 70.2%, decrease in the average balances of investment securities to $6.4 million, from $21.4 million for the prior year period.  The net decrease in the average balance of investment securities demonstrates management’s commitment to invest proceeds received from the sale of lower yielding securities and repayment of securities into higher yielding assets.  The investment securities yield decreased by 365 basis points to 2.42% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to 6.07% for the prior year period.

Additionally, the decrease in interest income on investment securities was partially offset by an increase in mortgage-backed securities interest income of $0.06 million, or 12%, to $0.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $0.5 million for the prior year period.  The increase was primarily the result of an increase in the average balances of mortgage-backed securities by $6.3 million to $44.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $38.3 million for the prior year period.

For the nine month period ending December 31, 2008, interest income on investments and mortgage backed securities decreased $0.7 million, or 27.1%, to $2.0 million from $2.7 million for the prior year period.  The decrease in interest income on investment securities for the nine month period ended December 31, 2008 was primarily the result of a $21.3 million, or 78.7%, decrease in the average balances of investment securities to $5.7 million, from $27.0 million for the prior year period.  This was offset by an increase in mortgage-backed securities of $7.0 million, or 18.4%, to $44.7 million for the nine month period ended December 31, 2008 compared to $37.7 million for the prior year period.  Interest income was also negatively affected by a decline of 105 basis points in the yield on investment securities from 5.81% in the prior year period to 4.76% in the current year period.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased by $2.0 million, or 33.2%, to $4.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 as compared to $6.0 million for the prior year period. The decrease in interest expense was primarily the result of decreases in interest expense on deposits of $2.1 million. The decrease in interest expense primarily reflects a 119 basis point decrease in the average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 2.43% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to 3.62% for the prior year period, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities of $3.6 million, or 0.54%, to $653.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $657.0 million for the prior year period. The decrease in the yield on interest bearing liabilities was primarily the result of higher cost certificates of deposits repricing at lower rates as well as lower costs on short-term advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLB-NY”).

For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, interest expense decreased by $3.7 million, or 22.0%, to $13.2 million, compared to $16.9 million for the prior year period.  The decrease in interest expense resulted primarily from a 81 basis point decrease in the annualized average cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 2.68%, compared to 3.49% for the prior year period, offset partially by growth in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities of $10.1 million, or 1.6%, to $654.8 million compared to $644.7 million for the prior year period.


Interest expense on total deposits decreased $2.0 million, or 40.5%, to $3.0 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $5.1 million for the prior year period.  The decrease reflects a 126 basis point reduction in the average cost of deposits to 2.17% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to 3.43% for the prior year period and a decrease in the average balance of total deposits of $34.1 million to $551.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $585.5 million for the prior year period.

For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, total interest expense on deposits decreased $3.5 million, or 24.7%, to $10.5 million from $14.0 million for the prior year period.  The decrease reflects a 80 basis point reduction in the average cost of total deposits to 2.46% compared to 3.26% for the prior year period primarily as a result of lower pricing on certificates of deposits. The cost of certificates of deposits declined from 4.45% in the prior year period to 3.28% in the current year period, a reduction of 117 basis points.

For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, interest expense on borrowed money decreased $0.3 million, or 8.9%, to $2.7 million, compared to $3.0 million for the prior year period.  In the nine months ended December 31, 2008, the decrease primarily reflects a 105 basis point reduction in the average cost of borrowed money to 4.11% compared to 5.16% for the prior year period, offset by an increase in the average balance of total borrowed money outstanding of $11.0 million to $87.3 million compared to $76.3 million for the prior year period.

Net Interest Income before Provision for Loan Losses

Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities.  Net interest income depends primarily upon the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the corresponding interest rates earned and paid.  Our net interest income is significantly impacted by changes in interest rate and market yield curves.

Net interest income before the provision for loan losses increased $0.1 million, or 1.6%, to $6.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $6.3 million for the prior year period.  This slight increase reflects the increase in the net interest margin from 3.57% in the prior year period to 3.61% for the quarter ended December 31, 2008, mainly due to the cost of interest-bearing liabilities repricing downward faster than interest-earning assets during a falling interest rate environment.  The yield on average interest-earning assets declined 108 basis points while the cost of interest-bearing liabilities declined 119 basis points during the same period resulting in a more favorable net interest margin.

For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, net interest income before the provision for loan losses decreased by $0.6 million, or 2.9%, to $18.9 million, compared to $19.4 million for the prior year period.  This decrease reflects the decrease in the net interest margin from 3.70% in the prior year period to 3.54% for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 as well as higher increase in the average balance of interest-bearing liabilities as compared to interest-earnings assets during the same period.

Provision for Loan Losses and Asset Quality

The Bank maintains an allowance for loan losses that management believes is sufficient to absorb inherent losses in its loan portfolio.  The adequacy of the allowance for loan and lease losses (“ALLL”) is determined by management’s continuing review of the Bank’s loan portfolio, which includes the identification and review of individual problem situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay.   Management reviews the overall portfolio quality through an analysis of delinquency and non-performing loan data, estimates of the value of underlying collateral and current charge-offs.  A review of regulatory examinations, an assessment of current and expected economic conditions and changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio are all taken into consideration.  The ALLL reflects management’s evaluation of the loans presenting identified loss potential as well as the risk inherent in various components of the portfolio.  As such, an increase in the size of the portfolio or any of its components could necessitate an increase in the ALLL even though there may not be a decline in credit quality or an increase in potential problem loans.

The Bank’s provision for loan loss methodology is consistent with the Interagency Policy Statement on the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses  (the “Interagency Policy Statement”) released by the Federal Financial Regulatory Agencies on December 13, 2006.   For additional information regarding Carver Federal’s ALLL policy, refer to Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” included in the Holding Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.


The following table sets forth an analysis of Carver Federal’s allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months period ended December 31, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 
   
Three Months Ended December 31, 2008
   
Nine Months Ended December 31, 2008
 
             
Beginning Balance
  $ 5,135     $ 4,878  
                 
Less charge-offs:
               
Business
    (54 )     (124 )
Consumer
    (9 )     (61 )
Total Charge- Offs:
    (63 )     (185 )
                 
Add  Recoveries:
               
Consumer
    9       49  
Total Recoveries:
    9       49  
                 
Provision for Loan Losses
    431       770  
                 
Ending Balance
  $ 5,512     $ 5,512  
                 
Ratios:
               
Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding
    0.01 %     0.02 %
Allowance to total loans
    0.84 %     0.84 %
Allowance to non-performing loans (1)
    40.19 %     40.19 %


(1)
Non-performing loans consist of non-accrual loans and accruing loans 90 days or more past due in settlement of loans.

The Bank provided a $0.4 million loan loss provision for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with $0.2 million provision for the prior year period.  For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, the Bank provided a $0.8 million loan loss provision compared with $0.2 provision for the prior year period.  The increase recognizes the rise in non-performing loans reflecting indications of deterioration in the housing market and the New York City economy. The Bank’s future level of non-performing loans will be influenced by economic conditions, including the impact of those conditions on the Bank’s customers, interest rates and other factors existing at the time. At December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, the Bank’s allowance for loan losses was $5.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to non-performing loans was 40.3% at December 31, 2008 compared to 170.9% at March 31, 2008.  The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to total loans was 0.84% at December 31, 2008 compared to 0.74% at March 31, 2008.

Non-performing Assets

When a borrower fails to make a payment on a loan, immediate steps are taken by Carver Federal and its sub-servicers to have the delinquency cured and the loan restored to current status.  With respect to mortgage loans, once the payment grace period has expired (in most instances 15 days after the due date), a late notice is mailed to the borrower within two business days and a late charge is imposed, if applicable.  If payment is not promptly received, the borrower is contacted by telephone and efforts are made to formulate an affirmative plan to cure the delinquency.  Additional calls are made by the 20th and 25th day of the delinquency.  If a mortgage loan becomes 30 days delinquent, a letter is mailed to the borrower requesting payment by a specified date.  If a mortgage loan becomes 60 days delinquent, Carver Federal seeks to make personal contact with the borrower and also has the property inspected.  If a mortgage becomes 90 days delinquent, a letter is sent to the borrower demanding payment by a certain date and indicating that a foreclosure suit will be filed if the deadline is not met.  If payment is still not made, the Bank may pursue foreclosure or other appropriate action.  In the case of business loans the collection process is similar. The Bank may pursue foreclosure or other appropriate action for business loans secured by real estate.  For business loans not secured by real estate, the Bank may seek the SBA guarantee or other appropriate action.


When a borrower fails to make a payment on a consumer loan, steps are taken by Carver Federal’s loan servicing department to have the delinquency cured and the loan restored to current status.  A late notice is mailed to the borrower immediately and a late charge is imposed, if applicable, once the payment grace period has expired (15 days after the due date).  If payment is not promptly received, the borrower is contacted by telephone, and efforts are made to formulate an affirmative plan to cure the delinquency.  If a consumer loan becomes 30 days delinquent, a letter is mailed to the borrower requesting payment by a specified date.  If the loan becomes 60 days delinquent, the account is given to an independent collection agency to follow up with the collection of the account.  If the loan becomes 90 days delinquent, a final warning letter is sent to the borrower and any co-borrower.  If the loan remains delinquent, it is reviewed for charge-off.  The Bank’s collection efforts continue after the loan is charged off, except when a determination is made that collection efforts have been exhausted or are not productive.

On December 31, 2008, non-accrual loans totaled $13.7 million, or 2.08% of total loans receivable compared to $2.9 million, or 0.43% of total loans receivable at March 31, 2008. Non-performing assets include loans 90 days past due, non-accrual loans and other real estate owned.

 At December 31, 2008, non-performing assets totaled $14.3 million, or 1.81% of total assets compared to $4.0 million, or 0.50% of total assets at March 31, 2008.  Non-performing assets include loans 90 days past due, non-accrual loans and other real estate owned.  The Company’s future levels of non-performing loans will be influenced by economic conditions, including the impact of those conditions on the Company’s customers, interest rates and other internal and external factors existing at the time.


The following table sets forth information with respect to Carver Federal’s non-performing assets for the past five quarter’s ended (dollars in thousands):
 
   
December 2008
   
September 2008
   
June
 2008
   
March
2008
   
December 2007
 
Loans accounted for on a non-accrual basis (1):
                             
Gross loans receivable:
                             
One- to four-family
  $ 3,185     $ 1,671     $ 871     $ 567     $ 1,442  
Multifamily
    -       -       3,322       -       -  
Non-residential
    6,550       10,424       -       522       522  
Construction
    -       3,157       -       -       -  
Business
    3,907       2,185       2,059       1,708       2,056  
Consumer
    46       20       -       57       192  
Total non-accrual loans
    13,688       17,457       6,252       2,854       4,212  
                                         
Accruing loans contractually past due > 90 days (2)
    25       9,349       -       -       -  
                                         
Total non-performing loans (non-accrual & accruing loans past due > 90 days)
    13,713       26,806       6,252       2,854       4,212  
                                         
Other non-performing assets (3):
                                       
Real estate owned
    610       635       142       1,163       147  
Total other non-performing assets
    610       635       142       1,163       147  
Total non-performing assets (4)
  $ 14,323     $ 27,441     $ 6,394     $ 4,017     $ 4,359  
                                         
Non-performing loans to total loans
    2.08 %     4.22 %     0.97 %     0.43 %     0.66 %
Non-performing assets to total assets
    1.81 %     3.47 %     0.81 %     0.50 %     0.52 %

(1)  Non-accrual status denotes any loan where the delinquency exceeds 90 days past due and in the opinion of management the collection of additional interest is doubtful.  Payments received on a non-accrual loan are either applied to the outstanding principal balance or recorded as interest income, depending on assessment of the ability to collect on the loan

(2)  This category represent loans that are 90 days or more past maturity that are current with respect to principal and interest payments.

(3)  Other non-performing assets generally represent property acquired by the Bank in settlement of loans (i.e., through foreclosure, repossession or as an in-substance foreclosure).  These assets are recorded at the lower of their fair value or the cost to acquire.

(4)  Total non-performing assets consist of non-accrual loans, accruing loans 90 days or more past due and property acquired in settlement of loans.

In regard to the increase in non-performing loans, the Company has an effective loan workout process that actively negotiates with the borrowers to bring resolution to delinquent loans.  All loans are collateralized, with LTV of less than 70%, and management is of the opinion that the collateral adequately secures these loans.

Potential Problem Loans

In addition to non-performing loans, Carver's loan portfolio includes $11.1 million in mortgages with payments that are 60-89 days delinquent, which decreased $1.4 million from $12.5 last quarter.  Management is actively working with each borrower to bring these loans to a current status.


Subprime Loans

On July 10, 2007, the OTS and other Federal bank regulatory authorities (the “Agencies”) published the final Interagency Statement on Subprime Lending (the “Statement”) to address emerging issues and questions relating to certain subprime mortgage lending practices.  Although the Agencies did not provide a specific definition of a “subprime” loan in the Statement, the Statement did highlight the Agencies’ concerns with certain adjustable-rate mortgage products offered to subprime borrowers that have one or more of the following characteristics:
 
 
·
Low initial payments based on a fixed introductory rate that expires after a short period and then adjusts to a variable index rate plus a margin for the remaining term of the loan;
 
 
·
Very high or no limits on how much the payment amount or the interest rate may increase (“payment or rate caps”) on reset dates;
 
 
·
Limited or no documentation of borrowers’ income;
 
 
·
Product features likely to result in frequent refinancing to maintain an affordable monthly payment; and/or
 
 
·
Substantial prepayment penalties and/or prepayment penalties that extend beyond the initial fixed interest rate period.
 
 
In the 2001 Expanded Guidance for Subprime Lending Programs, the Agencies determined that, generally, subprime borrowers will display a range of credit risk characteristics that may include one or more of the following:
 
 
·
Two or more 30-day delinquencies in the last 12 months, or one or more 60-day delinquencies in the last 24 months;
 
 
·
Judgment, foreclosure, repossession, or charge-off in the prior 24 months;
 
 
·
Bankruptcy in the last 5 years;
 
 
·
Relatively high default probability as evidenced by, for example, a credit bureau risk score (FICO) of 660 or below (depending on the product/collateral), or other bureau or proprietary scores with an equivalent default probability likelihood; and/or
 
 
·
Debt service-to-income ratio of 50% or greater, or otherwise limited ability to cover family living expenses after deducting total monthly debt-service requirements from monthly income.
 
The Bank has minimal exposure to the subprime loan market and, therefore, it does not expect the Statement to have a material impact on the Company.  At December 31, 2008, the Bank’s loan portfolio contained $1.2 million in loans that it considers subprime, which loans are non-performing, other than one loan in the amount of $0.5 million.
 
Non-Interest Income

Non-interest income decreased by $2.0 million, or 62.4%, to $1.2 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $3.2 million for the prior year period.  The decrease was due to other income decreasing $1.6 million as well as a $0.2 million loss on loans.  The decrease in other income is primarily related to a $1.7 million fee generated by a New Markets Tax Credit transaction in the prior year period. The loss on loans resulted primarily from a write down of mortgage servicing rights due to the declining rate environment which makes servicing rights less valuable.
 
For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, non-interest income decreased $1.3 million to $4.5 million compared to $5.8 million for the prior year period.  The decrease is primarily related to other income decreasing by $1 million due to $1.7 million fee generated by a New Markets Tax Credit transaction in the prior year period.

Non-Interest Expense

Non-interest expense increased by $6.1 million, or 77.1%, to $14.1 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $8.0 million for the prior year period.  The increase was primarily due to the $6.4 million write down of goodwill due to impairment, as well as increases in occupancy expense of $0.3 million and FDIC insurance of $0.2 million, offset by decreases in employee compensation and benefits of $0.5 million and other expenses of $0.3 million. The reduction in employee compensation and benefits expense was the result of reduction in cost of employee benefit plans and employee headcount achieved during the quarter ended December 31, 2008.

During the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, non-interest expense increased $7.1 million, or 32.7%, to $28.7 million compared to $21.7 million for the prior year period.  The increase in non-interest expense was primarily due to the $6.4 million of write down of goodwill for impairment as well as increases of  $0.6 million in occupancy and equipment expense, $0.3 employee compensation and benefits, FDIC insurance of $0.3 million and $0.2 million in equipment expense, offset by a decrease in other expenses of $0.6 million. The reduction in other expenses was primarily related to a reduction of consulting expenses during the nine months ended December 31, 2008.


Income Tax Expense

The income tax benefit was $0.5 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to a tax benefit of $0.3 million for the prior year period.  The tax benefit for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 reflects a tax benefit of $0.5 million for the NMTC transaction.

For the nine month period ended December 31, 2008, the Bank recorded a tax benefit of $1.3 million compared to income tax benefit of $0.2 million for the prior year period. The tax benefit for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 reflects a tax benefit of $1.5 million for the NMTC investment transaction offset by tax expense of $0.2 million related to income before income taxes excluding the effect of the goodwill impairment charge of $6.4 million.

The Bank’s NMTC award was received in June 2006 and has been fully invested.  The Company expects to receive additional NMTC tax benefits of approximately $10.6 million from its $40.0 million investment through the period ending March 31, 2014.
 
ITEM 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure about Market Risk

Quantitative and qualitative disclosure about market risk is presented at March 31, 2008 in Item 7A of the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.  The Company believes that there has been no material change in the Company’s market risk at December 31, 2008 compared to March 31, 2008.

ITEM 4.
Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company's management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer and acting Chief Accounting Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Controller concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of March 31, 2007 and that the Company’s consolidated financial statements could not be relied on for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008 because a material weakness related to the reconciliation and review of automatic clearing house transactions and checks issued and received by the Bank’s customers  existed during fiscal 2007.  All charges to income occurred during the Company’s 2007 fiscal year.  The Company has taken corrective action and shall file an amended Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2008 that has been approved by our independent auditor as soon as practicable

Disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Controller, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Other than as set forth below, there have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.  As disclosed in footnote 3 to the Company’s financial statements in included in this Form 10-Q Carver implemented improvements to its quarterly and annual accounting close process to provide for a more complete review of its financial results.


PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1.
Legal Proceedings

Disclosure regarding legal proceedings to which the Company is a party is presented in Note 14 to the audited Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2008 Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.  There have been no material changes with regard to such legal proceedings since the filing of the 2008 Form 10-K.

ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors

For a summary of risk factors relevant to the Company’s operations, see Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K.  There has been no material change in risk factors relevant to the Company’s operations since the filing of the 2008 Form 10-K as updated in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008, except as discussed below.

Results of operations are affected by economic conditions in the New York metropolitan area and nationally.

The Company’s retail banking and a significant portion of our lending are concentrated in the New York metropolitan area, which includes New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.  As a result of this geographic concentration, the Company’s results of operations largely depend upon economic conditions in this area, although they also depend on economic conditions in other areas.

We are operating in a challenging and uncertain economic environment, both nationally and locally.  Financial institutions continue to be affected by sharp declines in the real estate market and constrained financial markets.  Continued declines in real estate values, home sales volumes and financial stress on borrowers as a result of the uncertain economic environment, including job losses, could have an adverse effect on our borrowers or their customers, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the decreases in real estate values could adversely affect the value of property used as collateral for our loans.

The banking industry has experienced increases in loan delinquencies in 2008.  A further deterioration in national and local economic conditions, particularly in the New York metropolitan area, could have a material adverse impact on the quality of Carver’s loan portfolio, which could result in an increase in delinquencies, causing a decrease in our interest income as well as an adverse impact on the Company loan loss experience, causing an increase in its allowance for loan losses.  Such deterioration could also adversely impact the demand for the Company’s products and services, and, accordingly, its results of operations.

Changes in laws, government regulation and monetary policy may have a material effect on our results of operations.

Financial institutions have been the subject of significant legislative and regulatory changes and may be the subject of further significant legislation or regulation in the future, none of which is within our control. Significant new laws or regulations or changes in, or repeals of, existing laws or regulations, including those with respect to federal and state taxation, may cause our results of operations to differ materially.  In addition, the cost and burden of compliance, over time, have significantly increased and could adversely affect our ability to operate profitably.  Further, federal monetary policy significantly affects credit conditions for the Company, as well as for our borrowers, particularly as implemented through the Federal Reserve System, primarily through open market operations in U.S. government securities, the discount rate for bank borrowings and reserve requirements. A material change in any of these conditions could have a material impact on the Company or our borrowers, and therefore on our results of operations.

In response to the financial crises affecting the banking system and financial markets, the EESA was signed into law. Pursuant to the EESA, the Treasury has the authority to, among other things, purchase up to $700 billion of troubled assets (including mortgages, mortgage-backed securities and certain other financial instruments) from financial institutions for the purpose of stabilizing and providing liquidity to the U.S. financial markets.  Subsequently, the Treasury, the FRB and the FDIC issued a joint statement announcing additional steps aimed at stabilizing the financial markets.  First, the Treasury announced the Capital Purchase Program, a $250 billion voluntary capital purchase program available to qualifying financial institutions that sell preferred shares to the Treasury. Second, the FDIC announced that its Board of Directors, under the authority to prevent “systemic risk” in the U.S. banking system, approved the TLGP, which is intended to strengthen confidence and encourage liquidity in the banking system by permitting the FDIC to (1) guarantee certain newly-issued senior unsecured debt issued by participating institutions and (2) fully insure non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts held at participating FDIC-insured institutions.  Third, to further increase access to funding for businesses in all sectors of the economy, the FRB announced further details of its Commercial Paper Funding Facility, which provides a broad backstop for the commercial paper market.


There can be no assurance, however, as to the actual impact that the foregoing or any other governmental program will have on the financial markets. The failure of any such program or the U.S. government to stabilize the financial markets and a continuation or worsening of current financial market conditions and the national and regional economy is expected to materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, access to credit and the trading price of our common stock.

Pursuant to Carver’s participation in the TARP CPP, the Company entered into certain agreements with the Treasury that may limit our activities in a number of ways.  For example, our ability to declare or pay dividends on any of our shares will be limited.  Specifically, we will not be able to declare dividends payments on common, junior preferred or pari passu preferred shares if we are in arrears on the dividends on the senior preferred shares issued to the Treasury.  Further, we will not be permitted to increase dividends on our common stock without the Treasury’s approval until the third anniversary of the investment unless the senior preferred stock issued to the Treasury has been redeemed or transferred.  In addition, our ability to repurchase our shares will be restricted. The Treasury’s consent generally will be required for us to make any stock repurchase until the third anniversary of the investment by the Treasury unless the senior preferred stock issued to the Treasury has been redeemed or transferred.  Further, common, junior preferred or pari passu preferred shares may not be repurchased if we are in arrears on the dividends on the senior preferred shares issued to the Treasury.

In addition, we must also adopt the Treasury’s standards for executive compensation and corporate governance for the period during which the Treasury holds equity issued under this program.  These standards would generally apply to our CEO, CFO and the three next most highly compensated officers.  The standards include (1) ensuring that incentive compensation for senior executives does not encourage unnecessary and excessive risks that threaten the value of the financial institution; (2) required claw back of any bonus or incentive compensation paid to a senior executive based on statements of earnings, gains or other criteria that are later proven to be materially inaccurate; (3) prohibition on making golden parachute payments to senior executives; and (4) agreement not to deduct for tax purposes executive compensation in excess of $500,000 for each senior executive.  In particular, the change to the deductibility limit on executive compensation would likely increase the overall cost of our compensation programs.

The FDIC recently adopted a restoration plan and issued a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment that would initially raise the assessment rate schedule, uniformly across all four risk categories into which the FDIC assigns insured institutions, by seven basis points (annualized) of insured deposits beginning on January 1, 2009.  Under the proposed plan, beginning with the second quarter of 2009, the initial base assessment rates will range from 10 to 45 basis points depending on an institution’s risk category, with adjustments resulting in increased assessment rates for institutions with a significant reliance on secured liabilities and brokered deposits.  Under the proposal the FDIC may continue to adopt actual rates that are higher without further notice-and-comment rulemaking subject to certain limitations.  If the FDIC determines that assessment rates should be increased, institutions in all risk categories could be affected.  The FDIC has exercised this authority several times in the past and could continue to raise insurance assessment rates in the future.  The increased deposit insurance premiums proposed by the FDIC are expected to result in a significant increase in our non-interest expense, which will have a material impact on our results of operations beginning in 2009.

We expect to face increased regulation and supervision of our industry as a result of the existing financial crisis, and there will be additional requirements and conditions imposed on us to the extent that we participate in any of the programs established or to be established by the Treasury under the EESA or by the federal bank regulatory agencies. Such additional regulation and supervision may increase our costs and limit our ability to pursue business opportunities.

 
ITEM 2.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company purchased no additional shares of its common stock under its stock repurchase program.  As of December 31, 2008, the Company has purchased a total of 176,174 shares at an average price per share of $15.72.
 
ITEM 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable.
 
ITEM 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
 
Not applicable.
 

ITEM 5.
Other Information

Carver Federal, through its affiliation with Merrill Lynch & Co., began offering a comprehensive range of wealth management products of its customers in April of 2007. The Company and Merrill Lynch & Co. have agreed to terminate this alliance on or before May 31, 2009.
 
Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4 have been amended in connection with the Company’s participation in TARP CPP and Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 were also amended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 
ITEM 6.
 
The following exhibits are submitted with this report:
 
 
 
Amendments to the Carver Bancorp Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
 
Amendments to the Carver Bancorp Inc. Performance Compensation Plan
 
 
First Amendment to the Employment Agreement entered into as of June 1, 1999 between Carver Bancorp, Inc. and Deborah C. Wright
 
 
First Amendment to the Employment Agreement entered into as of June 1, 1999 between Carver Federal Savings Bank and Deborah C. Wright
 
 
Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Share.
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer.
 
 
Certification of Chief Accounting Officer.
 
 
Certification of Chief Executive Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350.
 
 
Certification of Chief Accounting Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350.


SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 
CARVER BANCORP, INC.
   
   
Date: February 17, 2009
/s/ Deborah C.  Wright
 
Deborah C.  Wright
 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
   
Date: February 17, 2009
/s/ Michael A. Trinidad
 
Michael A. Trinidad
 
Senior Vice President and Controller
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
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