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EAST WEST BANCORP INC - Quarter Report: 2010 September (Form 10-Q)

form10q.htm

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

FORM 10-Q

Mark One

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

or

¨
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 000-24939

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

Delaware
95-4703316
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)

135 N. Los Robles Ave, 7th Floor, Pasadena, California 91101
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(626) 768-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes ¨   No ¨

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

Large accelerated filer ¨
Accelerated filer þ
Non-accelerated filer ¨
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 ¨   No þ

Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock on the latest practicable date: 148,004,889 shares of common stock as of October 31, 2010.

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
4
 
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
4-7
 
   
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
8-42
 
 
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
43-70
 
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
71
 
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
71
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
72
 
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
72
 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
72
 
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
72
 
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
73
 
 
Item 4.
(Removed and Reserved)
73
 
 
Item 5.
Other Information
73
 
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
73
 
SIGNATURE
74
 

 
2

 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
Certain matters discussed in this Quarterly Report may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the environment in which we operate and projections of future performance including future earnings and financial condition. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ significantly from the results, performance, or achievements expected or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk and uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, adverse developments or conditions related to or arising from:
 
·  
our ability to integrate the former acquired institutions’, through Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) assisted acquisitions, and to achieve expected synergies, operating efficiencies or other benefits within expected time frames, or at all, or within expected cost projections;
 
·  
our ability to integrate and retain former depositors and borrowers of the acquired institutions;
 
·  
our ability to manage the loan portfolio acquired from these institutions within the limits of the loss protection provided by the FDIC;
 
·  
changes in our borrowers’ performance on loans;
 
·  
changes in the commercial and consumer real estate markets;
 
·  
changes in our costs of operation, compliance and expansion;
 
·  
changes in the economy, including inflation;
 
·  
changes in government interest rate policies;
 
·  
changes in laws or the regulatory environment;
 
·  
changes in critical accounting policies and judgments;
 
·  
changes in accounting policies or procedures as may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other regulatory agencies;
 
·  
changes in the equity and debt securities markets;
 
·  
changes in competitive pressures on financial institutions;
 
·  
effect of additional provision for loan losses;
 
·  
effect of any goodwill impairment;
 
·  
fluctuations of our stock price;
 
·  
success and timing of our business strategies;
 
·  
impact of reputational risk created by these developments on such matters as business generation and retention, funding and liquidity;
 
·  
changes in our ability to receive dividends from our subsidiaries; and
 
·  
political developments, wars or other hostilities may disrupt or increase volatility in securities or otherwise affect economic conditions.
 
For a more detailed discussion of some of the factors that might cause such differences, see the Company’s 2009 Form 10-K under the heading “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS” and the information set forth under “RISK FACTORS” in this Form 10-Q. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of events or circumstances after the date of such statements except as required by law.
 
 
3

 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 859,694     $ 835,141  
Short-term investments
    381,799       510,788  
Fed funds sold
    75,000        
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    350,000       227,444  
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value (with amortized cost of $2,898,988 at
               
September 30, 2010 and $2,563,043 at December 31, 2009)
    2,907,349       2,564,081  
Loans held for sale, at fair value
    16,902       28,014  
                 
Loans receivable, excluding covered loans (net of allowance for loan losses of $240,286 at
               
September 30, 2010 and $238,833 at December 31, 2009)
    8,306,782       8,218,671  
Covered loans (net of allowance for loan losses of $3,900 at September 30, 2010)
    4,975,502       5,598,155  
                 
Total loans receivable, net
    13,282,284       13,816,826  
                 
FDIC indemnification asset
    874,759       1,091,814  
                 
Other real estate owned, net
    16,936       13,832  
Other real estate owned covered, net
    137,353       44,273  
                 
Total other real estate owned
    154,289       58,105  
                 
Accrued interest receivable
    79,879       82,370  
Due from customer acceptances
    50,698       40,550  
Investment in affordable housing partnerships
    152,944       84,833  
Premises and equipment, net
    138,474       59,099  
Premiums on deposits acquired, net
    82,755       89,735  
  Goodwill
    337,438       337,438  
Other assets
    672,982       732,974  
                 
TOTAL
  $ 20,417,246     $ 20,559,212  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Customer deposit accounts:
               
Noninterest-bearing
  $ 2,571,750     $ 2,291,259  
Interest-bearing
    12,726,221       12,696,354  
                 
Total deposits
    15,297,971       14,987,613  
                 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    1,018,074       1,805,387  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    1,045,664       1,026,870  
Notes payable and other borrowings
    73,550       74,406  
Bank acceptances outstanding
    50,698       40,550  
Long-term debt
    235,570       235,570  
Accrued interest payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
    310,959       104,157  
                 
Total liabilities
    18,032,486       18,274,553  
                 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 10)
               
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized; Series A, non-cumulative
               
convertible, 200,000 shares issued and 85,741 shares outstanding in 2010 and  2009; Series B,
               
cumulative, 306,546 shares issued and outstanding in 2010 and 2009; Series C, cumulative
               
convertible, 335,047 shares issued and outstanding in 2009
    370,882       693,803  
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized; 155,092,439 and 116,754,403
               
shares issued in 2010 and 2009, respectively; 147,981,714 and 109,962,965 shares
               
outstanding in 2010 and 2009, respectively
    155       117  
Additional paid in capital
    1,428,893       1,091,047  
Retained earnings
    689,356       604,223  
Treasury stock, at cost - 7,110,725 shares in 2010 and 6,791,438 shares in 2009
    (109,661 )     (105,130 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    5,135       599  
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    2,384,760       2,284,659  
                 
TOTAL
  $ 20,417,246     $ 20,559,212  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
4

 
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME
                       
Loans receivable, including fees
  $ 210,086     $ 114,512     $ 731,813     $ 336,997  
Investment securities
    15,725       28,485       50,642       88,178  
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    2,410       2,153       11,303       4,695  
Short-term investments
    2,362       1,856       7,405       7,341  
Investment in Federal Reserve Bank stock
    623       552       2,042       1,604  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    194       366       431       365  
                                 
Total interest and dividend income
    231,400       147,924       803,636       439,180  
                                 
INTEREST EXPENSE
                               
Customer deposit accounts
    28,498       26,970       91,078       94,933  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    12,189       12,140       36,775       36,016  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    5,725       11,172       20,905       38,191  
Long-term debt
    1,685       1,760       4,823       6,211  
Other borrowings
    498       2       1,903       8  
                                 
Total interest expense
    48,595       52,044       155,484       175,359  
                                 
NET INTEREST INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    182,805       95,880       648,152       263,821  
Provision for loan losses
    38,648       159,244       170,325       388,666  
                                 
NET INTEREST INCOME (LOSS) AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
    144,157       (63,364 )     477,827       (124,845 )
                                 
NONINTEREST INCOME (LOSS)
                               
Increase (decrease) in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable
    5,826             (47,170 )      
                                 
Impairment loss on investment securities
    (6,522 )     (45,199 )     (17,515 )     (82,846 )
Less: noncredit-related impairment loss recorded in other comprehensive income
    5,634       20,950       7,186       20,950  
                                 
Net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings
    (888 )     (24,249 )     (10,329 )     (61,896 )
                                 
Net gain on sale of investment securities
    2,791       2,177       24,749       7,378  
Branch fees
    7,976       4,679       24,953       14,463  
Gain on acquisition
                27,571        
Letters of credit fees and commissions
    2,888       1,984       8,493       5,768  
Ancillary loan fees
    2,367       1,227       6,425       4,812  
Income from life insurance policies
    1,100       1,090       3,306       3,269  
Net gain on sale of loans
    4,177       8       12,250       19  
Other operating income
    3,078       1,204       6,301       1,902  
                                 
Total noninterest income (loss)
    29,315       (11,880 )     56,549       (24,285 )
                                 
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
                               
Compensation and employee benefits
    38,693       15,875       131,051       49,492  
Other real estate owned expense
    5,694       767       44,689       16,480  
Occupancy and equipment expense
    13,963       6,262       39,022       19,950  
Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments
    5,676       6,057       21,785       18,950  
Prepayment penalty for Federal Home Loan Bank advances
                13,832        
Amortization of premiums on deposits acquired
    3,352       1,069       10,046       3,286  
Amortization of investments in affordable housing partnerships
    1,442       1,709       7,117       5,121  
Loan related expenses
    6,316       2,197       14,567       5,274  
Legal expense
    5,301       1,323       14,391       4,856  
Data processing
    2,646       1,079       8,174       3,362  
Consulting expense
    1,612       759       5,672       1,879  
Deposit-related expenses
    1,239       948       3,381       2,863  
Other operating expenses
    14,011       8,019       50,446       23,869  
                                 
Total noninterest expense
    99,945       46,064       364,173       155,382  
                                 
INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    73,527       (121,308 )     170,203       (304,512 )
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
    26,576       (52,777 )     61,988       (126,790 )
                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS
    46,951       (68,531 )     108,215       (177,722 )
Extraordinary item – impact of desecuritization, net of tax
                      (5,366 )
                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) AFTER EXTRAORDINARY ITEMS
    46,951       (68,531 )     108,215       (183,088 )
                                 
Preferred stock dividends, amortization of preferred stock discount and inducement of
                               
preferred stock conversion
    6,732       10,620       19,017       42,986  
                                 
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
  $ 40,219     $ (79,151 )   $ 89,198     $ (226,074 )
                                 
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS
                         
Basic
  $ 0.27     $ (0.91 )   $ 0.66     $ (3.19 )
Diluted
  $ 0.27     $ (0.91 )   $ 0.61     $ (3.19 )
Dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.03     $ 0.04  
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING
                               
Basic
    146,454       86,538       134,396       70,967  
Diluted
    147,113       86,538       146,993       70,967  
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
5

 
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
         
Additional
                                           
         
Paid In
                           
Accumulated
   
Compre-
       
         
Capital
         
Additional
               
Other
   
hensive
   
Total
 
   
Preferred
   
Preferred
   
Common
   
Paid In
   
Retained
   
Treasury
   
Comprehensive
   
Income
   
Stockholders'
 
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Stock
   
Capital
   
Earnings
   
Stock
   
Income (Loss)
   
(Loss)
   
Equity
 
                                                       
BALANCE AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008
  $     $ 472,311     $ 70     $ 695,521     $ 572,172     $ (102,817 )   $ (86,491 )         $ 1,550,766  
                                                                       
Cumulative effect adjustment for
                                                                     
reclassification of the previously
                                                                     
recognized noncredit-related impairment
                                                                     
loss on investment securities
                                    8,110               (8,110 )            
                                                                       
BALANCE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2009
          472,311       70       695,521       580,282       (102,817 )     (94,601 )           1,550,766  
                                                                       
Comprehensive loss
                                                                     
Net loss after extraordinary item for the year
                                    (183,088 )                   $ (183,088 )     (183,088 )
Net unrealized gain on investment securities
                                                                       
available-for-sale
                                                    53,021       53,021       53,021  
Net unrealized loss as a result of desecuritization
                                                    30,551       30,551       30,551  
Noncredit-related impairment loss on investment
                                                                       
securities recorded in the current year
                                                    (12,150 )     (12,150 )     (12,150 )
                                                                         
Total comprehensive loss
                                                          $ (111,666 )        
                                                                         
Stock compensation costs
                            4,370                                       4,370  
Tax provision from stock plans
                            (498 )                                     (498 )
Preferred stock issuance and conversion cost
            (180 )                                                     (180 )
Common stock issuance cost
                            (5,535 )                                     (5,535 )
Induced conversion of 110,764 shares of preferred stock
            (107,474 )                                                     (107,474 )
Issuance of 9,968,760 shares of common stock from
                                                                       
converted 110,764 shares of Preferred Stock
                    10       107,464                                       107,474  
Issuance of 5,000,000 shares of common stock from
                                                                       
private placement
                    5       27,495                                       27,500  
Issuance of 12,650,000 shares of common stock  from
                                                                       
public offering
                    12       80,316                                       80,328  
Issuance of 423,597 shares of common stock pursuant to
                                                                       
various stock plans and agreements
                    1       399                                       400  
Issuance of 22,386 shares of common stock in lieu of
                                                                       
Board of Director retainer fees
                            219                                       219  
Cancellation of 60,578 shares of common stock due to
                                                                       
forfeitures of issued restricted stock
                            1,467               (1,467 )                      
Purchase of 11,166 shares of treasury stock due to the
                                                                       
vesting of restricted stock
                                            (54 )                     (54 )
Amortization of Series B preferred stock discount
            3,265                       (3,265 )                              
Preferred stock dividends
                                    (21,381 )                             (21,381 )
Common stock dividends
                                    (2,487 )                             (2,487 )
Inducement of preferred stock conversion
                            18,340       (18,340 )                              
                                                                         
BALANCE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2009
  $     $ 367,922     $ 98     $ 929,558     $ 351,721     $ (104,338 )   $ (23,179 )           $ 1,521,782  
                                                                         
BALANCE AS OF JANUARY 1, 2010
  $     $ 693,803     $ 117     $ 1,091,047     $ 604,223     $ (105,130 )   $ 599             $ 2,284,659  
                                                                         
Comprehensive income:
                                                                       
Net income
                                    108,215                     $ 108,215       108,215  
Net unrealized gain on investment securities
                                                                       
available-for-sale
                                                    7,142       7,142       7,142  
Noncredit-related impairment loss on investment
                                                                       
securities recorded in the current year
                                                    (3,268 )     (3,268 )     (3,268 )
Foreign currency translation
                                                    662       662       662  
                                                                         
Total comprehensive income
                                                          $ 112,751          
                                                                         
Stock compensation costs
                            6,164                                       6,164  
Tax provision from stock plans
                            (156 )                                     (156 )
Issuance of 1,234,302 shares of common stock pursuant
                                                                       
to various stock plans and agreements
                    1       2,526                                       2,527  
Conversion of 335,047 shares of Series C preferred
                                                                       
stock into 37,103,734 shares of common stock
            (325,299 )     37       325,262                                        
Cancellation of 293,105 shares of common stock due to
                                                                       
forfeitures of issued restricted stock
                            4,050               (4,050 )                      
Purchase of 26,182 shares of treasury stock due to the
                                                                       
vesting of restricted stock
                                            (481 )                     (481 )
Amortization of Series B preferred stock discount
            2,378                       (2,378 )                              
Preferred stock dividends
                                    (16,640 )                             (16,640 )
Common stock dividends
                                    (4,064 )                             (4,064 )
                                                                         
BALANCE AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
  $     $ 370,882     $ 155     $ 1,428,893     $ 689,356     $ (109,661 )   $ 5,135             $ 2,384,760  
                                                                         
                                                           
Nine Months Ended
 
                                                           
September 30,
 
                                                              2010       2009  
                                                           
(In thousands)
         
Disclosure of reclassification amounts:
                                                                       
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on securities arising during the period, net of tax expense of $(8,862) in 2010 and $(37,620) in 2009
                    $ 12,237     $ 51,952  
Less: Reclassification adjustment for gain (loss) included in net income (loss), net of tax expense of $6,057 in 2010 and $(22,898) in 2009
                      (8,363 )     31,620  
                                                                         
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of tax expense of $(2,805) in 2010 and $(60,518) in 2009
                                    $ 3,874     $ 83,572  
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
6

 
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net income (loss) after extraordinary items
  $ 108,215     $ (183,088 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) after extraordinary items to net cash provided by operating activities:
         
Depreciation and amortization
    48,153       16,847  
Accretion of discount and premium
    (159,226 )      
Decrease in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable
    47,170        
Gain on acquisition
    (27,571 )      
Net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings
    10,329       61,896  
Impairment writedown on mortgage servicing assets
    348       660  
Stock compensation costs
    6,164       4,370  
Deferred tax expense (benefit)
    32,355       (16,886 )
Provision for loan losses and impact of desecuritization
    170,325       397,929  
Impairment on other real estate owned
    36,508       17,670  
Impairment loss on other equity investment
          581  
Net gain on sales of investment securities, loans and other assets
    (39,260 )     (2,827 )
Originations of loans held for sale
    (22,013 )     (33,248 )
Proceeds from sale of loans held for sale
    20,389       33,318  
Prepayment penalty for Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    13,832        
Tax provision from stock plans
    156       498  
Net change in accrued interest receivable and other assets
    278,386       (11,710 )
Net change in accrued expenses and other liabilities
    162,446       (97,694 )
                 
Total adjustments
    578,491       371,404  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    686,706       188,316  
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Acquisition of WFIB assets
    67,186        
Net decrease in loans
    662,655       318,232  
Net decrease in short-term investments
    103,989       (92,415 )
Purchases of:
               
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    (880,000 )     (50,000 )
Investment securities held-to-maturity
          (697,768 )
Investment securities available-for-sale
    (3,612,331 )     (1,314,263 )
Loans receivable
    (580,396 )     (350,000 )
Federal Reserve Bank stock
    (10,500 )     (9,196 )
Investments in affordable housing partnerships
    (473 )     (22 )
Premises and equipment
    (90,051 )     (433 )
Proceeds from sale of:
               
Investment securities
    1,047,173       336,710  
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    710,000       25,000  
Loans receivable
    427,087       105,227  
Loans held for sale originated for investment
    147,194        
Other real estate owned
    77,804       51,807  
Premises and equipment
    84       8  
Repayments, maturity and redemption of investment securities available-for-sale
    2,268,589       1,040,828  
Dividends/redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    13,427       182  
                 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    351,437       (636,103 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Net (payment for) proceeds from:
               
Deposits
    (87,053 )     526,598  
Short-term borrowings
    2,214       (3,980 )
Proceeds from:
               
Issuance of long-term borrowings
    350,000        
Issuance of common stock from public offering
          80,328  
Issuance of common stock from private placement
          27,500  
Issuance of common stock pursuant to various stock plans and agreements
    2,527       400  
Payment for:
               
Repayment of long-term borrowings
    (1,223,137 )     (430,000 )
Repayment of notes payable and other borrowings
    (37,300 )     (9,395 )
Purchase of treasury shares due to the vesting of restricted stock
    (481 )     (54 )
Preferred stock issuance cost
          (5,715 )
Cash dividends on preferred stock
    (16,640 )     (20,530 )
Cash dividends on common stock
    (4,064 )     (2,486 )
Tax benefit from stock plans
    (156 )     (498 )
                 
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (1,014,090 )     162,168  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    500        
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    24,553       (285,619 )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    835,141       878,853  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 859,694     $ 593,234  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 159,742     $ 184,054  
Income tax (refunds) payments
    24,292       (13,126 )
Noncash investing and financing activities:
               
Transfers to real estate owned/affordable housing partnership
    203,276       116,124  
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock
    325,299        
Desecuritization of loans receivable
          635,614  
Loans to facilitate sales of real estate owned
    13,550       38,605  
Loans transferred to loans held for sale
    138,792        
Loans to facilitate sales of loans
    42,022       130,509  
Issuance of common stock in lieu of Board of Director retainer fees
    360       219  
 
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
7

 

EAST WEST BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010 and 2009
(Unaudited)
 
NOTE 1 — BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of East West Bancorp, Inc. (referred to herein on an unconsolidated basis as “East West” and on a consolidated basis as the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, East West Bank and subsidiaries (the “Bank”) and East West Insurance Services, Inc. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. East West also has nine wholly-owned subsidiaries that are statutory business trusts (the “Trusts”). In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 810, the Trusts are not consolidated into the accounts of East West Bancorp, Inc.
 
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements, presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), are unaudited and reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair statement of financial condition and results of operations for the interim periods. All adjustments are of a normal and recurring nature. Results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for the year as a whole. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Events subsequent to the condensed consolidated balance sheet date have been evaluated through the date the financial statements are issued for inclusion in the accompanying financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
 
NOTE 2 — SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
 
Recent Accounting Standards
 
In September 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASC 860 which requires additional information about transfers of financial assets, including securitization transactions, and where companies have continuing exposure to the risks related to transferred financial assets. It eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity,” changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets, and requires additional disclosures. It was effective for the Company on January 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In September 2009, the FASB issued ASC 810 that changes how a company determines when an entity that is insufficiently capitalized or is not controlled through voting (or similar rights) should be consolidated. The determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. It was effective for the Company on January 1, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2010-06, Improving Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements. ASU 2010-06 requires separate disclosure of the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and reasons for the transfers and separate presentation of information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the

 
8

 

reconciliation for Level 3 fair value measurements. Additionally, ASU 2010-06 clarifies existing disclosures regarding level of disaggregation and inputs and valuation techniques. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosures under ASU 2010-06 are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements in the roll forward of activity in Level 3 fair value measurements. Those disclosures are effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2010 and for interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the disclosure requirements of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements (see Note 3). The Company does not expect the adoption of the disclosure requirements to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In April 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-18, Receivables, Effect of a Loan Modification When the Loan Is Part of a Pool That Is Accounted for as a Single Asset, which amends ASC 310-30. This ASU clarifies the treatment of loan modifications for loans accounted for within a loan pool. Loans accounted for under ASC 310-30, should not be removed from the pool even if the loan modification would otherwise be considered a troubled debt restructuring. An entity is still required to assess the entire pool for impairment. The update does not require additional disclosures. This clarified treatment of loan modifications is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after July 15, 2010. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In July 2010, the FASB issued ASU 2010-20, Receivables (Topic 310): Disclosures about the Credit Quality of Financing Receivable and Allowance for Credit Losses, which amends ASC 310, Receivables. ASU 2010-20 is intended to provide additional information to assist financial statement users in assessing an entity’s credit risk exposures and evaluating the adequacy of its allowance for credit losses. Companies will be required to provide more information about the credit quality of their financing receivables in the disclosures to financial statements, such as aging information and credit quality indicators. Both new and existing disclosures must be disaggregated by portfolio segment or class. The disaggregation of information is based on how a company develops its allowance for credit losses and how it manages its credit exposure. The disclosures as of the end of a reporting period will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending on or after December 15, 2010. The Company does not expect the adoption of the disclosure requirements to have a material effect on its condensed consolidated financial statements.
 

 
9

 

NOTE 3 — FAIR VALUE
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company uses various methods including market and income approaches. Based on these approaches, the Company utilizes certain assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs can be readily observable, market corroborated, or generally unobservable inputs. The Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Based on the observability of the inputs used in the valuation techniques, the Company is required to provide the information according to the fair value hierarchy noted below. The hierarchy is based on the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices available in active markets and the lowest priority to data lacking transparency. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value will be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:
 
 
·
Level 1 – Quoted prices for identical instruments that are highly liquid, observable and actively traded in over-the-counter markets. Level 1 financial instruments typically include U.S. Treasury securities.
 
 
·
Level 2 – Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable and can be corroborated by market data. Level 2 financial instruments typically include U.S. Government debt and agency mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, U.S. Government sponsored enterprise preferred stock securities, single issue trust preferred securities, equity swap agreements, foreign exchange options and other real estate owned (“OREO”).
 
 
·
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments whose values are determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation. This category typically includes mortgage servicing assets, impaired loans, private label mortgage-backed securities, pooled trust preferred securities and derivatives payable.
 
The Company records investment securities available-for-sale, equity swap agreements, derivatives payable and foreign exchange options at fair value on a recurring basis. Certain other assets such as mortgage servicing assets, impaired loans, other real estate owned, goodwill, premiums on acquired deposits and private equity investments are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Nonrecurring fair value measurements typically involve assets that are periodically evaluated for impairment and for which any impairment is recorded in the period in which the remeasurement is performed.
 
In determining the appropriate hierarchy levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value disclosure. The following tables present both financial and non-financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring and non-recurring basis. These assets and liabilities are reported on the condensed consolidated balance sheets at their fair values as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Financial assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to their fair value measurement. There were no transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 during the first nine months of 2010. There were also no transfers in and out of levels 1 and 3 or levels 2 and 3.
 

 
10

 
 
   
Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
as of September 30, 2010
 
   
Fair Value Measurements September 30, 2010
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 21,740     $ 21,740     $     $  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                               
sponsored enterprise debt securities
    1,206,835             1,206,835        
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                               
sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    20,495             20,495        
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    339,007             339,007        
Municipal securities
                       
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Investment grade
                       
Non-investment grade
    12,834                   12,834  
Corporate debt securities:
                               
Investment grade
    1,175,431             1,175,431        
Non-investment grade
    24,599             22,446       2,153  
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities
                       
Other securities
    106,408             106,408        
                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,907,349     $ 21,740     $ 2,870,622     $ 14,987  
                                 
Equity swap agreements
  $ 2,828     $     $ 2,828     $  
Derivatives payable
    (2,601 )                 (2,601 )
Foreign exchange options
    1,065             1,065        
                                 
                                 
   
Assets (Liabilities) Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
as of December 31, 2009
 
   
Fair Value Measurements
December 31, 2009
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 303,472     $ 303,472     $     $  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                               
sponsored enterprise debt securities
    832,025             832,025        
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                               
sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    26,355             26,355        
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    724,348             724,348        
Municipal securities
    60,193             60,193        
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Investment grade
    95,517             95,517        
Non-investment grade
    41,610             28,872       12,738  
Corporate debt securities:
                               
Investment grade
    460,895             459,917       978  
Non-investment grade
    8,861             6,906       1,955  
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities
    1,782             1,782        
Other securities
    9,023       9,023              
                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,564,081     $ 312,495     $ 2,235,915     $ 15,671  
                                 
Equity swap agreements
  $ 14,177     $     $ 14,177     $  
Derivatives payable
    (14,185 )                 (14,185 )
Foreign exchange options
                       
 
 
11

 
   
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Fair Value Measurements September 30, 2010
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total Gains (Losses)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Non-covered impaired loans:
                             
Residential single-family
  $     $     $     $     $  
Residential multifamily
    2,694                   2,694       (772 )
Commercial and industrial real estate,
                                       
land
    34,691                   34,691       (15,222 )
Construction
    6,521                   6,521       (824 )
Commercial business
    7,830                   7,830       (3,053 )
Other consumer
    167                   167       96  
                                         
Total non-covered impaired loans
  $ 51,903     $     $     $ 51,903     $ (19,775 )
                                         
Mortgage servicing assets
                                       
(single-family, multifamily and
                                       
commercial)
  $ 15,973     $     $     $ 15,973     $ (284 )
                                         
Non-covered OREO
  $ 2,574     $     $ 2,574     $     $ (1,099 )
                                         
Covered OREO (1)
  $ 27,205     $     $ 27,205     $     $ (6,569 )
                                         
                                         
   
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Fair Value Measurements September 30, 2009
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total Gains (Losses)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Non-covered impaired loans:
                                       
Residential single-family
  $ 2,563     $     $     $ 2,563     $ (707 )
Residential multifamily
    3,878                   3,878       (1,798 )
Commercial and industrial real estate,
                                       
land
    44,517                   44,517       (27,261 )
Construction
    49,640                   49,640       (17,056 )
Commercial business
    18,293                   18,293       (7,917 )
Other consumer
    522                   522       198  
                                         
Total non-covered impaired loans
  $ 119,413     $     $     $ 119,413     $ (54,541 )
                                         
Mortgage servicing assets
                                       
(single-family, multifamily and
                                       
commercial)
  $ 9,060     $     $     $ 9,060     $ (20 )
                                         
Non-covered OREO
  $ 16,092     $     $ 16,092     $     $ (4,644 )
                                         
Covered OREO
  $     $     $     $     $  
 
 
_______________________
 
(1)
Covered OREO results from the WFIB and UCB FDIC-assisted acquisitions for which the Company entered into shared-loss agreements with the FDIC whereby the FDIC will reimburse the Company for 80% of eligible losses. As such, the Company’s liability for losses is 20% of the $6.5 million  or $1.3 million.
 
 
12

 
   
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Fair Value Measurements September 30, 2010
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total Gains (Losses)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Non-covered impaired loans:
                             
Residential single-family
  $ 900     $     $     $ 900     $ (251 )
Residential multifamily
    5,053                   5,053       (1,983 )
Commercial and industrial real estate,
                                       
land
    62,218                   62,218       (27,919 )
Construction
    16,084                   16,084       (9,839 )
Commercial business
    7,925                   7,925       (4,836 )
Other consumer
    166                   166       (245 )
                                         
Total non-covered impaired loans
  $ 92,346     $     $     $ 92,346     $ (45,073 )
                                         
Mortgage servicing assets
                                       
(single-family, multifamily and
                                       
commercial)
  $ 15,973     $     $     $ 15,973     $ (348 )
                                         
Non-covered OREO
  $ 4,101     $     $ 4,101     $     $ (4,012 )
                                         
Covered OREO (1)
  $ 57,234     $     $ 57,234     $     $ (32,496 )
                                         
                                         
   
Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Fair Value Measurements September 30, 2009
   
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   
Significant Other Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
   
Significant Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
   
Total Gains (Losses)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Non-covered impaired loans:
                                       
Residential single-family
  $ 3,396     $     $     $ 3,396     $ (957 )
Residential multifamily
    4,127                   4,127       (1,956 )
Commercial and industrial real estate,
                                       
land
    48,644                   48,644       (32,168 )
Construction
    62,598                   62,598       (29,454 )
Commercial business
    21,743                   21,743       (17,179 )
Other consumer
    248                   248       167  
                                         
Total non-covered impaired loans
  $ 140,756     $     $     $ 140,756     $ (81,547 )
                                         
Mortgage servicing assets
                                       
(single-family, multifamily and
                                       
commercial)
  $ 9,060     $     $     $ 9,060     $ 660  
                                         
Non-covered OREO
  $ 16,920     $     $ 16,920     $     $ (6,792 )
                                         
Covered OREO
  $     $     $     $     $  
 
 
_______________________
 
(1)
Covered OREO results from the WFIB and UCB FDIC-assisted acquisitions for which the Company entered into shared-loss agreements with the FDIC whereby the FDIC will reimburse the Company for 80% of eligible losses. As such, the Company’s liability for losses is 20% of the $32.5 million or $6.5 million.

 
13

 

At each reporting period, all assets and liabilities for which the fair value measurement is based on significant unobservable inputs are classified as Level 3. The following tables provide a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for major asset and liability categories measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
 
   
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
       
         
Other Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities,
   
Corporate Debt Securities
       
   
Total
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Investment Grade
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Derivatives Payable
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                               
Beginning balance, July 1, 2010
  $ 15,350     $ 12,506     $     $ 2,844     $ (1,888 )
Total gains or (losses): (1)
                                       
Included in earnings
    (864 )                 (864 )     (459 )
Included in other comprehensive loss (unrealized) (2)
    508       328             180        
Purchases, issuances, sales, settlements (3)
    (7 )                 (7 )     (254 )
Transfer from investment grade to non-investment grade
                             
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (4)
                             
                                         
Ending balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 14,987     $ 12,834     $     $ 2,153     $ (2,601 )
                                         
Changes in unrealized losses included in earnings relating to
                                       
assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2010
  $ (888 )   $     $     $ (888 )   $ 459  
                                         
                                         
   
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
         
           
Other Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities,
   
Corporate Debt Securities
         
   
Total
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Investment Grade
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Derivatives Payable
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                         
Beginning balance, July 1, 2009
  $ 32,460     $ 16,628     $ 1,245     $ 14,587     $ (13,323 )
Total gains or (losses): (1)
                                       
Included in earnings
    (24,164 )     1       5       (24,170 )     (410 )
Included in other comprehensive loss (unrealized) (2)
    12,604       (1,095 )     (374 )     14,073        
Purchases, issuances, sales, settlements (3)
    985             (16 )     1,001        
Transfer from investment grade to non-investment grade
                             
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (4)
                             
                                         
Ending balance, September 30, 2009
  $ 21,885     $ 15,534     $ 860     $ 5,491     $ (13,733 )
                                         
Changes in unrealized losses included in earnings relating to
                                       
assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2009
  $ (24,249 )   $     $     $ (24,249 )   $ 410  
_______________________
 
(1)
Total gains or losses represent the total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Level 3 assets and liabilities. Realized gains or losses are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
 
(2)
Unrealized gains or losses as well as the non-credit portion of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) on investment securities are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, in the condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income.
 
(3)
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements represent Level 3 assets and liabilities that were either purchased, issued, sold or settled during the period. The amounts are recorded at their end of period fair values.
 
(4)
Transfers in and/or out represent existing assets and liabilities that were either previously categorized as a higher level and the inputs to the model became unobservable or assets and liabilities that were previously classified as Level 3 and the lowest significant input became observable during the period. These assets and liabilities are recorded at their end of period fair values.
 
 
14

 
   
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
                   
         
Other Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities,
   
Corporate Debt Securities
                   
   
Total
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Investment Grade
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Derivatives Payable
             
   
(In thousands)
             
                                           
Beginning balance, January 1, 2010
  $ 15,671     $ 12,738     $ 978     $ 1,955     $ (14,185 )            
Total gains or (losses): (1)
                                                   
Included in earnings
    (7,589 )     436       5       (8,030 )     (625 )            
Included in other comprehensive loss (unrealized) (2)
    7,047       90       308       6,649                    
Purchases, issuances, sales, settlements (3)
    (142 )     (430 )     (9 )     297       12,209              
Transfer from investment grade to non-investment grade
                (1,282 )     1,282                    
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (4)
                                         
                                                     
Ending balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 14,987     $ 12,834     $     $ 2,153     $ (2,601 )            
                                                     
Changes in unrealized losses included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2010
  $ (8,107 )   $     $     $ (8,107 )   $ 625              
                                                     
   
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale
       
           
Other Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities
   
Corporate Debt Securities
                     
   
Total
   
Investment Grade
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Investment Grade
   
Non-Investment Grade
   
Residual Securities
   
Derivatives Payable
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                                     
Beginning balance, January 1, 2009
  $ 624,351     $ 527,109     $ 10,216     $ 1,294     $ 35,670     $ 50,062     $ (14,142 )
Total gains or (losses): (1)
                                                       
Included in earnings
    (55,119 )     2,629       193       12       (61,810 )     3,857       409  
Included in other comprehensive loss (unrealized) (2)
    105,387       101,456       1,363       (408 )     27,996       (25,020 )      
Purchases, issuances, sales, settlements (3)
    (652,734 )     (613,582 )     (13,850 )     (38 )     3,635       (28,899 )      
Transfer from investment grade to non-investment grade
          (17,612 )     17,612                          
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (4)
                                         
                                                         
Ending balance, September 30, 2009
  $ 21,885     $     $ 15,534     $ 860     $ 5,491     $     $ (13,733 )
                                                         
Changes in unrealized losses included in earnings relating to assets and liabilities still held at September 30, 2009
  $ (61,896 )   $     $     $     $ (61,896 )   $     $ (409 )
_______________________
 
(1)
Total gains or losses represent the total realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for Level 3 assets and liabilities. Realized gains or losses are reported in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
 
(2)
Unrealized gains or losses as well as the non-credit portion of OTTI on investment securities are reported in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, in the condensed consolidated statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income.
 
(3)
Purchases, issuances, sales and settlements represent Level 3 assets and liabilities that were either purchased, issued, sold or settled during the period. The amounts are recorded at their end of period fair values. In May 2009, the Company desecuritized its portfolio of private-label mortgage-backed securities, resulting in a $635.6 million decrease in Level 3 investment grade mortgage-backed securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
(4)
Transfers in and/or out represent existing assets and liabilities that were either previously categorized as a higher level and the inputs to the model became unobservable or assets and liabilities that were previously classified as Level 3 and the lowest significant input became observable during the period. These assets and liabilities are recorded at their end of period fair values.
 
 
15

 
Valuation Methodologies
 
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale – The fair values of available-for-sale investment securities are generally determined by reference to the average of at least two quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers or prices obtained from independent external pricing service providers who have experience in valuing these securities. In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Company has reviewed the methodologies used to develop the resulting fair values.
 
The Company’s Level 3 available-for-sale securities include one private-label mortgage-backed security and three pooled trust preferred securities. The fair values of these investment securities represent less than 1% of the total available-for-sale investment securities. The fair values of the private-label mortgage-backed security and pooled trust preferred securities have traditionally been based on the average of at least two quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers since broker quotes in an active market are given the highest priority. However, as a result of the global financial crisis and illiquidity in the U.S. markets, the market for these securities has been inactive since mid-2007. It is the Company’s view that current broker prices (which are typically non-binding) on the private-label mortgage-backed security and certain pooled trust preferred securities are based on forced liquidation or distressed sale values in very inactive markets that are not representative of the fair value of these securities. As such, the Company considered what weight, if any, to place on transactions that are not orderly when estimating fair value.
 
For the private-label mortgage-backed security, the Company determined fair value by using the appropriate combination of the market approach reflecting current broker prices and a discounted cash flow approach. The values resulting from each approach (i.e., market and income approaches) were weighted to derive the final fair value on the private-label mortgage-backed security. For the pooled trust preferred securities, the fair value was derived based on discounted cash flow analyses (the income method) prepared by management. In order to determine the appropriate discount rate used in calculating fair values derived from the income method for the private-label mortgage-backed security and pooled trust preferred securities, the Company has made assumptions using an exit pricing approach related to the implied rate of return which have been adjusted for general changes in market rates, estimated changes in credit quality and liquidity risk premium, specific non-performance and default experience in the collateral underlying the securities. The losses recorded in the period are recognized in noninterest income.
 
Equity Swap Agreements – The Company has entered into equity swap agreements to hedge against market fluctuations in a promotional equity index certificate of deposit product offered to bank customers. This deposit product, which has a term of 5 years, pays interest based on the performance of the Hang Seng China Enterprise Index (“HSCEI”). The fair value of these equity swap agreements is based on the income approach. The fair value is based on the change in the value of the HSCEI and the volatility of the call option over the life of the individual swap agreement. The option value is derived based on the volatility, the interest rate and the time remaining to maturity of the call option. The Company’s consideration of its counterparty’s credit risk resulted in a $197.3 thousand adjustment to the valuation of the equity swap agreements for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The valuation of equity swap agreements falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the fair value of these derivative contracts. The fair value of the derivative contracts is provided by a third party that the Company places reliance on.

 
16

 
Derivatives Payable – The Company’s derivatives payable are recorded in conjunction with certain certificate of deposits (“host instrument”). These CDs pay interest based on changes in either the HSCEI or based on changes in the Chinese currency Renminbi (“RMB”) as designated and are included in interest-bearing deposits on the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of these embedded derivatives is based on the income approach. The Company’s consideration of its own credit risk resulted in a $40.3 thousand adjustment to the valuation of the derivative liabilities for the three months ended September 30, 2010. The valuation of the derivatives payable falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy since the significant inputs used in deriving the fair value of these derivative contracts are not directly observable.
 
Foreign Exchange Options – The Company has entered into foreign exchange option contracts with major investment firms. The settlement amount is determined based upon the performance of the RMB relative to the U.S. Dollar (“USD”) over the 5-year term of the contract. The performance amount is computed based on the average quarterly value of the RMB per the USD as compared to the initial value. The fair value of the derivative contract is provided by third parties and is determined based on the change in the RMB and the volatility of the option over the life of the agreement. The option value is derived based on the volatility of the option, interest rate and time remaining to the maturity. The Company has also considered the counterparty’s credit risk in determining the valuation. The valuation of the option contract falls within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy due to the observable nature of the inputs used in deriving the fair value of this derivative contract.
 
Mortgage Servicing Assets (“MSAs”) – The Company records MSAs in conjunction with its loan sale and securitization activities since the servicing of the underlying loans is retained by the Bank. MSAs are initially measured at fair value using an income approach. The initial fair value of MSAs is determined based on the present value of estimated net future cash flows related to contractually-specified servicing fees. The valuation for MSAs falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy since there are no quoted prices for MSAs and the significant inputs used to determine fair value are not directly observable. The valuation of MSAs is determined using a discounted cash flow approach utilizing the appropriate yield curve and several market-derived assumptions including prepayment speeds, servicing cost, delinquency and foreclosure costs and behavior, and float earnings rate. Net cash flows are present valued using a market-derived discount rate. The resulting fair value is then compared to recently observed bulk market transactions with similar characteristics.
 
Impaired Loans – The Company’s impaired loans are generally measured using the fair value of the underlying collateral, which is determined based on the most recent valuation information received. The fair values may be adjusted based on factors such as the Company’s historical knowledge and changes in market conditions from the time of valuation. Impaired loans fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy since they are measured at fair value based on the most recent valuation information received on the underlying collateral.
 
Other Real Estate Owned – The Company’s OREO represents properties acquired through foreclosure or through full or partial satisfaction of loans, and are recorded at estimated fair value at the time of foreclosure and at the lower of cost or estimated fair value subsequent to acquisition. The fair values of OREO properties are based on third-party appraisals, broker price opinions or accepted written offers. These valuations are reviewed and approved by the Company’s appraisal department, credit review department or OREO department. OREO properties are classified as Level 2 assets in the fair value hierarchy. The non-covered OREO balance of $16.9 million included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2010 is recorded net of estimated disposal costs.
 
 
17

 
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
The carrying amounts and fair values of financial instruments as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Carrying
         
Carrying
       
   
Notional or
         
Notional or
       
   
Contract
   
Estimated
   
Contract
   
Estimated
 
   
Amount
   
Fair Value
   
Amount
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Financial Assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 859,694     $ 859,694     $ 835,141     $ 835,141  
Short-term investments
    381,799       381,799       510,788       510,788  
Fed Funds Sold
    75,000       75,000              
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    350,000       350,276       227,444       232,693  
Investment securities available-for-sale
    2,907,349       2,907,349       2,564,081       2,564,081  
Loans receivable, net
    13,299,186       13,276,174       13,844,840       13,519,060  
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
    169,453       169,453       180,217       180,217  
Investment in Federal Reserve Bank stock
    47,285       47,285       36,785       36,785  
Accrued interest receivable
    79,879       79,879       82,370       82,370  
Equity swap agreements
    83,584       2,828       38,828       14,177  
Foreign exchange options
    25,000       1,065              
                                 
Financial Liabilities:
                               
Customer deposit accounts:
                               
Demand, savings and money market deposits
    8,480,110       7,771,750       7,088,822       6,214,848  
Time deposits
    6,817,861       6,825,371       7,898,791       7,912,384  
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
    1,018,074       1,037,512       1,805,387       1,791,326  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    1,045,664       1,279,892       1,026,870       1,265,565  
Notes payable
    45,223       45,223       7,366       7,366  
Accrued interest payable
    15,128       15,128       19,386       19,386  
Long-term debt
    235,570       122,107       235,570       103,442  
Derivatives payable
    75,628       2,601       38,828       14,185  

The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value are explained below:
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents – The carrying amounts approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments.
 
Short-Term Investments – The fair values of short-term investments generally approximate their book values due to their short maturities.
 
Securities Purchased Under Resale Agreements – Securities purchased under resale agreements with original maturities of 90 days or less are included in cash and cash equivalents. The fair value of securities purchased under resale agreements with original maturities of more than 90 days is estimated by discounting the cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates utilizing estimated market discount rates.
 
Investment Securities Available-for-Sale – The fair values of the investment securities available-for-sale are generally determined by reference to the average of at least two quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers or independent external pricing service providers who have experience in valuing these securities. In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Company has reviewed the methodologies used to develop the resulting fair values. For private label mortgage-backed securities and pooled trust preferred securities, fair values are based on discounted cash flow analyses.

 
18

 
Loans Receivable, Net (includes covered and non-covered loans) – The fair value of loans is determined based on the discounted cash flow approach. The discount rate is derived from the associated yield curve plus spreads, and reflects the offering rates in the market for loans with similar financial characteristics. No adjustments have been made for changes in credit within the loan portfolio. It is management’s opinion that the allowance for loan losses pertaining to performing and nonperforming loans results in a fair valuation of credit for such loans.
 
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank Stock and Federal Reserve Bank Stock – The carrying amounts approximate fair value, as the stock may be sold back to the Federal Home Loan Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank at carrying value.
 
Accrued Interest Receivable – The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates fair value due to its short-term nature.
 
Equity Swap Agreements – The fair value of the derivative contracts is provided by a third party and is determined based on the change in value of the HSCEI and the volatility of the call option over the life of the individual swap agreement. The option value is derived based on the volatility of the option, interest rate and time remaining to maturity. We also considered the counterparty’s credit risk in determining the fair value.
 
Foreign Exchange Options – The fair value of the derivative contracts is provided by third parties and is determined based on the change in the RMB and the volatility of the option over the life of the agreement. The option value is derived based on the volatility of the option, interest rate and time remaining to the maturity. We also considered the counterparty’s credit risk in determining the fair value.
 
Customer Deposit Accounts – The fair value of customer deposit accounts is determined based on the discounted cash flow approach. The discount rate is derived from the associated yield curve, plus spread, if any. For core deposits (demand, savings and money market deposits), the cash outflows are projected by the decay rate based on the Bank’s core deposit premium study and are discounted using the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) yield curve. For time deposits, the cash flows are based on the contractual runoff and are discounted by the Bank’s current offering rates, plus spread.
 
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances – The fair value of Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances is estimated based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows, using rates currently offered by the FHLB of San Francisco for fixed-rate credit advances with similar remaining maturities at each reporting date.
 
Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements – For securities sold under repurchase agreements with original maturities of 90 days or less, the carrying amounts approximate fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, most of the securities sold under repurchase agreements are long-term in nature and the fair values of securities sold under repurchase agreements are calculated by discounting future cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates, utilizing estimated market discount rates and taking into consideration the call features of each instrument.
 
Notes Payable – The carrying amount of notes payable approximates fair value as these notes are payable on demand.
 
Accrued Interest Payable – The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates fair value due to its short-term nature.
 
Long-Term Debt – The fair values of long-term debt are estimated by discounting the cash flows through maturity based on current market rates the Bank would pay for new issuances.

 
19

 
Derivatives Payable – Derivatives payable are recorded in conjunction with certain certificate of deposits (“host instrument”). These CDs pay interest based on changes in the either the HSCEI or based on changes in the RMB as designated. The fair value of derivatives payable is estimated using the income approach. Additionally, we considered our own credit risk in determining the valuation.
 
The fair value estimates presented herein are based on pertinent information available to management as of each reporting date. Although we are not aware of any factors that would significantly affect the estimated fair value amounts, such amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date, and therefore, current estimates of fair value may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein.
 
NOTE 4 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, total compensation cost recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations related to stock options and restricted stock awards amounted to $2.3 million and $6.2 million, respectively, with related tax benefit of $61 thousand and tax liability of $156 thousand, respectively.
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, total compensation cost recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of operations related to stock options and restricted stock awards amounted to $1.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively, with related tax benefits of $614 thousand and $1.8 million, respectively.
 
Stock Options
 
The Company issues fixed stock options to certain employees, officers, and directors. Stock options are issued at the current market price on the date of grant with a three-year or four-year vesting period and contractual terms of 7 or 10 years. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options.
 
A summary of activity for the Company’s stock options as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is presented below:
 
 
             
Weighted
     
         
Weighted
 
Average
     
         
Average
 
Remaining
 
Aggregate
 
         
Exercise
 
Contractual
 
Intrinsic
 
   
Shares
   
Price
 
Term
 
Value (1)
 
                 
(In thousands)
 
                     
Outstanding at beginning of period
    1,927,515     $ 21.59          
                         
Granted
    -       -          
Exercised
    (167,631 )     11.41          
Forfeited or expired
    (174,895 )     16.29          
                         
Outstanding at end of period
    1,584,989     $ 23.25  
 2.65  years
  $ 2,107  
                           
Vested or expected to vest at end of period
    1,558,684     $ 23.28  
 2.62 years
  $ 2,064  
                           
Exercisable at end of period
    1,163,949     $ 23.93  
 2.01 years
  $ 1,673  
_______________________
 
(1)
Includes in-the-money options only.
 
 
20

 
The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions. The Company did not issue any stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
   
2010 (5)
 
2009 (5)
 
2010 (5)
 
2009
                 
Expected term (1)
 
 —
 
 —
 
 —
 
4 years
Expected volatility (2)
 
 —
 
 —
 
 —
 
60.5%
Expected dividend yield (3)
 
 —
 
 —
 
 —
 
0.6%
Risk-free interest rate (4)
 
 —
 
 —
 
 —
 
1.8%
_______________________
 
(1)
The expected term (estimated period of time outstanding) of stock options granted was estimated using the historical exercise behavior of employees.
 
(2)
The expected volatility was based on historical volatility for a period equal to the stock option’s expected term.
 
(3)
The expected dividend yield is based on the Company’s prevailing dividend rate at the time of grant.
 
(4)
The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury strips in effect at the time of grant equal to the stock option’s expected term.
 
(5)
The Company did not issue any stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 or the three months ended September 30, 2009.
 
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, information related to stock options is presented as follows:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
                         
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the period (1)
                    $ 3.00  
Total intrinsic value of options exercised (in thousands)
  $ 353     $ 8     $ 989     $ 13  
Total fair value of options vested (in thousands)
  $ 32     $ 74     $ 2,108     $ 1,512  
_______________________
 
(1)
The Company did not issue any stock options during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 or the three months ended September 30, 2009.
 
As of September 30, 2010, total unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options amounted to $1.1 million. The cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.
 
 
21

 
Restricted Stock
 
In addition to stock options, the Company also grants restricted stock awards to directors, officers and employees. The restricted shares awarded become fully vested after three to five years of continued employment from the date of grant. The Company becomes entitled to an income tax deduction in an amount equal to the taxable income reported by the holders of the restricted shares when the restrictions are released and the shares are issued. Restricted shares are forfeited if officers and employees terminate prior to the lapsing of restrictions. The Company records forfeitures of restricted stock as treasury share repurchases.
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (“ARRA”) places additional restrictions on restricted stock grants. The executive compensation standards are more stringent under ARRA than those in effect under the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”).

A summary of the activity for restricted stock as of September 30, 2010, including changes during the nine months then ended, is presented below:
 
 
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
 
   
Shares
   
Price
 
             
Outstanding at beginning of period
    864,717     $ 20.12  
                 
Granted
    1,027,380     $ 16.82  
Vested
    (125,175 )   $ 28.59  
Forfeited or expired
    (293,105 )   $ 17.75  
                 
Outstanding at end of period
    1,473,817     $ 17.54  
 
 
The weighted average fair values of restricted stock awards granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were $16.82 and $7.42, respectively.
 
As of September 30, 2010, total unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock awards amounted to $15.0 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.5 years.
 

 
22

 

NOTE 5 — INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
An analysis of the investment securities available-for-sale portfolio is presented as follows:
 
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
   
Estimated
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
As of September 30, 2010
                       
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 20,838     $ 902     $     $ 21,740  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise
                               
debt securities
    1,201,878       4,987       (30 )     1,206,835  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise
                               
mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    19,791       704             20,495  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    326,577       12,430             339,007  
Municipal securities
                       
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Investment grade
                       
Non-investment grade
    21,335             (8,501 )     12,834  
Corporate debt securities:
                               
Investment grade
    1,168,667       10,206       (3,442 )     1,175,431  
Non-investment grade (1)
    35,915       80       (11,396 )     24,599  
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities
                       
Other securities
    103,987       2,596       (175 )     106,408  
                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,898,988     $ 31,905     $ (23,544 )   $ 2,907,349  
                                 
As of December 31, 2009
                               
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                               
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 304,105     $ 8     $ (641 )   $ 303,472  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise
                               
debt securities
    841,953       507       (10,435 )     832,025  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise
                               
mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    25,503       852             26,355  
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    707,290       17,863       (805 )     724,348  
Municipal securities
    59,264       1,027       (98 )     60,193  
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                               
Investment grade
    95,181       827       (492 )     95,516  
Non-investment grade
    50,843       368       (9,601 )     41,610  
Corporate debt securities:
                               
Investment grade
    441,606       20,428       (1,138 )     460,896  
Non-investment grade
    26,277             (17,416 )     8,861  
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities
    1,998             (216 )     1,782  
Other securities
    9,023                   9,023  
                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,563,043     $ 41,880     $ (40,842 )   $ 2,564,081  
_______________________
 
(1)
For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $10.3 million, on a pre-tax basis, of OTTI through earnings and $7.2 million of the non-credit portion of OTTI for pooled trust preferred securities in other comprehensive income. The Company recorded $107.7 million, on a pre-tax basis, of the credit portion of OTTI through earnings and $8.2 million, net of tax, of the non-credit portion of OTTI for pooled trust preferred securities in other comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2009.
 
The Company did not have any investment securities held-to-maturity as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
 
23

 
The fair values of investment securities are generally determined by reference to the average of at least two quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers or prices obtained from independent external pricing service providers who have experience in valuing these securities. The Company performs a monthly analysis on the broker quotes received from third parties to ensure that the prices represent a reasonable estimate of fair value. The procedures include, but are not limited to, initial and ongoing review of third party pricing methodologies, review of pricing trends, and monitoring of trading volumes. The Company assesses that prices received from independent brokers represent a reasonable estimate of fair value through the use of internal and external cash flow models developed that are based on spreads, and when available, market indices. As a result of this analysis, if the Company determines there is a more appropriate fair value based upon available market data, the price received from third parties is adjusted accordingly.
 
Prices from third-party pricing services are often unavailable for securities that are rarely traded or are traded only in privately negotiated transactions. As a result, certain securities are priced via independent broker quotations that utilize inputs that may be difficult to corroborate with observable market based data. Additionally, the majority of these independent broker quotations are non-binding.
 
As a result of the global financial crisis and illiquidity in the U.S. markets, the Company believes current broker prices obtained on the private-label mortgage-backed security and certain pooled trust preferred securities are based on forced liquidation or distressed sale values in very inactive markets that are not representative of the fair value of these securities. In light of these circumstances, the Company has modified its approach in determining the fair values of these securities. For the pooled trust preferred securities and the private-label mortgage-backed security, the Company determined their fair values using the methodologies set forth in Note 3.
 
The following table shows the Company’s rollforward of the amount related to OTTI credit losses for the periods shown:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Beginning balance
  $ 114,891     $ 37,647     $ 107,671     $  
                                 
Addition of other-than-temporary impairment that was not previously
                               
recognized
          3,855             29,084  
Additional increases to the amount related to the credit loss for which
                               
an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized
    888       20,394       8,108       32,812  
                                 
Ending balance
  $ 115,779     $ 61,896     $ 115,779     $ 61,896  
 

 
24

 

The following table shows the Company’s investment portfolio’s gross unrealized losses and related fair values, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position, as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
 
 
   
Less Than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In thousands)
 
As of September 30, 2010
                                   
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                   
U.S. Treasury securities
  $     $     $     $     $     $  
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                                               
sponsored enterprise debt securities
    58,028       (30 )                 58,028       (30 )
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                                               
sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
                                               
Commercial mortage-backed securities
                                   
Residential mortage-backed securities
                                   
Municipal securities
                                   
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                                               
Investment grade
                                   
Non-investment grade
                12,834       (8,501 )     12,834       (8,501 )
Corporate debt securities:
                                               
Investment grade
    449,442       (3,442 )                 449,442       (3,442 )
Non-investment grade
    8,263       (101 )     9,264       (11,295 )     17,527       (11,396 )
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity
                                               
securities
                                   
Other securities
    15,377       (175 )                 15,377       (175 )
                                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 531,110     $ (3,748 )   $ 22,098     $ (19,796 )   $ 553,208     $ (23,544 )
                                                 
As of December 31, 2009
                                               
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 253,002     $ (641 )   $     $     $ 253,002     $ (641 )
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                                               
sponsored enterprise debt securities
    673,067       (10,435 )                 673,067       (10,435 )
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
                                               
sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
                                               
Commercial mortage-backed securities
                                   
Residential mortage-backed securities
    55,947       (805 )                 55,947       (805 )
Municipal securities
    12,369       (98 )                 12,369       (98 )
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                                               
Investment grade
    47,343       (492 )                 47,343       (492 )
Non-investment grade
    19,970       (1,011 )     12,739       (8,590 )     32,709       (9,601 )
Corporate debt securities:
                                               
Investment grade
    32,342       (97 )     978       (1,041 )     33,320       (1,138 )
Non-investment grade
                8,861       (17,416 )     8,861       (17,416 )
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity
                                               
securities
    1,782       (216 )                 1,782       (216 )
Other securities
                                   
                                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 1,095,822     $ (13,795 )   $ 22,578     $ (27,047 )   $ 1,118,400     $ (40,842 )
 
 
As of September 30, 2010, there were six individual securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for 12 months or more. These securities are comprised of five trust preferred securities with a total fair value of $9.3 million and one mortgage-backed security with a fair value of $12.8 million. In addition, as of September 30, 2010, there were also 47 securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for less than 12 months. The unrealized losses on these securities are primarily attributed to changes in interest rates as well as the liquidity crisis that has impacted all financial industries. The issuers of these securities have not, to our knowledge, established any cause for default on these securities. These securities have fluctuated in value since their purchase dates as market interest rates have fluctuated. The Company does not intend to sell these securities and it is not more likely than not that the company will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis. As such, the Company does not deem these securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
 
25

 

Corporate Debt Securities
 
The majority of unrealized losses at September 30, 2010 are related to five trust preferred debt securities with unrealized losses of 12 months or longer. As of September 30, 2010, these trust preferred securities had an estimated fair value of $9.3 million, representing less than 1% of the total investment securities available-for-sale portfolio. One security was downgraded to non-investment grade during the second quarter of 2010. The ratings for the other four trust preferred securities were downgraded to non-investment grade status during 2009 due to increased deferral and default activity from the issuers of the underlying debt collateralizing these instruments. As of September 30, 2010, these non-investment grade debt instruments had gross unrealized losses amounting to $11.3 million, or 55% of the total amortized cost basis of these securities, comprised of $4.1 million in impairment losses on securities that are not other than temporarily impaired and $7.2 million in noncredit-related impairment losses on securities that are other than temporarily impaired as of September 30, 2010 pursuant to the provisions of ASC 320-10-65. As a result of the previously discussed diminishing collateral values, deteriorating cash flows and increasing estimates of future deferrals and defaults, we recorded an impairment loss of $888 thousand on our portfolio of pooled trust preferred securities during the third quarter of 2010 for additional increases to the amount related to the credit loss for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized.
 
Mortgage-Backed Securities
 
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had one private-label available-for-sale mortgage-backed security with a fair value of $12.8 million, with a gross unrealized loss of $8.5 million, or 40% of the amortized cost basis of this security, for more than 12 months. This security is collateralized by single-family loans and secured by the first lien on these residential properties. Additionally, any principal and interest shortfall that may arise from the deterioration of the collateral will be covered by a monoline insurance provider. The Company does not intend to sell this security and it is not more likely than not that the Company will be required to sell this security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. As such, the Company does not deem this security to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of September 30, 2010.
 
The scheduled maturities of investment securities available-for-sale at September 30, 2010 are presented as follows:
 
 
   
Amortized
   
Estimated
 
   
Cost
   
Fair Value
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Due within one year
  $ 1,127,432     $ 1,125,464  
Due after one year through five years
    652,851       660,797  
Due after five years through ten years
    598,459       601,553  
Due after ten years
    520,246       519,535  
                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 2,898,988     $ 2,907,349  
 
 
NOTE 6 — COVERED ASSETS AND FDIC INDEMNIFICATION ASSET
 
Covered Assets
 
Covered assets consist of loans receivable and OREO that were acquired in the Washington First International Bank (“WFIB”) Acquisition on June 11, 2010 and in the United Commercial Bank (“UCB”) Acquisition on November 6, 2009 for which the Company entered into shared-loss agreements (the “shared-loss agreements”) with the FDIC. The shared-loss agreements covered over 99% of the loans originated by WFIB and all of the loans originated by UCB, excluding the loans originated by UCB in

 
26

 

China under its United Commercial Bank China (Limited) subsidiary. The Company will share in the losses, which begins with the first dollar of loss incurred, on covered assets under the shared-loss agreements.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the shared-loss agreements, the FDIC is obligated to reimburse the Company 80% of eligible losses for both WFIB and UCB with respect to covered assets. For the UCB covered assets, the FDIC will reimburse the Company for 95% of eligible losses in excess of $2.05 billion. The Company has a corresponding obligation to reimburse the FDIC for 80% or 95%, as applicable, of eligible recoveries with respect to covered assets. The commercial loan shared-loss agreement and single-family residential mortgage loan shared-loss agreement are in effect for 5 years and 10 years, respectively, from the acquisition date and the loss recovery provisions are in effect for 8 years and 10 years, respectively, from the acquisition date.
 
Forty-five days following the 10th anniversary of the respective acquisition date, the Company will be required to pay to the FDIC a calculated amount, based on the specific thresholds of losses not being reached. The calculation of this potential liability as stated in the shared-loss agreements is 50% of the excess, if any of (i) 20% of the Intrinsic Loss Estimate and (ii) the sum of (A) 25% of the asset discount plus (B) 25% of the Cumulative Shared-Loss Payments plus (C) the Cumulative Servicing Amount if net losses on covered loans subject to the stated threshold is not reached. As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s estimate for this liability for WFIB and UCB is $7.0 million and zero, respectively.
 
At each date of acquisition, we accounted for the loan portfolio acquired from the respective bank at fair value. This represents the discounted value of the expected cash flows from the portfolio. In estimating the nonaccretable difference, we (a) calculated the contractual amount and timing of undiscounted principal and interest payments (the “undiscounted contractual cash flows”) and (b) estimated the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal and interest payments (the “undiscounted expected cash flows”). In the determination of contractual cash flows and cash flows expected to be collected, we assume no prepayment on the ASC 310-30 nonaccrual loan pools as we do not anticipate any significant prepayments on credit impaired loans. For the ASC 310-30 accrual loans for single-family, multifamily and commercial real estate, we used a third party vendor to obtain prepayment speeds, in order to be consistent with the market participant’s notion of the accounting standards. The third party vendor is recognized in the mortgage-industry for the delivery of prepayment and default models for the secondary market to identify loan level prepayment, delinquency, default, and loss propensities. The prepayment rates for the construction, land, and commercial and consumer pools have historically been low and so we applied the prepayment assumptions of our current portfolio using our internal modeling. The difference between the undiscounted contractual cash flows and the undiscounted expected cash flows is the nonaccretable difference. The nonaccretable difference represents our estimate of the credit losses expected and was considered in determining the fair value of the loans as of the acquisition date. The amount by which the undiscounted expected cash flows exceed the estimated fair value (the “accretable yield”) is accreted into interest income over the life of the loans. The Company has elected to account for all covered loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted acquisitions under ASC 310-30.
 
As of the acquisition date, WFIB’s and UCB’s loan portfolios included unfunded commitments for commercial lines of credit, construction draws and other lending activity. The total commitment outstanding as of the acquisition date is covered under the shared-loss agreements. However, any additional advances on these loans subsequent to acquisition date are not accounted for under ASC 310-30. As the advances on these commitments have increased, the bank has considered these amounts in the general reserve of the allowance for loan losses calculation. Therefore, as of September 30, 2010, $3.9 million, or 1.6%, of the total allowance is allocated to covered loans not accounted for under ASC 310-30. However, any additional advances, up to the total commitment outstanding at the date of acquisition are still covered under the shared-loss agreements. The covered loans acquired are and will continue to be subject to the Bank’s internal and external credit review and monitoring. If credit deteriorates beyond the respective acquisition date fair value amount of the covered loans under ASC 310-30, such

 
27

 

deterioration will be measured through our loss reserving methodology and a provision for credit losses will be charged to earnings with a partially offsetting noninterest income item reflected in the increase to the FDIC indemnification asset or receivable. As of September 30, 2010, there is no allowance for the covered loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 due to deterioration of credit quality.
 
The carrying amounts and the composition of the covered loans as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are as follows:
 
 
   
Credit
   
Other
       
   
Impaired
   
Loans
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
As of September 30, 2010
                 
Real estate loans:
                 
Residential single-family
  $ 18,995     $ 571,524     $ 590,519  
Residential multifamily
    119,329       1,009,107       1,128,436  
Commercial and industrial real estate
    732,914       1,420,300       2,153,214  
Construction and land
    896,256       260,785       1,157,041  
                         
Total real estate loans
    1,767,494       3,261,716       5,029,210  
                         
Other loans:
                       
Commercial business
    347,738       745,547       1,093,285  
Other consumer
    235       109,346       109,581  
                         
Total other loans
    347,973       854,893       1,202,866  
                         
Total principal balance
    2,115,467       4,116,609       6,232,076  
Covered discount
    (804,597 )     (448,077 )     (1,252,674 )
                         
Net valuation of loans
    1,310,870       3,668,532       4,979,402  
Allowance on covered loans
          (3,900 )     (3,900 )
                         
Total covered loans, net
  $ 1,310,870     $ 3,664,632     $ 4,975,502  
                         
As of December 31, 2009
                       
Real estate loans:
                       
Residential single-family
  $ 22,325     $ 614,814     $ 637,139  
Residential multifamily
    158,452       1,012,073       1,170,525  
Commercial and industrial real estate
    900,165       1,521,536       2,421,701  
Construction and land
    1,236,228       237,142       1,473,370  
                         
Total real estate loans
    2,317,170       3,385,565       5,702,735  
                         
Other loans:
                       
Commercial business
    603,507       677,772       1,281,279  
Other consumer
    422       122,387       122,809  
                         
Total other loans
    603,929       800,159       1,404,088  
                         
Total principal balance
    2,921,099       4,185,724       7,106,823  
Covered discount
    (1,033,720 )     (474,948 )     (1,508,668 )
                         
Net valuation of loans
    1,887,379       3,710,776       5,598,155  
Allowance on covered loans
                 
                         
Total covered loans, net
  $ 1,887,379     $ 3,710,776     $ 5,598,155  
 
 
At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, $425.0 million and $675.6 million, respectively, of the ASC 310-30 credit impaired loans were considered to be nonperforming loans. The following table sets forth information regarding covered nonperforming assets as of the dates indicated:
 
 
28

 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Covered nonaccrual loans (1)
  $ 424,956     $ 675,625  
Covered loans past due 90 days or more but not on nonaccrual
           
                 
Total nonperforming loans
    424,956       675,625  
                 
Other real estate owned covered, net
    137,353       44,273  
                 
Total covered nonperforming assets
  $ 562,309     $ 719,898  
_______________________
 
(1)
Covered nonaccrual loans meet the criteria for nonaccrual but have a yield accreted through interest income under ASC 310-30.
 
As of September 30, 2010, we had 103 covered OREO properties with a combined aggregate carrying value of $137.4 million. Approximately 53% of covered OREO properties as of September 30, 2010 were located in California. As of December 31, 2009, we had 61 covered OREO properties with an aggregate carrying value of $44.3 million. During the first nine months of 2010, we added 81 properties with an aggregate carrying value of $188.2 million as of the date added. The aggregate carrying value at September 30, 2010 includes $32.5 million in net writedowns and $680 thousand in net principal reductions on covered OREO. Included in the $188.2 million are 26 properties acquired with a fair value of $23.4 million on June 11, 2010 through the WFIB acquisition. During the first nine months of 2010, we sold 65 covered OREO properties with a total carrying value of $61.2 million resulting in a total combined net loss on sale of $740 thousand.
 
The following table shows the carrying amounts for the covered loans as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Contractually required payments of interest and principal
  $ 7,219,331     $ 8,178,212  
Nonaccretable difference
    (1,281,455 )     (1,596,950 )
                 
Cash flows expected to be collected (1)
    5,937,876       6,581,262  
Accretable difference
    (958,474 )     (983,107 )
                 
Carrying value of covered loans
  $ 4,979,402     $ 5,598,155  
_______________________
 
(1)
Represents undiscounted expected principal and interest cash flows.
 
Changes in the accretable yield for the covered loans are as follows for the periods shown:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 986,389     $     $ 983,107     $  
Additions (1)
                84,556        
Accretion
    (3,601 )           (11,118 )      
Cash receipts, disposals and change in cash flows
    (24,314 )           (98,071 )      
                                 
Balance at end of period
  $ 958,474     $     $ 958,474     $  
 
 
(1)
The additions included above for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, resulted from the June 11, 2010 WFIB acquisition.

 
29

 
The excess of cash flows expected to be collected over the initial fair value of acquired loans is referred to as the accretable yield and is accreted into interest income over the estimated life of the acquired loans using the effective yield method. The accretable yield will change due to:
 
 
estimate of the remaining life of acquired loans which may change the amount of future interest income
 
 
estimate of the amount of contractually required principal and interest payments over the estimated life that will not be collected (the nonaccretable difference); and
 
 
indices for acquired loans with variable rates of interest.
 
From December 31, 2009 to September 30, 2010, excluding scheduled principal payments, a total of $834.7 million of loans were removed from the covered loans accounted for under ASC 310-30 due to loans being paid in full, sold or transferred to covered OREO. As a result of this activity, management adjusted the prepayment assumptions in the third quarter to reflect the shorter duration resulting from historical paydown activities. The loan discount of $91.4 million related to these payoffs and removals was recorded as an adjustment to interest income in the first nine months of 2010.
 
FDIC Indemnification Asset
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $7.1 million and $29.2 million, respectively, of accretion into income. Additionally, because of the high prepayment and removals activity during this timeframe, the Company reduced the FDIC indemnification asset by $79.4 million and $287.4 million for the three and nine months, respectively, ended September 30, 2010, and recorded the adjustment to noninterest income (loss). Due to the acquisition of WFIB in the second quarter of 2010, $41.1 million of additional FDIC indemnification asset was recorded.
 
The table below shows FDIC indemnification asset activity for the periods shown:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Balance at beginning of period
  $ 947,011     $     $ 1,091,814     $  
Addition due to WFIB acquisition
                41,131        
Accretion
    7,118             29,210        
Reductions (1) (2)
    (79,370 )           (287,396 )      
                                 
Balance at end of period
  $ 874,759     $     $ 874,759     $  
 
_______________________
 
(1)
Reductions relate to higher cash flows received from principal amortization, partial prepayments, loan payoffs and loan sales.
 
(2)
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the reduction amounts of $79.4 million and $287.4 million, respectively, also include chargeoffs, of which $70.8 million and $188.8 million, respectively, of these chargeoffs are recoverable from the FDIC and recorded in other assets.
 
FDIC Receivable
 
As of September 30, 2010, the FDIC loss sharing receivable was $66.3 million. This receivable represents 80% of reimbursable amounts from the FDIC that have not yet been received. These reimbursable amounts include chargeoffs, loan related expenses and OREO related expenses. The 80% of any reimbursable expense is recorded as noninterest income. 100% of the loan related and OREO expenses are recorded as non-interest expense, netting to the 20% of actual expense paid by the Company. The FDIC shares in 80% of recoveries received. Thus, the FDIC receivable is reduced when we receive payment from the FDIC as well as when recoveries occur.

 
30

 

NOTE 7 — ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
The following table summarizes activity in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated:
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                         
Allowance balance, beginning of period
  $ 249,462     $ 223,700     $ 238,833     $ 178,027  
Allowance for unfunded loan commitments and letters of credit
    1,133       (1,051 )     (790 )     (617 )
Provision for loan losses
    38,648       159,244       170,325       388,666  
Impact of desecuritization
                      9,262  
                                 
Chargeoffs:
                               
Single-family real estate
    14,620       8,371       21,846       26,487  
Multifamily real estate
    7,541       7,235       20,511       11,333  
Commercial real estate
    11,967       23,715       33,665       39,574  
Land
    4,848       40,397       45,278       86,519  
Construction
    4,064       56,354       30,026       134,880  
Commercial business
    4,939       17,696       24,836       50,873  
Automobile
    8       6       104       41  
Other consumer
    324       109       1,653       1,727  
                                 
Total chargeoffs
    48,311       153,883       177,919       351,434  
                                 
Recoveries:
                               
Single-family real estate
          337       543       563  
Multifamily real estate
    15       4       573       222  
Commercial and industrial real estate
    188       610       1,849       1,207  
Land
    612       409       4,449       825  
Construction
          768       657       1,734  
Commercial business
    2,400       484       5,454       2,132  
Automobile
    6       14       49       45  
Other consumer
    33       14       163       18  
                                 
Total recoveries
    3,254       2,640       13,737       6,746  
                                 
Net chargeoffs
    45,057       151,243       164,182       344,688  
                                 
Allowance balance, end of period (1) (2)
  $ 244,186     $ 230,650     $ 244,186     $ 230,650  
                                 
Average non-covered loans outstanding
  $ 8,499,048     $ 8,471,766     $ 8,525,484     $ 8,305,602  
Total gross non-covered loans outstanding, end of period
  $ 8,616,361     $ 8,419,475     $ 8,616,361     $ 8,419,475  
Annualized net chargeoffs to average non-covered loans
                               
outstanding
    2.12 %     7.14 %     2.57 %     5.53 %
Allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans to total gross
                               
non-covered loans outstanding, end of period
    2.79 %     2.74 %     2.79 %     2.74 %
___________________
 
(1)  
Included in consumer loans are Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loans. FFELP student loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. Because of the guarantee there is no allowance allocated for these loans.
 
(2)  
Included in the allowance is $3.9 million related to covered loans at September 30, 2010. This allowance is related to drawdowns on commitments that were in existence as of the acquisition dates and, therefore, are covered under the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC. Allowance on these subsequent drawdowns is accounted for as part of our analysis of the adequacy of the allowance.
 
At September 30, 2010, the allowance for loan losses amounted to $244.2 million which includes $3.9 million allocated to covered loans. Prior to the third quarter of 2010, the total allowance was allocated to non-covered loans. At September 30, 2010, the allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans amounted to $240.3 million, or 2.79% of total gross non-covered loans, compared with the allowance for loan losses of $238.8 million, or 2.81% of total gross non-covered loans, at December 31, 2009, and the allowance of loan losses of $230.7 million, or 2.74% of total gross non-covered loans, at September 30, 2009. The increase in the allowance for loan losses is primarily due to the $170.3 million in provisions for loan losses recorded during the first nine months of 2010 offset by net chargeoffs of $164.2 million. This compares to $388.7 million in provisions for loan losses recorded during the first nine months of 2009 and $9.3 million recorded during the second quarter of 2009 in conjunction with the desecuritization of single-family and multifamily loans completed in May 2009, offset by net chargeoffs of $344.7 million.

 
31

 

NOTE 8 — PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT
 
At September 30, 2010, total premises and equipment was $197.2 million with accumulated depreciation and amortization of $58.7 million and a net value of $138.5 million. At December 31, 2009, total premises and equipment was $107.4 million with accumulated depreciation and amortization of $48.3 million and a net value of $59.1 million. The increase in total premises and equipment during the first nine months of 2010 is primarily due to the purchase of several properties and equipment totaling approximately $84.0 million as part of the FDIC-assisted transactions of WFIB and UCB.
 
Capitalized assets are depreciated or amortized on a straight-line basis in accordance with the estimated useful life for each fixed asset class. The estimated useful life for furniture and fixtures is seven years; office equipment is for five years and twenty-five years for buildings and improvements. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or useful life.
 
NOTE 9 — GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Goodwill
 
The carrying amount of goodwill remained at $337.4 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Goodwill is tested for impairment on an annual basis as of December 31, or more frequently as events occur, or as current circumstances and conditions warrant. The Company records impairment write-downs as charges to noninterest expense and adjustments to the carrying value of goodwill. Subsequent reversals of goodwill impairment are prohibited.
 
As of September 30, 2010, the Company’s market capitalization based on total outstanding common and preferred shares was $2.79 billion and its total stockholders’ equity was $2.38 billion. The Company performed its annual impairment test as of December 31, 2009 to determine whether and to what extent, if any, recorded goodwill was impaired. The analysis compared the fair value of each of the reporting units, including goodwill, to the respective carrying amounts. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds the fair value of that reporting unit, then further testing for goodwill impairment is performed.
 
Premiums on Acquired Deposits
 
The Company also has premiums on acquired deposits, which represent the intangible value of depositor relationships resulting from deposit liabilities assumed in various acquisitions. Other intangibles are tested for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently as events occur, or as current circumstances and conditions warrant. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the gross carrying amount of premiums on acquired deposits totaled $117.6 million and $116.6 million, respectively, and the related accumulated amortization totaled $34.9 million and $26.9 million, respectively. In June 2010, the Company recorded $3.1 million in premiums on deposits acquired in the WFIB acquisition. In November 2009, the Company recorded $74.4 million in premiums on deposits acquired in the UCB acquisition.
 
The Company amortizes premiums on acquired deposits based on the projected useful lives of the related deposits. Amortization expense of premiums on acquired deposits was $3.4 million and $1.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and $10.0 million and $3.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
 
The following table provides the estimated future amortization expense of premiums on acquired deposits for the three months ending December 31, 2010 and the succeeding four years:
 
Estimated Future Amortization Expense of Premiums on Acquired Deposits
 
Amount
 
   
(In thousands)
 
       
Three Months Ending December 31, 2010
  $ 3,294  
Year Ending December 31, 2011
    12,572  
Year Ending December 31, 2012
    11,176  
Year Ending December 31, 2013
    9,660  
Year Ending December 31, 2014
    8,775  
 
 
 
32

 
NOTE 10 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
Credit Extensions – In the normal course of business, the Company has various outstanding commitments to extend credit that are not reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, undisbursed loan commitments amounted to $1.85 billion and $2.46 billion, respectively. Commercial and standby letters of credit amounted to $723.1 million and $715.2 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.
 
Guarantees – From time to time, the Company sells or securitizes loans with recourse in the ordinary course of business. For loans that have been sold or securitized with recourse, the recourse component is considered a guarantee. When the Company sells or securitizes a loan with recourse, it commits to stand ready to perform if the loan defaults, and to make payments to remedy the default.  As of September 30, 2010, total loans sold or securitized with recourse amounted to $465.0 million and were comprised of $62.8 million in single-family loans with full recourse and $402.2 million in multifamily loans with limited recourse. In comparison, total loans sold or securitized with recourse amounted to $497.5 million at December 31, 2009, comprised of $72.6 million in single-family loans with full recourse and $425.0 million in multifamily loans with limited recourse. The recourse provision on multifamily loans is limited to 2.5% of the top loss on the underlying loans. The Company’s recourse reserve related to loan sales and securitizations totaled $4.5 million as of September 30, 2010 and $2.9 million as of December 31, 2009, and is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Despite the challenging conditions in the real estate market, the Company continues to experience minimal losses from the single-family and multifamily loan portfolios.
 
The Company also sells or securitizes loans without recourse that may have to be subsequently repurchased if a defect that occurred during the loan origination process results in a violation of a representation or warranty made in connection with the securitization or sale of the loan. When a loan sold or securitized to an investor without recourse fails to perform according to its contractual terms, the investor will typically review the loan file to determine whether defects in the origination process occurred and if such defects give rise to a violation of a representation or warranty made to the investor in connection with the sale or securitization. If such a defect is identified, the Company may be required to either repurchase the loan or indemnify the investor for losses sustained. If there are no such defects, the Company has no commitment to repurchase the loan. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the amount of loans sold without recourse totaled $1.29 billion and $1.50 billion, respectively. Total loans securitized without recourse amounted to $331.3 million and $358.1 million, respectively, at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. The loans sold or securitized without recourse represent the unpaid principal balance of the Company’s loans serviced for others portfolio.
 
Litigation – Neither the Company nor the Bank is involved in any material legal proceedings at September 30, 2010. The Bank, from time to time, is a party to litigation that arises in the ordinary course of business, such as claims to enforce liens, claims involving the origination and servicing of loans, and other issues related to the business of the Bank. After taking into consideration information furnished by counsel to the Company and the Bank, management believes that the resolution of such issues will not

 
33

 

have a material adverse impact on the financial position, results of operations or liquidity of the Company or the Bank.
 
NOTE 11 — STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
Series A Preferred Stock Offering – In April 2008, the Company issued 200,000 shares of 8% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A (“Series A”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Company received $194.1 million of additional Tier 1 qualifying capital, after deducting stock issuance costs. The holders of the Series A preferred stock have the right at any time to convert each share of Series A preferred stock into 64.9942 shares of the Company’s common stock, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares. This represents an initial conversion price of approximately $15.39 per share of common stock or a 22.5% conversion premium based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on April 23, 2008 of $12.56 per share. On or after May 1, 2013, the Company will have the right, under certain circumstances, to cause the Series A preferred stock to be converted into shares of the Company’s common stock. Dividends on the Series A preferred stock, if declared, will accrue and be payable quarterly in arrears at a rate per annum equal to 8% on the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year. The proceeds from this offering were used to augment the Company’s liquidity and capital positions and reduce its borrowings. As of September 30, 2010, 85,741 shares were outstanding.
 
Series B Preferred Stock Offering – On December 5, 2008, the Company issued 306,546 shares of Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (“Series B”), with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The Company received $306.5 million of additional Tier 1 qualifying capital from the U.S. Treasury by participating in the U.S. Treasury’s Capital Purchase Program (“TCPP”).  The Series B preferred stock will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum until the fifth anniversary of the investment date and thereafter at a rate of 9% per annum. The Series B preferred stock is transferable by the U.S. Treasury at any time. Subject to the approval of the Federal Reserve Board, the Series B preferred stock may be reacquired by the Company at 100% of liquidation preference (plus any accrued and unpaid dividends).
 
Series C Preferred Stock – On March 25, 2010, at a special meeting of the stockholders, our stockholders voted to approve the issuance of 37,103,734 shares of our common stock upon conversion of the 335,047 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock was subsequently automatically converted into shares of our common stock on March 30, 2010, and, as a result, no shares of the Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding.
 
Warrants – During 2008, in conjunction with the Series B preferred stock offering, the Company issued warrants with an initial price of $15.15 per share of common stock for which the warrants may be exercised, with an allocated fair value of $25.2 million. The warrants may be exercised at any time on or before December 5, 2018. During the fourth quarter of 2009, the Company received a 50% reduction in the warrants we issued to the U.S. Treasury in conjunction with the TARP capital we received in December 2008. This adjustment to the warrants was due to the fact that within one year of issuance, the Company raised new capital in excess of the TARP capital issued in December, 2008. The warrants, and all rights under the warrants, are freely transferable. As of September 30, 2010, there were 1,517,555 warrants outstanding.
 
Quarterly Dividends – On October 25, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors declared fourth quarter preferred stock cash dividends of $20.00 per share on its Series A preferred stock, payable on or about November 1, 2010 to shareholders of record on October 15, 2010. On October 25, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors declared and paid quarterly preferred cash dividends on its Series B preferred stock. Total cash dividends accrued and paid in conjunction with the Company’s Series A and B preferred stock amounted to $5.5 million and $16.6 million during the three and first nine months of 2010, respectively.

 
34

 

On October 25, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors declared quarterly common stock cash dividends of $0.01 per share, payable on or about November 24, 2010 to shareholders of record on November 10, 2010. Cash dividends totaling $1.5 million and $4.1 million were paid to the Company’s common shareholders during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively.
 
Earnings (Loss) Per Share (“EPS”) – The actual number of shares outstanding at September 30, 2010 was 147,981,714. Basic EPS excludes dilution and is computed by dividing income or loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is calculated on the basis of the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the period plus restricted stock and shares issuable upon the assumed exercise of outstanding convertible preferred stock, common stock options and warrants, unless they have an antidilutive effect.
 

 
35

 

The following table sets forth earnings (loss) per share calculations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Per Share
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Per Share
 
   
(Numerator)
   
(Denominator)
   
Amount
   
(Numerator)
   
(Denominator)
   
Amount
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
                                     
Net income (loss) before extraordinary items
  $ 46,951                 $ (68,531 )            
Less:  Preferred stock dividends, amortization of
                                       
preferred stock discount and inducement of
                                       
preferred stock conversion
    (6,732 )                 (10,620 )            
                                         
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                 
before extraordinary item
    40,219                   (79,151 )            
Extraordinary item – impact of desecuritization
                                   
                                         
BASIC EPS
                                       
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                 
after extraordinary item
    40,219       146,454     $ 0.27       (79,151 )     86,538     $ (0.91 )
                                                 
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
                                               
Stock options
          126                              
Restricted stock
    4       430                              
Stock warrants
          103                              
Convertible preferred stock
                                       
                                                 
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
before extraordinary item
    40,223       147,113               (79,151 )     86,538          
Extraordinary item – impact of desecuritization
                                       
                                                 
DILUTED EPS
                                               
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
after extraordinary item plus assumed
                                               
conversions
  $ 40,223       147,113     $ 0.27     $ (79,151 )     86,538     $ (0.91 )
                                                 
                                                 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
     2010         2009  
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Per Share
   
Income
   
Shares
   
Per Share
 
   
(Numerator)
   
(Denominator)
   
Amount
   
(Numerator)
   
(Denominator)
   
Amount
 
   
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
                                                 
Net income (loss) before extraordinary items
  $ 108,215                     $ (177,722 )                
Less:  Preferred stock dividends, amortization of
                                               
preferred stock discount and inducement of
                                               
preferred stock conversion
    (19,017 )                     (42,986 )                
                                                 
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
before extraordinary item
    89,198                       (220,708 )     70,967     $ (3.11 )
Extraordinary item – impact of desecuritization
                          (5,366 )     70,967       (0.08 )
                                                 
BASIC EPS
                                               
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
after extraordinary item
    89,198       134,396     $ 0.66       (226,074 )     70,967     $ (3.19 )
                                                 
EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES
                                               
Stock options
          150                              
Restricted stock
    10       344                              
Stock warrants
          156                              
Convertible preferred stock
          11,947                              
                                                 
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
before extraordinary item
    89,208       146,993               (220,708 )     70,967     $ (3.11 )
Extraordinary item – impact of desecuritization
                        (5,366 )     70,967       (0.08 )
                                                 
DILUTED EPS
                                               
Income (loss) available to common stockholders
                                         
after extraordinary item plus assumed
                                               
conversions
  $ 89,208       146,993     $ 0.61     $ (226,074 )     70,967     $ (3.19 )
 
 

 
36

 

The following outstanding convertible preferred stock, stock options and restricted stock for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS because including them would have had an antidilutive effect:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30,
 
September 30,
   
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
   
(In thousands)
                 
Convertible preferred stock
 
 5,573
 
 6,169
 
 5,573
 
 10,547
Stock options
 
 1,087
 
 1,922
 
 1,083
 
 1,964
Restricted stock
 
 32
 
 583
 
 271
 
 802
 
 
NOTE 12 — BUSINESS SEGMENTS
 
The Company utilizes an internal reporting system to measure the performance of various operating segments within the Bank and the Company overall. We have identified three operating segments for purposes of management reporting:  1) Retail Banking; 2) Commercial Banking; and 3) Other. These three business divisions meet the criteria of an operating segment: the segment engages in business activities from which it earns revenues and incurs expenses and whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the Company’s chief operating decision-maker to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segment and assess its performance and for which discrete financial information is available. With the acquisition of UCB in November 2009, a fourth segment was added.
 
During the first quarter of 2010, the Company’s management made the decision to fully integrate the UCB segment into its two-segment core business structure:  Retail Banking and Commercial Banking.  With this integration, effective the first quarter of 2010, the Company’s business focus reverted back to a three-segment core business structure:  Retail Banking, Commercial Banking and Other.
 
The Retail Banking segment focuses primarily on retail operations through the Bank’s branch network. The Commercial Banking segment, which includes commercial real estate, primarily generates commercial loans through the efforts of the commercial lending offices located in the Bank’s northern and southern California production offices. Furthermore, the Company’s Commercial Banking segment also offers a wide variety of international finance and trade services and products. The remaining centralized functions, including Treasury activities and eliminations of inter-segment amounts, have been aggregated and included in the Other segment, which provides broad administrative support to the two core segments.
 
The Company’s funds transfer pricing assumptions are intended to promote core deposit growth and to reflect the current risk profiles of various loan categories within the credit portfolio. Transfer pricing assumptions and methodologies are reviewed at least annually to ensure that the Company’s process is reflective of current market conditions. The transfer pricing process is formulated with the goal of incenting loan and deposit growth that is consistent with the Company’s overall growth objectives as well as provide a reasonable and consistent basis for the measurement of the Company’s business segments and product net interest margins. Changes to the Company’s transfer pricing assumptions and methodologies are approved by the Asset Liability Committee.
 
The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Operating segment results are based on the Company’s internal management reporting process, which reflects assignments and allocations of capital, certain operating and administrative costs and the provision for loan losses. Net interest income is based on the Company’s internal funds transfer pricing system, which assigns a cost of funds or a credit for funds to assets or liabilities based on their type, maturity or repricing characteristics. Noninterest income and noninterest

 
37

 

expense, including depreciation and amortization, directly attributable to a segment are assigned to that business. Indirect costs, including overhead expense, are allocated to the segments based on several factors, including, but not limited to, full-time equivalent employees, loan volume and deposit volume. The provision for loan losses is allocated based on actual charge-offs for the period as well as average loan balance for each segment during the period. The Company evaluates overall performance based on profit or loss from operations before income taxes excluding nonrecurring gains and losses.
 
Changes in our management structure or reporting methodologies may result in changes in the measurement of operating segment results. Results for prior periods are generally restated for comparability for changes in management structure or reporting methodologies unless it is not deemed practicable to do so.
 
The following tables present the operating results and other key financial measures for the individual operating segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Retail
   
Commercial
             
   
Banking
   
Banking
   
Other
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Interest income
  $ 69,311     $ 143,729     $ 18,360     $ 231,400  
Charge for funds used
    (29,159 )     (46,446 )     21,583       (54,022 )
                                 
Interest spread on funds used
    40,152       97,283       39,943       177,378  
                                 
Interest expense
    (26,851 )     (5,885 )     (15,859 )     (48,595 )
Credit on funds provided
    48,391       2,431       3,200       54,022  
                                 
Interest spread on funds provided
    21,540       (3,454 )     (12,659 )     5,427  
                                 
Net interest income
  $ 61,692     $ 93,829     $ 27,284     $ 182,805  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
  $ 26,261     $ 12,387     $     $ 38,648  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    (2,796 )     (15,774 )     2,543       (16,027 )
Goodwill
    320,566       16,872             337,438  
Segment pretax profit (loss)
    (18,021 )     64,698       26,850       73,527  
Segment assets
    6,450,883       9,728,305       4,238,058       20,417,246  
                                 
   
Three Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Retail
   
Commercial
                 
   
Banking
   
Banking
   
Other
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                 
Interest income
  $ 55,364     $ 61,039     $ 31,521     $ 147,924  
Charge for funds used
    (17,024 )     (16,822 )     (36,441 )     (70,287 )
                                 
Interest spread on funds used
    38,340       44,217       (4,920 )     77,637  
                                 
Interest expense
    (21,648 )     (3,680 )     (26,716 )     (52,044 )
Credit on funds provided
    32,132       3,157       34,998       70,287  
                                 
Interest spread on funds provided
    10,484       (523 )     8,282       18,243  
                                 
Net interest income
  $ 48,824     $ 43,694     $ 3,362     $ 95,880  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
  $ 65,184     $ 94,060     $     $ 159,244  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    2,512       1,354       1,409       5,275  
Goodwill
    320,566       16,872             337,438  
Segment pretax loss
    (44,984 )     (56,767 )     (19,557 )     (121,308 )
Segment assets
    4,292,102       4,660,368       3,533,460       12,485,930  
 
 
 
38

 
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010
 
   
Retail
   
Commercial
             
   
Banking
   
Banking
   
Other
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Interest income
  $ 244,274     $ 498,183     $ 61,179     $ 803,636  
Charge for funds used
    (87,078 )     (111,119 )     11,406       (186,791 )
                                 
Interest spread on funds used
    157,196       387,064       72,585       616,845  
                                 
Interest expense
    (89,422 )     (19,015 )     (47,047 )     (155,484 )
Credit on funds provided
    161,796       11,738       13,257       186,791  
                                 
Interest spread on funds provided
    72,374       (7,277 )     (33,790 )     31,307  
                                 
Net interest income
  $ 229,570     $ 379,787     $ 38,795     $ 648,152  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
  $ 59,976     $ 110,349     $     $ 170,325  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    (10,749 )     (58,517 )     5,363       (63,903 )
Goodwill
    320,566       16,872             337,438  
Segment pretax profit (loss)
    (4,363 )     128,832       45,734       170,203  
Segment assets
    6,450,883       9,728,305       4,238,058       20,417,246  
                                 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009
 
   
Retail
   
Commercial
                 
   
Banking
   
Banking
   
Other
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                 
Interest income
  $ 164,304     $ 185,437     $ 89,439     $ 439,180  
Charge for funds used
    (48,702 )     (48,926 )     (145,265 )     (242,893 )
                                 
Interest spread on funds used
    115,602       136,511       (55,826 )     196,287  
                                 
Interest expense
    (73,196 )     (12,942 )     (89,221 )     (175,359 )
Credit on funds provided
    116,897       12,479       113,517       242,893  
                                 
Interest spread on funds provided
    43,701       (463 )     24,296       67,534  
                                 
Net interest income (expense)
  $ 159,303     $ 136,048     $ (31,530 )   $ 263,821  
                                 
Provision for loan losses
  $ 144,561     $ 244,105     $     $ 388,666  
Depreciation, amortization and accretion
    8,584       3,226       5,037       16,847  
Goodwill
    320,566       16,872             337,438  
Segment pretax loss
    (84,964 )     (136,334 )     (83,214 )     (304,512 )
Segment assets
    4,292,102       4,660,368       3,533,460       12,485,930  
 
 

 
39

 

NOTE 13 - BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
 
On June 11, 2010 the Bank acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities of Washington First International Bank “WFIB” from the FDIC in an FDIC-assisted transaction. As part of the Purchase and Assumption Agreement, the Bank and the FDIC entered into shared-loss agreements, whereby the FDIC will cover a substantial portion of any future losses on loans (and related unfunded loan commitments), OREO and accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days. Under the terms of the shared-loss agreements, the FDIC will absorb 80% of losses and share in 80% of loss recoveries. The shared-loss agreements for commercial and single family residential mortgage loans are in effect for 5 years and 10 years, respectively, from the June 11, 2010 acquisition date and the loss recovery provisions are in effect for 8 years and 10 years, respectively, from the acquisition date.  A summary of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed from the FDIC is as follows:
 
 
   
June 11, 2010
 
   
(In thousands)
 
ASSETS
     
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 67,186  
Investment securities
    37,532  
Core deposit intangible
    3,065  
Loans covered by FDIC loss sharing (gross balance
       
   $395,156 and shown net of discount of $84,174)
    310,982  
Loans not covered by FDIC loss sharing
    2,869  
FDIC indemnification asset
    41,131  
Other real estate owned covered, net
    23,443  
Other assets
    6,380  
         
     Total assets acquired
    492,588  
         
LIABILITIES
       
Deposits
    395,910  
FHLB advances
    65,348  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    1,937  
Deferred tax liability
    8,189  
Other liabilities
    9,917  
         
      Total liabilities assumed
    481,301  
         
NET ASSETS ACQUIRED (after-tax gain)
  $ 11,287  
 
 
The net gain represents the excess of the estimated fair value of the assets acquired over the estimated fair value of the liabilities assumed and is influenced significantly by the FDIC-assisted transaction process. Under the FDIC-assisted transaction process, only certain assets and liabilities are transferred to the acquirer and, depending on the nature and amount of the acquirer's bid, the FDIC may be required to make a cash payment to the acquirer. The Bank received a cash payment from the FDIC for $51.7 million. In the WFIB acquisition, the book value of net assets transferred to the Bank was $486.3 million. The pre-tax gain of $19.5 million or the after-tax gain of $11.3 million recognized by the Company is considered a bargain purchase transaction under ASC 805 Business Combinations since the total acquisition-date fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired exceeded the fair value of the consideration transferred. The gain was recognized as non-interest income in the Company's September 30, 2010 condensed consolidated statements of operations.
 
As of September 30, 2010 WFIB’s operations are partially integrated and will be fully integrated in the fourth quarter.
 

 
40

 

 
Unaudited Pro Forma Results of Operations
 
 
The following table presents our unaudited pro forma results of operations for the nine-month periods presented as if the WFIB acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2010 and January 1, 2009, respectively. The unaudited pro forma results of operations include the historical accounts of the Company and WFIB and pro forma adjustments as may be required, including the amortization of intangibles with definite lives and the amortization or accretion of any premiums or discounts arising from fair value adjustments for assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The unaudited pro forma information is intended for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of our future operating results or operating results that would have occurred had these acquisitions been completed at the beginning of 2010 and 2009, respectively. No assumptions have been applied to the pro forma results of operations regarding possible revenue enhancements, expense efficiencies or asset dispositions.
 
 
   
For the Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
 
   
2010 Combined
   
2009 Combined
 
   
(In thousands)
 
             
Revenues (net interest income plus noninterest income)
  $ 717,905     $ 256,977  
Net earnings (loss)
  $ 111,819     $ (188,613 )
                 
Net income (loss) per share after extraordinary items:
               
Basic
  $ 0.69     $ (3.26 )
Diluted
  $ 0.63     $ (3.26 )
                 
Note: Extraordinary item only relates to June 2009 EWB desecuritization.
         
 
 
 
Washington First International Bank was a full service commercial bank headquartered in Seattle, Washington that operated 4 branch locations in the greater Puget Sound Area. We made this acquisition to expand our presence in the Seattle - greater Puget Sound Area. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed have been accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting (formerly the purchase method). The assets and liabilities, both tangible and intangible, were recorded at their estimated fair values as of the June 11, 2010 acquisition date.

 
41

 

NOTE 14 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
Dividend Payout
 
On October 25, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the payment of fourth quarter dividends of $20.00 per share on the Company’s Series A preferred stock. The dividend is payable on or about November 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of October 15, 2010. Additionally, the Board declared a dividend of $0.01 per share on the Company’s common stock payable on or about November 24, 2010 to shareholders of record as of November 10, 2010.
 

 
42

 

ITEM 2.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion provides information about the results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, and capital resources of East West Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  This information is intended to facilitate the understanding and assessment of significant changes and trends related to our financial condition and the results of our operations.  This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, and the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes presented elsewhere in this report.
 
Critical Accounting Policies
 
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and general practices within the banking industry.  The financial information contained within these statements is, to a significant extent, financial information that is based on approximate measures of the financial effects of transactions and events that have already occurred.  Various elements of our accounting policies, by their nature, are inherently subject to estimation techniques, valuation assumptions and other subjective assessments.  In addition, certain accounting policies require significant judgment in applying complex accounting principles to individual transactions to determine the most appropriate treatment.  We have established procedures and processes to facilitate making the judgments necessary to prepare financial statements.
 
The following is a summary of the areas which require more judgment and complex accounting estimates and principles.  In each area, we have identified the variables most important in the estimation process.  We have used the best information available to make the estimations necessary to value the related assets and liabilities.  Actual performance that differs from our estimates and future changes in the key variables could change future valuations and impact the results of operations.
 
·  
fair valuation of financial instruments;
 
·  
investment securities;
 
·  
covered loans;
 
·  
FDIC indemnification asset;
 
·  
allowance for loan losses;
 
·  
other real estate owned;
 
·  
loan sales;
 
·  
goodwill impairment;
 
·  
share-based compensation; and
 
·  
income taxes and deferred tax asset valuation
 
Our significant accounting policies are described in greater detail in our 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K in the “Critical Accounting Policies” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis and in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Significant Accounting Policies” which are essential to understanding Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 

 
43

 

Overview
 
At September 30, 2010, total assets were $20.4 billion as compared to $20.0 billion at June 30, 2010. During the third quarter, total loans decreased $157.8 million or 1% to $13.6 billion as a result of a decrease in covered loan balances of $300.0 million, offset by an increase in non-covered loans of $142.2 million. Investment securities increased $830.3 million or 40% during the quarter to $2.9 billion as a result of purchases of $1.7 billion of short-term corporate securities and agency securities, offset by sales of $177.4 million, as well as normal maturities, calls and paydowns. Deposits increased $379.3 million or 3% to $15.3 billion. During the quarter, we continued to deploy cash and short-term investments into shorter duration investment securities.
 
Gross loans at September 30, 2010 totaled $13.6 billion compared to $13.7 billion at June 30, 2010. During the quarter non-covered loan balances increased $142.2 million or 2%, to $8.6 billion at September 30, 2010. This increase in non-covered loans was largely driven by a $167.3 million increase in commercial and trade finance loans and a $111.4 million increase in consumer loans. The increases in the commercial and trade finance and consumer portfolios were partially offset by reduction in the commercial real estate, construction and land portfolios.  The net increase in non-covered loans was offset by decreases in the covered loan portfolio. Covered loans totaled $5.0 billion at September 30, 2010, as compared to $5.3 billion at June 30, 2010. The decrease in the covered loan portfolio was due to expected amortization paydowns, payoff and charge-off activity.
 
Deposit balances increased to a record $15.3 billion at September 30, 2010, compared to $14.9 billion at June 30, 2010. Total core deposits increased to a record $8.5 billion as of September 30, 2010, or an increase of $290.3 million or 4% from June 30, 2010. The increase in core deposits was largely driven by a $175.7 million or 7% increase in noninterest-bearing demand deposits which grew to a record $2.6 billion as of September 30, 2010.
 
The Bank remains committed to maintaining strong capital levels that exceed regulatory requirements. As of the end of the third quarter of 2010, our Tier 1 leverage capital ratio increased to 10.8%, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio totaled 17.9% and the total risk-based capital ratio totaled 19.7%. The Bank exceeds well capitalized requirements for all regulatory guidelines by over $1.0 billion.
 
Noninterest income for the third quarter totaled $29.3 million, compared to noninterest income of $35.7 million in the second quarter of 2010 and a loss of $11.9 million in the third quarter of 2009. Noninterest income for the second quarter of 2010 included a purchase accounting gain of $19.5 million from the acquisition of WFIB. The loss in the third quarter of 2009 was primarily due to impairment losses on investment securities.
 
Included within noninterest income for the third quarter is an increase in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable of $5.8 million. This amount is primarily comprised of an increase of $7.8 million due to expenses reimbursable by the FDIC offset by a decrease of $5.5 million due to the disposition of covered loans. Of the $7.8 million of expenses reimbursable by the FDIC, $4.6 million is related to net writedowns and expenses on other real estate owned, and $3.2 million is related to legal and other loan related expenses. Additionally, we recorded a net increase of $3.5 million related to discount accretion on the FDIC indemnification asset, settlement adjustments and recoveries.
 
During the third quarter we recorded $4.2 million in gains on sales of loans, primarily from the sale of student loans. We also sold $177.4 million in investment securities at a gain of $2.8 million and recorded impairment losses on investment securities totaling $888 thousand related to pooled trust preferred securities.
 
As compared to the third quarter of 2009, branch fees increased by $3.3 million or 70%, letters of credit fees and commissions increased $904 thousand or 46%, and ancillary loan fees increased $1.1 million or 93%, primarily due to the acquisition of UCB. In total, fees and other operating income

 
44

 

increased $7.2 million or 71% for the third quarter of 2010 as compared to third quarter of 2009.  A summary of these fees and other operating income items is detailed below:
 
 
   
Quarter Ended
   
Quarter Ended
   
% Change
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
September 30, 2009
   
(Yr/Yr)
 
Noninterest income:
                 
Branch fees
   $ 7,976      $ 4,679       70 %
Letters of credit fees and commissions
    2,888       1,984       46 %
Ancillary loan fees
    2,367       1,227       93 %
Other operating income
    4,178       2,294       82 %
                         
Total fees & other operating income
  $ 17,409     $ 10,184       71 %
 
 
Noninterest expense totaled $99.9 million for the third quarter of 2010 compared to $125.3 million for the second quarter of 2010. The primary reason for the decrease in noninterest expense was due to a decrease in other real estate owned expenses to $5.7 million in the third quarter, compared to $21.0 million in the second quarter. In the second quarter, other real estate owned expenses were largely related to writedowns on covered assets which were foreclosed on. Additionally, in the third quarter, we recorded gains on sales of other real estate owned of $3.4 million, largely related to one asset, which reduced the net other real estate owned expenses to $5.7 million. Further, we recorded prepayment penalties of $3.9 million on FHLB advances in the second quarter which were included in other operating expenses. There were no FHLB advance prepayments in the third quarter.
 
A summary of the noninterest expenses for the third quarter, compared to the second quarter is detailed below:
 
 
   
Quarter Ended
   
Quarter Ended
 
($ in thousands)
 
September 30, 2010
   
June 30, 2010
 
Total noninterest expense:
  $ 99,945     $ 125,318  
Amounts to be reimbursed on covered assets (80% of actual expense amount)
    7,834       19,103  
Prepayment penalty for FHLB advances
    -       3,900  
                 
Noninterest expense excluding reimbursement amounts and prepayment penalty for FHLB advances
  $ 92,111     $ 102,315  
 
 
These noninterest expense items are non-core in nature. The Company believes that presenting the operating noninterest expense excluding such non-core items, a non-GAAP disclosure, provides more clarity to the users of financial statements regarding the core noninterest expense items.
 
Under the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC, 80% of eligible expenses on covered assets are reimbursable from the FDIC. In the third quarter, we incurred $9.8 million in expenses on covered loans and other real estate owned, 80%, or $7.8 million of which we expect to be reimbursed by the FDIC and is recorded as an increase to the FDIC receivable as noninterest income.
 
Results of Operations
 
Net income for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $47.0 million, compared with a net loss available to stockholders of $68.5 million for the third quarter of 2009. On a per diluted share basis, net income (loss) was $0.27 and $(0.91) for the third quarters of 2010 and 2009, respectively. Our annualized return on average total assets increased to 0.93% for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, from (2.17)% for the same period in 2009. The annualized return on average common stockholders’ equity increased to 8.11% for the third quarter of 2010, compared with (27.12)% for the third quarter of 2009.

 
45

 
       Components of Net Income (Loss)
 
 
   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30,
   
September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In millions)
 
                         
Net interest income
  $ 182.8     $ 95.9     $ 648.2     $ 263.8  
Provision for loan losses
    (38.6 )     (159.2 )     (170.3 )     (388.7 )
Noninterest income (loss)
    29.3       (11.9 )     56.5       (24.3 )
Noninterest expense
    (99.9 )     (46.1 )     (364.2 )     (155.4 )
(Provision) benefit for income taxes
    (26.6 )     52.8       (62.0 )     126.9  
                                 
Net income (loss) before extraordinary item
    47.0       (68.5 )     108.2       (177.7 )
Impact of desecuritization, net of tax
                      (5.4 )
                                 
Net income (loss) after extraordinary item
  $ 47.0     $ (68.5 )   $ 108.2     $ (183.1 )
                                 
Annualized return on average total assets
    0.93 %     (2.17 )%     0.72 %     (1.94 )%
Annualized return on average total equity
    7.96 %     (17.76 )%     6.21 %     (15.87 )%
Annualized return on average common equity
    8.11 %     (27.12 )%     6.47 %     (27.46 )%
 
 
Net Interest Income
 
Our primary source of revenue is net interest income which is $182.8 million and $648.2 million for the three and nine months ended, respectively. Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on loans, investment securities and other earning assets less the interest expense on deposits, borrowings and other interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income for the third quarter of 2010 totaled $182.8 million, a 91% increase over net interest income of $95.9 million for the same period in 2009.
 
Net interest margin, defined as net interest income divided by average interest earning assets, increased 90 basis points to 4.10% during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, from 3.20% during the third quarter of 2009. The increase in the net interest margin includes a yield adjustment of $5.5 million related to covered loan dispositions.
 

 
46

 

The following table presents the net interest spread, net interest margin, average balances, interest income and expense, and the average yields and rates by asset and liability component for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
               
Average
               
Average
 
   
Average
         
Yield/
   
Average
         
Yield/
 
   
Volume
   
Interest
   
Rate (1)
   
Volume
   
Interest
   
Rate (1)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Short-term investments and interest-bearing
                                   
deposits in other banks
  $ 736,658     $ 2,362       1.27 %   $ 897,527     $ 1,856       0.82 %
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    648,136       2,410       1.46 %     91,033       2,153       9.25 %
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                                               
Taxable
                      761,615       11,886       6.24 %
Tax-exempt (2) (3)
                      22,727       256       4.51 %
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
Taxable
    2,482,951       15,725       2.51 %     1,543,004       16,425       4.22 %
Tax-exempt (2) (3)
                                   
Loans receivable
    8,499,048       116,029       5.42 %     8,471,766       114,512       5.36 %
Loans receivable - covered
    5,105,793       94,057       7.31 %                  
FHLB and FRB stock
    219,416       817       1.49 %     123,514       918       2.97 %
                                                 
Total interest-earning assets
    17,692,002       231,400       5.19 %     11,911,186       148,006       4.93 %
                                                 
Noninterest-earning assets:
                                               
Cash and due from banks
    668,277                       124,708                  
Allowance for loan losses
    (253,078 )                     (244,542 )                
Other assets
    1,989,941                       843,925                  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 20,097,142                     $ 12,635,277                  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Checking accounts
  $ 731,267       550       0.30 %   $ 342,922       286       0.33 %
Money market accounts
    4,162,847       7,103       0.68 %     2,160,722       6,830       1.25 %
Savings deposits
    960,927       818       0.34 %     421,844       608       0.57 %
Time deposits
    6,719,637       20,028       1.18 %     4,398,704       19,246       1.74 %
FHLB advances
    1,020,640       5,725       2.23 %     1,046,056       11,172       4.24 %
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    1,047,697       12,189       4.55 %     1,018,321       12,140       4.66 %
Subordinated debt and trust preferred securities
    235,570       1,685       2.80 %     235,570       1,760       2.92 %
Other borrowings
    32,337       497       6.01 %     1,385       2       0.57 %
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    14,910,922       48,595       1.29 %     9,625,524       52,044       2.15 %
                                                 
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Demand deposits
    2,436,031                       1,335,131                  
Other liabilities
    390,164                       130,800                  
Stockholders' equity
    2,360,025                       1,543,822                  
                                                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 20,097,142                     $ 12,635,277                  
                                                 
Interest rate spread
                    3.90 %                     2.78 %
                                                 
Net interest income and net interest margin
          $ 182,805       4.10 %           $ 95,962       3.20 %
 
(1)  
Annualized.
 
(2)  
Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.
 
(3)  
There is no total interest income and average yield rate on an unadjusted basis for tax-exempt investment securities available-for-sale for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2010.  Total interest income and average yield rate on an unadjusted basis for tax-exempt investment securities held-to-maturity is $174 thousand and 3.06% for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
 
 
47

 
The following table presents the net interest spread, net interest margin, average balances, interest income and expense, and the average yields and rates by asset and liability component for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
               
Average
               
Average
 
   
Average
         
Yield/
   
Average
         
Yield/
 
   
Volume
   
Interest
   
Rate (1)
   
Volume
   
Interest
   
Rate (1)
 
   
(In thousands)
 
ASSETS
                                   
Interest-earning assets:
                                   
Short-term investments and interest-bearing
                                   
deposits in other banks
  $ 914,471     $ 7,405       1.08 %   $ 835,769     $ 7,341       1.17 %
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    455,824       11,303       3.27 %     64,286       4,695       9.63 %
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                                               
Taxable
                      646,936       30,464       6.28 %
Tax-exempt (2) (3)
                      20,737       907       5.83 %
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
Taxable
    2,289,423       50,613       2.96 %     1,878,815       57,101       4.06 %
Tax-exempt (2) (3)
    2,165       43       2.65 %                  
Loans receivable
    8,525,484       354,973       5.57 %     8,305,602       336,997       5.42 %
Loans receivable - covered
    5,175,251       376,840       9.74 %                  
FHLB and FRB stock
    221,856       2,473       1.49 %     122,369       1,969       2.15 %
                                                 
Total interest-earning assets
    17,584,474       803,650       6.11 %     11,874,514       439,474       4.95 %
                                                 
Noninterest-earning assets:
                                               
Cash and due from banks
    547,403                       120,493                  
Allowance for loan losses
    (254,153 )                     (210,015 )                
Other assets
    2,172,214                       799,008                  
                                                 
Total assets
  $ 20,049,938                     $ 12,584,000                  
                                                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Checking accounts
  $ 672,817       1,691       0.34 %   $ 351,933       1,003       0.38 %
Money market accounts
    3,868,588       23,405       0.81 %     1,826,626       18,664       1.37 %
Savings deposits
    971,381       3,234       0.45 %     416,011       1,969       0.63 %
Time deposits
    6,914,615       62,749       1.21 %     4,586,027       73,297       2.14 %
FHLB advances
    1,427,903       20,905       1.96 %     1,200,713       38,191       4.25 %
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    1,039,636       36,775       4.66 %     1,007,912       36,016       4.71 %
Subordinated debt and trust preferred securities
    235,570       4,823       2.70 %     235,570       6,211       3.48 %
Other borrowings
    60,552       1,902       4.19 %     2,889       8       0.37 %
                                                 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
    15,191,062       155,484       1.37 %     9,627,681       175,359       2.44 %
                                                 
Noninterest-bearing liabilities:
                                               
Demand deposits
    2,323,950                       1,292,852                  
Other liabilities
    213,236                       125,183                  
Stockholders' equity
    2,321,690                       1,538,284                  
                                                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 20,049,938                     $ 12,584,000                  
                                                 
Interest rate spread
                    4.74 %                     2.51 %
                                                 
Net interest income and net interest margin
          $ 648,166       4.93 %           $ 264,115       2.97 %
 
 
(1)  
Annualized.
 
(2)  
Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.
 
(3)  
Total interest income and average yield rate on an unadjusted basis for tax-exempt investment securities available-for-sale is $29 thousand and 1.79% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, and none for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.  There is no total interest income and average yield rate on an unadjusted basis for tax-exempt investment securities held-to-maturity for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Total interest income and average yield rate on an unadjusted basis for tax-exempt investment securities held-to-maturity is $613 thousand and 3.94% for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.
 
 
48

 

Analysis of Changes in Net Interest Income
 
Changes in net interest income are a function of changes in rates and volumes of both interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities.  The following table sets forth information regarding changes in interest income and interest expense for the periods indicated.  The total change for each category of interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability is segmented into the change attributable to variations in volume (changes in volume multiplied by old rate) and the change attributable to variations in interest rates (changes in rates multiplied by new volume).  Nonaccrual loans are included in average loans used to compute this table.
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010 vs. 2009
   
2010 vs. 2009
 
   
Total
   
Changes Due to
   
Total
   
Changes Due to
 
   
Change
   
Volume (1)
   
Rates (1)
   
Change
   
Volume (1)
   
Rates (1)
 
   
(In thousands)
   
(In thousands)
 
INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS
                                   
Short-term investments and interest bearing
  deposits in other banks
  $ 506     $ (378 )   $ 884     $ 64     $ 662     $ (598 )
Securities purchased under resale agreements
    257       3,416       (3,159 )     6,608       11,557       (4,949 )
Investment securities held-to-maturity:
                                               
Taxable
    (11,886 )     (11,886 )     -       (30,464 )     (30,464 )     -  
Tax-exempt
    (256 )     (256 )     -       (907 )     (907 )     -  
Investment securities available-for-sale:
                                               
Taxable
    (700 )     7,604       (8,304 )     (6,488 )     11,036       (17,524 )
Tax-exempt
    -       -       -       43       43       -  
Loans receivable
    1,517       370       1,147       17,976       9,039       8,937  
Loans receivable - covered
    94,057       94,057       -       376,840       376,840       -  
FHLB and FRB stock
    (101 )     496       (597 )     504       1,244       (740 )
                                                 
Total interest and dividend income
    83,394       93,423       (10,029 )     364,176       379,050       (14,874 )
                                                 
INTEREST-BEARING  LIABILITIES
                                               
Checking accounts
    264       295       (31 )     688       819       (131 )
Money market accounts
    273       4,383       (4,110 )     4,741       14,629       (9,888 )
Savings deposits
    210       536       (326 )     1,265       1,991       (726 )
Time deposits
    782       8,137       (7,355 )     (10,548 )     28,528       (39,076 )
Federal funds purchased
    (2 )     (1 )     (1 )     (8 )     (4 )     (4 )
FHLB advances
    (5,447 )     (265 )     (5,182 )     (17,286 )     6,214       (23,500 )
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    49       346       (297 )     759       1,125       (366 )
Subordinated debt and trust preferred securities
    (75 )     -       (75 )     (1,388 )     -       (1,388 )
Other borrowings
    497       497       -       1,902       1,902       -  
                                                 
Total interest expense
    (3,449 )     13,928       (17,377 )     (19,875 )     55,204       (75,079 )
                                                 
CHANGE IN NET INTEREST INCOME
  $ 86,843     $ 79,495     $ 7,348     $ 384,051     $ 323,846     $ 60,205  
 
(1)  
Changes in interest income/expense not arising from volume or rate variances are allocated proportionately to rate and volume.
 
Provision for Loan Losses
 
We recorded $38.6 million and $170.3 million in provision for loan losses during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively. In comparison, we recorded $159.2 million and $388.7 million in provisions for loan losses during the third quarter and first nine months of 2009, respectively. The Company recorded $45.1 million and $164.2 million in net chargeoffs during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, compared to $151.2 million and $344.7 million in net chargeoffs recorded during the third quarter and first nine months of 2009. We continue to aggressively monitor delinquencies and proactively review the credit risk exposure of our loan portfolio to minimize and mitigate potential losses. Throughout the course of 2009 and the first nine months of 2010, we have actively reduced exposure to land and construction loans, reducing both outstanding loan balances as well as total commitments.
 
Provisions for loan losses are charged to income to bring the allowance for credit losses as well as the allowance for unfunded loan commitments, off-balance sheet credit exposures, and recourse provisions to a level deemed appropriate by the Company based on the factors discussed under the “Allowance for Loan Losses” section of this report.

 
49

 
Noninterest Income (Loss)
 
The following table sets forth the various components of noninterest income (loss) for the periods indicated:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Noninterest income (loss):
                       
Increase (decrease) in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable
  $ 5,826     $ -     $ (47,170 )   $ -  
Net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings
    (888 )     (24,249 )     (10,329 )     (61,896 )
Gain on acquisitions
    -       -       27,571       -  
Net gain on sale of  investment securities
    2,791       2,177       24,749       7,378  
Branch fees
    7,976       4,679       24,953       14,463  
Net gain on sale of loans
    4,177       8       12,250       19  
Letters of credit fees and commissions
    2,888       1,984       8,493       5,768  
Ancillary loan fees
    2,367       1,227       6,425       4,812  
Income from life insurance policies
    1,101       1,090       3,306       3,269  
Other operating income
    3,077       1,204       6,301       1,902  
                                 
   Total noninterest income (loss)
  $ 29,315     $ (11,880 )   $ 56,549     $ (24,285 )
 
 
Noninterest income (loss) includes revenues earned from sources other than interest income. These sources include service charges and fees on deposit accounts, fees and commissions generated from trade finance activities and the issuance of letters of credit, ancillary fees on loans, net gains on sales of loans, investment securities available-for-sale and other assets, impairment losses on investment securities and other assets, and other noninterest-related revenues.
 
We recorded noninterest income of $29.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of $41.2 million, compared to the noninterest loss of $(11.9) million recorded for the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest income totaled $56.5 million, compared to the noninterest loss of $(24.3) million recorded during the first nine months of 2009. The increase in noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is due to lower impairment losses on investment securities in the current period as compared to 2009, increases in branch fees, net gain on sale of investment securities, net gain on sale of loans and an increase in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable. The increase in noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 is due to lower impairment losses on investments securities in the current period as compared to 2009, bargain purchase gains related to the acquisitions of WFIB and UCB, increases in branch fees, net gain on sale of investment securities and net gain on sale of loans, partially offset by a decrease in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable.
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010, the $5.8 million increase in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable is primarily due to an increase of $7.8 from expenses reimbursable by the FDIC offset by a decrease in the FDIC indemnification asset of $5.5 million due to the disposition of covered loans. Additionally, we recorded a $3.5 million net increase related to discount accretion on the FDIC indemnification asset, settlement adjustments, and recoveries. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the net decrease of $47.2 million in the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable is primarily due to writedowns on the FDIC indemnification asset related to better than expected credit quality on loan dispositions. In the first half of 2010, prepayments in full on covered loans were greater than anticipated. The early prepayment activity on the covered loans decreased in the third quarter.
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings was $888 thousand and $10.3 million, respectively, compared to $24.2 million and $61.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively. The $888 thousand net impairment loss for the third quarter of 2010 was recorded on pooled trust preferred securities. As of September 30, 2010, the fair value of those pooled trust preferred securities was written down to $1.0 million.

 
50

 
For the three months ended September 30, 2010 there were no gains recorded related to acquisitions. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we recorded bargain purchase gains of $27.6 million related to the acquisitions of WFIB and UCB.
 
During the third quarter of 2010, the net gain on sale of investment securities totaled $2.8 million, compared to $2.2 million recorded during the third quarter of 2009. During the first nine months of 2010, the net gain on sale of investment securities totaled $24.7 million, compared to $7.4 million recorded during the same period in 2009. Proceeds from the sale of investment securities provide additional liquidity to purchase other investment securities, to fund loan originations, and to pay down borrowings.
 
Branch fees, which represent revenues derived from branch operations, increased $3.3 million, or 70%, to $8.0 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared to $4.7 million for the same quarter in 2009, and increased $10.5 million, or 73%, to $25.0 million for the first nine months of 2010, compared to $14.5 million during the same period in 2009. The increases in branch-related fees for both periods are attributed to the additional branches acquired through both the WFIB and UCB acquisitions.
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the net gain on sale of loans was $4.2 million and $12.3 million, respectively.  For the remainder of the loans the Company’s intent is to hold the loans as investments.
 
Noninterest Expense
 
The following table sets forth the various components of noninterest expense for the periods indicated:
 
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(In thousands)
   
(In thousands)
 
                         
Noninterest expense:
                       
Compensation and employee benefits
  $ 38,693     $ 15,875     $ 131,051     $ 49,492  
Other real estate owned expense
    5,694       767       44,689       16,480  
Occupancy and equipment expense
    13,963       6,262       39,022       19,950  
Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments
    5,676       6,057       21,785       18,950  
Prepayment penalty for FHLB advances
    -       -       13,832       -  
Legal expense
    5,301       1,323       14,391       4,856  
Loan related expenses
    6,316       2,197       14,567       5,274  
Amortization of premiums on deposits acquired
    3,352       1,069       10,046       3,286  
Amortization of investments in affordable housing partnerships
    1,442       1,709       7,117       5,121  
Data processing
    2,646       1,079       8,174       3,362  
Consulting expense
    1,612       759       5,672       1,879  
Other operating expenses
    15,250       8,967       53,827       26,732  
                                 
   Total noninterest expense
  $ 99,945     $ 46,064     $ 364,173     $ 155,382  
                                 
Efficiency ratio (1)
    47.64 %     39.99 %     54.30 %     48.67 %
 
 
(1)  
Represents noninterest expense, excluding amortization of premiums on deposits acquired, amortization of investments in affordable housing partnerships and prepayment penalty for Federal Home Loan Bank advances, divided by the aggregate of net interest income before provision for loan losses, excluding non-recurring adjustments, and noninterest income, excluding net impairment loss on investment securities recognized in earnings, decrease in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable, and gain on acquisitions.
 
Noninterest expense, which is comprised primarily of compensation and employee benefits, other real estate owned expense, occupancy and equipment expense, and other operating expenses, increased $53.9 million, or 117%, to $99.9 million during the third quarter of 2010, compared to $46.1 million for the same quarter in 2009, and increased $208.8 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, or 134%, to $364.2 million, compared to $155.4 million during the same period in 2009.

 
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Noninterest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 included integration costs related to both the WFIB and UCB acquisitions totaling $3.4 million and $16.9 million, respectively, which is comprised of compensation and employee benefits, primarily severance, of $1.4 million and $9.2 million, respectively, and other integration expenses, primarily consultant and legal fees, of $1.9 million and $7.7 million, respectively.
 
Under the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC, 80% of eligible expenses on covered assets are reimbursable from the FDIC. Noninterest expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 included reimbursable expenses totaling $7.8 million and $38.0 million, respectively, which is comprised of other real estate owned expense of $4.6 million and $28.6 million, respectively, loan related expense of $1.6 million and $5.6 million, respectively and legal expenses of $1.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively.
 
Compensation and employee benefits increased $22.8 million, or 144%, to $38.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $15.9 million for the same period in 2009, and increased $81.6 million, or 165%, to $131.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $49.5 million for the same period in 2009. The increases for both periods were primarily due to the acquisitions of UCB in November 2009 and, to a lesser extent, the acquisition of WFIB in June 2010.
 
We recorded OREO expenses, net of OREO gains, totaling $5.7 million (including $4.6 million reimbursable from the FDIC) during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $767 thousand during the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, net OREO expenses increased to $44.7 million (including $28.6 million reimbursable from the FDIC), compared with $16.5 million in net OREO expenses during the first nine months of 2009. The $5.7 million in net OREO expenses incurred during the third quarter of 2010 is comprised of $1.5 million in various operating and maintenance expenses, $7.7 million in valuation losses and $3.5 million in net gains from the sale of OREO properties during the third quarter of 2010. The $44.7 million in net OREO expenses incurred during the first nine months of 2010 is comprised of $7.8 million in various operating and maintenance expenses, $36.5 million in valuation losses, and $352 thousand in net losses from the sale of OREO properties during the first nine months of 2010. As of September 30, 2010, total covered and non-covered OREO amounted to $137.4 million and $16.9 million, respectively, compared to $44.3 million and $13.8 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2009.
 
Deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments decreased $381 thousand, or 6%, to $5.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $6.1 million during the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments increased $2.8 million, or 15%, to $21.8 million, compared to $19.0 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease in deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments during the third quarter of 2010 is primarily due to a decrease in the assessment rate offset by an increase in deposits. The increase in deposit insurance premiums and regulatory assessments for the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009 is primarily due to the increase in the deposit balances resulting from the UCB acquisition.
 
During the three months ended September 30, 2010 there were no prepayments in FHLB advances or prepayment penalties. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we prepaid $1.12 billion in FHLB advances and paid prepayment penalties of $13.8 million. These prepayments were part of our strategy to lower future borrowing costs.
 
Amortization of premiums on deposits acquired increased $2.3 million to $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $1.1 million during the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, amortization of premiums on deposits increased $6.8 million to $10.0 million, compared with $3.3 million during the same period in 2009. The increase is due to the premiums

 
52

 

on deposits acquired resulting from the WFIB and UCB acquisitions. The projected deposit runoff rates incorporated into the core deposit amortization models simulate the decay rates used in our current asset liability model. Premiums on deposits acquired are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related deposits.
 
Other operating expenses include advertising and public relations, telephone and postage, stationery and supplies, bank and item processing charges, insurance expenses, other professional fees and charitable contributions. Other operating expenses increased $6.3 million, or 70%, to $15.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $9.0 million during the same period in 2009. This is primarily a result of the acquisitions of WFIB and UCB. Other operating expenses increased $27.1 million, or 101%, to $53.8 million for the first nine months of 2010, compared with $26.7 million for the same period in 2009.
 
Our efficiency ratio increased to 47.64% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to 39.99% for the corresponding period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, the efficiency ratio was 54.30%, compared to 48.67% for the same period in 2009. The increase in our efficiency ratio during both periods of 2010 can be attributed to higher operating expenses, primarily related to both acquisitions.
 
Income Taxes
 
The provision for income taxes was $26.6 million for the third quarter of 2010, representing an effective tax provision rate of 36.1%, compared to an income tax benefit of $52.8 million for the same period in 2009, representing an effective tax benefit rate of 43.5%. Included in the income tax recognized during the third quarter of 2010 and 2009 are $3.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in tax credits generated from our investments in affordable housing partnerships.
 
For the first nine months of 2010, the provision for income taxes was $62.0 million representing an effective tax provision rate of 36.4%, compared to an income tax benefit of $126.8 million for the same period in 2009, representing an effective tax benefit rate of 41.6%.
 
Management regularly reviews the Company’s tax positions and deferred tax assets. Factors considered in this analysis include future reversals of existing temporary differences, future taxable income exclusive of reversing differences, taxable income in prior carryback years, and tax planning strategies. The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability approach, the objective of which is to establish deferred tax assets and liabilities for the temporary differences between financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities at enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when such amounts are realized or settled. A valuation allowance is established for deferred tax assets if, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce the deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. As there is no available evidence suggesting that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized a valuation allowance is not necessary.
 
The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 740-10 on January 1, 2007. The Company believes that adequate provisions have been made for all income tax uncertainties consistent with this standard.
 
As of September 30, 2010, the Company had a net deferred tax liability of $43.9 million.
 
Operating Segment Results
 
The Company utilizes an internal reporting system to measure the performance of various operating segments within the Bank and the Company overall. We have identified three operating segments for purposes of management reporting:  1) Retail Banking; 2) Commercial Banking; and 3) Other.

 
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For more information about our segments, including information about the underlying accounting and reporting process, please see Note 12 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report.
 
Retail Banking
 
The Retail Banking segment reported pretax loss of $18.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to a $45.0 million pretax loss for the same quarter in 2009. The lower pretax loss for this segment during the third quarter of 2010 is comprised of a $12.9 million increase in net interest income and a $38.9 million decrease in provision for loan losses, partially offset by a $25.5 million increase in noninterest expense. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Retail Banking segment reported pretax loss of $4.4 million, compared to a pretax loss of $85.0 million recorded for the same period in 2009. The increases in net interest income during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 are attributable to the increase in total loans receivable resulting from the UCB and WFIB acquisitions. The decrease in loan loss provisions for this segment during the third quarter of 2010 and first nine months of 2010, relative to the same periods in 2009, were due to decreased charge-off activity. Loan loss provisions are also impacted by average loan balances for each reporting segment.
 
Noninterest income for this segment increased $9.1 million to $15.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $5.9 million recorded during the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest income for this segment increased $25.1 million to $45.5 million, compared to $20.4 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in noninterest income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 is primarily due to an increase in loan and branch-related fees, gain on sale of student loans, and gain from business combination.
 
Noninterest expense for this segment increased $25.5 million, or 88%, to $54.4 million during the third quarter of 2010, compared with $28.9 million recorded during the third quarter of 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest expense for this segment increased $81.0 million, or 83%, to $178.2 million, from $97.2 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in noninterest expense for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 is primarily due to an increase in compensation and employee benefits, occupancy expenses, amortization of premiums on deposits acquired and legal expenses.
 
Commercial Banking
 
The Commercial Banking segment reported pretax income of $64.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with a pretax loss of $56.8 million for the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, this segment reported pretax income of $128.8 million, compared to a pretax loss of $136.3 million recorded during the same period in 2009. The primary driver of the increase in pretax income for this segment is due to a significant increase in net interest income, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense.
 
Net interest income for this segment increased $50.1 million to $93.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $43.7 million for the same period in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, net interest income for this segment increased $243.7 million to $379.8 million, compared to $136.1 million recorded during the same period in 2009. The increase in net interest income is primarily due to a significant increase in interest income as a result of the increase in total loans receivable.
 
Noninterest income for this segment increased $8.5 million to $13.3 million during the third quarter of 2010, compared with $4.8 million noninterest income recorded in the same quarter of 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest income (loss) decreased $27.4 million to ($12.2) million, compared to $15.2 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease in noninterest income is primarily

 
54

 

due to the decrease in FDIC indemnification asset and receivable, offset by the gain on business combination.
 
Noninterest expense for this segment increased $16.2 million to $26.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $10.3 million recorded during the same quarter in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest expense for this segment increased $70.3 million to $106.5 million, compared to $36.2 million for the same period in 2009. The increase in noninterest expense is primarily due to an increase in compensation and employee benefits, occupancy expenses, and loan, legal, and OREO related expenses.
 
Other
 
The Other segment reported pretax income of $26.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with a pretax loss of $19.6 million recorded in the same quarter of 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, this segment reported pretax income of $45.7 million, compared to a pretax loss of $83.2 million recorded during the same period in 2009. The primary drivers of the increase in pretax income for this segment are increases in net interest income and noninterest income, partially offset by an increase in noninterest expense.
 
Net interest income for this segment increased $23.9 million to $27.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared to $3.4 million recorded in the same quarter of 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, net interest income for this segment increased $70.3 million to $38.8 million, compared with net interest loss of $31.5 million recorded during the same period in 2009.
 
Noninterest income for this segment increased $23.5 million to $1.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $22.5 million noninterest loss recorded in the same quarter of 2009. For the first nine months of 2010 noninterest income increased $83.1 million to $23.2 million, compared with $59.9 million noninterest loss for the same period in 2009. The increase in noninterest income is primarily due to an increase in the net gain on sale of investment securities available-for-sale and a lower impairment loss on investment securities.
 
Noninterest expense for this segment increased $12.1 million to $19.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $6.9 million during the same quarter in 2009. For the first nine months of 2010, noninterest expense for this segment increased $57.5 million to $79.5 million, compared with $22.0 million for the same period in 2009. The increase is primarily due to compensation and employee benefits, occupancy expenses and prepayment penalties on FHLB advances.
 
FINANCIAL CONDITION
 
Total assets decreased $142.0 million, or 0.7%, to $20.4 billion as of September 30, 2010, compared to $20.6 billion as of December 31, 2009. The decrease in total assets is due to decreases in covered loans totaling $622.7 million, short-term investments totaling $129.0 million and the FDIC indemnification asset and receivable totaling $217.1 million, partially offset by increases in cash and cash equivalents totaling $24.6 million, Fed Funds sold totaling $75.0 million, securities purchased under resale agreements totaling $122.6 million, investment securities available for sale totaling $343.3 million, non-covered loans totaling $77.0 million, other real estate owned totaling $96.2 million and premises and equipment totaling $79.4 million.
 

 
55

 

Securities Purchased Under Resale Agreements
 
We purchase securities under resale agreements (“resale agreements”) with terms that range from one day to several years. Total resale agreements increased $122.6 million, or 53.9%, to $350.0 million as of September 30, 2010, compared with $227.4 million as of December 31, 2009. The increase reflects additional resale agreements of $300.0 million entered into during 2010, partially offset by the early termination of two resale agreements totaling $150.0 million with a gain of $2.5 million.
 
Purchases of resale agreements are overcollateralized to ensure against unfavorable market price movements. We monitor the market value of the underlying securities that collateralize the related receivable on resale agreements, including accrued interest. In the event that the fair market value of the securities decreases below the carrying amount of the related repurchase agreement, our counterparty is required to designate an equivalent value of additional securities. The counterparties to these agreements are nationally recognized investment banking firms that meet credit eligibility criteria and with whom a master repurchase agreement has been duly executed.
 
Investment Securities
 
Income from investing activities provides a significant portion of our total income.  We aim to maintain an investment portfolio with an adequate mix of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate securities with relatively short maturities to minimize overall interest rate risk.  Our investment securities portfolio primarily consists of U.S. Treasury securities, U.S. Government agency securities, U.S. Government sponsored enterprise debt securities, U.S. Government sponsored and other mortgage-backed securities, municipal securities, corporate debt securities, and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities.  Investment securities classified as held-to-maturity are recorded based on their amortized cost.  Investments classified as available-for-sale are carried at their estimated fair values with the corresponding changes in fair values recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income, as a component of stockholders’ equity. All investment securities have been classified as available-for-sale as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
Total investment securities available-for-sale increased 13% to $2.91 billion as of September 30, 2010, compared with $2.56 billion at December 31, 2009.  Total repayments/maturities and proceeds from sales of investment securities amounted to $2.3 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2010. We recorded net gains on sales of investment securities totaling $2.8 million and $2.2 million during the third quarter of 2010 and 2009, respectively.  For the first nine months of 2010, we recorded net gains on sales of investment securities totaling $24.7 million, compared with $7.4 million during the first nine months of 2009.
 
A portion of the proceeds from repayments, maturities, sales, and redemptions of investment securities were applied towards additional investment securities purchases totaling $3.6 billion.
 
At September 30, 2010, investment securities available-for-sale securities with an aggregate par value of $2.00 billion were pledged to secure public deposits, repurchase agreements, the FRB discount window, and other purposes required or permitted by law.
 
We perform regular impairment analyses on our portfolio of investment securities.  If we determine that a decline in fair value is other-than-temporary, a credit-related impairment loss is recognized in current earnings.  Noncredit-related impairment losses are charged to other comprehensive income.  Other-than-temporary declines in fair value are assessed based on factors including the duration the security has been in a continuous unrealized loss position, the severity of the decline in value, the rating of the security, the probability that we will be unable to collect all amounts due, and our ability and intent to not sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis.  For securities that are determined to not have other-than-temporary declines in value, we have both the ability and the intent to

 
56

 

hold these securities and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis.
 
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the fair value of our investment securities available-for-sale, as well as the weighted average yields, and contractual maturity distribution, excluding periodic principal payments, of our investment securities available-for-sale portfolio at September 30, 2010.
 
 
               
After One
   
After Five
                               
   
Within
   
But Within
   
But Within
   
After
   
Indeterminate
             
   
One Year
   
Five Years
   
Ten Years
   
Ten Years
   
Maturity
   
Total
 
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
   
Amount
   
Yield
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
As of September 30, 2010
                                                                       
Available-for-sale
                                                                       
U.S. Treasury securities
  $ 1,001       0.43 %   $ 20,739       2.10 %   $ -       -     $ -       -     $ -       -     $ 21,740       2.02 %
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
  sponsored enterprise debt securities
    911,234       1.50 %     272,824       1.24 %     -       0.00 %     22,777       2.90 %     -       -       1,206,835       1.47 %
U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government
  sponsored enterprise mortgage-backed securities:
                                                                                               
Commercial mortgage-backed securities
    -       -       1,989       6.33 %     8,596       4.49 %     9,910       4.29 %     -       -       20,495       4.57 %
Residential mortgage-backed securities
    2,570       -       -       -       26,223       4.02 %     310,214       3.83 %     -       -       339,007       3.81 %
Municipal securities
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other residential mortgage-backed securities:
                                                                                               
Investment grade
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Non-investment grade
    -       -       -       -       -       -       12,834       6.37 %     -       -       12,834       6.37 %
Corporate debt securities:
                                                                                               
Investment grade
    188,088       2.14 %     343,487       3.48 %     529,729       3.81 %     114,127       3.20 %     -       -       1,175,431       3.39 %
Non-investment grade
    10,855       6.88 %     -       -       -       -       13,744       1.47 %     -       -       24,599       4.42 %
U.S. Government sponsored enterprise equity securities
    -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
Other securities
    11,716       3.20 %     21,757       8.17 %     37,005       6.35 %     35,930       6.85 %     -       -       106,408       6.54 %
                                                                                                 
Total investment securities available-for-sale
  $ 1,125,464             $ 660,796             $ 601,553             $ 519,536             $ -             $ 2,907,349          
 
For complete discussion and disclosure see Note 5 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report.
 
Covered Assets
 
Covered assets consist of loans receivable and OREO that were acquired in the WFIB Acquisition on June 11, 2010 and in the UCB Acquisition on November 6, 2009 for which the Company entered into shared-loss agreements with the FDIC. The shared-loss agreements covered over 99% of the loans originated by WFIB and all of the loans originated by UCB, excluding the loans originated by UCB in China under its United Commercial Bank China (Limited) subsidiary. The Company will share in the losses, which begins with the first dollar of loss incurred, on the loan pools (including single-family residential mortgage loans, commercial loans, foreclosed loan collateral and other real estate owned), covered (“covered assets”) under the shared-loss agreement.
 
Pursuant to the terms of the shared-loss agreements, the FDIC is obligated to reimburse the Company 80% of eligible losses for both WFIB and UCB with respect to covered assets. For the UCB covered assets the FDIC will reimburse the Company for 95% of eligible losses in excess of $2.05 billion with respect to covered assets. The Company has a corresponding obligation to reimburse the FDIC for 80% or 95%, as applicable, of eligible recoveries with respect to covered assets. For both acquisitions the shared-loss agreements for commercial and single-family residential mortgage loans are in effect for 5 years and 10 years, respectively, from the acquisition date and the loss recovery provisions are in effect for 8 years and 10 years, respectively, from the acquisition date.
 
For complete discussion and disclosure see Note 6 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report.
 
 
57

 

FDIC Indemnification Asset
 
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded $7.1 million and $29.2 million, respectively, of accretion into income. Additionally, because of the high prepayment and removals activity during this timeframe, the Company reduced the FDIC indemnification asset by $79.4 million and $287.4 million for the three and nine months, respectively, ended September 30, 2010, and recorded the adjustment to noninterest (loss) income. Due to the acquisition of WFIB in the second quarter of 2010, $41.1 million of additional FDIC indemnification asset was recorded.
 
For complete discussion and disclosure see Note 6 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report.
 
Non-Covered Loans
 
We offer a broad range of products designed to meet the credit needs of our borrowers.  Our lending activities consist of residential single-family loans, residential multifamily loans, commercial real estate loans, land loans, construction loans, commercial business loans, trade finance loans, and consumer loans.  Net non-covered loans receivable increased $77.0 million, or 0.9%, to $8.3 billion at September 30, 2010, relative to December 31, 2009. During the third quarter of 2010, the Company sold total loans of $254.3 million, including student loans of $131.8 million, with a total gain of $4.2 million.

 
58

 

The following table sets forth the composition of the loan portfolio as of the dates indicated:
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Real estate loans:
     
Residential single-family
  $ 1,057,697       12.3 %   $ 930,392       10.9 %
Residential multifamily
    971,155       11.3 %     1,022,383       12.0 %
Commercial and
  industrial real estate,
  land
    3,674,523       42.7 %     3,964,622       46.6 %
Construction
    313,787       3.6 %     455,142       5.4 %
                                 
Total real estate loans
    6,017,162       69.9 %     6,372,539       75.0 %
                                 
Other loans:
                               
Commercial business
    1,416,313       16.5 %     1,283,182       15.1 %
Trade finance
    279,860       3.3 %     220,528       2.6 %
Automobile
    4,969       0.1 %     6,817       0.1 %
Student loans
    641,495       7.5 %     395,151       4.6 %
Other consumer
    239,660       2.8 %     222,816       2.6 %
                                 
Total other loans
    2,582,297       30.1 %     2,128,494       25.0 %
Total gross loans
    8,599,459       100.0 %     8,501,033       100.0 %
                                 
                                 
Unearned fees, premiums,
                               
and discounts, net
    (52,391 )             (43,529 )        
Allowance for loan losses
                               
for non-covered loans
    (240,286 )             (238,833 )        
Loans held for sale
    16,902               28,014          
Loan receivable, net
  $ 8,323,684             $ 8,246,685          
 
The Company routinely sells problem loans as part of the overall management of its nonperforming assets. From time to time, the Company would also identify opportunities to sell certain portfolios when the pricing is attractive to provide additional noninterest income. However, it is the Company’s intent to hold the loan portfolio for investment.
 
Non-Covered Nonperforming Assets
 
Non-covered nonperforming assets are comprised of nonaccrual loans, accruing loans past due 90 days or more, and other real estate owned, net.  Non-covered nonperforming assets totaled $196.3 million, or 0.96% of total assets, at September 30, 2010 and $187.0 million, or 0.91% of total assets, at December 31, 2009.  Nonaccrual loans amounted to $179.4 million at September 30, 2010, compared with $173.2 million at year-end 2009.  During the first nine months of 2010, we took actions to reduce our exposure to problem assets.  In conjunction with these efforts, we sold $196.2 million in problem loans and $32.8 million in OREO properties during the first nine months of 2010.  Net chargeoffs for non-covered nonperforming assets were $45.1 million and $164.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively.  For non-covered REO properties, writedowns of $1.1 million and $4.0 million were recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

 
59

 

Approximately $107.0 million, or 55%, of our problem loan sales during the first nine months of 2010 were all-cash transactions.  We also partially financed selected loan sales to unrelated third parties.  Problem loans are sold on a servicing released basis and the shortfall between the loan balance and any new notes is charged off.  A substantial down payment, typically in the range of 25% to 40%, is received from the new borrower purchasing the problem loan.  The underlying sales agreements provide for full recourse to the new borrower and require that periodic updated financial information be provided to demonstrate their ability to service the new loan.  The Company maintains no effective control over the transferred loans.
 
Loans totaling $121.4 million were placed on nonaccrual status during the third quarter of 2010.  As a part of our comprehensive loan review, loans totaling $76.1 million which were not 90 days past due as of September 30, 2010, were classified as nonaccrual loans due to concerns regarding collateral values and future collectibility.  Additions to nonaccrual loans were offset by $45.1 million in net chargeoffs, $44.4 million in payoffs and principal paydowns, $14.1 million in loans that were transferred to other real estate owned and other real estate investments, and $46.1 million in loans brought current.  The additions to nonaccrual loans during the third quarter of 2010 were comprised of $16.1 million in single-family loans, $14.8 million in multifamily loans, $51.5 million in commercial real estate loans, $15.7 million in land loans, $603 thousand in construction loans, $22.7 million in commercial business loans including SBA loans, and $9 thousand in other consumer loans.
 
The Company did not have any loans that were past due 90 days or more that were not on nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.
 
The Company had $71.5 million and $114.0 million in total performing restructured loans as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Nonperforming restructured loans were $42.0 million at September, 30, 2010 and are included in nonaccrual loans. Included in the $113.5 million total restructured loans as of September 30, 2010 were $21.4 million in performing A/B notes. In A/B note restructurings, the original note is bifurcated into two notes where the A note represents the portion of the original loan which allows for acceptable loan-to-value and debt coverage on the collateral and is expected to be collected in full and the B note represents the portion of the original loan where there is a shortfall in value and is fully charged off. The A/B notes balance as of September 30, 2010 is comprised of A note balances only. The A notes are performing loans at market interest rates with adequate collateral and cash flow and are accruing interest. At September 30, 2010, the amount of commitments for restructured loans was $3.4 million. As of September 30, 2010, restructured loans were comprised of $8.7 million in single-family loans, $15.8 million in multifamily loans, $26.4 million in commercial real estate loans, $51.9 million in construction loans, $4.7 million in commercial and small business loans and $6.0 million in land loans.
 
Non-covered other real estate owned includes properties acquired through foreclosure or through full or partial satisfaction of loans.  We had 38 OREO properties as of September 30, 2010 with a combined aggregate carrying value of $16.9 million.  The majority of these properties were related to our consumer real estate, land, and multifamily loan portfolios.  Approximately 87% of OREO properties as of September 30, 2010 were located in California, 8% were located in Texas, with the remaining 5% located in Nevada.  As of December 31, 2009, we had 28 OREO properties with an aggregate carrying value of $13.8 million.  During the first nine months of 2010, we foreclosed on 65 properties with an aggregate carrying value of $39.9 million as of the foreclosure date.  During the first nine months of 2010, we sold 55 OREO properties with a total carrying value of $30.9 million resulting in a total combined net gain on sale of $388 thousand and charges against the allowance for loans losses totaling $2.3 million.  As previously mentioned, losses on sale of OREO properties that are sold shortly after they are received in a foreclosure are charged against the allowance for loan losses.  During the first nine months of 2009, we sold 110 OREO properties with a combined carrying value of $105.5 million for a total net loss on sale of $5.0 million. During the first nine months of 2010, we also recorded $4.0 million in writedowns on non-covered OREO.

 
60

 

The following table sets forth information regarding non-covered nonperforming assets and performing restructured loans as of the dates indicated:
 
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2010
   
2009
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
             
Non-covered nonaccrual loans
  $ 179,384     $ 173,180  
Non-covered loans past due 90 days or more but not on nonaccrual
    -       -  
Total non-covered nonperforming loans
    179,384       173,180  
                 
Non-covered other real estate owned, net
    16,936       13,832  
Total non-covered nonperforming assets
  $ 196,320     $ 187,012  
                 
Non-covered performing restructured loans
  $ 71,460     $ 114,013  
                 
Total non-covered nonperforming assets to total assets
    0.96 %     0.91 %
Allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans to
               
non-covered nonperforming loans
    133.95 %     137.91 %
Non-covered nonperforming loans to total gross non-covered loans
    2.09 %     2.04 %
 
 
We evaluate loan impairment in accordance with applicable accounting principles in accordance with US GAAP.  Loans are considered impaired when it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement, including scheduled interest payments.  Impaired loans are measured based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or, as an expedient, at the loan’s observable market price or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent, less costs to sell.  If the measure of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan, the deficiency will be charged off against the allowance for loan losses or, alternatively, a specific allocation will be established.  Additionally, loans that are considered impaired are specifically excluded from the quarterly migration analysis when determining the amount of the allowance for loan and lease losses required for the period.
 
At September 30, 2010, our total recorded investment in impaired loans was $180.4 million, compared with $191.5 million at December 31, 2009.  All nonaccrual loans are included in impaired loans.

 
61

 

The following table sets forth information regarding impaired loans as of the dates indicated:
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Amount
   
Percent
   
Amount
   
Percent
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Impaired real estate loans:
     
Residential single-family
  $ 5,359       3.0 %   $ 3,262       1.7 %
Residential multifamily
    16,649       9.2 %     10,631       5.6 %
Commercial and
  industrial real estate
    60,606       33.6 %     35,766       18.7 %
Land
    47,204       26.2 %     69,845       36.5 %
Construction
    23,333       12.9 %     34,311       17.9 %
                                 
Total impaired real estate loans
    153,151       84.8 %     153,815       80.3 %
                                 
Other impaired loans:
                               
Commercial business
    26,737       14.8 %     37,377       19.5 %
Trade finance
    -       0.0 %     -       0.0 %
Automobile
    -       0.0 %     -       0.0 %
Student loans
                               
Other consumer
    517       0.3 %     260       0.1 %
                                 
Total other impaired loans
    27,254       15.2 %     37,637       19.7 %
Total gross impaired loans
    180,405       100.0 %     191,452       100.0 %
 
 
Specific reserves on impaired loans amounted to $10.6 million and $19.6 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.  Our average recorded investment in impaired loans for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 were $210.6 million and $275.3 million, respectively.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, gross interest income that would have been recorded on impaired loans had they performed in accordance with their original terms, totaled $11.5 million and $12.7 million, respectively.  Of this amount, actual interest recognized on impaired loans, on a cash basis, was $5.4 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and $7.5 million for the same period in 2009.
 
Allowance for Loan Losses
 
We are committed to maintaining the allowance for loan losses at a level that is commensurate with estimated and known risks in the loan portfolio.  In addition to regular quarterly reviews of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, we perform an ongoing assessment of the risks inherent in the loan portfolio.  While we believe that the allowance for loan losses is adequate at September 30, 2010, future additions to the allowance will be subject to a continuing evaluation of estimated and known, as well as inherent, risks in the loan portfolio.
 
The allowance for loan losses is increased by the provision for loan losses which is charged against current period operating results, and is increased or decreased by the amount of net recoveries or chargeoffs, respectively, during the period.  At September 30, 2010, the allowance for loan losses amounted to $244.2 million which includes $3.9 million allocated to covered loans. Prior to the third quarter of 2010, the total allowance was allocated to non-covered loans. At September 30, 2010, the allowance for loan losses on non-covered loans amounted $240.3 million, or 2.79% of total non-covered loans, compared with $238.8 million, or 2.80% of total non-covered loans, at December 31, 2009, and $230.7 million, or 2.74% of total non-covered loans, at September 30, 2009.  The $5.4 million increase in the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2010, from year-end 2009, reflects $170.3 million in additional loss provisions, less $164.2 million in net chargeoffs recorded during the first nine months of

 
62

 

2010.  The allowance for unfunded loan commitments, off-balance-sheet credit exposures, and recourse provisions is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities and amounted to $8.9 million at September 30, 2010, compared to $8.1 million at December 31, 2009.
 
We recorded $38.6 million in loan loss provisions during the third quarter of 2010 and $170.3 million during the first nine months of 2010.  In comparison, we recorded $159.2 million in loan loss provisions during the third quarter of 2009 and $388.7 million during the first nine months of 2009.  During the third quarter of 2010, we recorded $45.1 million in net chargeoffs representing 2.12% of average non-covered loans outstanding during the quarter.  In comparison, we recorded net chargeoffs totaling $151.2 million, or 7.14% of average non-covered loans outstanding for the same period in 2009.  During the first nine months of 2010, net chargeoffs amounted to $164.2 million, or 2.57% of average loans outstanding during the period.  This compares to net chargeoffs of $344.7 million, or 5.53% of average loans outstanding during the same period of 2009.
 
Refer to Note 7 to the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements presented elsewhere in this report, entitled Allowance for Loan Losses, to see the summary of activity in the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
 
Our methodology to determine the overall appropriateness of the allowance is based on a classification migration model and qualitative considerations. The migration analysis looks at pools of loans having similar characteristics and analyzes their loss rates over a historical period. We utilize historical loss factors derived from trends and losses associated with each pool over a specified period of time. Based on this process, we assign loss factors to each loan grade within each category of loans. Loss rates derived by the migration model are based predominantly on historical loss trends that may not be indicative of the actual or inherent loss potential for loan categories. As such, we utilize qualitative and environmental factors as adjusting mechanisms to supplement the historical results of the classification migration model.
 
Qualitative considerations include, but are not limited to, prevailing economic or market conditions, relative risk profiles of various loan segments, volume concentrations, growth trends, delinquency and nonaccrual status, problem loan trends, and geographic concentrations. Qualitative and environmental factors are reflected as percent adjustments and are added to the historical loss rates derived from the classified asset migration model to determine the appropriate allowance amount for each loan category. In consideration of the significant growth and increasing diversity and credit risk profiles of loans in our portfolio over the past several years, our classification migration model utilizes risk-rated loan pool categories segregated by type to further disaggregate the loans by associated risks. By sectionalizing the broad loan portfolio segments into smaller subgroups, we are better able to isolate and identify the risks associated with each subgroup based on historical loss trends.
 
The following table reflects management’s allocation of the allowance for loan losses by loan category and the ratio of each loan category to total loans as of the dates indicated:
 
   
September 30, 2010
   
December 31, 2009
 
   
Amount
   
% of total loans allocated
   
Amount
   
% of total loans allocated
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                         
Residential single-family
  $ 25,930       12.3 %   $ 18,693       10.9 %
Residential multifamily
    18,799       11.3 %     19,332       12.0 %
Commercial and industrial real estate, land
    96,786       42.7 %     110,628       46.6 %
Construction
    42,709       3.6 %     36,963       5.4 %
Commercial business
    49,333       16.5 %     43,774       15.1 %
Trade finance
    7,024       3.3 %     6,713       2.6 %
Automobile
    59       0.1 %     75       0.1 %
Student loans (1)
    -       7.5 %     -       4.6 %
Other consumer
    3,546       2.8 %     2,655       2.6 %
Total (2)
  $ 244,186       100.0 %   $ 238,833       100.0 %
 
(1)  
Included in consumer loans are Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) student loans. FFELP student loans are guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Education. Because of the guarantee there is no allowance allocated for these loans.
 
(2)  
Included in the allowance is $3.9 million related to covered loans at September 30, 2010. This allowance is related to drawdowns on commitments that were in existence as of the acquisition dates and, therefore, are covered under the shared-loss agreements with the FDIC. Allowance on these subsequent drawdowns is accounted for as part of our analysis of the adequacy of the allowance.
 
 
63

 
Deposits
 
Total deposits increased $310.4 million to $15.30 billion as of September 30, 2010 from $14.99 billion as of December 31, 2009. The increase in total deposits was due to increases of $1.05 billion, or 33.5%, in money market accounts, $280.5 million, or 12.2%, in noninterest-bearing demand deposits and $95.5 million, or 14.3%, in interest-bearing checking accounts, which were offset by decreases in time deposits of $1.08 billion, or 13.7% and in savings accounts of $36.2 million, or 3.7%. During the first nine months of 2010, we grew deposits from our retail network and commercial customers by $938.6 million while strategically reduced brokered deposits by $628.2 million.
 
As of September 30, 2010, time deposits within the Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service (“CDARS”) program amounted to $578.0 million, compared with $995.0 million as of December 31, 2009. The CDARS program allows customers with deposits in excess of FDIC-insured limits to obtain full coverage on time deposits through a network of banks within the CDARS program. Additionally, we partner with another financial institution to offer a retail sweep product for non-time deposit accounts to provide added deposit insurance coverage for deposits in excess of FDIC-insured limits. Deposits gathered through these programs are considered brokered deposits under regulatory reporting guidelines.

The following table sets forth the composition of the deposit portfolio as of the dates indicated:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
   
Increase (Decrease)
 
   
2010
   
2009
   
Amount
   
Percentage
 
   
(Dollars in thousands)
 
                         
Core deposits:
                       
    Noninterest-bearing demand
  $ 2,571,750     $ 2,291,259     $ 280,491       12.2 %
    Interest-bearing checking
    762,633       667,177       95,456       14.3 %
    Money market
    4,190,448       3,138,866       1,051,582       33.5 %
    Savings
    955,279       991,520       (36,241 )     (3.7 )%
                                 
        Total core deposits
    8,480,110       7,088,822       1,391,288       19.6 %
                                 
Time deposits
    6,817,861       7,898,791       (1,080,930 )     (13.7 )%
                                 
            Total deposits
  $ 15,297,971     $ 14,987,613     $ 310,358       2.1 %
Borrowings
 
We utilize a combination of short-term and long-term borrowings to manage our liquidity position. The following paragraphs set forth the changes in borrowings during the nine months ended September 30, 2010:
 
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances
 
Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) advances decreased $787.3 million, or 43.6%, to $1.02 billion as of September 30, 2010, compared to $1.81 billion as of December 31, 2009. The decrease in FHLB advances is consistent with our overall strategy to deleverage our balance sheet. During the first nine months of 2010, a portion of the proceeds from the maturities and sales of investment securities and redemption of our money market mutual funds were used to pay down our borrowings. During the first nine months of 2010, long-term FHLB advances totaling $1.1 billion were prepaid, with additional prepayment penalties of $13.8 million. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had no overnight FHLB advances.
 
Securities Sold Under Repurchase Agreements
 
We also utilize securities sold under repurchase agreements (“repurchase agreements”) to manage our liquidity position. Repurchase agreements totaled $1.05 billion and $1.03 billion as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. These balances included $50.7 million and $31.9 million in short-term repurchase agreements as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The interest rates on these short-term repurchase agreements were 0.51% as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Long-term repurchase agreements are accounted for as collateralized financing transactions and recorded at the amounts at which the securities were sold. The collateral for these agreements consist of U.S. Government agency and U.S. Government sponsored enterprise debt and mortgage-backed securities. As of September 30, 2010, all of these repurchase agreements were past the floating rate period.
 
Long-Term Debt
 
Long-term debt remained at $235.6 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Long-term debt is comprised of subordinated debt, which qualifies as Tier II capital for regulatory purposes, and junior subordinated debt, which qualifies as Tier I capital for regulatory purposes, issued in connection with our various trust preferred securities offerings.
 
 
64

 
Accrued Interest Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities
 
During the first nine months of 2010, accrued interest payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities increased to $311.0 million as of September 30, 2010 from $104.2 million as of December 31, 2009. The increase was primarily due to the amount payable to the FDIC for our purchase of several properties totaling $80.2 million as part of the FDIC-assisted transaction of WFIB and UCB.
 
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
 
The following table presents, as of September 30, 2010, the Company’s significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations, within the categories described below, by payment date.  With the exception of operating lease obligations, these contractual obligations are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.  The payment amounts represent the amounts and interest contractually due to the recipient.
 
 
   
Payment Due by Period
 
   
Less than
               
After
   
Indeterminate
       
Contractual Obligations
 
1 year
   
1-3 years
   
3-5 years
   
5 years
   
Maturity
   
Total
 
   
(In thousands)
 
                                     
Deposits
  $ 6,325,727     $ 491,151     $ 98,035     $ 69     $ 8,584,035     $ 15,499,017  
Federal funds purchased
    22       -       -       -       -       22  
FHLB advances
    82,584       267,049       175,729       598,098       -       1,123,460  
Securities sold under repurchase agreements
    94,274       94,822       214,154       912,844       -       1,316,094  
Notes payable
                    -       -       45,223       45,223  
Long-term debt obligations
    6,595       13,189       88,168       259,103       -       367,055  
Operating lease obligations
    20,921       37,348       26,319       27,494       -       112,082  
Unrecognized tax benefits
    (2,662 )     (3,912 )     (2,060 )     -       -       (8,634 )
Postretirement benefit payments
    508       2,140       2,512       47,034       -       52,194  
Total contractual obligations
  $ 6,527,969     $ 901,787     $ 602,857     $ 1,844,642     $ 8,629,258     $ 18,506,513  
 
The operating lease obligation as of September 30, 2010 includes the forty-five leases assumed by the Company as part of the FDIC-assisted transaction of UCB.
 
As a financial service provider, we routinely enter into commitments to extend credit to customers, such as loan commitments, commercial letters of credit for foreign and domestic trade, standby letters of credit, and financial guarantees.  Many of these commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon.  The same credit policies are used in extending these commitments as in extending loan facilities to customers.  A schedule of significant commitments to extend credit to our customers as of September 30, 2010 is as follows:
 
 
   
Commitments Outstanding
 
   
(In millions)
 
       
Undisbursed loan commitments
  $ 1,852  
Standby letters of credit
    655  
Commercial letters of credit
    68  
 
 

 
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Capital Resources
 
At September 30, 2010, stockholders’ equity totaled $2.38 billion, a 4.4% increase from the year-end 2009 balance of $2.28 billion.  The increase is comprised of the following: (1) net income of $108.2 million recorded during the first nine months of 2010; (2) additional unrealized gain on investment securities available-for-sale, net of tax, of $4.5 million; (3) stock compensation costs amounting to $6.2 million related to grants of restricted stock and stock options; and (4) issuance of common stock totaling $2.5 million, representing 1,234,302 shares, pursuant to various stock plans and agreements. These transactions were offset by: (1) tax liability of $156 thousand from various stock plans; (2) purchase of treasury shares related to vested restricted stock amounting to $481 thousand, representing 26,182 shares; and (3) accrual and payment of cash dividends on common and preferred stock totaling $20.7 million during the first nine months of 2010.
 
Historically, our primary source of capital has been the retention of operating earnings.  In order to ensure adequate levels of capital, we conduct an ongoing assessment of projected sources, needs and uses of capital in conjunction with projected increases in assets and the level of risk.  As part of this ongoing assessment, the Board of Directors reviews the various components of capital and the adequacy of capital.
 
Series C Preferred Stock
 
On March 25, 2010, at a special meeting of the stockholders, our stockholders voted to approve the issuance of 37,103,734 shares of our common stock upon conversion of the 335,047 shares of the Series C Preferred Stock. The Series C Preferred Stock was subsequently automatically converted into shares of our common stock on March 30, 2010, and, as a result, no shares of the Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding.
 
 
Risk-Based Capital
 
We are committed to maintaining capital at a level sufficient to assure our shareholders, our customers and our regulators that our company and our bank subsidiary are financially sound.  We are subject to risk-based capital regulations and capital adequacy guidelines adopted by the federal banking regulators.  These guidelines are used to evaluate capital adequacy and are based on an institution’s asset risk profile and off-balance sheet exposures.  According to these guidelines, institutions whose Tier I and total capital ratios meet or exceed 6.0% and 10.0%, respectively, may be deemed “well-capitalized.”  At September 30, 2010, the Bank’s Tier I and total capital ratios were 16.4% and 18.2%, respectively, compared to 15.7% and 17.7%, respectively, at December 31, 2009.
 
The following table compares East West Bancorp, Inc.’s and East West Bank’s actual capital ratios at September 30, 2010, to those required by regulatory agencies for capital adequacy and well-capitalized classification purposes:
 
 
         
Minimum
 
Well
 
East West
 
East West
 
Regulatory
 
Capitalized
 
Bancorp
 
Bank
 
Requirements
 
Requirements
               
Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
19.7%
 
18.2%
 
8.0%
 
10.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
17.9%
 
16.4%
 
4.0%
 
6.0%
Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets)
10.8%
 
9.6%
 
4.0%
 
5.0%
 
 

 
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ASSET LIABILITY AND MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT
 
Liquidity
 
Liquidity management involves our ability to meet cash flow requirements arising from fluctuations in deposit levels and demands of daily operations, which include funding of securities purchases, providing for customers’ credit needs and ongoing repayment of borrowings.  Our liquidity is actively managed on a daily basis and reviewed periodically by the Asset/Liability Committee and the Board of Directors.  This process is intended to ensure the maintenance of sufficient funds to meet the needs of the Bank, including adequate cash flow for off-balance sheet instruments.
 
Our primary sources of liquidity are derived from financing activities which include the acceptance of customer and brokered deposits, federal funds facilities, repurchase agreement facilities, advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and issuances of long-term debt.  These funding sources are augmented by payments of principal and interest on loans and securities.  In addition, government programs, such as the FDIC’s TLGP, may influence deposit behavior.  Primary uses of funds include withdrawal of and interest payments on deposits, originations and purchases of loans, purchases of investment securities, and payment of operating expenses.
 
During the first nine months of 2010, we experienced net cash inflows from operating activities of $686.7 million, compared to net cash inflows of $188.3 million for the first nine months of 2009.
 
Net cash inflows from investing activities totaled $351.4 million for the first nine months of 2010 compared with net cash outflows of $636.1 million for the first nine months of 2009.  Net cash inflows from investing activities for the first nine months of 2010 were due primarily from the repayments, maturities and redemptions of investment securities and proceeds from the sales of investment securities, and securities purchased under resale agreements. These factors were partially offset by the purchases of investment securities, securities purchased under resale agreements and purchases of loans receivable.   Net cash outflows from investing activities for the first nine months of 2009 were due primarily to purchases of interest-bearing deposits, securities purchased under resale agreements, and investment securities. These factors were partially offset by proceeds from the sale of investment securities, as well as repayments, maturities and redemptions of investment securities, sale of loans receivable due to the sale of problem assets, and a decrease in loans receivable due to lower loan origination volume during the first nine months of 2009.
 
We experienced net cash outflows from financing activities of $1.0 billion during the first nine months of 2010, primarily due to the repayment of long-term borrowings. We experienced net inflows from financing activities of $162.2 million for the first nine months of 2009 primarily due to the net increase in deposits. This was partially offset by net decreases in FHLB advances, and dividends paid on our common and preferred stock for the first nine months of 2009.
 
As a means of augmenting our liquidity, we have available a combination of borrowing sources  comprised of the Federal Reserve Bank’s discount window, FHLB advances, federal funds lines with various correspondent banks, and several master repurchase agreements with major brokerage companies.  We believe our liquidity sources to be stable and adequate to meet our day-to-day cash flow requirements.
 
The liquidity of East West Bancorp, Inc. has historically been dependent on the payment of cash dividends by its subsidiary, East West Bank, subject to applicable statutes and regulations. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, no dividends were paid by the Bank to the Company. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, total dividends paid by the Bank to the Company amounted to $25.4 million.
 
On October 25, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the payment of fourth quarter dividends of $20.00 per share on the Company’s Series A preferred stock. The dividend is payable on or about November 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of October 15, 2010. Additionally, the Board declared a dividend of $0.01 per share on the Company’s common stock payable on or about November 24, 2010 to shareholders of record as of November 10, 2010.

 
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Interest Rate Sensitivity Management
 
Our success is largely dependent upon our ability to manage interest rate risk, which is the impact of adverse fluctuations in interest rates on our net interest income and net portfolio value.
 
The fundamental objective of the asset liability management process is to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations while maintaining adequate levels of liquidity and capital.  Our strategy is formulated by the Asset/Liability Committee, which coordinates with the Board of Directors to monitor our overall asset and liability composition.  The Committee meets regularly to evaluate, among other things, the sensitivity of our assets and liabilities to interest rate changes, the book and market values of assets and liabilities, unrealized gains and losses on the available-for-sale portfolio (including those attributable to hedging transactions, if any), purchase and securitization activity, and maturities of investments and borrowings.
 
Our overall strategy is to minimize the adverse impact of immediate incremental changes in market interest rates (rate shock) on net interest income and net portfolio value.  Net portfolio value is defined as the present value of assets, minus the present value of liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments.  The attainment of this goal requires a balance between profitability, liquidity and interest rate risk exposure.  To minimize the adverse impact of changes in market interest rates, we simulate the effect of instantaneous interest rate changes on net interest income and net portfolio value on a quarterly basis.  The table below shows the estimated impact of changes in interest rates on net interest income and market value of equity as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, assuming a non-parallel shift of 100 and 200 basis points in both directions:
 
 
   
Net Interest Income
 
Net Portfolio Value
   
Volatility (1)
 
Volatility (2)
Change in Interest Rates
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
September 30,
 
December 31,
(Basis Points)
 
2010
 
2009
 
2010
 
2009
+200
 
(2.6)%
 
1.5 %
 
(4.9)%
 
(4.3)%
+100
 
(2.5)%
 
0.3 %
 
(2.6)%
 
(2.2)%
-100
 
5.6 %
 
3.9 %
 
(0.5)%
 
1.6 %
-200
 
5.6 %
 
6.8 %
 
(4.7)%
 
1.1 %
 
 
 
(1)  
The percentage change represents net interest income for twelve months in a stable interest rate environment versus net interest income in the various rate scenarios.
 
(2)  
The percentage change represents net portfolio value of the Bank in a stable interest rate environment versus net portfolio value in the various rate scenarios.
 
All interest-earning assets, interest-bearing liabilities and related derivative contracts are included in the interest rate sensitivity analysis at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009.  In a declining rate environment, the interest rate floors on these loans contribute to the favorable impact on our net interest income.  However, in a rising rate environment, these interest rate floors also serve to lessen the full benefit of higher interest rates.
 
Our primary analytical tool to gauge interest rate sensitivity is a simulation model used by many major banks and bank regulators, and is based on the actual maturity and repricing characteristics of interest-rate sensitive assets and liabilities.  The model attempts to predict changes in the yields earned on assets and the rates paid on liabilities in relation to changes in market interest rates.  As an enhancement to the primary simulation model, prepayment assumptions and market rates of interest provided by independent broker/dealer quotations, an independent pricing model and other available public sources are incorporated into the model.  Adjustments are made to reflect the shift in the Treasury and other appropriate yield curves.  The model also factors in projections of anticipated activity levels by product line and takes into account our increased ability to control rates offered on deposit products in comparison to our ability to control rates on adjustable-rate loans tied to the published indices.

 
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The following table provides the outstanding principal balances and the weighted average interest rates of our financial instruments as of September 30, 2010.  The information presented below is based on the repricing date for variable rate instruments and the expected maturity date for fixed rate instruments.
 
 
                                             
Fair Value at
 
   
Expected Maturity or Repricing Date by Year
         
September 30,
 
   
Year 1
   
Year 2
   
Year 3
   
Year 4
   
Year 5
   
Thereafter
   
Total
   
2010
 
   
(In thousands)
 
Assets:
                                               
CD investments
  $ 319,789     $ 8,092       -       250     $ -       -     $ 328,131     $ 392,183  
Average yield (fixed rate)
    1.64 %     1.72 %     -       4.00 %     -       -       1.65 %        
Short-term investments
  $ 61,846       -       -       -       -       -     $ 61,846     $ 61,846  
Weighted average rate
    0.99 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.99 %        
Securities purchased under
  resale agreements
  $ 688,984       -       -       -       -       -     $ 688,984     $ 689,260  
Weighted average rate
    1.10 %     -       -       -       -       -       1.10 %        
Investment securities available-for-sale
  (fixed rate)
  $ 356,121     $ 124,950     $ 47,760     $ 35,401     $ 120,158     $ 433,176     $ 1,117,566     $ 1,123,023  
Weighted average rate
    3.95 %     5.06 %     5.63 %     3.32 %     5.26 %     5.45 %     4.85 %        
Investment securities available-for-sale
  (variable rate) (1)
  $ 831,157     $ 152,950     $ 114,681     $ 133,542     $ 198,379     $ 350,707     $ 1,781,416     $ 1,784,327  
Weighted average rate
    2.38 %     3.42 %     1.93 %     1.91 %     2.83 %     2.65 %     2.51 %        
Total covered gross loans
  $ 4,379,303     $ 734,419     $ 507,362     $ 189,589     $ 148,098     $ 273,305     $ 6,232,075     $ 5,387,237  
Weighted average rate
    4.81 %     6.14 %     6.22 %     6.17 %     5.60 %     4.10 %     5.11 %        
Total non-covered gross loans
  $ 6,713,336     $ 655,638     $ 387,098     $ 233,525     $ 146,937     $ 510,646     $ 8,647,180     $ 8,633,344  
Weighted average rate
    5.18 %     5.82 %     6.07 %     6.11 %     6.20 %     4.84 %     5.29 %        
                                                                 
Liabilities:
                                                               
Checking accounts
  $ 762,633       -       -       -       -       -     $ 762,633     $ 658,410  
Weighted average rate
    0.25 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.25 %        
Money market accounts
  $ 4,190,448       -       -       -       -       -     $ 4,190,448     $ 4,107,534  
Weighted average rate
    0.61 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.61 %        
Savings deposits
  $ 955,278       -       -       -       -       -     $ 955,278     $ 834,882  
Weighted average rate
    0.26 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.26 %        
Time deposits
  $ 6,256,887       408,163       61,782       35,699       55,284       45     $ 6,817,861     $ 6,827,216  
Weighted average rate
    1.18 %     1.66 %     2.74 %     1.94 %     1.52 %     4.08 %     1.23 %        
Short-term borrowings
  $ 22       -       -       -       -       -     $ 22     $ 22  
Weighted average rate
    0.20 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.20 %        
FHLB advances (term)
  $ 45,000     $ 100,000     $ 100,000     $ 125,000       -     $ 575,000     $ 945,000     $ 1,037,512  
Weighted average rate
    4.77 %     1.03 %     4.64 %     4.43 %     -       4.26 %     4.01 %        
Short-term repurchase agreements
  $ 50,664       -       -       -       -       -     $ 50,664     $ 50,664  
Weighted average rate
    0.51 %     -       -       -       -       -       0.51 %        
Securities sold under repurchase
  agreements (fixed rate)
    -       -       -       -       120,000     $ 825,000     $ 945,000     $ 1,172,042  
Weighted average rate
    -       -       -       -       4.44 %     4.85 %     4.80 %        
Securities sold under repurchase
  agreements  (variable rate)
  $ 50,000       -       -       -       -       -     $ 50,000     $ 57,186  
Weighted average rate
    4.15 %     -       -       -       -       -       4.15 %        
Subordinated notes (variable rate)
  $ 75,000       -       -       -       -       -     $ 75,000     $ 55,895  
Weighted average rate
    1.60 %     -       -       -       -       -       1.60 %        
Junior subordinated debt (fixed rate)
    -       -       -       -       -     $ 21,392     $ 21,392     $ 24,985  
Weighted average rate
    -       -       -       -       -       10.91 %     10.91 %        
Junior subordinated debt (variable rate)
  $ 139,178       -       -       -       -       -     $ 139,178     $ 41,227  
Weighted average rate
    2.07 %     -       -       -       -       -       2.07 %        
Other borrowing (variable rate)
  $ 28,305       -       -       -       -       -     $ 28,305     $ 28,349  
Weighted average rate
    2.01 %     -       -       -       -       -       2.01 %        
 
 
(1)  
Includes hybrid securities that have fixed interest rates for the first three or five years.  Thereafter, interest rates become adjustable based on a predetermined index.
 
Expected maturities of assets are contractual maturities adjusted for projected payment based on contractual amortization and unscheduled prepayments of principal as well as repricing frequency.  Expected maturities for deposits are based on contractual maturities adjusted for projected rollover rates for deposits with no stated maturity dates.  We utilize assumptions supported by documented analyses for the expected maturities of our loans and repricing of our deposits.  We also use prepayment projections for amortizing securities.  The actual maturities of these instruments could vary significantly if future prepayments and repricing frequencies differ from our expectations based on historical experience.
 
 
69

 
The fair values of interest-bearing deposits in other banks are based on the discounted cash flow approach.  The discount rate is derived from the Bank’s time deposit rate curve.  The fair values of short-term investments generally approximate their book values due to their short maturities.  For securities purchased under resale agreements, fair values are calculated by discounting future cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates utilizing estimated market discount rates and taking into consideration the call features of each instrument.  The fair values of the investment securities are generally determined by reference to the average of at least two quoted market prices obtained from independent external brokers or prices obtained from independent external pricing service providers who have experience in valuing these securities.  In obtaining such valuation information from third parties, the Company has reviewed the methodologies used to develop the resulting fair values.  For the private-label mortgage-backed security, the fair value was derived based on a combination of broker prices and discounted cash flow analyses that is weighted as deemed appropriate.  For the pooled trust preferred securities, the fair value was derived based on a discounted cash flow analyses.  The discount rate is derived from assumptions using an exit pricing approach related to the implied rate of return which have been adjusted for general change in market rates, estimated changes in credit quality and liquidity risk premium, and specific non-performance and default experience in the collateral underlying the securities.
 
The fair value of deposits is determined based on the discounted cash flow approach.  The discount rate is derived from the associated yield curve, plus spread, if any.  For core deposits, the cash outflows are projected by the decay rate based on the Bank’s core deposit premium study.  Cash flows for all non-time deposits are discounted using the LIBOR yield curve.  For time deposits, the cash flows are based on the contractual runoff and are discounted by the Bank’s current offering rates, plus spread.  For federal funds purchased, fair value approximates book value due to their short maturities.  The fair value of FHLB term advances is estimated by discounting the cash flows through maturity or the next repricing date based on current rates offered by the FHLB for borrowings with similar maturities.  Customer repurchase agreements, which have maturities ranging from one to three days, are presumed to have equal book and fair values because the interests rates paid on these instruments are based on prevailing market rates.  The fair values of securities sold under repurchase agreements are calculated by discounting future cash flows based on expected maturities or repricing dates, utilizing estimated market discount rates and taking into consideration the call features of each instrument.  For both subordinated and junior subordinated debt instruments, fair values are estimated by discounting cash flows through maturity based on current market rates the Bank would pay for new issuances.
 
The Asset/Liability Committee is authorized to utilize a wide variety of off-balance sheet financial techniques to assist in the management of interest rate risk.  We may elect to use derivative financial instruments as part of our asset and liability management strategy, with the overall goal of minimizing the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our net interest margin and stockholders’ equity.  Currently, derivative instruments do not have a material impact on our operating results or financial position.
 

 
70

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
For quantitative and qualitative disclosures regarding market risks in our portfolio, see, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Asset Liability and Market Risk Management.”
 
ITEM 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
As of September 30, 2010, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e).  Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective as of September 30, 2010.
 
Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Our disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
Internal Controls
 
During our most recent fiscal quarter, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
Neither the Company nor the Bank is involved in any material legal proceedings.  The Bank, from time to time, is party to litigation which arises in the ordinary course of business, such as claims to enforce liens, claims involving the origination and servicing of loans, and other issues related to the business of the Bank.  After taking into consideration information furnished by counsel to the Company and the Bank, management believes that the resolution of such issues would not have a material adverse impact on the financial position, results of operations, or liquidity of the Company or the Bank.
 
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
The Company’s 2009 Form 10-K contains disclosure regarding the risks and uncertainties related to the Company’s business under the heading “Item A. Risk Factors.”  The information presented below updates and should be read in conjunction with the risk factors and information disclosed in the 2009 Form 10-K.  Other than as set forth below, there are no material changes to our risk factors as presented in the Company’s Form 10-K.
 
We may engage in additional acquisitions of banks, which may involve FDIC-assisted transactions, which could present additional risks to our business.  We may have opportunities to acquire other banks and this may include the acquisition of the assets and liabilities of failed banks in FDIC-assisted transactions.  Although failed bank transactions typically provide for FDIC assistance to an acquirer to mitigate certain risks, such as sharing exposure to loan losses and providing indemnification against certain liabilities of the failed institution, we would still be subject to many of the same risks we would face in acquiring another bank in negotiated transactions, including risks associated with maintaining customer relationships and failure to realize the anticipated acquisition benefits in the amounts and within the timeframes we expect.  In addition, because these acquisitions are structured in a manner that would not allow us the time and access to information normally associated with preparing for and evaluating a negotiated acquisition, we may face additional risk in FDIC-assisted transactions, including additional strain on management resources, management of problem loans, problems related to integration of personnel and operating systems and impact to our capital resources requiring us to raise additional capital.  We cannot assure you that we will be successful in overcoming these risks or any other problems encountered in connection with FDIC-assisted or other transactions.  Our inability to overcome these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and net income.
 
If we were to undergo an “ownership change” for tax purposes, our ability to use certain tax benefits would be limited.  If we were to undergo an “ownership change” for tax purposes, our ability to deduct then existing net operating loss carryforwards would be subject to limitation.  In addition, our ability to claim certain subsequent deductions could be subject to limitation if we had a “net unrealized built-in loss” at the time of the ownership change.  The rules for determining when a company has an ownership change and the subsequent calculation of applicable limitations are highly complex. If we were to undergo an ownership change, limitations on our ability to use our tax benefits could have a materially adverse effect on us.
 
 
ITEM 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
 
Except as previously disclosed on Reports on Form 8-K, there were no unregistered sales of equity securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The following summarizes share repurchase activities during the third quarter of 2010:
 
               
Total Number
   
Approximate Dollar
 
   
Total
         
of Shares
   
Value in Millions of
 
   
Number
   
Average
   
Purchased as
   
Shares that May Yet Be
 
   
of Shares
   
Price Paid
   
Part of Publicly
   
Purchased Under
 
Month Ended
 
Purchased (1)
   
per Share
   
Announced Programs
   
the Programs (2)
 
July 31, 2010
        $           $ 26.2  
August 31, 2010
                      26.2  
September 30, 2010
                      26.2  
Total
        $           $ 26.2  
 
(1)  
Excludes 112,252 in repurchased shares totaling $958 thousand due to forfeitures and vesting of restricted stock awards pursuant to the Company’s 1998 Stock Incentive Plan.
(2)  
During the first quarter of 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors announced a repurchase program authorizing the repurchase of up to $80.0 million of its common stock.  This repurchase program has no expiration date and, to date, 1,392,176 shares totaling $53.8 million have been purchased under this program.
 
 
 
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ITEM 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 4.  (REMOVED AND RESERVED)
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 5.  OTHER INFORMATION
 
Not applicable.
 
ITEM 6.  EXHIBITS
 
(i) Exhibit 31.1
Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(ii) Exhibit 31.2
Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(iii) Exhibit 32.1
Chief Executive Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
(iv) Exhibit 32.2
Chief Financial Officer Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
 
All other material referenced in this report which is required to be filed as an exhibit hereto has previously been submitted.
 
 
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SIGNATURE
 
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.
 
Dated:           November 8, 2010
 
 
 
EAST WEST BANCORP, INC.
 
 
 
By: /s/ IRENE H. OH                                           
Irene H. Oh
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
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