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GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. - Quarter Report: 2011 September (Form 10-Q)

gsbc-10q093011.htm

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

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period ended September 30, 2011

Commission File Number 0-18082

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

Maryland
 
43-1524856
(State of Incorporation)
 
(IRS Employer Identification Number)
     
1451 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri
 
65804
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
     
(417) 887-4400
(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 /X/     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 (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes/X/   No /  /
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “accelerated filer,” “large accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
(Check one):
Large accelerated filer /  /
Accelerated filer /X/
Non-accelerated filer /  /
Smaller reporting company /  /
   
(Do not check if a 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 /X/
 
The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock: 13,475,313 shares of common stock, par value $.01, outstanding at November 4, 2011.
 


 
1
 
 
 


PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(In thousands, except number of shares)

   
SEPTEMBER 30,
   
DECEMBER 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
Cash
 
$
81,248
   
$
69,756
 
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions
   
264,052
     
360,215
 
Cash and cash equivalents
   
345,300
     
429,971
 
Available-for-sale securities
   
795,404
     
769,546
 
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value $2,142 – September 2011;
               
     $1,300 - December 2010)
   
1,865
     
1,125
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
   
19,969
     
22,499
 
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of
               
     $40,466 – September 2011; $41,487 - December 2010
   
1,958,872
     
1,876,887
 
FDIC indemnification asset
   
62,567
     
100,878
 
Interest receivable
   
11,582
     
12,628
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
74,828
     
52,390
 
Foreclosed assets held for sale, net
   
65,674
     
60,262
 
Premises and equipment, net
   
79,145
     
68,352
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
   
4,772
     
5,395
 
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
   
11,236
     
11,572
 
          Total Assets
 
$
3,431,214
   
$
3,411,505
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Deposits
 
$
2,618,819
   
$
2,595,893
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
151,512
     
153,525
 
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers
   
245,723
     
257,180
 
Short-term borrowings
   
660
     
778
 
Structured repurchase agreements
   
53,103
     
53,142
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
   
30,929
     
30,929
 
Accrued interest payable
   
2,517
     
3,765
 
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
   
2,589
     
1,019
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
10,699
     
10,395
 
Current and deferred income taxes
   
289
     
870
 
          Total Liabilities
   
3,116,840
     
3,107,496
 
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Capital stock
               
Serial preferred stock – CPP, $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued
          and outstanding September 2011 – 0 shares, December 2010 – 58,000 shares
   
--
     
56,480
 
Serial preferred stock – SBLF, $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued
          and outstanding September 2011 – 57,943 shares, December 2010 – 0 shares
   
57,943
     
--
 
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding September 2011 – 13,475,313 shares;
               
December 2010 - 13,454,000 shares
   
134
     
134
 
Common stock warrants; September 2011 – 0 shares, December 2010 – 909,091 shares
   
--
     
2,452
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
17,067
     
20,701
 
Retained earnings
   
227,623
     
220,021
 
Accumulated other comprehensive gain
   
11,607
     
4,221
 
          Total Stockholders' Equity
   
314,374
     
304,009
 
          Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
$
3,431,214
   
$
3,411,505
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
2
 
 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 
THREE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
INTEREST INCOME
 
(Unaudited)
 
Loans
 
$
43,286
 
 
$
35,000
 
Investment securities and other
 
 
6,679
 
 
 
6,535
 
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
 
 
49,965
 
 
 
41,535
 
INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
 
6,120
 
 
 
9,037
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
 
1,319
 
 
 
1,373
 
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements
 
 
746
 
 
 
777
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
 
 
140
 
 
 
154
 
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
8,325
 
 
 
11,341
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
 
 
41,640
 
 
 
30,194
 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
 
8,500
 
 
 
10,800
 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
 
33,140
 
 
 
19,394
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
 
 
2,003
 
 
 
1,917
 
Service charges and ATM fees
 
 
4,734
 
 
 
4,689
 
Net realized gains on sales of loans
 
 
743
 
 
 
1,155
 
Net realized gains on sales and impairments of available-for-sale securities
   
483
     
5,441
 
Late charges and fees on loans
 
 
187
 
 
 
170
 
Accretion (amortization) of income related to business acquisitions
 
 
(9,911
)
 
 
(1,604
)
Other income
 
 
554
 
 
 
464
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
 
 
(1,207
)
 
 
12,232
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
 
 
11,760
 
 
 
11,202
 
Net occupancy and equipment expense
 
 
3,977
 
 
 
3,435
 
Postage
 
 
719
 
 
 
827
 
Insurance
 
 
1,589
 
 
 
1,036
 
Advertising
 
 
366
 
 
 
508
 
Office supplies and printing
 
 
288
 
 
 
357
 
Telephone
 
 
640
 
 
 
633
 
Legal, audit and other professional fees
 
 
983
 
 
 
677
 
Expense on foreclosed assets
 
 
848
 
 
 
2,253
 
Other operating expenses
 
 
1,847
 
 
 
1,674
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
23,017
 
 
 
22,602
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
 
8,916
 
 
 
9,024
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
 
 
2,463
 
 
 
2,862
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME
 
 
6,453
 
 
 
6,162
 
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion
 
 
798
 
 
 
857
 
Non-cash deemed preferred stock dividend
 
 
1,212
 
 
 
--
 
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
 
$
4,443
 
 
$
5,305
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.33
 
 
$
0.39
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
0.33
 
 
$
0.38
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
.18
 
 
$
.18
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
3
 
 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
INTEREST INCOME
 
(Unaudited)
 
Loans
 
$
127,613
 
 
$
99,747
 
Investment securities and other
 
 
20,536
 
 
 
21,153
 
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
 
 
148,149
 
 
 
120,900
 
INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
 
 
20,267
 
 
 
29,834
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
 
3,920
 
 
 
4,178
 
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements
 
 
2,249
 
 
 
2,568
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
 
 
420
 
 
 
432
 
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
26,856
 
 
 
37,012
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
 
 
121,293
 
 
 
83,888
 
PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
 
25,131
 
 
 
28,300
 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
 
96,162
 
 
 
55,588
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Commissions
 
 
6,926
 
 
 
6,328
 
Service charges and ATM fees
 
 
13,270
 
 
 
14,333
 
Net realized gains on sales of loans
 
 
2,352
 
 
 
2,704
 
Net realized gains on sales and impairments of available-for-sale securities
   
83
     
8,906
 
Late charges and fees on loans
 
 
471
 
 
 
611
 
Accretion (amortization) of income related to business acquisitions
 
 
(29,960
)
 
 
961
 
Other income
 
 
1,721
 
 
 
1,526
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
 
 
(5,137
)
 
 
35,369
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
 
 
35,042
 
 
 
33,405
 
Net occupancy and equipment expense
 
 
11,306
 
 
 
10,305
 
Postage
 
 
2,285
 
 
 
2,494
 
Insurance
 
 
4,534
 
 
 
3,289
 
Advertising
 
 
1,049
 
 
 
1,307
 
Office supplies and printing
 
 
920
 
 
 
1,180
 
Telephone
 
 
1,778
 
 
 
1,741
 
Legal, audit and other professional fees
 
 
2,468
 
 
 
1,967
 
Expense on foreclosed assets
 
 
1,903
 
 
 
4,837
 
Other operating expenses
 
 
5,478
 
 
 
5,027
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
66,763
 
 
 
65,552
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
 
 
24,262
 
 
 
25,405
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES
 
 
6,024
 
 
 
7,880
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NET INCOME
 
 
18,238
 
 
 
17,525
 
Preferred stock dividends and discount accretion
 
 
2,426
 
 
 
2,544
 
Non-cash deemed preferred stock dividend
 
 
1,212
 
 
 
--
 
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
 
$
14,600
 
 
$
14,981
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
1.08
 
 
$
1.12
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
1.08
 
 
$
1.07
 
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE
 
$
.54
 
 
$
.54
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
4
 
 
 


GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In Thousands)
 
 
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
 
 
 
2011
 
 
2010
 
 
 
(Unaudited)
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
18,238
 
 
$
17,525
 
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
 
 
123,123
 
 
 
123,821
 
Originations of loans held for sale
 
 
(119,759
)
 
 
(122,307
)
Items not requiring (providing) cash:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation
 
 
3,721
 
 
 
2,520
 
Amortization of other assets
 
 
1,681
 
 
 
760
 
Compensation expense for stock option grants
   
360
     
340
 
Provision for loan losses
 
 
25,131
 
 
 
28,300
 
Net gains on loan sales
 
 
(2,352
)
 
 
(2,704
)
Net gains on sale or impairment of available-for-sale investment securities
   
(83
)
   
(8,906
)
Net (gains) losses on sale of premises and equipment
 
 
152
 
 
 
(33
)
Loss on sale of foreclosed assets
 
 
867
 
 
 
1,066
 
Amortization (accretion) of deferred income, premiums, discounts
 
 
           
and fair value adjustments
 
 
29,456
 
 
 
(1,300
)
Deferred income taxes
 
 
(2,765
)
 
 
6,599
 
Changes in:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest receivable
 
 
1,046
 
 
 
3,230
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
 
(13,183
)
 
 
30,810
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
 
 
(867
)
 
 
742
 
Income taxes refundable/payable
 
 
(1,793
)
 
 
(17,950
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
62,973
 
 
 
62,513
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (increase) decrease in loans
 
 
(123,500
)
 
 
100,546
 
Purchase of loans
 
 
(2,100
)
 
 
(12,164
)
Proceeds from sale of student loans
 
 
804
 
 
 
22,291
 
Purchase of additional business units
   
(1
)
   
(25
)
Purchase of premises and equipment
 
 
(12,446
)
 
 
(6,100
)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
 
 
449
 
 
 
169
 
Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets
 
 
10,446
 
 
 
21,932
 
Capitalized costs on foreclosed assets
 
 
(239
)
 
 
(1,188
)
Proceeds from sales of available-for-sale investment securities
   
21,217
     
296,948
 
Proceeds from maturing held-to-maturity investment securities
   
1,202
     
410
 
Proceeds from called investment securities
 
 
7,835
 
 
 
46,920
 
Principal reductions on mortgage-backed securities
 
 
89,451
 
 
 
151,079
 
Purchase of available-for-sale securities
 
 
(136,811
)
 
 
(380,583
)
Purchase of held-to-maturity securities
   
(840
)
   
(30,000
)
(Purchase) redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
 
 
336
 
 
 
(360
)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
 
 
(144,197
)
 
 
209,875
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in certificates of deposit
 
 
(115,249
)
 
 
(288,976
)
Net increase in checking and savings deposits
 
 
138,905
 
 
 
154,421
 
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
 
 
(1,402
)
 
 
(16,853
)
Net decrease in short-term borrowings and structured repo
 
 
(11,575
)
 
 
(79,793
)
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
 
 
1,570
 
 
 
672
 
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock
   
57,943
 
   
--
 
Redemption of preferred stock
   
(58,000
)
   
--
 
Purchase of common stock warrant
   
(6,436
)
   
--
 
Dividends paid
 
 
(9,466
)
 
 
(9,423
)
Stock options exercised
 
 
263
 
 
 
524
 
Net cash used in financing activities
 
 
(3,447
)
 
 
(239,428
)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
 
(84,671
)
 
 
32,960
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
 
 
429,971
 
 
 
444,576
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
345,300
 
 
$
477,536
 
 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


 
5
 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Great Southern") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The financial statements presented herein reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company for the periods presented. Those adjustments consist only of normal recurring adjustments. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. The consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2010, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of that date.   Certain prior periods’ amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income.
 
Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company's annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2010 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTE 2: OPERATING SEGMENTS
 
The Company's banking operation is its only reportable segment. The banking operation is principally engaged in the business of originating residential and commercial real estate loans, construction loans, commercial business loans and consumer loans and funding these loans through deposits attracted from the general public and correspondent account relationships, brokered deposits and borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLBank") and others. The operating results of this segment are regularly reviewed by management to make decisions about resource allocations and to assess performance.
 
Revenue from segments below the reportable segment threshold is attributable to three operating segments of the Company. These segments include insurance services, travel services and investment services. Selected information is not presented separately for the Company's reportable segment, as there is no material difference between that information and the corresponding information in the consolidated financial statements.
 
NOTE 3: COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
 
The FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) Topic 220 requires the reporting of comprehensive income and its components. Comprehensive income is defined as the change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, and excludes investments by and distributions to owners. Comprehensive income includes net income and other items of comprehensive income meeting the above criteria. The Company's only component of other comprehensive income is the unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities.

 
6
 
 


   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
  $ 4,774     $ 2,301  
                 
Non-credit component of unrealized gain on available-for-sale debt
               
securities for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment
               
has been recognized
    147       46  
                 
Less reclassification adjustment for gain included in net income 
    483       5,441  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax effect
    4,438       (3,094 )
                 
Tax expense (benefit)
    1,553       (1,083 )
                 
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities,
               
net of income taxes
  $ 2,885     $ (2,011 )
                 

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
  $ 11,394     $ 5,903  
                 
Non-credit component of unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale debt
               
securities for which a portion of an other-than-temporary impairment
               
has been recognized
    852       (389 )
                 
Other-than-temporary impairment loss recognized in earnings on
               
available-for-sale debt securities
    (400 )      
                 
Less reclassification adjustment for gain included in net income 
    483       8,906  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax effect
    11,363       (3,392 )
                 
Tax expense (benefit)
    3,977       (1,187 )
                 
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities,
               
net of income taxes
  $ 7,386     $ (2,205 )
                 


 
7
 
 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income, included in stockholders’ equity, are as follows:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities
  $ 17,790     $ 7,279  
Net unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale debt securities for which a
               
portion of an other-than-temporary impairment has been recognized
    67       (785 )
      17,857       6,494  
Tax expense
    6,250       2,273  
                 
Net-of-tax amount
  $ 11,607     $ 4,221  

NOTE 4: RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
In September 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2011-09 to amend FASB ASC Subtopic 715-80, Compensation – Retirement Benefits – Multiemployer Plans:  Disclosures about an Employer’s Participation in a Multiemployer Plan.  The Update requires employers with multiemployer pension plans to provide additional disclosures.  The new disclosures require qualitative and quantitative information about the plans such as detailed identification of the plans in which employers participate, the level of participation in the plans as indicated by contribution amounts and whether those contribution amounts represent more than five percent of total contributions made by all contributing employers, detailed information about the financial health of the plans and the nature of employer commitments to the plans.  Further disclosure is required for plans without additional publicly available information outside of the employer’s disclosures such as the plan’s annual report on a US Form 5500.  For public entities, the Update is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.  The Company participates in a multiemployer plan and is currently evaluating the additional disclosures that may be required.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08 to amend FASB ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other:  Testing Goodwill for Impairment.  The purpose of the Update is to simplify how entities test goodwill for impairment.  The amendments allows entities the option of considering qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount.  The results of this consideration are then used to determine whether the two-step goodwill impairment test described in Topic 350 must be performed.  The more-likely-than-not threshold is defined as having a likelihood of more than 50 percent.  The Update is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  While early adoption is permitted, the Company did not choose to do so.  The Update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05 to amend FASB ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income:  Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  The purpose of the Update is to improve the comparability, consistency and transparency of financial reporting related to other comprehensive income.  It eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity.  Instead, the components of other comprehensive income must either be presented with net income in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or as a separate but consecutive statement following the statement of operations.  Regardless of which method is used, adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income must be presented on the face of the financial statements.  The Update is effective on a retrospective basis for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04 to amend FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement:  Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.  The Update amends the GAAP requirements for measuring fair value and for disclosures about fair value measurements to improve consistency between GAAP and IFRSs by changing some of the wording used to describe the requirements, clarifying the intended application of certain requirements and changing certain principles.  The Update is effective on a prospective basis for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.
 
 
 
8
 
 
 

 
In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-03 to amend FASB ASC Topic 860, Transfers and Servicing.  ASC 860 outlines when the transfer of financial assets under a repurchase agreement may or may not be accounted for as a sale.  Whether the transferring entity maintains effective control over the transferred financial assets provides the basis for such a determination.  The previous requirement that the transferor must have the ability to repurchase or redeem the financial assets before the maturity of the agreement is removed from the assessment of effective control by this Update.  The Update is effective on a prospective basis for interim and annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

In April 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-02 to amend FASB ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors.  The statement clarifies guidance used by creditors to identify troubled debt restructurings and to result in more consistent application of GAAP for debt restructurings.  The guidance was effective for the Company on July 1, 2011.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

NOTE 5: STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
Previously, the Company's stockholders approved the Company's reincorporation to the State of Maryland. Under Maryland law, there is no concept of "Treasury Shares." Instead, shares purchased by the Company constitute authorized but unissued shares under Maryland law. Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America state that accounting for treasury stock shall conform to state law. The cost of shares purchased by the Company has been allocated to Common Stock and Retained Earnings balances.

On August 18, 2011, the Company entered into a Small Business Lending Fund-Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company sold 57,943 shares of the Company’s Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “SBLF Preferred Stock”) to the Secretary of the Treasury for a purchase price of $57,943,000.  The SBLF Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to Treasury’s SBLF program, a $30 billion fund established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that was created to encourage lending to small businesses by providing Tier 1 capital to qualified community banks and holding companies with assets of less than $10 billion.  As required by the Purchase Agreement, the proceeds from the sale of the SBLF Preferred Stock were used in connection with the redemption of the 58,000 shares of preferred stock, issued to the Treasury pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program (CPP), at a redemption price of $58.0 million plus the accrued dividends owed on the preferred shares.  

On September 21, 2011, the Company completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury that was issued as a part of its participation in the CPP.  The 10-year warrant was issued on December 5, 2008 and entitled the Treasury to purchase 909,091 shares of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $9.57 per share.  The repurchase was completed for a price of $6.4 million, or $7.08 per warrant share, which was based on the fair market value of the warrant as agreed upon by the Company and the Treasury.
 
 
 
 
9
 
 
 
 
NOTE 6: EARNINGS PER SHARE

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands, Except
 
   
Per Share Data)
 
             
Basic:
           
Average shares outstanding
    13,466       13,437  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 4,443     $ 5,305  
Per share amount
  $ 0.33     $ 0.39  
                 
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
    13,466       13,437  
Net effect of dilutive stock options and warrants – based on the treasury
               
stock method using average market price
    27       541  
Diluted shares
    13,493       13,978  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 4,443     $ 5,305  
Per share amount
  $ 0.33     $ 0.38  
                 

Options to purchase 661,935 and 456,045 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for each period because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market prices of the common shares for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands, Except
 
   
Per Share Data)
 
             
Basic:
           
Average shares outstanding
    13,462       13,433  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 14,600     $ 14,981  
Per share amount
  $ 1.08     $ 1.12  
                 
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
    13,462       13,433  
Net effect of dilutive stock options and warrants – based on the treasury
               
stock method using average market price
    33       583  
Diluted shares
    13,495       14,016  
Net income available to common shareholders
  $ 14,600     $ 14,981  
Per share amount
  $ 1.08     $ 1.07  
                 

Options to purchase 616,235 and 420,545 shares of common stock were outstanding at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for each period because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market prices of the common shares for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

 
 
10
 
 
 
 
NOTE 7: INVESTMENT SECURITIES
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                         
U.S. government agencies
  $ 23,953     $ 110     $     $ 24,063       2.56 %
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    1,757             365       1,392       12.53  
Mortgage-backed securities
    592,843       14,199       730       606,312       3.23  
Small Business Administration
                                       
loan pools
    56,779       1,118             57,897       1.74  
States and political subdivisions
    100,937       3,719       1,084       103,572       6.14  
Corporate bonds
    49       372             421       40.56  
Equity securities
    1,230       601       84       1,747        
    $ 777,548     $ 20,119     $ 2,263     $ 795,404       3.49 %
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                 
States and political subdivisions
  $ 1,865     $ 277     $     $ 2,142       4.34 %
 
   
December 31, 2010
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                         
U.S. government agencies
  $ 4,000     $     $ 20     $ 3,980       2.35 %
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    8,311       183       814       7,680       6.48  
Mortgage-backed securities
    590,085       10,879       1,753       599,211       3.30  
Small Business Administration
                                       
loan pools
    60,063       851             60,914       1.93  
States and political subdivisions
    99,314       378       4,075       95,617       6.16  
Corporate bonds
    49             28       21       74.97  
Equity securities
    1,230       893             2,123       0.18  
    $ 763,052     $ 13,184     $ 6,690     $ 769,546       3.59 %
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                 
States and political subdivisions
  $ 1,125     $ 175     $     $ 1,300       7.31 %


The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities at September 30, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One year or less
  $ 1,033     $ 1,034  
After one through five years
    6,229       6,282  
After five through ten years
    9,411       9,641  
After ten years
    165,045       168,996  
Securities not due on a single maturity date
    594,600       607,704  
Equity securities
    1,230       1,747  
                 
    $ 777,548     $ 795,404  
                 


 
11
 
 
 
 
 
The held-to-maturity securities at September 30, 2011, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
 
   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One year or less
  $ 840     $ 955  
After five through ten years
    1,025       1,187  
                 
    $ 1,865     $ 2,142  

Certain investments in debt and marketable equity securities are reported in the financial statements at an amount less than their historical cost. Total fair value of these investments at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, was approximately $179,698,000 and $298,813,000, which is approximately 22.54% and 38.77% of the Company’s available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment portfolio, respectively.
 
Based on evaluation of available evidence, including recent changes in market interest rates, credit rating information and information obtained from regulatory filings, management believes the declines in fair value for these debt securities are temporary at September 30, 2011.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company determined that the impairment of a non-agency collateralized mortgage obligation with a book value of $1.8 million had become other-than-temporary.  Consequently, the Company recorded a $400,000 pre-tax charge to income.  Based on evaluations of investment securities during the three months ended September 30, 2011 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, none were determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired.
 
The following table shows the Company’s gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
Collateralized mortgage
                                   
obligations
  $     $     $ 1,757     $ 365     $ 1,757     $ 365  
Mortgage-backed securities
    91,132       266       75,488       464       166,620       730  
States and political
                                               
subdivisions
    2,984       57       7,954       1,027       10,938       1,084  
Equity securities
    383       84                   383       84  
    $ 94,499     $ 407     $ 85,199     $ 1,856     $ 179,698     $ 2,263  

   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
U.S. government agencies
  $ 3,980     $ 20     $     $     $ 3,980     $ 20  
Collateralized mortgage
                                               
obligations
                1,809       814       1,809       814  
Mortgage-backed securities
    231,524       1,753                   231,524       1,753  
States and political
                                               
subdivisions
    56,221       2,328       5,257       1,747       61,478       4,075  
Corporate bonds
    8       24       14       4       22       28  
    $ 291,733     $ 4,125     $ 7,080     $ 2,565     $ 298,813     $ 6,690  

 
 
12
 
 
 
 
Gross gains of $483,000 and $5.4 million and gross losses of $0 and $13,000 resulting from sales of available-for-sale securities were realized for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Gross gains of $483,000 and $8.9 million and gross losses of $0 and $13,000 resulting from sales of available-for-sale securities were realized for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on the specific-identification method.

Other-than-temporary Impairment.  Upon acquisition of a security, the Company decides whether it is within the scope of the accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets or will be evaluated for impairment under the accounting guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.

The accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets provides incremental impairment guidance for a subset of the debt securities within the scope of the guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.  For securities where the security is a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the beneficial interests in securitized financial asset impairment model.  For securities where the security is not a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the debt and equity securities impairment model.  The Company does not currently have securities within the scope of this guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets.
 
The Company conducts periodic reviews to identify and evaluate each investment security to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.  The Company considers the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position, the relative amount of the unrealized loss compared to the carrying value of the security, the type of security and other factors.  If certain criteria are met, the Company performs additional review and evaluation using observable market values or various inputs in economic models to determine if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary.  The Company uses quoted market prices for marketable equity securities and uses broker pricing quotes based on observable inputs for equity investments that are not traded on a stock exchange.  For non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations, to determine if the unrealized loss is other-than-temporary, the Company projects total estimated defaults of the underlying assets (mortgages) and multiplies that calculated amount by an estimate of realizable value upon sale in the marketplace (severity) in order to determine the projected collateral loss.  The Company also evaluates any current credit enhancement underlying these securities to determine the impact on cash flows.  If the Company determines that a given security position will be subject to a write-down or loss, the Company records the expected credit loss as a charge to earnings.

Credit Losses Recognized on Investments.  Certain debt securities have experienced fair value deterioration due to credit losses.

The following table provides information about debt securities for which only a credit loss was recognized in income and other losses are recorded in other comprehensive income.
 
   
Accumulated
 
   
Credit Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Credit losses on debt securities held
     
July 1, 2011
  $ 3,383  
Additions related to other-than-temporary losses not previously recognized
     
Additions related to increases in credit losses on debt securities for which
       
other-than-temporary impairment losses were previously recognized
     
Reductions due to sales
     
         
September 30, 2011
  $ 3,383  
 
 
 
13
 
 
 

 
   
Accumulated
 
   
Credit Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Credit losses on debt securities held
     
July 1, 2010
  $ 2,983  
Additions related to other-than-temporary losses not previously recognized
     
Reductions due to sales
     
         
September 30, 2010
  $ 2,983  

   
Accumulated
 
   
Credit Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Credit losses on debt securities held
     
January 1, 2011
  $ 2,983  
Additions related to other-than-temporary losses not previously recognized
     
Additions related to increases in credit losses on debt securities for which
       
other-than-temporary impairment losses were previously recognized
    400  
Reductions due to sales
     
         
September 30, 2011
  $ 3,383  

   
Accumulated
 
   
Credit Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Credit losses on debt securities held
     
January 1, 2010
  $ 2,983  
Additions related to other-than-temporary losses not previously recognized
     
Reductions due to sales
     
         
September 30, 2010
  $ 2,983  


 
14
 
 
 
 
NOTE 8: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 25,927     $ 29,102  
Subdivision construction
    67,079       86,649  
Land development
    73,167       95,573  
Commercial construction
    123,058       68,018  
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    93,418       98,099  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    143,399       136,984  
Commercial real estate
    597,897       530,277  
Other residential
    244,970       210,846  
Commercial business
    223,736       185,865  
Industrial revenue bonds
    61,055       64,641  
Consumer auto
    57,940       48,992  
Consumer other
    75,595       77,331  
Home equity lines of credit
    45,732       46,852  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (TeamBank)
    132,920       144,633  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts (Vantus Bank)
    134,111       160,163  
      2,100,004       1,984,025  
Undisbursed portion of loans in process
    (98,112 )     (63,108 )
Allowance for loan losses
    (40,466 )     (41,487 )
Deferred loan fees and gains, net
    (2,554 )     (2,543 )
    $ 1,958,872     $ 1,876,887  
                 
Weighted average interest rate
    5.84 %     6.03 %

Classes of loans by aging were as follows:
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Over 90
   
Total Past
         
Total Loans
   
> 90 Days and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Days
   
Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
  $     $     $ 1,879     $ 1,879     $ 24,048     $ 25,927     $  
Subdivision construction
    197       445       5,063       5,705       61,374       67,079        
Land development
    2,629             429       3,058       70,109       73,167        
Commercial construction
                            123,058       123,058        
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
    334       712       3,817       4,863       88,555       93,418       138  
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
    3,033       573       3,271       6,877       136,522       143,399       75  
Commercial real estate
    2,148             7,474       9,622       588,275       597,897        
Other residential
    211             3,245       3,456       241,514       244,970        
Commercial business
    260       587       1,700       2,547       221,189       223,736       8  
Industrial revenue bonds
                2,110       2,110       58,945       61,055        
Consumer auto
    233       24       88       345       57,595       57,940       14  
Consumer other
    1,336       304       589       2,229       73,366       75,595       225  
Home equity lines of credit
    23       20       222       265       45,467       45,732        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (TeamBank)
    1,419       5,964       22,961       30,344       102,576       132,920        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (Vantus Bank)
    840       368       7,770       8,978       125,133       134,111       14  
      12,663       8,997       60,618       82,278       2,017,726       2,100,004       474  
Less FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
    2,259       6,332       30,731       39,322       227,709       267,031       14  
                                                         
Total
  $ 10,404     $ 2,665     $ 29,887     $ 42,956     $ 1,790,017     $ 1,832,973     $ 460  
 
 
 
15
 
 

 
   
December 31, 2010
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Over 90
   
Total Past
         
Total Loans
   
> 90 Days and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
Days
   
Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
  $ 261     $     $ 578     $ 839     $ 28,263     $ 29,102     $  
Subdivision construction
    281       1,015       1,860       3,156       83,493       86,649        
Land development
    2,730             5,668       8,398       42,616       51,014        
Commercial construction
                            112,577       112,577        
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
    4,856       914       2,724       8,494       89,605       98,099        
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
    2,085       2,130       2,831       7,046       129,938       136,984        
Commercial real estate
    2,749       8,546       6,074       17,369       512,908       530,277        
Other residential
          4,011       4,202       8,213       202,633       210,846        
Commercial business
    350       355       1,642       2,347       183,518       185,865        
Industrial revenue bonds
                2,190       2,190       62,451       64,641        
Consumer auto
    427       35       94       556       48,436       48,992       22  
Consumer other
    1,331       318       1,417       3,066       74,265       77,331       565  
Home equity lines of credit
    152       160       140       452       46,400       46,852        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (TeamBank)
    2,719       3,731       13,285       19,735       124,898       144,633        
FDIC-supported loans, net of
                                                       
discounts (Vantus Bank)
    2,277       1,414       9,399       13,090       147,073       160,163        
      20,218       22,629       52,104       94,951       1,889,074       1,984,025     $ 587  
Less FDIC-supported loans,
                                                       
net of discounts
    4,996       5,145       22,684       32,825       271,971       304,796          
                                                         
Total
  $ 15,222     $ 17,484     $ 29,420     $ 62,126     $ 1,617,103     $ 1,679,229          

Nonaccruing loans (excluding FDIC-supported loans, net of discount) are summarized as follows:

   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 1,879     $ 578  
Subdivision construction
    5,063       1,860  
Land development
    429       5,668  
Commercial construction
           
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    3,680       2,724  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    3,196       2,831  
Commercial real estate
    7,474       6,074  
Other residential
    3,245       4,202  
Commercial business
    1,692       1,642  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,110       2,190  
Consumer auto
    74       72  
Consumer other
    364       852  
Home equity lines of credit
    222       140  
                 
Total
  $ 29,428     $ 28,833  

 
 
16
 
 
 
 
The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Also presented are the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of September 30, 2011:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
  Balance July 1, 2011
  $ 11,562     $ 3,629     $ 15,003     $ 5,155     $ 2,324     $ 2,814     $ 40,487  
    Provision charged to expense
    (784 )     533       7,709       (3 )     1,050       (5 )     8,500  
    Losses charged off
    (836 )     (23 )     (5,104 )     (2,107 )     (506 )     (966 )     (9,542 )
    Recoveries
    7       1       17       395       153       448       1,021  
  Balance September 30, 2011
  $ 9,949     $ 4,140     $ 17,625     $ 3,440     $ 3,021     $ 2,291     $ 40,466  
                                                         
  Balance January 1, 2011
  $ 11,483     $ 3,866     $ 14,336     $ 5,852     $ 3,281     $ 2,669     $ 41,487  
    Provision charged to expense
    2,892       3,183       13,595       3,475       1,058       928       25,131  
    Losses charged off
    (4,462 )     (2,911 )     (10,374 )     (6,291 )     (2,222 )     (2,773 )     (29,033 )
    Recoveries
    36       2       68       404       904       1,467       2,881  
  Balance September 30, 2011
  $ 9,949     $ 4,140     $ 17,625     $ 3,440     $ 3,021     $ 2,291     $ 40,466  
                                                         
  Ending balance:
                                                       
    Individually evaluated for
                                                       
      impairment
  $ 3,111     $ 66     $ 3,717     $ 985     $ 451     $ 38     $ 8,368  
    Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
      impairment
  $ 6,838     $ 4,074     $ 13,909     $ 2,425     $ 2,570     $ 2,252     $ 32,068  
    Loans acquired and
                                                       
      accounted for under ASC 310-30
  $     $     $     $ 30     $     $     $ 30  
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
  Individually evaluated for
                                                       
    impairment
  $ 42,858     $ 24,512     $ 85,700     $ 26,938     $ 7,872     $ 681     $ 188,561  
  Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
    impairment
  $ 286,965     $ 220,458     $ 573,252     $ 169,287     $ 215,864     $ 178,586     $ 1,644,412  
  Loans acquired and
                                                       
    accounted for under ASC 310-30
  $ 61,365     $ 23,464     $ 118,515     $ 18,045     $ 13,810     $ 31,832     $ 267,031  

The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of December 31, 2010:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
  Individually evaluated for
                                         
    impairment
  $ 4,353     $ 1,714     $ 3,089     $ 2,083     $ 784     $ 37     $ 12,060  
  Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
    impairment
  $ 7,100     $ 2,152     $ 11,247     $ 3,769     $ 1,697     $ 2,632     $ 28,597  
  Loans acquired and
                                                       
    accounted for under ASC 310-30
  $     $     $     $ 30     $ 800     $     $ 830  
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
  Individually evaluated for
                                                       
    impairment
  $ 40,562     $ 25,246     $ 72,379     $ 45,334     $ 8,340     $ 622     $ 192,483  
  Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
    impairment
  $ 310,272     $ 185,600     $ 522,539     $ 118,257     $ 177,525     $ 172,553     $ 1,486,746  
  Loans acquired and
                                                       
    accounted for under ASC 310-30
  $ 75,727     $ 23,277     $ 128,704     $ 22,858     $ 15,215     $ 39,015     $ 304,796  

 
 
17
 
 
 
 
The portfolio segments used in the preceding two tables correspond to the loan classes used in all other tables in Note 8 as follows:

·  
The one-to four-family residential and construction segment includes the one- to four-family residential construction, subdivision construction, owner occupied one- to four-family residential and non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential classes
·  
The other residential and construction segment corresponds to the other residential class
·  
The commercial real estate segment includes the commercial real estate and industrial revenue bonds classes
·  
The commercial construction segment includes the land development and commercial construction classes
·  
The commercial business segment corresponds to the commercial business class
·  
The consumer segment includes the consumer auto, consumer other and home equity lines of credit classes

Impaired loans are summarized as follows:

   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Unpaid
       
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                   
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 2,708     $ 4,138     $ 358  
Subdivision construction
    12,159       16,992       1,016  
Land development
    6,436       6,489       985  
Commercial construction
                 
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    5,202       5,793       792  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    8,752       8,987       945  
Commercial real estate
    52,567       53,533       3,695  
Other residential
    8,286       9,259       66  
Commercial business
    2,917       4,395       451  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,110       2,190       22  
Consumer auto
    117       134       3  
Consumer other
    432       536       23  
Home equity lines of credit
    197       208       12  
                         
Total
  $ 101,883     $ 112,654     $ 8,368  


   
Three Months Ended
   
Nine Months Ended
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
September 30, 2011
 
   
Average
         
Average
       
   
Investment
   
Interest
   
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
in Impaired
   
Income
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Loans
   
Recognized
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 2,334     $ 16     $ 2,033     $ 34  
Subdivision construction
    11,260       97       9,692       212  
Land development
    7,034       68       10,846       301  
Commercial construction
                411        
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    4,399       21       4,512       55  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
    8,603       84       9,497       285  
Commercial real estate
    34,181       659       28,915       1,120  
Other residential
    8,288       53       10,118       244  
Commercial business
    2,560       18       4,363       80  
Industrial revenue bonds
    2,110             2,145        
Consumer auto
    116       1       213       5  
Consumer other
    473       1       544       8  
Home equity lines of credit
    184             239       1  
                                 
Total
  $ 81,542     $ 1,018     $ 83,528     $ 2,345  
 
 
 
18
 
 

 
         
Year Ended
 
   
December 31, 2010
   
December 31, 2010
 
                     
Average
       
         
Unpaid
         
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
One- to four-family residential construction
  $ 1,947     $ 2,371     $ 258     $ 1,724     $ 83  
Subdivision construction
    9,894       10,560       2,326       7,850       415  
Land development
    17,957       21,006       1,925       18,760       534  
Commercial construction
    1,851       1,851       158       458       31  
Owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    5,205       5,620       542       3,612       69  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    11,785       12,267       1,227       8,182       386  
Commercial real estate
    25,782       26,392       3,045       10,615       603  
Other residential
    9,768       9,869       1,714       8,123       140  
Commercial business
    9,722       12,495       828       2,630       114  
Consumer auto
    125       137       4       30       1  
Consumer other
    429       481       14       93       4  
Home equity lines of credit
    148       166       19       109       1  
                                         
Total
  $ 94,613     $ 103,215     $ 12,060     $ 62,186     $ 2,381  

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, all impaired loans had specific valuation allowances.

Included in certain loan categories in the impaired loans are troubled debt restructurings that were classified as impaired. Troubled debt restructurings are loans that are modified by granting concessions to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.  These concessions could include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  The types of concessions made are factored into the estimation of the allowance for loan losses for troubled debt restructurings primarily using a discounted cash flows or collateral adequacy approach.

At September 30, 2011, the Company had $10.7 million of construction loans, $8.3 million of residential mortgage loans, $28.9 million of commercial real estate loans, $672,000 of commercial business loans and $175,000 of consumer loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired.  Of the total troubled debt restructurings, $47.0 million were accruing interest at September 30, 2011.  During the previous 12 months, one construction loan totaling $324,000 and one commercial business loan totaling $423,000 were modified as troubled debt restructurings and had payment defaults subsequent to the modifications.  When loans modified as troubled debt restructuring have subsequent payment defaults, the defaults are factored in to the determination of the allowance for loan losses to ensure specific valuation allowances reflect amounts considered uncollectible. At December 31, 2010, the Company had $6.5 million of construction loans, $5.5 million of residential mortgage loans, $8.2 million of commercial real estate loans, $57,000 of other commercial loans and $150,000 of consumer loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired.  Of the total troubled debt restructurings, $16.5 million were accruing interest at December 31, 2010.

The Company reviews the credit quality of its loan portfolio using an internal grading system that classifies loans as “Satisfactory,” “Watch,” Special Mention” and “Substandard.”  Substandard loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if certain deficiencies are not corrected.  Special mention loans possess potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention but do not expose the Bank to a degree of risk that warrants substandard classification.  Loans classified as watch are being monitored because of indications of potential weaknesses or deficiencies that may require future classification as special mention or substandard.  Loans not meeting any of the criteria previously described are considered satisfactory.  The FDIC-covered loans are evaluated using this internal grading system.  However, since these loans are accounted for in pools and are currently substantially covered through loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, all of the loan pools were considered satisfactory at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  See Note 9 for further discussion of the acquired loan pools and loss sharing agreements.  The loan grading system is presented by loan class below:
 
 
 
19
 
 
 
 

   
September 30, 2011
 
               
Special
             
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family residential
                             
     construction
  $ 21,284     $ 2,622     $     $ 2,021     $ 25,927  
Subdivision construction
    48,279       6,956             11,844       67,079  
Land development
    51,204       16,231             5,732       73,167  
Commercial construction
    118,084       4,974                   123,058  
Owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    88,790       520             4,108       93,418  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    128,612       7,505             7,282       143,399  
Commercial real estate
    514,307       50,032             33,558       597,897  
Other residential
    220,458       21,268             3,244       244,970  
Commercial business
    215,864       4,955             2,917       223,736  
Industrial revenue bonds
    58,945                   2,110       61,055  
Consumer auto
    57,844                   96       57,940  
Consumer other
    75,207                   388       75,595  
Home equity lines of credit
    45,535                   197       45,732  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts
                                       
     (TeamBank)
    132,920                         132,920  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts
                                       
     (Vantus Bank)
    134,111                         134,111  
                                         
Total
  $ 1,911,444     $ 115,063     $     $ 73,497     $ 2,100,004  

 
   
December 31, 2010
 
               
Special
             
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family residential
                             
     construction
  $ 27,620     $ 549     $     $ 933     $ 29,102  
Subdivision construction
    69,907       8,408             8,334       86,649  
Land development
    57,486       20,834             17,253       95,573  
Commercial construction
    60,770       5,397             1,851       68,018  
Owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    92,385       766             4,948       98,099  
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family
                                       
     residential
    120,360       6,471             10,153       136,984  
Commercial real estate
    460,088       46,805       2,574       20,810       530,277  
Other residential
    185,600       15,478             9,768       210,846  
Commercial business
    177,525       812             7,528       185,865  
Industrial revenue bonds
    62,451                   2,190       64,641  
Consumer auto
    48,883                   109       48,992  
Consumer other
    76,966                   365       77,331  
Home equity lines of credit
    46,704                   148       46,852  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts
                                       
     (TeamBank)
    144,633                         144,633  
FDIC-supported loans, net of discounts
                                       
     (Vantus Bank)
    160,163                         160,163  
                                         
Total
  $ 1,791,541     $ 105,520     $ 2,574     $ 84,390     $ 1,984,025  

 
NOTE 9: LOSS SHARING AGREEMENTS AND FDIC INDEMNIFICATION ASSETS
 
On March 20, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to assume all of the deposits (excluding brokered deposits) and acquire certain assets of TeamBank, N.A., a full service commercial bank headquartered in Paola, Kansas.  A detailed discussion of this transaction is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, under the section titled “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Information.”
 
 
 
20
 
 
 
 
The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the TeamBank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank which affords the Bank at least 80% protection against losses. Under the loss sharing agreement, the Bank will share in the losses on assets covered under the agreement (referred to as covered assets). On losses up to $115.0 million, the FDIC has agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the losses. On losses exceeding $115.0 million, the FDIC has agreed to reimburse the Bank for 95% of the losses.  Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by the Bank. This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired. The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC. The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  A discount was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $588,000 and $2.0 million, respectively.  The amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $909,000 and $1.6 million, respectively.
 
On September 4, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Vantus Bank, a full service thrift headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa.  A detailed discussion of this transaction is included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, under the section titled “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Information.”
 
The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the Vantus Bank transaction are covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank which affords the Bank at least 80%  protection against losses. Under the loss sharing agreement, the Bank will share in the losses on assets covered under the agreement (referred to as covered assets). On losses up to $102.0 million, the FDIC has agreed to reimburse the Bank for 80% of the losses. On losses exceeding $102.0 million, the FDIC has agreed to reimburse the Bank for 95% of the losses. Realized losses covered by the loss sharing agreement include loan contractual balances (and related unfunded commitments that were acquired), accrued interest on loans for up to 90 days, the book value of foreclosed real estate acquired, and certain direct costs, less cash or other consideration received by the Bank. This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. The value of this loss sharing agreement was considered in determining fair values of loans and foreclosed assets acquired. The loss sharing agreement is subject to the Bank following servicing procedures as specified in the agreement with the FDIC. The expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreement were recorded as an indemnification asset at their preliminary estimated fair value on the acquisition date.  A discount was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 was $217,000 and $740,000, respectively.  The amount accreted to yield during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $336,000 and $886,000, respectively.

Fair Value and Expected Cash Flows.  At the time of these acquisitions, the Company determined the fair value of the loan portfolios based on several assumptions. Factors considered in the valuations were projected cash flows for the loans, type of loan and related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan, current discount rates and whether or not the loan was amortizing. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. Management also estimated the amount of credit losses that were expected to be realized for the loan portfolios. The discounted cash flow approach was used to value each pool of loans. For non-performing loans, fair value was estimated by calculating the present value of the recoverable cash flows using a discount rate based on comparable corporate bond rates. This valuation of the acquired loans is a significant component leading to the valuation of the loss sharing assets recorded.

The amount of the estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools in excess of the fair values recorded for the loan pools is referred to as the accretable yield.  The accretable yield is recognized as interest income over the estimated lives of the loans.  The Company continues to evaluate the fair value of the loans including cash flows expected to be collected.  Increases in the Company’s cash flow expectations are recognized as increases to the accretable yield while decreases are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, increases in expected cash flows related to both acquired loan portfolios resulted in adjustments of $13.2 million and $24.5 million, respectively, to the accretable yield to be spread over the estimated remaining lives of the loans on a level-yield basis. During the year ended December 31, 2010, similar such adjustments totaling $58.9 million were made to the accretable yield.  The current year increases in
 
 
 
21
 
 
 
 
expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, this resulted in corresponding adjustments of $11.6 million and $21.6 million, respectively, to the indemnification assets to be amortized on a level-yield basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected lives of the loan pools, whichever is shorter.  During the second half of the year ended December 31, 2010, similar such adjustments totaling $51.8 million were made to the indemnification assets.  The impact of adjustments on the Company’s financial results is shown below:

   
Three Months Ended
   
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data
   
and Basis Points Data)
                 
Impact on net interest income/
               
net interest margin (in basis points)
  $ 14,233  
184 bps
  $ 4,236  
57 bps
Non-interest income
    (12,717 )       (3,564 )  
Net impact to pre-tax income
  $ 1,516       $ 672    
Net impact net of taxes
  $ 986       $ 437    
Impact to diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.07       $ 0.05    
 
   
Nine Months Ended
   
September 30, 2011
 
September 30, 2010
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data
   
and Basis Points Data)
                 
Impact on net interest income/
               
net interest margin (in basis points)
  $ 39,715  
171 bps
  $ 4,236  
19 bps
Non-interest income
    (35,470 )       (3,564 )  
Net impact to pre-tax income
  $ 4,245       $ 672    
Net impact net of taxes
  $ 2,759       $ 437    
Impact to diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.20       $ 0.03    

Because these adjustments will be recognized over the estimated remaining lives of the loan pools, they will impact future periods as well.  The majority of the remaining $24.2 million of accretable yield adjustment affecting interest income and $(20.9) million of adjustment to the indemnification assets affecting non-interest income is expected to be recognized over the next year, with $8.8 million of interest income and $(7.8) million of non-interest income (expense) expected to be recognized in the remainder of 2011.  Additional adjustments may be recorded in future periods as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.

The loss sharing asset is measured separately from the loan portfolio because it is not contractually embedded in the loans and is not transferable with the loans should the Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value was estimated using projected cash flows available for loss sharing based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool (as discussed above) and the loss sharing percentages outlined in the Purchase and Assumption Agreement with the FDIC. These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC. The loss sharing asset is also separately measured from the related foreclosed real estate.

 
 
22
 
 
 
 
 
TeamBank FDIC Indemnification Asset.  The following tables present the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the TeamBank transaction at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $261.0 million since the transaction date because of $182.9 million of repayments from borrowers, $13.2 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $64.9 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.
 
   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 174,792     $ 16,882  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    (1,871 )      
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (10,455 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (132,920 )     (6,949 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    29,546       9,933  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    81 %     79 %
                 
Expected loss remaining
    23,838       7,887  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    9,891        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (3,383 )      
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 30,346     $ 7,887  
 
   
December 31, 2010
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 219,289     $ 15,921  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    (3,875 )      
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (21,071 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (144,633 )     (5,463 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    49,710       10,458  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    85 %     78 %
                 
Expected loss remaining
    42,275       8,204  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    20,011        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (6,077 )      
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 56,209     $ 8,204  

 
 
23
 
 
 
 
Vantus Bank Indemnification Asset.  The following tables present the balances of the FDIC indemnification asset related to the Vantus Bank transaction at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010. Gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $166.9 million since the transaction date because of $137.7 million of repayments from borrowers, $4.1 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $25.1 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed during the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.

   
September 30, 2011
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 164,609     $ 10,431  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    (691 )      
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (13,792 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (134,111 )     (6,763 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    16,015       3,668  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    80 %     80 %
                 
Expected loss remaining
    12,812       2,934  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    11,034        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (2,337 )     (109 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 21,509     $ 2,825  
 
   
December 31, 2010
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Initial basis for loss sharing determination,
           
net of activity since acquisition date
  $ 208,080     $ 9,944  
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
    (1,431 )      
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
    (18,428 )      
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
    (160,163 )     (5,899 )
                 
Expected loss remaining
    28,058       4,045  
Assumed loss sharing recovery percentage
    80 %     80 %
                 
Expected loss remaining
    22,445       3,236  
Indemnification asset to be amortized resulting from
               
change in expected losses
    14,743        
Accretable discount on FDIC indemnification asset
    (3,850 )     (109 )
FDIC indemnification asset
  $ 33,338     $ 3,127  

 
 
24
 
 
 
 
Changes in the accretable yield for acquired loan pools were as follows for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

   
TeamBank
   
Vantus Bank
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1, 2010
  $ 24,204     $ 30,444  
Accretion
    (4,708 )     (6,077 )
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference(1)
    680       2,502  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 20,176     $ 26,869  
                 
Balance, July 1, 2011
  $ 23,145     $ 26,883  
Accretion
    (11,263 )     (6,855 )
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference(1)
    7,700       5,651  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2011
  $ 19,582     $ 25,679  
                 
 
(1)
Represents increases in estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools, primarily due to lower estimated credit losses.  The numbers also include changes in expected accretion of the loan pools for TeamBank and Vantus Bank for the three months ended September 30, 2010 totaling $3.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively, and for the three months ended September 30, 2011 totaling $6.7 million and $6.6 million, respectively.
 
Changes in the accretable yield for acquired loan pools were as follows for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010:

   
TeamBank
   
Vantus Bank
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1, 2010
  $ 31,300     $ 39,023  
Accretion
    (11,804 )     (14,656 )
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference(1)
    680       2,502  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2010
  $ 20,176     $ 26,869  
                 
Balance, January 1, 2011
  $ 36,765     $ 35,796  
Accretion
    (32,786 )     (22,365 )
Reclassification from nonaccretable difference(1)
    15,603       12,248  
                 
Balance, September 30, 2011
  $ 19,582     $ 25,679  
                 
 
(1)
Represents increases in estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools, primarily due to lower estimated credit losses.  The numbers also include changes in expected accretion of the loan pools for TeamBank and Vantus Bank for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 totaling $3.6 million and $10.8 million, respectively, and for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 totaling $13.8 million and $10.7 million, respectively.

 
 
25
 
 
 
 
NOTE 10: FORECLOSED ASSETS HELD FOR SALE

Major classifications of foreclosed assets were as follows:
 
   
September 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One-to four-family construction
  $ 1,158     $ 2,510  
Subdivision construction
    18,475       19,816  
Land development
    17,348       10,620  
Commercial construction
    2,747       3,997  
One-to four-family residential
    2,294       2,896  
Other residential
    4,962       4,178  
Commercial real estate
    3,513       4,565  
Commercial business
    79        
Consumer
    1,385       318  
      51,961       48,900  
FDIC-supported foreclosed assets, net of discounts
    13,713       11,362  
    $ 65,674     $ 60,262  

Expenses applicable to foreclosed assets included the following:
 
   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Net loss on sales of real estate
  $ 95     $ 1,420  
Operating expenses, net of rental income
    753       833  
                 
    $ 848     $ 2,253  
 
   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Net (gain) loss on sales of real estate
  $ (189 )   $ 2,313  
Operating expenses, net of rental income
    2,092       2,524  
                 
    $ 1,903     $ 4,837  
 
NOTE 11: DEPOSITS

 
September 30,
 
December 31,
 
2011
 
2010
 
(In Thousands)
Time Deposits:
     
0.00% - 1.99%
$    962,972
 
$    838,619
2.00% - 2.99%
159,498
 
298,029
3.00% - 3.99%
18,711
 
28,398
4.00% - 4.99%
35,756
 
126,001
5.00% - 5.99%
6,648
 
8,346
6.00% - 6.99%
140
 
311
Total time deposits (1.38% - 1.85%)
1,183,725
 
1,299,704
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits
301,373
 
257,569
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits (0.61% - 0.83%)
1,133,721
 
1,038,620
Total Deposits
$2,618,819
 
$2,595,893


 
26
 
 
 
 
NOTE 12: INCOME TAXES

Reconciliations of the Company’s effective tax rates to the statutory corporate tax rates were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Tax at statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %
Nontaxable interest and dividends
    (6.2 )     (3.8 )
Tax credits
    (2.5 )      
State taxes
    0.6       0.7  
Other
    0.7       (0.2 )
                 
      27.6 %     31.7 %

   
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Tax at statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %
Nontaxable interest and dividends
    (6.8 )     (4.6 )
Tax credits
    (5.1 )     (0.2 )
State taxes
    1.1       0.8  
Other
    0.6        
                 
      24.8 %     31.0 %

NOTE 13: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT
 
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value 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.  Topic 820 also specifies a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:
 
·  
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1): Inputs that are quoted unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.
 
·  
Other observable inputs (Level 2): Inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity including quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices for securities in inactive markets and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
·  
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): Inputs that reflect assumptions of a source independent of the reporting entity or the reporting entity's own assumptions that are supported by little or no market activity or observable inputs.
 
Financial instruments are broken down as follows by recurring or nonrecurring measurement status. Recurring assets are initially measured at fair value and are required to be remeasured at fair value in the financial statements at each reporting date. Assets measured on a nonrecurring basis are assets that, due to an event or circumstance, were required to be remeasured at fair value after initial recognition in the financial statements at some time during the reporting period.
 
The following is a description of inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying balance sheets at September 30, 2011, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
 
 
 
27
 
 
 
 
Securities Available for Sale. Investment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values used by the Company are obtained from an independent pricing service, which represent either quoted market prices for the identical asset or fair values determined by pricing models, or other model-based valuation techniques, that consider observable market data, such as interest rate volatilities, LIBOR yield curve, credit spreads and prices from market makers and live trading systems. Recurring Level 1 securities include exchange traded equity securities. Recurring Level 2 securities available for sale include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations, Small Business Administration (SBA) loan pools, state and municipal bonds, corporate bonds and equity securities. Inputs used for valuing Level 2 securities include observable data that may include dealer quotes, benchmark yields, market spreads, live trading levels and market consensus prepayment speeds, among other things. Additional inputs include indicative values derived from the independent pricing service’s proprietary computerized models. No securities available for sale were included in the category of Recurring Level 3 securities at or for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Mortgage Servicing Rights. Mortgage servicing rights do not trade in an active, open market with readily observable prices.  Accordingly, fair value is estimated using discounted cash flow models.  Due to the nature of the valuation inputs, mortgage servicing rights are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.
 
         
Fair value measurements using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2011
                       
U.S. government agencies
  $ 24,063     $     $ 24,063     $  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    1,392             1,392        
Mortgage-backed securities
    606,312             606,312        
Small Business Administration loan pools
    57,897             57,897        
Corporate bonds
    421             421        
States and political subdivisions
    103,572             103,572        
Equity securities
    1,747       300       1,447        
Mortgage servicing rights
    367                   367  
                                 
December 31, 2010
                               
U.S. government agencies
  $ 3,980     $     $ 3,980     $  
Collateralized mortgage obligations
    7,680             7,680        
Mortgage-backed securities
    599,211             599,211        
Small Business Administration loan pools
    60,914             60,914        
Corporate bonds
    21             21        
States and political subdivisions
    95,617             95,617        
Equity securities
    2,123       630       1,493        
Mortgage servicing rights
    637                   637  


The Company considers transfers between the levels of the hierarchy to be recognized at the end of related reporting periods.  From December 31, 2010 to September 30, 2011, no assets for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis transferred between any levels of the hierarchy.

 
 
28
 
 
 
 
The following is a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of recurring fair value measurements recognized in the accompanying balance sheet using significant unobservable (Level 3) inputs.

   
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, July 1
  $ 450     $ 915  
Additions
    4       4  
Amortization
    (87 )     (144 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 367     $ 775  
                 

   
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Balance, January 1
  $ 637     $ 1,132  
Additions
    16       41  
Amortization
    (286 )     (398 )
Balance, September 30
  $ 367     $ 775  
                 

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2011, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
 
Impaired Loans.  A loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that all of the principal and interest due may not be collected according to its contractual terms. Generally, when a loan is considered impaired, the amount of reserve required under FASB ASC 310, Receivables, is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral. The Company makes such measurements on all material loans deemed impaired using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans. The fair value of collateral used by the Company is determined by obtaining an observable market price or by obtaining an appraised value from an independent, licensed or certified appraiser, using observable market data. This data includes information such as selling price of similar properties and capitalization rates of similar properties sold within the market, expected future cash flows or earnings of the subject property based on current market expectations, and other relevant factors. All appraised values are adjusted for market-related trends based on the Company’s experience in sales and other appraisals of similar property types as well as estimated selling costs.  Each quarter management reviews all collateral dependent impaired loans on a loan-by-loan basis to determine whether updated appraisals are necessary based on loan performance, collateral type and guarantor support.  At times, the Company measures the fair value of collateral dependent impaired loans using appraisals with dates prior to one year from the date of review.  These appraisals are discounted by applying current, observable market data about similar property types such as sales contracts, approved foreclosure bids, other appraisals, sales or collateral assessments based on current market activity until updated appraisals are obtained.  Depending on the length of time since an appraisal was performed and the data provided through our reviews, these appraisals are typically discounted 10-40%.  The policy described above is the same for all types of collateral dependent impaired loans.
 
The Company records impaired loans as Nonrecurring Level 3. If a loan’s fair value as estimated by the Company is less than its carrying value, the Company either records a charge-off of the portion of the loan that exceeds the fair value or establishes a reserve within the allowance for loan losses specific to the loan.  Loans for which such charge-offs or reserves were recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 are shown in the table below (net of reserves).

Foreclosed Assets Held for Sale.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of foreclosure.  Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  The foreclosed assets represented in the table below were re-measured during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, subsequent to their initial transfer to foreclosed assets.

 
 
29
 
 
 
 
The following tables present the fair value measurements of assets measured at fair value during the periods presented on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:
 
         
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
September 30, 2011
                       
Impaired loans
  $ 45,857     $     $     $ 45,857  
Foreclosed assets held for sale
    486                   486  
                                 
December 31, 2010
                               
Impaired loans
  $ 80,407     $     $     $ 80,407  
Foreclosed assets held for sale
    10,360                   10,360  

The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of all other financial instruments recognized in the accompanying balance sheet at amounts other than fair value:
 
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock. The carrying amount approximates fair value.
 
Loans and Interest Receivable.  The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.  Loans with similar characteristics are aggregated for purposes of the calculations.  The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value.

Deposits and Accrued Interest Payable.  The fair value of demand deposits and savings accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, i.e., their carrying amounts. The fair value of fixed maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.  The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.
 
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances.  Rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate fair value of existing advances.
 
Short-Term Borrowings.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts.  The subordinated debentures have floating rates that reset quarterly.  The Company can redeem these instruments at par on a quarterly basis beginning in February (with respect to $25.8 million of the subordinated debentures) and October (with respect to $5.2 million of the subordinated debentures) 2012, respectively.  The carrying amount of these debentures approximates their fair value.
 
Structured Repurchase Agreements.  Structured repurchase agreements are collateralized borrowings from counterparties.  In addition to the principal amount owed, the counterparty also determines an amount that would be owed by either party in the event the agreement is terminated prior to maturity by the Company.  The fair values of the structured repurchase agreements are estimated based on the amount the Company would be required to pay to terminate the agreement at the balance sheet date.

Commitments to Originate Loans, Letters of Credit and Lines of Credit.  The fair value of commitments is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties.  For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.  The fair value of letters of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.
 
 
 
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The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments.  The fair values of certain of these instruments were calculated by discounting expected cash flows, which method involves significant judgments by management and uncertainties.  Fair value is the estimated amount at which financial assets or liabilities could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Because no market exists for certain of these financial instruments and because management does not intend to sell these financial instruments, the Company does not know whether the fair values shown below represent values at which the respective financial instruments could be sold individually or in the aggregate.

   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Financial assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 345,300     $ 345,300     $ 429,971     $ 429,971  
Available-for-sale securities
    795,404       795,404       769,546       769,546  
Held-to-maturity securities
    1,865       2,142       1,125       1,300  
Mortgage loans held for sale
    19,969       19,969       22,499       22,499  
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
    1,958,872       1,959,915       1,876,887       1,878,345  
Accrued interest receivable
    11,582       11,582       12,628       12,628  
Investment in FHLB stock
    11,236       11,236       11,572       11,572  
Mortgage servicing rights
    367       367       637       637  
 
   
September 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Carrying
   
Fair
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Amount
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
Financial liabilities
                       
Deposits
  $ 2,618,819     $ 2,622,410     $ 2,595,893     $ 2,603,440  
FHLB advances
    151,512       154,374       153,525       158,052  
Short-term borrowings
    246,383       246,383       257,958       257,958  
Structured repurchase agreements
    53,103       60,886       53,142       61,007  
Subordinated debentures
    30,929       30,929       30,929       30,929  
Accrued interest payable
    2,517       2,517       3,765       3,765  
Unrecognized financial instruments
                               
(net of contractual value)
                               
Commitments to originate loans
                       
Letters of credit
    63       63       50       50  
Lines of credit
                       


The following disclosure relates to financial assets for which it is not practicable for the Company to estimate the fair value at September 30, 2011.
 
FDIC Indemnification Asset: As part of the 2009 purchase and assumption agreements for the TeamBank and Vantus Bank FDIC-assisted transactions, the Bank and the FDIC entered into loss sharing agreements. These agreements cover realized losses on loans and foreclosed real estate.
 
Under the first agreement (TeamBank), the FDIC will reimburse the Bank for 80% of the first $115 million in realized losses. The FDIC will reimburse the Bank 95% on realized losses that exceed $115 million. This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. This loss sharing asset is measured separately from the loan portfolio because it is not contractually embedded in the loans and is not transferable with the loans or foreclosed assets should the Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value at the acquisition date (March 20, 2009) was estimated using projected cash flows available for loss sharing based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool and the loss sharing percentages. These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC.  This loss sharing asset is also separately measured from the related foreclosed real estate.  At September 30, 2011, the carrying value of the FDIC indemnification asset was $38.2 million, with $9.9 million of this amount scheduled to be amortized against non-interest income over future periods as a result of the changes in expected losses recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and in previous periods. Although this asset is a contractual receivable from the FDIC, there is no
 
 
 
31
 
 
 
 
effective interest rate. The Bank will collect this asset over the next several years. The amount ultimately collected will depend on the timing and amount of collections and charge-offs on the acquired assets covered by the loss sharing agreement. While this asset was recorded at its estimated fair value at March 20, 2009, it is not practicable to complete a fair value analysis of the entire portfolio of loans and foreclosed assets covered by the loss sharing agreement on a quarterly or annual basis in order to estimate the fair value of the FDIC indemnification asset.
 
Under the second agreement (Vantus Bank), the FDIC will reimburse the Bank for 80% of the first $102 million in realized losses. The FDIC will reimburse the Bank 95% on realized losses that exceed $102 million. This agreement extends for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. This loss sharing asset is measured separately from the loan portfolio because it is not contractually embedded in the loans and is not transferable with the loans or foreclosed assets should the Bank choose to dispose of them. Fair value at the acquisition date (September 4, 2009) was estimated using projected cash flows available for loss sharing based on the credit adjustments estimated for each loan pool and the loss sharing percentages. These cash flows were discounted to reflect the uncertainty of the timing and receipt of the loss sharing reimbursement from the FDIC.  This loss sharing asset is also separately measured from the related foreclosed real estate.  At September 30, 2011, the carrying value of the FDIC indemnification asset was $24.3 million, with $11.0 million of this amount scheduled to be amortized against non-interest income over future periods as a result of the changes in expected losses recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 and in previous periods. Although this asset is a contractual receivable from the FDIC, there is no effective interest rate. The Bank will collect this asset over the next several years. The amount ultimately collected will depend on the timing and amount of collections and charge-offs on the acquired assets covered by the loss sharing agreement. While this asset was recorded at its estimated fair value at September 4, 2009, it is not practicable to complete a fair value analysis of the entire portfolio of loans and foreclosed assets covered by the loss sharing agreement on a quarterly or annual basis in order to estimate the fair value of the FDIC indemnification asset.

NOTE 14: SUBSEQUENT EVENT

On October 7, 2011, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement, including a loss sharing agreement, with the FDIC to purchase substantially all of the assets and assume substantially all of the deposits and other liabilities of Sun Security Bank, a full-service bank headquartered in Ellington, Mo.  Established in 1970, Sun Security Bank operated 27 locations in 15 counties in central and southern Missouri.  Only one market, Stockton, Mo., overlapped between the Sun Security Bank and Great Southern footprints, with both institutions operating one branch in this market.  Great Southern Bank assumed approximately $280 million of deposits of Sun Security Bank at no premium and purchased approximately $241 million in loans and $30 million of foreclosed assets at a discount of $55 million.  In addition, Great Southern Bank assumed approximately $55 million of advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank.  Under the loss sharing agreement the FDIC has agreed to cover 80% of the losses on the loans (excluding approximately $4 million of consumer loans) and foreclosed assets purchased subject to certain limitations.  Also included in the assets purchased are cash and certain marketable securities of Sun Security Bank.  The Company anticipates recording the transaction in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations, during the quarter ending December 31, 2011.  The transaction is anticipated to be accretive to income and equity for the quarter ending December 31, 2011.  However, pricing on these types of FDIC-assisted transactions has become more competitive since our 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions and we do not expect our gain to be of the magnitude of the gains associated with our 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions.  The Company expects to convert the Sun Security Bank operational systems into Great Southern’s systems in January 2012, which will allow all Great Southern and former Sun Security Bank customers to conduct business at all banking centers throughout the Great Southern five-state franchise.  For further information, see the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on October 12, 2011.  The Purchase and Assumption Agreement dated as of October 7, 2011 between the FDIC and the Bank is filed as Exhibit 2.1 to this report.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Forward-looking Statements
 
When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in other filings by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's press releases or other public or shareholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, (i) expected cost savings, synergies and other benefits from the Company’s merger and acquisition activities, including but not limited to the recently completed FDIC-assisted transaction involving Sun Security Bank, might not be realized within the anticipated time frames or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; (ii) changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in the Company’s market areas; (iii) fluctuations in interest rates; (iv) the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; (v) the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in the Company’s securities portfolio; (vi) the Company’s ability to access cost-effective funding; (vii) fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; (viii) demand for loans and deposits in the Company’s market areas; (ix) legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company’s business, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and its implementing regulations, and the new overdraft protection regulations and customers’ responses thereto; (x) monetary and fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; (xi) results of examinations of the Company and the Bank by their regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require the Company to increase its allowance for loan losses or to write-down assets; (xii) the uncertainties arising from the Company’s participation in the Small Business Lending Fund program, including uncertainties concerning the potential future redemption by us of the U.S. Treasury’s preferred stock investment under the program, including the timing of, regulatory approvals for, and conditions placed upon, any such redemption; (xiii) costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; and (xiv) competition.  The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake-and specifically declines any obligation-to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Allowance for Loan Losses and Valuation of Foreclosed Assets
 
The Company believes that the determination of the allowance for loan losses involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity than its other significant accounting policies. The allowance for loan losses is calculated with the objective of maintaining an allowance level believed by management to be sufficient to absorb estimated loan losses. Management's determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based on periodic evaluations of the loan portfolio and other relevant factors. However, this evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates of,  among others, expected default probabilities, loss once loans default, expected commitment usage, the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, value of collateral, estimated losses, and general amounts for historical loss experience.
 
The process also considers economic conditions, uncertainties in estimating losses and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. All of these factors may be susceptible to significant change. To the extent actual outcomes differ from
 
 
 
33
 
 
 
 
management estimates, additional provisions for loan losses may be required that would adversely impact earnings in future periods. In addition, the Bank’s regulators could require additional provisions for loan losses as part of their examination process.
 
Additional discussion of the allowance for loan losses is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, under the section titled "Item 1. Business - Allowances for Losses on Loans and Foreclosed Assets." Inherent in this process is the evaluation of individual significant credit relationships. From time to time certain credit relationships may deteriorate due to payment performance, cash flow of the borrower, value of collateral, or other factors. In these instances, management may have to revise its loss estimates and assumptions for these specific credits due to changing circumstances. In some cases, additional losses may be realized; in other instances, the factors that led to the deterioration may improve or the credit may be refinanced elsewhere and allocated allowances may be released from the particular credit. For the periods included in the financial statements contained in this report, management's overall methodology for evaluating the allowance for loan losses has not changed significantly.
 
In addition, the Company considers that the determination of the valuations of foreclosed assets held for sale involves a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of foreclosed assets reflects management’s best estimate of the amount to be realized from the sales of the assets.  While the estimate is generally based on a valuation by an independent appraiser or recent sales of similar properties, the amount that the Company realizes from the sales of the assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in the financial statements, resulting in losses that could adversely impact earnings in future periods.

Carrying Value of FDIC-covered Loans and Indemnification Asset
 
The Company considers that the determination of the carrying value of loans acquired in the March 20, 2009 and September 4, 2009, FDIC-assisted transactions and the carrying value of the related FDIC indemnification assets involve a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of the acquired loans and the FDIC indemnification assets reflect management’s best ongoing estimates of the amounts to be realized on each of these assets. The Company determined initial fair value accounting estimates of the assumed assets and liabilities in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations. However, the amount that the Company realizes on these assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in its financial statements, based upon the timing of collections on the acquired loans in future periods. Because of the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC on these assets, the Company should not incur any significant losses. To the extent the actual values realized for the acquired loans are different from the estimates, the indemnification asset will generally be impacted in an offsetting manner due to the loss sharing support from the FDIC.  Subsequent to the initial valuation, the Company continues to monitor identified loan pools and related loss sharing assets for changes in estimated cash flows projected for the loan pools, anticipated credit losses and changes in the accretable yield.  Analysis of these variables requires significant estimates and a high degree of judgment.  See Note 9 “Loss Sharing Agreements and FDIC Indemnification Assets” included in Item 1 for additional information.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangibles assets that have indefinite useful lives are subject to an impairment test at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment using a process that estimates the fair value of each of the Company’s reporting units compared with its carrying value. The Company defines reporting units as a level below each of its operating segments for which there is discrete financial information that is regularly reviewed. As of September 30, 2011, the Company has two reporting units to which goodwill has been allocated – the Bank and the Travel division (which is a division of a subsidiary of the Bank). If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then no impairment is recorded. If the carrying value amount exceeds the fair value of a reporting unit, further testing is completed comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill to its carrying value to measure the amount of impairment. Intangible assets that are not amortized will be tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair values of those assets to their carrying values. At September 30, 2011, goodwill consisted of $379,000 at the Bank reporting unit and $877,500 at the Travel reporting unit. Other identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are amortized on a straight-line basis over periods ranging from three to seven years. At September 30, 2011, the amortizable intangible assets consisted of core deposit intangibles of $3.5 million at the Bank reporting unit and $19,000 of non-compete agreements at the Travel reporting unit.  These amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable based on a comparison of fair value.
 
 
 
34
 
 
 

 
While the Company believes no impairment existed at September 30, 2011, different conditions or assumptions used to measure fair value of reporting units, or changes in cash flows or profitability, if significantly negative or unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the outcome of the Company’s impairment evaluation in the future.

Current Economic Conditions
 
The current economic environment presents financial institutions with unprecedented circumstances and challenges which in some cases have resulted in large declines in the fair values of investments and other assets, constraints on liquidity and significant credit quality problems, including severe volatility in the valuation of real estate and other collateral supporting loans.  The Company's financial statements have been prepared using values and information currently available to the Company.
 
Given the volatility of current economic conditions, the values of assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements could change rapidly, resulting in material future adjustments in asset values, the allowance for loan losses, or capital that could negatively impact the Company’s ability to meet regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity.

Current economic conditions have impacted the markets in which we operate.  Throughout our market areas, the economic downturn negatively affected consumer confidence and elevated unemployment levels.  Consequently, the numbers and prices of property sales are down, which in turn potentially increases related losses upon foreclosure due to depressed values.  Higher vacancy rates and decreased rental income have negatively impacted cash flows on commercial real estate loans.  Commercial land development sales have slowed throughout our market areas.  The Missouri unemployment rate declined slightly during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and on a preliminary basis was just below the national average at September 30, 2011.  Activity in residential and commercial real estate markets in Missouri was below historic levels while manufacturing activity and industrial real estate activity increased slightly.  Loan types specifically impacted by certain market areas in Missouri include non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential construction loans in southwest Missouri (including Springfield) and loans secured by condominiums and condominium development in the St. Louis, Central Missouri and Branson market areas.  Borrowers with loans secured by condominiums and condominium development are now changing business strategies to remarket units for rent as opposed to sale.  While the St. Louis market area has experienced the highest level of unemployment among our market areas, we have a minimal level of residential and consumer loans in this market and the negative impact of the economy specific to this area has generally been in condominium loans as previously discussed. The unemployment rate for the Springfield market area was below the national average at August 31, 2011, the most recent date available, and overall lending activity has improved somewhat but is still below historic levels.
 
General
 
The profitability of the Company and, more specifically, the profitability of its primary subsidiary, Great Southern Bank (the "Bank"), depends primarily on its net interest income, as well as provisions for loan losses and the level of non-interest income and non-interest expense. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income the Bank earns on its loan and investment portfolios, and the interest it pays on interest-bearing liabilities, which consists mainly of interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates earned or paid on these balances. When interest-earning assets approximate or exceed interest-bearing liabilities, any positive interest rate spread will generate net interest income.
 
In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, Great Southern's total assets increased $19.7 million, or 0.6%, from $3.41 billion at December 31, 2010, to $3.43 billion at September 30, 2011. Full details of the current period changes in total assets are provided in the “Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Loans.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, net loans increased $82.0 million, or 4.4%, from $1.88 billion at December 31, 2010, to $1.96 billion at September 30, 2011. The increase was primarily due to increases in commercial real estate loans of $67.6 million, or 12.8%, commercial business loans of $37.9 million or 20.4%, and multi-family residential mortgage loans of $34.1 million, or 16.2%.  Commercial construction loans also increased but the increase was primarily offset by decreases in subdivision construction and land development loans.  Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in net loans acquired through the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions of $37.8 million, or 12.4%.  As loan demand is affected by a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, and
 
 
 
35
 
 
 
 
because of the competition we face and our focus on pricing discipline and credit quality, we cannot be assured that our loan growth will match or exceed the level of increases achieved in prior years. We expect loans to grow as a result of the acquisition discussed in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and the small net loan growth experienced during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 may continue into the fourth quarter of 2011.  However, based upon the current lending environment and economic conditions, and except for loan growth resulting from the acquisition, the Company does not expect to grow the overall loan portfolio significantly, at this time.  The Company's strategy continues to be focused on maintaining credit risk and interest rate risk at appropriate levels.
 
While our policy allows us to lend up to 95% of the appraised value on single-family properties and up to 90% on two- to four-family residential properties, originations of loans with loan-to-value ratios at that level are minimal.  When they are made at those levels, private mortgage insurance is typically required for loan amounts above the 80% level or our analyses determined minimal risk to be involved and therefore these loans are not considered to have more risk to us than other residential loans.  We consider these lending practices to be consistent with or more conservative than what we believe to be the norm for banks our size.  At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, an estimated 1.5% and 1.1%, respectively, of total owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination.  At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, an estimated 1.3% and 0.9%, respectively, of total non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination.

At September 30, 2011 troubled debt restructurings totaled $48.8 million, or 2.4% of total loans, up $28.4 million from $20.4 million, or 1.1% of total loans, at December 31, 2010.  This increase is primarily due to the economic downturn and the resulting increased number of borrowers experiencing financial difficulty.  Concessions granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties may include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  While the types of concessions made have not changed as a result of the economic recession, the number of concessions granted has increased as reflected in the increase in troubled debt restructurings.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, nine loans totaling $21.9 million were each restructured into multiple new loans.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, four loans totaling $8.2 million were each restructured into multiple new loans.  For further information on troubled debt restructurings, see Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

The loss sharing agreements with the FDIC are subject to limitations on the types of losses covered and the length of time losses are covered, and are conditioned upon the Bank complying with its requirements in the agreements with the FDIC including requirements regarding servicing and other loan administration matters.  The loss sharing agreements extend for ten years for single family real estate loans and for five years for other loans.  At September 30, 2011, approximately seven and one-half years remain on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from TeamBank and the remaining loans are expected to repay within two to eleven years.  At September 30, 2011, approximately eight years remain on the loss sharing agreement for single family real estate loans acquired from Vantus Bank and the remaining loans are expected to repay within two to fourteen years.   At September 30, 2011, approximately two and one-half years remain on the loss sharing agreement for non-single family loans acquired from TeamBank and the remaining loans are expected to repay within two to three years.  At September 30, 2011, approximately three years remain on the loss sharing agreement for non-single family loans acquired from Vantus Bank and the remaining loans are expected to repay within two to five years.  While the expected repayments for certain of the acquired loans extend beyond the terms of the loss sharing agreements, the Bank has identified and will continue to identify problem loans and will make every effort to resolve them within the time limits of the agreements.  The Company may sell any loans remaining at the end of the loss sharing agreement subject to the approval of the FDIC.  Acquired loans are currently included in the analysis and estimation of the allowance for loan losses.  However, when the loss sharing agreements end, the allowance for loan losses related to any acquired loans retained in the portfolio may need to increase.  The loss sharing agreements and their related limitations are described in detail in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in this report.

The level of non-performing loans and foreclosed assets affects our net interest income and net income. While we did not have an overall high level of charge-offs on our non-performing loans prior to 2008, we generally do not accrue interest income on these loans and do not recognize interest income until the loans are repaid or interest payments have been made for a period of time sufficient to provide evidence of performance on the loans. Generally, the higher the level of non-performing assets, the greater the negative impact on interest income and net income.  We expect the loan loss provision, non-performing assets and foreclosed assets will generally remain elevated and will fluctuate from period to period.  In addition, expenses related to the credit resolution process could also remain elevated.
 
 
 
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Available-for-sale Securities.  In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, Great Southern's available-for-sale securities increased $25.9 million, or 3.4%, from $769.5 million at December 31, 2010, to $795.4 million at September 30, 2011.  The increase was primarily due to purchases of U.S. government agency securities which increased $20.1 million, or 505.0%.  These securities were purchased for pledging to secure public-fund deposits and customer reverse repurchase agreements and also to earn higher yields as compared to holding the funds in cash and cash equivalents.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  Great Southern had cash and cash equivalents of $345.3 million at September 30, 2011, a decrease of $84.7 million, or 19.7%, from $430.0 million at December 31, 2010. The decrease in cash and cash equivalents during 2011 was due to increased loan funding, purchases of available-for-sale securities and redemption of brokered deposits.
 
Deposits.  The Company attracts deposit accounts through its retail branch network, correspondent banking and corporate services areas, and brokered deposits. The Company then utilizes these deposit funds, along with Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) advances and other borrowings, to meet loan demand or otherwise fund its activities. In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, total deposit balances increased $22.9 million, or 0.9%.  Transaction accounts increased $138.9 million, while total brokered deposits (excluding CDARS accounts) decreased $88.7 million and retail certificates of deposit decreased $28.0 million. Great Southern Bank customer deposits totaling $219.5 million and $218.8 million, at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively, were part of the CDARS program which allows bank customers to maintain balances in an insured manner that would otherwise exceed the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The FDIC considers these customer accounts to be brokered deposits due to the fees paid in the CDARS program.  The Company did not actively try to grow CDARS customer deposits during the current period and decreased interest rates offered on these deposits during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase in net loans of $82.0 million at September 30, 2011 over December 31, 2010 was greater than the increase in deposits of $22.9 million for the same periods as cash and cash equivalents were also used to fund the increase in loan demand.  If loan demand continues to trend upward in future periods, rates paid on deposits can be increased to increase deposit balances and the utilization of brokered deposits can be increased to provide additional funding, if necessary. However, the level of competition for deposits in our markets is high. While it is our goal to gain checking account and retail certificate of deposit market share in our branch footprint, we cannot be assured of this in future periods. In addition, increasing rates paid on deposits could negatively impact the Company’s net interest margin.  As discussed below, because the Federal Funds rate is already very low, there may be a negative impact on the Company’s net interest income due to the Company’s inability to lower its funding costs significantly in the current low interest rate environment, while interest rates on assets may decline further.

Total brokered deposits, excluding the CDARS accounts discussed above, were $55.8 million at September 30, 2011, down from $144.5 million at December 31, 2010. The decrease was the result of $95.3 million of brokered deposits that matured or were called by the Company during the period while only $10.0 million of new brokered deposits were added.  No interest rate swaps were associated with the remaining brokered certificates. The majority of the Company’s brokered certificates of deposit have fixed rates of interest and mature within the next year.
 
Our ability to fund growth in future periods may also depend on our ability to continue to access brokered deposits and FHLBank advances. In times when our loan demand has outpaced our generation of new deposits, we have utilized brokered deposits and FHLBank advances to fund these loans. These funding sources have been attractive to us because we can create variable rate funding, if desired, which more closely matches the variable rate nature of much of our loan portfolio. While we do not currently anticipate that our ability to access these sources will be reduced or eliminated in future periods, if this should happen, the limitation on our ability to fund additional loans could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
 
Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Risk Management.  Our net interest income may be affected positively or negatively by market interest rate changes. A large portion of our loan portfolio is tied to the "prime rate" and adjusts immediately when this rate adjusts (subject to the effect of loan interest rate floors, which are discussed below). We monitor our sensitivity to interest rate changes on an ongoing basis (see "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk").  In addition, our net interest income may be impacted by changes in the cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools.  As previously described in Note 9, the Company’s evaluation of cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools is on-going and increases in cash flow expectations are recognized as increases in accretable yield through interest income.  Decreases in cash flow expectations are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.
 

 
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The current level and shape of the interest rate yield curve poses challenges for interest rate risk management. The FRB last cut interest rates on December 16, 2008. Great Southern has a significant portfolio of loans which are tied to a "prime rate" of interest. Some of these loans are tied to some national index of "prime," while most are indexed to "Great Southern prime." The Company has elected to leave its “Great Southern prime rate” of interest at 5.00%. This does not affect a large number of customers, as a majority of the loans indexed to “Great Southern prime” are already at interest rate floors which are provided for in individual loan documents. But for the interest rate floors, a rate cut by the FRB generally would have an anticipated immediate negative impact on the Company’s net interest income due to the large total balance of loans which generally adjust immediately as the Federal Funds rate adjusts. Loans at their floor rates are subject to the risk that borrowers will seek to refinance elsewhere at the lower market rate, however.  Because the Federal Funds rate is already very low, there may also be a negative impact on the Company's net interest income due to the Company's inability to lower its funding costs significantly in the current environment, although interest rates on assets may decline further. Conversely, interest rate increases would normally result in increased interest rates on our prime-based loans.  The interest rate floors in effect may limit the immediate increase in interest rates on these loans, until such time as rates rise above the floors.  However, the Company may have to increase rates paid on deposits to maintain deposit balances.  The impact of the low rate environment on our net interest margin in future periods is expected to be fairly neutral.  As our time deposits mature in future periods, we expect to be able to continue to reduce rates somewhat as they renew.  However, any margin gained by these rate reductions is likely to be offset by reduced yields from our investment securities as payments are made on our mortgage-backed securities and the proceeds are reinvested at lower rates.  Similarly, interest rates on adjustable rate loans may reset lower according to their contractual terms and new loans may be originated at lower market rates.  For further discussion of the processes used to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, see Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – How We Measure the Risks to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes.”

The negative impact of declining loan interest rates has been mitigated by the positive effects of the Company’s loans which have interest rate floors. At September 30, 2011, the Company had a portfolio (excluding the loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions) of prime-based loans totaling approximately $734 million with rates that change immediately with changes to the prime rate of interest. Of this total, $664 million also had interest rate floors. These floors were at varying rates, with $68 million of these loans having floor rates of 7.0% or greater and another $523 million of these loans having floor rates between 5.0% and 7.0%. At September 30, 2011, all of these loans were at their floor rates.  The loan yield for the total loan portfolio was approximately 259 basis points higher than the national “prime rate of interest” at September 30, 2011, partly because of these interest rate floors.  While interest rate floors have had an overall positive effect on the Company’s results during this period, they do subject the Company to the risk that borrowers will elect to refinance their loans with other lenders.  To the extent economic conditions improve, the likelihood that borrowers will seek to refinance their loans increases.
 
Non-Interest Income and Operating Expenses.  The Company's profitability is also affected by the level of its non-interest income and operating expenses. Non-interest income consists primarily of service charges and ATM fees, commissions earned by our travel, insurance and investment divisions, accretion income (net of amortization) related to the FDIC-assisted acquisitions, late charges and prepayment fees on loans, gains on sales of loans and available-for-sale investments and other general operating income.  In 2011 and 2010, increases in the cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios resulted in amortization (expense) recorded relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets.  Non-interest income may also be affected by the Company's interest rate hedging activities, if the Company chooses to implement hedges.  On July 1, 2010, a federal rule went into effect which prohibits a financial institution from automatically enrolling customers in overdraft protection programs, on ATM and one-time debit card transactions, unless a consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service.  As expected, this recent federal rule has had an adverse affect on the amount of non-interest income we generate. Operating expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy-related expenses, expenses related to foreclosed assets, postage, FDIC deposit insurance, advertising and public relations, telephone, professional fees, office expenses and other general operating expenses.  Details of the current period changes in non-interest income and non-interest expense are provided in the “Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three and Nine months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Effect of Federal Laws and Regulations

General.  Federal legislation and regulation significantly affect the banking operations of the Company and the Bank, and have increased competition among commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage banking enterprises and other financial institutions. In particular, the capital requirements and operations of regulated depository institutions
 
 
 
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such as the Company and the Bank have been and will be subject to changes in applicable statutes and regulations from time to time, which changes could, under certain circumstances, adversely affect the Company or the Bank.

Legislation Impacting the Financial Services Industry.  On July 21, 2010, sweeping financial regulatory reform legislation entitled the “Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act” (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, will provide increased consumer financial protection, amend capital requirements for financial institutions, change the assessment base for federal deposit insurance, repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, amend the account balance limit for federal deposit insurance protection, and increase the authority of the Federal Reserve Board.

Many aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over several years, making it difficult to anticipate the overall financial impact on the Company and the financial services industry more generally. Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments, and payment of interest on demand deposits could increase the costs associated with deposits. Provisions in the legislation that require revisions to the capital requirements of the Company and the Bank could require the Company and the Bank to seek additional sources of capital in the future.

A provision of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly referred to as the “Durbin Amendment,” directed the FRB to analyze the debit card payments system and fix the interchange rates based upon their estimate of actual costs. The FRB has established the interchange rate for all debit transactions for issuers with over $10 billion in assets, effective October 1, 2011, at $0.21 per transaction. An additional five basis points of the transaction amount and an additional $0.01 may be collected by the issuer for fraud prevention and recovery, provided the issuer performs certain actions.  Although the Bank is currently exempt from the provisions of the rule on the basis of asset size, there is some uncertainty about the impact there will be on the interchange rates for issuers below the $10 billion level of assets.

In December 2010 and January 2011, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the final texts of reforms on capital and liquidity generally referred to as “Basel III.”  Although Basel III is intended to be implemented by participating countries for large, internationally active banks, its provisions are likely to be considered by United States banking regulators in developing new regulations applicable to other banks in the United States, including Great Southern.  For banks in the United States, among the provisions concerning capital are: (i) a minimum ratio of common equity to risk-weighted assets reaching 4.5%, plus an additional 2.5% as a capital conservation buffer, by 2019 after a phase-in period; (ii) a minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets reaching 6.0% by 2019 after a phase-in period; (iii) a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets, plus the additional 2.5% capital conservation buffer, reaching 10.5% by 2019 after a phase -in period; (iv) an additional countercyclical capital buffer to be imposed by applicable national banking regulators periodically at their discretion, with advance notice; and (v) restrictions on capital distributions and discretionary bonuses applicable when capital ratios fall within the buffer zone.

Although Basel III is described as a “final text,” it is subject to the resolution of certain issues and to further guidance and modification, as well as to adoption by United States banking regulators, including decisions as to whether and to what extent it will apply to United States banks that are not large, internationally active banks.

Business Initiatives

As part of its long-term strategic plan, the Company anticipates opening two to three banking centers per year as conditions warrant. In August 2011, a new full-service banking center on South Campbell Avenue was opened replacing an office less than a mile from the new site. The new banking center offers better access and greater convenience for customers.

Construction has begun on a new banking center on West 135th Street in Olathe, Kan., in an established retail business district. This new banking center will replace the Company’s current banking center at 11120 South Lone Elm Road, which is located in a lesser developed area of Olathe. Great Southern Travel also expects to move its current Olathe office to the new facility. A first quarter 2012 opening is anticipated.

Construction is also underway on a new banking center on West Kearney in north Springfield that will replace a current leased location approximately one block east of the site. The current banking center’s customer transaction
 
 
 
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volume is one of the highest in the Company’s franchise. The new larger banking center will offer more drive-thru lanes and provide much better access for customers. A late first quarter 2012 opening is expected.

Great Southern Insurance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Southern Bank, expects to move by November 1, 2011, from its current office at 430 South Avenue in Springfield to an office complex on East Battlefield in southeast Springfield. The new leased space offers better access for customers as the full-service insurance agency looks to grow its retail and commercial insurance business.

In late November 2011, the Company anticipates launching a new smartphone application for iPhone and Android users providing customers another channel for accessing their accounts.

Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company increased total assets by $19.7 million to $3.43 billion.  Most of the increase was attributable to increases in net loans, securities available for sale, prepaid expenses and other assets and net premises and equipment, partially offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents and the FDIC indemnification asset.  Net loans increased $82.0 million from December 31, 2010, to $1.96 billion at September 30, 2011.  The increase was primarily due to increases in commercial real estate loans of $67.6 million, or 12.8%, commercial business loans of $37.9 million, or 20.4%, and multi-family residential mortgage loans of $34.1 million, or 16.2%.  Commercial construction loans also increased but the increase was primarily offset by decreases in subdivision construction and land development loans.  Partially offsetting these increases were decreases in net loans acquired through the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions of $37.8 million, or 12.4%.  The Company's strategy continues to be focused on maintaining credit risk and interest rate risk at appropriate levels given the current credit and economic environments.  We expect loans to grow as a result of the acquisition discussed in Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and the small net loan growth experienced during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 may continue into the fourth quarter of 2011.  Securities available for sale increased $25.9 million as compared to December 31, 2010.  The increase was primarily due to purchases of U.S. government agency securities which increased $20.1 million, or 505.0%.  While there is no specifically stated goal, the available-for-sale securities portfolio has in recent quarters been approximately 20% to 25% of total assets. The available-for-sale securities portfolio was 23.2% and 22.6% of total assets at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  Prepaid expenses and other assets increased $22.4 million as compared to December 31, 2010, primarily due to a $23.0 million increase in federal and state tax credit investments.  The majority of the increase in tax credit investments was due to investments in federal low-income housing tax credits.  These credits are typically purchased at 70-90% of the amount of the credit and are generally utilized to offset taxes payable over a 10-year period.  The Company’s net premises and equipment increased $10.8 million as compared to December 31, 2010.  This increase was due primarily to the expansion of the Company’s operations center and new locations added in response to the growth of the Company and to provide for future growth.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a building was purchased in Springfield, Mo. to house the residential lending team and a new banking center with larger facilities and better access was constructed to replace an existing banking center in Springfield, Mo.  At September 30, 2011, construction was underway on a new banking center in Olathe, Kan. that will relocate an existing banking center to a more established retain business district and a new banking center in Springfield, Mo. to relocate a banking center with one of the Company’s highest transaction volumes to provide more drive-thru lanes and better access.  Also contributing to the increase in net premises and equipment was a $1.2 million increase relating to the upgrade of existing ATMs for compliance with recent regulations issued under the Americans with Disabilities Act.  In future periods, when these upgrades are complete, depreciation expense is expected to increase.  Cash and cash equivalents decreased $84.7 million as compared to December 31, 2010 as the Company used some of its excess liquidity to redeem brokered deposits and to fund loans and the purchase of securities.  The Company chose to use excess liquidity in these ways to increase net interest margin rather than maintain the level of cash and cash equivalents we had at December 31, 2010.  For several quarters, the Company has maintained a level of liquidity it considered to be higher than normal because of uncertainties in the U.S. economy and banking industry.  In some instances, the Company invested these excess funds in short-term cash equivalents that earned a small positive or a negative spread relative to the cost of funds. While the Company generally earned a positive spread on securities purchased, it was often much smaller than the Company's overall net interest spread, having the effect of increasing net interest income but negatively affecting net interest margin in 2010 and 2011.  The Company expects to maintain a higher level of cash and cash equivalents for the time being as excess liquidity in these uncertain times for the U.S. economy and the banking industry, subject to funding activities which are discussed below, and recognizing that this could potentially have the effect of suppressing net interest margin and net interest income.  The FDIC indemnification asset decreased $38.3 million from December 31, 2010 due primarily to amortization relating to the reduction in expected
 
 
 
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reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements previously discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Total liabilities increased $9.3 million from December 31, 2010 to $3.12 billion at September 30, 2011.  The increase was primarily attributable to increases in deposits partially offset by decreases in securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers.  Total deposits increased $22.9 million from December 31, 2010.  Transaction account balances increased $138.9 million to $1.44 billion at September 30, 2011, up from $1.30 billion at December 31, 2010 while retail certificates of deposit decreased $28.0 million to $908.4 million at September 30, 2011, down from $936.4 million at December 31, 2010.  Since the second quarter of 2010, the Company’s transaction account balances have trended upward while retail certificates of deposit have trended downward because of customer preference to have immediate access to funds during the current low interest rate environment.  Total brokered deposits (excluding CDARS customer account balances) were $55.8 million at September 30, 2011, compared to $144.5 million at December 31, 2010.  The decrease was the result of $95.3 million of brokered deposits that matured or were called by the Company during the nine months while only $10.0 million of new brokered deposits were added.  In addition, at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, Great Southern Bank customer deposits totaling $219.5 million and $218.8 million, respectively, were part of the CDARS program which allows bank customers to maintain balances in an insured manner that would otherwise exceed the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The FDIC counts these deposits as brokered, but these are deposit accounts that we generate with customers in our local markets. The Company did not actively try to grow CDARS customer deposits during the current period and decreased interest rates offered on these deposits during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers decreased $11.5 million from December 31, 2010 as these balances fluctuate over time.  FHLBank advances decreased $2.0 million from December 31, 2010. The level of FHLBank advances also fluctuates depending on growth in the Company's loan portfolio and other funding needs and sources available to the Company. Most of the Company’s FHLBank advances are fixed-rate advances that cannot be repaid prior to maturity without incurring significant penalties.

Total stockholders' equity increased $10.4 million from $304.0 million at December 31, 2010 to $314.4 million at September 30, 2011.  The Company recorded net income of $18.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, common and preferred dividends declared were $9.4 million and accumulated other comprehensive gain increased $7.4 million.  The increase in accumulated other comprehensive gain resulted from increases in the fair value of the Company's available-for-sale investment securities.  In addition, total stockholders’ equity increased $360,000 due to stock option exercises.

On August 18, 2011, the Company received an investment of $57.9 million in its preferred stock from the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury) under the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF).  Simultaneously with the receipt of the SBLF funds, the Company redeemed the $58.0 million of shares of preferred stock issued to the Treasury in December 2008 under the Capital Purchase Program (CPP), a part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program.  The Company also repurchased the common stock warrant representing 909,091 shares held by the Treasury that was issued as a part of the Company’s participation in the CPP for a price of $6.4 million, or $7.08 per warrant share.  For further details of these transactions, see the “Capital Resources” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Prior to our redemption of the CPP preferred stock, we were precluded from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock without the Treasury's consent.  Our participation in the SBLF program does not preclude us from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock, provided that after giving effect to such purchase, (i) the dollar amount of the Company’s Tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” under the terms of the SBLF preferred stock and (ii) full dividends on all outstanding shares of SBLF preferred stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid.  See “Capital Resources.”  The Company has historically utilized stock buy-back programs from time to time as long as it believed that repurchasing the stock contributed to the overall growth of shareholder value. The number of shares of stock repurchased and the price paid is the result of many factors, several of which are outside of the control of the Company. The primary factors, however, are the number of shares available in the market from sellers at any given time and the market price of the stock.

Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2011 and 2010

General

Net income was $6.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to net income of $6.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. This increase of $291,000, or 4.7%, was primarily due to an increase
 
 
 
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in net interest income of $11.4 million, or 37.9%, a decrease in provision for loan losses of $2.3 million, or 21.3%, and a decrease in provision for income taxes of $399,000, or 13.9%, partially offset by a decrease in non-interest income of $13.4 million, or 109.9%, and an increase in non-interest expense of $415,000, or 1.8%.  Net income available to common shareholders was $4.4 million and $5.3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Net income was $18.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to net income of $17.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This increase of $713,000, or 4.1%, was primarily due to an increase in net interest income of $37.4 million, or 44.6%, a decrease in provision for loan losses of $3.2 million, or 11.2%, and a decrease in provision for income taxes of $1.9 million, or 23.6%, partially offset by a decrease in non-interest income of $40.5 million, or 114.5%, and an increase in non-interest expense of $1.2 million, or 1.8%. Net income available to common shareholders was $14.6 million and $15.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Total Interest Income
 
Total interest income increased $8.4 million, or 20.3%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was due to an $8.3 million increase in interest income on loans and a $144,000 increase in interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets.  Total interest income increased $27.2 million, or 22.5%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was due to a $27.9 million increase in interest income on loans partially offset by a $617,000 decrease in interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets.  Interest income on loans increased primarily due to increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools and the resulting adjustment to accretable yield which were previously discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Interest income from investment securities and other interest-earning assets decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 due to lower average rates of interest, partially offset by higher average balances. The lower average investment yields were primarily a result of lower yields on mortgage-backed securities as interest rates reset downward.  Prepayments on the mortgages underlying these securities resulted in amortization of premiums which also reduced yields.

Interest Income – Loans
 
During the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, interest income on loans increased due to higher average interest rates and higher average balances. Interest income increased $7.9 million as a result of higher average interest rates on loans.  The average yield on loans increased from 7.05% during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 8.63% during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  This increase was due to additional yield accretion recognized in conjunction with the fair value of the loan pools acquired in the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions as previously discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  On an on-going basis the Company estimates the cash flows expected to be collected from the acquired loan pools. This cash flows estimate has increased each quarter beginning with the third quarter of 2010, based on the payment histories and reduced loss expectations of the loan pools, resulting in a total of $83.4 million of adjustments to be spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loan pools. The increases in expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets. Therefore, the expected indemnification assets have also been reduced each quarter since the third quarter of 2010, resulting in a total of $73.5 million of adjustments to be amortized on a comparable basis over the remainder of the loss sharing agreements or the remaining expected life of the loan pools, whichever is shorter.  For the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the adjustments increased interest income by $14.2 million and $4.2 million, respectively, and decreased non-interest income by $12.7 million and $3.6 million, respectively.  The net impact to pre-tax income was $1.5 million and $672,000, respectively, for the quarters ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  Because the adjustments will be recognized over the estimated remaining lives of the loan pools and the remainder of the loss sharing agreements, respectively, they will impact future periods as well.  As of September 30, 2011, the remaining accretable yield adjustment that will affect interest income is $24.2 million and the remaining adjustment to the indemnification assets that will affect non-interest income (expense) is $(20.9) million.  Of the remaining adjustments, we expect to recognize $8.8 million of interest income and $(7.8) million of non-interest income (expense) in the remainder of 2011.  Apart from the yield accretion, the average yield on loans was 5.79% for the three months ended September 30, 2011, down from 6.19% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, as a result of both normal amortization of higher-rate loans and new loans that were made at current lower market rates.
 
 
 
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Interest income increased $359,000 as the result of higher average loan balances which increased from $1.97 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2010, to $1.99 billion during the quarter ended September 30, 2011. The higher average balance resulted primarily from increases in average outstanding commercial real estate loans and other residential (multi-family) loans.  In response to the economic recession, the Bank originated commercial real estate loans with the goal of at least maintaining the current percentage of these loans in the portfolio and originated an increased amount of other residential (multi-family) loans while limiting lending on construction and land development loan types to reduce the risk in the loan portfolio.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, interest income on loans increased due to higher average interest rates partially offset by lower average balances. Interest income increased $31.9 million as a result of higher average interest rates on loans.  The average yield on loans increased from 6.54% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 8.73% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  This increase was due to additional yield accretion recognized in conjunction with the fair value of the loan pools acquired in the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions as discussed above for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and as previously discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, the adjustments increased interest income by $39.7 million and $4.2 million respectively, and decreased non-interest income by $35.5 million and $3.6 million, respectively.  The net impact to pre-tax income was $4.2 million and $672,000, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010.  Apart from the yield accretion, the average yield on loans was 6.02% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, down from 6.26% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 for reasons discussed above.

Interest income decreased $4.0 million as the result of lower average loan balances which decreased from $2.04 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.95 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The decrease in average loan balances for the comparable nine-month periods was due primarily to decreases in average outstanding construction loans and one- to four-family residential loans, partially offset by an increase in other residential (multi-family) loans. 

Interest Income – Investments and Other Interest-earning Assets
 
Interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets increased in the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010. Interest income increased $908,000 as a result of an increase in average balances from $1.00 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.09 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  Average balances of securities increased due to purchases made for pledging to secure public-fund deposits while average interest-earning deposits decreased slightly due to a decrease in average interest-bearing deposits.  Interest income decreased $764,000 due to a decrease in average interest rates from 2.58% during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 2.44% during the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets decreased in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Interest income decreased $2.5 million as a result of a decrease in average interest rates from 2.82% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 2.37% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The majority of the Company’s securities in the 2010 and 2011 periods were mortgage-backed securities which are backed by hybrid ARMs that have fixed rates of interest for a period of time (generally one to ten years) and then adjust annually. The actual amount of securities that will reprice and the actual interest rate changes on these securities are subject to the level of prepayments on these securities and the changes that actually occur in market interest rates (primarily treasury rates and LIBOR rates). Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to reduced yields due to more rapid prepayments in the underlying mortgages. As a result, premiums on these securities may be amortized against interest income more quickly, thereby reducing the yield recorded.  Interest income increased $1.9 million as a result of an increase in average balances from $1.00 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.16 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Average balances of securities increased due to purchases made for pledging to secure public-fund deposits and higher levels of average interest-bearing deposits were maintained for liquidity.

The Company’s interest-earning deposits and non-interest-earning cash equivalents currently earn very low or no yield and therefore negatively impact the Company’s net interest margin. At September 30, 2011, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $345.3 million compared to $430.0 million at December 31, 2010. See "Net Interest Income" for additional information on the impact of this interest activity.
 
 
 
43
 
 
 

 
Total Interest Expense
 
Total interest expense decreased $3.0 million, or 26.6%, during the three months ended September 30, 2011, when compared with the three months ended September 30, 2010, due to a decrease in interest expense on deposits of $2.9 million, or 32.3%, a decrease in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $54,000, or 3.9%, a decrease in interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings of $31,000, or 4.0%, and a decrease in interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts of $14,000, or 9.1%.

Total interest expense decreased $10.2 million, or 27.4%, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily due to a decrease in interest expense on deposits of $9.6 million, or 32.1%, a decrease in interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings of $319,000, or 12.4%, a decrease in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $258,000, or 6.2%, and a decrease in interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts of $12,000, or 2.8%.

Interest Expense – Deposits
 
Interest expense on demand deposits decreased $424,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 0.89% during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 0.74% during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The average interest rates decreased due to lower overall market rates of interest since September 30, 2010 and because the Company chose to pay lower rates during the three months ended September 30, 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010. Market rates of interest on checking and money market accounts have decreased since late 2007 when the FRB began reducing short-term interest rates.  Interest expense on demand deposits increased $149,000 due to an increase in average balances from $955 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.00 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The increase in average balances of demand deposits was primarily a result of customer preference to transition from time deposits to demand deposits as well as organic growth in the Company’s deposit base, particularly in interest-bearing checking accounts.
 
Interest expense on demand deposits decreased $1.4 million due to a decrease in average rates from 0.94% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 0.75% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Interest expense on demand deposits increased $1.1 million due to an increase in average balances from $901 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.07 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.

Interest expense on time deposits decreased $1.9 million as a result of a decrease in average rates of interest from 1.99% during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 1.40% during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  A large portion of the Company’s certificate of deposit portfolio matures within one year and so reprices fairly quickly; this is consistent with the portfolio over the past several years.  Interest expense on deposits decreased $764,000 due to a decrease in average balances of time deposits from $1.37 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.21 billion during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  As previously mentioned, the decrease in average balances of time deposits was partly the result of customer preference to transition from time deposits to demand deposits.  Also contributing to the decrease was the redemption of $138.5 million brokered deposits since September 30, 2010 while just $10 million new brokered deposits were added due to the Company’s existing high liquidity levels.

Interest expense on time deposits decreased $3.8 million due to a decrease in average balances from $1.54 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $1.26 billion during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Interest expense on time deposits decreased $5.4 million due to a decrease in average rates from 2.05% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 1.52% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The reasons for these changes in the comparable nine-month periods are the same as those described previously for the comparable three-month periods.

The Dodd-Frank Act repealed the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, thereby permitting depository institutions to pay interest on business transaction and other accounts beginning July 21, 2011. Although the ultimate impact of this legislation on the Company has not yet been determined, the Company expects interest costs associated with demand deposits may increase as a result of competitor responses to this change.
 

 
44
 
 

Interest Expense – FHLBank Advances, Short-term Borrowings and Structured Repo Borrowings and Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts
 
During the three months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased due to lower average balances, partially offset by higher average interest rates. Interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased $79,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $160 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $152 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011. Interest expense on FHLBank advances increased $25,000 due to an increase in average interest rates from 3.41% in the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 3.45% in the three months ended September 30, 2011.  Most of the remaining advances are fixed-rate and are subject to penalty if paid off prior to maturity.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased due to lower average balances, partially offset by higher average interest rates. Interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased $335,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $165 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $152 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. Interest expense on FHLBank advances increased $77,000 due to an increase in average interest rates from 3.38% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 3.44% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Most of the remaining advances are fixed-rate and are subject to penalty if paid off prior to maturity.

Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $59,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $324 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $301 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in balances of short-term borrowings was primarily due to decreases in average securities sold under repurchase agreements with the Company's deposit customers which tend to fluctuate. Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings increased $28,000 due to a slight increase in average rates on short-term borrowings from 0.95% in the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 0.98% in the three months ended September 30, 2011.

Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings decreased $340,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $352 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $305 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The decrease in balances of short-term borrowings was primarily due to decreases in average securities sold under repurchase agreements with the Company's deposit customers which tend to fluctuate. Interest expense on short-term and structured repo borrowings increased $21,000 due to relatively consistent average rates on short-term borrowings for the comparable nine-month periods.

Interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased $14,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 1.98% in the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 1.79% in the three months ended September 30, 2011.  Interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased $12,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 1.87% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 1.82% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  These debentures are not subject to an interest rate swap; however, they are variable-rate debentures and bear interest at an average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 1.57%, adjusting quarterly.

Net Interest Income
 
Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 increased $11.4 million to $41.6 million compared to $30.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2010. Net interest margin was 5.37% in the three months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 4.03% in the three months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of 134 basis points, or 33.3%.  In the comparable three-month periods, the Company’s margin was positively impacted primarily by the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools and the resulting increase to accretable yield which were previously discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The impact of these changes on the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 were increases in interest income of $14.2 million and $4.2 million, respectively, and increases in net interest margin of 184 basis points and 56 basis points, respectively.  Excluding the positive impact of the additional yield accretion, net interest margin increased seven basis points during the three months ended September 30, 2011, primarily due to a change in the deposit mix over the last year.  Since September 30, 2010, lower-cost checking accounts increased as customers added to existing accounts or new customer accounts were opened while higher-cost brokered deposits decreased.  Since September 30, 2010, the Company redeemed $138.5 million of brokered deposits while just $10 million new brokered deposits were added due to the Company’s existing high liquidity levels.  Retail certificates of deposit also continued to decrease, and those that were renewed or replaced generally had lower market rates of interest.  Partially offsetting
 
 
 
45
 
 
 
 
the decrease in yields on deposits were overall decreases in yields on investments and loans, excluding the yield accretion income discussed above, when compared to the year-ago quarter.

The Company's overall interest rate spread increased 127 basis points, or 32.2%, from 3.95% during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 5.22% during the three months ended September 30, 2011. The gross change was due to a 91 basis point increase in the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets and a 36 basis point decrease in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. In comparing the two periods, the yield on loans increased 158 basis points while the yield on investment securities and other interest-earning assets decreased 14 basis points. The rate paid on deposits decreased 44 basis points, the rate paid on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased 19 basis points, the rate paid on FHLBank advances increased four basis points and the rate paid on short-term borrowings increased three basis points.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 increased $37.4 million to $121.3 million compared to $83.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Net interest margin was 5.21% in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to 3.69% in the nine months ended September 30, 2010, an increase of 152 basis points, or 41.2%.  The Company's overall interest rate spread increased 143 basis points, or 39.1%, from 3.66% during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 5.09% during the nine months ended September 30, 2011. The gross change was due to a 104 basis point increase in the weighted average rate paid on interest-earning assets and a 39 basis point decrease in the weighted average yield on interest-bearing liabilities.  In comparing the two periods, the yield on loans increased 219 basis points while the yield on investment securities and other interest-earning assets decreased 45 basis points. The rate paid on deposits decreased 47 basis points, the rate paid on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased five basis points, the rate paid on FHLBank advances increased six basis points and the rate paid on short-term borrowings remained the same.

For additional information on net interest income components, refer to the "Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields" table in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
Provision for Loan Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses
 
The provision for loan losses decreased $2.3 million, from $10.8 million during the three months ended September 30, 2010, to $8.5 million during the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The provision for loan losses decreased $3.2 million, from $28.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to $25.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  At September 30, 2011, the allowance for loan losses was $40.5 million, a decrease of $1.0 million from December 31, 2010.  Net charge-offs were $8.5 million in the three months ended September 30, 2011, versus $11.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2010. Net charge-offs were $26.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011, versus $28.3 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Thirteen relationships accounted for $21.4 million of the net charge-off total for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  General market conditions, and more specifically, housing supply, absorption rates and unique circumstances related to individual borrowers and projects contributed to increased provisions and charge-offs.  As properties were categorized as potential problem loans, non-performing loans or foreclosed assets, evaluations were made of the value of these assets with corresponding charge-offs as appropriate.
 
Management records a provision for loan losses in an amount it believes sufficient to result in an allowance for loan losses that will cover current net charge-offs as well as risks believed to be inherent in the loan portfolio of the Bank. The amount of provision charged against current income is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, past loss experience, current portfolio mix, actual and potential losses identified in the loan portfolio, economic conditions, regular reviews by internal staff and regulatory examinations.
 
Weak economic conditions, higher inflation or interest rates, or other factors may lead to increased losses in the portfolio and/or requirements for an increase in loan loss provision expense.  Management long ago established various controls in an attempt to limit future losses, such as a watch list of possible problem loans, documented loan administration policies and a loan review staff to review the quality and anticipated collectability of the portfolio. More recently, additional procedures have been implemented to provide for more frequent management review of the loan portfolio based on loan size, loan type and delinquencies.  Management determines which loans are potentially uncollectible, or represent a greater risk of loss, and makes additional provisions to expense, if necessary, to maintain the allowance at a satisfactory level.
 
Loans acquired in the March 20, 2009 and September 4, 2009, FDIC-assisted transactions are covered by loss sharing agreements between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank which afford Great Southern Bank at least 80% protection
 
 
 
46
 
 
 
 
from losses in the acquired portfolio of loans.  The FDIC loss sharing agreements are subject to limitations on the types of losses covered and the length of time losses are covered and are conditioned upon the Bank complying with its requirements in the agreements with the FDIC.  These limitations were described in detail in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The acquired loans were grouped into pools based on common characteristics and were recorded at their estimated fair values, which incorporated estimated credit losses at the acquisition dates.  These loan pools are systematically reviewed by the Company to determine the risk of losses that may exceed those identified at the time of the acquisition.  Techniques used in determining risk of loss are similar to the legacy Great Southern Bank portfolio, with most of the focus being placed on those loan pools which include the larger loan relationships and those loan pools which exhibit higher risk characteristics.  Review of the acquired loan portfolio also includes meetings with customers, review of financial information and collateral valuations to determine if any additional losses are apparent.  At September 30, 2011, one loan pool exhibited risk of loss and had allowances for loan losses totaling $30,000.  The loan pool was acquired through the Vantus Bank FDIC-assisted transaction and because of the loss sharing agreement, only 20% of the anticipated $30,000 loss would be ultimately borne by the Bank.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, one loan pool that was acquired through the Vantus Bank FDIC-assisted transaction and had allowances for loan losses totaling $800,000 at December 31, 2010 was charged-off.  Because of the loss sharing agreement, only 20% of the loss was ultimately borne by the Bank.
 
The Bank's allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding loans covered by the FDIC loss sharing agreements, was 2.33% and 2.48% at September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover losses inherent in the Company's loan portfolio at September 30, 2011, based on recent reviews of the Company's loan portfolio and current economic conditions.  If economic conditions remain weak or deteriorate significantly, it is possible that additional loan loss provisions would be required, thereby adversely affecting future results of operations and financial condition.
 
Non-performing Assets
 
Former TeamBank and Vantus Bank non-performing assets, including foreclosed assets, are not included in the totals and in the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below because losses from these assets are covered under loss sharing agreements with the FDIC which provide for at least 80% protection from losses. In addition, FDIC-covered assets were recorded at their estimated fair values as of March 20, 2009, and September 4, 2009, respectively.  The overall performance of FDIC-covered loan pools has been better than original expectations as of the acquisition dates.
 
As a result of changes in balances and composition of the loan portfolio, changes in economic and market conditions that occur from time to time, and other factors specific to a borrower's circumstances, the level of non-performing assets will fluctuate.  Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-covered non-performing assets, at September 30, 2011, were $81.8 million, an increase of $3.5 million from $78.3 million at December 31, 2010. Non-performing assets, excluding FDIC-covered assets, as a percentage of total assets were 2.39% at September 30, 2011, compared to 2.30% at December 31, 2010. Compared to December 31, 2010, non-performing loans decreased $467,000 to $29.9 million and foreclosed assets increased $3.1 million to $52.0 million.  Construction and land development loans comprised $7.4 million, or 24.7%, of the total $29.9 million of non-performing loans at September 30, 2011, compared with $8.1 million or 27.6% of the total $29.4 million of non-performing loans at December 31, 2010.  Non-performing commercial real estate loans were $7.5 million, or 25.0%, of the total non-performing loans at September 30, 2011, compared with $6.1 million, or 20.7%, at December 31, 2010.
 
Non-performing Loans.  Non-performing loans have increased since the economic recession began in 2008.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, economic growth was slow and because of this, we experienced continued higher levels of additions to non-performing loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, $51.0 million of loans were added to non-performing loans and over half of the additions were in the land development, one- to four-family residential and commercial real estate categories.  Activity in the non-performing loans category during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was as follows:

 
47
 
 


    
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
to Non-
Performing
   
Removed
from Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Potential
Problem
Loans
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $ 578     $ 2,075     $     $     $     $ (100 )   $ (674 )   $ 1,879  
Subdivision construction
    1,860       9,563       (26 )     (246 )     (2,845 )     (3,133 )     (110 )     5,063  
Land development
    5,668       101       (667 )     (667 )     (2,931 )     (899 )     (176 )     429  
Commercial construction
                                               
One- to four-family residential
    5,608       6,075                   (2,963 )     (824 )     (808 )     7,088  
Other residential
    4,203       189                   (183 )     (906 )     (58 )     3,245  
Commercial real estate
    6,074       18,514       (5,316 )     (1,911 )     (3,619 )     (5,014 )     (1,254 )     7,474  
Commercial business
    3,832       1,454       (497 )     (3 )     (89 )     (466 )     (421 )     3,810  
Consumer
    1,597       1,096       (318 )     (120 )     (50 )     (297 )     (1,009 )     899  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 29,420     $ 39,067     $ (6,824 )   $ (2,947 )   $ (12,680 )   $ (11,639 )   $ (4,510 )   $ 29,887  
                                                                 

At September 30, 2011, the commercial real estate category of non-performing loans included eight loans.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added during the quarter, totaled $4.4 million, or 59.5% of the total category, and was collateralized by property in Springfield, Mo.  The one- to four-family residential category included 65 loans, 20 of which were added during the quarter.

Potential Problem Loans.  Potential problem loans have increased since the economic recession began in 2008.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, economic growth was slow and because of this, we experienced continued higher levels of additions to potential problem loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  During the year ended December 31, 2010, $79.0 million of loans were added to potential problem loans and almost half of the additions were in the land development and commercial real estate categories.  Compared to December 31, 2010, potential problem loans decreased $11.7 million, or 21.0%.  This decrease included $14.7 million of loans removed from potential problem loans and $18.4 million of loans transferred to non-performing loans or foreclosed assets categories.  Potential problem loans are loans which management has identified through routine internal review procedures as having possible credit problems that may cause the borrowers difficulty in complying with the current repayment terms.  These loans are not reflected in non-performing assets, but are considered in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.  Activity in the potential problem loans category during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
to
Potential
Problem
   
Removed
from
Potential
Problem
   
Transfers to
Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $ 714     $ 839     $ (339 )   $ (261 )   $     $     $ (647 )   $ 306  
Subdivision construction
    6,473       5,261       (1,131 )     (2,590 )           (861 )     (371 )     6,781  
Land development
    11,476       803       (1,724 )           (3,832 )     (1,327 )     (195 )     5,201  
Commercial construction
    1,851             (1,200 )                 (651 )            
One- to four-family residential
    8,786       1,646       (1,621 )     (1,504 )           (890 )     (2,176 )     4,241  
Other residential
    5,674       189       (3,850 )     (189 )           (1,715 )     (7 )     102  
Commercial real estate
    14,729       21,429       (1,160 )     (5,480 )     (2,669 )     (483 )     (283 )     26,083  
Commercial business
    5,934       3,151       (3,653 )     (511 )     (1,361 )     (1,512 )     (820 )     1,228  
Consumer
    12       225       (62 )     (11 )                 (133 )     31  
                                                                 
Total
  $ 55,649     $ 33,543     $ (14,740 )   $ (10,546 )   $ (7,862 )   $ (7,439 )   $ (4,632 )   $ 43,973  
                                                                 

At September 30, 2011, the commercial real estate category of potential problem loans included 17 loans.  The largest two relationships in this category had balances of $7.4 million and $5.4 million, respectively, or 49.2% of the total category.  Both relationships were added during the quarter and were collateralized by properties in southwest Missouri.  The subdivision construction category of potential problem loans included 11 loans.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added during the quarter, had a balance of $3.3 million, or 48.6% of the total category, and was collateralized by property in Springfield, Mo.  The loans added to the commercial real estate
 
 
 
48
 
 
 
 
category totaling $7.4 million and the loans added to the subdivision construction category totaling $3.3 million belong to the same borrower relationship.

Foreclosed Assets.  Of the total $65.7 million of foreclosed assets at September 30, 2011, $13.7 million represents the fair value of foreclosed assets acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions in 2009.  These acquired foreclosed assets are subject to the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC and, therefore, are not included in the following table and discussion of foreclosed assets.  Foreclosed assets have increased since the economic recession began in 2008.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, economic growth was slow and real estate markets did not experience a recovery.  Because of this, we experienced continued higher levels of additions to foreclosed assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  Because sales of foreclosed properties have been slower than additions, total foreclosed assets increased.  The trend of higher additions and lower sales due to the economy is magnified in the land development category where properties are more speculative in nature and market activity has been very slow. Activity in foreclosed assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
   
Proceeds
from Sales
   
Capitalized
Costs
   
ORE Expense
Write-Downs
   
Ending
Balance,
September 30
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
  $ 2,510     $     $ (1,409 )   $ 175     $ (118 )   $ 1,158  
Subdivision construction
    19,816       2,079       (3,372 )           (48 )     18,475  
Land development
    10,620       7,528       (800 )                 17,348  
Commercial construction
    3,997             (1,250 )                 2,747  
One- to four-family residential
    2,896       3,140       (3,523 )     13       (232 )     2,294  
Other residential
    4,178       983       (193 )           (6 )     4,962  
Commercial real estate
    4,565       6,288       (7,206 )           (134 )     3,513  
Commercial business
          89       (10 )                     79  
Consumer
    318       2,204       (1,137 )                 1,385  
                                                 
Total
  $ 48,900     $ 22,311     $ (18,900 )   $ 188     $ (538 )   $ 51,961  
                                                 

At September 30, 2011, the subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets included 63 properties, the largest of which was located in the St. Louis, Mo. metropolitan area and had a balance of $3.8 million, or 20.6% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the subdivision construction category, 23.9% is located in Branson, Mo.  The land development category of foreclosed assets included 25 properties, the largest of which had a balance of $4.3 million, or 24.7% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the land development category, 39.2% was located in northwest Arkansas, including the largest property previously mentioned.

Non-interest Income
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2011, non-interest income decreased $13.4 million, or 109.9%, to a negative $1.2 million when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010, primarily as a result of the following items:

Amortization of indemnification asset:  As previously described in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, due to the increase in cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios, $12.7 million of amortization (expense) was recorded in the 2011 period relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets.  This amortization (expense) amount was up $9.1 million from the $3.6 million that was recorded in the 2010 period relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC.

Securities gains and impairments:  During the 2010 period, in addition to sales of certain mortgage-backed securities, nearly all of the securities acquired through the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions were sold to eliminate securities with lower yields and blocks of smaller securities and to realize the gain positions of the securities.  Fewer securities were sold during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, and therefore, gains recognized on sales were $483,000, down $4.9 million from $5.4 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, non-interest income decreased $40.5 million, or 114.5%, to a negative $5.1 million when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, primarily as a result of the following items:
 
 
 
49
 
 
 

 
Amortization of indemnification asset:  As previously described in Note 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, due to the increase in cash flows expected to be collected from the FDIC-covered loan portfolios, $35.5 million of amortization (expense) was recorded in the 2011 period relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC, which are recorded as indemnification assets.  This amortization (expense) amount was up $31.9 million from the $3.6 million that was recorded in the 2010 period relating to reductions of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC.

Securities gains and impairments:  As previously mentioned, fewer securities were sold during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, and, therefore, gains recognized on sales were $483,000, down $8.4 million from $8.9 million recognized for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a $400,000 loss was recorded as a result of an impairment write-down in the value of an investment in a non-agency CMO.  The Company continues to hold this security in the available-for-sale category.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, no impairment write-downs were necessary based on analyses of the securities portfolio.

Service charges and ATM fees:  Overdraft regulations on ATM and certain debit card transactions became effective during the third quarter of 2010.  These overdraft regulations were expected to adversely affect overdraft fees and this expectation has proven accurate.  Compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, income related to total service charges and ATM fees decreased $1.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

Partially offsetting the above decreases in non-interest income was a $598,000 increase in commission income during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010.  This increase is primarily due to an overall increase in activity for Great Southern Travel as well as two new Travel locations operating in Olathe, Kan. and Des Moines, Iowa that opened in July and November 2010, respectively.

Non-interest Expense
 
For the three months ended September 30, 2011, non-interest expense increased $415,000, or 1.8%, to $23.0 million, when compared to the three months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was primarily due to the following items:

New banking centers:  Continued internal growth of the Company since the quarter ended September 30, 2010 caused an increase in non-interest expense during the quarter ended September 30, 2011.  The Company opened two retail banking centers in the St. Louis, Mo. market area, one in Clayton, Mo. in May 2011, and the other in Des Peres, Mo. in September 2010. A new banking center was also opened in Forsyth, Mo. in December 2010 that is intended to complement existing banking centers in that market area.   The operation of these three new locations increased non-interest expense for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 by $150,000 over the same period in 2010.  The increase primarily impacted the salaries and benefits and net occupancy expense line items.  For additional information on the Company’s growth, see the “Business Initiatives” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Salaries and benefits:  As a result of the Company’s overall growth, the number of associates employed by the Company in operational and lending areas increased 5.4% from September 30, 2010 to September 30, 2011.  This personnel increase, as well as general merit increases for existing employees, was primarily responsible for the increased salaries and benefits paid of $558,000, or 5.0%, in the quarter ended September 30, 2011 when compared with the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

Net occupancy expense:  During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company completed its final settlements with the FDIC for the purchase of the real estate, furniture and fixtures of the branch locations operated as a result of the FDIC-assisted transactions which took place during 2009.  For the third quarter of 2011, depreciation related to the buildings, furniture and equipment purchased increased net occupancy expense by $300,000 over the third quarter of 2010.

FDIC insurance premiums:  In the third quarter of 2011, deposit insurance premiums increased $553,000 over the third quarter of 2010 due to an increase in the Company’s insured deposits, partially offset by a reduction in the deposit premium rates charged by the FDIC.
 
 
 
50
 
 
 

 
Partially offsetting the above increases in non-interest expense was a $1.4 million decrease in expense on foreclosed assets for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010.  The decrease was primarily due to higher write-downs on foreclosed assets in the 2010 period.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011, non-interest expense increased $1.2 million, or 1.9%, to $66.8 million, when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  The increase was primarily due to the following items:

New banking centers:  Continued internal growth of the Company through new banking centers in Clayton, Mo., Des Peres, Mo. and Forsyth, Mo., as mentioned above, also contributed to the increase in non-interest expense in the first half of 2011.  The operation of these three new locations increased non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 by $501,000 over the same period in 2010.  The increase primarily impacted the salaries and benefits and net occupancy expense line items.

Salaries and benefits:  As discussed above, increases in personnel and general merit increases for existing employees were primarily responsible for the increase in salaries and benefits paid of $1.6 million, or 4.9%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 when compared with the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Net occupancy expense:  During the fourth quarter of 2010, the Company completed its final settlements with the FDIC for the purchase of the real estate, furniture and fixtures of the branch locations operated as a result of the FDIC-assisted transactions which took place during 2009.  For the nine months ending September 30, 2011, depreciation related to the buildings, furniture and equipment purchased increased net occupancy expense by $910,000 over the nine months ending September 30, 2010.

FDIC insurance premiums:  In the nine months ended September 30, 2011, deposit insurance premiums increased $1.2 million over the same period of 2010 due to an increase in the Company’s insured deposits, partially offset by a reduction in the deposit premium rates charged by the FDIC.

Partially offsetting the above increases in non-interest expense was a $2.9 million decrease in expense on foreclosed assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010.  The decrease was primarily due to higher write-downs on foreclosed assets in the 2010 period.

The Company’s efficiency ratio for the three months ended September 30, 2011, was 56.93% compared to 53.27% for the same period in 2010. The efficiency ratio for the nine months ended September 30, 2011, was 57.48% compared to 54.97% for the same period in 2010.  The changes in the ratios from the prior to current periods were primarily due to changes in gains/losses on securities, as well as the increases in non-interest expense.   The Company’s ratio of non-interest expense to average assets increased from 2.64% for the three months ended September 30, 2010, to 2.70% for the three months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase in the current period ratio was due to slightly higher expenses in the 2011 period.  The Company’s ratio of non-interest expense to average assets increased from 2.45% for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, to 2.58% for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.  The increase in the current period ratio was due to lower average assets and increased non-interest expense in the 2011 period.  Average assets for the three months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $9.1 million, or 0.3%, from the three months ended September 30, 2010.  Average assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 decreased $120.4 million, or 3.4%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Provision for Income Taxes
 
The Company’s effective tax rate (as compared to the statutory federal tax rate of 35.0%) was 27.6% and 24.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, due to the effects of investment tax credits and to tax-exempt investments and tax-exempt loans which reduced the Company’s effective tax rate. The decrease in taxes due to tax credits was partially offset by higher non-interest expense related to the amortization of the investment in tax credits.  Credits totaling $200,000 and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, were used to reduce the Company’s tax expense which resulted in corresponding amortization in non-interest expense of $352,000 and $1.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively, to reduce the investment in these credits.  The Company’s effective tax rate was 31.7% and 31.0% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, due to the effects of tax-exempt investments and tax-exempt loans which reduced the Company’s effective tax rate. In future periods, the Company expects its effective tax rate will be approximately 22%-26%.  The Company’s effective tax rate may fluctuate as it is impacted by the level and timing of its utilization of tax credits.
 
 
 
51
 
 
 

 
Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields
 
The following tables present, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amounts of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Average balances of loans receivable include the average balances of non-accrual loans for each period. Interest income on loans includes the amortization of net loan fees, which were deferred in accordance with accounting standards. Fees included in interest income were $555,000 and $590,000 for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Fees included in interest income were $1.6 million and $1.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis. The table does not reflect any effect of income taxes.

 
52
 
 

 
September 30, 2011(2)
   
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2010
 
 
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                 
Loans receivable:
                                 
 One- to four-family residential
5.30
%
 
$
305,348
   
$
5,684
 
7.39
%
$
330,438
   
$
5,583
 
6.70
%
 Other residential
5.41
     
257,646
     
3,997
 
6.15
   
220,497
     
3,351
 
6.03
 
 Commercial real estate
5.77
     
698,642
     
14,857
 
8.44
   
648,652
     
12,367
 
7.56
 
 Construction
5.49
     
255,787
     
7,587
 
11.77
   
312,650
     
4,622
 
8.79
 
 Commercial business
5.54
     
196,578
     
5,878
 
11.86
   
177,013
     
3,921
 
5.86
 
 Other loans
7.20
     
208,882
     
4,272
 
8.11
   
216,644
     
4,179
 
7.65
 
 Industrial revenue bonds(1)
5.99
     
68,156
     
1,011
 
5.89
   
65,128
     
977
 
5.95
 
                                           
Total loans receivable
5.84
     
1,991,039
     
43,286
 
8.63
   
1,971,022
     
35,000
 
7.05
 
                                           
Investment securities(1)
3.49
     
828,484
     
6,595
 
3.16
   
741,999
     
6,449
 
3.45
 
Other interest-earning assets
0.15
     
257,107
     
84
 
0.13
   
262,780
     
86
 
0.13
 
                                           
Total interest-earning assets
4.74
     
3,076,630
     
49,965
 
6.44
   
2,975,801
     
41,535
 
5.53
 
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                         
 Cash and cash equivalents
       
73,952
               
193,365
             
 Other non-earning assets
       
263,598
               
254,144
             
Total assets
     
$
3,414,180
             
$
3,423,310
             
                                           
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                         
Interest-bearing demand and savings
0.61
   
$
1,000,382
     
1,864
 
0.74
 
$
954,553
     
2,139
 
0.89
 
Time deposits
1.38
     
1,205,885
     
4,256
 
1.40
   
1,372,277
     
6,898
 
1.99
 
Total deposits
1.00
     
2,206,267
     
6,120
 
1.10
   
2,326,830
     
9,037
 
1.54
 
Short-term borrowings and structured repurchase
    agreements
0.98
     
301,185
     
746
 
0.98
   
324,353
     
777
 
0.95
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
1.81
     
30,929
     
140
 
1.79
   
30,929
     
154
 
1.98
 
FHLB advances
3.47
     
151,749
     
1,319
 
3.45
   
159,919
     
1,373
 
3.41
 
                                           
Total interest-bearing liabilities
1.14
     
2,690,130
     
8,325
 
1.22
   
2,842,031
     
11,341
 
1.58
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                         
 Demand deposits
       
390,192
               
249,783
             
 Other liabilities
       
 12,664
               
 20,981
             
Total liabilities
       
3,092,986
               
3,112,795
             
Stockholders’ equity
       
321,194
               
310,515
             
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
     
$
3,414,180
             
$
3,423,310
             
                                           
Net interest income:
                                         
 Interest rate spread
3.60
%
         
$
41,640
 
5.22
%
       
$
30,194
 
3.95
%
 Net interest margin*
                   
5.37
%
             
4.03
%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
       
114.4
%
             
104.7
%
           

_____________________
   
*
Defined as the Company’s net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.
   

 (1)
 
 
Of the total average balances of investment securities, average tax-exempt investment securities were $102.7 million and $71.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In addition, average tax-exempt loans and industrial revenue bonds were $43.7 million and $47.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Interest income on tax-exempt assets included in this table was $1.7 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Interest income net of disallowed interest expense related to tax-exempt assets was $1.6 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 (2)
 
The yield/rate on loans at September 30, 2011 does not include the impact of the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions.  See “Net Interest Income” for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2011.
 

 
53
 
 

 
September 30, 2011(2)
   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011
 
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2010
 
 
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Balance
   
Interest
 
Yield/
Rate
 
       
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                 
Loans receivable:
                                 
 One- to four-family residential
5.30
%
 
$
308,292
   
$
17,560
 
7.62
%
$
339,698
   
$
15,936
 
6.27
%
 Other residential
5.41
     
249,112
     
11,340
 
6.09
   
217,762
     
9,816
 
6.03
 
 Commercial real estate
5.77
     
669,835
     
41,291
 
8.24
   
684,840
     
34,692
 
6.77
 
 Construction
5.49
     
263,700
     
25,676
 
13.02
   
332,341
     
14,943
 
7.60
 
 Commercial business
5.54
     
183,295
     
16,176
 
11.80
   
172,555
     
9,806
 
6.01
 
 Other loans
7.20
     
209,146
     
12,483
 
7.98
   
226,382
     
11,579
 
6.84
 
 Industrial revenue bonds (1)
5.99
     
70,320
     
3,087
 
5.87
   
66,161
     
2,975
 
6.01
 
                                           
Total loans receivable
5.84
     
1,953,700
     
127,613
 
8.73
   
2,039,739
     
99,747
 
6.54
 
                                           
Investment securities (1)
3.49
     
835,251
     
20,117
 
3.22
   
763,394
     
20,804
 
3.64
 
Other interest-earning assets
0.15
     
324,037
     
419
 
0.17
   
238,460
     
349
 
0.20
 
                                           
Total interest-earning assets
4.74
     
3,112,988
     
148,149
 
6.36
   
3,041,593
     
120,900
 
5.32
 
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                         
 Cash and cash equivalents
       
74,081
               
258,597
             
 Other non-earning assets
       
260,887
               
268,171
             
Total assets
     
$
3,447,956
             
$
3,568,361
             
                                           
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                         
Interest-bearing demand and savings
0.61
   
$
1,067,565
     
5,990
 
0.75
 
$
900,975
     
6,340
 
0.94
 
Time deposits
1.38
     
1,257,592
     
14,277
 
1.52
   
1,535,349
     
23,494
 
2.05
 
Total deposits
1.00
     
2,325,157
     
20,267
 
1.17
   
2,436,324
     
29,834
 
1.64
 
Short-term borrowings and structured repurchase
    agreements
0.98
     
305,289
     
2,249
 
0.98
   
351,565
     
2,568
 
0.98
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
1.81
     
30,929
     
420
 
1.82
   
30,929
     
432
 
1.87
 
FHLB advances
3.47
     
152,284
     
3,920
 
3.44
   
165,285
     
4,178
 
3.38
 
                                           
Total interest-bearing liabilities
1.14
     
2,813,659
     
26,856
 
1.27
   
2,984,103
     
37,012
 
1.66
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                         
 Demand deposits
       
302,975
               
252,240
             
 Other liabilities
       
 14,268
               
 22,462
             
Total liabilities
       
3,130,902
               
3,258,805
             
Stockholders’ equity
       
317,054
               
309,556
             
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
     
$
3,447,956
             
$
3,568,361
             
                                           
Net interest income:
                                         
 Interest rate spread
3.60
%
         
$
121,293
 
5.09
%
       
$
83,888
 
3.66
%
 Net interest margin*
                   
5.21
%
             
3.69
%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
       
110.6
%
             
101.9
%
           

_____________________
   
*
Defined as the Company’s net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.
   

 (1)
 
 
Of the total average balances of investment securities, average tax-exempt investment securities were $98.3 million and $65.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. In addition, average tax-exempt loans and industrial revenue bonds were $44.1 million and $46.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Interest income on tax-exempt assets included in this table was $5.2 million and $3.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Interest income net of disallowed interest expense related to tax-exempt assets was $4.7 million and $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 (2)
 
The yield/rate on loans at September 30, 2011 does not include the impact of the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the 2009 FDIC-assisted transactions.  See “Net Interest Income” for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

 
 
 
54
 
 

Rate/Volume Analysis
 
The following tables present the dollar amounts of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods shown. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in rate (i.e., changes in rate multiplied by old volume) and (ii) changes in volume (i.e., changes in volume multiplied by old rate). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to volume and rate. Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis.

  
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2011 vs. 2010
 
 
Increase
(Decrease)
Due to
   
Total
Increase
 
 
Rate
   
Volume
   
(Decrease)
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
               
Loans receivable
$
7,927
 
 
$
359
 
 
$
8,286
 
Investment securities
 
(764
)
   
910
 
   
146
 
Other interest-earning assets
 
--
     
(2
)
   
(2
)
Total interest-earning assets
 
7,163
     
1,267
 
   
8,430
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                     
Demand deposits
 
(424
)
   
  149
     
(275
)
Time deposits
 
(1,878
)
   
(764
)
   
   (2,642
)
Total deposits
 
(2,302
)
   
(615
)
   
   (2,917
)
Short-term borrowings and structured repo
 
28
     
(59
)
   
(31
)
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust
 
(14
)
   
--
     
(14
)
FHLBank advances
 
25
     
(79
)
   
 (54
)
Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
(2,263
)
   
(753
)
   
   (3,016
)
Net interest income
$
9,426
   
$
2,020
 
 
$
11,446
 

  
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2011 vs. 2010
 
 
Increase
(Decrease)
Due to
   
Total
Increase
 
 
Rate
   
Volume
   
(Decrease)
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
               
Loans receivable
$
31,870
 
 
$
 (4,004
)
 
$
27,866
 
Investment securities
 
(2,549
)
   
1,862
 
   
(687
)
Other interest-earning assets
 
(44
)
   
114
     
70
 
Total interest-earning assets
 
29,277
     
(2,028
)
   
27,249
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                     
Demand deposits
 
(1,412
)
   
  1,062
     
(350
)
Time deposits
 
(5,419
)
   
(3,798
)
   
   (9,217
)
Total deposits
 
(6,831
)
   
(2,736
)
   
   (9,567
)
Short-term borrowings and structured repo
 
21
     
(340
)
   
(319
)
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust
 
(12
)
   
--
     
(12
)
FHLBank advances
 
77
     
(335
)
   
 (258
)
Total interest-bearing liabilities
 
(6,745
)
   
(3,411
)
   
   (10,156
)
Net interest income
$
36,022
   
$
1,383
 
 
$
37,405
 


 
 
 
55
 
 

Liquidity

Liquidity is a measure of the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash to meet present and future financial obligations in a timely manner through either the sale or maturity of existing assets or the acquisition of additional funds through liability management. These obligations include the credit needs of customers, funding deposit withdrawals, and the day-to-day operations of the Company. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions and certain investment securities and loans. The Company manages its ability to generate liquidity primarily through liability funding in such a way that it believes it maintains overall liquidity sufficient to satisfy its depositors' requirements and meet its customers' credit needs. At September 30, 2011, the Company had commitments of approximately $429.9 million to fund loan originations, $74.4 million of unused lines of credit and unadvanced loans, and $22.0 million of outstanding letters of credit.

The Company's primary sources of funds are customer deposits, FHLBank advances, other borrowings, loan repayments, unpledged securities, proceeds from sales of loans and available-for-sale securities and funds provided from operations. The Company utilizes particular sources of funds based on the comparative costs and availability at the time. The Company has from time to time chosen not to pay rates on deposits as high as the rates paid by certain of its competitors and, when believed to be appropriate, supplements deposits with less expensive alternative sources of funds.
 
At September 30, 2011, the Company had these available secured lines and on-balance sheet liquidity:
 
Federal Home Loan Bank line
$276.3 million
 
Federal Reserve Bank line
$280.6 million
 
Interest-Bearing and Non-Interest-Bearing Deposits
$345.3 million
 
Unpledged Securities
$77.9 million
 

Statements of Cash Flows. During the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, the Company had positive cash flows from operating activities.  Cash flows from investing activities were negative for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and were positive for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.  Cash flows from financing activities were negative for the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
Cash flows from operating activities for the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows have been primarily related to changes in accrued and deferred assets, credits and other liabilities, the provision for loan losses, depreciation, impairments of investment securities, gains on sales of investment securities and the amortization of deferred loan origination fees and discounts (premiums) on loans and investments, all of which are non-cash or non-operating adjustments to operating cash flows. Net income adjusted for non-cash and non-operating items and the origination and sale of loans held for sale were the primary source of cash flows from operating activities. Operating activities provided cash flows of $63.0 million and $62.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, investing activities used cash of $144.2 million primarily due to the net increase in loans and investment securities for the period.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, investing activities provided cash of $209.9 million primarily due to the net decrease in loans and investment securities for the period.

Changes in cash flows from financing activities during the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows are due to changes in deposits after interest credited, changes in FHLBank advances, changes in short-term borrowings, and changes in structured repurchase agreements, as well as dividend payments to stockholders. In the current period, the change in cash flows from financing activities was also impacted by the issuance of preferred stock through the Company’s participation in the SBLF program as well as the redemption of preferred stock and the repurchase of common stock warrants which were both issued in conjunction with the Company’s participation in the CPP.  Financing activities used cash of $3.4 million and $239.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Financing activities in the future are expected to primarily include changes in deposits, changes in FHLBank advances, changes in short-term borrowings and dividend payments to stockholders.


 
 
 
56
 
 

Capital Resources

Management continuously reviews the capital position of the Company and the Bank to ensure compliance with minimum regulatory requirements, as well as to explore ways to increase capital either by retained earnings or other means.

At September 30, 2011, the Company's total stockholders' equity was $314.4 million, or 9.2% of total assets. At September 30, 2011, common stockholders' equity was $256.4 million, or 7.5% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $19.03 per common share. Total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2010, was $304.0 million, or 8.9%, of total assets. At December 31, 2010, common stockholders' equity was $247.5 million, or 7.3% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $18.40 per common share.

At September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company’s tangible common equity to total assets ratio was 7.3% and 7.1%, respectively. The Company’s tangible common equity to total risk-weighted assets ratio was 12.0% at September 30, 2011, compared to 12.4% at December 31, 2010.

Banks are required to maintain minimum risk-based capital ratios. These ratios compare capital, as defined by the risk-based regulations, to assets adjusted for their relative risk as defined by the regulations. Guidelines require banks to have a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, as defined, of 4.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.00%, and a minimum 4.00% Tier 1 leverage ratio. To be considered "well capitalized," banks must have a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, as defined, of 6.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 10.00%, and a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5.00%. On September 30, 2011, the Bank's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 14.7%, total risk-based capital ratio was 15.9% and the Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.0%. As of September 30, 2011, the Bank was "well capitalized" as defined by the Federal banking agencies' capital-related regulations. The Federal Reserve Board has established capital regulations for bank holding companies that generally parallel the capital regulations for banks. On September 30, 2011, the Company's Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio was 15.6%, total risk-based capital ratio was 16.9% and the Tier 1 leverage ratio was 9.6%. As of September 30, 2011, the Company was "well capitalized" under the capital ratios described above.

On December 5, 2008, the Company completed a transaction to participate in the Treasury’s voluntary Capital Purchase Program (CPP).  The CPP, a part of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2009, was designed to provide capital to healthy financial institutions, thereby increasing confidence in the banking industry and increasing the flow of financing to businesses and consumers.  At the time the Company was approved to participate in the CPP in December 2008, it exceeded all “well-capitalized” regulatory benchmarks and, as indicated above, it continues to exceed these benchmarks.  The Company received $58.0 million from the Treasury through the sale of 58,000 shares of the Company's newly authorized Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “CPP Preferred Stock”).  The Company also issued to the U.S. Treasury a warrant to purchase 909,091 shares of common stock at $9.57 per share.  The amount of preferred shares sold represented approximately 3% of the Company's risk-weighted assets at September 30, 2008.

On August 18, 2011, the Company entered into a Small Business Lending Fund-Securities Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”) with the Secretary of the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company sold 57,943 shares of the Company’s Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “SBLF Preferred Stock”) to the Secretary of the Treasury for a purchase price of $57,943,000.  The SBLF Preferred Stock was issued pursuant to Treasury’s SBLF program, a $30 billion fund established under the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 that was created to encourage lending to small businesses by providing Tier 1 capital to qualified community banks and holding companies with assets of less than $10 billion.  As required by the Purchase Agreement, the proceeds from the sale of the SBLF Preferred Stock were used in connection with the redemption of the 58,000 shares of CPP Preferred Stock, issued to the Treasury pursuant to the CPP, at a redemption price of $58.0 million plus the accrued dividends owed on the preferred shares.  

The SBLF Preferred Stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital.  The SBLF Preferred Stock is entitled to receive non-cumulative dividends, payable quarterly, on each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, beginning October 1, 2011.  The dividend rate, as a percentage of the liquidation amount, can fluctuate on a quarterly basis during the first 10 quarters during which the SBLF Preferred Stock is outstanding, based upon changes in the level of “Qualified Small Business Lending” or “QBSL” (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) by the Bank over the baseline level calculated under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock ($152,567,000).  The initial dividend rate through September 30, 2011, was 5%.  Based upon the increase in the Bank’s level of QBSL over the baseline level, the dividend rates for the fourth
 
 
 
57
 
 
 
 
quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012 are expected to be approximately 2.6% and 1.0%, respectively, subject to confirmation by Treasury.  For the third through ninth calendar quarters after the closing, the dividend rate may be adjusted to between one percent (1%) and five percent (5%) per annum based on the level of qualifying loans.  For the tenth calendar quarter through four and one half years after issuance, the dividend rate will be fixed at between one percent (1%) and seven percent (7%) based upon the level of qualifying loans.  After four and one half years from issuance, the dividend rate will increase to 9% (including a quarterly lending incentive fee of 0.5%).

The SBLF Preferred Stock is non-voting, except in limited circumstances.  In the event that the Company misses five dividend payments, whether or not consecutive, the holder of the SBLF Preferred Stock will have the right, but not the obligation, to appoint a representative as an observer on the Company’s Board of Directors.  In the event that the Company misses six dividend payments, whether or not consecutive, and if the then outstanding aggregate liquidation amount of the SBLF Preferred Stock is at least $25,000,000, then the holder of the SBLF Preferred Stock will have the right to designate two directors to the Board of Directors of the Company.

The SBLF Preferred Stock may be redeemed at any time at the Company’s option, at a redemption price of 100% of the liquidation amount plus accrued but unpaid dividends to the date of redemption for the current period, subject to the approval of its federal banking regulator.

On September 21, 2011, the Company completed the repurchase of the warrant held by the Treasury that was issued as a part of its participation in the CPP.  The 10-year warrant was issued on December 5, 2008 and entitled the Treasury to purchase 909,091 shares of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. common stock at an exercise price of $9.57 per share.  The repurchase was completed for a price of $6.4 million, or $7.08 per warrant share, which was based on the fair market value of the warrant as agreed upon by the Company and the Treasury.
 
Dividends. During the three months ended September 30, 2011, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share, or 55% of net income per common diluted share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share (which was declared in June 2011). During the three months ended September 30, 2010, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share (which was paid in October 2010), or 47% of net income per common diluted share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.18 per share (which was declared in June 2010). During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company declared common stock cash dividends of $0.54 per share, or 50% of net income per common diluted share for that nine month period, and paid common stock cash dividends of $0.54 per share.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company declared common stock cash dividends of $0.54 per share, or 50% of net income per common diluted share for that nine month period, and paid common stock cash dividends of $0.54 per share. The Board of Directors meets regularly to consider the level and the timing of dividend payments.  The dividend declared but unpaid as of September 30, 2011, was paid to shareholders on October 13, 2011.  In addition, the Company paid preferred dividends as described below.

As a result of the issuance of preferred stock to the Treasury pursuant to the CPP in December 2008, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company paid preferred stock cash dividends of $725,000 on February 15, 2011, May 16, 2011 and August 15, 2011, respectively. In addition, preferred stock cash dividends of $24,167 were paid on August 18, 2011 in conjunction with the redemption of the CPP Preferred Stock on the same date.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company paid preferred stock cash dividends of $725,000 on February 16, 2010, May 17, 2010 and August 16, 2010, respectively.  The redemption of the CPP Preferred Stock resulted in a non-cash deemed preferred stock dividend that reduced net income available to common shareholders in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 by $1.2 million.  This amount represents the difference between the repurchase price and the carrying amount of the CPP Preferred Stock, or the accelerated accretion of the applicable discount on the preferred shares.

The terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock impose limits on the ability of the Company to pay dividends and repurchase shares of common stock. Under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock, no repurchases may be effected, and no dividends may be declared or paid on preferred shares ranking pari passu with the SBLF Preferred Stock, junior preferred shares, or other junior securities (including the common stock) during the current quarter and for the next three quarters following the failure to declare and pay dividends on the SBLF Preferred Stock, except that, in any such quarter in which the dividend is paid, dividend payments on shares ranking pari passu may be paid to the extent necessary to avoid any resulting material covenant breach.
 
 
 
58
 
 
 

 
Under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock, the Company may only declare and pay a dividend on the common stock or other stock junior to the SBLF Preferred Stock, or repurchase shares of any such class or series of stock, if, after payment of such dividend, or after giving effect to such repurchase, (i) the dollar amount of the Company’s Tier 1 Capital would be at least equal to the “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” and (ii) full dividends on all outstanding shares of SBLF Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid.  As of September 30, 2011, we satisfied this condition.

The “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” means 90% of 272,747,865, which is the Company’s consolidated Tier 1 capital as of June 30, 2011, less the $58 million in TARP preferred stock then-outstanding and repaid on August 18, plus the $57,943,000 in SBLF Preferred Stock issued and minus the net loan charge-offs by the Bank since August 18, 2011.  The Tier 1 Dividend Threshold is subject to reduction, beginning on the first day of the eleventh dividend period following the date of issuance of the SBLF Preferred Stock, by $5,794,300 (ten percent of the aggregate liquidation amount of the SBLF Preferred Stock initially issued, without regard to any subsequent partial redemptions) for each one percent increase in qualified small business lending from the baseline level under the terms of the SBLF preferred stock (i.e., $152,567,000) to the ninth dividend period.

Common Stock Repurchases and Issuances. The Company has been in various buy-back programs since May 1990. Our ability to repurchase common stock  is currently restricted under the terms of the SBLF preferred stock as noted above, under “-Dividends” and was previously precluded due to our participation in the CPP beginning in December 2008.  Therefore, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company issued 13,699 shares of stock at an average price of $12.43 per share and 21,313 shares of stock at an average price of $12.37 per share, respectively, to cover stock option exercises.  During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company issued 10,400 shares of stock at an average price of $14.43 per share and 37,522 shares of stock at an average price of $13.97 per share, respectively, to cover stock option exercises.

Management has historically utilized stock buy-back programs from time to time as long as repurchasing the stock contributed to the overall growth of shareholder value. The number of shares of stock repurchased and the price paid is the result of many factors, several of which are outside of the control of the Company. The primary factors, however, are the number of shares available in the market from sellers at any given time and the price of the stock within the market as determined by the market.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
59
 
 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
 
Asset and Liability Management and Market Risk
 
A principal operating objective of the Company is to produce stable earnings by achieving a favorable interest rate spread that can be sustained during fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. The Company has sought to reduce its exposure to adverse changes in interest rates by attempting to achieve a closer match between the periods in which its interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets can be expected to reprice through the origination of adjustable-rate mortgages and loans with shorter terms to maturity and the purchase of other shorter term interest-earning assets. Since the Company uses laddered brokered deposits and FHLBank advances to fund a portion of its loan growth, the Company's assets tend to reprice more quickly than its liabilities.
 
Our Risk When Interest Rates Change
 
The rates of interest we earn on assets and pay on liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Market interest rates change over time. Accordingly, our results of operations, like those of other financial institutions, are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities. The risk associated with changes in interest rates and our ability to adapt to these changes is known as interest rate risk and is our most significant market risk.

How We Measure the Risk to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes
 
In an attempt to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates and comply with applicable regulations, we monitor Great Southern's interest rate risk. In monitoring interest rate risk we regularly analyze and manage assets and liabilities based on their anticipated payment streams and interest rates, the timing of their maturities and their sensitivity to actual or potential changes in market interest rates.
 
The ability to maximize net interest income is largely dependent upon the achievement of a positive interest rate spread that can be sustained despite fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. Interest rate sensitivity is a measure of the difference between amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which either reprice or mature within a given period of time. The difference, or the interest rate repricing "gap," provides an indication of the extent to which an institution's interest rate spread will be affected by changes in interest rates. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities repricing during the same period, and is considered negative when the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets during the same period. Generally, during a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap within shorter repricing periods would adversely affect net interest income, while a positive gap within shorter repricing periods would result in an increase in net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, the opposite would be true. As of September 30, 2011, Great Southern's internal interest rate risk models indicate a one-year interest rate sensitivity gap that is fairly neutral. Generally, a rate increase by the FRB would be expected to have an immediate negative impact on Great Southern’s net interest income. As the Federal Funds rate is now very low, the Company’s interest rate floors have been reached on most of its “prime rate” loans. In addition, Great Southern has elected to leave its “Great Southern Prime Rate” at 5.00% for those loans that are indexed to “Great Southern Prime” rather than “Wall Street Journal Prime.” While these interest rate floors and prime rate adjustments have helped keep the rate on our loan portfolio higher in this very low interest rate environment, they will also reduce the positive effect to our loan rates when market interest rates, specifically the “prime rate,” begin to increase. The interest rate on these loans will not increase until the loan floors are reached and the “Wall Street Journal Prime” interest rate exceeds 5.00%. If rates remain generally unchanged in the short-term, we expect that our cost of funds will continue to decrease somewhat as we continue to redeem some of our wholesale funds. In addition, a significant portion of our retail certificates of deposit mature in the next few months and we expect that they will be replaced with new certificates of deposit at somewhat lower interest rates.
 
Interest rate risk exposure estimates (the sensitivity gap) are not exact measures of an institution's actual interest rate risk. They are only indicators of interest rate risk exposure produced in a simplified modeling environment designed to allow management to gauge the Bank's sensitivity to changes in interest rates. They do not necessarily indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on the Bank's net interest income because the repricing of certain categories of assets and liabilities is subject to competitive and other factors beyond the Bank's control. As a result, certain assets and liabilities indicated as maturing or otherwise repricing within a stated period may in fact mature or reprice at different times and in different amounts and cause a change, which potentially could be material, in the Bank's interest rate risk.

 
 
 
60
 
 


In order to minimize the potential for adverse effects of material and prolonged increases and decreases in interest rates on Great Southern's results of operations, Great Southern has adopted asset and liability management policies to better match the maturities and repricing terms of Great Southern's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Management recommends and the Board of Directors sets the asset and liability policies of Great Southern which are implemented by the asset and liability committee. The asset and liability committee is chaired by the Chief Financial Officer and is comprised of members of Great Southern's senior management. The purpose of the asset and liability committee is to communicate, coordinate and control asset/liability management consistent with Great Southern's business plan and board-approved policies. The asset and liability committee establishes and monitors the volume and mix of assets and funding sources taking into account relative costs and spreads, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity needs. The objectives are to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals. The asset and liability committee meets on a monthly basis to review, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate outlook, current and projected liquidity needs and capital positions and anticipated changes in the volume and mix of assets and liabilities. At each meeting, the asset and liability committee recommends appropriate strategy changes based on this review. The Chief Financial Officer or his designee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on the effects of the policy implementations and strategies to the Board of Directors at their monthly meetings.
 
In order to manage its assets and liabilities and achieve the desired liquidity, credit quality, interest rate risk, profitability and capital targets, Great Southern has focused its strategies on originating adjustable rate loans, and managing its deposits and borrowings to establish stable relationships with both retail customers and wholesale funding sources.
 
At times, depending on the level of general interest rates, the relationship between long- and short-term interest rates, market conditions and competitive factors, we may determine to increase our interest rate risk position somewhat in order to maintain or increase our net interest margin.
 
The asset and liability committee regularly reviews interest rate risk by forecasting the impact of alternative interest rate environments on net interest income and market value of portfolio equity, which is defined as the net present value of an institution's existing assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments, and evaluating such impacts against the maximum potential changes in net interest income and market value of portfolio equity that are authorized by the Board of Directors of Great Southern.
 
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate. An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures was carried out as of September 30, 2011, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and several other members of our senior management. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2011, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
 
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) under the Act) that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2011, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
We do not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns in controls or procedures can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 
 
 
61
 
 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to pending and threatened legal actions, some for which the relief or damages sought are substantial. After reviewing pending and threatened litigation with counsel, management believes at this time that, except as noted below, the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or stockholders' equity. We are not able to predict at this time whether the outcome of such actions may or may not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations in a particular future period as the timing and amount of any resolution of such actions and its relationship to the future results of operations are not known.

On November 22, 2010, a suit was filed against the Bank in Missouri state court in Springfield by a customer alleging that the fees associated with the Bank’s automated overdraft program in connection with its debit card and ATM cards constitute unlawful interest in violation of Missouri’s usury laws.  The suit seeks class-action status for Bank customers who have paid overdraft fees on their checking accounts.  The Bank has filed for a motion to dismiss the suit.  At this early stage of the litigation, it is not possible for management of the Bank to determine the probability of a material adverse outcome or reasonably estimate the amount of any potential loss.  
 
Item 1A. Risk Factors

Three members of the Turner family may exert substantial influence over the Company through their board and management positions and their ownership of the Company’s stock.

The Company’s Chairman of the Board, William V. Turner, and the Company’s Director, President and Chief Executive Officer, Joseph W. Turner, are father and son, respectively.  Julie Turner Brown, a director of the Company, is the sister of Joseph Turner and the daughter of William Turner.  These three Turner family members hold three of the Company’s eight Board positions.  As of March 2, 2011, the most recent proxy date of record, they collectively beneficially own approximately 2,125,596 shares of the Company’s common stock (excluding 108,250 shares underlying stock options currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days), representing approximately 15.8% of total shares outstanding, though they are subject to a voting limitation provision in our charter which precludes any person or group with beneficial ownership in excess of 10% of total shares outstanding from voting shares in excess of that threshold.   Through their board and management positions and their ownership of the Company’s stock, these three members of the Turner family may exert substantial influence over the direction of the Company and the outcome of Board and stockholder votes.

In addition to the Turner family members, we are aware of two other beneficial owners of more than five percent of the outstanding shares of our common stock, as of March 2, 2011, the most recent proxy date of record, one of whom is a director of the Company.

One of the Company’s directors, Earl A. Steinert, beneficially owns 938,000 shares of our common stock, representing approximately 7.0% of total shares outstanding.  We are aware of one other beneficial owner of more than five percent of our common stock. We believe that this holder beneficially owns 1,307,540 shares, representing approximately 9.7% of total shares outstanding.  The shares that can be voted by the Turner family members (1,345,250 shares, per the ten percent voting limitation in our charter), the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Steinert (938,000) and the shares beneficially owned by the other greater than five percent beneficial owner(1,307,540) total 3,590,790, representing approximately 26.7% of total shares outstanding.  To the extent they vote in the same manner, these stockholders may be able to exercise influence over the management and business affairs of our Company. For example, using their collective voting power, these stockholders may be able to affect the outcome of director elections or block significant transactions, such as a merger or acquisition, or any other matter that might otherwise be favored by other stockholders.

Other than as set forth above, there have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 

 
62
 
 

Item 2. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
On November 15, 2006, the Company's Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 700,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The plan does not have an expiration date.  Prior to our redemption of the CPP Preferred Stock, we were precluded from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock without the Treasury's consent.  Our participation in the SBLF program does not preclude us from purchasing shares of the Company’s stock, provided that after giving effect to such purchase, (i) the dollar amount of the Company’s Tier 1 capital would be at least equal to the “Tier 1 Dividend Threshold” under the terms of the SBLF Preferred Stock and (ii) full dividends on all outstanding shares of SBLF Preferred Stock for the most recently completed dividend period have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid, as described under “Part I. Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Capital Resources.”

As indicated below, no shares were purchased during the three months ended September 30, 2011.
 
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
Average
Price
Per Share
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
As Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plan
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plan(1)
                       
July 1, 2011 –
July 31, 2011
   
---
   
$
----
     
---
     
396,562
 
August 1, 2011 –
August 31, 2011
   
---
   
$
----
     
---
     
396,562
 
September 1, 2011 –
September 30, 2011
   
---
   
$
----
     
---
     
396,562
 
     
---
   
$
----
     
---
         
 
_______________________
   
(1)
Amount represents the number of shares available to be repurchased under the plan as of the last calendar day
of the month shown.
 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
None.
 
Item 4. Removed and Reserved
 
Item 5. Other Information
 
None.
 
Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
 
 
a)
Exhibits
 
 
See Exhibit Index.

 
 
 
63
 
 


SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
 
Registrant
 
 
Date: November 7, 2011
/s/ Joseph W. Turner
 
Joseph W. Turner
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Date: November 7, 2011
/s/ Rex A. Copeland
 
Rex A. Copeland
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 


 
 
 
64
 
 
 


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.                                                                Description
 
(2)
Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, or succession
 
 
 
(i)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of TeamBank, N.A., Paola, Kansas, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 26, 2010 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1.
 
 
(ii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Vantus Bank, Sioux City, Iowa, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2010 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1.
 
 
(iii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2011, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Sun Security Bank, Ellington, Missouri, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank.

(3)
Articles of incorporation and Bylaws
 
 
 
(i)
The Registrant's Charter previously filed with the Commission as Appendix D to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 30, 2004 (File No. 000-18082), is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.1.
 
 
(iA)
The Articles Supplementary to the Registrant's Charter setting forth the terms of the Registrant's Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3(i).
 
 
(ii)
The Registrant's Bylaws, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 23, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.2.
 
(4)
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
 
The Company hereby agrees to furnish the SEC upon request, copies of the instruments defining the rights of the holders of each issue of the Registrant's long-term debt.
 
(9)
Voting trust agreement
 
Inapplicable.
 
(10)
Material contracts
 
The Registrant's 1989 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1990, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.1.
 
 

 
65
 
 

 
The Registrant's 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on September 18, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.2.
 
The Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File No. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 14, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.3.
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and William V. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.4.
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and Joseph W. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.5.
 
The form of incentive stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.6.
 
The form of non-qualified stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.7.
 
A description of the current salary and bonus arrangements for 2011 for the Registrant's named executive officers previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.8. 
 
A description of the current fee arrangements for the Registrant's directors previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.9.
 
The form of Compensation Modification Agreement and Waiver, executed by each of William V. Turner, Joseph W. Turner, Rex A. Copeland, Steven G. Mitchem, Douglas W. Marrs and Linton J. Thomason, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 8, 2008, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.11.
 
(11)
Statement re computation of per share earnings
 
Included in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
(15)
Letter re unaudited interim financial information
 
Inapplicable.
 
 

 
66
 
 

 
 
(18)
Letter re change in accounting principles
 
Inapplicable.
 
(19)
Report furnished to securityholders.
 
Inapplicable.
  
(22)
Published report regarding matters submitted to vote of security holders
 
Inapplicable.
 
(23)
Consents of experts and counsel
 
Inapplicable.
 
(24)
Power of attorney
 
None.
 
(31.1)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.1
 
(31.2)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Treasurer
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.2
 
(32)
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
 
Attached as Exhibit 32.
 
(99)
Additional Exhibits
 
None.

(101)
 

Attached as Exhibit 101 are the following financial statements from the Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) consolidated statements of financial condition, (ii) consolidated statements of income, (iii) consolidated statements of cash flows and (iv) the notes to consolidated financial statements.


 
 
 
67