HMN FINANCIAL INC - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

 

 

 

 

--12-31 FY 2021

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

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

 

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

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

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ☐ No ☒

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes ☒ No ☐

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Yes ☒ No ☐

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ☐ No ☒

 

As of June 30, 2021, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $78.6 million based on the closing stock price of $21.30 on such date as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

As of February 25, 2022, the number of outstanding shares of common stock of the registrant was 4,569,950.

 

 

Portions of the registrant’s annual report to stockholders for the year ended December 31, 2021 (Annual Report), are incorporated by reference in Parts I and II of this Form 10-K. Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

 

 

The information presented or incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). These statements are often identified by such forward-looking terminology as “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “look,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “project,” “continue,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “target,” “goal,” “should,” and “trend,” or similar statements or variations of such terms and include, but are not limited to, those relating to maintaining credit quality; maintaining net interest margins; the adequacy and amount of available liquidity and capital resources to Home Federal Savings Bank (the Bank); the liquidity and capital requirements of HMN Financial, Inc. (HMN or the Company); the anticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the same on the general economy, our clients, and the allowance for loan losses; the amount of the Bank’s non-performing assets in future periods and the appropriateness of the allowances therefor; anticipated future levels of the provision for loan losses; future losses on non-performing assets; the amount and composition of interest earning assets; the amount and compositions of non-interest and interest-bearing liabilities; the availability of alternate funding sources; the payment of dividends or repurchases of stock by HMN; the amount of deposits that will be withdrawn from checking and money market accounts and how the withdrawn deposits will be replaced; the projected changes in net interest income based on rate shocks; the range that interest rates may fluctuate over the next twelve months; the net market risk of interest rate shocks; the future outlook for the issuer of the trust preferred securities held by the Bank; the anticipated results of litigation and our assessment of the impact on our financial statements; the ability of the Bank to pay dividends to HMN; the ability to remain well capitalized; the impact of new accounting pronouncements; and compliance by the Bank with regulatory standards generally (including the Bank’s status as “well-capitalized”) and other supervisory directives or requirements to which the Company or the Bank are or may become expressly subject.

 

A number of factors, many of which may be amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to mitigate the same, could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s assumptions and expectations. These include but are not limited to the adequacy and marketability of real estate and other collateral securing loans to borrowers; federal and state regulation and enforcement; possible legislative and regulatory changes, including changes to regulatory capital rules; the ability of the Bank to comply with other applicable regulatory capital requirements; enforcement activity of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in the event of our non-compliance with any applicable regulatory standard or requirement; adverse economic, business and competitive developments such as continued shrinking interest margins, reduced collateral values, deposit outflows, changes in credit or other risks posed by the Company’s loan and investment portfolios; changes in costs associated with traditional and alternate funding sources, including changes in collateral advance rates and policies of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) and the Federal Reserve Bank; technological, computer-related or operational difficulties including those from any third party cyberattack; results of litigation; reduced demand for financial services and loan products; changes in accounting policies and guidelines, or monetary and fiscal policies of the federal government or tax laws; domestic and international economic developments; the Company’s access to and adverse changes in securities markets; the market for credit related assets; the future operating results, financial condition, cash flow requirements and capital spending priorities of the Company and the Bank; the availability of internal and, as required, external sources of funding; our ability to attract and retain employees; or other significant uncertainties. Additional factors that may cause actual results to differ from the Company’s assumptions and expectations include those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. All forward-looking statements are qualified by, and should be considered in conjunction with, such cautionary statements.

 

All statements in this Form 10-K, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this Form 10-K.

 

 

 

HMN was incorporated in Delaware in 1994 as a stock savings bank holding company. HMN owns 100 percent of Home Federal Savings Bank. The Bank has a community banking philosophy and operates retail banking and loan production facilities in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. The Bank has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Osterud Insurance Agency, Inc. (OIA), which does business as Home Federal Investment Services and offers financial planning products and services, and HFSB Property Holdings, LLC (HPH), which is currently inactive, but has acted in the past as an intermediary for the Bank in holding and operating certain foreclosed properties.

 

As a community-oriented financial institution, the Company seeks to serve the financial needs of communities in its market area. The Company’s business involves attracting deposits from the general public and businesses and using such deposits to originate or purchase single family residential, commercial real estate and multi-family mortgage loans as well as consumer, construction and commercial business loans. The Company also invests in mortgage-backed and related securities, U.S. government agency obligations and other permissible investments. The executive offices of the Company are located at 1016 Civic Center Drive Northwest, Rochester, Minnesota 55901. Its telephone number at that address is (507) 535-1200. The Company’s website is www.hmnf.com. Information contained on the Company’s website is expressly not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

 

The Company serves the southern Minnesota counties of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele and Winona, and portions of Goodhue and Wabasha through its corporate office located in Rochester, Minnesota and its eleven branch offices located in Albert Lea, Austin, Kasson, La Crescent, Owatonna, Rochester (4), Spring Valley and Winona, Minnesota. The portion of the Company’s southern Minnesota market area consisting of Rochester and the contiguous communities is composed of primarily urban and suburban communities, while the balance of the Company's southern Minnesota market area consists primarily of rural areas and small towns. Primary industries in the Company's southern Minnesota market area include manufacturing, agriculture, health care, wholesale and retail trade, service industries and education. Major employers include the Mayo Clinic, Hormel Foods (a food processing company), Federated Insurance and IBM (a computer technology company). The Company's market area is also the home of Winona State University, Rochester Community and Technical College, University of Minnesota - Rochester, Winona State University - Rochester Center and Austin’s Riverland Community College.

 

The Company serves Dakota County, in the southern portion of the Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area, from its office located in Eagan, Minnesota. Major employers in this market area include Delta Airlines, Patterson Companies (dental and animal health), UTC (aerospace systems), CHS Cooperative, Flint Hills Resources LP (oil refinery), Unisys Corp (computer software), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and West Group, a Thomson Reuters business (legal research).

 

The Company serves the Iowa county of Marshall through its branch office located in Marshalltown, Iowa. Major employers in the area include Swift & Company (pork processors), Emerson (automation solutions, and commercial and residential solutions), Lennox Industries (furnace and air conditioner manufacturing), Iowa Veterans Home (hospital care), Marshalltown Community School District (education) and UnityPoint Health (hospital care).

 

The Company serves the Wisconsin county of Waukesha through its branch office located in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Major employers in the area include Kohl’s Department Stores, ProHealth Care, Quad Graphics, Inc. (media services), Froedtert (academic medical center), General Electric Healthcare (medical technologies), Roundy’s (supermarkets), Aurora Health Care, the School District of Waukesha, Waukesha County Technical College, WE Energies, and Cooper Power.

 

 

 

General. The Company originates 15 and 30 year fixed rate mortgage loans secured by single family residences and sells the majority of these loans into the secondary market in order to manage its interest rate risk. However, the Company may place some 10 and 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans that are eligible for sale in the secondary market into the loan portfolio from time to time in order to increase the yield earned on the Bank’s interest earning assets. The Company also originates shorter term and generally higher yielding commercial real estate, commercial business and construction loans that it places into its loan portfolio. Some shorter term single family fixed rate mortgage loans and single family adjustable rate mortgage loans are also placed into the loan portfolio. The Company also offers an array of consumer loan products that include both open and closed end home equity loans. Home equity lines of credit have adjustable interest rates based upon the prime rate, as published in the Wall Street Journal, plus a margin. Refer to “Note 5 Loans Receivable, Net” and “Note 6 Allowance for Loan Losses and Credit Quality Information” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report for more information on the loan portfolio (incorporated by reference in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K).

 

 

The following table shows the composition of the Company's loan portfolio by fixed and adjustable rate loans as of December 31:

 

 

 

The following table illustrates the interest rate and maturities of the Company's loan portfolio by loan category and interest rate type at December 31, 2021. Loans which have adjustable or renegotiable interest rates are shown as maturing in the period during which the contract is due. Scheduled repayments of principal are reflected in the year in which they are scheduled to be paid. The schedule does not reflect the effects of possible prepayments or enforcement of due-on-sale clauses.

 

 

 

 

The total amount of loans due after December 31, 2022 which have predetermined interest rates is $326.5 million, while the total amount of loans due after such date that have floating or adjustable interest rates is $229.8 million. Construction and development loans at December 31, 2021 were $23.3 million for single family dwellings, $10.0 million for multi-family and $13.9 million for nonresidential.

 

 

The aggregate amount of loans and extensions of credit that the Bank is permitted to make to any one borrower is generally limited to 15% of unimpaired capital and surplus. In addition to the 15% limit, the Bank is permitted to lend an additional amount equal to 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus if the additional amount is fully secured by “readily marketable collateral” having a current market value of at least 100% of the loan or extension of credit. Similarly, the Bank is permitted to lend additional amounts equal to the lesser of 30% of unimpaired capital and surplus, or $30 million, for certain residential development loans. Applicable law establishes a number of rules for combining loans to separate borrowers. Loans or extensions of credit to one person may be attributed to other persons if: (i) the proceeds of a loan or extension of credit are used for the direct benefit of the other person; or (ii) a common enterprise is deemed to exist between persons. At December 31, 2021, based upon the 15% limitation, the Bank's regulatory limit for loans to one borrower was approximately $15.7 million and no loans to any one borrower exceeded this amount. At December 31, 2021, the Bank’s largest aggregate amount of loans to one borrower totaled $15.0 million. All of the loans for the largest borrower were performing in accordance with their terms as of December 31, 2021 and the borrower had no affiliation with the Bank other than their relationship as a customer.

 

All of the Bank's lending is subject to its written underwriting standards and to loan origination procedures. Decisions on loan requests are made on the basis of detailed applications and property valuations determined by an independent appraiser. The loan applications are designed primarily to determine the borrower's ability to repay. The more significant items on the application are verified through the use of credit reports, financial statements, tax returns or confirmations.

 

Single family loans are originated either for inclusion in the loan portfolio under the Bank’s Portfolio First loan program or for sale in the secondary market to the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) on a servicing retained basis or to other third party investors on a servicing released basis. The limit for a retail mortgage originated for sale on the secondary market was $548,250 and $510,400 for 2021 and 2020, respectively, and these loans require the approval of a designated secondary market underwriter.

 

Two levels of approval authority have been established for loans originated under the Portfolio First loan program. The two levels of authority include Approved Portfolio First Lenders and Credit Administration positions with Portfolio First approval authority. Approved Portfolio First Lenders are select mortgage loan officers recommended for the Portfolio First program approval authority by their Market President and are approved by the Chief Credit Officer or Chief Operating Officer. The Credit Administration positions with Portfolio First approval authority include the Director of Retail Lending and Loan Servicing, the Chief Credit Officer and the Chief Operating Officer.

 

Loans less than $750,000 require the approval of one Credit Administration individual with Portfolio First approval authority. Loans over $750,000 require the approval of two individuals with Portfolio First approval authority. Loans where the total aggregate amount of all loan obligations owed or guaranteed to the Bank plus the new obligation is greater than $2.5 million require the approval of a majority of the Senior Loan Committee, which is comprised of the Bank’s most experienced lending staff.

 

Loans that meet the underwriting guidelines of secondary market investors are approved by designated Credit Administration positions. The Credit Administration positions with secondary market approval authority include Retail Loan Underwriters, the Director of Retail Lending and Servicing, the Chief Credit Officer and the Chief Operating Officer. Resident and Physician loan products that fall under the Portfolio First Policy are underwritten by a Retail Loan Underwriter who has the authority to approve these loans. Resident and Physician loans with exceptions require a second approval from an individual with Portfolio First approval authority. Approval level authorities are granted by the Chief Credit Officer or Chief Operating Officer and confirmed by the Executive Loan Committee on an annual basis. Loans are originated based on the specific guidelines established by the secondary market investor.

 

 

The Bank generally requires title insurance on its mortgage loans, as well as fire and extended coverage casualty insurance in amounts at least equal to the principal amount of the loan or the value of improvements on the property. The Bank also requires flood insurance to protect the property securing its interest when the property is located in a flood plain.

 

Single Family Residential Real Estate Lending. At December 31, 2021, the Company's single family real estate loans, consisting of both fixed rate and adjustable rate loans, totaled $163.3 million, an increase of $28.3 million from $135.0 million at December 31, 2020. The increase in the single family loans in 2021 is the result of an increase in loan originations due to the low interest rate environment that existed during the year and an increased emphasis on placing shorter term fixed (10 year and certain 15 year loans) and adjustable rate mortgage loans into the portfolio. The majority of the longer term loans that were originated during the year continued to be sold into the secondary market in order to manage the Company’s interest rate risk position.

 

The Company offers conventional fixed rate single family loans that have maximum terms of 30 years. In order to manage interest rate risk, the Company typically sells the majority of fixed rate loan originations with terms to maturity of 15 years or greater that are eligible for sale in the secondary market. The interest rates charged on the fixed rate loan products are based on the secondary market delivery rates, as well as other competitive factors. The Company also originates fixed rate loans with terms up to 30 years that are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Veteran’s Administration (VA), Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Iowa Finance Authority, or the United States Department of Agriculture-Guaranteed Housing (RD).

 

The Company also offers one year adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) at a margin (generally 250 to 300 basis points) over the yield on the Average Weekly One Year U.S. Treasury Constant Maturity Index for terms of up to 30 years. The ARMs offered by the Company allow the borrower to select (subject to pricing) an initial period of one to fifteen years between the loan origination and the date the first interest rate change occurs. The ARMs generally have a 200 basis point annual interest rate change cap and a lifetime cap of 600 basis points over or under the initial rate. The Company’s originated ARMs do not permit negative amortization of principal, generally do not contain prepayment penalties and are not convertible into fixed rate loans. Because of the low interest rate environment that has existed over the last few years, a limited number of ARM loans have been originated as consumers have generally opted for longer term fixed rate loans.

 

In underwriting single family residential real estate loans the Company evaluates the borrower's credit history and ability to make principal, interest and escrow payments; the value of the property that will secure the loan; and debt-to-income ratios. Properties securing single family residential real estate loans made by the Company are appraised by independent appraisers. The Company originates residential mortgage loans with loan-to-value ratios up to 100% for owner-occupied homes and up to 85% for nonowner-occupied homes; however, private mortgage insurance is generally required to reduce the Company's exposure to 80% or less of the value on most loans. The Company generally seeks to underwrite its loans in accordance with secondary market, FHA, VA or RD standards. However, the Company does originate some shorter term fixed rate and adjustable rate single family loans for its portfolio that do not meet certain secondary market guidelines.

 

 

The Company's single family mortgage loans customarily include due-on-sale clauses giving it the right to declare the loan immediately due and payable in the event that, among other things, the borrower sells or otherwise disposes of the property subject to the mortgage.

 

At December 31, 2021, $0.3 million of the single family residential loan portfolio was non-performing, compared to $0.5 million at December 31, 2020.

 

Commercial Real Estate and Multi-Family Lending. The Company originates permanent commercial real estate and multi-family loans secured by properties located primarily in its market area. It also purchases a limited amount of participations in commercial real estate and multi-family loans originated by third parties. The commercial real estate and multi-family loan portfolio includes loans secured by motels, hotels, apartment buildings, churches, manufacturing plants, land developments, office buildings, movie theaters, shopping malls, nursing homes, restaurants, warehouses and other non-residential building properties primarily located in the upper Midwestern portion of the United States. At December 31, 2021, the Company’s commercial and multi-family real estate loans totaled $349.6 million, an increase of $0.4 million from $349.2 million at December 31, 2020.

 

Permanent commercial real estate and multi-family loans are generally originated for a maximum term of 10 years and may have longer amortization periods with balloon maturity features. The interest rates may be fixed for the term of the loan or have adjustable features that are tied to the prime rate or another published index. Commercial real estate and multi-family loans are generally written in amounts up to 80% of the lesser of the appraised value of the property or the purchase price and generally have a debt service coverage ratio of at least 110%. The debt service coverage ratio is the ratio of net cash from operations to debt service payments. The Company may originate construction loans secured by commercial or multi-family real estate, or may purchase participation interests in third party originated construction loans secured by commercial or multi-family real estate.

 

Appraisals on commercial real estate and multi-family real estate properties are performed by independent appraisers prior to the time the loan is made. For transactions less than $500,000, the Company may use an internal valuation. All appraisals on commercial and multi-family real estate are reviewed and approved by a qualified Bank employee or independent third party. The Bank's underwriting procedures require verification of the borrower's credit history, income, financial statements, banking relationships and income projections for the property. The commercial loan policy generally requires personal guarantees from the proposed borrowers. An initial on-site inspection is generally required for all collateral properties for loans with balances in excess of $250,000. Independent annual reviews are performed for aggregate commercial lending relationships that exceed $500,000. The reviews cover financial performance, documentation completeness and accuracy of loan risk ratings.

 

Multi-family and commercial real estate loans generally present a higher level of risk than loans secured by single family residences. This greater risk is due to several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on income producing properties and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans. Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by multi-family and commercial real estate is typically dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project. If the cash flow from the project is reduced (for example, if leases are not obtained or renewed), the borrower's ability to repay the loan may be impaired. At December 31, 2021, $3.8 million of loans in the commercial real estate portfolio were non-performing compared to $1.5 million at December 31, 2020. The largest non-performing loan in this category as of December 31, 2021 was a $3.4 million loan relationship in the hospitality industry located in the Bank’s primary market area.

 

 

Construction Lending. The Company makes construction loans to individuals for the construction of their residences and to builders for the construction of single family residences. It also makes a limited number of loans to builders for houses built on speculation. Construction loans also include commercial real estate loans.

 

Almost all loans to individuals for the construction of their residences are structured as permanent loans. These loans are made on the same terms as residential loans, except that during the construction phase, which typically lasts up to twelve months, the borrower pays interest only. Generally, the borrower also pays a construction fee at the time of origination plus other costs associated with processing the loan. Residential construction loans are underwritten pursuant to the same guidelines used for originating residential loans on existing properties.

 

Construction loans to builders or developers of single family residences generally carry terms of one year or less.

 

Construction loans to owner occupants are generally made in amounts up to 95% of the lesser of cost or appraised value, but no more than 90% of the loan proceeds can be disbursed until the building is completed. The Company generally limits the loan-to-value ratios on loans to builders to 80%. Prior to making a commitment to fund a construction loan, the Company requires a valuation of the property, financial data and verification of the borrower's income. The Company obtains personal guarantees for substantially all of its construction loans to builders. Personal financial statements of guarantors are also obtained as part of the loan underwriting process. Construction loans are generally located in the Company's market area.

 

Construction loans are obtained principally through continued business from builders and developers who have previously borrowed from the Bank, as well as referrals from existing and walk-in clients. The application process includes a submission to the Bank of accurate plans, specifications and costs of the project to be constructed. These items are some of the factors utilized in the determination of the appraised value of the subject property to be built.

 

At December 31, 2021, construction loans totaled $47.2 million, an increase of $15.7 million from $31.5 million at December 31, 2020. Total construction loans included $23.3 million and $19.8 million of single family residential, $10.0 million and $2.3 million of multi-family residential and $13.9 million and $9.4 million of commercial real estate loans at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The nature of construction loans makes them more difficult to evaluate and monitor than loans on existing buildings. The risk of loss on a construction loan is dependent largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the property's value upon completion of the project, experience of the builder and the estimated cost (including interest) of the project. If the estimate of value proves to be inaccurate, the Company may be confronted, at or prior to the maturity of the loan, with a project having a value that is insufficient to assure full repayment or the possibility of having to make substantial investments to complete and sell the project. Because defaults in repayment may not occur during the construction period, it may be difficult to identify problem loans at an early stage. In these cases, the Company may be required to modify the terms of the loan. There were no construction loans in the commercial real estate portfolio that were non-performing at December 31, 2021 or December 31, 2020.

 

 

Consumer Lending. The Company originates a variety of consumer loans, including home equity loans (open-end and closed-end), automobile, recreational vehicles, mobile home, lot loans, loans secured by deposit accounts and other loans for household and personal purposes. At December 31, 2021, the Company’s consumer loans totaled $41.6 million, a decrease of $13.8 million from $55.4 million at December 31, 2020.

 

Consumer loan terms vary according to the type and value of collateral, length of contract and creditworthiness of the borrower. The Company's consumer loans are made at fixed or adjustable interest rates, with terms up to 20 years for secured loans and up to five years for unsecured loans.

 

The Company's home equity loans are generally written so that the total commitment amount, when combined with the balance of any other outstanding mortgage liens, does not exceed 85% of the appraised value of the property or an internally established market value. Internal market values are established using current market data, including recent sales data, and are typically lower than third party appraised values. The closed-end home equity loans are written with fixed or adjustable rates with terms up to 20 years. The open-end home equity lines are written with an adjustable rate and a 2, 5 or 10 year draw period that requires interest only payments followed by a 10 year repayment period that fully amortizes the outstanding balance. The consumer may access the open-end home equity line by making a withdrawal at the Bank, transferring funds through our online or mobile banking products or writing a check on the home equity line of credit account. Open and closed-end equity loans, which are generally secured by second mortgages on the borrower’s principal residence, represented 60.1% and 59.3% of the Company’s consumer loan portfolio at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

The underwriting standards employed by the Company for consumer loans include a determination of the applicant's payment history on other debts and their ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. Although creditworthiness of the applicant is of primary consideration, the underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the security, if any, in relation to the proposed loan amount. Consumer loans may entail greater credit risk than do residential mortgage loans, particularly in the case of consumer loans that are unsecured or are secured by rapidly depreciable assets, such as automobiles, recreational vehicles or mobile homes. In these cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted consumer loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance as a result of the greater likelihood of damage, loss or depreciation. In addition, consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower's continuing financial stability, and thus are more likely to be affected by adverse personal circumstances. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount that can be recovered on such loans. At December 31, 2021, $0.5 million of the consumer loan portfolio was non-performing, compared to $0.7 million at December 31, 2020.

 

Commercial Business Lending. The Company maintains a portfolio of commercial business loans to borrowers associated with the real estate industry as well as to retail, manufacturing operations and professional firms. The Company's commercial business loans generally have terms ranging from six months to five years and may have either fixed or variable interest rates. The Company's commercial business loans generally include personal guarantees and are usually, but not always, secured by business assets such as inventory, equipment, leasehold interests in equipment, fixtures, real estate and accounts receivable. The underwriting process for commercial business loans includes consideration of the borrower's financial statements, tax returns, projections of future business operations and inspection of the subject collateral, if any. The Company may also purchase a limited amount of participation interests in commercial business loans originated outside of the Company’s market area from third party originators. These loans generally have underlying collateral of inventory or equipment and repayment periods of less than ten years. At December 31, 2021, the Company’s commercial business loans totaled $60.2 million, a decrease of $22.5 million from $82.7 million at December 31, 2020. The decrease was primarily due to a $31.0 million decrease in outstanding Paycheck Protection Program loans between the periods that was partially offset by an increase in other types of commercial business loans.

 

Unlike residential mortgage loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from his or her income, and which are secured by real property with more easily ascertainable value, commercial business loans are of higher risk and typically are made on the basis of the borrower's ability to make repayment from the cash flow of the borrower's business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial business loans may be substantially dependent on the success of the business itself. Furthermore, the collateral securing the loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, the amount of non-performing loans in the commercial business portfolio was not material.

 

 

 

Real estate loans are generally originated by the Company's salaried loan officers. Mortgage and consumer loan officers may also receive a commission in addition to their base salary for meeting production and other branch goals. Loan applications are taken in all branch and loan production offices.

 

The Company originates both fixed and adjustable rate loans, however, its ability to originate loans is dependent upon the relative client demand for loans in its markets. Demand for adjustable rate loans is affected by the interest rate environment. The amount of adjustable rate loans increased in 2021 due to a change in the mix of the loans originated as more commercial business lines of credit, which typically have an adjustable rate, were originated in 2021 compared to 2020. The Company originated $18.8 million of single family adjustable rate loans for its portfolio during 2021, an increase of $0.4 million from $18.4 million in 2020. The Company also originated $72.1 million of fixed rate single family loans for its portfolio during 2021, an increase of $13.7 million from $58.4 million for 2020. The increase in the amount of fixed rate single family loans that were placed into the loan portfolio during 2021 is primarily the result of placing more 10 and 15 year fixed rate mortgage loans that were eligible for sale in the secondary market into the loan portfolio in order to increase the yield on the Bank’s interest earning assets.

 

The Company typically focuses its portfolio loan origination efforts on commercial real estate, commercial business and consumer loans because these loans have terms to maturity and adjustable interest rate characteristics that are generally more beneficial to the Company in managing interest rate risk than traditional single family fixed rate conventional loans. The Company originated $239.2 million of multi-family and commercial real estate, commercial business and consumer loans (which excludes commercial real estate loans for construction and development) during 2021, an increase of $47.3 million from originations of $191.9 million for 2020. The increase in originations primarily reflects the $47.9 million increase in originations of commercial business loans, in 2021 compared to 2020. The increase in commercial business loans was primarily related to the increase in commercial business lines of credit that were originated between the periods.

 

In order to supplement loan demand in the Company's market area and geographically diversify its loan portfolio, the Company purchases participations in real estate loans from selected sellers, from time to time, with yields based upon then-current market rates. The Company reviews and underwrites all loans purchased to ensure that they meet the Company's underwriting standards, and the seller generally continues to service the loans. The Company has generally not experienced higher losses or credit quality issues with purchased participations than other loans originated by the Company. The Company purchased $4.8 million of loans during 2021, a decrease of $3.0 million from the $7.8 million purchased during 2020. All of the loans purchased have terms and interest rates that are similar in nature to the Company's originated single family, commercial real estate, construction and development and commercial business portfolios.

 

The Company has mortgage-backed and related securities that are held, based on investment intent, in the available for sale portfolio. The Company acquired mortgage-backed securities of $188.8 million and $62.2 million, respectively, in 2021 and 2020. The increase in the amount of mortgage-backed securities purchased is because there was an increase in deposit balances between the periods and the Bank had excess liquidity that was used to purchase additional investments in 2021 compared to 2020. The Company did not sell any mortgage-backed securities in 2021 or 2020. See “Investment Activities” section of this Form 10-K for further discussion of the Company’s investment activity.

 

 

The following table shows the loan and mortgage-backed and related securities origination, purchase, acquisition, sale and repayment activities of the Company for the periods indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Classification of Assets. Federal regulations require that each savings institution evaluate and classify its assets on a regular basis. In addition, in connection with examinations of savings institutions, the OCC or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) examiners may identify problem assets and, if appropriate, require them to be classified with an adverse rating. There are three adverse classifications: substandard, doubtful, and loss. Assets classified as substandard have one or more defined weaknesses and are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as doubtful have the weaknesses of those classified as substandard, with additional characteristics that make collection in full on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values questionable, and there is a high possibility of loss. An asset classified as loss is considered uncollectible and of such little value that continuance as an asset on the balance sheet of the institution is not warranted. Assets classified as substandard or doubtful require the institution to establish prudent specific allowances for loan losses. If an asset, or portion thereof, is classified as a loss, the institution generally charges off such amount. On the basis of management's review of its assets, at December 31, 2021, the Bank classified a total of $17.8 million of its loans and real estate as follows:

 

 

 

The Bank's classified assets consist of non-performing loans and other assets and loans of concern discussed in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (incorporated by reference in Item 7 of Part II of this Form 10-K). See “Note 6 Allowance for Loan Losses and Credit Quality Information” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report (incorporated by reference in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K) for more information on classified assets.

 

Delinquency Procedures. Generally, the following procedures apply to delinquent single family real estate loans. When a borrower fails to make a required payment on a loan, the Company attempts to cure the delinquency by contacting the borrower. A late notice is sent on all loans over 16 days delinquent. Additional written and verbal contacts are made with the borrower between 30 and 60 days after the due date. If the loan is contractually delinquent 90 days, the Company sends a 30-day demand letter to the borrower and after the loan is contractually delinquent 120 days, institutes appropriate action to foreclose on the property. If foreclosed, the property is sold at a sheriff’s sale and may be purchased by the Company. Delinquent commercial real estate and commercial business loans are generally handled in a similar manner. The Company's procedures for repossession and sale of consumer collateral are subject to various requirements under state consumer protection laws.

 

Real estate acquired by the Company as a result of foreclosure is typically classified as real estate in judgment for six to twelve months and thereafter as real estate owned until it is sold. When property is acquired by foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure, it is recorded as real estate owned at the estimated fair value less the estimated cost of disposition. After acquisition, all costs incurred in maintaining the property are expensed. Costs relating to the development and improvement of the property, however, are capitalized to the extent of fair value less disposition cost.

 

The following table sets forth the Company's loan delinquencies by loan type, amount and percentage of loan category at December 31, 2021 for loans past due 60 days or more.

 

 

Loans delinquent for 90 days and over are generally non-accruing and are included in the Company’s non-performing asset total at December 31, 2021.

 

 

The Company utilizes the available for sale securities portfolio in virtually all aspects of asset/liability management. In making investment decisions, the Investment-Asset/Liability Committee considers, among other things, the yield and interest rate objectives, the credit risk position and the Bank's liquidity and projected cash flow requirements.

 

Securities. Federally-chartered savings institutions have the authority to invest in various types of liquid assets, including United States Treasury obligations, securities of various federal agencies, certain certificates of deposit of insured banks and savings institutions, certain bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements and federal funds. Subject to various restrictions, the holding company of a federally-chartered savings institution may also invest its assets in commercial paper, investment grade corporate debt securities and mutual funds whose assets conform to the investments that a federally-chartered savings institution is otherwise authorized to make directly.

 

 

The investment strategy of the Company has been directed toward a mix of high-quality government agency obligations with short terms to maturity. At December 31, 2021, the Company did not own any investment securities of a single issuer that exceeded 10% of the Company's stockholders’ equity other than U.S. government agency obligations.

 

The Bank invests a portion of its liquid assets in interest-earning overnight deposits of the FHLB of Des Moines and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Other investments may include high grade municipal bonds, corporate preferred stock, corporate equity securities and medium-term (up to five years) federal agency notes. HMN may invest in the same type of investment securities as the Bank. See “Note 4 Securities Available For Sale” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report for additional information regarding the Company's securities portfolio (incorporated by reference in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K).

 

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company's securities portfolio, excluding mortgage-backed and related securities, at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

The composition and maturities of the investment securities portfolio, excluding FHLB stock, equity securities, mortgage-backed and related securities, are indicated in the following table.

 

 

 

Mortgage-Backed and Related Securities. In order to supplement loan production and achieve its asset/liability management goals, the Company invests in mortgage-backed and related securities. All of the mortgage-backed and related securities owned by the Company are issued, insured or guaranteed either directly or indirectly by a U.S. government agency and are considered to be investment grade securities. The Company had $245.4 million of mortgage-backed and related securities that were all classified as available for sale at December 31, 2021, compared to $101.5 million at December 31, 2020. The Company purchased $188.8 million in mortgage-backed securities in 2021 and $62.2 million were purchased in 2020.

 

The contractual maturities of the mortgage-backed and related securities portfolio without any prepayment assumptions at December 31, 2021 are as follows:

 

 

At December 31, 2021, the Company did not have any non-agency mortgage-backed or related securities in excess of 10% of its stockholders' equity.

 

Mortgage-backed and related securities can serve as collateral for borrowings and, through sales and repayments, as a source of liquidity. In addition, mortgage-backed and related securities available for sale can be sold to respond to changes in economic conditions.

 

 

General. The Bank's primary sources of funds are retail, commercial, Internet and brokered deposits, payments of loan principal, interest earned on loans and securities, repayments and maturities of securities, borrowings and other funds provided from operations.

 

Deposits. The Bank offers a variety of deposit accounts to retail and commercial clients having a wide range of interest rates and terms. The Bank's deposits consist of savings, interest bearing checking, non-interest bearing checking, money market and certificate accounts (including individual retirement accounts). The Bank relies primarily on competitive pricing policies and client service to attract and retain these deposits.

 

 

The variety of deposit accounts offered by the Bank has allowed it to be competitive in obtaining funds and to respond with flexibility to changes in consumer demand. As clients become more interest rate conscious, the Bank may become more susceptible to short-term fluctuations in deposit flows. The Bank manages the pricing of its deposits in keeping with its asset/liability management, profitability and growth objectives. Based on its experience, the Bank believes that its savings and checking accounts are relatively stable sources of deposits. However, the ability of the Bank to attract and maintain certificates of deposit and money market accounts, and the rates paid on these deposits, has been and will continue to be significantly affected by market conditions. The increase in deposits in 2021 related to the $117.6 million increase in retail and commercial checking accounts, the $54.1 million increase in savings and money market accounts and the decrease in certificates of deposit of $16.2 million between the periods.

 

The following table sets forth the deposit flows at the Bank during the periods indicated.

 

 

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of deposits in the various types of deposit products offered by the Bank as of December 31:

 

 

⁽¹⁾    Reflects weighted average rates paid on transaction and savings deposits at December 31, 2021.

⁽²⁾    The weighted average rate on interest checking accounts for 2020 was 0.12%.

⁽³⁾    The weighted average rate on savings accounts for 2020 was 0.06%.

⁽⁴⁾    The weighted average rate on money market accounts for 2020 was 0.25%.

 

 

The following table shows rate and maturity information for the Bank’s certificates of deposit as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

The following table indicates the amount of the Bank's certificates of deposit and other deposits by time remaining until maturity as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

 

For additional information regarding the composition of the Bank's deposits, see “Note 11 Deposits” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report (incorporated by reference in Item 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K). For additional information on certificate maturities and the impact on the Company's liquidity see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” of the Annual Report (incorporated by reference in Item 7 of Part II of this Form 10-K).

 

 

Borrowings. The Bank's other available sources of funds include advances from the FHLB and borrowings from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. As a member of the FHLB of Des Moines, the Bank is required to own capital stock in the FHLB and is authorized to apply for advances. Each FHLB credit program has its own interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, and range of maturities. The FHLB may prescribe the acceptable uses for these advances, as well as limitations on the size of the advances and repayment provisions. Consistent with its asset/liability management strategy, the Bank has utilized FHLB advances from time to time to fund loan growth and extend the term to maturity of its liabilities. The Bank may also use short-term FHLB and Federal Reserve Bank borrowings to offset short term cash needs due to deposit outflows or loan fundings. At December 31, 2021, the Bank had no FHLB advances or Federal Reserve Bank borrowings outstanding. On such date, the Bank had a collateral pledge arrangement with the FHLB pursuant to which the Bank could borrow up to $178.0 million for liquidity purposes, subject to approval from the FHLB. The Bank also had the ability to borrow $50.3 million from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis based upon the loans that were pledged to it as collateral at December 31, 2021.

 

Refer to the information on pages 17 through 19 under the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the Annual Report and “Note 12 Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) Advances and Other Borrowings” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Annual Report for more information on FHLB advances and other borrowings (incorporated by reference in Items 7 and 8 of Part II of this Form 10-K).

 

 

As a federally-chartered savings bank, the Bank is permitted by OCC regulations to invest up to 2% of its assets in the stock of, or loans to, service corporation subsidiaries, and may invest an additional 1% of its assets in service corporations where these additional funds are used for inner-city or community development purposes. In addition to investments in service corporations, federal institutions are permitted to invest an unlimited amount in operating subsidiaries engaged solely in activities in which a federal savings bank may engage directly.

 

OIA is one of two subsidiaries of the Bank. OIA is a Minnesota corporation that was organized in 1983 and operated as an insurance agency until 1986 when its assets were sold. OIA remained inactive until 1993 when it began offering credit life insurance, annuity and mutual fund products to the Bank's clients and others. OIA currently offers a variety of financial planning products and services. HPH is the Bank’s other subsidiary and was organized as a limited liability company in Minnesota in 2013. It was inactive in 2021 but has operated as an intermediary for the Bank in holding and operating certain foreclosed properties.

 

 

The Bank faces strong competition both in originating real estate, commercial and consumer loans and in attracting deposits. Competition in originating loans comes primarily from mortgage bankers, commercial banks, credit unions and other savings institutions which have offices in the Bank's market area and those that operate through Internet banking operations throughout the United States. The Bank competes for loans principally on the basis of the interest rates and loan fees it charges, the types of loans it originates and the quality of services it provides to borrowers.

 

Competition for deposits is principally from mutual funds, securities firms, commercial banks, credit unions and other savings institutions located in the same communities and those that operate through Internet banking operations throughout the United States. The ability of the Bank to attract and retain deposits depends on its ability to provide an investment opportunity that satisfies the requirements of investors as to rate of return, liquidity, risk, convenience and other factors. The Bank competes for these deposits by offering a variety of deposit accounts at competitive rates, convenient business hours and a client-oriented staff.

 

 

The Bank was HMN’s sole direct subsidiary at December 31, 2021.

 

 

 

At December 31, 2021, the Company had 163 full time employees. None of the employees of the Company are represented by any collective bargaining unit. Management considers its employee relations to be good.

 

 

 

The banking industry is highly regulated. As a savings and loan holding company (SLHC), HMN is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB). The Bank, a federally-chartered savings association, is also subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the OCC, which is the Bank’s primary federal regulator. The FDIC also has authority to regulate the Bank. Subsidiaries of HMN and the Bank may also be subject to state regulation and/or licensing in connection with certain insurance and investment activities. The Company is subject to numerous laws and regulations. These laws and regulations impose restrictions on activities, set minimum capital requirements, impose lending and deposit restrictions and establish other restrictions. References in this section to applicable statutes and regulations are brief and incomplete summaries only. The Company recommends consulting the statutes, regulations and related policies and interpretive guidance for a full understanding of the details of their operation. Changes in statutes, regulations or regulatory policies applicable to the Company, including interpretation or implementation thereof, could have a material effect on the Company’s business.

 

 

 

As a savings and loan holding company, HMN is subject to regulation and supervision by the FRB. FRB regulations require holding companies to act as a source of strength to their subsidiary depository institutions by providing capital, liquidity and other support in times of financial stress.

 

Acquisitions by Savings and Loan Holding Companies. Acquisition of a savings association or a savings and loan holding company is generally subject to FRB approval and the public must have an opportunity to comment on the proposed acquisition. Without prior approval from the FRB, HMN may not acquire, directly or indirectly, control of another savings association.

 

Examination and Reporting. Under the Home Owners’ Loan Act and FRB regulations, HMN, as a SLHC, must file periodic reports with the FRB. In addition, HMN must comply with FRB record keeping requirements and is subject to holding company supervision and examination by the FRB. The FRB may take enforcement action if the activities of a SLHC constitute a risk to the financial safety, soundness or stability of a subsidiary savings association.

 

Affiliate Transactions. The Bank, as a holding company subsidiary that is a depository institution, is subject to both qualitative and quantitative limitations on transactions with the Company. See section “Bank Regulation - Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders”.

 

Capital Adequacy. The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements, however, the Company meets certain exemption requirements pursuant the FRB’s Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, and therefore, is exempt from the consolidated capital requirements.

 

Dividends. Federal law limits the ability of a savings and loan holding company, such as HMN, to pay dividends or make other capital distributions. FRB guidance applicable to holding companies sets out factors that should be taken into account when considering dividends or distributions, including, among other things, current and prospective earnings and liquidity, and the holding company’s ability to serve as an ongoing source of financial and managerial strength to insured depository institution subsidiaries such as the Bank.

 

 

 

As a federally-chartered savings association, the Bank is subject to regulation and supervision by the OCC. Federal law authorizes the Bank, as a federal savings association, to conduct, subject to various conditions and limitations, business activities that include: accepting deposits and paying interest on them; making and buying loans secured by residential and other real estate; making consumer loans; making commercial loans; investing in corporate obligations, government debt securities, and other securities; and offering various banking, trust, securities and insurance agency services to its clients.

 

Savings associations are expected to conduct lending activities in a prudent, safe and sound manner. The OCC regulates the safety and soundness of the Bank by enforcing statutory limits on the Bank’s lending and investment powers. OCC regulations set aggregate limits on certain types of loans including commercial business, commercial real estate and consumer loans. OCC regulations also establish limits on loans to a single borrower. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank’s lending limit to one borrower was approximately $15.7 million.

 

A federal savings association generally may not invest in noninvestment-grade debt securities. A federal savings association may establish subsidiaries to conduct any activity the association is authorized to conduct and may establish service corporation subsidiaries for limited preapproved activities.

 

Qualified Thrift Lender Test. Savings associations, including the Bank, must be qualified thrift lenders (QTLs). A savings association generally satisfies the QTL requirement if at least 65% of a specified asset base consists of assets such as loans to small businesses and loans to purchase or improve domestic residential real estate. Savings associations may qualify as QTLs in other ways. Savings associations that do not qualify as QTLs are subject to significant restrictions on their operations. If the Bank fails to meet QTL requirements, the Company would face certain limitations, including potential enforcement action by the OCC and, a statutory bar to the payment by the Bank of dividends except under prescribed conditions including approval by the OCC. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank met the QTL test.

 

OCC Assessments. The OCC is authorized by statute to charge assessments to cover the costs of examining the financial institutions it regulates and to fund its operations. The Bank’s OCC assessments for the year ended December 31, 2021 were approximately $0.2 million. The FRB does not currently assess HMN for examination fees.

 

Transactions with Affiliates and Insiders. Savings associations, like banks, are subject to affiliate and insider transaction restrictions. The restrictions prohibit or limit a savings association from extending credit to, or entering into certain covered transactions with, affiliates, principal stockholders, directors and executive officers of the savings association and its affiliates. The term “affiliate” generally includes a holding company, such as HMN, and any company under common control with the savings association. Federal law limits covered transactions between the Bank and any one affiliate to 10% of the Bank’s capital and surplus and with all affiliates in the aggregate to 20%. In addition, the federal law governing unitary savings and loan holding companies prohibits the Bank from making any loan to any affiliate whose activity is not permitted for a subsidiary of a bank holding company. This law also prohibits the Bank from making any equity investment in any affiliate that is not its subsidiary. The Bank is currently in compliance with these requirements. Covered transactions also include derivatives and the borrowing and lending of securities, and repurchase agreements with affiliates are subject to collateralization requirements.

 

Dividend Restrictions. Federal law limits the ability of a depository institution, such as the Bank, to pay dividends or make other capital distributions. The Bank, as a subsidiary of a savings and loan holding company, must file a notice with the FRB before payment of a dividend or approval of a proposed capital distribution by its board of directors and must obtain prior approval from the FRB if it fails to meet certain regulatory conditions.

 

 

During 2021, the Bank paid dividends to HMN of $6.0 million, which were used to fund the ongoing operating expenses of the Company, purchase treasury stock and improve its cash position. The improved cash position will potentially allow the Company to make a capital contribution into the Bank should the Bank need additional capital to support its operations. HMN did not declare or distribute any dividends to its common shareholders in 2021. In January 2022 the Company’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock. See pages 18 and 19 in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Dividends” section of the Annual Report incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 7 of this Form

10-K for more information on the dividend that was declared in the first quarter of 2022.

 

Deposit Insurance. The FDIC insures the deposits of the Bank through the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). The DIF is funded by assessments of FDIC members such as the Bank. The FDIC applies a risk-based system for setting deposit insurance assessments. Under the risk-based assessment system, an institution’s insurance assessments vary according to the level of capital the institution holds and the degree to which it is the subject of supervisory concern. During 2021, the Bank was assessed approximately $0.3 million for the DIF.

 

Capital Requirements and Prompt Corrective Action Requirements. The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Quantitative measures established by regulations to ensure capital adequacy required the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of Common Tier 1 risk-based capital, Total Tier 1 capital (Tier 1 leverage ratio), Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets, and risk-based capital to total assets (in each case as defined in the regulations). The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.

 

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (FDICIA) established five capital categories: 1) well-capitalized; 2) adequately capitalized; 3) undercapitalized; 4) significantly undercapitalized; and 5) critically undercapitalized. The activities in which a depository institution may engage and regulatory responsibilities of federal bank regulatory agencies vary depending upon whether an institution is well-capitalized, adequately capitalized or undercapitalized. Undercapitalized institutions are subject to various restrictions such as limitations on dividends and growth. A depository institution’s prompt corrective action capital category depends upon where its capital levels are in relation to relevant capital measures, which include risk-based capital measures and certain other factors.

 

In addition to the capital categories, federal regulators have established a “capital conservation buffer” of 2.50% above the minimum capital ratios otherwise required by the prompt corrective action framework. If an institution’s capital levels fall below the buffer amount, the institution will be subject to limitations on the payment of dividends, share repurchases and the payment of discretionary bonuses.

 

At December 31, 2021, the Bank’s capital amounts and ratios are presented for actual capital and required capital and ratios under the prompt corrective actions regulations to which the Bank is currently subject:

 

 

 

 

Management believes that, as of December 31, 2021, the Bank’s capital ratios were in excess of those quantitative capital ratio standards set forth under the prompt corrective action regulations described above, including the capital conservation buffer, and was “well-capitalized” within the meaning of those prompt corrective action regulations. However, there can be no assurance that the Bank will continue to maintain such status in the future. In addition, the OCC has extensive discretion in its supervisory and enforcement activities, including the ability to downgrade the Bank’s prompt corrective action capital category by one level under certain conditions.

 

Under applicable banking regulations, the failure to comply with capital rules or other applicable requirements as they arise, could subject HMN, the Bank and their directors and officers to such restrictions, legal actions or sanctions as the FRB or the OCC considers appropriate. Possible sanctions include, among others, (i) the imposition of one or more cease and desist orders requiring corrective action, which are enforceable directives that may address any aspect of the Company’s management, operations or capital, including requirements to change management, raise equity capital, dispose of assets or effect a change of control; (ii) civil money penalties; and (iii) downgrades in the capital adequacy status of the Bank. These regulatory actions may significantly restrict the ability of the Company to take operating and strategic actions that may be in the best interests of stockholders or compel the Company to take operating and strategic actions that are not potentially in the best interests of stockholders.

 

Other Regulations and Examination Authority. The FDIC has adopted regulations to protect the DIF and depositors, including regulations governing the deposit insurance of various forms of accounts. Federal regulation of depository institutions is intended for the protection of depositors, and not for the protection of stockholders or other creditors. In addition, federal law requires that in any liquidation or other resolution of any FDIC-insured depository institution, claims for administrative expenses of the receiver and for deposits in U.S. branches (including claims of the FDIC as subrogee of the insured institution) shall have priority over the claims of general unsecured creditors.

 

The OCC may sanction any OCC-regulated bank that does not operate in accordance with OCC regulations, policies and directives. The FDIC has additional authority to terminate insurance of accounts, after a notice and hearing, upon a finding that the insured institution is or has engaged in any unsafe or unsound practice that has not been corrected, is operating in an unsafe or unsound condition, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, or order of or condition imposed by the FDIC.

 

FHLBSystem. The Bank is a member of the FHLB of Des Moines, which is one of the 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks (FHBs). The primary purpose of the FHBs is to provide funding to their financial institution members in support of the home financing credit function of the members. Each FHB serves as a reserve or central bank for its members within its assigned region. FHBs are funded primarily from proceeds derived from the sale of consolidated obligations of the FHLB System. FHBs make loans or advances to members in accordance with policies and procedures established by the board of directors of the FHB. These policies and procedures are subject to the regulation and oversight of the Federal Housing Financing Board. All advances from a FHB are required to be fully secured by sufficient collateral as determined by the FHB. Long-term advances are required to be used for residential home financing and small business and agricultural loans.

 

As a member, the Bank is required to purchase and maintain stock in the FHLB of Des Moines. As of December 31, 2021, the Bank had $1.1 million in FHLB stock, which was in compliance with this requirement. The Bank receives dividends on its FHLB stock. The FHLB’s dividend philosophy is to differentiate dividend rates between membership and activity-based capital stock. Based on the FHLB’s most recent quarterly filing on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the effective dividend rates paid on these subclasses of its capital stock at September 30, 2021 were 3.00% and 6.00%, respectively.

 

 

Other Regulation. Numerous other regulations promulgated by the FRB, the OCC, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other agencies and other governmental authorities affect the business operations of the Bank. These include but are not limited to regulations relating to privacy, equal credit access, mortgage lending and foreclosure practices, electronic fund transfers, collection of checks, lending and savings disclosures and availability of funds. The CFPB has broad authority to develop new rules and interpretations with respect to consumer financial products and services, even though its examination and enforcement authority currently do not extend to the Bank.

 

Community Reinvestment Act. The Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) requires financial institutions regulated by the federal financial supervisory agencies to ascertain and help meet the credit needs of their delineated communities, including low to moderate income neighborhoods within those communities, while maintaining safe and sound banking practices. The regulatory agency assigns one of four possible ratings to an institution’s CRA performance and is required to make public an institution’s rating and written evaluation. The four possible ratings of meeting community credit needs are outstanding, satisfactory, needs improvement and substantial non-compliance. Under regulations that apply to all current CRA performance evaluations, many factors play a role in assessing a financial institution’s CRA performance. The institution’s regulator must consider its financial capacity and size, legal impediments, local economic conditions and demographics, including the competitive environment in which it operates. The evaluation does not rely on absolute standards, and the institutions are not required to perform specific activities or to provide specific amounts or types of credit. The Bank maintains a CRA statement for public viewing, as well as an annual CRA highlights document. These documents describe the Bank’s credit programs and services, community outreach activities, public comments and other efforts to meet community credit needs. The Bank’s last CRA exam was January 27, 2020 and the Bank received an “outstanding” rating under the Intermediate Small Savings Association criteria.

 

Bank Secrecy Act. The Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) requires financial institutions to verify the identity of clients, keep records and file reports that are determined to have a high degree of usefulness in criminal, tax and regulatory matters, and to implement anti-money laundering programs and compliance procedures. The impact on Bank operations from the BSA depends on the types of clients served by the Bank.

 

 

The Company’s website is www.hmnf.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, through its website its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. These reports are available as soon as reasonably practicable after it electronically files these materials with, or furnishes them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Information contained on the Company’s website is expressly not incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K.

 

 

Like all financial companies, the Company’s business and results of operations are subject to a number of risks, many of which are outside of the Company’s control. In addition to the other information in this report, readers should carefully consider that the following important factors, among others, could materially impact the Company’s business and future results of operations.

 

 

 

 

We are required by federal regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations and protect depositors of the Bank. Depending upon the operating performance of the Bank and our other liquidity and capital needs, we may find it prudent, subject to prevailing market conditions and other factors, to raise additional capital through the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities. Additional capital would potentially allow the Bank to grow its assets more aggressively. Depending on circumstances, if we were to raise capital, we may deploy it to the Bank for general banking purposes, or may retain some or all of such capital for use by the Company.

 

If the Company were to raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of common stock or other equity securities, it would dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders, dilute the Company’s earnings per share and could result in a change in control of the Company and the Bank. New investors may also have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our current stockholders which may adversely impact our current stockholders. Our ability to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity securities, if deemed prudent, would depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside of our control, and on our financial performance. A significant investment by a person or group may also necessitate an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation, which would require stockholder approval. Accordingly, we may not be able to raise additional capital, if needed, on favorable economic terms or other terms acceptable to us.

 

The Bank may not be able to meet its cash flow needs on a timely basis at a reasonable cost, and its cost of funds for banking operations may significantly increase as a result of general economic conditions, interest rates and competitive pressures. HMN, on an unconsolidated basis, has limited capital resources and liquidity to assist the Bank with its liquidity and capital requirements.

 

Liquidity is the ability to meet cash flow needs on a timely basis and at a reasonable cost. The liquidity of the Bank is used to pay expenses, make loans and to repay deposit and borrowing liabilities as they become due or are demanded by clients and creditors. Many factors affect the Bank’s ability to meet liquidity needs, including variations in the markets served by its network of offices, its composition of assets and liabilities, reputation and standing in the marketplace and general economic conditions.

 

The Bank’s primary source of funding is retail and commercial deposits gathered through its network of fourteen banking offices. Wholesale funding sources principally consist of borrowing lines from the FHLB of Des Moines and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and brokered and internet certificates of deposit obtained from the national market. Borrowings from the FHLB are subject to the FHLB’s credit policies and procedures relating to the valuation of the loans securing advances as well as the amount of funds the FHLB will loan to the Bank. The current collateral pledged to secure advances may become unacceptable, the formulas for determining the excess pledged collateral may change or the Bank’s credit rating with the FHLB could decrease. In these cases, the Bank may not have sufficient collateral to pledge or have the borrowing capacity to meet its funding needs and may be required to rely upon alternate funding sources, such as the Federal Reserve Bank, which bear higher borrowing costs. The Bank’s securities and loan portfolios also provide a source of contingent liquidity that could be accessed in a reasonable time period through sales.

 

Significant changes in general economic conditions, market interest rates, competitive pressures or otherwise, could cause the Bank’s deposits to decrease relative to overall banking operations, and it would have to rely more heavily on brokered and Internet deposits or borrowings in the future, which are typically more expensive than retail deposits.

 

 

The Bank actively manages its liquidity position and monitors it using cash flow forecasts. Changes in economic conditions, including consumer savings habits and availability or access to borrowed funds and the brokered and Internet deposit markets could potentially have a significant impact on the Company’s liquidity position, which in turn could materially impact its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

 

HMN’s primary source of cash is dividends from the Bank, and the Bank is restricted from paying dividends to HMN unless certain conditions are met under bank regulatory requirements. At December 31, 2021, HMN had $12.5 million in cash balances. Primarily, HMN requires cash for the payment of holding company level expenses, including director and management fees, legal expenses and regulatory costs. HMN may also use cash for the repurchase of outstanding HMN stock or the payment of dividends. HMN does not anticipate that it will have, on an ongoing long term stand-alone basis, adequate liquid resources to make all of the required cash payments for these items in the future. To meet these payment requirements or other potential HMN liquidity or capital needs would require dividends from the Bank or external capital. Failure to meet regulatory requirements for any future dividends from the Bank to HMN, or to receive dividends in amounts deemed satisfactory by HMN, could cause HMN to require other sources of liquidity for its needs in 2022 and beyond. Further information about HMN’s liquidity position is available on page 17 in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources” section of the Annual Report incorporated by reference in Part II, Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

 

 

Our non-performing assets were at $4.9 million, or 0.46% of total assets, at December 31, 2021. Classified loans at December 31, 2021 were $42.7 million, or 6.5% of total loans. Classified loans represent special mention, performing substandard and non-performing loans. The low level of our classified loans is primarily due to the current economic environment. If the favorable economic environment does not continue these assets may not perform according to their terms and the value of the collateral may be insufficient to pay any remaining loan balance. If this occurs, we may experience losses or an increased risk of loss in our loan portfolio, which could have a negative effect on our results of operations. Like all financial institutions, we maintain an allowance for loan losses to provide for loans in our portfolio that may not be repaid in their entirety. Our allowance for loan losses may not be sufficient to cover actual loan losses or the inherent risk of loss in our loan portfolio, and future provision for loan losses could materially adversely affect our operating results.

 

In evaluating the appropriateness of our allowance for loan losses, we consider numerous factors, including but not limited to, specific occurrences of loan impairment, our historical charge-off experience, actual and anticipated changes in the size of the portfolios, national, regional and local economic conditions such as unemployment data, loan delinquencies, demand for single family homes, demand for commercial real estate and building lots, loan portfolio composition and observations made by the Company's ongoing internal audit and regulatory exam processes. In addition, we use information about specific borrower situations, including their financial position and estimated collateral values, to estimate the risk and amount of loss for those borrowers. Our estimates of the risk of loss and amount of loss on any loan are complicated by the significant uncertainties surrounding our borrowers’ abilities to successfully execute their business models through changing economic environments, competitive challenges and other factors. Because of the degree of uncertainty and susceptibility of these factors to change, our actual losses and estimates of risk of loss inherent in our loan portfolio have varied and are likely to continue to vary from our current estimates. Such variances may materially and adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Federal regulators, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses by recognizing additional provisions for loan losses charged to expense, or to decrease our allowance for loan losses by recognizing loan charge-offs. Any such additional provisions for loan losses or charge-offs, as required by these regulatory agencies, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

 

In order to enhance the yield and shorten the term-to-maturity of its loan portfolio, the Company continues to maintain the balances of its commercial business and commercial real estate portfolios. These categories of loans represented approximately 69% of the total loans receivable at December 31, 2021. Some of the Company’s commercial real estate portfolio is in land development loans, while many of the Company’s commercial business loans are made to borrowers associated with the real estate industry. Commercial business and commercial real estate loans generally, and land development loans in particular, present a higher level of risk than loans secured by single family residences. This greater risk is due to several factors, including the concentration of principal in a limited number of loans and borrowers, the effects of general economic conditions on income producing properties and the increased difficulty of evaluating and monitoring these types of loans.

 

Furthermore, the repayment of loans secured by commercial real estate is typically dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project. If the cash flow from the project is reduced (for example, if leases are not obtained or renewed or properties intended for resale are not developed and sold), the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the underlying collateral may be impaired. Commercial business loans to businesses that are dependent on the cash flow generated by the sale or leasing of real estate are similarly impacted. At December 31, 2021, the Company had $4.6 million of non-performing loans, of which $3.8 million related to commercial business and commercial real estate loans. At December 31, 2021, total classified loans included $40.9 million of commercial business and commercial real estate loans. The Company may experience actual losses in respect of these classified loans and further increases in the level of classified loans in our loan portfolio that may require further increases in our provision for loan losses.

 

Regional economic changes in the Company’s markets have in the past adversely impacted, and may in the future adversely impact, results from operations.

 

Like all financial institutions, the Company is subject to the effects of any economic downturn, and in particular a significant decline in home values and reduced commercial development in the Company’s markets has had a negative effect on results of operations in the past. The Company’s success depends primarily on the general economic conditions in the counties in which the Company conducts business, and in the southern Minnesota, northern Iowa and eastern Wisconsin areas in general. Unlike larger financial institutions that are more geographically diversified, the Company provides banking and financial services to clients primarily in the Minnesota counties of Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Steele, and Winona and portions of Goodhue and Wabasha counties, as well as Marshall county in Iowa. The Bank also offers banking services to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area through a branch location in Waukesha County in Wisconsin. The local economic conditions in these market areas have a significant impact on the Company’s ability to originate loans, the ability of the borrowers to repay these loans and the value of the collateral securing these loans. A significant decline in the general economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, unemployment or other factors beyond the Company’s control can affect and has in the past affected these local economic conditions and can adversely affect and has in the past adversely affected the Company’s financial condition and results of operations. The Company has a significant amount of commercial business and commercial real estate loans and decreases in tenant occupancy and development home sales can have, and in the past have had, a negative effect on the ability of many of the Company’s borrowers to make timely repayments of their loans and the value of the collateral held as security for these loans, which can have, and in the past has had, an adverse impact on the Company’s earnings.

 

 

During 2021, the U.S. economy continued to perform reasonably well despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there are continuing concerns related to, among other things, the long term effectiveness of the vaccines to mutations in the COVID-19 virus and changes in customer behaviors as a result of the pandemic, the level of U.S. government debt and fiscal actions that may be taken to address such debt, the potential effects of COVID-19 on international trade (including supply chains and export levels), travel, employee productivity and other economic activities, depressed oil prices and the U.S. international relations and their effects on the financial markets and economic activity. There can be no assurance that current economic conditions will continue or improve, and economic conditions could worsen. Economic pressure on consumers and uncertainty regarding continuing economic improvement may result in changes in consumer and business spending, borrowing and saving habits. A return of recessionary conditions and/or other negative developments in the domestic or international credit markets may significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the value of our loans and investments, and our ongoing operations, costs and profitability. Declines in real estate value and sales volumes and high unemployment may also result in higher than expected loan delinquencies and a decline in demand for our products and services. These negative events may cause us to incur losses and may adversely affect our capital, liquidity and financial condition.

 

 

Due to the Company’s asset size, the provision for loan losses or charge offs associated with individual loans can be large relative to the Company’s earnings for a particular period. If one or a few relatively large loans become non-performing in a period and the Company is required to increase its loss reserves, or to write off principal or interest relative to such loans, the operating results for that period could be significantly adversely affected. The effect on results of operations for any given period from a change in the performance of a small number of loans may be disproportionately larger than the impact of such loans on the quality of the Company’s overall loan portfolio. The Company generally limits its internal loan originations to loans less than $7.5 million with loans over that amount approved by its Executive Loan Committee. The Company’s regulatory lending limit was $15.7 million at December 31, 2021. The Bank’s largest borrowing relationship had outstanding loans totaling $15.0 million and was performing at December 31, 2021.

 

Changes in interest rates could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations.

 

The earnings of the Company are primarily dependent on net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities such as deposits and borrowings. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors, including government monetary and fiscal policies and domestic and international economic and political conditions. Conditions such as inflation, recession, unemployment, money supply, government borrowing and other factors beyond management’s control may also affect interest rates. If the Company’s interest-earning assets mature, reprice or prepay more quickly than interest-bearing liabilities in a given period, a decrease in market interest rates could adversely affect net interest income. Likewise, if interest-bearing liabilities mature or reprice, or, in the case of deposits, are withdrawn by the accountholder, more quickly than interest-earning assets in a given period, an increase in market interest rates could adversely affect net interest income. Given the Company’s assets and liability composition as of December 31, 2021, a falling interest rate environment would negatively impact the Company’s results of operations. The effect on our deposits of decreases in interest rates generally lags the effect on our assets. The lagging effect of deposit rate changes is primarily due to the Bank’s deposits that are in the form of certificates of deposit, which do not re-price immediately when the federal funds rate changes.

 

Fixed rate loans increase the Company’s exposure to interest rate risk in a rising rate environment because interest-bearing liabilities would be subject to repricing before assets become subject to repricing. Adjustable rate loans decrease the risks to a lender associated with changes in interest rates but involve other risks. As interest rates rise, the payment by the borrower rises to the extent permitted by the terms of the loan, and the increased payment increases the potential for default. At the same time, for secured loans, the marketability of the underlying collateral may be adversely affected by higher interest rates. In a declining interest rate environment, there is likely to be an increase in prepayment activity on loans as the borrowers refinance their loans at lower interest rates. Under these circumstances, the Company’s results of operations could be negatively impacted.

 

 

Changes in interest rates also can affect the value of loans, investments and other interest-rate sensitive assets including mortgage servicing rights, and the Company’s ability to realize gains on the sale or resolution of assets. This type of income can vary significantly from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year based on a number of different factors, including the interest rate environment. An increase in interest rates that adversely affects the ability of borrowers to pay the principal or interest on loans may lead to an increase in non-performing assets and increased loan loss reserve requirements that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

 

The capitalization, amortization and impairment of mortgage servicing rights are subject to significant estimates. These estimates are based upon loan types, note rates and prepayment speed assumptions. Changes in interest rates or prepayment speeds may have a material effect on the net carrying value of mortgage servicing rights. In a declining interest rate environment, prepayment speed assumptions will increase and result in an acceleration in the amortization of the mortgage servicing rights as the assumed underlying portfolio declines and also may result in impairment as the value of the mortgage servicing rights declines.

 

Strong competition within the Company’s market area may limit profitability or generate losses.

 

The Company faces significant competition both in attracting deposits and in the origination of loans. Mortgage bankers, commercial banks, credit unions and other savings institutions, which have offices in the Bank’s market area have historically provided most of the Company’s competition for deposits and loans; however, the Company also competes with financial institutions that operate through Internet banking operations throughout the United States. In addition, the Company faces additional and significant competition for funds from money market and mutual funds, and securities firms located in the same communities and those that operate through Internet banking operations throughout the United States. Many competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources than the Company. Finally, credit unions do not pay federal or state income taxes and are subject to fewer regulatory constraints than savings banks and as a result, they may enjoy a competitive advantage over the Company. The Bank competes for loans principally on the basis of the interest rates and loan fees it charges, the types of loans it originates and the quality of services it provides to borrowers. This competitive strategy places significant competitive pressure on the prices of loans and deposits.

 

 

The Company has a number of large deposit clients that maintain balances in checking and money market accounts at the Bank. At December 31, 2021, there was $161.5 million in checking and money market accounts of clients in the alternative energy and other industries that have individual relationship balances greater than $5 million. The ability to attract and retain these types of deposits has a positive effect on the Company’s net interest margin as they provide a relatively low cost of funds to the Company compared to certificates of deposits or advances. If these depositors were to withdraw these funds and the Bank was not able to replace them with similar types of deposits, the Banks cost of funds would increase and the Company’s results of operation would be negatively impacted.

 

 

 

The Company continues to regularly monitor acquisition opportunities and from time to time conducts due diligence activities related to possible transactions with banks and other financial institutions. Negotiations may take place and future acquisitions may occur at any time. Our ability to grow through acquisitions will depend, in part, on the availability of suitable acquisition targets at acceptable prices, terms and conditions; our ability to compete effectively for these acquisition candidates; and the availability of capital and personnel to complete such acquisitions and run the acquired business effectively. These risks could be heightened if we complete a large acquisition or multiple acquisitions within a relatively short period of time.

 

The benefits of an acquisition may take more time than expected to develop or integrate into our operations and we cannot guarantee that any acquisition will ultimately produce any benefits. Acquiring other banks, businesses, or branches involves various risks, such as potential disruption of the Company’s business, including diversion of management’s attention; difficulty in valuing the target company; potential exposure to undisclosed, contingent, or other liabilities or problems, unanticipated costs associated with an acquisition, and an inability to recover or manage such liabilities and costs; exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company; volatility in reported income as goodwill and other impairment losses could occur irregularly and in varying amounts; difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of the target company or in realizing projected efficiencies, revenue increases, cost savings, increased market presence, or other projected benefits; potential loss of key employees or clients of the Company or the target company; dilution to existing stockholders if securities are issued as part of transaction consideration or to fund transaction consideration; and potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company. Any of the foregoing factors could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

 

 

The Company is and will continue to be subject to extensive examination, supervision and comprehensive regulation by federal bank regulatory agencies. Banking regulations are primarily intended to protect depositors’ funds, federal deposit insurance funds, and the banking system and the financial system as a whole, and not holders of our common stock. These regulations affect our lending practices, capital structure, investment practices, dividend policy, and growth, among other things. See Item 1 “Business – Regulation and Supervision” of this Form 10-K for information regarding regulation affecting the Company.

 

Changes in the regulatory landscape may significantly impact the profitability of business activities, require material changes to certain business practices, impose more stringent capital, liquidity and leverage requirements or otherwise adversely affect our business.

 

The FRB assesses the condition, performance and activities of savings and loan holding companies in a manner that is consistent with its established risk-based approach regarding bank holding company supervision to ensure that savings and loan holding companies are effectively supervised and can serve as a source of strength for, and do not threaten the soundness of, subsidiary depository institutions such as the Bank.

 

The CFPB has broad authority to develop new rules and interpretations with respect to consumer financial products and services even though its examination and enforcement authority do not currently extend to the Bank.

 

 

Congress and federal regulatory agencies continually review banking laws, regulations and policies for possible changes. Changes to statutes, regulations, or regulatory policies, including changes in interpretation or implementation of statutes, regulations, or policies, could affect us in substantial and unpredictable ways. Such changes could subject us to additional costs, limit the types of financial services and products we may offer, restrict mergers and acquisitions, investments, access to capital, the location of banking offices, or increase the ability of non-banks to offer competing financial services and products, among other things. Failure, or alleged failure, to comply with laws, regulations or policies could result in sanctions by regulatory agencies, civil or criminal penalties or money damages in connection with actions or proceedings on behalf of regulators or consumers, and/or reputational damage, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent any such violations and to reduce the likelihood of such actions or proceedings, there can be no assurance that such violations will not occur or that such actions or proceedings will not be brought.

 

Changes to laws and regulations, including changes in interpretation or implementation, may also limit the Bank’s flexibility on financial products and fees which could result in additional operational costs and a reduction in our non-interest income.

 

Further, our regulators have significant discretion and authority to prevent or remedy unsafe or unsound practices or violations of laws by financial institutions and holding companies in the performance of their supervisory and enforcement duties. Examples include limits on payment of dividends by banks and regulations governing compensation. Regulation of dividends may limit the liquidity of the Company and restrictions on compensation may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain employees.

 

 

The CRA and fair lending laws and regulations impose nondiscriminatory lending requirements on financial institutions. The Department of Justice, the CFPB and other federal agencies are responsible for enforcing these laws and regulations. A successful challenge to an institution’s performance under the CRA or fair lending laws and regulations could result in a wide variety of sanctions, including the required payment of damages and civil money penalties, injunctive relief, imposition of restrictions on mergers and acquisitions activity, and restrictions on expansion activity. Private parties may also have the ability to challenge an institution’s performance under fair lending laws in private class action litigation. The Bank has implemented policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with such laws and regulations, but any non-compliance could lead to regulatory actions that could result in material penalties or sanctions.

 

 

The USA PATRIOT Act and the Bank Secrecy Act require financial institutions to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money laundering and terrorist activities. If these activities are detected, financial institutions are obligated to file suspicious activity reports with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. These rules require financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of clients seeking to open new financial accounts. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines or sanctions. In recent years, several banking institutions have received large fines for non-compliance with these laws and regulations. Although the Bank has developed policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance, regulators may take enforcement action against the Bank in the event of non-compliance.

 

 

 

The extended disruption or compromise of vital infrastructure, including the Company’s technology systems, could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

 

The Company’s business depends on its ability to process, record and monitor a large number of transactions. The Company’s technological and physical infrastructures, which include its financial, accounting and other data processing systems, are vital to its operation. Extended disruption or compromise of its vital infrastructure by fire, power loss, natural disaster, telecommunications failure, computer hacking and viruses, terrorist activity or the domestic and foreign response to such activity, or other events outside of the Company’s control, could cause the Company to suffer regulatory consequences, reputational damage and financial losses, any of which could have a material adverse effect either on the financial services industry as a whole, or on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company faces cybersecurity and other external data security risks that could adversely affect the reputation of the Company and that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company’s business is dependent upon the transmission and storage of confidential information in digital technologies, computer and email systems, software and networks. The Company has security systems in place and regularly monitors its computer systems and network infrastructure. The Company does not believe that it has experienced a material cybersecurity breach, but it has experienced immaterial threats to its data and systems, including computer virus and malware attacks and other attempted unauthorized access to our systems. Cyber threats are rapidly evolving and the Company may not be able to anticipate or prevent all future attacks. Other financial institutions have been, and continue to be, the target of various evolving and adaptive cyber attacks, including malware and denial of service, as part of an effort to disrupt the operations of financial institutions, potentially test their cybersecurity capabilities, or obtain confidential, proprietary, or other information. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the Company may incur increasing costs in an effort to minimize these risks. In addition, the Company could be held liable for, and could suffer reputational damage as a result of, any security breach or loss, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

 

Third parties with which the Company does business or that facilitate its business activities, including vendors and retailers, could also be sources of operational and information security risk to the Company. There have been increasingly sophisticated and large-scale efforts on the part of third parties to breach data security with respect to financial transactions, including intercepting account information at locations where clients make purchases, as well as the use of social engineering schemes such as “phishing.” For example, large retailers have reported data breaches resulting in the loss of client information. In the event that third parties are able to misappropriate financial information of the Bank’s clients, even if such breaches take place due to weaknesses in other parties' internal data security procedures, the Company could suffer reputational or financial losses which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.

 

 

 

 

During the year ended December 31, 2021, the price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market ranged from $17.20 to $25.61 per share, and over the period from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2021 it ranged from $13.06 to $25.61. Our closing sale price on December 31, 2021 was $24.67 per share and on February 14, 2022 it was $25.02 per share. Our stock generally trades in relatively low volumes and its price may fluctuate in response to a number of events and factors, including, but not limited to, variations in operating results, litigation or governmental and regulatory proceedings, market perceptions of our financial reporting, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us, and news reports relating to trends in our markets or general economic conditions.

 

 

 

We have authorized 16,000,000 shares of common stock. As of December 31, 2021, 9,128,662 shares were issued and outstanding (including 4,564,087 shares that were held as treasury stock) and 6,871,338 shares were unissued. The Company has also granted options to purchase 34,229 shares of common stock that are currently outstanding and has 345,907 shares that are available to be awarded pursuant to our current equity incentive plans. The board of directors has authority, without action or vote of the stockholders, to issue all or part of the authorized but unissued shares and to reissue all of the treasury shares. Additional shares may be issued, or treasury shares reissued, in connection with future financing, acquisitions, employee stock plans or otherwise. Any such issuance, or reissuance, will dilute the percentage ownership of existing stockholders. We are also currently authorized to issue up to 500,000 shares of preferred stock, however, as of December 31, 2021, there were no preferred stock shares issued and outstanding. Under our certificate of incorporation, our board of directors can issue additional preferred stock in one or more series and fix the terms of such stock without shareholder approval. Preferred stock may include the right to vote as a series on particular matters, preferences as to dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights and sinking fund provisions. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock and reduce the value of the common stock. In addition, specific rights granted to holders of preferred stock could be used to restrict our ability to merge with or sell our assets to a third party.

 

 

We are a stock savings bank holding company and our operations are conducted primarily by the Bank. Since we receive substantially all of our revenue from dividends from the Bank, our ability to pay dividends on our common stock or repurchase common stock depends on our receipt of dividends from the Bank. Dividend payments from the Bank are subject to legal and regulatory limitations. The ability of the Bank to pay dividends to us is also subject to its profitability, financial condition, capital needs and other cash flow requirements. There is no assurance that the Bank will be able to pay dividends to us in the future or that we will be able to generate adequate cash flow to continue to pay dividends or repurchase our common stock in the future. The inability to receive dividends from the Bank could have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

 

 

Provisions included in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and federal law (including banking regulations), may discourage, delay or prevent potential acquisitions of control of us, particularly when attempted in a transaction that is not negotiated directly with and approved by our board of directors, despite perceived short-term benefits to our stockholders (such as an increase in the trading price of our common stock).

 

Specifically, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws include provisions that:

 

 

 

 

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. For purposes of Section 203, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder, and an “interested stockholder” is a person who, either alone or together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the past three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock. For purposes of Section 203, “voting stock” means stock of any class or series entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. Furthermore, federal law requires FRB or OCC approval prior to any direct or indirect acquisition of control (as defined in regulations) of HMN or the Bank, respectively, including, with respect to the Bank, any indirect acquisition of control through an acquisition of control of HMN.

 

 

None.

 

 

 

The Company owns its corporate office in Rochester, Minnesota and the buildings and land for eleven of its fourteen full service branches. The remaining three full service branches and two loan production offices are leased. These leased branches are located at; 100 1^st Ave Bldg., Suite 200, Rochester, Minnesota; 2805 Dodd Road, Suite 160, Eagan, Minnesota; and 1015 West Frontage Road, Suite 100, Owatonna, Minnesota. The leased loan production offices are located at; 50 14^th Avenue East, Suite 100, Sartell, Minnesota and 700 3^rd St. North, Suite 2104, La Crosse, Wisconsin. The Bank uses all properties and they are all located in Minnesota, except for one full service branch located in Iowa and the one full service branch and one loan production office that are located in Wisconsin.

 

 

From time to time, the Company is party to legal proceedings arising out of its lending and deposit operations. See “Note 18 Commitments and Contingencies” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

The information on pages 18 and 19 under the caption “Dividends”, on page 44 under “Note 16 Stockholders’ Equity” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, on page 58 under the caption “Common Stock Information” and on the inside back cover page of the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

The following table provides information with respect to purchases made by the Company of its own stock during
the fourth quarter of 2021:

 

 

(a) On July 27, 2021 the Company’s Board of Directors announced an increase of $4.2 million in the amount of shares authorized to be repurchased from time to time, which increased the aggregate purchase price of shares eligible to be repurchased to $6.0 million. Share repurchases may be executed through various means, including through open market transactions, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The repurchase program does not obligate the Company to purchase any shares and has no set expiration date.

 

 

 

ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND  RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The table on page 7 and the tables regarding investment maturities on page 18 of Part 1 Item 1 of this Form 10-K, as well as the information on pages 6 through 20 under the caption “Management Discussion and Analysis” of the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

The financial statements (including the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) on pages 21 through 51 of the Annual Report, are incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

None.

 

 

Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures. An evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Bank’s President (our Principal Executive Officer) and our Chief Financial Officer (our Principal Financial Officer) of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms.

 

Changes in internal controls. No change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was identified in connection with the evaluation required by Rule 13a-15(d) of the Exchange Act that occurred during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are only being made in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

 

Any control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. The design of a control system inherently has limitations, and the benefits of controls must be weighed against their costs. 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. Therefore, no assessment of a cost-effective system of internal controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, will be detected.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the Company conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in the Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on the Company’s evaluation under this framework, the Company’s management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.

 

 

None.

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Proposal 1 – Election of Directors - Board of Directors,” “Corporate Governance - Committees of the Board of Directors” and, if applicable, “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the close of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the 2022 Proxy Statement).

 

 

Executive officers are chosen by and serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors of HMN and the Bank. There are no family relationships among any of the directors or officers of HMN and the Bank. The business experience of each executive officer of both HMN and the Bank is set forth below.

 

Bradley C. Krehbiel, age 63. Mr. Krehbiel has been a director of HMN and President of the Bank since 2009, President of HMN since 2010, and Chief Executive Officer of HMN and the Bank since 2012. Prior to that, he had been the Executive Vice President of the Bank since 2004. Mr. Krehbiel joined the Bank as Vice President of Business Banking in 1998. Prior to his employment at the Bank, Mr. Krehbiel held several positions in the financial services industry.

 

Jon J. Eberle, age 56. Mr. Eberle is Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President and Treasurer of HMN and the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the Bank. Mr. Eberle has held the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer positions since 2003 and the Executive Vice President position since 2012. Prior to that he served as a Vice President since 2000 and as the Controller since 1998. From 1994 to 1998, he served as the Director of Internal Audit for HMN and the Bank. Prior to his employment at the Bank, Mr. Eberle worked as a certified public accountant for a national accounting firm.

 

 

Lawrence D. McGraw, age 58. Mr. McGraw has served as the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of the Bank since 2012. Prior to that he served as Chief Credit Officer and Senior Vice President since 2010. Prior to his employment at the Bank, Mr. McGraw served as Regional President and Chief Banking Officer of a Minnesota community bank from 2005 until 2010. From 2001 to 2005 he served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of a branch location of the same community bank. Prior to his tenure at the Minnesota community bank, Mr. McGraw held various positions at two other community banks and the FDIC.

 

The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer, controller and other persons performing similar functions. The Company has posted the Code of Ethics on its website located at www.hmnf.com. The Company intends to post on its website any amendment to, or a waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics that applies to its principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officer, controller or other persons performing similar functions within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.

 

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Executive Compensation” and “Director Compensation” in the 2022 Proxy Statement.

 

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Other Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the 2022 Proxy Statement.

 

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Corporate Governance - Director Independence; - Related Person Transaction Approval Policy; and - Certain Transactions” in the 2022 Proxy Statement.

 

 

The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the information under the captions “Corporate Governance - Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “Approval of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Services and Fees” in the 2022 Proxy Statement.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 16.   FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

 

 

 

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

 

 

Each of the undersigned hereby appoints Wendy Shannon and Jon Eberle, and each of them (with full power to act alone), as attorneys and agents for the undersigned, with full power of substitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, any and all amendments and exhibits to this Form 10-K and any and all applications, instruments, and other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to this Form 10-K or any amendments thereto, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary or desirable. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 4, 2022.