Pioneer Bancorp, Inc./MD - Annual Report: 2021 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

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

For the Year Ended June 30, 2021

OR

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

For the transition period from _____________ to _______________

Commission File Number: 001-38991

Pioneer Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

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(518) 730-3025

(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)

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

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

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 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 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 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.

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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. ◻

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 is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ◻   No ⌧

The aggregate value of the voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the closing price of the common stock of $10.57 as of December 31, 2020 was $112.1 million.

As of September 27, 2021 there were 25,977,679 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The registrant incorporates by reference its definitive Proxy Statement with respect to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days following the end of its fiscal year, into (Part III) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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PART I

ITEM 1.Business

Forward Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which can be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “seek,” “expect” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.” A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events. Certain forward-looking statements are included in this Form 10-K, principally in the sections captioned “Business,” “Risk Factors,” and “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

These forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, these forward-looking statements are subject to assumptions with respect to future business strategies and decisions that are subject to change.

In addition, the factors described under Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates in Part II, Item 7, and Risk Factors in Part I, Item 1A, as well as other possible factors not listed, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the following:

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Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by these forward-looking statements. We disclaim any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect future events or developments.

Pioneer Bancorp, Inc.

Pioneer Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) is a Maryland corporation that was organized in March 2019 and owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Pioneer Bank (the “Bank”). On July 17, 2019, Pioneer Bancorp, Inc., became the holding company for the Bank, when it closed its stock offering in connection with the completion of the reorganization of the Bank into the two-tier mutual holding company form of organization. The Company sold 11,170,402 shares of common stock at a price of $10.00 per share to depositors of the Bank for net proceeds of $109.1 million, issued 14,287,723 shares of common stock to Pioneer Bancorp, MHC and contributed 519,554 shares of common stock to the Pioneer Bank Charitable Foundation. The Company’s common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “PBFS.”

As a result of the completed minority stock offering, the Company files interim, quarterly and annual reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC maintains an Internet site (www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers such as the Company that file electronically with the SEC. All filed SEC reports and interim filings can also be obtained from the Bank’s website (www.pioneerny.com), on the “Investor Relations” page, without charge from the Company.

The executive offices of the Company are located at 652 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, New York 12211, and its telephone number is (518) 730-3025. The Company is subject to comprehensive regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) and the New York State Department of Financial Services (the “NYSDFS”).

Pioneer Bancorp, MHC

Pioneer Bancorp, MHC was formed as a New York mutual holding company and will, for as long as it is in existence, own a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.

Pioneer Bancorp, MHC’s principal assets are the common stock of the Company it received in the reorganization and offering and $100,000 in cash in initial capitalization. Presently, it is expected that the only business activity of Pioneer Bancorp, MHC will be to own a majority of the Company’s common stock. Pioneer Bancorp, MHC is authorized, however, to engage in any other business activities that are permissible for mutual holding companies under New York law, including investing in loans and securities. Pioneer Bancorp, MHC is subject to comprehensive regulation and examination by the Federal Reserve Board and NYSDFS.

Pioneer Bank

General

Founded in 1889, Pioneer Bank is a New York-chartered savings bank that operates 22 retail banking offices in Albany, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Warren Counties in New York. We consider these six counties, Schoharie County and the surrounding areas, as our primary market area for our business operations. We attract deposits from the general public and municipalities and use those funds along with advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and funds generated from operations to originate commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans, commercial construction loans and home equity loans and lines of credit and, to a lesser extent, consumer loans. Since January 2016, all of our one- to four-family residential real estate loans have been purchases through our relationship with Homestead Funding Corp., an unaffiliated mortgage banking company. We also invest in securities, which have historically consisted primarily of U.S. Government and agency obligations, municipal obligations and Federal Home Loan Bank of New York stock. We offer a variety of deposit accounts, including demand accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and certificate of deposit accounts. Municipal deposit banking services are provided through a limited purpose commercial bank subsidiary, Pioneer Commercial Bank. The Bank also sells commercial and consumer

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insurance products and employee benefit products and services through Anchor Agency, Inc., its insurance agency subsidiary, and provides wealth management services through its subsidiary, Pioneer Financial Services, Inc.

At June 30, 2021, we had consolidated total assets of $1.8 billion, total deposits of $1.5 billion and shareholders’ equity of $237.8 million. The Bank is subject to comprehensive regulation and examination by the NYSDFS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”). Our website address is www.pioneerny.com. Information on this website is not and should not be considered a part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Market Area

Our primary market area encompasses Albany, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Warren Counties, which are located in the Capital Region of New York and include the cities of Albany, the capital of New York, Schenectady and Troy. Our offices are located in these counties and surrounding areas, with the exception of Schoharie County. The Capital Region has a diversified economy and representative industries include educational services, technology and health care, along with a strong state government workforce. Large employers in the Capital Region include General Electric, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlobalFoundries, the Golub Corporation, St. Peter’s Health Partners, Albany Medical Center, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the State of New York.

The total population in our primary market area in 2021 is approximately 1.0 million, as estimated by Claritas, which provides demographic data based on U.S. Census and other data sources. Of the seven counties in our market area, Saratoga County has the highest level of median household income, estimated at $91,331 in 2021 and projected to grow nearly 11.3% through 2026, and Greene County has the lowest median household income, estimated at $58,055 in 2021 and projected to grow 5.4% through 2026, compared to the 2021 estimated median household income of $74,403 and $67,086 for New York and the United States as a whole, respectively.

As of June 30, 2021, unemployment rates, according to the New York State Department of Labor, were 4.8% for Albany County, 5.3% for Greene County, 4.8% for Rensselaer County, 4.2% for Saratoga County, 5.4% for Schenectady County, 4.8% for Schoharie County and 4.8% for Warren County. As of June 30, 2021, the unemployment for the United States, New York State and the Capital Region of New York was 5.9%, 7.3% and 4.7%, respectively.

We believe that we have developed products and services that will meet the financial needs of our current and future customer base; however, we plan, and believe it is necessary, to expand the range of products and services that we offer to be more competitive in our market area. Our marketing strategies focus on the strength of our knowledge of local consumer and small business markets, as well as expanding relationships with current customers and reaching out to develop new, profitable business relationships.

Competition

We face significant competition for deposits and loans. Our most direct competition for deposits has historically come from the numerous financial institutions operating in our market area (including other community banks and credit unions), many of which are significantly larger than we are and have greater resources. We also face competition for investors’ funds from other sources such as brokerage firms, money market funds and mutual funds, as well as securities, such as Treasury bills, offered by the Federal Government. Based on FDIC data, at June 30, 2021 (the latest date for which information is available), we had 3.34% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Albany County among the 21 institutions with offices in the county, 18.11% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Rensselaer County among the 11 institutions with offices in the county, 3.10% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Saratoga County among the 17 institutions with offices in the county, 1.23% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Greene County among the seven institutions with offices in the county, 4.40% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Schenectady County among the 13 institutions with offices in the county and 0.61% of the FDIC insured deposit market share in Warren County among the 10 institutions with offices in the county. In all six counties, either New York City money center banks (e.g. JP Morgan Chase and Bank of America) or large regional banks (e.g., Key Bank, Citizens Bank, M&T Bank and TD Bank) have a large presence.

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Our competition for loans comes primarily from the competitors referenced above and from other financial service providers, such as mortgage companies and mortgage brokers. Competition for loans also comes from the increasing number of non-depository financial service companies participating in the mortgage market, such as insurance companies, securities companies, financial technology companies, specialty finance firms and technology companies.

We expect competition to remain intense in the future as a result of legislative, regulatory and technological changes and the continuing trend of consolidation in the financial services industry. Technological advances, for example, have lowered barriers to entry, allowed banks to expand their geographic reach by providing services over the internet and made it possible for non-depository institutions, including financial technology companies, to offer products and services that traditionally have been provided by banks. Competition for deposits and the origination of loans could limit our growth in the future.

Lending Activities

General. Our principal lending activity has been originating commercial real estate loans (including multi-family real estate loans), commercial and industrial loans, commercial construction loans and home equity loans and lines of credit. Beginning in January 2016, we entered into a strategic partnership with Homestead Funding Corp., a mortgage banking company, to outsource our residential mortgage loan originations, underwriting and closing processes. Through this partnership, we refer our customers to the mortgage banking company and then we decide whether we want to purchase the one- to four-family residential real estate loans originated by the mortgage banking company for our portfolio.

Our commercial lending efforts focus on the small-to-medium sized business market, targeting borrowers with outstanding loan balances that typically range between $2.5 million to $10.0 million. We focus primarily on commercial real estate loans, commercial and industrial loans and commercial construction loans in our market area. As part of the commercial lending strategy, we will continue to use our commercial relationships to increase our commercial transactional deposit accounts.

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Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the composition of our loan portfolio by type of loan at the dates indicated.

Contractual Maturities. The following tables set forth the contractual maturities of our total loan portfolio at June 30, 2021. Demand loans, loans having no stated repayment schedule or maturity, and overdraft loans are reported as being due in one year or less. The table presents contractual maturities and does not reflect repricing or the effect of prepayments. Actual maturities may differ.

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The following table sets forth our fixed and adjustable-rate loans at June 30, 2021 that are contractually due after June 30, 2022.

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Commercial Real Estate Loans. At June 30, 2021, we had $490.1 million in commercial real estate loans, representing 44.5% of our total loan portfolio. Our commercial real estate loans are secured primarily by office buildings, industrial facilities, retail facilities, multi-family properties and other commercial properties, substantially all of which are located in our primary market area. At June 30, 2021, multi-family residential real estate loans, which are described below, totaled $79.4 million. Excluding multi-family loans, $100.6 million of our commercial real estate portfolio was owner-occupied real estate and $310.1 million was secured by income producing, or non-owner-occupied real estate.

We generally originate commercial real estate loans with maximum terms of 10 years based on a 20-year amortization schedule, and loan-to-value ratios of up to 80% (or 75% for non-owner occupied) of the appraised value of the property. Our typical commercial real estate loan has an adjustable rate which generally adjusts every five years that is indexed to the five-year Federal Home Loan Bank of New York amortizing advance indications, plus a margin, subject to an interest rate floor. All of our commercial real estate loans are subject to our underwriting procedures and guidelines, including requiring borrowers to generally have cash infusions of at least 10% of the loan amount or project cost and that properties with a loan in excess of $500,000 are subject to biennial inspections to verify if appropriate maintenance is being performed.

We consider a number of factors in originating commercial real estate loans. We evaluate the qualifications and financial condition of the borrower (including credit history), profitability and expertise, as well as the value and condition of the mortgaged property securing the loan. When evaluating the qualifications of the borrower, we consider the financial resources of the borrower, the borrower’s experience in owning or managing similar property and the borrower’s payment history with us and other financial institutions. In evaluating the property securing the loan, the factors we consider include the net operating income of the mortgaged property before debt service and depreciation, the debt service coverage ratio (the ratio of net operating income to debt service) to ensure that it is at least 120% of the monthly debt service and the ratio of the loan amount to the appraised value of the mortgaged property. Our commercial real estate loans are generally appraised by outside independent appraisers approved by the board of directors. Personal guarantees are often obtained from commercial real estate borrowers. The borrower’s financial information on such loans is monitored on an ongoing basis by requiring periodic financial statement updates.

Loans secured by commercial real estate generally are larger than one- to four-family residential loans and involve greater credit risk. Commercial real estate loans often involve large loan balances to a single borrower or a group of related borrowers. Repayment of these loans depends to a large degree on the results of operations and management of the properties securing the loans or the businesses conducted on such property and may be affected to a greater extent by adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy in general. As a result, the nature of these loans makes them more difficult for management to monitor and evaluate.

At June 30, 2021, multi-family real estate loans, which we consider a sub-category of commercial real estate loans, totaled $79.4 million, or 16.2% of our commercial real estate loan portfolio. Our multi-family real estate loans are generally secured by properties consisting of five to 100 rental units within our market area. We originate a variety of adjustable-rate multi-family residential real estate loans with terms and amortization periods generally of up to 25 years

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(or 30 years if the age of the collateral is less than 10 years old), which may include balloon payments. Interest rates and payments on our adjustable-rate loans adjust generally every five years and generally are indexed to the comparable Federal Home Loan Bank of New York amortizing advance indications, plus a margin.

In underwriting multi-family residential real estate loans, we consider several factors, which include a debt service coverage ratio of at least 120%, the age and condition of the collateral, the financial resources and income level of the borrower and the borrower’s experience in owning or managing similar properties. Multi-family residential real estate loans have loan-to-value ratios of up to 80% of the appraised value of the property securing the loans. The borrower’s financial information on such loans is monitored on an ongoing basis by requiring periodic financial statement updates.

If we foreclose on a multi-family real estate loan, the marketing and liquidation period to convert the real estate to cash can be a lengthy process with substantial holding costs. In addition, vacancies, deferred maintenance, repairs and market stigma can result in prospective buyers expecting sale price concessions to offset their real or perceived economic losses for the time it takes them to return the property to profitability.

Commercial and Industrial Loans. We originate commercial loans and lines of credit to a variety of small and medium sized businesses in our market area. These loans are generally secured by accounts receivable, inventory or other business assets, and we may support this collateral with liens on real property. At June 30, 2021, commercial and industrial loans totaled $167.9 million, or 15.2% of our total loan portfolio. Customers for these loans include professional businesses, family-owned businesses and not for profit businesses. As part of our relationship-driven focus, we generally require our commercial borrowers to maintain a deposit account with us, which improves our interest rate spread, margin and overall profitability.

Commercial lending products include revolving lines of credit and term loans. Our commercial lines of credit are typically made with adjustable interest rates, indexed to either the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, plus a margin, and we can demand repayment of the borrowed amount due at any time. Term loans are generally made with fixed interest rates, indexed to the comparable Federal Home Loan Bank of New York amortizing advance indications, plus a margin, and are for terms up to 10 years. We focus our efforts on experienced, growing small- to medium-sized, privately-held companies with solid operating history and projected cash flow that operate in our market area.

When making commercial and industrial loans, we consider the financial statements of the borrower, our lending history with the borrower, the debt service capabilities of the borrower, the projected cash flows of the business and the value of the collateral, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment. Depending on the collateral used to secure the loans, commercial and industrial loans are made in amounts generally of up to 75% of the value of the collateral securing the loan. We generally do not make unsecured commercial and industrial loans. Personal guarantees are often obtained from commercial and industrial borrowers.

Commercial and industrial loans also include loans originated under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), a specialized low-interest (1%) forgivable loan program funded by the U.S. Treasury Department and administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”). The SBA will guarantee 100% of the PPP loans made to eligible borrowers. The program ended May 31, 2021 and the Bank is now working with borrowers on the forgiveness phase of the program. As of June 30, 2021, the Bank’s commercial loan portfolio included 381 PPP loans totaling $51.5 million.

Commercial and industrial loans generally have greater credit risk than residential real estate loans. Unlike residential real estate loans, which generally are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to make repayment from his or her employment or other income, and which are secured by real property whose value tends to be more easily ascertainable, commercial and industrial loans generally are made on the basis of the borrower’s ability to repay the loan from the cash flow of the borrower’s business. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial and industrial loans may depend substantially on the success of the business itself. Further, any collateral securing the loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise and may fluctuate in value. We try to minimize these risks through our underwriting standards.

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Commercial Construction Loans. We originate loans primarily to established local developers to finance the construction of commercial and multi-family properties or to acquire land for development of commercial and multi-family properties and to fund infrastructure improvements. We also provide construction loans primarily to local developers for the construction of one- to four-family residential developments. We also originate rehabilitation loans, enabling a borrower to partially or totally refurbish an existing structure, which are structured as construction loans and monitored in the same manner. At June 30, 2021, commercial construction loans totaled $64.9 million, or 5.9% of our total loan portfolio. Most of these loans are secured by properties located in our primary market area. We also had undrawn amounts on the commercial construction loans totaling $16.1 million at June 30, 2021.

Our commercial construction loans are generally interest-only loans that provide for the payment of interest during the construction phase, which is usually 12 to 24 months. The interest rate is generally a variable rate based on an index rate, typically The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate or LIBOR, plus a margin. At the end of the construction phase, the loan generally converts to a permanent commercial real estate mortgage loan, but in some cases it may be payable in full. However, our construction loans for the construction of one- to four-family residential developments do not convert to permanent residential real estate loans. Loans can be made with a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 75% of the appraised market value upon completion of the project.

Before making a commitment to fund a commercial construction loan, we require an appraisal of the property by an independent licensed appraiser. The construction phase is carefully monitored to minimize our risk. All construction projects must be completed in accordance with approved plans and approved by the municipality in which they are located. Loan proceeds are disbursed periodically in increments as construction progresses and as inspections by our approved inspectors warrant.

One- to Four-Family Residential Real Estate Lending. At June 30, 2021, $279.5 million, or 25.3%, of our total loan portfolio consisted of one- to four-family residential real estate loans (residential mortgages). In January 2016, we entered into a strategic partnership with Homestead Funding Corp., an unaffiliated mortgage banking company, to outsource our residential mortgage loan originations, underwriting and closing processes. As a result, we no longer process this type of loan in-house; and instead, residential mortgage loans are processed through Homestead Funding Corp. Pioneer Bank has no ownership interest in this company or any common employees or directors. Homestead Funding Corp.’s staff receives the loan referral from us and then handles the underwriting, processing and closing of the loan. One- to four-family residential real estate loans are funded by Homestead Funding Corp. with an option for the Bank to purchase the loan upon funding. Through our relationship with Homestead Funding Corp., we can assist applicants in obtaining financing from the mortgage banking company, but we are not required to commit to purchase or portfolio any loan originated by Homestead Funding Corp. The decision whether to acquire each loan is made at the time the borrower’s application is submitted to Homestead Funding Corp. and must generally comply with underwriting guidelines that we have approved. However, the Bank normally purchases such loans so long as they meet our underwriting standards. We may also purchase one- to four-family residential real estate loans from Homestead Funding Corp. to customers who were not referred to the mortgage banking company by the Bank.

For each purchased loan, we generally pay a fixed aggregate fee to Homestead Funding Corp. of 1.75% of the loan balance. This fixed aggregate fee is paid by us regardless of whether the loan was originated by the mortgage banking company directly or was due to our customer referral. We receive no fee for referring a customer to Homestead Funding Corp. For the year ended June 30, 2021, we purchased for our portfolio $67.2 million of loans originated through Homestead Funding Corp. As part of purchasing the loans, we typically acquire the servicing rights to the loans in order to best assist the customer relationship. The purchased loans are acquired from Homestead Funding Corp. without recourse or any right against the mortgage banking company to require the loans to be repurchased from us. The fixed aggregate fee we pay to acquire the loan and servicing rights are deferred as part of the loan balance and amortized over the contractual life of the loan under the interest method.

We purchase for our portfolio both fixed-rate single-family mortgage loans, as well as adjustable-rate single-family loans, with maturities up to 30 years. At June 30, 2021, our one- to four-family residential real estate loans consisted of $251.1 million of fixed-rate loans and $28.4 million of adjustable-rate loans. Most of these one- to four-family residential properties are located in our primary market area and many are underwritten according to Fannie Mae guidelines. We refer to loans that conform to the Fannie Mae guidelines as “conforming loans.”  We also purchase for our

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portfolio loans above the maximum conforming loan limits as established by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, which at June 30, 2021 was $548,250 for single-family homes in our market area. Loans that exceed that limit are considered “jumbo loans.” At June 30, 2021, we had $69.1 million in jumbo loans.

Our purchased loans generally adhere to the following guidelines: (1) the loan is an owner-occupied one- to four-family residential real estate loan; (2) the loan does not provide for negative amortization of principal, such as “Option Arm” loans, where the borrower can pay less than the interest owed on the loan, resulting in an increased principal balance during the life of the loan; (3) the loan is not an “interest only” mortgage loan; (4) the maximum loan term is 30 years; (5) the loan has a loan-to-value ratio up to a maximum of 90%, provided, however, that the loan-to-value ratio may exceed 90% as long as the borrower obtains private mortgage insurance; and (6) the borrower has a maximum debt-to-income ratio of 45%. We may, at our discretion, decide not to purchase a loan based on the income level of the borrower, the appraisal or any other information that is obtained in originating the loan. We do not purchase any “subprime loans” (loans that are made with low down-payments to borrowers with weakened credit histories typically characterized by payment delinquencies, previous charge-offs, judgments, bankruptcies, or borrowers with questionable repayment capacity as evidenced by low credit scores or high debt-burden ratios) or Alt-A loans (defined as loans having less than full documentation).

Our purchased adjustable-rate residential real estate loans have interest rates that are fixed for an initial period ranging from one to 10 years. After the initial fixed period, the interest rate on adjustable-rate residential real estate loans is generally reset every year based upon a contractual spread or margin above the average yield on U.S. Treasury securities or LIBOR, adjusted to a constant maturity of one year, as published weekly by the Federal Reserve Board, subject to periodic and lifetime limitations on interest rate changes. All of our adjustable-rate residential real estate loans with initial fixed-rate periods of one, five, seven or 10 years have initial and periodic caps of 2% on interest rate changes, with a current cap of 5% over the life of the loan.

Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit. We offer home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, both of which are secured by either first mortgages or second mortgages on owner occupied, one- to four-family residences. At June 30, 2021, outstanding home equity loans and equity lines of credit totaled $75.5 million, or 6.8% of total loans outstanding. At June 30, 2021, the unadvanced portion of home equity lines of credit totaled $52.6 million.

The underwriting standards used for home equity loans and home equity lines of credit include a title review, the recordation of a lien, a determination of the applicant’s ability to satisfy existing debt obligations and payments on the proposed loan, and the value of the collateral securing the loan. The loan-to-value ratio for our home equity loans and our lines of credit is generally limited to 90% when combined with the first security lien, if applicable. Home equity loans are offered with fixed rates of interest and with terms of up to 20 years. Our home equity lines of credit generally have 25-year terms and adjustable rates of interest, subject to a contractual floor, which are indexed to The Wall Street Journal Prime Rate.

Home equity loans and lines of credit secured by junior mortgages have greater risk than one- to four-family residential mortgage loans secured by first mortgages. At June 30, 2021, $27.4 million of our home equity loans and lines of credit were in a junior lien position, nearly all of which were second mortgages. We face the risk that the collateral will be insufficient to compensate us for loan losses and costs of foreclosure, after repayment of the senior mortgages, if applicable. When customers default on their loans, we attempt to foreclose on the property and resell the property as soon as possible to minimize foreclosure and carrying costs. However, the value of the collateral may not be sufficient to compensate us for the amount of the unpaid loan and we may be unsuccessful in recovering the remaining balance from those customers.

Consumer Loans. We offer a limited range of consumer loans, principally to customers residing in our primary market area with other relationships with us and with acceptable credit ratings. Our consumer loans primarily consist of personal loans to the owners of certain commercial businesses who have commercial loans with us, and to a lesser extent, loans on automobiles and overdraft accounts. At June 30, 2021, consumer loans were $25.6 million, or 2.3% of our total loan portfolio.

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Consumer loans may entail greater risk than residential real estate loans, particularly in the case of consumer loans that are unsecured or secured by assets that depreciate rapidly, such as motor vehicles. Repossessed collateral for a defaulted consumer loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment for the outstanding loan and a small remaining deficiency often does not warrant further substantial collection efforts against the borrower. Consumer loan collections depend on the borrower’s continuing financial stability, and therefore are likely to be adversely affected by various factors, including job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy. Furthermore, the application of various federal and state laws, including federal and state bankruptcy and insolvency laws, may limit the amount that can be recovered on such loans.

Originations, Purchases, Participations and Sales of Loans

Lending activities are conducted by our loan personnel operating at our main and branch office locations. We also obtain referrals from existing or past customers and from accountants, real estate brokers, builders and attorneys. All loans that we originate, or purchase are underwritten pursuant to our policies and procedures, which incorporate Fannie Mae underwriting guidelines to the extent applicable for residential loans. We originate both adjustable-rate and fixed-rate loans. Our ability to originate fixed or adjustable-rate loans depends upon the relative customer demand for such loans, which is affected by current market interest rates as well as anticipated future market interest rates. Our loan origination and purchase activity may be adversely affected by a rising interest rate environment, which typically results in decreased loan demand.

We generally do not purchase whole loans from third parties other than the one- to four-family residential real estate loans described above. However, we sell participations in loans to other financial institutions in which we generally act as the lead lender. Through our loan participations, we and the other participating lenders generally share ratably in cash flows and any gains or losses that may result from a borrower’s noncompliance with the contractual terms of the loan. We primarily participate in commercial real estate loans (including multi-family real estate loans), commercial and industrial loans and commercial construction loans. From time to time, we may purchase participation interests in loans where we are not the lead lender. We underwrite our participation interest in the loans that we purchase according to our own underwriting criteria and procedures. At June 30, 2021, the outstanding balances of our loan participations where we are not the lead lender totaled $40.4 million, of which $24.2 million were commercial or multi-family real estate loans, $6.8 million were commercial and industrial loans and $9.4 million were commercial construction loans.

Loan Approval Procedures and Authority

Pursuant to New York law, the aggregate amount of loans that Pioneer Bank is permitted to make to any one borrower, or a group of related borrowers is generally limited to 15% of Pioneer Bank’s capital, surplus fund and undivided profits (25% if the amount in excess of 15% is secured by “readily marketable collateral”). At June 30, 2021, based on the 15% limitation, Pioneer Bank’s loans-to-one-borrower limit was approximately $28.0 million. On the same date, Pioneer Bank had no borrower with outstanding balances in excess of this amount.

Our lending is subject to written underwriting standards and origination procedures. Decisions on residential loan applications are made on the basis of detailed applications submitted by the prospective borrower, credit histories that we obtain, and property valuations (consistent with our appraisal policy) prepared by outside independent licensed appraisers approved by our board of directors as well as internal evaluations, where permitted by regulations. The loan applications are designed primarily to determine the borrower’s ability to repay the requested loan, and the more significant items on the application are verified through use of credit reports, bank statements and tax returns.

Purchases of residential real estate loans up to $750,000 from Homestead Funding Corp. must be approved by one of the following officers: the President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Retail Lending Officer or the Retail Loan Servicing Officer. Purchases of residential real estate loans greater than $750,000 must be approved by our board loan committee, which is comprised of all of the members of the board of directors.

For commercial loans, loans in excess of the commercial officers’ lending limits require approval from our staff loan committee, which is comprised of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Credit Officer, Chief Banking Officer, Chief Risk Officer, Commercial Senior Vice Presidents, Commercial Vice Presidents and

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Commercial Loan Officers. The staff loan committee can approve individual loans of up to prescribed limits, depending on the type of the loan. Loans in excess of the Staff Loan Committee’s loan approval authority require the approval of our board of directors. Specifically, commercial real estate loans in excess of $6.0 million, commercial lines of credit in excess of $2.0 million and commercial loans with a new customer relationship in excess of $1.0 million must be approved by our board of directors.

Certain loans that involve policy exceptions must be approved by our board of directors.

We require title insurance on our 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, depending on the type of loan.

Delinquencies and Asset Quality

Delinquency Procedures. System-generated late notices are mailed to a borrower after the late payment “grace period,” which is 15 days in the case of all loans secured by residential or commercial real estate and 15 days in the case of commercial and industrial and most consumer loans. A second notice will be mailed to a borrower if the loan remains past due after 30 days, and we attempt to contact the borrower and develop a plan of repayment. By the 90^th day of delinquency, we will issue a pre-foreclosure notice that will require the borrower to bring the loan current within 30 days in order to avoid the beginning of foreclosure proceedings for loans secured by residential real estate. Commercial real estate, commercial and industrial, commercial construction and consumer loans are managed on a loan by loan basis. Decisions to send a demand notice are based on conversations with the borrower to address the delinquency issues. A report of all loans 30 days or more past due is provided to the board of directors monthly.

Loans Past Due and Non-Performing Assets. Loans are reviewed on a regular basis. Management determines that a loan is impaired or non-performing when it is probable that at least a portion of the loan will not be collected in accordance with the original terms due to a deterioration in the financial condition of the borrower or the value of the underlying collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. When a loan is determined to be impaired, the measurement of the loan in the allowance for loan losses is based on the present value of expected future cash flows, except that all collateral-dependent loans are measured for impairment based on the fair value of the collateral. Non-accrual loans are loans for which collectability is questionable and, therefore, interest on such loans will no longer be recognized on an accrual basis. All loans that become 90 days or more delinquent are placed on non-accrual status unless the loan is well secured and in the process of collection. When loans are placed on non-accrual status, unpaid accrued interest is fully reversed, and further income is recognized only to the extent received on a cash basis or cost recovery method.

When we acquire real estate as a result of foreclosure, the real estate is classified as real estate owned. The real estate owned is recorded at the lower of carrying amount or fair market value, less estimated costs to sell. Any excess of the recorded value of the loan over the fair market value of the property is charged against the allowance for loan losses, or, if the existing allowance is inadequate, charged to expense in the current period. 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 estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell.

A loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring if, for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower’s financial difficulties, we grant a concession to the borrower that we would not otherwise consider. This usually includes a modification of loan terms, such as a reduction of the interest rate to below market terms, capitalizing past due interest or extending the maturity date and possibly a partial forgiveness of the principal amount due. Interest income on restructured loans is accrued after the borrower demonstrates the ability to pay under the restructured terms through a sustained period of repayment performance, which is generally six consecutive months. Refer to the Loan Deferrals Related to COVID-19 Pandemic section on page 17.

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Delinquent Loans. The following tables set forth our loan delinquencies, including non-accrual loans, by type and amount at the dates indicated.

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Loans that were 30-59 days past due totaled $873,000 at June 30, 2021, representing a decrease from $3.9 million at June 30, 2020; loans that were 60-89 days past due totaled $6.8 million at June 30, 2021, an increase from $2.8 million at June 30, 2020 and loans that were 90 days or more past due totaled $11.9 million at June 30, 2021, representing an increase from $10.0 million at June 30, 2020. The decrease in loans that were 30-59 days past due was primarily a result of declines in one- to four-family residential real estate loans and home equity loans and lines of credit being elevated as of June 30, 2020 from the economic shutdown related to COVID-19. The increase in loans that were 60-89 days past due was primarily due to an increase in commercial real estate loans which included one loan in the amount of $5.0 million secured by a mixed-use property. The increase in loans that were 90 days or more past due included an increase in commercial real estate loans of $3.4 million primarily related to one loan in the amount of $2.2 million secured by an office building that was on non-accrual status as of June 30, 2021.

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Non-Performing Assets. The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of our non-performing assets at the dates indicated. Non-accrual loans include non-accruing troubled debt restructurings of $185,000, $235,000 and $2.1 million as of June 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There were no non-accruing troubled debt restructurings as of June 30, 2021 and 2020.

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For the year ended June 30, 2021, gross interest income that would have been recorded had our non-accruing loans been current in accordance with their original terms was $759,000. Interest income recognized on such loans for the year ended June 30, 2021 was $11,000.

During the year ended June 30, 2021, non-accrual loans increased primarily with respect to two commercial real estate loan relationships including a $5.1 million loan relationship secured by a hotel and banquet facilities, as well as, a $2.2 million loan relationship secured by an office building. At June 30, 2021, accruing loans past due 90 days or more increased to $3.2 million from $1.6 million at June 30, 2020 and were primarily related to certain commercial real estate loans that matured and were in the process of being extended at year end.

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Loan Deferrals Related to COVID-19 Pandemic.  The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), in addition to providing financial assistance to both businesses and consumers, creates a forbearance program for federally-backed mortgage loans, protects borrowers from negative credit reporting due to loan accommodations related to the national emergency, and provides financial institutions the option to temporarily suspend certain requirements under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) related to troubled debt restructurings for a limited period of time to account for the effects of COVID-19. The Federal and New York State banking regulatory agencies have likewise issued guidance encouraging financial institutions to work prudently with borrowers who are, or may be, unable to meet their contractual payment obligations because of the effects of COVID-19. That guidance, with concurrence of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and provisions of the CARES Act allow modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were generally current with their payments prior to any relief, to not be treated as troubled debt restructurings. Modifications may include payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment term, or other delays in payment. The Company has worked with its customers affected by COVID-19 and accommodated a significant amount of loan modifications across its loan portfolios. To the extent that additional modifications meet the criteria previously described, such modifications are not expected to be classified as troubled debt restructurings.

In the table below, the commercial loan portfolio is presented by industry sector with loan deferrals as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with the CARES Act, the deferrals listed below are not considered troubled debt restructurings.  The commercial loan industry sector balances and deferrals are as of June 30, 2021.

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As of June 30, 2021, the Company had in relation to its commercial borrowers COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals totaling four loans representing $16.3 million of the Company’s commercial loan balances, which is down from 144 loans representing $170.3 million of the Company’s commercial loan balances as of June 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2021, commercial loan deferrals included two loans totaling $9.6 million on non-accrual status which were classified as substandard and two loans totaling $6.6 million accruing interest, of which $1.6 million was classified as special mention and $5.0 million was not a classified asset.

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In the table below, the residential mortgage, home equity loans and lines, and consumer loan portfolios are presented with loan deferrals as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. In accordance with the CARES Act, the deferrals listed below are not considered troubled debt restructurings.  The loan portfolio balances and deferrals are as of June 30, 2021.

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As of June 30, 2021, the Company had in relation to its consumer borrowers COVID-19 related financial hardship payment deferrals totaling nine loans representing $1.4 million of the Company’s residential mortgage, home equity loans and lines of credit, and consumer loan balances, which is down from 110 loans representing $27.4 million of the Company’s residential mortgage, home equity loans and lines of credit, and consumer loan balances as of June 30, 2020. As of June 30, 2021, consumer borrower loan deferrals included three loans totaling $757,000 on non-accrual status and classified as substandard and six loans totaling $700,000 accruing interest and which were not classified assets.

Although the amount of commercial and consumer loans in deferral status at June 30, 2021 has declined from June 30, 2020, there are borrowers continuing to experience COVID-19 related financial hardships. The Company believes that delinquent and nonperforming loans may increase in future periods as borrowers that continue to experience COVID-19 related financial hardships may be unable to continue loan payments consistent with their contractual obligations and the Company may be required to make additional provisions for loan losses.

Classified Assets. Federal regulations provide for the classification of loans and other assets, such as debt and equity securities considered to be of lesser quality, as “substandard,” “doubtful” or “loss.”  An asset is considered “substandard” if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. “Substandard” assets include those characterized by the “distinct possibility” that the insured institution will sustain “some loss” if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as “doubtful” have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified “substandard,” with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make “collection or liquidation in full,” on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values, “highly questionable and improbable.”  Assets classified as “loss” are those considered “uncollectible” and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss allowance is not warranted. Assets which do not currently expose the insured institution to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories but possess weaknesses are designated as “special mention.”

When an insured institution classifies problem assets as either substandard or doubtful, it may establish general allowances in an amount deemed prudent by management to cover probable accrued losses. General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to cover probable accrued losses associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been allocated to particular problem assets. When an insured institution classifies problem assets as “loss,” it is required either to establish a specific allowance for losses equal to 100% of that portion of the asset so classified or to charge-off such amount. An institution’s determination as to the classification of its assets and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the regulatory authorities, which may require the establishment of additional general or specific loss allowances.

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The following table sets forth our amounts of all classified loans and loans designated as special mention as of June 30, 2021, 2020 and 2019. The classified loans total at June 30, 2021 included $19.5 million of non-performing loans.

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Total classified loans increased $8.2 million from $33.3 million at June 30, 2020 to $41.5 million at June 30, 2021 due to an increase in substandard loans primarily consisting of three commercial real estate loan relationships secured by office and residential real estate properties, as well as, two commercial and industrial loan relationships in the manufacturing and other industries. In addition, classified doubtful loans increased by $3.0 million primarily due to one commercial real estate loan relationship secured by office property. These newly classified substandard and doubtful loans were partially offset by certain relationships being upgraded, paid down or charged-off.

Total special mention commercial loans increased $28.4 million to $34.9 million at June 30, 2021 from $6.5 million at June 30, 2020 primarily due to three commercial real estate loan relationships in the accommodation and food service industry totaling $8.1 million, $6.7 million and $6.3 million, as well as, one commercial real estate loan relationship in the arts and recreation industry totaling $6.6 million that were continuing to experience COVID-19 related financial hardships.

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level which, in management’s judgment, is adequate to absorb probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio. The amount of the allowance is based on management’s evaluation of the collectability of the loan portfolio, including the nature of the portfolio, credit concentrations, trends in historical loss experience, specific impaired loans, and economic conditions. Allowances for loans that are individually classified as impaired are generally determined based on collateral values or the present value of estimated cash flows. Because of uncertainties associated with collateral values, future cash flows on impaired loans, and national and regional economic conditions it is reasonably possible that management’s estimate of probable credit losses inherent in the loan portfolio and the related allowance may change materially in the near-term. The allowance is increased by a provision for loan losses, which is charged to expense and reduced by full and partial charge-offs, net of recoveries. Changes in the allowance relating to impaired loans are charged or credited to the provision for loan losses. Management’s periodic evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance is based on various factors, including, but not limited to, historical loss experience, current economic conditions, delinquency statistics, geographic and industry concentrations, the adequacy of the underlying collateral, the financial strength of the borrower, results of internal loan reviews and other qualitative and quantitative factors which could affect potential credit losses.

In addition, the NYSDFS and the FDIC periodically review our allowance for loan losses and as a result of such reviews, we may have to materially adjust our allowance for loan losses or recognize further loan charge-offs.

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