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SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORP - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _____ to _____

 Commission File Number 000-06253
sfnc-20200930_g1.jpg SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Arkansas71-0407808
(State or other jurisdiction of(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)Identification No.)
  
501 Main Street71601
Pine Bluff(Zip Code)
Arkansas
(Address of principal executive offices)
 (870) 541-1000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report) 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $0.01 per shareSFNCThe Nasdaq Global Select Market

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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
 
Accelerated filerNon-accelerated filer
Smaller reporting companyEmerging Growth company
 
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 Act.).  Yes    No

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s Common Stock as of November 2, 2020, was 108,845,891.




Simmons First National Corporation
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
September 30, 2020

Table of Contents

  Page
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities*
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures*
Item 5.Other Information*
   
 
___________________
*    No reportable information under this item.





Part I:    Financial Information
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)
Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Balance Sheets
September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands, except share data)20202019
 (Unaudited) 
ASSETS  
Cash and non-interest bearing balances due from banks$382,691 $277,208 
Interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold2,139,440 719,415 
Cash and cash equivalents
2,522,131 996,623 
Interest bearing balances due from banks - time4,061 4,554 
Investment securities:
Held-to-maturity, net of allowance for credit losses of $373 at September 30, 2020
47,102 40,927 
Available-for-sale, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,208 at September 30, 2020 (amortized cost of $2,556,808 and $3,263,151 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively)
2,607,288 3,288,343 
Total investments
2,654,390 3,329,270 
Mortgage loans held for sale192,729 58,102 
Other assets held for sale389 260,332 
Loans14,017,442 14,425,704 
Allowance for credit losses on loans(248,251)(68,244)
Net loans
13,769,191 14,357,460 
Premises and equipment470,491 492,384 
Premises held for sale4,486 — 
Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned12,590 19,121 
Interest receivable77,352 62,707 
Bank owned life insurance257,718 254,152 
Goodwill1,075,305 1,055,520 
Other intangible assets114,460 127,340 
Other assets282,102 241,578 
Total assets
$21,437,395 $21,259,143 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts$4,451,385 $3,741,093 
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits8,993,255 9,090,878 
Time deposits2,802,007 3,276,969 
Total deposits
16,246,647 16,108,940 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase313,694 150,145 
Other borrowings1,342,769 1,297,599 
Subordinated debentures382,739 388,260 
Other liabilities held for sale— 159,853 
Accrued interest and other liabilities209,305 165,422 
Total liabilities
18,495,154 18,270,219 
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, 40,040,000 shares authorized; Series D, $0.01 par value, $1,000 liquidation value per share; 767 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019
767 767 
Common stock, Class A, $0.01 par value; 175,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 109,023,781 and 113,628,601 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively
1,090 1,136 
Surplus2,032,372 2,117,282 
Undivided profits866,503 848,848 
Accumulated other comprehensive income41,509 20,891 
Total stockholders’ equity
2,942,241 2,988,924 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$21,437,395 $21,259,143 

See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3




Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Income
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)2020201920202019
 (Unaudited)(Unaudited)
INTEREST INCOME
Loans$163,180 $179,971 $527,656 $517,533 
Interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold623 1,586 3,667 4,861 
Investment securities14,910 14,467 47,326 46,414 
Mortgage loans held for sale1,012 382 1,961 924 
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME179,725 196,406 580,610 569,732 
INTEREST EXPENSE
Deposits16,206 36,936 65,489 102,482 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase335 249 1,431 642 
Other borrowings4,943 5,381 14,783 18,393 
Subordinated notes and debentures4,631 4,576 14,133 13,528 
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE26,115 47,142 95,836 135,045 
NET INTEREST INCOME153,610 149,264 484,774 434,687 
Provision for credit losses22,981 21,973 68,030 38,337 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES130,629 127,291 416,744 396,350 
NON-INTEREST INCOME
Trust income6,744 6,108 21,148 17,610 
Service charges on deposit accounts10,385 10,825 32,283 31,450 
Other service charges and fees1,764 1,308 4,841 3,909 
Mortgage lending income13,971 4,509 31,476 10,988 
SBA lending income304 956 845 2,348 
Investment banking income557 513 2,005 1,491 
Debit and credit card fees8,850 7,059 24,760 20,369 
Bank owned life insurance income1,591 1,302 4,334 3,357 
Gain on sale of securities, net22,305 7,374 54,790 12,937 
Other income5,380 44,721 27,990 54,942 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME71,851 84,675 204,472 159,401 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
Salaries and employee benefits61,144 52,065 186,712 164,560 
Occupancy expense, net9,647 8,342 28,374 22,736 
Furniture and equipment expense6,231 4,898 18,098 12,462 
Other real estate and foreclosure expense602 1,125 1,201 2,353 
Deposit insurance2,244 — 7,557 4,550 
Merger related costs902 2,556 3,800 11,548 
Other operating expenses38,179 37,879 119,618 100,808 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE118,949 106,865 365,360 319,017 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES83,531 105,101 255,856 236,734 
Provision for income taxes17,633 23,275 53,920 51,289 
NET INCOME65,898 81,826 201,936 185,445 
Preferred stock dividends13 — 39 326 
NET INCOME AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS$65,885 $81,826 $201,897 $185,119 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE$0.60 $0.85 $1.83 $1.95 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE$0.60 $0.84 $1.83 $1.94 
See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4




Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019

 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
 (Unaudited)(Unaudited)
NET INCOME$65,898 $81,826 $201,936 $185,445 
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
Unrealized holding gains arising during the period on available-for-sale securities
4,975 18,736 82,703 79,547 
Unrealized holding gain on the transfer of held-to-maturity securities to available-for-sale per ASU 2017-12
— — — 2,547 
Less: Reclassification adjustment for realized gains included in net income
22,305 7,374 54,790 12,937 
Other comprehensive (loss) income, before tax effect(17,330)11,362 27,913 69,157 
Less: Tax effect of other comprehensive (loss) income(4,529)2,969 7,295 18,074 
TOTAL OTHER COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME(12,801)8,393 20,618 51,083 
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME$53,097 $90,219 $222,554 $236,528 

See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
5




Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019
(In thousands)September 30, 2020September 30, 2019
 (Unaudited)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES  
Net income$201,936 $185,445 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization36,590 25,462 
Provision for credit losses68,030 38,337 
Gain on sale of investments(54,790)(12,937)
Net accretion of investment securities and assets(43,286)(35,272)
Net amortization on borrowings406 273 
Stock-based compensation expense10,750 9,316 
Gain on sale of premises and equipment, net of impairment(33)— 
Gain on sale of foreclosed assets held for sale(475)(16)
Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale(28,994)(14,196)
Loss on sale of loans— 4,451 
Gain on sale of Visa, Inc. class B common stock— (42,860)
Gain on sale of other intangibles(301)— 
Gain on sale of branches(8,094)— 
Fair value write-down of closed branches1,465 — 
Deferred income taxes2,920 10,933 
Income from bank owned life insurance(4,983)(3,438)
Originations of mortgage loans held for sale(851,356)(499,178)
Proceeds from sale of mortgage loans held for sale745,723 490,674 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable(15,601)(679)
Lease right-of-use assets8,147 (1,370)
Other assets(7,009)13,325 
Accrued interest and other liabilities35,549 10,881 
Income taxes payable(20,206)18,722 
Net cash provided by operating activities76,388 197,873 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net collections (originations) of loans243,826 (299,013)
Proceeds from sale of loans32,742 104,587 
Decrease in due from banks - time493 395 
Purchases of premises and equipment, net(22,697)(37,523)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment123 — 
Proceeds from sale of foreclosed assets held for sale9,705 16,139 
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities1,717,364 543,400 
Proceeds from maturities of available-for-sale securities2,218,259 412,006 
Purchases of available-for-sale securities(3,169,534)(592,165)
Proceeds from maturities of held-to-maturity securities10,520 29,179 
Purchases of held-to-maturity securities(16,997)— 
Proceeds from bank owned life insurance death benefits1,425 1,310 
Disposition of assets and liabilities held for sale181,271 1,245 
Purchase of Reliance Bancshares, Inc.— (37,017)
Net cash provided by investing activities1,206,500 142,543 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net change in deposits191,714 (156,010)
Repayments of subordinated debentures(5,927)— 
Dividends paid on preferred stock(39)(326)
Dividends paid on common stock(56,141)(45,722)
Net change in other borrowed funds45,170 (404,455)
Net change in federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase163,549 6,598 
Net shares cancelled under stock compensation plans(3,355)(3,301)
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan956 1,312 
Retirement of preferred stock— (42,000)
Repurchases of common stock(93,307)— 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities242,620 (643,904)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS1,525,508 (303,488)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD996,623 833,458 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$2,522,131 $529,970 
See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
6




Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019


(In thousands, except share data)Preferred StockCommon StockSurplusAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Undivided ProfitsTotal
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Balance, June 30, 2020 (Unaudited)$767 $1,090 $2,029,383 $54,310 $819,153 $2,904,703 
Comprehensive income— — — (12,801)65,898 53,097 
Stock-based compensation plans, net – 29,392 shares
— — 2,989 — — 2,989 
Dividends on preferred stock— — — — (13)(13)
Dividends on common stock – $0.17 per share
— — — — (18,535)(18,535)
Balance, September 30, 2020 (Unaudited)$767 $1,090 $2,032,372 $41,509 $866,503 $2,942,241 
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Balance, June 30, 2019 (Unaudited)$— $966 $1,705,262 $15,316 $747,969 $2,469,513 
Comprehensive income— — — 8,393 81,826 90,219 
Stock-based compensation plans, net – 23,199 shares
— — 2,796 — — 2,796 
Dividends on common stock – $0.16 per share
— — — — (15,457)(15,457)
Balance, September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)$— $966 $1,708,058 $23,709 $814,338 $2,547,071 
See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
7




Simmons First National Corporation
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 and 2019


(In thousands, except share data)Preferred StockCommon
Stock
SurplusAccumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Undivided
Profits
Total
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Balance, December 31, 2019$767 $1,136 $2,117,282 $20,891 $848,848 $2,988,924 
Impact of ASU 2016-13 adoption
— — — — (128,101)(128,101)
Comprehensive income— — — 20,618 201,936 222,554 
Stock issued for employee stock purchase plan – 43,681 shares
— 955 — — 956 
Stock-based compensation plans, net – 273,835 shares
— 7,393 — — 7,395 
Stock repurchases – 4,922,336 shares
— (49)(93,258)— — (93,307)
Dividends on preferred stock
— — — — (39)(39)
Dividends on common stock – $0.51 per share
— — — — (56,141)(56,141)
Balance, September 30, 2020 (Unaudited)$767 $1,090 $2,032,372 $41,509 $866,503 $2,942,241 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Balance, December 31, 2018$— $923 $1,597,944 $(27,374)$674,941 $2,246,434 
Comprehensive income— — — 51,083 185,445 236,528 
Stock issued for employee stock purchase plan – 60,413 shares
— 1,311 — — 1,312 
Stock-based compensation plans, net – 206,176 shares
— 6,013 — — 6,015 
Stock issued for Reliance acquisition – 3,999,623 shares
42,000 40 102,790 — — 144,830 
Preferred stock retirement(42,000)— — — — (42,000)
Dividends on preferred stock— — — — (326)(326)
Dividends on common stock – $0.48 per share
— — — — (45,722)(45,722)
Balance, September 30, 2019 (Unaudited)$— $966 $1,708,058 $23,709 $814,338 $2,547,071 



See Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
8




SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
 
CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(Unaudited)
 
NOTE 1: PREPARATION OF INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Description of Business and Organizational Structure
 
Simmons First National Corporation (“Company”) is a financial holding company headquartered in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and the parent company of Simmons Bank, an Arkansas state-chartered bank that has been in operation since 1903 (“Simmons Bank” or the “Bank”). Simmons First Insurance Services, Inc. and Simmons First Insurance Services of TN, LLC are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Simmons Bank and are insurance agencies that offer various lines of personal and corporate insurance coverage to individual and commercial customers. The Company, through its subsidiaries, offers, among other things, consumer, real estate and commercial loans; checking, savings and time deposits; and specialized products and services (such as credit cards, trust and fiduciary services, investments, agricultural finance lending, equipment lending, insurance and Small Business Administration (“SBA”) lending) from approximately 226 financial centers as of September 30, 2020, located throughout market areas in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.
 
Basis of Presentation
 
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared based upon Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules that permit reduced disclosures for interim periods. Certain information and footnote disclosures have been condensed or omitted in accordance with those rules and regulations. The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments that are necessary for a fair presentation of interim results of operations, including normal recurring accruals. Significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The results for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. For a more complete discussion of significant accounting policies and certain other information, this report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 27, 2020.
 
The preparation of financial statements, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“US GAAP”), requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income items and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The estimates and assumptions used in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are based upon management’s evaluation of the relevant facts and circumstances as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and actual results may differ from these estimates. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the Company’s allowance for credit losses.
 
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year financial statement presentation. These changes and reclassifications did not impact previously reported net income or comprehensive income.
 
Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

Fair Value Measurement Disclosures – In August 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement (“ASU 2018-13”), that eliminates, amends and adds disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. These amendments are part of FASB’s disclosure review project and they are expected to reduce costs for preparers while providing more decision-useful information for financial statement users. The eliminated disclosure requirements include the 1) the amount of, and reasons for, transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy; 2) the policy of timing of transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy; and 3) the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. Among other modifications, the amended disclosure requirements remove the term “at a minimum” from the phrase “an entity shall disclose at a minimum” to promote the appropriate exercise of discretion by entities and clarifies that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. Under the new disclosure requirements, entities must disclose the changes in unrealized gains or losses included in other comprehensive income for recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period and the range and weighted average used to develop significant unobservable inputs for Level 3 fair value measurements. ASU 2018-13 is
9




effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2018-13 did not have a material impact on the Company’s fair value disclosures.

Credit Losses on Financial Instruments – In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which requires earlier measurement of credit losses, expands the range of information considered in determining expected credit losses and enhances disclosures. The main objective of ASU 2016-13 is to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by a reporting entity at each reporting date. The amendments replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current US GAAP with a methodology (the current expected credit losses, or “CECL”, methodology) that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates.

The CECL methodology utilizes a lifetime “expected credit loss” measurement objective for the recognition of credit losses for loans, held-to-maturity debt securities and other receivables measured at amortized cost at the time the financial asset is originated or acquired. The allowance for credit losses is adjusted each period for changes in expected lifetime credit losses. This methodology replaces the multiple existing impairment methods in current guidance, which generally require that a loss be incurred before it is recognized. Within the life cycle of a loan or other financial asset, this new guidance will generally result in the earlier recognition of the provision for credit losses and the related allowance for credit losses than current practice. For available-for-sale debt securities that the Company intends to hold and where fair value is less than cost, credit-related impairment, if any, will be recognized through an allowance for credit losses and adjusted each period for changes in credit risk.

The effective date for these amendments is for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. In preparation for implementation of ASU 2016-13, the Company formed a cross functional team that assessed its data and system needs and evaluated the potential impact of adopting the new guidance. The Company anticipated a significant change in the processes and procedures to calculate the loan losses, including changes in assumptions and estimates to consider expected credit losses over the life of the loan versus the prior accounting practice that utilized the incurred loss model.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed in to law by the President of the United States and allows the option to temporarily defer or suspend the adoption of ASU 2016-13. During the deferral, a registrant would continue to use the incurred loss model for the allowance for loan and lease losses and would be in accordance with US GAAP. The Company has not elected to temporarily defer the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and adopted the new standard as of January 1, 2020. Upon adoption, the Company recorded an additional allowance for credit losses on loans of approximately $151.4 million and an adjustment to the reserve for unfunded commitments recorded in other liabilities of $24.0 million. The Company also recorded an additional allowance for credit losses on investment securities of $742,000. The impact at adoption was reflected as an adjustment to beginning retained earnings, net of income taxes, in the amount of $128.1 million.

The significant impact to the Company’s allowance for credit losses at the date of adoption was driven by the substantial amount of loans acquired held by the Company. The Company had approximately one third of total loans categorized as acquired at the adoption date with very little reserve allocated to them due to the previous incurred loss impairment methodology. As such, the amount of the CECL adoption impact was greater on the Company when compared to a non-acquisitive bank.

In December 2018, the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) (collectively, the “agencies”) issued a final rule revising regulatory capital rules in anticipation of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 that provided an option to phase in over a three year period on a straight line basis the day-one impact on earnings and Tier 1 capital (the “CECL Transition Provision”).

In March 2020 and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agencies issued a new regulatory capital rule revising the CECL Transition Provision to delay the estimated impact on regulatory capital stemming from the implementation of ASU 2016-13. The rule provides banking organizations that implement CECL before the end of 2020 the option to delay for two years an estimate of CECL’s effect on regulatory capital, followed by a three-year transition period (the “2020 CECL Transition Provision”). The Company elected to apply the 2020 CECL Transition Provision.


10




In connection with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the Company revised certain accounting policies and implemented certain accounting policy elections. The revised accounting policies are described below:

Allowance for Credit Losses - Held-to-Maturity (“HTM”) Securities - The Company measures expected credit losses on HTM securities on a collective basis by major security type with each type sharing similar risk characteristics. The estimate of expected credit losses considers historical credit loss information that is adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The Company has made the election to exclude accrued interest receivable on HTM securities from the estimate of credit losses and report accrued interest separately on the consolidated balance sheets. See Note 3, Investment Securities, for additional information related to the Company’s allowance for credit losses on HTM securities.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Available-for-Sale (“AFS”) Securities - For AFS securities in an unrealized loss position, the Company first evaluates whether it intends to sell, or whether it is more likely than not that it will be required to sell, the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If either of these criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the AFS security amortized cost basis is written down to fair value through income. If the criteria is not met, the Company is required to assess whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or noncredit-related factors. If the assessment indicates a credit loss exists, the present value of cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists, and an allowance for credit loss is recorded through income as a component of provision for credit loss expense. If the assessment indicates that a credit loss does not exist, the Company records the decline in fair value through other comprehensive income, net of related income tax effects. The Company has made the election to exclude accrued interest receivable on AFS securities from the estimate of credit losses and report accrued interest separately on the consolidated balance sheets. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are recorded as provision for (or reversal of) credit loss expense. Losses are charged against the allowance when management believes the uncollectibility of an AFS security is confirmed or when either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met. See Note 3, Investment Securities, for additional information related to the Company’s allowance for credit losses on AFS securities.

Loans - Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or payoff are reported at their amortized cost basis, which is the unpaid principal balance outstanding, net of unearned income, deferred loan fees and costs, premiums and discounts associated with acquisition date fair value adjustments on acquired loans, and any direct principal charge-offs. The Company has made a policy election to exclude accrued interest from the amortized cost basis of loans and report accrued interest separately from the related loan balance on the consolidated balance sheets. Further information regarding accounting policies related to past due loans, non-accrual loans, and troubled-debt restructurings is presented in Note 5, Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses.

The Company used the prospective transition approach for financial assets purchased with credit deterioration (“PCD”) that were previously classified as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) and accounted for under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 310-30, Loans and Debt Securities Acquired with Deteriorated Credit Quality. The Company increased the allowance for credit losses by approximately $5.4 million at adoption for the assets previously identified as PCI. In accordance with ASU 2016-13, the Company did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets as of the date of adoption.

Collateral Dependent Loans - Loans that do not share risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. For collateral dependent financial assets where the Company has determined that foreclosure of the collateral is probable, or where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company expects repayment of the financial asset to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral, the allowance for credit loss is measured based on the difference between the fair value of the collateral and the amortized cost basis of the asset as of the measurement date. When repayment is expected to be from the operation of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized cost basis of the financial asset exceeds the present value of expected cash flows from the operation of the collateral. When repayment is expected to be from the sale of the collateral, expected credit losses are calculated as the amount by which the amortized costs basis of the financial asset exceeds the fair value of the underlying collateral less estimated cost to sell. The allowance for credit losses may be zero if the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date exceeds the amortized cost basis of the financial asset.

Allowance For Credit Losses - Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures - The allowance for credit losses on off-balance-sheet credit exposures is a liability account representing expected credit losses over the contractual period for which the Company is exposed to credit risk resulting from a contractual obligation to extend credit. No allowance for credit loss is recognized if the Company has the unconditional right to cancel the obligation. The allowance for credit loss is reported as a component of accrued interest and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. Adjustments to the allowance are reported in the income statement as a component of other operating expenses.

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Reference Rate Reform – In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (“ASU 2020-04”), which provides relief for companies preparing for discontinuation of interest rates such as the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). LIBOR is a benchmark interest rate referenced in a variety of agreements that are used by numerous entities. After 2021, banks will no longer be required to report information that is used to determine LIBOR. As a result, LIBOR could be discontinued. Other interest rates used globally could also be discontinued for similar reasons. ASU 2020-04 provides optional expedients and exceptions to contracts, hedging relationships and other transactions affected by reference rate reform. The main provisions for contract modifications include optional relief by allowing the modification as a continuation of the existing contract without additional analysis and other optional expedients regarding embedded features. Optional expedients for hedge accounting permits changes to critical terms of hedging relationships and to the designated benchmark interest rate in a fair value hedge and also provides relief for assessing hedge effectiveness for cash flow hedges. Companies are able to apply ASU 2020-04 immediately; however, the guidance will only be available for a limited time (generally through December 31, 2022). As of September 30, 2020, the Company has not made any modifications to hedges or other instruments that reference an interest rate that is expected to be discontinued.

Income Taxes – In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (“ASU 2019-12”), that removes certain exceptions for investments, intraperiod allocations and interim calculations, and adds guidance to reduce complexity in accounting for income taxes. ASU 2019-12 introduces the following new guidance: i) guidance to evaluate whether a step-up in tax basis of goodwill relates to a business combination in which book goodwill was recognized or a separate transaction and ii) a policy election to not allocate consolidated income taxes when a member of a consolidated tax return is not subject to income tax. Additionally, ASU 2019-12 changes the following current guidance: i) making an intraperiod allocation, if there is a loss in continuing operations and gains outside of continuing operations, ii) determining when a deferred tax liability is recognized after an investor in a foreign entity transitions to or from the equity method of accounting, iii) accounting for tax law changes and year-to-date losses in interim periods, and iv) determining how to apply the income tax guidance to franchise taxes that are partially based on income. ASU 2019-12 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2019-12 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or disclosures.

There have been no other significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies from the 2019 Form 10-K. Presently, the Company is not aware of any other changes to the Accounting Standards Codification that will have a material impact on its present or future financial position or results of operations.

NOTE 2: ACQUISITIONS

The Landrum Company

On October 31, 2019, the Company completed its merger with The Landrum Company (“Landrum”), pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 30, 2019 (“Landrum Agreement”), at which time Landrum was merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation. Pursuant to the terms of the Landrum Agreement, the shares of Landrum Class A Common Voting Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and Landrum Class B Common Nonvoting Stock, par value $0.01 per share, were converted into the right to receive, in the aggregate, approximately 17,350,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, and each share of Landrum’s series E preferred stock was converted into the right to receive one share of the Company’s comparable series D preferred stock. The Company issued 17,349,722 shares of its common stock and 767 shares of its series D preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, in exchange for all outstanding shares of Landrum capital stock to effect the merger.

Prior to the acquisition, Landrum, headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, conducted banking business through its subsidiary bank, Landmark Bank, from 39 branches located in Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Including the effects of the acquisition method accounting adjustments, the Company acquired approximately $3.4 billion in assets, including approximately $2.0 billion in loans (inclusive of loan discounts), and approximately $3.0 billion in deposits. The systems conversion occurred on February 14, 2020, at which time Landmark Bank merged into Simmons Bank, with Simmons Bank as the surviving institution.

Goodwill of $151.1 million was recorded as a result of the transaction. The merger strengthened the Company’s market share and brought forth additional opportunities in the Company’s current footprint, which gave rise to the goodwill recorded. The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes.

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A summary, at fair value, of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Landrum acquisition, as of the acquisition date, is as follows:
(In thousands)Acquired from LandrumFair Value AdjustmentsFair Value
Assets Acquired
Cash and due from banks$215,285 $— $215,285 
Due from banks - time248 — 248 
Investment securities1,021,755 4,228 1,025,983 
Loans acquired2,049,137 (43,651)2,005,486 
Allowance for loan losses(22,736)22,736 — 
Foreclosed assets373 (183)190 
Premises and equipment63,878 18,781 82,659 
Bank owned life insurance19,206 — 19,206 
Goodwill407 (407)— 
Core deposit intangible— 24,345 24,345 
Other intangibles412 4,704 5,116 
Other assets33,924 (13,290)20,634 
Total assets acquired$3,381,889 $17,263 $3,399,152 
Liabilities Assumed
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts$716,675 $— $716,675 
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits1,465,429 — 1,465,429 
Time deposits867,197 299 867,496 
Total deposits3,049,301 299 3,049,600 
Other borrowings10,055 — 10,055 
Subordinated debentures34,794 (877)33,917 
Accrued interest and other liabilities31,057 9,869 40,926 
Total liabilities assumed3,125,207 9,291 3,134,498 
Equity256,682 (256,682)— 
Total equity assumed256,682 (256,682)— 
Total liabilities and equity assumed$3,381,889 $(247,391)$3,134,498 
Net assets acquired264,654 
Purchase price415,779 
Goodwill$151,125 

During 2020, the Company finalized its analysis of the loans acquired along with other acquired assets and assumed liabilities.

The Company’s operating results include the operating results of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Landrum subsequent to the acquisition date.

13




Reliance Bancshares, Inc.
 
On April 12, 2019, the Company completed its merger with Reliance Bancshares, Inc. (“Reliance”), headquartered in the St. Louis, Missouri, metropolitan area, pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger (“Reliance Agreement”), dated November 13, 2018, as amended February 11, 2019. In the merger, each outstanding share of Reliance common stock, as well as each Reliance common stock equivalent was canceled and converted into the right to receive shares of the Company’s common stock and/or cash in accordance with the terms of the Reliance Agreement. In addition, each share of Reliance’s Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock was converted into the right to receive one share of Simmons’ comparable Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock, respectively, and each share of Reliance’s Series C Preferred Stock was converted into the right to receive one share of Simmons’ comparable Series C Preferred Stock (unless the holder of such Series C Preferred Stock elected to receive alternate consideration in accordance with the Reliance Agreement). The Company issued 3,999,623 shares of its common stock and paid $62.7 million in cash to effect the merger. The Company also issued $42.0 million of its Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock. On May 13, 2019, the Company redeemed all of the preferred stock issued in connection with the merger, and paid all accrued and unpaid dividends up to the date of redemption. On October 29, 2019, the Company amended its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to cancel the Series C Preferred Stock, having 140 authorized shares, of which no shares were ever issued or outstanding.

Prior to the acquisition, Reliance conducted banking business through its subsidiary bank, Reliance Bank, from 22 branches located in Missouri and Illinois. Including the effects of the acquisition method accounting adjustments, the Company acquired approximately $1.5 billion in assets, including approximately $1.1 billion in loans (inclusive of loan discounts), and approximately $1.2 billion in deposits. Contemporaneously with the completion of the Reliance merger, Reliance Bank was merged into Simmons Bank, with Simmons Bank as the surviving institution.

Goodwill of $78.5 million was recorded as a result of the transaction. The merger strengthened the Company’s market share and brought forth additional opportunities in the Company’s St. Louis metropolitan area footprint, which gave rise to the goodwill recorded. The goodwill will not be deductible for tax purposes.

A summary, at fair value, of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Reliance acquisition, as of the acquisition date, is as follows:
(In thousands)Acquired from RelianceFair Value AdjustmentsFair Value
Assets Acquired
Cash and due from banks$25,693 $— $25,693 
Due from banks - time502 — 502 
Investment securities287,983 (1,873)286,110 
Loans acquired1,138,527 (41,657)1,096,870 
Allowance for loan losses(10,808)10,808 — 
Foreclosed assets11,092 (5,180)5,912 
Premises and equipment32,452 (3,001)29,451 
Bank owned life insurance39,348 — 39,348 
Core deposit intangible— 18,350 18,350 
Other assets25,165 6,911 32,076 
Total assets acquired$1,549,954 $(15,642)$1,534,312 
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(In thousands)Acquired from RelianceFair Value AdjustmentsFair Value
Liabilities Assumed
Deposits:
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts$108,845 $(33)$108,812 
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits639,798 — 639,798 
Time deposits478,415 (1,758)476,657 
Total deposits1,227,058 (1,791)1,225,267 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase14,146 — 14,146 
Other borrowings162,900 (5,500)157,400 
Accrued interest and other liabilities8,185 268 8,453 
Total liabilities assumed1,412,289 (7,023)1,405,266 
Equity137,665 (137,665)— 
Total equity assumed137,665 (137,665)— 
Total liabilities and equity assumed$1,549,954 $(144,688)$1,405,266 
Net assets acquired129,046 
Purchase price207,539 
Goodwill$78,493 

During 2020, the Company finalized its analysis of the loans acquired along with other acquired assets and assumed liabilities.

The Company’s operating results include the operating results of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities of Reliance subsequent to the acquisition date.

The following is a description of the methods used to determine the fair values of significant assets and liabilities presented in the acquisitions above.
 
Cash and due from banks and time deposits due from banks – The carrying amount of these assets is a reasonable estimate of fair value based on the short-term nature of these assets.
 
Investment securities – Investment securities were acquired with an adjustment to fair value based upon quoted market prices if material. Otherwise, the carrying amount of these assets was deemed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.
 
Loans acquired – Fair values for loans were based on a discounted cash flow methodology that considered factors including the type of loan and related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan and whether or not the loan was amortizing, and current discount rates. The discount rates used for loans are based on current market rates for new originations of comparable loans and include adjustments for liquidity concerns. The discount rate does not include a factor for credit losses as that has been included in the estimated cash flows. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques.

Foreclosed assets – These assets are presented at the estimated present values that management expects to receive when the properties are sold, net of related costs of disposal.
 
Premises and equipment – Bank premises and equipment were acquired with an adjustment to fair value, which represents the difference between the Company’s current analysis of property and equipment values completed in connection with the acquisition and book value acquired.
 
Bank owned life insurance – Bank owned life insurance is carried at its current cash surrender value, which is the most reasonable estimate of fair value.
 

15




Goodwill – The consideration paid as a result of the acquisition exceeded the fair value of the assets acquired, resulting in an intangible asset, goodwill. Goodwill established prior to the acquisitions, if applicable, was written off.
 
Core deposit intangible – This intangible asset represents the value of the relationships that the acquired banks had with their deposit customers. The fair value of this intangible asset was estimated based on a discounted cash flow methodology that gave appropriate consideration to expected customer attrition rates, cost of the deposit base and the net maintenance cost attributable to customer deposits. Any core deposit intangible established prior to the acquisitions, if applicable, was written off.
 
Other intangibles – These intangible assets represent the value of the relationship that Landrum had with their trust and wealth management customers. The fair value of these intangible assets was estimated based on a combination of discounted cash flow methodology and a market valuation approach. Intangible assets for Landrum also included mortgage servicing rights. Other intangibles established prior to the acquisitions, if applicable, were written off.
 
Other assets – The fair value adjustment results from certain assets whose value was estimated to be more or less than book value, such as certain prepaid assets, receivables and other miscellaneous assets. Otherwise, the carrying amount of these assets was deemed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.
 
Deposits – The fair values used for the demand and savings deposits that comprise the transaction accounts acquired, by definition equal the amount payable on demand at the acquisition date. The Company performed a fair value analysis of the estimated weighted average interest rate of the certificates of deposits compared to the current market rates and recorded a fair value adjustment for the difference when material.
 
Securities sold under agreement to repurchase – The carrying amount of securities sold under agreement to repurchase is a reasonable estimate of fair value based on the short-term nature of these liabilities.
 
Other borrowings – The fair value of other borrowings is estimated based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for borrowings with similar terms and maturities.
 
Subordinated debentures – The fair value of subordinated debentures is estimated based on borrowing rates currently available to the Company for borrowings with similar terms and maturities.
 
Accrued interest and other liabilities – The adjustment establishes a liability for unfunded commitments equal to the fair value of that liability at the date of acquisition. The carrying amount of accrued interest and the remainder of other liabilities was deemed to be a reasonable estimate of fair value.

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NOTE 3: INVESTMENT SECURITIES

Held-to-maturity securities, which include any security for which the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity, are carried at historical cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts. Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income using the constant yield method over the period to maturity.

Available-for-sale securities, which include any security for which the Company has no immediate plan to sell but which may be sold in the future, are carried at fair value. Realized gains and losses, based on specifically identified amortized cost of the individual security, are included in other income. Unrealized gains and losses are recorded, net of related income tax effects, in stockholders’ equity, further discussed below. Premiums and discounts are amortized and accreted, respectively, to interest income using the constant yield method over the period to maturity.

The amortized cost, fair value and allowance for credit losses of investment securities that are classified as HTM are as follows:
 
(In thousands)Amortized CostAllowance
for Credit Losses
Net Carrying AmountGross Unrealized
Gains
Gross Unrealized
(Losses)
Estimated Fair
Value
Held-to-Maturity   
September 30, 2020
Mortgage-backed securities
$24,297 $— $24,297 $701 $(1)$24,997 
State and political subdivisions
22,003 (73)21,930 1,155 (1)23,084 
Other securities1,175 (300)875 108 983 
Total HTM$47,475 $(373)$47,102 $1,964 $(2)$49,064 
December 31, 2019
Mortgage-backed securities
$10,796 $— $10,796 $71 $(59)$10,808 
State and political subdivisions
27,082 — 27,082 849 — 27,931 
Other securities3,049 — 3,049 67 — 3,116 
Total HTM$40,927 $— $40,927 $987 $(59)$41,855 

The amortized cost, fair value and allowance for credit losses of investment securities that are classified as AFS are as follows:

(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Allowance for Credit LossesGross Unrealized
Gains
Gross Unrealized
(Losses)
Estimated Fair
Value
Available-for-sale
September 30, 2020
U.S. Government agencies$472,078 $— $1,257 $(1,362)$471,973 
Mortgage-backed securities882,076 — 22,050 (439)903,687 
State and political subdivisions1,105,341 (1,148)32,001 (3,188)1,133,006 
Other securities97,313 (60)1,429 (60)98,622 
Total AFS$2,556,808 $(1,208)$56,737 $(5,049)$2,607,288 
December 31, 2019
U.S. Treasury$449,729 $— $112 $(112)$449,729 
U.S. Government agencies194,207 — 1,313 (1,271)194,249 
Mortgage-backed securities1,738,584 — 8,510 (4,149)1,742,945 
State and political subdivisions860,539 — 20,983 (998)880,524 
Other securities20,092 — 822 (18)20,896 
Total AFS$3,263,151 $— $31,740 $(6,548)$3,288,343 

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Accrued interest receivable on HTM and AFS securities at September 30, 2020 was $291,000 and $12.1 million, respectively, and is included in interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets. The Company has made the election to exclude all accrued interest receivable from securities from the estimate of credit losses.

The following table summarizes the Company’s AFS investments in an unrealized loss position for which an allowance for credit loss has not been recorded as of September 30, 2020, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

 Less Than 12 Months12 Months or MoreTotal
(In thousands)Estimated
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Estimated
Fair
Value
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
Available-for-sale
U.S. Government agencies$213,014 $(440)$54,329 $(922)$267,343 $(1,362)
Mortgage-backed securities95,213 (433)4,038 (6)99,251 (439)
State and political subdivisions108,153 (2,039)386 (1)108,539 (2,040)
Total AFS$416,380 $(2,912)$58,753 $(929)$475,133 $(3,841)
 
As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s investment portfolio included $2.6 billion of AFS securities, of which $475.1 million, or 18.2%, were in an unrealized loss position that are not deemed to have credit losses. A portion of the unrealized losses were related to the Company’s mortgage-backed securities, which are issued and guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored entities and agencies, and the Company’s state and political securities, specifically investments in insured fixed rate municipal bonds meaning issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities.

Furthermore, the decline in fair value for each of the above AFS securities is attributable to the rates for those investments yielding less than current market rates. Management does not believe any of the securities are impaired due to reasons of credit quality. Management believes the declines in fair value for the securities are temporary. Management does not have the intent to sell the securities, and management believes it is more likely than not the Company will not have to sell the securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis.

Allowance for Credit Losses

All of the mortgage-backed securities held by the Company are issued by U.S. government-sponsored entities and agencies. These securities are either explicitly or implicitly guaranteed by the U.S. government, are highly rated by major rating agencies and have a long history of no credit losses. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities.

Regarding securities issued by state and political subdivisions and other HTM securities, management considers (i) issuer bond ratings, (ii) historical loss rates for given bond ratings, (iii) whether issuers continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities, (iv) internal forecasts, (v) whether or not such securities provide insurance or other credit enhancement or pre-refunded by the issuers.


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The following table details activity in the allowance for credit losses by investment security type for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 on the Company’s HTM and AFS securities held.
(In thousands)State and Political SubdivisionsOther SecuritiesTotal
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Held-to-Maturity
Beginning balance, July 1, 2020$95 $212 $307 
Provision for credit loss expense
(22)88 66 
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$73 $300 $373 
Available-for-sale
Beginning balance, July 1, 2020$371 $238 $609 
Credit losses on securities not previously recorded
1,137 23 1,160 
Reduction due to sales(294)— (294)
Net decrease in allowance on previously impaired securities(66)(201)(267)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$1,148 $60 $1,208 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Held-to-Maturity
Beginning balance, January 1, 2020$— $— $— 
Impact of ASU 2016-13 adoption
58 311 369 
Provision for credit loss expense
15 (11)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$73 $300 $373 
Available-for-sale
Beginning balance, January 1, 2020$— $— $— 
Impact of ASU 2016-13 adoption
373 — 373 
Credit losses on securities not previously recorded
1,130 78 1,208 
Reduction due to sales(244)— (244)
Net decrease in allowance on previously impaired securities(111)(18)(129)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$1,148 $60 $1,208 

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, the provision for credit losses was $599,000 and $835,000, respectively, related to AFS securities.

The following table summarizes bond ratings for the Company’s HTM portfolio issued by state and political subdivisions and other securities as of September 30, 2020:

State and Political Subdivisions
(In thousands)Not Guaranteed or Pre-RefundedOther Credit Enhancement or InsurancePre-RefundedTotalOther Securities
Aaa/AAA$865 $— $— $865 $— 
Aa/AA11,270 5,445 — 16,715 — 
A960 1,058 — 2,018 — 
Baa— 426 — 426 — 
Not Rated1,611 368 — 1,979 1,175 
Total$14,706 $7,297 $— $22,003 $1,175 


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Historical loss rates associated with securities having similar grades as those in the Company’s portfolio have generally not been significant. Pre-refunded securities, if any, have been defeased by the issuer and are fully secured by cash and/or U.S. Treasury securities held in escrow for payment to holders when the underlying call dates of the securities are reached. Securities with other credit enhancement or insurance continue to make timely principal and interest payments under the contractual terms of the securities. Accordingly, no allowance for credit losses has been recorded for these securities as there is no current expectation of credit losses related to these securities.

Income earned on securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, is as follows:

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Taxable:  
Held-to-maturity$256 $248 $715 $975 
Available-for-sale6,937 9,266 26,604 31,563 
Non-taxable:
Held-to-maturity65 83 205 1,334 
Available-for-sale7,652 4,870 19,802 12,542 
Total$14,910 $14,467 $47,326 $46,414 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value by maturity of securities are shown in the following table. Securities are classified according to their contractual maturities without consideration of principal amortization, potential prepayments or call options. Accordingly, actual maturities may differ from contractual maturities. 

 Held-to-MaturityAvailable-for-Sale
(In thousands)Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
Amortized
Cost
Fair
Value
One year or less$4,205 $4,243 $15,432 $15,538 
After one through five years13,117 13,698 33,170 33,657 
After five through ten years5,856 6,126 192,972 195,045 
After ten years— — 1,432,064 1,458,119 
Securities not due on a single maturity date24,297 24,997 882,076 903,687 
Other securities (no maturity)— — 1,094 1,242 
Total$47,475 $49,064 $2,556,808 $2,607,288 
 
The carrying value, which approximates the fair value, of securities pledged as collateral, to secure public deposits and for other purposes, amounted to $1.41 billion at September 30, 2020 and $1.73 billion at December 31, 2019.
 
There were approximately $22.3 million of gross realized gains and $1,700 of gross realized losses from the sale of securities during the three months ended September 30, 2020, and approximately $54.8 million of gross realized gains and $4,400 of gross realized losses from the sale of securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. During the first nine months of 2020, the Company sold approximately $1.7 billion of investment securities to create additional liquidity. There were approximately $7.6 million of gross realized gains and $3,000 of gross realized losses from the sale of securities during the three months ended September 30, 2019, and approximately $12.9 million of gross realized gains and $3,000 of gross realized losses from the sale of securities during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The income tax expense/benefit related to security gains/losses was 26.135% of the gross amounts in 2020 and 2019.


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NOTE 4: OTHER ASSETS AND OTHER LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE

Colorado Branch Sale

On February 10, 2020, the Company’s subsidiary bank, Simmons Bank, entered into a Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “First Western Agreement”) with First Western Trust Bank (“First Western”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of First Western Financial, Inc.

On May 18, 2020, First Western completed its purchase of certain assets and assumption of certain liabilities (“Colorado Branch Sale”) associated with four Simmons Bank locations in Denver, Englewood, Highlands Ranch, and Lone Tree, Colorado (collectively, the “Colorado Branches”). Pursuant to the terms of the First Western Agreement, First Western assumed certain deposit liabilities and acquired certain loans, as well as cash, personal property and other fixed assets associated with the Colorado Branches.

Texas Branch Sale

On December 20, 2019, the Company’s subsidiary bank, Simmons Bank, entered into a Branch Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the “Spirit Agreement”) with Spirit of Texas Bank, SSB (“Spirit”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Spirit of Texas Bancshares, Inc.

On February 28, 2020, Spirit completed its purchase of certain assets and assumption of certain liabilities (“Texas Branch Sale”) associated with five Simmons Bank locations in Austin, San Antonio, and Tilden, Texas (collectively, the “Texas Branches”). Pursuant to the terms of the Spirit Agreement, Spirit assumed certain deposit liabilities and acquired certain loans, as well as cash, real property, personal property and other fixed assets associated with the Texas Branches.

The Company recognized a combined gain on sale of $8.1 million related to the Texas Branches and Colorado Branches in the nine month period ended September 30, 2020.

NOTE 5: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES

At September 30, 2020, the Company’s loan portfolio was $14.02 billion, compared to $14.43 billion at December 31, 2019. The various categories of loans are summarized as follows:
 
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Consumer:  
Credit cards$172,880 $204,802 
Other consumer190,736 249,195 
Total consumer363,616 453,997 
Real Estate:
Construction and development1,853,360 2,248,673 
Single family residential1,997,070 2,414,753 
Other commercial6,132,823 6,358,514 
Total real estate9,983,253 11,021,940 
Commercial:
Commercial2,907,798 2,451,119 
Agricultural241,687 191,525 
Total commercial3,149,485 2,642,644 
Other521,088 307,123 
Total loans$14,017,442 $14,425,704 

The above table presents total loans at amortized cost. The difference between amortized cost and unpaid principal balance is primarily premiums and discounts associated with acquisition date fair value adjustments on acquired loans as well as net deferred origination fees totaling $69.9 million and $91.6 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
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Accrued interest on loans, which is excluded from the amortized cost of loans held for investment, totaled $65.0 million and $48.9 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, and is included in interest receivable on the consolidated balance sheets.

Loan Origination/Risk Management – The Company seeks to manage its credit risk by diversifying its loan portfolio, determining that borrowers have adequate sources of cash flow for loan repayment without liquidation of collateral; obtaining and monitoring collateral; providing an adequate allowance for credit losses by regularly reviewing loans through the internal loan review process. The loan portfolio is diversified by borrower, purpose and industry. The Company seeks to use diversification within the loan portfolio to reduce its credit risk, thereby minimizing the adverse impact on the portfolio if weaknesses develop in either the economy or a particular segment of borrowers. Collateral requirements are based on credit assessments of borrowers and may be used to recover the debt in case of default.
 
Consumer – The consumer loan portfolio consists of credit card loans and other consumer loans. Credit card loans are diversified by geographic region to reduce credit risk and minimize any adverse impact on the portfolio. Although they are regularly reviewed to facilitate the identification and monitoring of creditworthiness, credit card loans are unsecured loans, making them more susceptible to be impacted by economic downturns resulting in increasing unemployment. Other consumer loans include direct and indirect installment loans and overdrafts. Loans in this portfolio segment are sensitive to unemployment and other key consumer economic measures.
 
Real estate – The real estate loan portfolio consists of construction and development loans, single family residential loans and commercial loans. Construction and development loans (“C&D”) and commercial real estate loans (“CRE”) can be particularly sensitive to valuation of real estate. Commercial real estate cycles are inevitable. The long planning and production process for new properties and rapid shifts in business conditions and employment create an inherent tension between supply and demand for commercial properties. While general economic trends often move individual markets in the same direction over time, the timing and magnitude of changes are determined by other forces unique to each market. CRE cycles tend to be local in nature and longer than other credit cycles. Factors influencing the CRE market are traditionally different from those affecting residential real estate markets; thereby making predictions for one market based on the other difficult. Additionally, submarkets within commercial real estate – such as office, industrial, apartment, retail and hotel – also experience different cycles, providing an opportunity to lower the overall risk through diversification across types of CRE loans. Management realizes that local demand and supply conditions will also mean that different geographic areas will experience cycles of different amplitude and length. The Company monitors these loans closely. 

Commercial – The commercial loan portfolio includes commercial and agricultural loans, representing loans to commercial customers and farmers for use in normal business or farming operations to finance working capital needs, equipment purchases or other expansion projects. Collection risk in this portfolio is driven by the creditworthiness of the underlying borrowers, particularly cash flow from customers’ business or farming operations. The Company continues its efforts to keep loan terms short, reducing the negative impact of upward movement in interest rates. Term loans are generally set up with one or three year balloons, and the Company has instituted a pricing mechanism for commercial loans. It is standard practice to require personal guaranties on commercial loans for closely-held or limited liability entities.

Nonaccrual and Past Due Loans – Loans are considered past due if the required principal and interest payments have not been received as of the date such payments were due. Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when, in management’s opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. Loans may be placed on nonaccrual status regardless of whether or not such loans are considered past due. When interest accrual is discontinued, all unpaid accrued interest is reversed. Interest income is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received in excess of principal due. Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.


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The amortized cost basis of nonaccrual loans segregated by class of loans are as follows:

September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Consumer:  
Credit cards$253 $382 
Other consumer1,371 1,705 
Total consumer1,624 2,087 
Real estate:
Construction and development3,806 5,289 
Single family residential31,080 27,695 
Other commercial80,427 16,582 
Total real estate115,313 49,566 
Commercial:
Commercial50,239 40,924 
Agricultural537 753 
Total commercial50,776 41,677 
Total$167,713 $93,330 

Nonaccrual loans for which there is no related allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2020 had an amortized cost of $17.8 million. These loans are individually assessed and do not hold an allowance due to being adequately collateralized under the collateral-dependent valuation method.

An age analysis of the amortized cost basis of past due loans, including nonaccrual loans, segregated by class of loans is as follows:
 
(In thousands)Gross
30-89 Days
Past Due
90 Days
or More
Past Due
Total
Past Due
CurrentTotal
Loans
90 Days
Past Due &
Accruing
September 30, 2020      
Consumer:      
Credit cards$672 $262 $934 $171,946 $172,880 $95 
Other consumer2,302 391 2,693 188,043 190,736 
Total consumer2,974 653 3,627 359,989 363,616 101 
Real estate:
Construction and development1,168 2,526 3,694 1,849,666 1,853,360 — 
Single family residential12,170 14,522 26,692 1,970,378 1,997,070 64 
Other commercial5,115 11,885 17,000 6,115,823 6,132,823 
Total real estate18,453 28,933 47,386 9,935,867 9,983,253 66 
Commercial:
Commercial6,984 5,824 12,808 2,894,990 2,907,798 
Agricultural290 328 618 241,069 241,687 — 
Total commercial7,274 6,152 13,426 3,136,059 3,149,485 
Other— — — 521,088 521,088 — 
Total$28,701 $35,738 $64,439 $13,953,003 $14,017,442 $174 
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(In thousands)Gross
30-89 Days
Past Due
90 Days
or More
Past Due
Total
Past Due
CurrentTotal
Loans
90 Days
Past Due &
Accruing
December 31, 2019
Consumer:
Credit cards$848 $641 $1,489 $203,313 $204,802 $259 
Other consumer4,884 735 5,619 243,576 249,195 — 
Total consumer5,732 1,376 7,108 446,889 453,997 259 
Real estate:
Construction and development5,792 1,078 6,870 2,241,803 2,248,673 — 
Single family residential26,318 13,789 40,107 2,374,646 2,414,753 597 
Other commercial7,645 6,450 14,095 6,344,419 6,358,514 — 
Total real estate39,755 21,317 61,072 10,960,868 11,021,940 597 
Commercial:
Commercial10,579 13,551 24,130 2,426,989 2,451,119 — 
Agricultural1,223 456 1,679 189,846 191,525 — 
Total commercial11,802 14,007 25,809 2,616,835 2,642,644 — 
Other— — — 307,123 307,123 — 
Total$57,289 $36,700 $93,989 $14,331,715 $14,425,704 $856 
 
The following table presents information pertaining to impaired loans as of December 31, 2019, in accordance with previous US GAAP prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13.

(In thousands)Unpaid
Contractual
Principal
Balance
Recorded Investment
With No
Allowance
Recorded
Investment
With Allowance
Total
Recorded
Investment
Related
Allowance
Average Investment in Impaired LoansInterest Income RecognizedAverage Investment in Impaired LoansInterest
Income
Recognized
December 31, 2019    Three Months Ended
September 30, 2019
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2019
Consumer:     
Credit cards$382 $382 $— $382 $— $423 $40 $370 $110 
Other consumer1,537 1,378 — 1,378 — 1,603 1,730 33 
Total consumer1,919 1,760 — 1,760 — 2,026 49 2,100 143 
Real estate:
Construction and development4,648 4,466 72 4,538 1,972 10 1,946 38 
Single family residential19,466 15,139 2,963 18,102 42 15,920 85 14,812 287 
Other commercial10,645 4,713 3,740 8,453 694 11,739 77 10,365 201 
Total real estate34,759 24,318 6,775 31,093 740 29,631 172 27,123 526 
Commercial:
Commercial53,436 6,582 28,998 35,580 5,007 32,020 176 26,379 511 
Agricultural525 383 116 499 — 873 1,010 20 
Total commercial53,961 6,965 29,114 36,079 5,007 32,893 179 27,389 531 
Total$90,639 $33,043 $35,889 $68,932 $5,747 $64,550 $400 $56,612 $1,200 

When the Company restructures a loan to a borrower that is experiencing financial difficulty and grants a concession that it would not otherwise consider, a “troubled debt restructuring” (“TDR”) results and the Company classifies the loan as a TDR. The Company grants various types of concessions, primarily interest rate reduction and/or payment modifications or extensions, with an occasional forgiveness of principal.


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Once an obligation has been restructured because of such credit problems, it continues to be considered a TDR until paid in full; or, if an obligation yields a market interest rate and no longer has any concession regarding payment amount or amortization, then it is not considered a TDR at the beginning of the calendar year after the year in which the improvement takes place. The Company returns TDRs to accrual status only if (1) all contractual amounts due can reasonably be expected to be repaid within a prudent period, and (2) repayment has been in accordance with the contract for a sustained period, typically at least six months.

The provisions in the CARES Act included an election to not apply the guidance on accounting for TDRs to loan modifications, such as extensions or deferrals, related to COVID-19 made between March 1, 2020 and the earlier of (i) December 31, 2020 or (ii) 60 days after the President terminates the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. The relief can only be applied to modifications for borrowers that were not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019. The Company elected to adopt these provisions of the CARES Act. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has modified 3,956 loans totaling approximately $3.21 billion to loan customers affected by COVID-19. The following table summarizes these modified loans due to COVID-19 by industry.

(Dollars in thousands)NumberBalance
Real Estate Rental and Leasing1,162$1,263,884 
Accommodation and Food Services386845,803 
Health Care and Social Assistance226278,200 
Construction186190,337 
Retail Trade145130,498 
Other Services (Except Public Administration)13158,169 
Other1,720444,053 
Total3,956$3,210,944 

Deferred interest on the above loans totaled $27.6 million as of September 30, 2020. The interest will be collected at the end of the note or once regular payments are resumed. As of September 30, 2020, over 2,900 loans totaling $1.9 billion that had previously been modified under the CARES Act had returned to regular payment terms in addition to those that have paid off.

TDRs are individually evaluated for expected credit losses. The Company assesses the exposure for each modification, either by the fair value of the underlying collateral or the present value of expected cash flows, and determines if a specific allowance for credit losses is needed.

The following table presents a summary of TDRs segregated by class of loans.

 Accruing TDR LoansNonaccrual TDR LoansTotal TDR Loans
(Dollars in thousands)NumberBalanceNumberBalanceNumberBalance
September 30, 2020      
Real estate:
Single-family residential31 $2,700 18 $3,008 49 $5,708 
Other commercial49 15 64 
Total real estate32 2,749 19 3,023 51 5,772 
Commercial:
Commercial630 2,154 2,784 
Total commercial630 2,154 2,784 
Total35 $3,379 22 $5,177 57 $8,556 
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 Accruing TDR LoansNonaccrual TDR LoansTotal TDR Loans
(Dollars in thousands)NumberBalanceNumberBalanceNumberBalance
December 31, 2019
Real estate:
Construction and development— $— $72 $72 
Single-family residential25 2,627 20 1,330 45 3,957 
Other commercial476 80 556 
Total real estate26 3,103 23 1,482 49 4,585 
Commercial:
Commercial2,784 79 2,863 
Total commercial2,784 79 2,863 
Total30 $5,887 26 $1,561 56 $7,448 

The following table presents loans that were restructured as TDRs during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 segregated by class of loans. There were no loans restructured as TDRs during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

(Dollars in thousands)Number of loansBalance Prior to TDRBalance at September 30,Change in Maturity DateChange in RateFinancial Impact on Date of Restructure
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020    
Real estate:
Single-family residential$1,948 $1,896 $1,896 $— $— 
Total real estate$1,948 $1,896 $1,896 $— $— 
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Real estate:
Single-family residential$330 $330 $330 $— $— 
Total real estate$330 $330 $330 $— $— 
 
During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the Company modified five loans with a recorded investment of $1.9 million prior to modification which was deemed troubled debt restructuring. The restructured loans were modified by deferring amortized principal payments, changing the maturity dates and requiring interest only payments for a period of up to 12 months. A specific reserve of $16,600 was determined necessary for these loans as of September 30, 2020. Additionally, there was no immediate financial impact from the restructuring of these loans, as it was not considered necessary to charge-off interest or principal on the date of restructure.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company modified one loan with a recorded investment of $330,000 prior to modification which was deemed troubled debt restructuring. The restructured loan was modified by deferring amortized principal payments, changing the maturity date and requiring interest only payments for a period of up to 12 months. A specific reserve was not considered necessary for this loan and there was no immediate financial impact from the restructuring of this loan, as it was not considered necessary to charge-off interest or principal on the date of restructure.

There was one commercial loan considered a TDR for which a payment default occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. There were four loans consisting of commercial and real estate construction loans, considered TDRs for which a payment default occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The Company charged-off approximately $552,000 for these loans. The Company defines a payment default as a payment received more than 90 days after its due date.
 
There were no TDRs with pre-modification loan balances for which OREO was received in full or partial satisfaction of the loans during the three or nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 or 2019. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $6,876,000 and $5,789,000, respectively, of consumer mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had $3,184,000 and $4,458,000, respectively, of OREO secured by residential real estate properties.
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Credit Quality Indicators – As part of the on-going monitoring of the credit quality of the Company’s loan portfolio, management tracks certain credit quality indicators including trends related to (i) the weighted-average risk rating of commercial and real estate loans, (ii) the level of classified commercial and real estate loans, (iii) net charge-offs, (iv) non-performing loans (see details above) and (v) the general economic conditions of the Company’s local markets.

The Company utilizes a risk rating matrix to assign a risk rate to each of its commercial and real estate loans. Loans are rated on a scale of 1 to 8. Risk ratings are updated on an ongoing basis and are subject to change by continuous loan monitoring processes including lending management monitoring, executive management and board committee oversight, and independent credit review. A description of the general characteristics of the 8 risk ratings is as follows:
 
Risk Rate 1 – Pass (Excellent) – This category includes loans which are virtually free of credit risk. Borrowers in this category represent the highest credit quality and greatest financial strength.
Risk Rate 2 – Pass (Good) - Loans under this category possess a nominal risk of default. This category includes borrowers with strong financial strength and superior financial ratios and trends. These loans are generally fully secured by cash or equivalents (other than those rated “excellent”).
Risk Rate 3 – Pass (Acceptable – Average) - Loans in this category are considered to possess a normal level of risk. Borrowers in this category have satisfactory financial strength and adequate cash flow coverage to service debt requirements. If secured, the perfected collateral should be of acceptable quality and within established borrowing parameters.
Risk Rate 4 – Pass (Monitor) - Loans in the Watch (Monitor) category exhibit an overall acceptable level of risk, but that risk may be increased by certain conditions, which represent “red flags”. These “red flags” require a higher level of supervision or monitoring than the normal “Pass” rated credit. The borrower may be experiencing these conditions for the first time, or it may be recovering from weakness, which at one time justified a higher rating. These conditions may include: weaknesses in financial trends; marginal cash flow; one-time negative operating results; non-compliance with policy or borrowing agreements; poor diversity in operations; lack of adequate monitoring information or lender supervision; questionable management ability/stability.
Risk Rate 5 – Special Mention - A loan in this category has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the asset or in the institution’s credit position at some future date. Special Mention loans are not adversely classified (although they are “criticized”) and do not expose an institution to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification. Borrowers may be experiencing adverse operating trends, or an ill-proportioned balance sheet. Non-financial characteristics of a Special Mention rating may include management problems, pending litigation, a non-existent, or ineffective loan agreement or other material structural weakness, and/or other significant deviation from prudent lending practices.
Risk Rate 6 – Substandard - A Substandard loan is inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the borrower or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified must have a well-defined weakness, or weaknesses, that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. The loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. This does not imply ultimate loss of the principal, but may involve burdensome administrative expenses and the accompanying cost to carry the loan.
Risk Rate 7 – Doubtful - A loan classified Doubtful has all the weaknesses inherent in a substandard loan except that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full (on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions, and values) highly questionable and improbable. Doubtful borrowers are usually in default, lack adequate liquidity, or capital, and lack the resources necessary to remain an operating entity. The possibility of loss is extremely high, but because of specific pending events that may strengthen the asset, its classification as loss is deferred. Pending factors include: proposed merger or acquisition; liquidation procedures; capital injection; perfection of liens on additional collateral; and refinancing plans. Loans classified as Doubtful are placed on nonaccrual status.
Risk Rate 8 – Loss - Loans classified Loss are considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted. This classification does not mean that the loans has absolutely no recovery or salvage value, but rather it is not practical or desirable to defer writing off this basically worthless loan, even though partial recovery may be affected in the future. Borrowers in the Loss category are often in bankruptcy, have formally suspended debt repayments, or have otherwise ceased normal business operations. Loans should be classified as Loss and charged-off in the period in which they become uncollectible.
The Company monitors credit quality in the consumer portfolio by delinquency status. The delinquency status of loans is updated daily. A description of the delinquency credit quality indicators is as follows:

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Current - Loans in this category are either current in payments or are under 30 days past due. These loans are considered to have a normal level of risk.
30-89 Days Past Due - Loans in this category are between 30 and 89 days past due and are subject to the Company’s loss mitigation process. These loans are considered to have a moderate level of risk.
90+ Days Past Due - Loans in this category are over 90 days past due and are placed on nonaccrual status. These loans have been subject to the Company’s loss mitigation process and foreclosure and/or charge-off proceedings have commenced.
The following table presents a summary of loans by credit quality indicator, other than pass or current, as of September 30, 2020 segregated by class of loans.
Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year
(In thousands)2020 (YTD)20192018201720162015 and PriorLines of Credit (“LOC”) Amortized Cost BasisLOC Converted to Term Loans Amortized Cost BasisTotal
Consumer - credit cards    
Delinquency:
30-89 days past due$— $— $— $— $— $— $672 $— $672 
90+ days past due— — — — — — 262 — 262 
Total consumer - credit cards— — — — — — 934 — 934 
Consumer - other
Delinquency:
30-89 days past due213 404 344 634 505 124 78 — 2,302 
90+ days past due55 72 94 48 110 — 391 
Total consumer - other217 459 416 728 553 132 188 — 2,693 
Real estate - C&D
Risk rating:
5 internal grade504 357 173 2,171 19 238 4,707 — 8,169 
6 internal grade244 2,127 447 539 366 570 579 — 4,872 
7 internal grade— — — — — — — — — 
Total real estate - C&D748 2,484 620 2,710 385 808 5,286 — 13,041 
Real estate - SF residential
Delinquency:
30-89 days past due1,080 1,417 1,602 1,686 1,395 3,365 1,625 — 12,170 
90+ days past due26 2,308 2,873 2,438 918 3,743 2,217 — 14,523 
Total real estate - SF residential1,106 3,725 4,475 4,124 2,313 7,108 3,842 — 26,693 
Real estate - other commercial
Risk rating:
5 internal grade17,230 4,973 24,463 14,997 1,744 10,844 61,045 16,005 151,301 
6 internal grade29,267 9,544 13,940 5,751 15,069 10,114 54,571 48,444 186,700 
7 internal grade— — — — — — — — 
Total real estate - other commercial46,497 14,517 38,403 20,748 16,813 20,958 115,616 64,449 338,001 
Commercial
Risk rating:
5 internal grade914 1,255 1,662 896 332 14 45,106 569 50,748 
6 internal grade7,062 3,434 19,418 2,407 1,232 1,077 51,387 522 86,539 
7 internal grade— — — — — — — — — 
Total commercial7,976 4,689 21,080 3,303 1,564 1,091 96,493 1,091 137,287 
Commercial - agriculture
Risk rating:
5 internal grade35 83 14 325 — — 34 — 491 
6 internal grade72 140 166 53 42 10 83 — 566 
7 internal grade— — — — — — — — — 
Total commercial - agriculture107 223 180 378 42 10 117 — 1,057 
Total$56,651 $26,097 $65,174 $31,991 $21,670 $30,107 $222,476 $65,540 $519,706 
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The following table presents a summary of loans by credit risk rating as of December 31, 2019 segregated by class of loans.
 
(In thousands)Risk Rate
1-4
Risk Rate
5
Risk Rate
6
Risk Rate
7
Risk Rate
8
Total
December 31, 2019      
Consumer:      
Credit cards$204,161 $— $641 $— $— $204,802 
Other consumer247,668 — 2,026 — — 249,694 
Total consumer451,829 — 2,667 — — 454,496 
Real estate:
Construction and development2,229,019 70 7,735 — 37 2,236,861 
Single family residential2,394,284 6,049 41,601 130 — 2,442,064 
Other commercial6,068,425 69,745 67,429 — — 6,205,599 
Total real estate10,691,728 75,864 116,765 130 37 10,884,524 
Commercial:
Commercial2,384,263 26,713 84,317 43 180 2,495,516 
Agricultural309,741 41 5,672 — — 315,454 
Total commercial2,694,004 26,754 89,989 43 180 2,810,970 
Other275,714 — — — — 275,714 
Total$14,113,275 $102,618 $209,421 $173 $217 $14,425,704 
Allowance for Credit Losses

Allowance for Credit Losses – The allowance for credit losses is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of lifetime expected losses based on reasonable and supportable forecasts, historical loss experience, and other qualitative considerations. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for expected loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. The Company’s allowance for credit loss methodology includes reserve factors calculated to estimate current expected credit losses to amortized cost balances over the remaining contractual life of the portfolio, adjusted for the effective interest rate used to discount prepayments, in accordance with ASC Topic 326-20, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. Accordingly, the methodology is based on the Company’s reasonable and supportable economic forecasts, historical loss experience, and other qualitative adjustments.

Loans with similar risk characteristics such as loan type, collateral type, and internal risk ratings are aggregated into homogeneous segments for assessment. Reserve factors are based on estimated probability of default and loss given default for each segment. The estimates are determined based on economic forecasts over the reasonable and supportable forecast period based on projected performance of economic variables that have a statistical relationship with the historical loss experience of the segments. For contractual periods that extend beyond the one-year forecast period, the estimates revert to average historical loss experiences over a one-year period on a straight-line basis.

The Company also includes qualitative adjustments to the allowance based on factors and considerations that have not otherwise been fully accounted for. Qualitative adjustments include, but are not limited to:

Changes in asset quality - Adjustments related to trending credit quality metrics including delinquency, nonperforming loans, charge-offs, and risk ratings that may not be fully accounted for in the reserve factor.
Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio - Adjustments related to current changes in the loan portfolio that are not fully represented or accounted for in the reserve factors.
Changes in lending and loan monitoring policies and procedures - Adjustments related to current changes in lending and loan monitoring procedures as well as review of specific internal policy compliance metrics.
Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff - Adjustments to measure increasing or decreasing credit risk related to lending and loan monitoring management.
Changes in the value of underlying collateral of collateralized loans - Adjustments related to improving or deterioration of the value of underlying collateral that are not fully captured in the reserve factors.
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Changes in and the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit - Adjustments related to credit risk of specific industries that are not fully captured in the reserve factors.
Changes in regional and local economic and business conditions and developments - Adjustments related to expected and current economic conditions at a regional or local-level that are not fully captured within the Company’s reasonable and supportable forecast.
Data imprecisions due to limited historical loss data - Adjustments related to limited historical loss data that is representative of the collective loan portfolio.

Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. These evaluations are typically performed on loans with a deteriorated internal risk rating or are classified as a troubled debt restructuring. The allowance for credit loss is determined based on several methods including estimating the fair value of the underlying collateral or the present value of expected cash flows.

For a collateral dependent loan, the Company’s evaluation process includes a valuation by appraisal or other collateral analysis adjusted for selling costs, when appropriate. This valuation is compared to the remaining outstanding principal balance of the loan. If a loss is determined to be probable, the loss is included in the allowance for credit losses as a specific allocation. If the loan is not collateral dependent, the measurement of loss is based on the difference between the expected and contractual future cash flows of the loan.

Loans for which the repayment is expected to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of collateral and where the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty had an amortized cost of $71.7 million as of September 30, 2020, as further detailed in the table below. The collateral securing these loans consist of commercial real estate properties, residential properties, other business assets, and secured energy production assets.
(In thousands)Real Estate CollateralEnergyOther CollateralTotal
Construction and development$1,538 $— $— $1,538 
Single family residential6,722 — — 6,722 
Other commercial real estate40,358 — — 40,358 
Commercial— 19,100 4,009 23,109 
Total$48,618 $19,100 $4,009 $71,727 

The following table details activity in the allowance for credit losses by portfolio segment for loans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Allocation of a portion of the allowance to one category of loans does not preclude its availability to absorb losses in other categories. 

(In thousands)CommercialReal
Estate
Credit
Card
Other
Consumer
and Other
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
Beginning balance, July 1, 2020$59,138 $149,471 $10,979 $12,055 $231,643 
Provision for credit loss expense(6,499)33,479 (1,823)(2,844)22,313 
Charge-offs(4,327)(1,153)(832)(1,091)(7,403)
Recoveries936 120 276 366 1,698 
Net charge-offs(3,391)(1,033)(556)(725)(5,705)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$49,248 $181,917 $8,600 $8,486 $248,251 
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(In thousands)CommercialReal
Estate
Credit
Card
Other
Consumer
and Other
Total
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
Beginning balance, January 1, 2020 - prior to adoption of CECL
$22,863 $39,161 $4,051 $2,169 $68,244 
Impact of CECL adoption22,733 114,314 2,232 12,098 151,377 
Provision for credit loss expense42,808 31,341 4,870 (3,829)75,190 
Charge-offs(40,537)(3,373)(3,326)(3,062)(50,298)
Recoveries1,381 474 773 1,110 3,738 
Net charge-offs(39,156)(2,899)(2,553)(1,952)(46,560)
Ending balance, September 30, 2020$49,248 $181,917 $8,600 $8,486 $248,251 

Activity in the allowance for credit losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was as follows:

(In thousands)CommercialReal
Estate
Credit
Card
Other
Consumer
and Other
Total
Allowance for credit losses:
Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
Beginning balance, July 1, 2019$21,354 $36,493 $3,951 $2,381 $64,179 
Provision for credit losses19,150 2,405 946 (528)21,973 
Charge-offs(17,778)(1,367)(1,117)(1,065)(21,327)
Recoveries65 55 223 1,422 1,765 
Net (charge-offs) recoveries(17,713)(1,312)(894)357 (19,562)
Ending balance, September 30, 2019$22,791 $37,586 $4,003 $2,210 $66,590 
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
Beginning balance, January 1, 2019$20,514 $29,838 $3,923 $2,419 $56,694 
Provision for credit losses23,980 10,393 2,644 1,320 38,337 
Charge-offs(22,893)(3,000)(3,298)(3,582)(32,773)
Recoveries1,190 355 734 2,053 4,332 
Net charge-offs(21,703)(2,645)(2,564)(1,529)(28,441)
Ending balance, September 30, 2019$22,791 $37,586 $4,003 $2,210 $66,590 


The primary driver for the provision for credit losses for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was the continued uncertainty of a more prolonged recovery than initially anticipated to the economies that affect the loan portfolio as certain industries are being more adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the restaurant, retail and hotel industries. The provision for credit losses was partially offset due to a reduction in loan growth. The Company updated credit loss forecasts using multiple Moody’s economic scenarios published in September 2020. The baseline economic forecast was weighted 66% by the Company, while the downside scenario of S-2 was weighted 18% and the upside scenario of S-1 was weighted 16%. The weighting of the forecasts is characterized by, among others, market rates remaining low, the substantial decline of CRE prices, and the current national unemployment rate.

The provision for credit losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily related to concern over the economic stresses related to COVID-19 as well as specific provisions for two energy credits that were previously identified as problem loans that were impacted by the sharp decline in commodity pricing. Four energy credits within the Commercial segment were charged off during the second quarter of 2020 for a total of $32.6 million.


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Reserve for Unfunded Commitments
 
In addition to the allowance for credit losses, the Company has established a reserve for unfunded commitments, classified in other liabilities. This reserve is maintained at a level management believes to be sufficient to absorb losses arising from unfunded loan commitments. The reserve for unfunded commitments as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 was $24.4 million and $8.4 million, respectively. The increase from year end was due to the adoption of CECL. The adequacy of the reserve for unfunded commitments is determined quarterly based on methodology similar to the methodology for determining the allowance for credit losses. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, net adjustments to the reserve for unfunded commitments resulted in a benefit of $8.0 million and was included in provision for credit losses in the statement of income.

NOTE 6: RIGHT-OF-USE LEASE ASSETS AND LEASE LIABILITIES

As of the first quarter 2019, the Company accounts for its leases in accordance with ASC Topic 842, Leases, which requires recognition of most leases, including operating leases, with a term greater than 12 months on the balance sheet. At lease commencement, the lease contract is reviewed to determine whether the contract is a finance lease or an operating lease; a lease liability is recognized on a discounted basis, related to the Company’s obligation to make lease payments; and a right-of-use asset is also recognized related to the Company’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components (such as taxes, insurance and common area maintenance costs) separately as such amounts are generally readily determinable under the lease contracts. Lease payments over the expected term are discounted using the Company’s FHLB advance rates for borrowings of similar term. If it is reasonably certain that a renewal or termination option will be exercised, the effects of such options are included in the determination of the expected lease term. Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet; the Company recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The Company’s leases are classified as operating leases with a term, including expected renewal or termination options, greater than one year, and are related to certain office facilities and office equipment. The following table presents information related to the Company’s right-of-use lease assets, included in premises and equipment, and lease liabilities, included in other liabilities.

September 30,December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20202019
Right-of-use lease assets$32,528 $40,675 
Lease liabilities$32,804 $40,854 
Weighted average remaining lease term8.60 years8.37 years
Weighted average discount rate3.26 %3.27 %

Operating lease cost for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 was $3,453,600 and $10,097,200, respectively, as compared to $3,736,000 and $9,784,500 for the same periods in 2019.

NOTE 7: PREMISES AND EQUIPMENT

Premises and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Total premises and equipment, net at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Right-of-use lease assets$32,528 $40,675 
Premises and equipment:
Land96,661 99,931 
Buildings and improvements306,995 309,290 
Furniture, fixtures and equipment100,821 99,343 
Software66,417 56,012 
Construction in progress3,787 6,998 
Accumulated depreciation and amortization(136,718)(119,865)
Total premises and equipment, net$470,491 $492,384 
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NOTE 8: GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
Goodwill is tested annually, or more often than annually, if circumstances warrant, for impairment. If the implied fair value of goodwill is lower than its carrying amount, goodwill impairment is indicated, and goodwill is written down to its implied fair value. Subsequent increases in goodwill value are not recognized in the financial statements. Goodwill totaled $1.075 billion at September 30, 2020 and $1.056 billion at December 31, 2019.

During 2019, the Company recorded $131.3 million and $78.5 million of goodwill as a result of its acquisitions of Landrum and Reliance, respectively. During the first nine months of 2020, goodwill increased $19.8 million related to the continued assessment of the fair value and assumed tax position of the Landrum acquisition which was finalized during the third quarter.

Goodwill impairment was neither indicated nor recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 or the year ended December 31, 2019. During the first quarter of 2020, the Company’s share price began to decline as the markets in the United States responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of that economic decline, the effect on share price and other factors, the Company performed an interim goodwill impairment qualitative assessment during the first quarter and concluded no impairment existed. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company performed the annual goodwill impairment analysis and concluded that it is more likely-than-not that the fair value of goodwill continues to exceed its carrying value and therefore, goodwill is not impaired. During the third quarter of 2020, the Company once again performed an interim goodwill impairment assessment and concluded no impairment existed. While the goodwill impairment analysis indicated no impairment at September 30, 2020, the Company’s assessment depends on several assumptions which are dependent on market and economic conditions, and future changes in those conditions could impact the Company’s assessment in the future.
 
Core deposit premiums represent the value of the relationships that acquired banks had with their deposit customers and are amortized over periods ranging from 10 years to 15 years and are periodically evaluated, at least annually, as to the recoverability of their carrying value. Other intangible assets represent the value of other acquired relationships, including relationships with trust and wealth management customers, and are being amortized over various periods ranging from 10 years to 15 years.
 
Changes in the carrying amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s core deposit premiums and other intangible assets at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows: 
 
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Core deposit premiums:
Balance, beginning of year$111,808 $79,807 
Acquisitions(1)
— 42,695 
Disposition of intangible asset(2)
(2,324)— 
Amortization(9,114)(10,694)
Balance, end of period100,370 111,808 
Books of business and other intangibles:
Balance, beginning of year15,532 11,527 
Acquisitions(3)
— 5,116 
Disposition of intangible asset(413)— 
Amortization(1,029)(1,111)
Balance, end of period14,090 15,532 
Total other intangible assets, net$114,460 $127,340 
_________________________
(1)    Core deposit premiums of $24.3 million and $18.4 million were recorded during 2019 as part of the Landrum and Reliance acquisitions, respectively. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for additional information on acquisitions completed in 2019.
(2)    Adjustments recorded for the premiums on certain deposit liabilities associated with the sale of the Texas Branches and Colorado Branches.
(3)    The Company recorded $5.1 million during 2019 primarily related to the wealth management operations acquired from Landrum. See Note 2, Acquisitions, for additional information on acquisitions completed in 2019.


33




The carrying basis and accumulated amortization of the Company’s other intangible assets at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were as follows:  

September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Core deposit premiums:
Gross carrying amount$146,355 $148,679 
Accumulated amortization(45,985)(36,871)
Core deposit premiums, net100,370 111,808 
Books of business and other intangibles:
Gross carrying amount19,938 20,350 
Accumulated amortization(5,848)(4,818)
Books of business and other intangibles, net14,090 15,532 
Total other intangible assets, net$114,460 $127,340 

The Company’s estimated remaining amortization expense on other intangible assets as of September 30, 2020 is as follows:
 
(In thousands)YearAmortization
Expense
 Remainder of 2020$3,351 
 202113,379 
 202213,327 
 202313,044 
 202412,141 
 Thereafter59,218 
 Total$114,460 

NOTE 9: TIME DEPOSITS
 
Time deposits included approximately $1.93 billion and $2.15 billion of certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more, at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively. Of this total approximately $849.1 million and $837.3 million of certificates of deposit were over $250,000 at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
 
NOTE 10: INCOME TAXES
 
The provision for income taxes is comprised of the following components for the periods indicated below:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Income taxes currently payable$19,329 $17,282 $51,000 $40,356 
Deferred income taxes(1,696)5,993 2,920 10,933 
Provision for income taxes$17,633 $23,275 $53,920 $51,289 
 

34




The tax effects of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts that give rise to deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and their approximate tax effects, are as follows: 


September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Deferred tax assets:  
Loans acquired$11,933 $20,783 
Allowance for credit losses59,918 16,732 
Valuation of foreclosed assets2,636 2,626 
Tax NOLs from acquisition16,165 18,118 
Deferred compensation payable3,009 2,750 
Accrued equity and other compensation7,179 6,677 
Acquired securities— 3,393 
Right-of-use lease liability8,230 10,221 
Allowance for unfunded commitments6,122 — 
Other6,004 7,886 
Gross deferred tax assets121,196 89,186 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill and other intangible amortization(39,495)(41,221)
Accumulated depreciation(36,731)(36,554)
Right-of-use lease asset(8,161)(10,176)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities(12,321)(3,720)
Deferred loan fees and costs(2,696)(3,018)
Acquired securities(870)— 
Other(4,972)(4,633)
Gross deferred tax liabilities(105,246)(99,322)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)$15,950 $(10,136)

A reconciliation of income tax expense at the statutory rate to the Company’s actual income tax expense is shown for the periods indicated below:
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Computed at the statutory rate (21%)
$17,539 $22,071 $53,719 $49,646 
Increase (decrease) in taxes resulting from:
State income taxes, net of federal tax benefit1,143 2,956 5,502 5,721 
Tax exempt interest income(1,752)(1,105)(4,594)(3,090)
Tax exempt earnings on BOLI(308)(225)(839)(619)
Federal tax credits(434)(344)(1,252)(1,029)
Other differences, net1,445 (78)1,384 660 
Actual tax provision$17,633 $23,275 $53,920 $51,289 


35




The Company follows ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Benefits from tax positions should be recognized in the financial statements only when it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authority that would have full knowledge of all relevant information. A tax position that meets the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than fifty percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Tax positions that previously failed to meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be recognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is met. Previously recognized tax positions that no longer meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold should be derecognized in the first subsequent financial reporting period in which that threshold is no longer met. ASC Topic 740 also provides guidance on the accounting for and disclosure of unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties. The Company has no history of expiring net operating loss carryforwards and is projecting significant pre-tax and financial taxable income in future years. The Company expects to fully realize its deferred tax assets in the future.

The amount of unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease in the future for various reasons including adding amounts for current tax year positions, expiration of open income tax returns due to the statutes of limitation, changes in management’s judgment about the level of uncertainty, status of examinations, litigation and legislative activity and the addition or elimination of uncertain tax positions.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an annual limit on the ability of a corporation that undergoes an “ownership change” to use its U.S. net operating losses to reduce its tax liability. The Company has engaged in two tax-free reorganization transactions in which acquired net operating losses are limited pursuant to Section 382. In total, approximately $74.7 million of federal net operating losses subject to the IRC Section 382 annual limitation are expected to be utilized by the Company, of which $44.2 million is related to the Reliance acquisition that closed during the second quarter of 2019. All of the acquired Reliance net operating losses are expected to be fully utilized by 2027, with the remaining acquired net operating loss carryforwards expected to be fully utilized by 2036.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction. The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns are open and subject to examinations from the 2016 tax year and forward. The Company’s various state income tax returns are generally open from the 2016 and later tax return years based on individual state statute of limitations.

NOTE 11: SECURITIES SOLD UNDER AGREEMENTS TO REPURCHASE
 
The Company utilizes securities sold under agreements to repurchase to facilitate the needs of its customers and to facilitate secured short-term funding needs. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase are stated at the amount of cash received in connection with the transaction. The Company monitors collateral levels on a continuous basis. The Company may be required to provide additional collateral based on the fair value of the underlying securities. Securities pledged as collateral under repurchase agreements are maintained with the Company’s safekeeping agents.
 
The gross amount of recognized liabilities for repurchase agreements was $263.4 million and $133.2 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The remaining contractual maturity of the securities sold under agreements to repurchase in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 is presented in the following tables.
 
 Remaining Contractual Maturity of the Agreements
(In thousands)Overnight and
Continuous
Up to 30 Days30-90 DaysGreater than
90 Days
Total
September 30, 2020     
Repurchase agreements:
U.S. Government agencies$263,444 $— $— $— $263,444 
December 31, 2019
Repurchase agreements:
U.S. Government agencies$133,220 $— $— $— $133,220 


36




NOTE 12: OTHER BORROWINGS AND SUBORDINATED NOTES AND DEBENTURES
 
Debt at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 consisted of the following components: 

September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Other Borrowings  
FHLB advances, net of discount, due 2020 to 2035, 0.23% to 7.37% secured by real estate loans
$1,308,994 $1,262,691 
Other long-term debt
33,775 34,908 
Total other borrowings1,342,769 1,297,599 
Subordinated Notes and Debentures
Subordinated notes payable, due 4/1/2028, fixed-to-floating rate (fixed rate of 5.00% through 3/31/2023, floating rate of 2.15% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly)
330,000 330,000 
Trust preferred securities, net of discount, due 9/15/2037, floating rate of 1.37% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly
10,310 10,310 
Trust preferred securities, net of discount, due 6/6/2037, floating rate of 1.57% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly, callable without penalty
10,310 10,310 
Trust preferred securities, due 12/15/2035, floating rate of 1.45% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly, callable without penalty
6,702 6,702 
Trust preferred securities, net of discount, due 6/15/2037, floating rate of 1.85% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly, callable without penalty
25,133 25,015 
Trust preferred securities, net of discount, due 12/15/2036, floating rate of 1.85% above the three month LIBOR rate, reset quarterly, callable without penalty
3,018 3,004 
Other subordinated debentures, due 12/31/2036, floating rate of prime rate minus 1.1%, reset quarterly
— 5,927 
Unamortized debt issuance costs(2,734)(3,008)
Total subordinated notes and debentures382,739 388,260 
Total other borrowings and subordinated debt$1,725,508 $1,685,859 

In March 2018, the Company issued $330.0 million in aggregate principal amount, of 5.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) at a public offering price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Company incurred $3.6 million in debt issuance costs related to the offering during March 2018. The Notes will mature on April 1, 2028 and will bear interest at an initial fixed rate of 5.00% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears. From and including April 1, 2023 to, but excluding, the maturity date or the date of earlier redemption, the interest rate will reset quarterly to an annual interest rate equal to the then-current three month LIBOR rate plus 215 basis points, payable quarterly in arrears. The Notes will be subordinated in right of payment to the payment of the Company’s other existing and future senior indebtedness, including all of its general creditors. The Notes are obligations of the Company only and are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any of its subsidiaries. The Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay certain outstanding indebtedness. The Notes qualify for Tier 2 capital treatment.

The Company assumed subordinated debt of $33.9 million in connection with the Landrum acquisition in October 2019, of which $5.9 million was repaid during the second quarter of 2020.

At September 30, 2020, the Company had $1.30 billion of FHLB advances outstanding with original or expected maturities of one year or less, all of which are FHLB Owns the Option (“FOTO”) advances. FOTO advances are a low cost, fixed-rate source of funding in return for granting to FHLB the flexibility to choose a termination date earlier than the maturity date. Typically, FOTO exercise dates follow a specified lockout period at the beginning of the term when FHLB cannot terminate the FOTO advance. If FHLB exercises its option to terminate the FOTO advance at one of the specified option exercise dates, there is no termination or prepayment fee, and replacement funding will be available at then-prevailing market rates, subject to FHLB’s credit and collateral requirements. The Company’s FOTO advances outstanding at September 30, 2020 have maturity dates of ten years to fifteen years with lockout periods that have expired and, as a result, are considered and monitored by the Company as short-term advances. The possibility of the FHLB exercising the options is analyzed by the Company along with the market expected rate outcome.

37




The Company had total FHLB advances outstanding of $1.31 billion at September 30, 2020, with approximately $2.5 billion of additional advances available from the FHLB. The FHLB advances are secured by mortgage loans and investment securities totaling approximately $5.9 billion at September 30, 2020.
 
The trust preferred securities are tax-advantaged issues that qualified for Tier 1 capital treatment until December 31, 2017, when the Company reached $15 billion in assets. They still qualify for inclusion as Tier 2 capital at September 30, 2020. Distributions on these securities are included in interest expense on long-term debt. Each of the trusts is a statutory business trust organized for the sole purpose of issuing trust securities and investing the proceeds thereof in junior subordinated debentures of the Company, the sole asset of each trust. The preferred securities of each trust represent preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the respective trusts and are subject to mandatory redemption upon payment of the junior subordinated debentures held by the trust. The common securities of each trust are wholly-owned by the Company. Each trust’s ability to pay amounts due on the trust preferred securities is solely dependent upon the Company making payments on the related junior subordinated debentures. The Company’s obligations under the junior subordinated securities and other relevant trust agreements, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of each respective trust’s obligations under the trust securities issued by each respective trust.

The Company’s long-term debt primarily includes subordinated debt and long-term FHLB advances with an original maturity of greater than one year. Aggregate annual maturities of long-term debt at September 30, 2020, are as follows:
 
Year(In thousands)
Remainder of 2020$589 
20212,772 
20221,936 
20231,758 
20242,399 
Thereafter416,054 
Total$425,508 

NOTE 13: CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
 
In the ordinary course of its operations, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings. Based on information presently available, and after consultation with legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate outcome in such proceedings, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the financial position or results of the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries.
 
NOTE 14: CAPITAL STOCK
 
On February 27, 2009, at a special meeting, the Company’s shareholders approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to establish 40,040,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value. The aggregate liquidation preference of all shares of preferred stock cannot exceed $80,000,000.

On February 12, 2019, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“February Amended Articles”) with the Arkansas Secretary of State. The February Amended Articles classified and designated three series of preferred stock out of the Corporation’s authorized preferred stock: Series A Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share (having 40,000 authorized shares); Series B Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share (having 2,000.02 authorized shares); and 7% Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, Series C (having 140 authorized shares).

On October 29, 2019, the Company filed its Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“October Amended Articles”) with the Arkansas Secretary of State. The October Amended Articles classified and designated Series D Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, out of the Company’s authorized preferred stock. The October Amended Articles also canceled the Company’s 7% Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, Series C Preferred Stock, of which no shares were ever issued or outstanding.


38




On July 23, 2012, the Company approved a stock repurchase program which authorized the repurchase of up to 1,700,000 shares of common stock. On October 22, 2019, the Company announced a new stock repurchase program (“Program”) that replaced the stock repurchase program approved on July 23, 2012, under which the Company may repurchase up to $60,000,000 of its Class A common stock currently issued and outstanding. On March 5, 2020, the Company announced an amendment to the Program that increased the maximum amount that may be repurchased under the Program from $60,000,000 to $180,000,000. The Program will terminate on October 31, 2021 (unless terminated sooner).

Under the Program, the Company may repurchase shares of its common stock through open market and privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases under the Program will be determined by the Company’s management at its discretion based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, trading volume and market price of the Company’s common stock, corporate considerations, the Company’s working capital and investment requirements, general market and economic conditions, and legal requirements. The Program does not obligate the Company to repurchase any common stock and may be modified, discontinued, or suspended at any time without prior notice. The Company anticipates funding for this Program to come from available sources of liquidity, including cash on hand and future cash flow.

During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company repurchased 4,922,336 shares at an average price of $18.96 under the Program. Subsequent to March 31, 2020, the Company did not repurchase any additional shares under the Program in the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Market conditions and the Company’s capital needs will drive decisions regarding additional, future stock repurchases. The Company had no repurchases of its common stock during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2019. On October 22, 2020, the Company announced the resumption of stock repurchases under the Program.
 
NOTE 15: UNDIVIDED PROFITS
 
Simmons Bank, the Company’s subsidiary bank, is subject to legal limitations on dividends that can be paid to the parent company without prior approval of the applicable regulatory agencies. The approval of the Commissioner of the Arkansas State Bank Department is required if the total of all dividends declared by an Arkansas state bank in any calendar year exceeds seventy-five percent (75%) of the total of its net profits, as defined, for that year combined with seventy-five percent (75%) of its retained net profits of the preceding year. At September 30, 2020, Simmons Bank had approximately $105.0 million available for payment of dividends to the Company, without prior regulatory approval.
 
The risk-based capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board and the Arkansas State Bank Department include the definitions for (1) a well-capitalized institution, (2) an adequately-capitalized institution, and (3) an undercapitalized institution. Under the Basel III Rules effective January 1, 2015, the criteria for a well-capitalized institution are: a 5% “Tier l leverage capital” ratio, an 8% “Tier 1 risk-based capital” ratio, 10% “total risk-based capital” ratio; and a 6.5% “common equity Tier 1 (CET1)” ratio.
 
The Company and Simmons Bank, must hold a capital conservation buffer composed of CET1 capital above its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The implementation of the capital conservation buffer began on January 1, 2016, at the 0.625% level and was phased in over a four year period (increasing by that amount on each subsequent January 1 until it reached 2.5% on January 1, 2019). Failure to meet this capital conservation buffer would result in additional limits on dividends, other distributions and discretionary bonuses. As of September 30, 2020, the Company and Simmons Bank met all capital adequacy requirements, including the capital conservation buffer, under the Basel III Capital Rules. The Company’s CET1 ratio was 12.55% at September 30, 2020. 


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NOTE 16: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted various stock-based compensation plans. The plans provide for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units. Pursuant to the plans, shares are reserved for future issuance by the Company upon exercise of stock options or awards of stock appreciation rights, stock awards or units, or performance shares granted to directors, officers and other key employees.

The table below summarizes the transactions under the Company’s active stock-based compensation plans for the nine months ended September 30, 2020: 
 Stock Options
Outstanding
Non-vested
Stock Awards
Outstanding
Non-vested
Stock Units
Outstanding
 (Shares in thousands)Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Number
of Shares
Weighted
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Balance, January 1, 2020692 $22.46 21 $23.19 1,152 $26.79 
Granted— — — — 518 21.94 
Stock options exercised(1)10.71 — — — — 
Stock awards/units vested (earned)— — (11)22.57 (426)25.95 
Forfeited/expired(33)22.49 — — (116)26.49 
Balance, September 30, 2020658 $22.48 10 $23.87 1,128 $24.90 
Exercisable, September 30, 2020658 $22.48 

The following table summarizes information about stock options under the plans outstanding at September 30, 2020:
 
  Options OutstandingOptions Exercisable
Range of
Exercise Prices
Number
of Shares
(In thousands)
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (Years)
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Number
of Shares
(In thousands)
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
$9.46 $9.46 11.30$9.461$9.46
10.65 10.65 32.3310.65310.65
20.29 20.29 663.4520.296620.29
20.36 20.36 24.1320.36220.36
22.20 22.20 743.3822.207422.20
22.75 22.75 4124.1422.7541222.75
23.51 23.51 934.5423.519323.51
24.07 24.07 74.9624.07724.07
$9.46 $24.07 6584.03$22.48658$22.48

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The table below summarizes the Company’s performance stock unit activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2020:

(In thousands)Performance Stock Units
Non-vested, January 1, 2020199 
Granted122 
Vested (earned)(80)
Forfeited(19)
Non-vested, September 30, 2020222 

Stock-based compensation expense was $10,750,000 and $9,316,000 during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for all stock-based awards. There was no unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options at September 30, 2020. Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to non-vested stock awards and stock units was $18,142,000 at September 30, 2020. At such date, the weighted-average period over which this unrecognized expense is expected to be recognized was 1.7 years.
 
The intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and stock options exercisable at September 30, 2020 was $23,000. Aggregate intrinsic value represents the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period, which was $15.86 as of September 30, 2020, and the exercise price multiplied by the number of options outstanding. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and September 30, 2019, was $5,000 and $6,000, respectively.

The fair value of the Company’s employee stock options granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, changes to which can materially affect the fair value estimate. There were no stock options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019.
 
NOTE 17: EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)
 
Basic EPS is computed by dividing reported net income available to common stockholders by weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing reported net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares and all potential dilutive common shares outstanding during the period.
 
The computation of earnings per share is as follows:
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)2020201920202019
Net income available to common stockholders$65,885 $81,826 $201,897 $185,119 
Average common shares outstanding109,019 96,608 110,292 95,090 
Average potential dilutive common shares189 360 189 360 
Average diluted common shares109,208 96,968 110,481 95,450 
Basic earnings per share$0.60 $0.85 $1.83 $1.95 
Diluted earnings per share$0.60 $0.84 $1.83 $1.94 

There were approximately 653,718 stock options excluded from the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 earnings per share calculations due to the related stock option exercise price exceeding the average market price. There were no stock options excluded from earnings per share calculations due to the related stock option exercise price exceeding the average market price for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019.


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NOTE 18: ADDITIONAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
The following is a summary of the Company’s additional cash flow information:
 
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)20202019
Interest paid$95,040 $130,904 
Income taxes paid30,708 34,028 
Transfers of loans to foreclosed assets held for sale3,083 3,666 
Transfers of premises to foreclosed assets and other real estate owned
3,120 556 
Transfers of premises to premises held for sale
1,072 — 
Transfers of other real estate owned to premises held for sale
3,504 — 
Right-of-use lease assets obtained in exchange for lessee operating lease liabilities (adoption of ASU 2016-02)
— 32,757 
Transfers of loans to other assets held for sale
114,925  
Transfers of deposits to other liabilities held for sale
58,405 — 
 
NOTE 19: OTHER INCOME AND OTHER OPERATING EXPENSES
 
Other income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $5.4 million and $28.0 million, respectively. The nine month period included the gains on sale related to the Texas Branch Sale and Colorado Branch Sale of $8.1 million. Other income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $44.7 million and $54.9 million, respectively, and primarily consisted of the gain on sale of Visa Inc. class B common stock of $42.9 million.

Other operating expenses consisted of the following:
 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Professional services$3,779 $4,310 $13,529 $12,125 
Postage1,932 1,471 5,937 4,642 
Telephone2,103 2,506 6,738 5,605 
Credit card expense5,190 4,200 14,154 11,822 
Marketing3,517 7,021 11,430 12,514 
Software and technology9,552 6,531 29,021 16,607 
Operating supplies824 493 2,588 1,671 
Amortization of intangibles3,362 2,947 10,144 8,535 
Branch right sizing expense442 160 2,401 3,092 
Other expense7,478 8,240 23,676 24,195 
Total other operating expenses$38,179 $37,879 $119,618 $100,808 
 
NOTE 20: CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
From time to time, the Company and its subsidiaries have made loans, other extensions of credit, and vendor contracts to directors, officers, their associates and members of their immediate families. Additionally, some directors, officers and their associates and members of their immediate families have placed deposits with the Company’s subsidiary bank, Simmons Bank. Such loans and other extensions of credit, deposits and vendor contracts (which were not material) were made in the ordinary course of business, on substantially the same terms (including interest rates and collateral) as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unrelated persons or through a competitive bid process. Further, in management’s opinion, these extensions of credit did not involve more than normal risk of collectability or present other unfavorable features.
 

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NOTE 21: COMMITMENTS AND CREDIT RISK
 
The Company grants agri-business, commercial and residential loans to customers primarily throughout Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas, along with credit card loans to customers throughout the United States. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since a portion of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Each customer’s creditworthiness is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the counterparty. Collateral held varies, but may include accounts receivable, inventory, property, plant and equipment, commercial real estate and residential real estate.
 
At September 30, 2020, the Company had outstanding commitments to extend credit aggregating approximately $676,028,000 and $2,674,548,000 for credit card commitments and other loan commitments, respectively. At December 31, 2019, the Company had outstanding commitments to extend credit aggregating approximately $634,788,000 and $3,991,931,000 for credit card commitments and other loan commitments, respectively.
 
Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued by the Company to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. Those guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements, including commercial paper, bond financing, and similar transactions. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers. The Company had total outstanding letters of credit amounting to $63,604,000 and $71,074,000 at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively, with terms ranging from 9 months to 15 years. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had no deferred revenue under standby letter of credit agreements.

NOTE 22: FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
 
ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.
 
ASC Topic 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Topic 820 describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value: 

Level 1 Inputs – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2 Inputs – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3 Inputs – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

In general, fair value is based upon quoted market prices, where available. If such quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based upon internally developed models that primarily use, as inputs, observable market-based parameters. Valuation adjustments may be made to ensure that financial instruments are recorded at fair value. These adjustments may include amounts to reflect counterparty credit quality and the Company’s creditworthiness, among other things, as well as unobservable parameters. Any such valuation adjustments are applied consistently over time. The Company’s valuation methodologies may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. While management believes the Company’s valuation methodologies are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date. Furthermore, the reported fair value amounts have not been comprehensively revalued since the presentation dates, and therefore, estimates of fair value after the balance sheet date may differ significantly from the amounts presented herein. A more detailed description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.


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Following is a description of the inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
 
Available-for-sale securities – Where quoted market prices are available in an active market, securities are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. Level 1 securities would include highly liquid government bonds, mortgage products and exchange traded equities. Other securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. For these securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things. In order to ensure the fair values are consistent with ASC Topic 820, the Company periodically checks the fair values by comparing them to another pricing source, such as Bloomberg. The availability of pricing confirms Level 2 classification in the fair value hierarchy. The third-party pricing service is subject to an annual review of internal controls (SSAE 16), which is made available for the Company’s review. In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy. The Company’s investment in U.S. Treasury securities, if any, is reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs. The remainder of the Company’s available-for-sale securities are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs.
 
Derivative instruments – The Company’s derivative instruments are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. The Company obtains fair value measurements from dealer quotes.

Other assets and other liabilities held for sale – The Company’s other assets and other liabilities held for sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 3 inputs. See Note 4, Other Assets and Other Liabilities Held for Sale.

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets by level within the fair value hierarchy that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
 
  Fair Value Measurements Using
(In thousands)Fair ValueQuoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
September 30, 2020    
Available-for-sale securities    
U.S. Government agencies$471,973 $— $471,973 $— 
Mortgage-backed securities903,687 — 903,687 — 
State and political subdivisions1,133,006 — 1,133,006 — 
Other securities98,622 — 98,622 — 
Other assets held for sale389 — — 389 
Derivative asset42,021 — 42,021 — 
Derivative liability(42,356)— (42,356)— 
December 31, 2019
Available-for-sale securities
U.S. Treasury$449,729 $449,729 $— $— 
U.S. Government agencies194,249 — 194,249 — 
Mortgage-backed securities1,742,945 — 1,742,945 — 
States and political subdivisions880,524 — 880,524 — 
Other securities20,896 — 20,896 — 
Other assets held for sale260,332 — — 260,332 
Derivative asset14,903 — 14,903 — 
Other liabilities held for sale(159,853)— — (159,853)
Derivative liability(12,650)— (12,650)— 
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Certain financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances. Financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include the following:

Individually assessed loans (collateral-dependent) – When the Company has a specific expectation to initiate, or has initiated, foreclosure proceedings, and when the repayment of a loan is expected to be substantially dependent on the liquidation of underlying collateral, the relationship is deemed collateral-dependent. Fair value of the loan is determined by establishing an allowance for credit loss for any exposure based on the valuation of the underlying collateral. The valuation of the collateral is determined by either an independent third-party appraisal or other collateral analysis. Discounts can be made by the Company based upon the overall evaluation of the independent appraisal. Collateral-dependent loans are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Collateral values supporting the individually assessed loans are evaluated quarterly for updates to appraised values or adjustments due to non-current valuations.

Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned – Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned are reported at fair value, less estimated costs to sell. At foreclosure, if the fair value, less estimated costs to sell, of the real estate acquired is less than the Company’s recorded investment in the related loan, a write-down is recognized through a charge to the allowance for credit losses. Additionally, valuations are periodically performed by management and any subsequent reduction in value is recognized by a charge to income. The fair value of foreclosed assets and other real estate owned is estimated using Level 3 inputs based on unobservable market data.

The significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) used in the fair value measurement of collateral for collateral-dependent loans and foreclosed assets primarily relate to the specialized discounting criteria applied to the borrower’s reported amount of collateral. The amount of the collateral discount depends upon the condition and marketability of the collateral, as well as other factors which may affect the collectability of the loan. Management’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment and considers factors specific to the asset. It is reasonably possible that a change in the estimated fair value for instruments measured using Level 3 inputs could occur in the future. As the Company’s primary objective in the event of default would be to liquidate the collateral to settle the outstanding balance of the loan, collateral that is less marketable would receive a larger discount.
 
Mortgage loans held for sale – Mortgage loans held for sale are reported at fair value if, on an aggregate basis, the fair value of the loans is less than cost. In determining whether the fair value of loans held for sale is less than cost when quoted market prices are not available, the Company may consider outstanding investor commitments, discounted cash flow analyses with market assumptions or the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. Such loans are classified within either Level 2 or Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Where assumptions are made using significant unobservable inputs, such loans held for sale are classified as Level 3. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the aggregate fair value of mortgage loans held for sale exceeded their cost. Accordingly, no mortgage loans held for sale were marked down and reported at fair value.
 
The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets by level within the fair value hierarchy that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. 
  Fair Value Measurements Using
(In thousands)Fair ValueQuoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
Significant
Unobservable Inputs
(Level 3)
September 30, 2020    
Individually assessed loans (1) (2) (collateral-dependent)
$67,316 $— $— $67,316 
Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned (1)
3,581 — — 3,581 
December 31, 2019
Individually assessed loans (1) (2) (collateral-dependent)
$49,190 $— $— $49,190 
Foreclosed assets and other real estate owned (1)
18,798 — — 18,798 
________________________
(1)These amounts represent the resulting carrying amounts on the consolidated balance sheets for collateral-dependent loans and foreclosed assets and other real estate owned for which fair value re-measurements took place during the period.
(2)Identified reserves of $12,586,000 and $1,297,000 were related to collateral-dependent loans for which fair value re-measurements took place during the periods ended September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
45




ASC Topic 825, Financial Instruments, requires disclosure in annual and interim financial statements of the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities, including those financial assets and financial liabilities that are not measured and reported at fair value on a recurring basis or nonrecurring basis. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments not previously disclosed.

Cash and cash equivalents – The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value (Level 1).

Interest bearing balances due from banks – The fair value of interest bearing balances due from banks – time is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies the rates currently offered on deposits of similar remaining maturities (Level 2).
 
Held-to-maturity securities – Fair values for held-to-maturity securities equal quoted market prices, if available, such as for highly liquid government bonds (Level 1). If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are estimated based on quoted market prices of similar securities. For these securities, the Company obtains fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the security’s terms and conditions, among other things (Level 2). In certain cases where Level 1 or Level 2 inputs are not available, securities are classified within Level 3 of the hierarchy.

Loans – The fair value of loans is estimated by discounting the future cash flows, using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities. Additional factors considered include the type of loan and related collateral, variable or fixed rate, classification status, remaining term, interest rate, historical delinquencies, loan to value ratios, current market rates and remaining loan balance. The loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. The discount rates used for loans were based on current market rates for new originations of similar loans. Estimated credit losses were also factored into the projected cash flows of the loans. The fair value of loans is estimated on an exit price basis incorporating the above factors (Level 3).
 
Deposits – The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts and money market deposits is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date (i.e., their carrying amount) (Level 2). The fair value of fixed-maturity time deposits is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities (Level 3).
 
Federal Funds purchased, securities sold under agreement to repurchase and short-term debt – The carrying amount for Federal funds purchased, securities sold under agreement to repurchase and short-term debt are a reasonable estimate of fair value (Level 2).
 
Other borrowings – For short-term instruments, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value. For long-term debt, rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate the fair value (Level 2).
 
Subordinated debentures – The fair value of subordinated debentures is estimated using the rates that would be charged for subordinated debentures of similar remaining maturities (Level 2).
 
Accrued interest receivable/payable – The carrying amounts of accrued interest approximated fair value (Level 2).
 
Commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and lines of credit – The fair value of commitments is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties. For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates. The fair values of letters of credit and lines of credit are based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.
 
The fair value of a financial instrument is the current amount that would be exchanged between willing parties, other than in a forced liquidation. Fair value is best determined based upon quoted market prices. However, in many instances, there are no quoted market prices for the Company’s various financial instruments. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Accordingly, the fair value estimates may not be realized in an immediate settlement of the instrument.

46




The estimated fair values, and related carrying amounts, of the Company’s financial instruments are as follows:
 
 CarryingFair Value Measurements
(In thousands)AmountLevel 1Level 2Level 3Total
September 30, 2020     
Financial assets:     
Cash and cash equivalents
$2,522,131 $2,522,131 $— $— $2,522,131 
Interest bearing balances due from banks - time
4,061 — 4,061 — 4,061 
Held-to-maturity securities
47,102 — 49,064 — 49,064 
Mortgage loans held for sale
192,729 — — 192,729 192,729 
Interest receivable
77,352 — 77,352 — 77,352 
Loans, net
13,769,191 — — 13,864,914 13,864,914 
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts
4,451,385 — 4,451,385 — 4,451,385 
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits
8,993,255 — 8,993,255 — 8,993,255 
Time deposits
2,802,007 — — 2,820,224 2,820,224 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
313,694 — 313,694 — 313,694 
Other borrowings
1,342,769 — 1,459,468 — 1,459,468 
Subordinated notes and debentures
382,739 — 400,421 — 400,421 
Interest payable
13,694 — 13,694 — 13,694 
December 31, 2019
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$996,623 $996,623 $— $— $996,623 
Interest bearing balances due from banks - time
4,554 — 4,554 — 4,554 
Held-to-maturity securities
40,927 — 41,855 — 41,855 
Mortgage loans held for sale
58,102 — — 58,102 58,102 
Interest receivable
62,707 — 62,707 — 62,707 
Loans, net
14,357,460 — — 14,290,188 14,290,188 
Financial liabilities:
Non-interest bearing transaction accounts
3,741,093 — 3,741,093 — 3,741,093 
Interest bearing transaction accounts and savings deposits
9,090,878 — 9,090,878 — 9,090,878 
Time deposits
3,276,969 — — 3,270,333 3,270,333 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
150,145 — 150,145 — 150,145 
Other borrowings
1,297,599 — 1,298,011 — 1,298,011 
Subordinated debentures
388,260 — 397,088 — 397,088 
Interest payable
12,898 — 12,898 — 12,898 

The fair value of commitments to extend credit, letters of credit and lines of credit is not presented since management believes the fair value to be insignificant.


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NOTE 23: DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

The Company utilizes derivative instruments to manage exposure to various types of interest rate risk for itself and its customers within policy guidelines. Transactions should only be entered into with an associated underlying exposure. All derivative instruments are carried at fair value.

Derivative contracts involve the risk of dealing with institutional derivative counterparties and their ability to meet contractual terms. Institutional counterparties must have an investment grade credit rating and be approved by the Company’s asset/liability management committee. In arranging these products for its customers, the Company assumes additional credit risk from the customer and from the dealer counterparty with whom the transaction is undertaken. Credit risk exists due to the default credit risk created in the exchange of the payments over a period of time. Credit exposure on interest rate swaps is limited to the net favorable value and interest payments of all swaps with each counterparty. Access to collateral in the event of default is reasonably assured. Therefore, credit exposure may be reduced by the amount of collateral pledged by the counterparty.

Hedge Structures

The Company will seek to enter derivative structures that most effectively address the risk exposure and structural terms of the underlying position being hedged. The term and notional principal amount of a hedge transaction will not exceed the term or principal amount of the underlying exposure. In addition, the Company will use hedge indices which are the same as, or highly correlated to, the index or rate on the underlying exposure. Derivative credit exposure is monitored on an ongoing basis for each customer transaction and aggregate exposure to each counterparty is tracked. The Company has set a maximum outstanding notional contract amount at 10% of the Company’s assets.

Customer Risk Management Interest Rate Swaps

The Company’s qualified loan customers have the opportunity to participate in its interest rate swap program for the purpose of managing interest rate risk on their variable rate loans with the Company. The Company enters into such agreements with customers, then offsetting agreements are executed between the Company and an approved dealer counterparty to minimize market risk from changes in interest rates. The counterparty contracts are identical to customer contracts in terms of notional amounts, interest rates, and maturity dates, except for a fixed pricing spread or fee paid to the Company by the dealer counterparty. These interest rate swaps carry varying degrees of credit, interest rate and market or liquidity risks. The fair value of these derivative instruments is recognized as either derivative assets or liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The Company has a limited number of swaps that are standalone without a similar agreement with the loan customer.

The following table summarizes the fair values of loan derivative contracts recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
(In thousands)NotionalFair ValueNotionalFair Value
Derivative assets$426,796 $42,021 $401,969 $14,903 
Derivative liabilities436,001 42,356 387,075 12,650 

Risk Participation Agreements

The Company has a limited number of Risk Participation Agreement swaps, that are associated with loan participations, where the Company is not the counterparty to the interest rate swaps that are associated with the risk participation sold. The interest rate swap mark to market only impacts the Company if the swap is in a liability position to the counterparty and the customer defaults on payments to the counterparty. The notional amount of these contingent agreements is $51.7 million as of September 30, 2020.

Energy Hedging

During 2019, the Company began providing energy derivative services to qualifying, high quality oil and gas borrowers for hedging purposes. The Company serves as an intermediary on energy derivative products between the Company’s borrowers and dealers. The Company will only enter into back-to-back trades, thus maintaining a balanced book between the dealer and the borrower.
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Energy hedging risk exposure to the Company’s customer increases as energy prices for crude oil and natural gas rise. As prices decrease, exposure to the exchange increases. These risks are mitigated by customer credit underwriting policies and establishing a predetermined hedge line for each borrower and by monitoring the exchange margin.

The outstanding notional value as of September 30, 2020 for energy hedging Customer Sell to Company swaps were $17.8 million and the corresponding Company Sell to Dealer swaps were $17.8 million and the corresponding net fair value of the derivative asset and derivative liability was $792,085.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
 
 
Audit Committee, Board of Directors and Stockholders
Simmons First National Corporation
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
 
Results of Review of Interim Financial Statements
 
We have reviewed the consolidated balance sheet of Simmons First National Corporation (“the Company”) as of September 30, 2020, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income and stockholders’ equity for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and cash flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “interim financial information or statements”). Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2019, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended (not presented herein), and in our report dated February 27, 2020, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2019, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.
 
Basis for Review Results
 
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Emphasis of Matter

As discussed in Note 1 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for the allowance for credit losses in 2020 due to the adoption of Topic 326.

 


 /s/ BKD, LLP
 
Little Rock, Arkansas
November 6, 2020

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

OVERVIEW

Our net income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $65.9 million, or $0.60 diluted earnings per share, a decrease of $15.9 million and of $0.24, respectively, compared to the third quarter of 2019. Included in both third quarter 2020 and 2019 results were non-core items related to our acquisitions, early retirement programs and branch right sizing initiatives. Excluding all non-core items, core earnings for the three months ended September 30, 2020 were $68.3 million, or $0.63 core diluted earnings per share, compared to $84.0 million, or $0.87 core diluted earnings per share for the three months ended September 30, 2019.

Net income for the first nine months of 2020 was $201.9 million, or $1.83 diluted earnings per share, compared to $185.1 million, or $1.94 diluted earnings per share, for the same period in 2019. In addition to the non-core items related to acquisitions, early retirement programs and branch right sizing initiatives, gains associated with the Texas Branch Sale and the Colorado Branch Sale were included in the results for the first nine months of 2020. Excluding the non-core items, year-to-date core earnings were $202.3 million, an increase of $3.8 million compared to the same period in prior year. Core diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2020 were $1.83 compared to $2.08 for the same period in 2019.

We completed the acquisition of The Landrum Company, including its wholly-owned bank subsidiary, Landmark Bank, in October 2019. The systems conversion of Landmark Bank was completed during February 2020. See Note 2, Acquisitions, in the accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to this acquisition.

On February 28, 2020, we completed the Texas Branch Sale of five Simmons Bank locations in Austin, San Antonio and Tilden, Texas. Additionally, on May 18, 2020 we completed the Colorado Branch Sale of four Simmons Bank locations in Denver, Englewood, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree, Colorado. We recognized a combined gain on sale of $8.1 million on the Texas Branches and Colorado Branches.

Early in 2020, we offered qualifying associates an early retirement option resulting in $2.8 million of non-core expense during the first nine months of 2020. We expect ongoing net annualized savings of approximately $2.9 million from this program.

We continuously evaluate our branch network as part of our analysis of our profitability of our operations and the efficiency with which we deliver banking services to our markets, including, among other things, changes in customer traffic and preferences. As a result of this ongoing evaluation, we closed 11 branch locations during June 2020, with estimated net annual cost savings of approximately $2.4 million related to these locations. We closed an additional 23 branch locations on October 9, 2020, with an expected net annual cost savings of approximately $6.7 million.

We added over 38,000 new digital banking users since the end of February 2020 through June 30, 2020. Digital users continue to grow in the third quarter of 2020, adding over 15,000 additional users, a 7% increase. In March 2020, for the first time, we had more weekly transactions using digital channels than at the branches, and our mobile deposit usage has seen an increase of 75% since the end of February. During May 2020, we completed the conversion of all consumer customers to our new online platform. All consumer customers are now on the same online and mobile platforms, including acquired institutions. In September 2020, we completed the development of new credit card functionality which allows mobile and online banking to display credit card balances, line of credit utilization, recent transactions and minimum payment details, all with real-time information.

Stockholders’ equity as of September 30, 2020 was $2.9 billion, book value per share was $26.98 and tangible book value per share was $16.07. Our ratio of common stockholders’ equity to total assets was 13.72% and the ratio of tangible common stockholders’ equity to tangible assets was 8.65% at September 30, 2020. The Company’s Tier 1 leverage ratio of 9.05%, as well as our other regulatory capital ratios, remain significantly above the “well capitalized” levels (see Table 13 in the Capital section of this Item).
 
Total loans were $14.02 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to $14.61 billion at June 30, 2020 and $13.00 billion at September 30, 2019. The increase from prior year is primarily due to the Landrum acquisition. Sequentially, total loans decreased $589.5 million from the second quarter of 2020. During 2020, we had $970.5 million in loan originations under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”). See the COVID-19 Impact section below for additional information.

At September 30, 2020, the allowance for credit losses on loans was $248.3 million. We adopted the new credit loss methodology, CECL, on January 1, 2020. Upon adoption, we recorded an additional allowance for credit losses of approximately $151.4 million, an adjustment to the reserve for unfunded commitments of $24.0 million, and a related $128.1 million adjustment to retained earnings net of taxes.
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In our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operation in this Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” we provide certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with US GAAP. We believe the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides a meaningful basis for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which we believe will assist investors and analysts in analyzing the core financial measures of the Company and predicting future performance. See the GAAP Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures section below for additional discussion and reconciliations of non-GAAP measures.

Simmons First National Corporation is an Arkansas-based financial holding company that, as of September 30, 2020, has approximately $21.4 billion in consolidated assets and, through its subsidiaries, conducts financial operations in Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas.

COVID-19 Impact

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has placed significant health, economic and other major pressure on the communities we serve, the United States and the entire world. In March 2020, Congress passed the CARES Act, which was designed to provide comprehensive relief to individuals and businesses following the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, we have been actively managing our response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and have implemented a number of procedures in response to the pandemic to support the safety and well being of our employees, customers and shareholders. Some of the implemented procedures include:

Addressing the safety of the Company’s branch network, following local, state, and federal guidelines;
Holding regular executive and pandemic task force meetings to address issues that change rapidly;
Implementing business continuity plans to help ensure that customers have adequate access to banking services;
Providing extensions and deferrals to loan customers affected by COVID-19 provided such customers were not 30 days or more past due at December 31, 2019. See further discussion in the Asset Quality section below;
Participating in both appropriations of the CARES Act PPP that provides 100% federally guaranteed loans for small businesses to cover up to 24 weeks of payroll costs and assist with mortgage interest, rent and utilities. Notably, these small business loans may be forgiven by the SBA if borrowers maintain their payrolls and satisfy certain other conditions during this crisis.
We have experienced meaningful shifts in consumer habits which we believe will impact our delivery of products and services as well as the retail delivery of everyday amenities. We believe that our investment in digital channels will continue to position our company for these changes.

During the first quarter of 2020, we sold approximately $1.1 billion in securities to increase liquidity in response to potential customer withdrawals of deposits as well as for anticipated funding of PPP loans. As of September 30, 2020, the Company has approximately $2.5 billion in cash and cash equivalents and is well capitalized, which management believes has allowed us to continue to approach the crisis from a position of strength.

Through August 8, 2020, when the PPP program ended to new applicants, we had originated 8,199 PPP loans with an average balance of $118,000 per loan. Approximately 93% of our PPP loans had a balance of less than $350,000 at the end of the quarter. The following table categorizes our PPP loans by outstanding balance as of September 30, 2020:

PPP LoansNumber ofBalance
(Dollars in thousands)Loans% of LoansSeptember 30, 2020% of Balance
Less than $50,0005,21663 %$94,401 10 %
$50,000 to $350,0002,44130 %304,815 31 %
More than $350,000 to less than $2 million481%357,943 37 %
$2 million to $10 million61%213,329 22 %
Total8,199100 %$970,488 100 %

PPP loans are 100% federally guaranteed and have a zero percent risk-weight for regulatory capital ratios. As a result, excluding PPP loans from total assets, common equity to total assets was 14.4% and tangible common equity to tangible assets was 9.1% as of September 30, 2020.

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We are dedicated to supporting our customers and communities throughout this period of uncertainty. As a show of this support, since March 2020, we have:

Donated masks, gloves and hand sanitizers to healthcare facilities, police and a community group delivering meals.
Sponsored a live streaming concert from Simmons Bank Arena to benefit the Feeding America food banks and the Hunger Relief Alliance, raising over $30,000.
Donated over $100,000 to various community support groups throughout our footprint to be used for COVID-19 response.
Delivered food and care packages to support police, firefighters, emergency responders and healthcare workers.

We believe our associates have done a commendable job of adapting to the changes that have occurred over the past eight months. We continue to operate in an uncertain environment, and we expect to continue to adjust as necessary. We have consolidated various operations to provide capacity for continued service to our customers and communities.

We continue to closely monitor this pandemic and expect to make future changes to respond as this situation continues to evolve. Further economic downturns accompanying this pandemic, or a delayed economic recovery from this pandemic, could result in increased deterioration in credit quality, past due loans, loans charge offs and collateral value declines, which could cause our results of operations and financial condition to be negatively impacted.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
Overview
 
We follow accounting and reporting policies that conform, in all material respects, to US GAAP and to general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. While we base estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed to be relevant, actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
We consider accounting estimates to be critical to reported financial results if (i) the accounting estimate requires management to make assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain and (ii) different estimates that management reasonably could have used for the accounting estimate in the current period, or changes in the accounting estimate that are reasonably likely to occur from period to period, could have a material impact on our financial statements. 

The accounting policies that we view as critical to us are those relating to estimates and judgments regarding (a) the determination of the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, (b) acquisition accounting and valuation of loans, (c) the valuation of goodwill and the useful lives applied to intangible assets, (d) the valuation of stock-based compensation plans and (e) income taxes.
 
Allowance for Credit Losses
 
The allowance for credit losses is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses charged to expense, which represents management’s best estimate of lifetime expected losses based on reasonable and supportable forecasts, historical loss experience, and other qualitative considerations. The allowance, in the judgment of management, is necessary to reserve for expected loan losses and risks inherent in the loan portfolio. Our allowance for credit loss methodology includes reserve factors calculated to estimate current expected credit losses to amortized cost balances over the remaining contractual life of the portfolio, adjusted for prepayments, in accordance with ASC Topic 326-20, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses. Accordingly, the methodology is based on our reasonable and supportable economic forecasts, historical loss experience, and other qualitative adjustments. For further information see the section Allowance for Credit Losses below.

Our evaluation of the allowance for credit losses is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates. The actual amounts of credit losses realized in the near term could differ from the amounts estimated in arriving at the allowance for credit losses reported in the financial statements. On January 1, 2020, the Company adopted the new CECL methodology. See Note 1, Preparation of Interim Financial Statements, in the accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

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Acquisition Accounting, Loans

We account for our acquisitions under ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires the use of the acquisition method of accounting. All identifiable assets acquired, including loans, are recorded at fair value. Our historical acquisitions all occurred under previous US GAAP prior to our adoption of CECL. No allowance for loan losses related to the acquired loans was recorded on the acquisition date as the fair value of the loans acquired incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. Loans acquired are recorded at fair value in accordance with the fair value methodology prescribed in ASC Topic 820. The fair value estimates associated with the loans included estimates related to expected prepayments and the amount and timing of undiscounted expected principal, interest and other cash flows.

We evaluate loans acquired in accordance with the provisions of ASC Topic 310-20, Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs. The fair value discount on these loans is accreted into interest income over the weighted average life of the loans using a constant yield method.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets
 
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired. Other intangible assets represent purchased assets that also lack physical substance but can be separately distinguished from goodwill because of contractual or other legal rights or because the asset is capable of being sold or exchanged either on its own or in combination with a related contract, asset or liability. We perform an annual goodwill impairment test, and more than annually if circumstances warrant, in accordance with ASC Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other, as amended by ASU 2011-08 – Testing Goodwill for Impairment and ASU 2017-04 - Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. ASC Topic 350 requires that goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite lives be reviewed for impairment annually or more frequently if certain conditions occur. Impairment losses on recorded goodwill, if any, will be recorded as operating expenses.

During the first quarter of 2020, our share price began to decline as the markets in the United States responded to the global COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of that economic decline, the effect on our share price and other factors, we performed an interim goodwill impairment qualitative assessment during the first quarter and concluded no impairment existed. During the second quarter of 2020, we performed our annual goodwill impairment test and concluded that it is more likely-than-not that the fair value of our goodwill continues to exceed its carrying value and therefore, goodwill is not impaired. Once more, we performed an interim goodwill impairment assessment during the third quarter of 2020 and concluded no impairment existed. While our goodwill impairment analysis indicated no impairment at September 30, 2020, our assessment depends on several assumptions which are dependent on market and economic conditions, and future changes in those conditions could impact our assessment in the future.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans
 
We have adopted various stock-based compensation plans. The plans provide for the grant of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock units and performance stock units. Pursuant to the plans, shares are reserved for future issuance by the Company upon exercise of stock options or awarding of performance or bonus shares granted to directors, officers and other key employees.
 
In accordance with ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, the fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model that uses various assumptions. This model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, changes to which can materially affect the fair value estimate. For additional information, see Note 16, Stock-Based Compensation, in the accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report.

Income Taxes
 
We are subject to the federal income tax laws of the United States, and the tax laws of the states and other jurisdictions where we conduct business. Due to the complexity of these laws, taxpayers and the taxing authorities may subject these laws to different interpretations. Management must make conclusions and estimates about the application of these innately intricate laws, related regulations, and case law. When preparing the Company’s income tax returns, management attempts to make reasonable interpretations of the tax laws. Taxing authorities have the ability to challenge management’s analysis of the tax law or any reinterpretation management makes in its ongoing assessment of facts and the developing case law. Management assesses the reasonableness of its effective tax rate quarterly based on its current estimate of net income and the applicable taxes expected for the full year. On a quarterly basis, management also reviews circumstances and developments in tax law affecting the reasonableness of deferred tax assets and liabilities and reserves for contingent tax liabilities.
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NET INTEREST INCOME
 
Overview
 
Net interest income, our principal source of earnings, is the difference between the interest income generated by earning assets and the total interest cost of the deposits and borrowings obtained to fund those assets. Factors that determine the level of net interest income include the volume of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, yields earned and rates paid, the level of non-performing loans and the amount of non-interest bearing liabilities supporting earning assets. Net interest income is analyzed in the discussion and tables below on a fully taxable equivalent basis. The adjustment to convert certain income to a fully taxable equivalent basis consists of dividing tax-exempt income by one minus the combined federal and state income tax rate of 26.135%.
 
Our practice is to limit exposure to interest rate movements by maintaining a significant portion of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities in short-term repricing. In the last several years, on average, approximately 40% of our loan portfolio and approximately 80% of our time deposits have repriced in one year or less. Our current interest rate sensitivity shows that approximately 51% of our loans and 85% of our time deposits will reprice in the next year.

Net Interest Income Quarter-to-Date Analysis

For the three month period ended September 30, 2020, net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $156.5 million, an increase of $5.4 million, or 3.6%, over the same period in 2019. The increase in net interest income was primarily the result of a $21.0 million decrease in interest expense partially offset by a reduction in interest income of $15.7 million.

The reduction in interest income primarily resulted from a decrease of $16.7 million in interest income on loans partially offset by an increase of $1.4 million in interest income on investment securities. During the third quarter of 2020, we generated $16.3 million of additional interest income due to an increase in loan volume, primarily from our Landrum acquisition completed during the fourth quarter of 2019, while a 93 basis point decline in yield resulted in a $33.0 million decrease in interest income. The loan yield for the third quarter of 2020 was 4.54% compared to 5.47% for the same period in 2019. The PPP loan yield was approximately 2.37% (including accretion of net fees), which decreased the loan yield by 16 basis points. Excluding the PPP loans, loan yield for the third quarter of 2020 was 4.70%.

Included in interest income is the additional yield accretion recognized as a result of updated estimates of the cash flows of our loans acquired. Each quarter, we estimate the cash flows expected to be collected from the loans acquired, and adjustments may or may not be required. The cash flows estimate may increase or decrease based on payment histories and loss expectations of the loans. The resulting adjustment to interest income is spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loans. For the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, interest income included $8.9 million and $9.3 million, respectively, for the yield accretion recognized on loans acquired.

The $21.0 million decrease in interest expense is mostly due to the decline in our deposit account rates and our FHLB borrowing rates. Interest expense decreased $24.1 million due to the decrease in yield of 86 basis points on interest-bearing deposit accounts and $1.4 million due to the decrease in yield of 44 basis points on FHLB borrowings. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $3.4 million related to deposit growth primarily due to the Landrum acquisition.

Net Interest Income Year-to-Date Analysis

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis was $492.3 million, an increase of $52.5 million, or 11.9%, over the same period in 2019. The increase in net interest income was the result of a $13.2 million increase in interest income coupled with a $39.2 million decrease in interest expense.

The increase in interest income primarily resulted from a $10.5 million increase in interest income on loans and an increase of $2.9 million in interest income on investment securities. The increase in loan volume during the first nine months of 2020 generated $77.0 million of additional interest income, primarily from our Landrum and Reliance acquisitions completed during 2019, while a 66 basis point decline in yield resulted in a $66.5 million decrease in interest income.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, interest income included $32.5 million and $26.1 million, respectively, for the yield accretion recognized on loans acquired.

The $39.2 million decrease in interest expense is mostly due to the decrease in our deposit account rates and our FHLB borrowing rates. Interest expense decreased $51.6 million due to the decrease in yield of 64 basis points on interest-bearing deposit accounts
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and $5.7 million due to the decrease in yield of 58 basis points on FHLB borrowings. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $14.6 million related to deposit growth primarily due to the Landrum and Reliance acquisitions completed in 2019.

Net Interest Margin
 
Our net interest margin on a fully tax equivalent basis decreased 61 basis points to 3.21% for the three month period ended September 30, 2020, when compared to 3.82% for the same period in 2019. Normalized for all accretion, our core net interest margin for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 was 3.02% and 3.59%, respectively. For the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, our net interest margin on a fully tax equivalent basis decreased 45 basis points to 3.43% when compared to 3.88% for the same period in 2019.

The decreases in the net interest margin during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 were primarily driven by the lower interest rate environment, additional liquidity created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lower yielding PPP loans originated during the second and third quarters of 2020. The impact of these items on net interest margin for the third quarter 2020 was 30 basis points, bringing the net interest margin adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity to 3.51%.

During March 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee, or FOMC, of the Federal Reserve substantially reduced interest rates in response to the economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and rates have continued to remain low through the third quarter of 2020. As such, our variable rate loan portfolio has repriced to a lower yield and we have worked to lower the cost of deposits. In addition, our decreased net interest margin is being driven by the decrease in our non-PPP loan portfolio and we expect continued pressure on the net interest margin for the remainder of 2020.

Net Interest Income Tables
 
Tables 1 and 2 reflect an analysis of net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, as well as changes in fully taxable equivalent net interest margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 versus September 30, 2019.

Table 1: Analysis of Net Interest Margin
(FTE = Fully Taxable Equivalent using an effective tax rate of 26.135%)


 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Interest income$179,725 $196,406 $580,610 $569,732 
FTE adjustment2,864 1,843 7,519 5,150 
Interest income – FTE182,589 198,249 588,129 574,882 
Interest expense26,115 47,142 95,836 135,045 
Net interest income – FTE$156,474 $151,107 $492,293 $439,837 
Yield on earning assets – FTE3.74 %5.02 %4.10 %5.07 %
Cost of interest bearing liabilities0.74 %1.55 %0.90 %1.54 %
Net interest spread – FTE3.00 %3.47 %3.20 %3.53 %
Net interest margin – FTE3.21 %3.82 %3.43 %3.88 %

Table 2: Changes in Fully Taxable Equivalent Net Interest Margin 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020 vs. 20192020 vs. 2019
Increase due to change in earning assets$22,956 $97,238 
Decrease due to change in earning asset yields(38,616)(83,991)
Decrease due to change in interest bearing liabilities(5,016)(18,835)
Increase due to change in interest rates paid on interest bearing liabilities26,043 58,044 
Increase in net interest income$5,367 $52,456 
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Table 3 shows, for each major category of earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, the average (computed on a daily basis) amount outstanding, the interest earned or expensed on such amount and the average rate earned or expensed for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. The table also shows the average rate earned on all earning assets, the average rate expensed on all interest bearing liabilities, the net interest spread and the net interest margin for the same periods. The analysis is presented on a fully taxable equivalent basis. Nonaccrual loans were included in average loans for the purpose of calculating the rate earned on total loans.

Table 3: Average Balance Sheets and Net Interest Income Analysis
(FTE = Fully Taxable Equivalent using an effective tax rate of 26.135%)

Three Months Ended September 30,
20202019
AverageIncome/Yield/AverageIncome/Yield/
(In thousands)BalanceExpenseRate (%)BalanceExpenseRate (%)
ASSETS
Earning assets:
Interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold
$2,265,233 $623 0.11 $344,761 $1,586 1.83 
Investment securities - taxable
1,534,742 7,193 1.86 1,561,308 9,514 2.42 
Investment securities - non-taxable
1,155,099 10,382 3.58 681,505 6,687 3.89 
Mortgage loans held for sale
145,226 1,012 2.77 39,551 382 3.83 
Loans
14,315,014 163,379 4.54 13,053,540 180,080 5.47 
Total interest earning assets19,415,314 182,589 3.74 15,680,665 198,249 5.02 
Non-earning assets2,350,007 2,039,933 
Total assets$21,765,321 $17,720,598 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Interest bearing liabilities:
Interest bearing transaction and savings deposits
$8,977,886 $6,769 0.30 $7,322,395 $21,363 1.16 
Time deposits2,998,091 9,437 1.25 3,122,422 15,573 1.98 
Total interest bearing deposits11,975,977 16,206 0.54 10,444,817 36,936 1.40 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
386,631 335 0.34 123,883 249 0.80 
Other borrowings1,357,278 4,943 1.45 1,127,886 5,381 1.89 
Subordinated debt and debentures382,672 4,631 4.81 354,178 4,576 5.13 
Total interest bearing liabilities14,102,558 26,115 0.74 12,050,764 47,142 1.55 
Non-interest bearing liabilities:
Non-interest bearing deposits4,529,782 3,012,544 
Other liabilities190,169 288,517 
Total liabilities18,822,509 15,351,825 
Stockholders’ equity2,942,812 2,368,773 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$21,765,321 $17,720,598 
Net interest spread3.00 3.47 
Net interest margin$156,474 3.21 $151,107 3.82 


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Nine Months Ended September 30,
20202019
AverageIncome/Yield/AverageIncome/Yield/
(In thousands)BalanceExpenseRate (%)BalanceExpenseRate (%)
ASSETS
Earning assets:
Interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold
$1,742,166 $3,667 0.28 $338,349 $4,861 1.92 
Investment securities - taxable
1,832,577 27,319 1.99 1,642,335 32,538 2.65 
Investment securities - non-taxable
974,748 26,888 3.68 632,780 18,730 3.96 
Mortgage loans held for sale
91,889 1,961 2.85 29,852 924 4.14 
Loans
14,530,938 528,294 4.86 12,531,355 517,829 5.52 
Total interest earning assets19,172,318 588,129 4.10 15,174,671 574,882 5.07 
Non-earning assets2,331,246 1,965,748 
Total assets$21,503,564 $17,140,419 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:      
Interest bearing liabilities:      
Interest bearing transaction and savings deposits
$9,040,053 $31,926 0.47 $7,072,363 $59,983 1.13 
Time deposits3,068,459 33,563 1.46 2,993,336 42,499 1.90 
Total interest bearing deposits12,108,512 65,489 0.72 10,065,699 102,482 1.36 
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
370,116 1,431 0.52 122,195 642 0.70 
Other borrowings1,357,543 14,783 1.45 1,209,511 18,393 2.03 
Subordinated debt and debentures386,129 14,133 4.89 354,088 13,528 5.11 
Total interest bearing liabilities14,222,300 95,836 0.90 11,751,493 135,045 1.54 
Non-interest bearing liabilities:
Non-interest bearing deposits4,164,189 2,852,687 
Other liabilities205,942 208,397 
Total liabilities18,592,431 14,812,577 
Stockholders’ equity2,911,133 2,327,842 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$21,503,564 $17,140,419 
Net interest spread3.20 3.53 
Net interest margin$492,293 3.43 $439,837 3.88 

58




Table 4 shows changes in interest income and interest expense resulting from changes in volume and changes in interest rates for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, as compared to the same periods of the prior year. The changes in interest rate and volume have been allocated to changes in average volume and changes in average rates in proportion to the relationship of absolute dollar amounts of the changes in rates and volume.
 
Table 4: Volume/Rate Analysis 

Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2020 vs. 20192020 vs. 2019
(In thousands, on a fully taxable equivalent basis)VolumeYield/
Rate
TotalVolumeYield/
Rate
Total
Increase (decrease) in:   
Interest income:   
Interest bearing balances due from banks and federal funds sold
$1,727 $(2,690)$(963)$5,890 $(7,084)$(1,194)
Investment securities - taxable(159)(2,162)(2,321)3,472 (8,691)(5,219)
Investment securities - non-taxable4,299 (604)3,695 9,510 (1,352)8,158 
Mortgage loans held for sale764 (134)630 1,402 (365)1,037 
Loans16,325 (33,026)(16,701)76,964 (66,499)10,465 
Total22,956 (38,616)(15,660)97,238 (83,991)13,247 
Interest expense:
Interest bearing transaction and savings accounts3,993 (18,587)(14,594)13,545 (41,602)(28,057)
Time deposits(598)(5,538)(6,136)1,043 (9,979)(8,936)
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase
292 (206)86 999 (210)789 
Other borrowings974 (1,412)(438)2,059 (5,669)(3,610)
Subordinated notes and debentures355 (300)55 1,189 (584)605 
Total5,016 (26,043)(21,027)18,835 (58,044)(39,209)
Increase (decrease) in net interest income$17,940 $(12,573)$5,367 $78,403 $(25,947)$52,456 

PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES
 
The provision for credit losses represents management’s determination of the amount necessary to be charged against the current period’s earnings in order to maintain the allowance for credit losses at a level considered appropriate in relation to the estimated lifetime risk inherent in the loan portfolio. The level of provision to the allowance is based on management’s judgment, with consideration given to the composition, maturity and other qualitative characteristics of the portfolio, assessment of current economic conditions, past due and non-performing loans and historical net credit loss experience. It is management’s practice to review the allowance on a monthly basis and, after considering the factors previously noted, to determine the level of provision made to the allowance.
 
The provision for credit losses for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, was $23.0 million and $68.0 million, respectively, compared to $22.0 million and $38.3 million for the same periods ended September 30, 2019, increases of $1.0 million and $29.7 million. The increase during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 was primarily based on additional qualitative adjustments specific to industries that are more adversely impacted by the current and expected economic scenarios, such as the restaurant, retail, and hotel industries. These adjustments are intended to account for potential problem credits that have not materialized into any identifiable metrics or delinquencies. We additionally updated the credit loss forecast models using multiple Moody’s economic scenarios. The updates to the credit loss forecast models capture the possibility of a more prolonged recovery to the economies than originally expected that affect our loan portfolio. The increase during the nine month period ended September 30, 2020 also included an additional provision related to problem energy credits, ultimately charged-off during the second quarter of 2020 for a total of $32.6 million, that experienced further deterioration beginning in first quarter of 2020 and were negatively impacted by the sharp decline in commodity pricing. The remainder of the increase was related to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that is incorporated in the Company’s allowance for credit losses.

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NON-INTEREST INCOME
 
Non-interest income is principally derived from recurring fee income, which includes service charges, trust fees and debit and credit card fees. Non-interest income also includes income on the sale of mortgage and SBA loans, investment banking income, income from the increase in cash surrender values of bank owned life insurance and gains (losses) from sales of securities.

Total non-interest income was $71.9 million for the three month period ended September 30, 2020, a decrease of approximately $12.8 million, or 15.1%, compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to the gain on sale of Visa Inc. class B common stock of $42.9 million that was recognized during the third quarter of 2019. We benefited from additional gains on the sale of securities and incremental mortgage lending income, collectively $24.4 million, during the third quarter of 2020. During the third quarter of 2020, we evaluated our security portfolio and projected calls that we expected to occur over the next year and a half with large gains. As a result, we sold approximately $515.6 million of investment securities resulting in a net gain of $22.3 million during the third quarter of 2020.

For the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, total non-interest income was $204.5 million, an increase of approximately $45.1 million, or 28.3%, compared to the same period in 2019. During the first nine months of 2020, we sold approximately $1.7 billion of investment securities resulting in a net gain of $54.8 million. The majority of the investment securities were sold in March 2020, in response to the unfolding events of the COVID-19 pandemic, as we focused on the creation of additional liquidity and strengthening our balance sheet. We used a portion of the liquidity generated by these investment security sales to fund PPP loans originated during the second and third quarters of 2020. We plan to reinvest back into our investment portfolio when the PPP loans are repaid, subject to economic conditions and other concerns at such time. Additionally, the gains on sale from the Texas Branch Sale and Colorado Branch Sales of $8.1 million, which we consider a non-core item, contributed to the increase during 2020.

The increases of $9.5 million and $20.5 million in mortgage lending income in the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively, was a result of the current low mortgage interest rate environment as well as increased business related to our Landrum and Reliance acquisitions.

Table 5 shows non-interest income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, as well as changes in 2020 from 2019.
 
Table 5: Non-Interest Income

Three Months Ended
September 30,
2020
Change from
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2020
Change from
(Dollars in thousands)202020192019202020192019
Trust income$6,744 $6,108 $636 10.4%$21,148 $17,610 $3,538 20.1%
Service charges on deposit accounts10,385 10,825 (440)(4.1)32,283 31,450 833 2.7
Other service charges and fees1,764 1,308 456 34.94,841 3,909 932 23.8
Mortgage lending income13,971 4,509 9,462 *31,476 10,988 20,488 186.5
SBA lending income304 956 (652)(68.2)845 2,348 (1,503)(64.0)
Investment banking income557 513 44 8.62,005 1,491 514 34.5
Debit and credit card fees8,850 7,059 1,791 25.424,760 20,369 4,391 21.6
Bank owned life insurance income1,591 1,302 289 22.24,334 3,357 977 29.1
Gain on sale of securities, net22,305 7,374 14,931 *54,790 12,937 41,853 *
Gain on sale of Visa, Inc. class B common stock— 42,860 (42,860)*— 42,860 (42,860)(100.0)
Gain on sale of banking operations, net— — — 8,093 — 8,093 *
Other income5,380 1,861 3,519 189.119,897 12,082 7,815 64.7
Total non-interest income$71,851 $84,675 $(12,824)(15.1)%$204,472 $159,401 $45,071 28.3%
_____________________________
*    Not meaningful

Recurring fee income (total service charges, trust fees, debit and credit card fees) for the three month period ended September 30, 2020 was $27.7 million, an increase of $2.4 million from the same period in 2019. Recurring fee income for the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, was $83.0 million, an increase of $9.7 million from the nine month period ended September 30, 2019, primarily the result of the Landrum and Reliance acquisitions completed during 2019.
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NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
 
Non-interest expense consists of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy, equipment, foreclosure losses and other expenses necessary for our operations. Management remains committed to controlling the level of non-interest expense through the continued use of expense control measures. We utilize an extensive profit planning and reporting system involving all subsidiaries. Based on a needs assessment of the business plan for the upcoming year, monthly and annual profit plans are developed, including manpower and capital expenditure budgets. These profit plans are subject to extensive initial reviews and monitored by management monthly. Variances from the plan are reviewed monthly and, when required, management takes corrective action intended to ensure financial goals are met. We also regularly monitor staffing levels at each subsidiary to ensure productivity and overhead are in line with existing workload requirements.
 
Non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was $118.9 million, an increase of $12.1 million, or 11.3%, from the same period in 2019. Non-interest expense during the third quarter of 2020 included $3.7 million of pre-tax non-core items: $902,000 of merger-related costs, $2.3 million of early retirement program expenses, and $442,000 of net branch right sizing costs. Normalizing for these non-core costs, core non-interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased $11.3 million, or 10.9%, from the same period in 2019.

Non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $365.4 million, an increase of $46.3 million, or 14.5%, from the same period in 2019. Normalizing for the non-core costs, core non-interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased $55.4 million, or 18.4%, from the same period in 2019.

The increases during both periods were primarily due to the incremental operating expenses from the Landrum and Reliance acquisitions completed during 2019. Also, our Next Generation Banking (“NGB”) technology initiative has made substantial progress and the incremental software and technology expenditures of $12.4 million during the first nine months of 2020 were primarily related to this initiative.

Table 6 below shows non-interest expense for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, as well as changes in 2020 from 2019.
 
Table 6: Non-Interest Expense 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
2020
Change from
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2020
Change from
(Dollars in thousands)202020192019202020192019
Salaries and employee benefits$58,798 $51,888 $6,910 13.3%$183,873 $161,096 $22,777 14.1%
Early retirement program2,346 177 2,169 *2,839 3,464 (625)(18.0)
Occupancy expense, net9,647 8,342 1,305 15.628,374 22,736 5,638 24.8
Furniture and equipment expense6,231 4,898 1,333 27.218,098 12,462 5,636 45.2
Other real estate and foreclosure expense
602 1,125 (523)(46.5)1,201 2,353 (1,152)(49.0)
Deposit insurance2,244 — 2,244 *7,557 4,550 3,007 66.1
Merger related costs902 2,556 (1,654)(64.7)3,800 11,548 (7,748)(67.1)
Other operating expenses:
Professional services3,779 4,310 (531)(12.3)13,529 12,125 1,404 11.6
Postage1,932 1,471 461 31.35,937 4,642 1,295 27.9
Telephone2,103 2,506 (403)(16.1)6,738 5,605 1,133 20.2
Credit card expenses5,190 4,200 990 23.614,154 11,822 2,332 19.7
Marketing3,517 7,021 (3,504)(49.9)11,430 12,514 (1,084)(8.7)
Software and technology9,552 6,531 3,021 46.329,021 16,607 12,414 74.8
Operating supplies824 493 331 67.12,588 1,671 917 54.9
Amortization of intangibles3,362 2,947 415 14.110,144 8,535 1,609 18.9
Branch right sizing expense442 160 282 176.32,401 3,092 (691)(22.4)
Other expense7,478 8,240 (762)(9.3)23,676 24,195 (519)(2.2)
Total non-interest expense$118,949 $106,865 $12,084 11.3%$365,360 $319,017 $46,343 14.5%
_____________________________
*    Not meaningful 

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LOAN PORTFOLIO
 
Our loan portfolio averaged $14.53 billion and $12.53 billion during the first nine months of 2020 and 2019, respectively. As of September 30, 2020, total loans were $14.02 billion, a decrease of $408.3 million from December 31, 2019. The most significant components of the loan portfolio were loans to businesses (commercial loans, commercial real estate loans and agricultural loans) and individuals (consumer loans, credit card loans and single-family residential real estate loans).

We seek to manage our credit risk by diversifying our loan portfolio, determining that borrowers have adequate sources of cash flow for loan repayment without liquidation of collateral, obtaining and monitoring collateral, providing an appropriate allowance for credit losses and regularly reviewing loans through the internal loan review process. The loan portfolio is diversified by borrower, purpose, industry and geographic region. We seek to use diversification within the loan portfolio to reduce credit risk, thereby minimizing the adverse impact on the portfolio, if weaknesses develop in either the economy or a particular segment of borrowers. Collateral requirements are based on credit assessments of borrowers and may be used to recover the debt in case of default. We use the allowance for credit losses as a method to value the loan portfolio at its estimated collectible amount. Loans are regularly reviewed to facilitate the identification and monitoring of deteriorating credits.

The balances of loans outstanding at the indicated dates are reflected in Table 7, according to type of loan.

Table 7: Loan Portfolio
 
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands)20202019
Consumer:  
Credit cards$172,880 $204,802 
Other consumer190,736 249,195 
Total consumer363,616 453,997 
Real estate:
Construction and development1,853,360 2,248,673 
Single family residential1,997,070 2,414,753 
Other commercial6,132,823 6,358,514 
Total real estate9,983,253 11,021,940 
Commercial:
Commercial2,907,798 2,451,119 
Agricultural241,687 191,525 
Total commercial3,149,485 2,642,644 
Other521,088 307,123 
Total loans before allowance for credit losses$14,017,442 $14,425,704 

Consumer loans consist of credit card loans and other consumer loans. Consumer loans were $363.6 million at September 30, 2020, or 2.6% of total loans, compared to $454.0 million, or 3.1% of total loans at December 31, 2019. The decrease in consumer loans from December 31, 2019, to September 30, 2020, was primarily due to the expected seasonal decline in our credit card portfolio.

Real estate loans consist of construction and development (“C&D”) loans, single-family residential loans and commercial real estate (“CRE”) loans. Real estate loans were $9.98 billion at September 30, 2020, or 71.2% of total loans, compared to $11.02 billion, or 76.4%, of total loans at December 31, 2019, a decrease of $1.0 billion, or 9.4%. Our C&D loans decreased by $395.3 million, or 17.6%, single family residential loans decreased by $417.7 million, or 17.3%, and CRE loans decreased by $225.7 million, or 3.5%. Real estate loans declined approximately $104.6 million due to the Colorado Branch Sale. The remaining decrease was due to less activity as a result of the pandemic and our effort to manage our real estate portfolio concentration. In the near term, we expect to continue to manage our C&D and CRE portfolio concentration by developing deeper relationships with our customers.


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Commercial loans consist of non-real estate loans related to business and agricultural loans. Total commercial loans were $3.15 billion at September 30, 2020, or 22.5% of total loans, compared to $2.64 billion, or 18.3% of total loans at December 31, 2019, an increase of $506.8 million, or 19.2%, that is mostly in our non-agricultural commercial loan portfolio. The $970.5 million in PPP loan originations drove the increase in commercial loans during the first nine months of 2020.

Management believes that loan demand is very weak in almost every aspect of our commercial economy, which we believe we see through our lower loan pipeline. Our customers appear to be deleveraging and not taking on new risks due to the economic uncertainty stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that trend will continue until our customers are more confident in the economy.

Other loans mainly consists of mortgage warehouse lending. Mortgage volume surged during the second and third quarters of 2020 due to the low interest rate environment leading to an increase of $214.0 million in other loans primarily from mortgage warehouse lines of credit.

ASSET QUALITY
 
Non-performing loans are comprised of (a) nonaccrual loans, (b) loans that are contractually past due 90 days and (c) other loans for which terms have been restructured to provide a reduction or deferral of interest or principal, because of deterioration in the financial position of the borrower. The subsidiary bank recognizes income principally on the accrual basis of accounting. When loans are classified as nonaccrual, generally, the accrued interest is charged off and no further interest is accrued. Loans, excluding credit card loans, are placed on a nonaccrual basis either: (1) when there are serious doubts regarding the collectability of principal or interest, or (2) when payment of interest or principal is 90 days or more past due and either (i) not fully secured or (ii) not in the process of collection. If a loan is determined by management to be uncollectible, the portion of the loan determined to be uncollectible is then charged to the allowance for credit losses.

When credit card loans reach 90 days past due and there are attachable assets, the accounts are considered for litigation. Credit card loans are generally charged off when payment of interest or principal exceeds 150 days past due. The credit card recovery group pursues account holders until it is determined, on a case-by-case basis, to be uncollectible.

Total non-performing assets increased $67.2 million from December 31, 2019 to September 30, 2020. Nonaccrual loans increased by $74.4 million during the period and foreclosed assets held for sale and other real estate owned decreased by $6.5 million. The increase in nonaccrual loans during 2020 is primarily in our CRE loan portfolio. Approximately $31.1 million and $18.2 million related to hotel real estate and student housing accommodations, respectively, moved to nonaccrual during the first nine months of the year. The remaining increase was related to various other CRE loans and commercial loan relationships. We continue to actively pursue an exit of our energy lending portfolio, except for our customers who have a diversified relationship with us.

Non-performing assets, including troubled debt restructurings (“TDRs”) and acquired foreclosed assets, as a percent of total assets were 0.87% at September 30, 2020, compared to 0.57% at December 31, 2019. From time to time, certain borrowers are experiencing declines in income and cash flow. As a result, these borrowers are seeking to reduce contractual cash outlays, the most prominent being debt payments. In an effort to preserve our net interest margin and earning assets, we are open to working with existing customers in order to maximize the collectability of the debt.
 
When we restructure a loan to a borrower that is experiencing financial difficulty and grant a concession that we would not otherwise consider, a “troubled debt restructuring” results and the Company classifies the loan as a TDR. The Company grants various types of concessions, primarily interest rate reduction and/or payment modifications or extensions, with an occasional forgiveness of principal.
 
Once an obligation has been restructured because of such credit problems, it continues to be considered a TDR until paid in full; or, if an obligation yields a market interest rate and no longer has any concession regarding payment amount or amortization, then it is not considered a TDR at the beginning of the calendar year after the year in which the improvement takes place. Our TDR balance increased to $8.6 million at September 30, 2020 from $7.4 million at December 31, 2019.

TDRs are individually evaluated for expected credit losses. We assess the exposure for each modification, either by the fair value of the underlying collateral or the present value of expected cash flows, and determine if a specific allowance for credit losses is needed.

We return TDRs to accrual status only if (1) all contractual amounts due can reasonably be expected to be repaid within a prudent period, and (2) repayment has been in accordance with the contract for a sustained period, typically at least six months.

63




The provisions in the CARES Act included an election to not apply the guidance on accounting for TDRs to loan modifications, such as extensions or deferrals, related to COVID-19 made between March 1, 2020 and the earlier of (i) December 31, 2020 or (ii) 60 days after the President terminates the COVID-19 national emergency declaration. The relief can only be applied to modifications for borrowers that were not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019. The Company elected to adopt these provisions of the CARES Act and is following the Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (Revised) issued by regulatory agencies.

We have more than 3,900 loans totaling approximately $3.2 billion which have received a COVID-19 modification. See Note 5, Loans and Allowance for Credit Losses, in the accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to these loans. Of these COVID-19 loan modifications, approximately $550.8 million, or 17.4%, are commercial loan modifications that are in an internal COVID-19 status category of 4-7 as of mid-October 2020, further discussed below, comprised of the following industries:

Table 8: Commercial COVID-19 Loan Modifications Status Category 4-7 by Industry

(Dollars in thousands)Loan Balance%
Hotels$319,991 58.1 %
Restaurants - Real Estate7,209 1.3 
Restaurants - Non-Real Estate1,897 0.4 
Retail15,836 2.9 
Nursing/Extended Care42,674 7.7 
Multifamily62,320 11.3 
All Other100,905 18.3 
Total$550,832 100.0 %

Table 9: Commercial COVID-19 Loan Modifications Status Category 4-7

(Dollars in thousands)Loan BalanceNumber of Loans
Internal Status Category 4$335,798 105
Internal Status Category 5195,312 71
Internal Status Category 617,242 44
Internal Status Category 72,480 8
Total$550,832 228

As previously discussed, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the hotel, restaurant and retail industries, causing our borrowers in those industries to require loan modifications. We expect most of the commercial COVID-19 loan modifications listed above, as illustrated in Table 9, to return to regular payments with no credit downgrade or long-term restructure.

Internal COVID-19 status categories are internal status categories that we use in connection with our COVID-19 loan modification program. A description of the general characteristics of the internal COVID-19 status categories 4-7 is as follows:

Category 4 Borrower is still in the modification period and expected to need an additional modification. Financial projections show return to original terms, but not at the end of six months. The loan remains collateralized and fully supported by the guarantor.
Category 5 Financial projections do not support return to regular payments OR collateral deterioration is likely, which would not fully support the loan. The guarantors remain engaged and cooperative.
Category 6 Financial projections do not support return to regular payments AND collateral deterioration is likely, which would not fully support the loan. The guarantors remain engaged and cooperative.
Category 7 Financial projections do not support return to regular payments OR collateral deterioration is likely, which would not fully support the loan. The guarantors lack the capacity and are unwilling or unable to develop a new operating strategy.
64




We developed these status categories for internal purposes only and they are not a substitute or a replacement for loan risk ratings used by us under US GAAP.

We continue to maintain good asset quality, compared to the industry. Strong asset quality remains a primary focus of our strategy. The allowance for credit losses as a percent of total loans was 1.77% as of September 30, 2020. Non-performing loans equaled 1.20% of total loans. Non-performing assets were 0.85% of total assets, a 31 basis point increase from December 31, 2019. The allowance for credit losses was 148% of non-performing loans. Our annualized net charge-offs to total loans for the first nine months of 2020 was 0.43%. Excluding credit cards, the annualized net charge-offs to total loans for the same period was 0.41%. Annualized net credit card charge-offs to total credit card loans were 1.75%, compared to 1.86% during the full year 2019, and 229 basis points better than the most recently published industry average charge-off ratio as reported by the Federal Reserve for all banks.

Table 10 presents information concerning non-performing assets, including nonaccrual loans at amortized cost and foreclosed assets held for sale.
 
Table 10: Non-performing Assets
 
September 30,December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20202019
Nonaccrual loans (1)
$167,713 $93,330 
Loans past due 90 days or more (principal or interest payments)174 856 
Total non-performing loans167,887 94,186 
Other non-performing assets:
Foreclosed assets held for sale and other real estate owned12,590 19,121 
Other non-performing assets1,983 1,964 
Total other non-performing assets14,573 21,085 
Total non-performing assets$182,460 $115,271 
Performing TDRs$3,379 $5,887 
Allowance for credit losses to non-performing loans148 %72 %
Non-performing loans to total loans1.20 %0.65 %
Non-performing assets (including performing TDRs) to total assets0.87 %0.57 %
Non-performing assets to total assets0.85 %0.54 %
_______________________________________
(1)Includes nonaccrual TDRs of approximately $5,177,000 at September 30, 2020 and $1,561,000 at December 31, 2019.

There was no interest income on nonaccrual loans recorded for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. 


65




ALLOWANCE FOR CREDIT LOSSES
 
The allowance for credit losses is a reserve established through a provision for credit losses charged to expense which represents management’s best estimate of lifetime expected losses based on reasonable and supportable forecasts, historical loss experience, and other qualitative considerations.

Loans with similar risk characteristics such as loan type, collateral type, and internal risk ratings are aggregated into homogeneous segments for assessment. Reserve factors are based on estimated probability of default and loss given default for each segment. The estimates are determined based on economic forecasts over the reasonable and supportable forecast period based on projected performance of economic variables that have a statistical correlation with the historical loss experience of the segments. For contractual periods that extend beyond the one-year forecast period, the estimates revert to average historical loss experiences over a one-year period on a straight-line basis.

We also include qualitative adjustments to the allowance based on factors and considerations that have not otherwise been fully accounted for. Qualitative adjustments include, but are not limited to:

Changes in asset quality - Adjustments related to trending credit quality metrics including delinquency, nonperforming loans, charge-offs, and risk ratings that may not be fully accounted for in the reserve factor.
Changes in the nature and volume of the portfolio - Adjustments related to current changes in the loan portfolio that are not fully represented or accounted for in the reserve factors.
Changes in lending and loan monitoring policies and procedures - Adjustments related to current changes in lending and loan monitoring procedures as well as review of specific internal policy compliance metrics.
Changes in the experience, ability, and depth of lending management and other relevant staff - Adjustments to measure increasing or decreasing credit risk related to lending and loan monitoring management.
Changes in the value of underlying collateral of collateralized loans - Adjustments related to improving or deterioration of the value of underlying collateral that are not fully captured in the reserve factors.
Changes in and the existence and effect of any concentrations of credit - Adjustments related to credit risk of specific industries that are not fully captured in the reserve factors.
Changes in regional and local economic and business conditions and developments - Adjustments related to expected and current economic conditions at a regional or local-level that are not fully captured within our reasonable and supportable forecast.
Data imprecisions due to limited historical loss data - Adjustments related to limited historical loss data that is representative of the collective loan portfolio.

Loans that do not share similar risk characteristics are evaluated on an individual basis. These evaluations are typically performed on loans with a deteriorated internal risk rating or that are classified as a TDR. The allowance for credit loss is determined based on several methods including estimating the fair value of the underlying collateral or the present value of expected cash flows.


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An analysis of the allowance for credit losses for loans is shown in Table 11.
 
Table 11: Allowance for Credit Losses 
(In thousands)20202019
Balance, beginning of year$68,244 $56,694 
Impact of CECL adoption151,377 — 
Loans charged off:
Credit card3,326 3,298 
Other consumer3,062 3,582 
Real estate3,373 3,000 
Commercial40,537 22,893 
Total loans charged off50,298 32,773 
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Credit card773 734 
Other consumer1,110 2,053 
Real estate474 355 
Commercial1,381 1,190 
Total recoveries3,738 4,332 
Net loans charged off46,560 28,441 
Provision for credit losses75,190 38,337 
Balance, September 30$248,251 $66,590 
Loans charged off:
Credit card1,287 
Other consumer1,425 
Real estate892 
Commercial459 
Total loans charged off4,063 
Recoveries of loans previously charged off:
Credit card287 
Other consumer304 
Real estate146 
Commercial77 
Total recoveries814 
Net loans charged off3,249 
Provision for credit losses4,903 
Balance, end of year$68,244 

Provision for Credit Losses
 
The amount of provision added to the allowance during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, and for the year ended December 31, 2019, was based on management’s judgment, with consideration given to the composition of the portfolio, historical loan loss experience, assessment of current economic forecasts and conditions, past due and non-performing loans and net loss experience. It is management’s practice to review the allowance on a monthly basis, and after considering the factors previously noted, to determine the level of provision made to the allowance. 

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Allowance for Credit Losses Allocation
 
As of September 30, 2020, the allowance for credit losses reflected an increase of approximately $180.0 million from December 31, 2019 while loans decreased $408.3 million over the same nine month period. The allocation in each category within the allowance generally reflects the overall changes in the loan portfolio mix. During the first quarter of 2020, we recorded an additional allowance for credit losses for loans of approximately $151.4 million due to the adoption of CECL.

The significant impact to the allowance for credit losses at the date of adoption was driven by the substantial amount of loans acquired held by the Company. We had approximately one third of total loans categorized as acquired at the adoption date with very little reserve allocated to them due to the previous incurred loss impairment methodology. As such, the amount of the CECL adoption impact was greater on the Company when compared to a non-acquisitive bank.

The remaining increase in the allowance for credit losses during the first nine months of 2020 was predominately related to updated credit loss forecast models using multiple Moody’s economic scenarios previously discussed in Provision for Credit Losses as well as continued economic uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain industries are being more adversely impacted than others by this pandemic, such as the restaurant, retail and hotel industries, and there remains substantial uncertainty regarding how borrowers in these industries will recover. Our allowance for credit losses at September 30, 2020 was at the high-end of our calculated range, although it was considered appropriate given the considerable amount of uncertainty as to the structure and timing of potential economic recovery, future of government assistance/election, and other related factors.

The following table sets forth the sum of the amounts of the allowance for credit losses attributable to individual loans within each category, or loan categories in general. The table also reflects the percentage of loans in each category to the total loan portfolio for each of the periods indicated. The allowance for credit losses by loan category is determined by i) our estimated reserve factors by category including applicable qualitative adjustments and ii) any specific allowance allocations that are identified on individually evaluated loans. The amounts shown are not necessarily indicative of the actual future losses that may occur within individual categories.
 
Table 12: Allocation of Allowance for Credit Losses
 
 September 30, 2020December 31, 2019
(Dollars in thousands)Allowance
Amount
% of
loans (1)
Allowance
Amount
% of
loans (1)
Credit cards$8,600 1.2 %$4,051 1.4 %
Other consumer7,175 1.4 %1,998 1.7 %
Real estate181,917 71.2 %39,161 76.5 %
Commercial49,248 22.5 %22,863 18.3 %
Other1,311 3.7 %171 2.1 %
Total$248,251 100.0 %$68,244 100.0 %
_______________________________________
(1)Percentage of loans in each category to total loans.

DEPOSITS
 
Deposits are our primary source of funding for earning assets and are primarily developed through our network of approximately 226 financial centers as of September 30, 2020. We offer a variety of products designed to attract and retain customers with a continuing focus on developing core deposits. Our core deposits consist of all deposits excluding time deposits of $100,000 or more and brokered deposits. As of September 30, 2020, core deposits comprised 84.9% of our total deposits.
 
We continually monitor the funding requirements along with competitive interest rates in the markets we serve. Because of our community banking philosophy, our executives in the local markets, with oversight by the Asset Liability Committee and the Bank’s Treasury Department, establish the interest rates offered on both core and non-core deposits. This approach ensures that the interest rates being paid are competitively priced for each particular deposit product and structured to meet the funding requirements. We believe we are paying a competitive rate when compared with pricing in those markets.


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We manage our interest expense through deposit pricing. We believe that additional funds can be attracted and deposit growth can be accelerated through deposit pricing if we experience increased loan demand or other liquidity needs. We can also utilize brokered deposits as an additional source of funding to meet liquidity needs. We are continually monitoring and looking for opportunities to fairly reprice our deposits while remaining competitive in this current challenging rate environment.

Our total deposits as of September 30, 2020, were $16.25 billion, an increase of $137.7 million from December 31, 2019. Non-interest bearing transaction accounts, interest bearing transaction accounts and savings accounts totaled $13.4 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to $12.8 billion at December 31, 2019, an increase of $612.7 million. Total time deposits decreased $475.0 million to $2.8 billion at September 30, 2020, from $3.3 billion at December 31, 2019. We had $513.4 million and $1.1 billion of brokered deposits at September 30, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively. We are managing our balance sheet and our net interest margin by continuing to eliminate several high-cost deposits related to public funds and brokered deposits.

OTHER BORROWINGS AND SUBORDINATED NOTES AND DEBENTURES
 
Our total debt was $1.73 billion and $1.69 billion at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The outstanding balance for September 30, 2020 includes $1.3 billion in FHLB short-term advances; $9.0 million in FHLB long-term advances; $330.0 million in subordinated notes; $52.7 million of trust preferred securities and unamortized debt issuance costs; and $33.8 million of other long-term debt.

The FHLB short-term advances outstanding at the end of the third quarter 2020 are FHLB Owns the Option (“FOTO”) advances which are a low cost, fixed-rate source of funding in return for granting to FHLB the flexibility to choose a termination date earlier than the maturity date. Our FOTO advances outstanding at September 30, 2020 have 10 to 15 year maturity dates with lockout periods that have expired and, as a result, are considered and monitored as short-term advances. We analyze the possibility of the FHLB exercising the options along with the market expected rate outcome.

We assumed trust preferred securities and other subordinated debt in an aggregate principal amount, net of discounts, of $33.9 million related to the Landrum acquisition during 2019. During the second quarter of 2020, we repaid $5.9 million of other subordinated debt acquired from Landrum.
 
In March 2018, we issued $330 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes (“Notes”) at a public offering price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Company incurred $3.6 million in debt issuance costs related to the offering. The Notes will mature on April 1, 2028 and are subordinated in right of payment to the payment of our other existing and future senior indebtedness, including all our general creditors. The Notes are obligations of the Company only and are not obligations of, and are not guaranteed by, any of its subsidiaries.

CAPITAL
 
Overview
 
At September 30, 2020, total capital was $2.94 billion. Capital represents shareholder ownership in the Company – the book value of assets in excess of liabilities. At September 30, 2020, our common equity to asset ratio was 13.72% compared to 14.06% at year-end 2019.
 
Capital Stock
 
On February 27, 2009, at a special meeting, our shareholders approved an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation to establish 40,040,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value. The aggregate liquidation preference of all shares of preferred stock cannot exceed $80,000,000.
 
On February 12, 2019, we filed Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“February Amended Articles”) with the Arkansas Secretary of State. The February Amended Articles classified and designated three series of preferred stock out of our authorized preferred stock: Series A Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share (having 40,000 authorized shares); Series B Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share (having 2,000.02 authorized shares); and 7% Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, Series C (having 140 authorized shares).


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On October 29, 2019, we filed our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (“October Amended Articles”) with the Arkansas Secretary of State. The October Amended Articles classified and designated Series D Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, out of our authorized preferred stock. The October Amended Articles also canceled our 7% Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share, Series C Preferred Stock, of which no shares were ever issued or outstanding.

Stock Repurchase

On July 23, 2012, our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program which authorized the repurchase of up to 1,700,000 shares of common stock (“2012 Program”). On October 22, 2019, we announced a new stock repurchase program (“Program”) that replaced the 2012 Program, under which we may repurchase up to $60,000,000 of our Class A common stock currently issued and outstanding. On March 5, 2020, we announced an amendment to the Program that increased the maximum amount that may be repurchased under the Program from $60,000,000 to $180,000,000. The Program will terminate on October 31, 2021 (unless terminated sooner).

Under the Program, we may repurchase shares of our common stock through open market and privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing, pricing, and amount of any repurchases under the Program will be determined by management at its discretion based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, trading volume and market price of our common stock, corporate considerations, our working capital and investment requirements, general market and economic conditions, and legal requirements. The Program does not obligate us to repurchase any common stock and may be modified, discontinued, or suspended at any time without prior notice. We anticipate funding for this Program to come from available sources of liquidity, including cash on hand and future cash flow.

During the nine month period ended September 30, 2020, we repurchased 4,922,336 shares at an average price of $18.96 under the Program. No shares have been repurchased since March 31, 2020. We had no stock repurchases during the first nine months of 2019. On October 22, 2020, we announced the resumption of stock repurchases under the Program.

Cash Dividends
 
We declared cash dividends on our common stock of $0.51 per share for the first nine months of 2020 compared to $0.48 per share for the first nine months of 2019, an increase of $0.03, or 6%. The timing and amount of future dividends are at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our consolidated earnings, financial condition, liquidity and capital requirements, the amount of cash dividends paid to us by our subsidiaries, applicable government regulations and policies and other factors considered relevant by our Board of Directors. Our Board of Directors anticipates that we will continue to pay quarterly dividends in amounts determined based on the factors discussed above. However, there can be no assurance that we will continue to pay dividends on our common stock at the current levels or at all.

Parent Company Liquidity
 
The primary liquidity needs of the Parent Company are the payment of dividends to shareholders and the funding of debt obligations and cash needs for acquisitions. The primary sources for meeting these liquidity needs are the current cash on hand at the parent company and the future dividends received from Simmons Bank. Payment of dividends by Simmons Bank is subject to various regulatory limitations. See the Liquidity and Market Risk Management discussions of Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for additional information regarding the parent company’s liquidity. The Company continually assesses its capital and liquidity needs and the best way to meet them, including, without limitation, through capital raising via, among other things, equity or debt offerings.
 
Risk Based Capital
 
Our bank subsidiary 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 our financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, we must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of our assets, liabilities and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Our capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors.
 
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require us to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total, Tier 1 and common equity Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined) and of Tier 1 capital (as defined) to average assets (as defined). Management believes that, as of September 30, 2020, we meet all capital adequacy requirements to which we are subject.
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As of the most recent notification from regulatory agencies, the bank subsidiary was well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, the Company and the Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, common equity Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the table. There are no conditions or events since that notification that management believes have changed the institution’s categories.

Our risk-based capital ratios at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are presented in Table 13 below:
 
Table 13: Risk-Based Capital

September 30,December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20202019
Tier 1 capital:  
Stockholders’ equity$2,942,241 $2,988,924 
CECL transition provision134,798 — 
Goodwill and other intangible assets(1,167,357)(1,160,079)
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, net of income taxes(41,509)(20,891)
Total Tier 1 capital1,868,173 1,807,954 
Tier 2 capital:
Trust preferred securities and subordinated debt382,739 388,260 
Qualifying allowance for credit losses and reserve for unfunded commitments96,734 76,644 
Total Tier 2 capital479,473 464,904 
Total risk-based capital$2,347,646 $2,272,858 
Risk weighted assets$14,878,932 $16,554,081 
Assets for leverage ratio$20,652,454 $18,852,798 
Ratios at end of period:
Common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1)12.55 %10.92 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio9.05 %9.59 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio, excluding average PPP loans (non-GAAP)(1)
9.49 %N/A
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio12.56 %10.92 %
Total risk-based capital ratio15.78 %13.73 %
Minimum guidelines:
Common equity Tier 1 ratio (CET1)4.50 %4.50 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio4.00 %4.00 %
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio6.00 %6.00 %
Total risk-based capital ratio8.00 %8.00 %
_______________________________________
(1)PPP loans are 100% federally guaranteed and have a zero percent risk-weight for regulatory capital ratios. Tier 1 leverage ratio, excluding average PPP loans is a non-GAAP measurement.

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Regulatory Capital Changes
 
In December 2018, the Federal Reserve, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) (collectively, the “agencies”) issued a final rule revising regulatory capital rules in anticipation of the adoption of ASU 2016-13 that provided an option to phase in over a three year period on a straight line basis the day-one impact of the adoption on earnings and Tier 1 capital (the “CECL Transition Provision”).

In March 2020 and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agencies issued a new regulatory capital rule revising the CECL Transition Provision to delay the estimated impact on regulatory capital stemming from the implementation of ASU 2016-13. The rule provides banking organizations that implement CECL before the end of 2020 the option to delay for two years an estimate of CECL’s effect on regulatory capital, followed by a three-year transition period (the “2020 CECL Transition Provision”). The Company elected to apply the 2020 CECL Transition Provision.

In July 2013, the Company’s primary federal regulator, the Federal Reserve, published final rules (the “Basel III Capital Rules”) establishing a new comprehensive capital framework for U.S. banks. The rules implement the Basel Committee’s December 2010 framework known as “Basel III” for strengthening international capital standards. The Basel III Capital Rules introduced substantial revisions to the risk-based capital requirements applicable to bank holding companies and depository institutions.
 
The Basel III Capital Rules define the components of capital and address other issues affecting the numerator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios. The rules also address risk weights and other issues affecting the denominator in banking institutions’ regulatory capital ratios and replace the existing risk-weighting approach with a more risk-sensitive approach.
 
The Basel III Capital Rules expanded the risk-weighting categories from four Basel I-derived categories (0%, 20%, 50% and 100%) to a much larger and more risk-sensitive number of categories, depending on the nature of the assets, generally ranging from 0% for U.S. government and agency securities, to 600% for certain equity exposures, and resulting in higher risk weights for a variety of asset categories, including many residential mortgages and certain commercial real estate.
 
The final rules included a new common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.5% and a common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets. The rules also raised the minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets from 4.0% to 6.0% and require a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. The Basel III Capital Rules became effective for the Company and its subsidiary bank on January 1, 2015, with full compliance with all of the final rule’s requirements on January 1, 2019.

Prior to December 31, 2017, Tier 1 capital included common equity Tier 1 capital and certain additional Tier 1 items as provided under the Basel III Capital Rules. The Tier 1 capital for the Company consisted of common equity Tier 1 capital and trust preferred securities. The Basel III Capital Rules include certain provisions that require trust preferred securities to be phased out of qualifying Tier 1 capital when assets surpass $15 billion. As of December 31, 2017, the Company exceeded $15 billion in total assets and the grandfather provisions applicable to its trust preferred securities no longer apply and trust preferred securities are no longer included as Tier 1 capital. Trust preferred securities and qualifying subordinated debt of $382.7 million is included as Tier 2 and total capital as of September 30, 2020.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
 
See the Recently Issued Accounting Standards section in Note 1, Preparation of Interim Financial Statements, in the accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this report for details of recently issued accounting pronouncements and their expected impact on the Company’s ongoing financial position and results of operation.
 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
Certain statements contained in this quarterly report may not be based on historical facts and should be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a future period(s) or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as “believe,” “budget,” “expect,” “foresee,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “indicate,” “target,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “positions,” “prospects,” “predict,” or “potential,” by future conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “might” or “may,” or by variations of such words or by similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, those relating to the Company’s future growth, revenue, assets, asset quality, profitability and customer service, critical accounting policies, net interest margin, non-interest revenue, market conditions related to the Company’s stock repurchase program, acquisition strategy, balance sheet and liquidity management, NGB and other digital banking initiatives, the Company’s ability to recruit and retain key employees, the benefits associated with the Company’s early retirement program and branch closures, the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses, the ability of the Company to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effect of certain new accounting standards on the Company’s financial statements (including, without limitation, the CECL methodology and its anticipated effect on the provision and allowance for credit losses), income tax deductions, credit quality, the level of credit losses from lending commitments, net interest revenue, interest rate sensitivity, loan loss experience, liquidity, capital resources, market risk, earnings, effect of future litigation, legal and regulatory limitations and compliance and competition.
 
These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, and may not be realized due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: changes in the Company’s operating, acquisition, or expansion strategy; the effects of future economic conditions (including unemployment levels and slowdowns in economic growth), governmental monetary and fiscal policies, as well as legislative and regulatory changes; changes in real estate values; the risks of changes in interest rates and their effects on the level and composition of deposits, loan demand and the values of loan collateral, securities and interest sensitive assets and liabilities; changes in the securities markets generally or the price of the Company’s common stock specifically; the effect of the steps the Company takes in response to COVID-19, the severity and duration of the pandemic, including whether there is a widespread resurgence in COVID-19 infections and whether the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbated by the seasonal flu, the pace of recovery when the pandemic subsides and the heightened impact it has on many of the risks described herein; the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on, among other things, the Company’s operations, liquidity, and credit quality; developments in information technology affecting the financial industry; cyber threats, attacks or events; reliance on third parties for key services; changes in the assumptions, forecasts, models, and methodology used to calculate the impact of CECL on the Company’s financial statements; possible adverse rulings, judgements, settlements and other outcomes of pending or future litigation or government actions (including litigation or actions arising from the Company’s participation in and administration of programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic (including, among other things, the PPP loan program authorized by the CARES Act)); the costs of evaluating possible acquisitions and the risks inherent in integrating acquisitions; the effects of competition from other commercial banks, thrifts, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, credit unions, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market and other mutual funds and other financial institutions operating in our market area and elsewhere, including institutions operating regionally, nationally and internationally, together with such competitors offering banking products and services by mail, telephone, computer and the internet; the failure of assumptions underlying the establishment of reserves for possible credit losses, fair value for loans, other real estate owned, and other cautionary statements set forth elsewhere in this report. Please also refer to the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of this quarterly report and the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, and related disclosures in other filings, which have been filed with the SEC and are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to predict or control, and actual results could differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements due to these factors and others. In addition, as a result of these and other factors, our past financial performance should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance.
 
We believe the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to us on the date hereof. However, given the described uncertainties and risks, we cannot guarantee our future performance or results of operations and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, and all written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this section.


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GAAP RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
 
The tables below present computations of core earnings (net income excluding non-core items {gain on sale of branches, merger related costs, early retirement program costs and the net one-time costs of branch right sizing}) (non-GAAP) and core diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP) as well as a computation of tangible book value per share (non-GAAP), tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP) and the core net interest margin (non-GAAP). Non-core items are included in financial results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP). The tables below also present computations of certain figures that are exclusive of the impact of PPP loans: the ratios of common equity to total assets and tangible common equity to tangible assets, each adjusted for PPP loans (each non-GAAP), Tier 1 leverage ratio excluding average PPP loans (non-GAAP), net interest income and net interest margin, each adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity (each non-GAAP), and loan yield excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP).
 
We believe the exclusion of these non-core items in expressing earnings and certain other financial measures, including “core earnings,” provides a meaningful basis for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors and analysts in analyzing the core financial measures of the Company and predicting future performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are also used by management to assess the performance of the Company’s business because management does not consider these non-core items to be relevant to ongoing financial performance. Management and the Board of Directors utilize “core earnings” (non-GAAP) for the following purposes:
 
•   Preparation of the Company’s operating budgets
•   Monthly financial performance reporting
•   Monthly “flash” reporting of consolidated results (management only)
•   Investor presentations of Company performance
 
We believe the presentation of “core earnings” on a diluted per share basis, “core diluted earnings per share” (non-GAAP) and core net interest margin (non-GAAP), provides a meaningful basis for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors and analysts in analyzing the core financial measures of the Company and predicting future performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are also used by management to assess the performance of the Company’s business, because management does not consider these non-core items to be relevant to ongoing financial performance on a per share basis. Management and the Board of Directors utilize “core diluted earnings per share” (non-GAAP) for the following purposes:
 
•   Calculation of annual performance-based incentives for certain executives
•   Calculation of long-term performance-based incentives for certain executives
•   Investor presentations of Company performance
 
We have $1.190 billion and $1.183 billion total goodwill and other intangible assets for the periods ended September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Because our acquisition strategy has resulted in a high level of intangible assets, management believes useful calculations include tangible book value per share (non-GAAP) and tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP).

We believe the exclusion of PPP loans or their impact, as applicable, in expressing earnings and certain other financial measures provides a meaningful basis for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons because PPP loans are 100% federally guaranteed and have very low interest rates. The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures that exclude PPP loans or their impact include the ratios of “common equity to total assets” and “tangible common equity to tangible assets,” each adjusted for PPP loans (each non-GAAP), “Tier 1 leverage ratio excluding average PPP loans” (non-GAAP), “core net interest income” and “net interest margin,” each adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity (each non-GAAP), and “loan yield excluding PPP loans” (non-GAAP). Management believes these non-GAAP presentations will assist investors and analysts in analyzing the core financial measures of the Company, including the performance of the Company’s loan portfolio and the Company’s regulatory capital position, and predicting future performance. Management and the Board of Directors utilize these non-GAAP financial measures for financial performance reporting and investor presentations of Company performance.

We believe that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures will permit investors and analysts to assess the performance of the Company on the same basis as that is applied by management and the Board of Directors.
 

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Non-GAAP financial measures have inherent limitations, are not required to be uniformly applied and are not audited. To mitigate these limitations, we have procedures in place to identify and approve each item that qualifies as non-core to ensure that the Company’s “core” results are properly reflected for period-to-period comparisons. Although these non-GAAP financial measures are frequently used by stakeholders in the evaluation of a company, they have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analyses of results as reported under GAAP. In particular, a measure of earnings that excludes non-core items does not represent the amount that effectively accrues directly to stockholders (i.e., non-core items are included in earnings and stockholders’ equity). Additionally, similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies may not be computed in the same or similar fashion.

See Table 14 below for the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, which exclude non-core items for the periods presented.
 
Table 14: Reconciliation of Core Earnings (non-GAAP) 
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands, except per share data)2020201920202019
Net income available to common stockholders$65,885 $81,826 $201,897 $185,119 
Non-core items:
Gain on sale of branches— — (8,093)— 
Merger related costs902 2,556 3,800 11,548 
Early retirement program2,346 177 2,839 3,464 
Branch right sizing72 160 2,031 3,092 
Tax effect (1)
(867)(756)(151)(4,731)
Net non-core items2,453 2,137 426 13,373 
Core earnings (non-GAAP)$68,338 $83,963 $202,323 $198,492 
Diluted earnings per share(2)
$0.60 $0.84 $1.83 $1.94 
Non-core items:
Gain on sale of branches— — (0.07)— 
Merger related costs0.01 0.04 0.03 0.12 
Early retirement program0.02 — 0.02 0.04 
Branch right sizing— — 0.02 0.03 
Tax effect (1)
— (0.01)— (0.05)
Net non-core items0.03 0.03 — 0.14 
Core diluted earnings per share (non-GAAP)$0.63 $0.87 $1.83 $2.08 
_______________________________________
(1)Effective tax rate of 26.135%.
(2)See Note 17, Earnings Per Share, for number of shares used to determine EPS.


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See Table 15 below for the reconciliation of core other income and core non-interest expense for the periods presented.
 
Table 15: Reconciliation of Core Other Income and Core Non-Interest Expense (non-GAAP) 

 Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In thousands)2020201920202019
Other income$5,380 $44,721 $27,990 $54,942 
Gain on sale of banking operations— — (8,093)— 
Branch right sizing(370)— (370)— 
Core other income (non-GAAP)$5,010 $44,721 $19,527 $54,942 
Non-interest expense$118,949 $106,865 $365,360 $319,017 
Non-core items:
Merger related costs(902)(2,556)(3,800)(11,548)
Early retirement program(2,346)(177)(2,839)(3,464)
Branch right sizing(442)(160)(2,401)(3,092)
Total non-core items(3,690)(2,893)(9,040)(18,104)
Core non-interest expense (non-GAAP)$115,259 $103,972 $356,320 $300,913 


See Table 16 below for the reconciliation of tangible book value per common share.
 
Table 16: Reconciliation of Tangible Book Value per Common Share (non-GAAP) 
September 30,December 31,
(In thousands, except per share data)20202019
Total stockholders’ equity$2,942,241 $2,988,924 
Preferred stock(767)(767)
Total common stockholders’ equity2,941,474 2,988,157 
Intangible assets:
Goodwill(1,075,305)(1,055,520)
Other intangible assets(114,460)(127,340)
Total intangibles(1,189,765)(1,182,860)
Tangible common stockholders’ equity$1,751,709 $1,805,297 
Shares of common stock outstanding109,023,781 113,628,601 
Book value per common share$26.98 $26.30 
Tangible book value per common share (non-GAAP)$16.07 $15.89 


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See Table 17 below for the calculation of tangible common equity and the reconciliation of tangible common equity to tangible assets.
 
Table 17: Reconciliation of Tangible Common Equity and the Ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets (non-GAAP)
 
September 30,December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)20202019
Total common stockholders’ equity$2,941,474 $2,988,157 
Intangible assets:
Goodwill(1,075,305)(1,055,520)
Other intangible assets(114,460)(127,340)
Total intangibles(1,189,765)(1,182,860)
Tangible common stockholders’ equity$1,751,709 $1,805,297 
Total assets$21,437,395 $21,259,143 
Intangible assets:
Goodwill(1,075,305)(1,055,520)
Other intangible assets(114,460)(127,340)
Total intangibles(1,189,765)(1,182,860)
Tangible assets$20,247,630 $20,076,283 
Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans(970,488)
Total assets excluding PPP loans$20,466,907 
Tangible assets excluding PPP loans$19,277,142 
Ratio of common equity to assets13.72 %14.06 %
Ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets (non-GAAP)8.65 %8.99 %
Ratio of common equity to assets excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP)14.37 %
Ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP)9.09 %


See Table 18 below for the calculation of Tier 1 leverage ratio excluding average PPP loans for the period presented.
 
Table 18: Reconciliation of Tier 1 Leverage Ratio Excluding Average PPP Loans (non-GAAP)

(Dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
Total Tier 1 capital$1,868,173 
Adjusted average assets for leverage ratio$20,652,454 
Average PPP loans(967,152)
Adjusted average assets excluding average PPP loans$19,685,302 
Tier 1 leverage ratio9.05 %
Tier 1 leverage ratio excluding average PPP loans (non-GAAP)9.49 %


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See Table 19 below for the calculation of core net interest margin and net interest margin adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity for the periods presented.
 
Table 19: Reconciliation of Core Net Interest Margin (non-GAAP)
 
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(Dollars in thousands)2020201920202019
Net interest income$153,610 $149,264 $484,774 $434,687 
FTE adjustment2,864 1,843 7,519 5,150 
Fully tax equivalent net interest income156,474 151,107 492,293 439,837 
Total accretable yield(8,948)(9,322)(32,508)(26,144)
Core net interest income$147,526 $141,785 $459,785 $413,693 
PPP loan and excess liquidity interest income(6,131)
Net interest income adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity$150,343 
Average earning assets – quarter-to-date$19,415,314 $15,680,665 $19,172,318 $15,174,671 
Average PPP loan balance and excess liquidity(2,359,928)
Average earning assets adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity$17,055,386 
Net interest margin3.21 %3.82 %3.43 %3.88 %
Core net interest margin (non-GAAP)3.02 %3.59 %3.20 %3.64 %
Net interest margin adjusted for PPP loans and excess liquidity (non-GAAP)3.51 %


See Table 20 below for the calculation of loan yield excluding PPP loans for the period presented.
 
Table 20: Reconciliation of Loan Yield Excluding PPP Loans (non-GAAP)

(Dollars in thousands)Three Months Ended
September 30, 2020
Loan interest income$163,379 
PPP loan interest income(5,782)
Loan interest income excluding PPP loans$157,597 
Average loan balance$14,315,014 
Average PPP loan balance(967,152)
Average loan balance excluding PPP loans$13,347,862 
Loan yield4.54 %
Loan yield excluding PPP loans (non-GAAP)4.70 %

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Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
The Company has leveraged its investment in its subsidiary bank and depends upon the dividends paid to it, as the sole shareholder of the subsidiary bank, as a principal source of funds for dividends to shareholders, stock repurchases and debt service requirements. At September 30, 2020, undivided profits of Simmons Bank were approximately $512.1 million, of which approximately $105.0 million was available for the payment of dividends to the Company without regulatory approval. In addition to dividends, other sources of liquidity for the Company are the sale of equity securities and the borrowing of funds.
 
Subsidiary Bank
 
Generally speaking, the Company’s subsidiary bank relies upon net inflows of cash from financing activities, supplemented by net inflows of cash from operating activities, to provide cash used in investing activities. Typical of most banking companies, significant financing activities include: deposit gathering; use of short-term borrowing facilities, such as federal funds purchased and repurchase agreements; and the issuance of long-term debt. The subsidiary bank’s primary investing activities include loan originations and purchases of investment securities, offset by loan payoffs and investment cash flows and maturities.
 
Liquidity represents an institution’s ability to provide funds to satisfy demands from depositors and borrowers by either converting assets into cash or accessing new or existing sources of incremental funds. A major responsibility of management is to maximize net interest income within prudent liquidity constraints. Internal corporate guidelines have been established to constantly measure liquid assets as well as relevant ratios concerning earning asset levels and purchased funds. The management and Board of Directors of the subsidiary bank monitors these same indicators and makes adjustments as needed.
 
Liquidity Management
 
The objective of our liquidity management is to access adequate sources of funding to ensure that cash flow requirements of depositors and borrowers are met in an orderly and timely manner. Sources of liquidity are managed so that reliance on any one funding source is kept to a minimum. Our liquidity sources are prioritized for both availability and time to activation.
 
Our liquidity is a primary consideration in determining funding needs and is an integral part of asset/liability management. Pricing of the liability side is a major component of interest margin and spread management. Adequate liquidity is a necessity in addressing this critical task. There are seven primary and secondary sources of liquidity available to the Company. The particular liquidity need and timeframe determine the use of these sources.
 
The first source of liquidity available to the Company is federal funds. Federal funds are available on a daily basis and are used to meet the normal fluctuations of a dynamic balance sheet. The Bank has approximately $415 million in federal funds lines of credit from upstream correspondent banks that can be accessed, when needed. In order to ensure availability of these upstream funds we test these borrowing lines at least annually. Historical monitoring of these funds has made it possible for us to project seasonal fluctuations and structure our funding requirements on a month-to-month basis.

Second, Simmons Bank has lines of credit available with the Federal Home Loan Bank. While we use portions of those lines to match off longer-term mortgage loans, we also use those lines to meet liquidity needs. Approximately $2.5 billion of these lines of credit are currently available, if needed, for liquidity.
 
A third source of liquidity is that we have the ability to access large wholesale deposits from both the public and private sector to fund short-term liquidity needs.
 
A fourth source of liquidity is the retail deposits available through our network of financial centers throughout Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Although this method can be a somewhat more expensive alternative to supplying liquidity, this source can be used to meet intermediate term liquidity needs.
 
Fifth, we use a laddered investment portfolio that ensures there is a steady source of intermediate term liquidity. These funds can be used to meet seasonal loan patterns and other intermediate term balance sheet fluctuations. Approximately 98.2% of the investment portfolio is classified as available-for-sale. We also use securities held in the securities portfolio to pledge when obtaining public funds.

Sixth, we have a network of downstream correspondent banks from which we can access debt to meet liquidity needs.
 
Finally, we have the ability to access funds through the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Window.

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We believe the various sources available are ample liquidity for short-term, intermediate-term and long-term liquidity.

Market Risk Management
 
Market risk arises from changes in interest rates. We have risk management policies to monitor and limit exposure to market risk. In asset and liability management activities, policies designed to minimize structural interest rate risk are in place. The measurement of market risk associated with financial instruments is meaningful only when all related and offsetting on- and off-balance-sheet transactions are aggregated, and the resulting net positions are identified.
 
Interest Rate Sensitivity
 
Interest rate risk represents the potential impact of interest rate changes on net income and capital resulting from mismatches in repricing opportunities of assets and liabilities over a period of time. A number of tools are used to monitor and manage interest rate risk, including simulation models and interest sensitivity gap analysis. Management uses simulation models to estimate the effects of changing interest rates and various balance sheet strategies on the level of the Company’s net income and capital. As a means of limiting interest rate risk to an acceptable level, management may alter the mix of floating and fixed-rate assets and liabilities, change pricing schedules and manage investment maturities during future security purchases.
 
The simulation model incorporates management’s assumptions regarding the level of interest rates or balance changes for indeterminate maturity deposits for a given level of market rate changes. These assumptions have been developed through anticipated pricing behavior. Key assumptions in the simulation models include the relative timing of prepayments, cash flows and maturities. These assumptions are inherently uncertain and, as a result, the model cannot precisely estimate net interest income or precisely predict the impact of a change in interest rates on net income or capital. Actual results will differ from simulated results due to the timing, magnitude and frequency of interest rate changes and changes in market conditions and management strategies, among other factors.
 
As of September 30, 2020, the model simulations projected that 100 and 200 basis point increases in interest rates would result in a positive variance in net interest income of 4.58% and 9.48%, respectively, relative to the base case over the next 12 months, while decreases in interest rates of 25 basis points would result in a negative variance in net interest income of (0.52)% relative to the base case over the next 12 months. The likelihood of a decrease in interest rates in excess of 25 basis points as of September 30, 2020, is considered remote given current interest rate levels. These are good faith estimates and assume that the composition of our interest sensitive assets and liabilities existing at each period-end will remain constant over the relevant twelve month measurement period and that changes in market interest rates are instantaneous and sustained across the yield curve regardless of duration of pricing characteristics of specific assets or liabilities. Also, this analysis does not contemplate any actions that we might undertake in response to changes in market interest rates. We believe these estimates are not necessarily indicative of what actually could occur in the event of immediate interest rate increases or decreases of this magnitude. As interest-bearing assets and liabilities reprice in different time frames and proportions to market interest rate movements, various assumptions must be made based on historical relationships of these variables in reaching any conclusion. Since these correlations are based on competitive and market conditions, we anticipate that our future results will likely be different from the foregoing estimates, and such differences could be material.
 
The table below presents our sensitivity to net interest income at September 30, 2020:  
 
Table 21: Net Interest Income Sensitivity
 
Interest Rate Scenario% Change from Base
Up 200 basis points9.48%
Up 100 basis points4.58%
Down 25 basis points(0.52)%

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Item 4.    Controls and Procedures
 
Management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report 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 and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover every situation involving the failure of persons within the Company or its subsidiary to disclose material information required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2020, which materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Part II:    Other Information

Item 1.     Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of its operations, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal proceedings. Based on the information presently available, and after consultation with legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate outcome in such proceedings, in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the business or the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.

Item 1A.     Risk Factors

There have been no material changes in the risk factors faced by the Company from those disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (“2019 Form 10-K”), as supplemented by the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2020.
 
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Item 2.     Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On October 22, 2019, we announced that our Board of Directors authorized a new stock repurchase program (“Program”) under which we may repurchase up to $60,000,000 of our Class A common stock currently issued and outstanding. On March 5, 2020, we announced an amendment to the Program that increased the maximum amount that may be repurchased under the Program from $60,000,000 to $180,000,000. The Program will terminate on October 31, 2021 (unless terminated sooner) and replaced the previous stock repurchase program, which was announced on July 23, 2012, that authorized us to repurchase up to 1,700,000 shares of common stock. No shares have been repurchased under the Program since March 31, 2020. On October 22, 2020, we announced the resumption of stock repurchases under the Program. Market conditions and our capital needs will drive decisions regarding future, additional stock repurchases.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2020, we repurchased restricted stock in connection with employee tax withholding obligations under employee compensation plans. Information concerning our purchases of common stock is as follows:

Period
Total Number of Shares Purchased (1)
Average Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or ProgramsApproximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1, 2020 - July 31, 20201,224 $17.28 — $76,560,000 
August 1, 2020 - August 31, 2020— — — $76,560,000 
September 1, 2020 - September 30, 2020689 16.80 — $76,560,000 
Total1,913 $17.10 — 
_______________________________________
(1)Total number of shares purchased consists of 1,913 shares of restricted stock repurchased in connection with employee tax withholding obligations under employee compensation plans, which are not purchases under any publicly announced plan.

Item 6.     Exhibits
Exhibit No.Description
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 13, 2018, by and between Simmons First National Corporation and Reliance Bancshares, Inc., as amended on February 11, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Annex A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) by Simmons First National Corporation for March 4, 2019 (File No. 333-229378)).
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 30, 2019, by and between Simmons First National Corporation and The Landrum Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Simmons First National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K for July 30, 2019 (File No. 000-06253)).
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Simmons First National Corporation, as amended on October 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Simmons First National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 1, 2019 (File No. 000-06253)).
As Amended By-Laws of Simmons First National Corporation, as amended on October 21, 2020.*
4.1Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures. Simmons First National Corporation hereby agrees to furnish copies of instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission upon request. No issuance of debt exceeds ten percent of the total assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
Executive Severance Agreement for George Makris III dated July 28, 2020.*
Executive Severance Agreement for John Barber dated July 24, 2020.*
Amended and Restated Simmons First National Corporation Code of Ethics (as amended and restated on July 23, 2020) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 14.1 to Simmons First National Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 28, 2020 (File No. 000-06253)).
Awareness Letter of BKD, LLP.*
Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) Certification – George A. Makris, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.*
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Exhibit No.Description
Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) Certification – Robert A. Fehlman, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer.*
Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) Certification – David W. Garner, Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Finance and Accounting and Chief Accounting Officer.*
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – George A. Makris, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.*
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – Robert A. Fehlman, Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer.*
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sections 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 – David W. Garner, Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Finance and Accounting and Chief Accounting Officer.*
101.INSXBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. **
101.SCHInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.**
101.CALInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase.**
101.DEFInlineXBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase.**
101.LABInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase.**
101.PREInline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase.**
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).**
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
* Filed herewith
 
** Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, these interactive data files are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

SIMMONS FIRST NATIONAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)

 
Date:November 6, 2020/s/ George A. Makris, Jr.
 George A. Makris, Jr.
 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
  
  
Date:November 6, 2020/s/ Robert A. Fehlman
 Robert A. Fehlman
 Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
 Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer
  
  
Date:November 6, 2020/s/ David W. Garner
 David W. Garner
 Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Finance and
 Accounting and Chief Accounting Officer

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