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Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019
OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _______ to _______

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 001-35633
Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Maryland
 
45-5188530
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 150, Seattle Washington
 
98121
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (206) 448-0884

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


Title of each class
Trading Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
 
 
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
SFBC
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC


Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None


Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
YES o NO x

Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
YES o NO x

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

Indicate by checkmark 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 x NO o


Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definition of "large accelerated filer," accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer  o
Accelerated filer  x
 
 
Non-accelerated filer  o
Smaller reporting company  x
 
 
 
Emerging growth company  o

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. o

Indicate by checkmark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). YES o NO x

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2019, the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $74.0 million. (The exclusion from such amount of the market value of the shares owned by any person shall not be deemed an admission by the registrant that such person is an affiliate of the registrant.)

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock as of the latest practicable date: As of March 10, 2020, there were 2,584,787 shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

PART III of Form 10-K – Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.


2


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
 
 
 
 
Page
Item 1.
Business
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.
Properties
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Item 9B.
Other Information
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
 
 
 
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
 
 
 
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
 


3


PART I

Item 1.
Business
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this Form 10-K constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance or business. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact, are based on certain assumptions and are generally identified by use of the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "targets," "potentially," "probably," "projects," "outlook" or similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." Forward-looking statements include statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, expectations, assumptions and statements about, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which we operate, projections of future performance or financial items, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, and statements regarding our mission and vision. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety or range of factors including, but not limited to:
fluctuations in the demand for loans, the number of unsold homes, land and other properties, and fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial and multifamily real estate market conditions in our market area;
our ability to access cost-effective funding;
our ability to control operating costs and expenses;
secondary market conditions for loans and our ability to sell loans in the secondary market;
fluctuations in interest rates;
results of examinations of Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank by their regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require us to increase our allowance for loan losses or to write-down assets, change Sound Community Bank's regulatory capital position or affect our ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect our liquidity and earnings;
our ability to attract and retain deposits;
the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses;
inability of key third-party providers to perform their obligations to us;
competitive pressures among financial services companies;
our ability to successfully integrate any assets, liabilities, clients, systems, and management personnel we may acquire into our operations and our ability to realize related revenue synergies and expected cost savings and other benefits within the anticipated time frames or at all;
the use of estimates in determining fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be incorrect and result in significant declines in valuation;
our ability to keep pace with technological changes, including our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks such as data security breaches, "denial of service" attacks, "hacking" and identity theft, and other attacks on our information technology systems or on the third-party vendors who perform several of our critical processing functions;
changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the financial institution regulatory agencies or the Financial Accounting Standards Board, including additional guidance and interpretation on accounting issues and details of the implementation of new accounting methods;
changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in our market area;
legislative or regulatory changes such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and its implementing regulations that adversely affect our business, and the availability of resources to address such changes;
monetary and fiscal policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry;
our ability to retain or attract key employees or members of our senior management team;
costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments;
our ability to implement our business strategies;
staffing fluctuations in response to product demand or the implementation of corporate strategies that affect our workforce and potential associated charges;
our ability to pay dividends on our common stock;
the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in our securities portfolio; and

4


other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services and the other risks described from time to time in this Form 10-K and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
We wish to advise readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and that the factors listed above could materially affect our financial performance and could cause our actual results for future periods to differ materially from any such forward-looking statements expressed with respect to future periods and could negatively affect our stock price performance.
We do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
General
References in this document to Sound Financial Bancorp or the Company refer to Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. and references to the "Bank" refer to Sound Community Bank. References to "we," "us," and "our" means Sound Financial Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sound Community Bank, unless the context otherwise requires.
Sound Financial Bancorp, a Maryland corporation, is a bank holding company for its wholly owned subsidiary, Sound Community Bank. Substantially all of Sound Financial Bancorp's business is conducted through Sound Community Bank, a Washington state-chartered commercial bank. As a Washington commercial bank, the Bank's regulators are the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions ("WDFI") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The Federal Reserve is the primary federal regulator for Sound Financial Bancorp. We also sell insurance products and services for consumer clients through Sound Community Insurance Agency, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank.
Sound Community Bank's deposits are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC.  At December 31, 2019, Sound Financial Bancorp had total consolidated assets of $719.9 million, including $619.9 million of loans held for portfolio, deposits of $616.7 million and stockholders' equity of $77.7 million.  The shares of Sound Financial Bancorp are traded on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "SFBC."  Our executive offices are located at 2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 150, Seattle, Washington, 98121 and our telephone number is 206-448-0884.
Our principal business consists of attracting retail and commercial deposits from the general public and investing those funds, along with borrowed funds, in loans secured by first and second mortgages on one- to four- family residences (including home equity loans and lines of credit), commercial and multifamily real estate, construction and land, consumer and commercial business loans.  Our commercial business loans include unsecured lines of credit and secured term loans and lines of credit secured by inventory, equipment and accounts receivable.  We also offer a variety of secured and unsecured consumer loan products, including manufactured home loans, floating home loans, automobile loans, boat loans and recreational vehicle loans.  As part of our business, we focus on residential mortgage loan originations, a portion of which we sell to Fannie Mae and the remainder of which we retain for our loan portfolio consistent with our asset/liability objectives.  We sell loans which conform to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae ("conforming") in which we retain the servicing of the loan in order to maintain the direct customer relationship and to generate noninterest income.  Residential loans which do not conform to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae ("non-conforming"), are either held in our loan portfolio or sold with servicing released.  We originate and retain a significant amount of commercial real estate loans, including those secured by owner-occupied and nonowner-occupied commercial real estate, multifamily property, mobile home parks and construction and land development loans.

Market Area
We serve the Seattle Metropolitan Statistical Area ("MSA"), which includes King County (which includes the city of Seattle), Pierce County and Snohomish County within the Puget Sound region, and also serve Clallam and Jefferson Counties, on the North Olympic Peninsula of Washington.  We serve these markets through our headquarters in Seattle, eight branch offices, five of which are located in the Seattle MSA, two that are located in Clallam County and one that is located in Jefferson County. We also have two loan production offices, one located in the Madison Park neighborhood of Seattle and one located in Sequim.  Based on the most recent branch deposit data provided by the FDIC, our share of deposits was approximately 0.12% in King County, approximately 0.46% in Pierce County and in Snohomish County approximately 0.34%.  In Clallam County and Jefferson County, we have approximately 17.7% and 7.8%, respectively, of the deposits in those markets.  See "- Competition."


5


Our market area includes a diverse population of management, professional and sales personnel, office employees, health care workers, manufacturing and transportation workers, service industry workers and government employees, as well as retired and self-employed individuals. The population has a skilled work force with a wide range of education levels and ethnic backgrounds. Major employment sectors include information and communications technology, financial services, aerospace, military, manufacturing, maritime, biotechnology, education, health and social services, retail trades, transportation and professional services. The largest employers headquartered in our market area include U.S. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Navy Region Northwest, Microsoft, University of Washington, and Providence Health. Other significant employers include Costco, Boeing, Nordstrom, Amazon.com, Starbucks, Alaska Air Group and Weyerhaeuser.

Economic conditions in our markets continue to improve over the last year.  Recent trends in housing prices and unemployment rates in our market areas reflect continuing improvement. For the month of December 2019, the preliminary Seattle metropolitan statistical area (MSA) reported an unemployment rate of 2.9%, as compared to the national average of 3.5%, according to the latest available information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Home prices in our markets also improved over the past year.  Based on information from Case-Shiller, the average home price in the Seattle MSA increased 2.5% in 2019. This compares to the national average home price index increase in 2019 of 3.3%.

King County has the largest population of any county in the state of Washington with approximately 2.2 million residents and a median household income of approximately $88,000. Based on information from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service ("MLS"), the median home sales price in King County in December 2019 was $615,000, a 3.02% increase from December 2018's median home sales price of $597,000.

Pierce County has approximately 891,000 residents and a median household income of approximately $64,000. Based on information from the MLS, the median home sales price in Pierce County in December 2019 was $369,000, an 8.6% increase from December 2018's median home sales price of $340,000.

Snohomish County has approximately 805,000 residents and a median household income of approximately $80,000. Based on information from the MLS, the median home sales price in Snohomish County as of December 2019 was $495,000, an 8.8% increase from December 2018's median home sales price of $455,000.

Clallam County, with a population of approximately 77,000, has a median household income of approximately $62,000. The economy of Clallam County is primarily manufacturing and shipping. The Sequim Dungeness Valley continues to be a growing retirement location. Based on information from the MLS, the median home sales price in Clallam County in December 2019 was $309,000, an 14.4% increase from December 2018's median home sales price of $270,000.

Jefferson County, with a population of approximately 32,000, has a median household income of approximately $52,000. Based on information from the MLS, the average home sales price in Jefferson County as of December 2019 was $375,000, an 11.8% increase from December 2018's median home sales price of $335,000.


6


Lending Activities
The following table presents information concerning the composition of our loan portfolio, excluding loans held-for-sale, by the type of loan for the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family
$
149,393

 
24.0
%
 
$
169,830

 
27.3
%
 
$
157,417

 
28.5
%
 
$
152,386

 
30.3
%
 
$
141,125

 
30.5
%
Home equity
23,845

 
3.8
%
 
27,655

 
4.4
%
 
28,379

 
5.2

 
27,771

 
5.5

 
31,573

 
6.9

Commercial and multifamily
261,268

 
42.0
%
 
252,644

 
40.6
%
 
211,269

 
38.4

 
181,004

 
36.1

 
175,312

 
38.0

Construction and land
75,756

 
12.2
%
 
65,259

 
10.6
%
 
61,482

 
11.2

 
70,915

 
14.1

 
57,043

 
12.4

Total real estate loans
510,262

 
82.0
%
 
515,388

 
82.9
%
 
458,547

 
83.3

 
432,076

 
86.0

 
405,053

 
87.8

Consumer loans:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Manufactured homes
20,613

 
3.3
%
 
20,145

 
3.2
%
 
17,111

 
3.1

 
15,494

 
3.1

 
13,798

 
3.0

Floating homes
43,799

 
7.1
%
 
40,806

 
6.6
%
 
29,120

 
5.3

 
23,996

 
4.8

 
18,226

 
4.0

Other consumer
8,302

 
1.3
%
 
6,628

 
1.1
%
 
4,902

 
0.9

 
3,932

 
0.8

 
4,804

 
1.0

Total consumer loans
72,714

 
11.7
%
 
67,579

 
10.9
%
 
51,133

 
9.3

 
43,422

 
8.7

 
36,828

 
8.0

Commercial business loans
38,931

 
6.3
%
 
38,804

 
6.2
%
 
40,829

 
7.4

 
26,331

 
5.3

 
19,295

 
4.2

Total loans
621,907

 
100.0
%
 
621,771

 
100.0
%
 
550,509

 
100.0
%
 
501,829

 
100.0
%
 
461,176

 
100.0
%
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred fees and discounts
(2,020
)
 
 
 
(2,228
)
 
 
 
(1,914
)
 
 
 
(1,828
)
 
 
 
(1,707
)
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
(5,640
)
 
 
 
(5,774
)
 
 
 
(5,241
)
 
 
 
(4,822
)
 
 
 
(4,636
)
 
 
Total loans, net
$
614,247

 
 
 
$
613,769

 
 
 
$
543,354

 
 
 
$
495,179

 
 
 
$
454,833

 
 






















7


The following table shows the composition of our loan portfolio in dollar amounts and in percentages by fixed and adjustable rate loans for the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Fixed-rate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
$
79,304

 
12.8
%
 
$
94,237

 
15.2
%
 
$
117,590

 
21.3
%
 
$
142,537

 
28.4
%
 
$
129,762

 
28.1
%
Home equity
12,505

 
2.0

 
11,052

 
1.8
%
 
11,373

 
2.1

 
9,102

 
1.8

 
11,042

 
2.4

Commercial and multifamily
106,161

 
17.1

 
102,907

 
16.5
%
 
89,094

 
16.2

 
77,285

 
15.4

 
92,205

 
20.0

Construction and land
43,193

 
6.9

 
51,259

 
8.2
%
 
57,247

 
10.4

 
69,398

 
13.9

 
51,572

 
11.2

Total real estate loans
241,163

 
38.8

 
259,455

 
41.7
%
 
275,304

 
50.0

 
298,322

 
59.5

 
284,581

 
61.7

Manufactured homes
20,613

 
3.3

 
20,145

 
3.2
%
 
17,111

 
3.1

 
15,494

 
3.1

 
13,798

 
3.0

Floating homes
34,539

 
5.6

 
40,806

 
6.6
%
 
29,120

 
5.3

 
23,996

 
4.8

 
18,226

 
4.0

Other consumer
7,777

 
1.3

 
6,090

 
1.0
%
 
4,316

 
0.8

 
3,297

 
0.6

 
4,082

 
0.9

Commercial business
7,411

 
1.2

 
9,705

 
1.6
%
 
16,889

 
3.1

 
12,581

 
2.5

 
9,392

 
2.0

Total fixed-rate loans
311,503


50.2

 
336,201

 
54.1
%
 
342,740

 
62.3

 
353,690

 
70.5

 
330,079

 
71.6

Adjustable- rate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
70,089

 
11.3

 
75,593

 
12.2
%
 
39,827

 
7.2

 
9,849

 
2.0

 
11,363

 
2.5

Home equity
11,340

 
1.8

 
16,603

 
2.7
%
 
17,007

 
3.1

 
18,669

 
3.7

 
20,531

 
4.4

Commercial and multifamily
155,107

 
24.8

 
149,737

 
24.0

 
122,175

 
22.2

 
103,719

 
20.7

 
83,107

 
18.0

Construction and land
32,563

 
5.2

 
14,000

 
2.3

 
4,235

 
0.8

 
1,517

 
0.3

 
5,471

 
1.2

Total real estate loans
269,099

 
43.1

 
255,933

 
41.2

 
183,244

 
33.3

 
133,754

 
26.7

 
120,472

 
26.1

Floating homes
9,260

 
1.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other consumer
525

 
0.1

 
538

 
0.1

 
585

 
0.1

 
635

 
0.1

 
722

 
0.2

Commercial business
31,520

 
5.1

 
29,099

 
4.6

 
23,940

 
4.3

 
13,750

 
2.7

 
9,903

 
2.1

Total adjustable-rate loans
310,404

 
49.8

 
285,570

 
45.9

 
207,769

 
37.7

 
148,139

 
29.5

 
131,097

 
28.4

Total loans
621,907

 
100.0
%
 
621,771

 
100.0
%
 
550,509

 
100.0
%
 
501,829

 
100.0
%
 
461,176

 
100.0
%
Less:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred fees and discounts
(2,020
)
 
 
 
(2,228
)
 
 
 
(1,914
)
 
 
 
(1,828
)
 
 
 
(1,707
)
 
 
Allowance for loan losses
(5,640
)
 
 
 
(5,774
)
 
 
 
(5,241
)
 
 
 
(4,822
)
 
 
 
(4,636
)
 
 
Total loans, net
$
614,247

 
 
 
$
613,769

 
 
 
$
543,354

 
 
 
$
495,179

 
 
 
$
454,833

 
 

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, we had floating or variable rate loans totaling $310.4 million and $285.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, a total of $170.0 million have interest rate floors, of which $67.2 million are at their floors.

8



The following table illustrates the contractual maturity of our construction and land and commercial business loans at December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands). Loans that have adjustable or renegotiable interest rates are shown as maturing in the period during which the contract is due. The total amount of loans due after December 31, 2020, which have predetermined interest rates, is $14.1 million, while the total amount of loans due after such date, which have floating or adjustable interest rates, is $36.7 million. The table does not reflect the effects of possible prepayments or enforcement of due-on-sale clauses.
 
Construction and Land
 
Commercial Business
 
Total
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average Rate
2020 (1)
$
50,899

 
6.01
%
 
$
12,938

 
5.24
%
 
$
63,837

 
5.85
%
2021 to 2024
21,782

 
6.30

 
18,045

 
5.17

 
$
39,827

 
5.79

2025 and thereafter
3,075

 
6.28

 
7,948

 
5.66

 
$
11,023

 
5.83

Total (2)
$
75,756

 
6.10
%
 
$
38,931

 
5.29
%
 
$
114,687

 
5.83
%
(1)
Includes demand loans, loans having no stated maturity and overdraft loans.
(2)
Excludes deferred fees of $494,000.
Lending Authority . Our President and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") may approve unsecured loans up to $1.0 million and all types of secured loans up to 30% of our legal lending limit, or approximately $4.8 million as of December 31, 2019. Our Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer ("CCO") may approve unsecured loans up to $400,000 and secured loans up to 15% of our legal lending limit, or approximately $2.4 million as of December 31, 2019. Any loans over the CEO's lending authority or loans significantly outside our general underwriting guidelines must be approved by the Loan Committee consisting of four independent directors, the CEO and the CCO. Lending authority is also granted to certain other lending staff at lower amounts. The Chief Banking Offer has lending authority of up to 7.5% of our legal lending limit for real estate and other secured loans, and $50,000 for unsecured loans.
Largest Borrowing Relationships . At December 31, 2019, the maximum amount under federal law that we could lend to any one borrower and the borrower's related entities was approximately $15.5 million. Our five largest relationships totaled $55.6 million in the aggregate, or 8.9% of our $621.9 million total loan portfolio, at December 31, 2019.  At December 31, 2019, the largest lending relationship totaled $13.0 million consisting of an $8.5 million loan to a business and a $4.5 million loan to an individual, both collateralized by separate multifamily real estate properties. The second largest relationship consisted of two loans to businesses both collateralized by two separate multifamily real estate properties and totaled $11.4 million. The third largest relationship totaled $11.2 million consisting of two loans to businesses and a loan and line of credit to an individual, all collateralized by separate multifamily real estate properties. The fourth and fifth largest relationships consisted of a $10.0 million line of credit loan participation to a third party loan originator secured by an assignment of promissory notes from their borrowers for construction projects, and two lines of credit loan participations totaling $10.0 million to third party loan originators with common ownership, collateralized by an assignment of promissory notes from their borrowers for construction projects. These top five borrowers had unused commitments totaling $17.7 million at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, we had five other lending relationships that exceeded $6.3 million. All of the foregoing loans were performing in accordance with their repayment terms as of December 31, 2019.
One- to-Four Family Real Estate Lending. One of our primary lending activities is the origination of loans secured by first mortgages on one- to four-family residences, substantially all of which are secured by property located in our geographic lending area. We originate both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate loans. During 2019, our fixed rate, one-to-four family loan originations increased $36.5 million, or 53.8% to $104.3 million compared to $67.8 million in 2018, while one-to-four family adjustable rate mortgage ("ARM") loan originations decreased $20.1 million, or 44.9% to $24.6 million compared to $44.7 million in 2018. In 2019, we identified demand in the marketplace for one-to-four family, residential fixed rate mortgage loans, especially jumbo loans (loans above $484,400, the conforming Fannie Mae limit in our market area). In 2019, the average loan amount was $579,000 for adjustable rate, one-to-four family mortgages.
Most of our loans are underwritten using generally-accepted secondary market underwriting guidelines.  A portion of the one- to four-family loans we originate are retained in our portfolio and the remaining loans are sold into the secondary market to Fannie Mae or other private investors.  Loans that are sold into the secondary market to Fannie Mae are sold with the servicing retained to maintain the client relationship and to generate noninterest income. We also originate a small portion of government guaranteed and jumbo loans for sale servicing released to certain correspondent purchasers. The sale of mortgage loans provides a source of non-interest income through the gain on sale, reduces our interest rate risk, provides a stream of servicing

9


income, enhances liquidity and enables us to originate more loans at our current capital level than if we held the loans in our loan portfolio. Our pricing strategy for mortgage loans includes establishing interest rates that are competitive with other financial institutions and consistent with our internal asset and liability management objectives. At December 31, 2019, one-to-four family residential mortgage loans (excluding loans held-for-sale) totaled $149.4 million, or 24.0%, of our gross loan portfolio, of which $79.3 million were fixed-rate loans and $70.0 million were ARM loans, compared to $169.8 million (excluding loans held-for-sale), or 27.3 % of our gross loan portfolio as of December 31, 2018, of which $94.2 million were fixed-rate loans and $75.6 million were ARM loans.
Substantially all of the one- to four-family residential mortgage loans we retain in our portfolio consist of loans that do not satisfy acreage limits, income, credit, conforming loan limits (i.e., jumbo mortgages) or various other requirements imposed by Fannie Mae or private investors. Some of these loans are also originated to meet the needs of borrowers who cannot otherwise satisfy Fannie Mae credit requirements because of personal and financial reasons (i.e., bankruptcy, length of time employed, etc.), and other aspects, which do not conform to Fannie Mae's guidelines. Such borrowers may have higher debt-to-income ratios, or the loans are secured by unique properties in rural markets for which there are no sales of comparable properties to support the value according to secondary market requirements. We may require additional collateral or lower loan-to-value ratios to reduce the risk of these loans. We believe that these loans satisfy the needs of borrowers in our market area. As a result, subject to market conditions, we intend to continue to originate these types of loans. We also retain jumbo loans which exceed the conforming loan limits and therefore, are not eligible to be purchased by Fannie Mae. At December 31, 2019, $91.7 million or 61.0 % of our one-to-four family loan portfolio consisted of jumbo loans.
We generally underwrite our one- to four-family loans based on the applicant's employment and credit history and the appraised value of the subject property. We generally lend up to 80% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price for one- to four-family first mortgage loans and non-owner occupied first mortgage loans. For first mortgage loans with a loan-to-value ratio in excess of 80%, we may require private mortgage insurance or other credit enhancement to help mitigate the risk. Properties securing our one- to four-family loans are typically appraised by independent fee appraisers who are selected in accordance with criteria approved by the Loan Committee. For loans that are less than $250,000, we may use an automated valuation model, in lieu of an appraisal. We require title insurance policies on all first mortgage real estate loans originated. Homeowners, liability, fire and, if required, flood insurance policies are also required for one-to-four family loans. Our real estate loans generally contain a "due on sale" clause allowing us to declare the unpaid principal balance due and payable upon the sale of the security property. The average balance of our one- to four-family residential loans was approximately $313,000 at December 31, 2019.
Fixed-rate loans secured by one- to four-family residences have contractual maturities of up to 30 years.  All of these loans are fully amortizing, with payments due monthly. Our portfolio of fixed-rate loans also includes $4.6 million of loans with an initial seven year term and a 30-year amortization period with a borrower refinancing option at a fixed rate at the end of the initial term as long as the loan has met certain performance criteria. In addition, we had $14.5 million one- to four- family loans with a five-year call option at December 31, 2019. Prior to 2012, we originated for portfolio five and seven year balloon reset loans (which are loans that are originated with a fixed interest rate for the initial five or seven years, and thereafter incur one interest rate change based on current market interest rates in which the new rate remains in effect for the remainder of the loan term) based on a 30-year amortization period.
ARM loans are offered with annual adjustments and life-time rate caps that vary based on the product, generally with a maximum annual rate change of 2.0% and a maximum overall rate change of 6.0%. We generally use the rate on one-year LIBOR to re-price our ARM loans, however, $7.9 million of our ARM loans are to employees and directors that re-price annually based on a margin of 1%-1.50% over our average 12 month cost of funds. As a consequence of using caps, the interest rates on ARM loans may not be as rate sensitive as our cost of funds. Furthermore, because loan indexes may not respond perfectly to changes in market interest rates, upward adjustments on loans may occur more slowly than increases in our cost of interest-bearing liabilities, especially during periods of rapidly increasing interest rates. Because of these characteristics, future yields on ARM loans may not be sufficient to offset increases in our cost of funds.
We continue to offer our fully amortizing ARM loans with a fixed interest rate for the first one, three, five or seven years, followed by a periodic adjustable interest rate for the remaining term. Given the recent increase in market rates over the past year, the origination of ARM loans has increased significantly as borrowers are beginning to favor ARM loans over fixed-rate mortgages. Although adjustable-rate mortgage loans may reduce to an extent our vulnerability to changes in market interest rates because they periodically re-price, as interest rates increase the required payments due from the borrower also increase (subject to rate caps), increasing the potential for default by the borrower. At the same time, the ability of the borrower to repay the loan and the marketability of the underlying collateral may be adversely affected by higher interest rates. Upward adjustments of the contractual interest rate are also limited by our maximum periodic and lifetime rate adjustments. Moreover, the interest rates on most of our adjustable-rate loans do not adjust within the next year and may not adjust for up to ten years

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after origination. As a result, the effectiveness of adjustable-rate mortgage loans in compensating for changes in general interest rates may be limited during periods of rapidly rising interest rates.
At December 31, 2019, $20.7 million, or 13.9% of our one-to-four family residential portfolio consisted of non-owner occupied loans, compared to $50.2 million, or 29.6% of our one-to-four family residential portfolio at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, our average non-owner occupied residential loan had a balance of  $284,000. Loans secured by rental properties represent potentially higher risk. As a result, we adhere to more stringent underwriting guidelines which may include, but are not limited to, annual financial statements, a budget factoring in a rental income cash flow analysis of the borrower as well as the net operating income of the property, information concerning the borrower’s expertise, credit history and profitability, and the value of the underlying property. In addition, these loans are generally secured by a first mortgage on the underlying collateral property along with an assignment of rents and leases. Of primary concern in non-owner occupied real estate lending is the consistency of rental income of the property. Payments on loans secured by rental properties may depend primarily on the tenants’ continuing ability to pay rent to the property owner, the character of the borrower or, if the property owner is unable to find a tenant, the property owner’s ability to repay the loan without the benefit of a rental income stream. In addition, successful operation and management of non-owner occupied properties, including property maintenance standards, may affect repayment. As a result, repayment of such loans may be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy. If the borrower has multiple rental property loans with us, the loans are typically not cross collateralized.

In 2016, in order to enable individuals to secure the purchase of a new residence before selling their existing residence, we commenced a loan program designed to allow borrowers to access the equity in their current residence to apply towards the purchase of a new residence. The loan or loans to purchase the new residence are generally originated in an amount in excess of $1.0 million and secured by the borrowers existing and/or new residences, with a maximum combined LTV of up to 80%. These loans provide for repayment upon the earlier of the sale of the current residence or the loan maturity date, which is typically up to 12 months. Upon the sale of the borrower's current residence, we may refinance the new residence using our traditional jumbo mortgage loan underwriting guidelines. During 2019, we originated $14.6 million of loans under this program, compared to $4.9 million in 2018. At December 31, 2019, we had $12.0 million of these interest only residential loans in our one- to four-family residential mortgage loan portfolio.
The primary focus of our underwriting guidelines for interest only residential loans is on the value of the collateral rather than the ability of the borrower to repay the loan. As a result, this type of lending exposes us to an increased risk of loss due to the larger loan balance and our inability to sell them to Fannie Mae, similar to the risks associated with jumbo one- to four-family residential loans. In addition, a decline in residential real estate values resulting from a downturn in the Washington housing market may reduce the value of the real estate collateral securing these types of loans and increase our risk of loss if borrowers' default on their loans.
Home Equity Lending. We originate home equity loans that consist of fixed-rate fully amortizing loans and variable-rate lines of credit. We typically originate home equity loans in amounts of up to 90% of the value of the collateral, minus any senior liens on the property; however, prior to 2010 we originated home equity loans in amounts of up to 100% of the value of the collateral, minus any senior liens on the property. Home equity lines of credit are typically originated for up to $250,000 with an adjustable rate of interest, based on the one-year Treasury Bill rate or the Wall Street Journal Prime rate, plus a margin. Home equity lines of credit generally have a three, five or 12 year draw period, during which time the funds may be paid down and redrawn up to the committed amount. Once the draw period has lapsed, the payment is amortized over either a 12, 19 or 21 year period based on the loan balance at that time. We charge a $50 annual fee on each home equity line of credit and require monthly interest-only payments on the entire amount drawn during the draw period. At December 31, 2019, home equity loans totaled $23.8 million, or 3.8% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $27.7 million, or 4.4% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2018. Adjustable-rate home equity lines of credit at December 31, 2019 totaled $11.3 million, or 1.8 % of our total loan portfolio, compared to $16.6 million, or 2.7 % of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, unfunded commitments on home equity lines of credit totaled $13.4 million.
Our fixed-rate home equity loans generally have terms of up to 15 years and are fully amortizing. At December 31, 2019, fixed-rate home equity loans totaled $12.5 million, or 2.0% of our gross loan portfolio, compared to $11.1 million, or 1.8% of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2018.
Commercial and Multifamily Real Estate Lending. We offer a variety of commercial and multifamily real estate loans. Most of these loans are secured by owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied commercial income producing properties, multifamily apartment buildings, warehouses, office buildings, gas station/convenience stores and mobile home parks located in our market area. At December 31, 2019, commercial and multifamily real estate loans totaled $261.3 million, or 42.0% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $252.6 million, or 40.6 % of our total loan portfolio as of December 31, 2018.

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Loans secured by commercial and multifamily real estate are generally originated with a variable interest rate, fixed for an initial three to ten-year term and a 20- to 25-year amortization period. At the end of the initial term, the balance is due in full or the loan re-prices based on an independent index plus a margin over the applicable index of 1% to 4% for another five years. Loan-to-value ratios on our commercial and multifamily real estate loans typically do not exceed 80% of the lower of cost or appraised value of the property securing the loan at origination.
Loans secured by commercial and multifamily real estate are generally underwritten based on the net operating income of the property, quality and location of the real estate, the credit history and financial strength of the borrower and the quality of management involved with the property. The net operating income, which is the income derived from the operation of the property less all operating expenses, must be sufficient to cover the payments related to the outstanding debt plus an additional coverage requirement. We generally impose a minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.20 for originated loans secured by income producing commercial properties. If the borrower is other than an individual, we typically require the personal guaranty of the principal owners of the borrowing entity. We also generally require an assignment of rents in order to be assured that the cash flow from the project will be used to repay the debt. Appraisals on properties securing commercial and multifamily real estate loans are performed by independent state certified licensed fee appraisers. In order to monitor the adequacy of cash flows on income-producing properties, the borrower is required to provide annual financial information. From time to time we also acquire participation interests in commercial and multifamily real estate loans originated by other financial institutions secured by properties located in our market area.
Historically, loans secured by commercial and multifamily properties generally involve different credit risks than one- to four-family properties. These loans typically involve larger balances to single borrowers or groups of related borrowers. Because payments on loans secured by commercial and multifamily properties are often dependent on the successful operation or management of the properties, repayment of these loans may be subject to adverse conditions in the real estate market or the economy. Repayments of loans secured by non-owner occupied properties depend primarily on the tenant’s continuing ability to pay rent to the property owner, who is our borrower, or, if the property owner is unable to find a tenant, the property owner’s ability to repay the loan without the benefit of a rental income stream. If the cash flow from the project is reduced, or if leases are not obtained or renewed, the borrower's ability to repay the loan may be impaired. Commercial and multifamily real estate loans also expose a lender to greater credit risk than loans secured by one-to-four family because the collateral securing these loans typically cannot be sold as easily as one-to-four family. In addition, most of our commercial and multifamily real estate loans are not fully amortizing and include balloon payments upon maturity. Balloon payments may require the borrower to either sell or refinance the underlying property in order to make the payment, which may increase the risk of default or non-payment. The largest single commercial and multifamily real estate loan at December 31, 2019, totaled $7.3 million and is collateralized by multifamily property. At December 31, 2019, this loan was performing in accordance with its repayment terms.
The following table provides information on commercial and multifamily real estate loans by type at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
2019
 
2018
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Multifamily residential
$
73,891

 
28.3
%
 
$
86,307

 
34.1

Owner-occupied commercial real estate retail
7,051

 
2.7

 
9,031

 
3.6

Owner-occupied commercial real estate office buildings
19,859

 
7.6

 
20,262

 
8.0

Owner-occupied commercial real estate other (1)
16,857

 
6.5

 
19,851

 
7.9

Non-owner occupied commercial real estate retail
11,324

 
4.3

 
9,057

 
3.6

Non-owner occupied commercial real estate office buildings
11,267

 
4.3

 
14,202

 
5.6

Non-owner occupied commercial real estate other (1)
82,488

 
31.6

 
64,590

 
25.6

Warehouses
15,524

 
5.9

 
12,818

 
5.1

Gas station/Convenience store
13,933

 
5.3

 
8,835

 
3.5

Mobile Home Parks
9,074

 
3.5

 
7,691

 
3.0

Total
$
261,268

 
100.0
%
 
$
252,644

 
100.0
%
(1)
Other commercial real estate loans include schools, churches, storage facilities, restaurants, etc.
Construction and Land Lending. We originate construction loans secured by single-family residences and commercial and multifamily real estate. We also originate land acquisition and development loans, which are secured by raw land or developed lots on which the borrower intends to build a residence. At December 31, 2019, our construction and land loans totaled $75.8

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million, or 12.2% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $65.3 million, or 10.6 % of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2018. At December 31, 2019, unfunded construction loan commitments totaled $40.2 million.
Construction loans to individuals and contractors for the construction of personal residences, including speculative residential construction, totaled $27.1 million, or 35.7%, of our construction and land portfolio at December 31, 2019. In addition to custom home construction loans to individuals, we originate loans that are termed "speculative" which are those loans where the builder does not have, at the time of loan origination, a signed contract with a buyer for the home or lot who has a commitment for permanent financing with either us or another lender. At December 31, 2019, construction loans to contractors for homes that were considered speculative totaled $14.9 million, or 19.6%, of our construction and land portfolio. The composition of, and location of underlying collateral securing, our construction and land loan portfolio, excluding loan commitments, at December 31, 2019 was as follows (in thousands):
 
Puget Sound
 
Olympic Peninsula
 
Other
 
Total
Commercial and multifamily construction
$
31,079

 
$

 
$
8,728

 
$
39,807

Speculative residential construction
13,062

 
773

 
1,027

 
14,862

Land acquisition and development and lot loans
1,513

 
530

 
38

 
2,081

Residential lot loans
2,920

 
2,806

 
1,084

 
6,810

Residential construction
8,115

 
578

 
3,503

 
12,196

Total
$
56,689

 
$
4,687

 
$
14,380

 
$
75,756

Our residential construction loans generally provide for the payment of interest only during the construction phase, which is typically twelve to eighteen months. At the end of the construction phase, the construction loan generally either converts to a longer term mortgage loan or is paid off with a permanent loan from another lender. Residential construction loans are made up to the lesser of a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 100% of cost or 80% of appraised value at completion; however, we generally do not originate construction loans which exceed these limits without some form of credit enhancement to mitigate the higher loan to value.
At December 31, 2019, our largest residential construction loan commitment was for $2.8 million, $1.6 million of which had been disbursed. This loan was performing according to its repayment terms at December 31, 2019. The average outstanding residential construction loan balance was approximately $678,000 at December 31, 2019. Before making a commitment to fund a construction loan, we require an appraisal of the subject property by an independent approved appraiser. During the construction phase, we make periodic inspections of the construction site and loan proceeds are disbursed directly to the contractors or borrowers as construction progresses. Loan proceeds are disbursed after inspection based on the percentage of completion method. We also require general liability, builder's risk hazard insurance, title insurance, and flood insurance, for properties located in or to be built in a designated flood hazard area, on all construction loans.
We also originate developed lot and raw land loans to individuals intending to construct a residence in the future on the property. We will generally originate these loans in an amount up to 75% of the lower of the purchase price or appraisal. These lot and land loans are secured by a first lien on the property and have a fixed rate of interest with a maximum amortization of 20 years.
We make land acquisition and development loans to experienced builders or residential lot developers in our market area. The maximum loan-to-value limit applicable to these loans is generally 75% of the appraised market value upon completion of the project. We may not require cash equity from the borrower if there is sufficient equity in the land being used as collateral. Development plans are required prior to making the loan. Our loan officers visit the proposed site of the development and the sites of competing developments. We require that developers maintain adequate insurance coverage. Land acquisition and development loans generally are originated with a loan term up to 24 months, have adjustable rates of interest based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate or the three or five- year rate charged by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines ("FHLB") and require interest only payment during the term of the loan. Land acquisition and development loan proceeds are disbursed periodically in increments as construction progresses and as an inspection by our approved inspector warrants. We also require these loans to be paid on an accelerated basis as the lots are sold, so that we are repaid before all the lots are sold. At December 31, 2019, land acquisition and development and lot loans totaled $8.9 million, or 11.7% of our construction and land portfolio all of which were lot loans.
We also offer commercial and multifamily construction loans. These loans are underwritten as interest only with financing typically up to 24 months under terms similar to our residential construction loans. Commercial and multifamily construction loans are made up to the lesser of a maximum loan-to-value ratio of 100% of cost or 80% of appraised value at completion. Most of our commercial and multifamily construction loans provide for disbursement of loan funds during the construction

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period and conversion to a permanent loan when the construction is complete, and either tenant lease-up provisions or prescribed debt service coverage ratios are met. At December 31, 2019, commercial and multifamily construction loans totaled $39.8 million, or 52.5% of our construction and land portfolio, compared to $30.4 million, or 46.6% of our construction and land portfolio at December 31, 2018. The three largest commercial and multifamily construction loans at December 31, 2019 included a $4.8 million loan secured by a multifamily residential and retail building, a $4.3 million loan secured by a multifamily residential and mixed use project and a $3.7 million loans secured by a multifamily residential and mixed use project, all located in Washington.
Our construction and land development loans are based upon estimates of costs in relation to values associated with the completed project. Construction/land lending involves additional risks when compared with permanent residential lending because funds are advanced upon the collateral for the project based on an estimate of costs that will produce a future value at completion. Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs, as well as the market value of the completed project and the effects of governmental regulation on real property, it is relatively difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the completed project loan-to-value ratio. Changes in the demand, such as for new housing and higher than anticipated building costs may cause actual results to vary significantly from those estimated. For these reasons, this type of lending also typically involves higher loan principal amounts and is often concentrated with a small number of builders. A downturn in housing, or the real estate market, could increase loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, and significantly impair the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure. Some of our builders have more than one loan outstanding with us and also have residential mortgage loans for rental properties with us. Consequently, an adverse development with respect to one loan or one credit relationship can expose us to a significantly greater risk of loss.
In addition, during the term of most of our construction loans, no payment from the borrower is required since the accumulated interest is added to the principal of the loan through an interest reserve. As a result, these loans often involve the disbursement of funds with repayment substantially dependent on the success of the ultimate project and the ability of the borrower to sell or lease the property or obtain permanent take-out financing, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to repay principal and interest. If our appraisal of the value of a completed project proves to be overstated, we may have inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project and may incur a loss. Because construction loans require active monitoring of the building process, including cost comparisons and on-site inspections, these loans are more difficult and costly to monitor. Increases in market rates of interest may have a more pronounced effect on construction loans by rapidly increasing the end purchasers' borrowing costs, thereby reducing the overall demand for the project. Properties under construction may be difficult to sell and typically must be completed in order to be successfully sold which also complicates the process of resolving problem construction loans. This may require us to advance additional funds and/or contract with another builder to complete construction. Furthermore, in the case of speculative construction loans, there is the added risk associated with identifying an end-purchaser for the finished project. Land loans also pose additional risk because of the lack of income being produced by the property and the potential illiquid nature of the collateral. These risks can also be significantly impacted by supply and demand conditions. A downturn in housing, or the real estate market, could increase loan delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, and significantly impair the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure.

Commercial Business Lending. At December 31, 2019, commercial business loans totaled $38.9 million, or 6.3% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $38.8 million, or 6.2% of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2018. Substantially all of our commercial business loans have been to borrowers in our market area. Our commercial business lending activities encompass loans with a variety of purposes and security, including loans to finance commercial vehicles and equipment and loans secured by accounts receivable and/or inventory. Approximately $1.0 million or 2.6% of our commercial business loans at December 31, 2019 were unsecured. Our commercial business lending policy includes an analysis of the borrower's background, capacity to repay the loan, the adequacy of the borrower's capital and collateral, as well as an evaluation of other conditions affecting the borrower. Analysis of the borrower's past, present and future cash flows is also an important aspect of our credit analysis. We generally require personal guarantees on both our secured and unsecured commercial business loans. Nonetheless, commercial business loans are believed to carry higher credit risk than residential mortgage and commercial real estate loans.
Our interest rates on commercial business loans are dependent on the type of loan. Our secured commercial business loans typically have a loan to value ratio of up to 80% and are term loans ranging from three to seven years. Secured commercial business term loans generally have a fixed rated based on the commensurate FHLB amortizing rate or prime rate as reported in the West Coast edition of the Wall Street Journal plus 1% to 3%. In addition, we typically charge loan fees of 1% to 2% of the principal amount at origination, depending on the credit quality and account relationships of the borrower. Business lines of credit are usually adjustable-rate and are based on the prime rate plus 1% to 3%, and are generally originated with both a floor and ceiling to the interest rate. Our business lines of credit generally have terms ranging from 12 months to 24 months and provide for interest-only monthly payments during the term.

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Our commercial business loans are primarily based on the cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower. The borrowers' cash flow may be unpredictable, and collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value. This collateral may consist of accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or real estate. In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers. Other collateral securing loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise, may be illiquid and may fluctuate in value based on the specific type of business and equipment. As a result, the availability of funds for the repayment of commercial business loans may be substantially dependent on the success of the business itself which, in turn, is often dependent in part upon general economic conditions.
Consumer Lending. We offer a variety of secured and unsecured consumer loans, including new and used manufactured homes, floating homes, automobiles, boats and recreational vehicle loans, and loans secured by deposit accounts. We also offer unsecured consumer loans. We originate our consumer loans primarily in our market area. All of our consumer loans are originated on a direct basis. At December 31, 2019, our consumer loans totaled $72.7 million, or 11.7% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $67.6 million, or 10.9 % of our total loan portfolio at December 31, 2018.
We typically originate new and used manufactured home loans to borrowers who intend to use the home as a primary residence. The yields on these loans are higher than that on our other residential lending products and the portfolio has performed reasonably well with an acceptable level of risk and loss in exchange for the higher yield. Our weighted-average yield on manufactured home loans at December 31, 2019 was 8.40 %, compared to 4.62 % for one-to-four family mortgages, excluding loans held-for-sale. At December 31, 2019, these loans totaled $20.6 million, or 28.3 % of our consumer loans and 3.3 % of our total loan portfolio. For used manufactured homes, loans are generally made up to 90% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price up to $200,000, and with terms typically up to 20 years. On new manufactured homes, loans are generally made up to 90% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price up to $200,000, and with terms typically up to 20 years. We generally charge a 1% fee at origination. We underwrite these loans based on our review of creditworthiness of the borrower, including credit scores, and the value of the collateral, for which we hold a security interest under Washington law.
Manufactured home loans are higher risk than loans secured by residential real property, though this risk is reduced if the owner also owns the land on which the home is located. A small portion of our manufactured home loans involve properties on which we also have financed the land for the owner. The primary risk in manufactured home loans is the difficulty in obtaining adequate value for the collateral due to the cost and limited ability to move the collateral. These loans tend to be made to retired individuals and first-time homebuyers. First-time homebuyers of manufactured homes tend to be a higher credit risk than first-time homebuyers of single-family residences, due to more limited financial resources. As a result, these loans may have a higher probability of default and higher delinquency rates than single-family residential loans and other types of consumer loans. We take into account this additional risk as a component of our allowance for loan losses. We attempt to work out delinquent loans with the borrower and, if that is not successful, any past due manufactured homes are repossessed and sold. At December 31, 2019, there were seven nonperforming manufactured home loans totaling $226,000.
We originate floating home, houseboat and house barge loans typically located on cooperative or condominium moorages. Terms vary from five to 20 years and have a fixed rate of interest. We lend up to 90% of the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price. The primary risk in floating home loans is the unique nature of the collateral and the challenges of relocating such collateral to a location other than where such housing is permitted. The process for securing the deed and/or the condominium or cooperative dock is also unique compared to other types of lending we participate in. As a result, these loans may have higher collateral recovery costs than for one- to four-family mortgage loans and other types of consumer loans. We take into account these additional risks as a part of our underwriting criteria. At December 31, 2019, floating home loans totaled $43.8 million, or 60.2 % of our consumer loan portfolio and 7.1% of our total loan portfolio. Houseboats and house barge loans, which are included in other consumer loans, totaled $5.8 million, or 8.0% of our consumer loan portfolio and 0.9% of our total loan portfolio.
The balance of our consumer loans include loans secured by new and used automobiles, new and used boats, motorcycles and recreational vehicles, loans secured by deposits and unsecured consumer loans, all of which, at December 31, 2019, totaled $8.3 million, or 11.4 % of our consumer loan portfolio and 1.3 % of our total loan portfolio. Our automobile loan portfolio totaled $1.2 million at December 31, 2019, or 1.6 % of our consumer loan portfolio and 0.2 % of our total loan portfolio. Automobile loans may be written for a term up to 72 months and have fixed rates of interest. Loan-to-value ratios are up to 100% of the lesser of the purchase price or the National Automobile Dealers Association value for used automobiles, including tax, licenses, title and mechanical breakdown and gap insurance.
Loans secured by boats, motorcycles and recreational vehicles typically have terms from five to 20 years depending on the collateral and loan-to-value ratios up to 90%. These loans may be made with fixed or adjustable interest rates. Our unsecured consumer loans have either a fixed rate of interest generally for a maximum term of 48 months, or are revolving lines of credit

15


of generally up to $25,000. At December 31, 2019, unsecured consumer loans totaled $923,000 and unfunded commitments on our unsecured consumer lines of credit totaled $1.0 million. At that date, the average outstanding balance on these lines was less than $1,000.
Consumer loans (other than our manufactured and floating homes) generally have shorter terms to maturity, which reduces our exposure to changes in interest rates. In addition, management believes that offering consumer loan products helps to expand and create stronger ties to our existing client base by increasing the number of client relationships and providing additional marketing opportunities.
Consumer loans generally entail greater risk than do one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, particularly in the case of consumer loans that are secured by rapidly depreciable assets, such as manufactured homes, automobiles, boats and recreational vehicles. In these cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. As a result, consumer loan collections are dependent on the borrower's continuing financial stability and, thus, are more likely to be adversely affected by job loss, divorce, illness or personal bankruptcy.
Loan Originations, Purchases, Sales, Repayments and Servicing
We originate both fixed-rate and adjustable-rate loans. Our ability to originate loans, however, is dependent upon client demand for loans in our market area. Over the past several years, we have continued to originate residential and consumer loans, and increased our emphasis on commercial and multifamily real estate, construction and land, and commercial business lending. Demand is affected by competition and the interest rate environment. During the past few years, we, like many other financial institutions, have experienced significant prepayments on loans due to the prevailing low interest rate environment in the United States. In periods of economic uncertainty, the ability of financial institutions, including us, to originate large dollar volumes of real estate loans may be substantially reduced or restricted, with a resultant decrease in interest income. If a proposed loan exceeds our internal lending limits, we may originate the loan on a participation basis with another financial institution. From time to time, we also participate with other financial institutions on loans they originate. We sold commercial loan participations in the amount of $3.7 million in 2019, zero in 2018 and $3.1 million in 2017, respectively. We underwrite loan purchases and participations to the same standards as internally originated loans. We had no purchases of commercial business loan participations from other financial institutions in 2019 and 2018, and purchased two commercial business loan participations from other financial institutions totaling $15.5 million in 2017.
We originate loans that may meet one or more of the credit characteristics commonly associated with subprime lending. The term ‘subprime’ refers to the credit characteristics of individual borrowers which may include payment delinquencies, judgements, foreclosures, bankruptcies, low credit scores and/or high debt-to-income ratios. In exchange for the additional risk we take with such borrowers, we may require borrowers to pay a higher interest rates, require a lower debt-to-income ratio or require other enhancements to manage the additional risk. While no single credit characteristic defines a subprime loan, one commonly used indicator is a loan originated to a borrower with a credit score of 660 or lower. At December 31, 2019, of the $104.3 million in one-to-four-family loans originated in 2019, $10.3 million or 9.8% were to borrowers with a credit score under 660. Additionally, of the $5.6 million in manufactured home loans originated in 2019, $541,000 or 9.7% were to borrowers with a credit score of 660 or lower. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the total amount of residential and consumer loans held in our loan portfolio to borrowers with a credit score of 660 or lower were $34.9 million and $27.5 million, respectively. We do not engage in originating negative amortization or option adjustable rate loans and have no established program to originate or purchase these loans.
In addition to interest earned on loans and loan origination fees, we receive fees for loan commitments, late payments and other miscellaneous services.
We also sell whole one-to-four family loans without recourse to Fannie Mae and other investors, subject to a provision for repurchase upon breach of representation, warranty or covenant. These loans are fixed-rate mortgages, which primarily are sold to reduce our interest rate risk and generate noninterest income. These loans are generally sold for cash in amounts equal to the unpaid principal amount of the loans determined using present value yields to the buyer. These sales allow for a servicing fee on loans when the servicing is retained by us. Most one- to four-family loans are sold with servicing retained. In October 2015, we acquired a $45.9 million loans servicing portfolio from another bank, which loans are 100% owned by Fannie Mae. At December 31, 2019, we were servicing a $363.3 million portfolio of residential mortgage loans for Fannie Mae and $14.0 million for other investors. We did not repurchase any loans in 2019 or 2018. These mortgage servicing rights are carried at fair value and had a value at December 31, 2019 of $3.2 million. We earned mortgage servicing income of $1.0 million, $1.1 million and $1.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. See Note 6 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
Sales of whole real estate loans are beneficial to us since these sales may generate income at the time of sale, produce future servicing income on loans where servicing is retained, provide funds for additional lending, and increase liquidity. We sold

16


$78.9 million of conforming one- to four- family loans during the year ended December 31, 2019, of which $16.2 million were sale to other investors in first quarter of 2019. We sold $50.0 million and $52.0 million of conforming one- to four- family loans during the years ended 2018 and 2017, respectively. Gains, losses and transfer fees on sales of one-to-four family loans and participations are recognized at the time of the sale. Our net gain on sales of residential loans for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $1.4 million, $1.0 million and $1.1 million, respectively. In addition to loans sold to Fannie Mae and others on a servicing retained basis, we also sell nonconforming residential loans to correspondent banks on a servicing released basis. In 2019 and 2018, we sold $13.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively, of loans servicing released.
The following table shows our loan origination, sale and repayment activities, including loans held-for-sale, for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Originations by type:
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed-rate:
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
$
104,343

 
$
67,823

 
$
73,560

Home equity
7,587

 
4,459

 
4,538

Commercial and multifamily
38,458

 
94,725

 
34,438

Construction and land
35,573

 
24,303

 
49,771

Manufactured homes
5,603

 
7,313

 
5,106

Floating homes
1,807

 
20,660

 
7,409

Other consumer
3,021

 
3,402

 
2,360

Commercial business
1,553

 
2,277

 
10,440

Total fixed-rate
$
197,945

 
$
224,962

 
$
187,622

Adjustable rate:
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
24,634

 
44,726

 
36,130

Home equity
3,060

 
9,705

 
5,832

Commercial and multifamily
53,885

 
55,945

 
33,155

Construction and land
15,093

 

 
6,094

Floating homes
11,966

 

 

Other consumer
160

 
48

 
86

Commercial business
2,360

 
17,202

 
7,527

Total adjustable-rate
$
111,158

 
$
127,626

 
$
88,824

Total loans originated
$
309,103

 
$
352,588

 
$
276,446

Purchases by type:
 
 
 
 
 
Commercial business participations

 

 
15,450

Total loan participations purchased
$

 
$

 
$
15,450

Sales, repayments and participations sold:
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
78,906

 
49,966

 
51,959

Commercial and multifamily
3,706

 

 
3,136

Total loans sold and loan participations
82,612

 
49,966

 
55,095

Total principal repayments
226,256

 
231,627

 
188,121

Total reductions
308,868

 
281,593

 
243,216

Net increase
$
235

 
$
70,995

 
$
48,680

The decrease in overall originations in 2019 compared to 2018 was primarily due to competition for commercial, multifamily and commercial business loans in our market area. Demand for other loans, particularity one-to-four family loans, grew in 2019 due to refinance activity driven by lower interest rates during the period. Demand for construction loans, including new homes and apartment buildings increased due to appreciation in market prices, declining supplies of homes for sale and continued strong rental demand in our market area. Floating homes, home equity and manufactured home loan originations decreased due to competition for loans in our market area. 

17



Asset Quality
When a borrower fails to make a required payment on a one-to-four family loan, we attempt to cure the delinquency by contacting the borrower. In the case of loans secured by a one-to-four family property, a late notice typically is sent 15 days after the due date. Generally, a pre-foreclosure loss mitigation letter is also mailed to the borrower 30 days after the due date. All delinquent accounts are reviewed by a loan officer or branch manager who attempts to cure the delinquency by contacting the borrower. If the account becomes 120 days delinquent and an acceptable foreclosure alternative has not been agreed upon, we generally refer the account to legal counsel with instructions to prepare a notice of default. The notice of default begins the foreclosure process. If foreclosure is completed, typically we take title to the property and sell it directly through a real estate broker.
Delinquent consumer loans are handled in a similar manner to one-to-four family loans. Our procedures for repossession and sale of consumer collateral are subject to various requirements under the applicable consumer protection laws as well as other applicable laws and the determination by us that it would be beneficial from a cost basis.
Once a loan is 90 days past due, it is classified as nonaccrual. Generally, delinquent consumer loans are charged-off at 120 days past due, unless we have a reasonable basis to justify additional collection and recovery efforts.
Delinquent Loans. The following table sets forth our loan delinquencies by type, by amount and by percentage of type at December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
 
Loans Delinquent For:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days and Over
 
Total Delinquent Loans
 
Number
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Loan Category
 
Number
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Loan Category
 
Number
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Loan Category
One- to four- family
13

 
$
894

 
0.6
%
 
9

 
$
1,810

 
1.2
%
 
22

 
$
2,704

 
1.8
%
Home equity
4

 
242

 
1.0

 
4

 
197

 
0.8

 
8

 
439

 
1.8

Commercial and Multifamily
4

 
1,742

 
0.7

 
1

 
353

 
0.1

 
5

 
2,095

 
0.8

Construction and land
3

 
4,440

 
5.9

 
1

 
50

 
0.1

 
4

 
4,490

 
5.9

Manufactured homes
13

 
367

 
1.8

 
4

 
125

 
0.6

 
17

 
492

 
2.4

Floating homes
2

 
547

 
1.2

 
1

 
290

 
0.7

 
3

 
837

 
1.9

Other consumer
13

 
21

 
0.2

 

 

 

 
13

 
21

 
0.2

Commercial Business
2

 
226

 
0.6

 
3

 
162

 
0.4

 
5

 
388

 
1.0

Total
54

 
$
8,479

 
1.4
%
 
23

 
$
2,987

 
0.5
%
 
77

 
$
11,466

 
1.8
%

18


Nonperforming Assets. The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio (in thousands). Loans are placed on nonaccrual status when the collection of principal and/or interest become doubtful or when the loan is more than 90 days past due. Other real estate owned ("OREO") and repossessed assets include assets acquired in settlement of loans.
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Nonaccrual loans (1):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family
$
2,090

 
$
1,120

 
$
837

 
$
2,216

 
$
1,640

Home equity
261

 
359

 
722

 
553

 
428

Commercial and multifamily
353

 
534

 
201

 
218

 

Construction and land
1,177

 
123

 
92

 

 

Manufactured homes
226

 
214

 
206

 
120

 
62

Floating homes
290

 

 

 

 

Other consumer

 

 
8

 

 

Commercial business
260

 
317

 
217

 
242

 

Total nonaccrual loans
$
4,657

 
$
2,667

 
$
2,283

 
$
3,349

 
$
2,130

OREO and repossessed assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
562

 
$
159

Commercial and multifamily
575

 
575

 
600

 
600

 
600

Manufactured homes

 

 
10

 
10

 
10

Total OREO and repossessed assets
$
575

 
$
575

 
$
610

 
$
1,172

 
$
769

Total nonperforming assets
$
5,232

 
$
3,242

 
$
2,893

 
$
4,521

 
$
2,899

Nonperforming assets as a percentage of total assets
0.73
%
 
0.45
%
 
0.45
%
 
0.77
%
 
0.54
%
Performing restructured loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four- family
$
6,638

 
$
1,511

 
$
2,876

 
$
1,977

 
$
2,415

Home equity
59

 
60

 
158

 
144

 
232

Commercial and multifamily

 

 

 
361

 
1,966

Construction and land
38

 
44

 
49

 
83

 
91

Manufactured homes
172

 
130

 
150

 
160

 
255

Other consumer
123

 
131

 
36

 
40

 

Commercial business
264

 
97

 

 

 
114

Total performing restructured loans
$
7,294

 
$
1,973

 
$
3,269

 
$
2,765

 
$
5,073

(1)
Nonaccrual loans include $588,000, $817,000, $445,000, $683,000 and $971,000 in nonperforming troubled debt restructurings as of December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  We had no accruing loan 90 days or more delinquent for the periods reported.
Nonaccrual loans, including nonaccrual TDRs, increased $2.0 million to $4.7 million at December 31, 2019 from $2.7 million at December 31, 2018. Our largest nonperforming loan at December 31, 2019 was a $1.1 million. Nonperforming one- to four- family loans at December 31, 2019 consisted of 12 loans to different borrowers with an average loan balance of $174,000. There were seven manufactured home loans, five home equity loans, four commercial business loans, three construction and land loans, one commercial and multifamily real estate loan and one floating home loan classified as nonperforming at December 31, 2019.
For the year ended December 31, 2019, gross interest income that would have been recorded had the nonaccrual loans been current in accordance with their original terms amounted to $370,000, all of which was excluded from interest income for the year ended December 31, 2019.  See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition at December 31, 2019 Compared to December 31, 2018 -- Delinquencies and Nonperforming Assets" contained in Item 7 of this report on Form 10-K for more information on troubled assets.

19


Troubled Debt Restructured Loans.  Troubled debt restructurings ("TDRs"), which are accounted for under ASC 310-40, are loans which have renegotiated loan terms to assist borrowers who are unable to meet the original terms of their loans.  Such modifications to loan terms may include a lower interest rate, a reduction in principal, or a longer term to maturity.  All TDRs are initially classified as impaired regardless of whether the loan was performing at the time it was restructured.   At December 31, 2019, we had $7.3 million of loans that were classified as performing TDRs and still on accrual, compared to $2.0 million at December 31, 2018. Included in nonaccrual loans at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were nonaccrual TDRs of $588,000 and $817,000, respectively.
OREO and Repossessed Assets.  OREO and repossessed assets include assets acquired in settlement of loans.  At December 31, 2019, OREO and repossessed assets totaled $575,000. Our OREO at December 31, 2019, consisted of a former bank branch property located in Port Angeles, Washington which was acquired in 2015 as a part of three branches purchased from another financial institution. It is currently leased to a local not-for-profit organization at a below market rate.
Other Loans of Concern.   In addition to the nonperforming assets set forth in the table above, as of December 31, 2019, there were 43 loans totaling $10.1 million about which known information of possible credit or other problems caused management to have doubts as to the ability of the borrowers to comply with present loan repayment terms and which may result in the future inclusion of such items in the nonperforming asset categories.  The two largest loans of concern at December 31, 2019, were a $2.7 million loan and $2.0 million loan both secured by one- to four-family residential real estate located in King County, Washington. Additionally, other loans of concern included, $2.4 million in commercial and multifamily real estate loans, $1.3 million in commercial business loans, $1.0 million in one-to four-family, $378,000 in home equity loans, $59,000 in manufactured homes, and $52,000 in other consumer loans.
Classified Assets.  Federal regulations provide for the classification of lower quality loans and other assets (such as OREO and repossessed assets), debt and equity securities considered as "substandard," "doubtful" or "loss."  An asset is considered "substandard" if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any.  "Substandard" assets include those characterized by the "distinct possibility" that the insured institution will sustain "some loss" if the deficiencies are not corrected.  Assets classified as "doubtful" have all of the weaknesses in those classified "substandard," with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make "collection or liquidation in full," on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, "highly questionable and improbable."  Assets classified as "loss" are those considered "uncollectible" and of such little value that their continuance as assets without the establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted.
When we classify problem assets as either substandard or doubtful, we may establish a specific allowance in an amount we deem prudent to address specific impairments.  General allowances represent loss allowances which have been established to recognize the inherent risk associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been specifically allocated to particular problem assets.  When an insured institution classifies problem assets as a loss, it is required to charge off those assets in the period in which they are deemed uncollectible.  Our determination as to the classification of our assets and the amount of our valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC and, since our conversion to a Washington chartered commercial bank, the WDFI, which can order the establishment of additional loss allowances.  Assets which do not currently expose us to sufficient risk to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories but possess weaknesses are required to be designated as special mention. At December 31, 2019, special mention assets totaled $10.0 million.
We regularly review the problem assets in our portfolio to determine whether any assets require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. On the basis of management's review of our assets, at December 31, 2019, we had classified $15.3 million of our assets as substandard, of which $14.7 million represented a variety of outstanding loans and $575,000 represented the balance of our OREO and repossessed assets.  At that date, we had no assets classified as doubtful or loss.  This total amount of classified assets represented 19.7% of our equity capital and 2.1% of our assets at December 31, 2019.  Classified assets totaled $11.7 million, or 16.3% of our equity capital and 1.6% of our assets at December 31, 2018.
Allowance for Loan Losses.  We maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb probable loan losses in the loan portfolio.  The allowance is based on ongoing, monthly assessments of the estimated probable incurred losses in the loan portfolio.  In evaluating the level of the allowance for loan losses, management considers the types of loans and the amount of loans in the loan portfolio, peer group information, historical loss experience, adverse situations that may affect the borrower's ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral, and prevailing economic conditions.  Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as one-to-four family, small commercial and multifamily real estate, home equity and consumer loans, including floating homes and manufactured homes, are evaluated in the aggregate using historical loss factors and peer group data adjusted for current economic conditions.  More complex loans, such as commercial and multifamily real estate loans and commercial business loans are evaluated individually for impairment, primarily through the evaluation of the borrower's net operating income and available cash flow and their possible impact on collateral values.

20


At December 31, 2019, our allowance for loan losses was $5.6 million, or 0.91% of our total loan portfolio, compared to $5.8 million, or 0.93% of our total loan portfolio in 2018. Specific valuation reserves totaled $724,000 and $736,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Assessing the allowance for loan losses is inherently subjective as it requires making material estimates, including the amount and timing of future cash flows expected to be received on impaired loans that may be susceptible to significant change.  In the opinion of management, the allowance, when taken as a whole, properly reflects estimated probable loan losses inherent in our loan portfolio.  See Notes 1 and 5 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.  The following table sets forth an analysis of our allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Balance at beginning of period
$
5,774

 
$
5,241

 
$
4,822

 
$
4,636

 
$
4,387

Charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family

 

 

 
(72
)
 
(21
)
Home equity

 
(7
)
 
(89
)
 
(15
)
 
(35
)
Commercial and multifamily

 

 
(24
)
 
(314
)
 

Construction and land

 

 

 

 
(40
)
Manufactured homes

 
(12
)
 
(12
)
 

 
(37
)
Other consumer
(52
)
 
(31
)
 
(18
)
 
(42
)
 
(77
)
Commercial business

 

 

 
(29
)
 

Total charge-offs
(52
)
 
(50
)
 
(143
)
 
(472
)
 
(210
)
Recoveries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family
6

 
1

 

 
47

 

Home equity
10

 
44

 
33

 
78

 
36

Commercial and multifamily

 

 
1

 

 

Construction and land

 

 

 
18

 

Manufactured homes

 

 
8

 
8

 
8

Other consumer
24

 
12

 
20

 
53

 
15

Commercial business
3

 
1

 

 

 

Total recoveries
43

 
58

 
62

 
204

 
59

Net (charge-offs) recoveries
(9
)
 
8

 
(81
)
 
(268
)
 
(151
)
(Recapture from)/Provision charged to operations
(125
)
 
525

 
500

 
454

 
400

Balance at end of period
$
5,640

 
$
5,774

 
$
5,241

 
$
4,822

 
$
4,636

Net (charge-offs) recoveries during the period as a percentage of average loans outstanding during the period
 %
 
%
 
(0.02
)%
 
(0.06
)%
 
(0.03
)%
Net (charge-offs) recoveries during the period as a percentage of average nonperforming assets
(0.17
)%
 
0.30
%
 
(2.12
)%
 
(6.27
)%
 
(5.26
)%
Allowance as a percentage of nonperforming loans
121.11
 %
 
216.50
%
 
229.57
 %
 
143.98
 %
 
217.65
 %
Allowance as a percentage of total loans (end of period)
0.91
 %
 
0.93
%
 
0.96
 %
 
0.96
 %
 
1.01
 %
Economic conditions have been favorable in our market areas. Housing prices have experienced continued growth throughout 2019, with historically low inventory levels. Unemployment rates in many of our market areas remain low as the job market is competitive. The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 121.11% and 216.50% as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The recapture from the allowance for loan losses totaled $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a provision for loan losses of $525,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The recapture in the current year was due to changes in the composition and size of our loan portfolio during the year.

21


The distribution of our allowance for losses on loans at the dates indicated is summarized as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Percent of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of loans
in each category
to total loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of loans
in each category
to total loans
Allocated at end of period to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One- to four-family
$
1,120

 
24.0
%
 
$
1,314

 
27.3
%
 
$
1,436

 
28.5
%
 
$
1,542

 
30.3
%
 
$
1,839

 
30.5
%
Home equity
178

 
3.8

 
202

 
4.4

 
293

 
5.2

 
378

 
5.5

 
607

 
6.9

Commercial and multifamily
1,696

 
42.0

 
1,638

 
40.6

 
1,250

 
38.4

 
1,144

 
36.1

 
921

 
38.0

Construction and land
492

 
12.2

 
431

 
10.6

 
378

 
11.2

 
459

 
14.1

 
382

 
12.4

Manufactured homes
480

 
3.3

 
427

 
3.2

 
355

 
3.1

 
168

 
3.1

 
301

 
3.0

Floating homes
283

 
7.1

 
265

 
6.6

 
169

 
5.3

 
132

 
4.8

 
102

 
4.0

Other consumer
112

 
1.3

 
112

 
1.1

 
80

 
0.9

 
112

 
0.8

 
86

 
1.0

Commercial business
331

 
6.3

 
356

 
6.2

 
372

 
7.4

 
175

 
5.3

 
157

 
4.2

Unallocated
948

 

 
1,029

 

 
908

 

 
712

 

 
241

 

Total
$
5,640

 
100.0
%
 
$
5,774

 
100.0
%
 
$
5,241

 
100.0
%
 
$
4,822

 
100.0
%
 
$
4,636

 
100.0
%
Investment Activities
State chartered commercial banks have the authority to invest in various types of liquid assets, including United States Treasury obligations, securities of various federal agencies, including callable agency securities, certain certificates of deposit of insured commercial banks and savings banks, certain bankers' acceptances, repurchase agreements and federal funds.  Subject to various restrictions, state commercial banks may also invest their assets in investment grade commercial paper and corporate debt securities and mutual funds whose assets conform to the investments that the institution is otherwise authorized to make directly.  See "- How We Are Regulated – Sound Community Bank" for a discussion of additional restrictions on our investment activities.
Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have the responsibility for the management of our investment portfolio, subject to the direction and guidance of the Board of Directors.  These officers consider various factors when making decisions, including the marketability, maturity and tax consequences of the proposed investment.  The maturity structure of investments will be affected by various market conditions, including the current and anticipated slope of the yield curve, the level of interest rates, the trend of new deposit inflows, and the anticipated demand for funds via deposit withdrawals and loan originations and purchases.
The general objectives of our investment portfolio are to provide liquidity when loan demand is high, to assist in maintaining earnings when loan demand is low and to maximize earnings while satisfactorily managing risk, including credit risk, reinvestment risk, liquidity risk and interest rate risk.  Our investment quality emphasizes safer investments with the yield on those investments secondary to not taking unnecessary risk with the available funds.  See "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional information about our interest rate risk management contained in Item 7A. of this report on Form 10-K.
At December 31, 2019, we owned $1.2 million of stock issued by the FHLB.  As a condition of membership in the FHLB, we are required to purchase and hold a certain amount of FHLB stock.

22


The following table sets forth the composition of our securities portfolio and other investments at the dates indicated.  At December 31, 2019, our securities portfolio did not contain securities of any issuer with an aggregate book value in excess of 10% of our equity capital. All of our investment securities, other than FHLB stock, are currently categorized as available for sale. See Note 4 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Securities
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
Municipal bonds
$
3,197

 
$
3,370

 
$
3,218

 
$
3,317

 
$
3,240

 
$
3,369

Agency mortgage-backed securities
5,888

 
5,936

 
1,594

 
1,640

 
2,030

 
2,066

Total available for sale securities
9,085

 
9,306

 
4,812

 
4,957

 
5,270

 
5,435

FHLB stock
1,160

 
1,160

 
4,134

 
4,134

 
3,065

 
3,065

Total securities
$
10,245

 
$
10,466

 
$
8,946

 
$
9,091

 
$
8,335

 
$
8,500

We review investment securities on an ongoing basis for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") taking into consideration current market conditions, fair value in relationship to cost, extent and nature of the change in fair value, issuer rating changes and trends, whether we intend to sell a security or if it is likely that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of our amortized cost basis of the investment, which may be maturity, and other factors.  For debt securities, if we intend to sell the security or it is likely that we will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost basis, the entire impairment loss would be recognized in earnings as an OTTI.  If we do not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security but we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security, only the portion of the impairment loss representing credit losses would be recognized in earnings.  The credit loss on a security is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected.
Projected cash flows are discounted by the original or current effective interest rate depending on the nature of the security being measured for potential OTTI.  The remaining impairment related to all other factors, the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the fair value, is recognized as a charge to other comprehensive income.  Impairment losses related to all other factors are presented as separate categories within other comprehensive income.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not recognize any non-cash OTTI charges on our investment securities. There were five agency securities that had unrealized losses although management determined the decline in value was not related to specific credit deterioration. We do not intend to sell these securities and it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell any securities before anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis.  We closely monitor our investment securities for changes in credit risk.  The current market environment significantly limits our ability to mitigate our exposure to valuation changes in these securities by selling them.  If market conditions deteriorate and we determine our holdings of these or other investment securities are OTTI, our future earnings, stockholders' equity, regulatory capital and continuing operations could be materially adversely affected.
Sources of Funds
General.  Our sources of funds are primarily deposits (including deposits from public entities), borrowings, payments of principal and interest on loans and investments and funds provided from operations.
Deposits.  We offer a variety of deposit accounts to both consumers and businesses with a wide range of interest rates and terms. Our deposits consist of savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, NOW accounts, demand accounts and certificates of deposit.  We solicit deposits primarily in our market area; however, at December 31, 2019, approximately 3.9% of our deposits were from persons outside the State of Washington. As of December 31, 2019, core deposits, which we define as our non-time deposit accounts and time deposit accounts less than $250,000 (excluding brokered deposits and public funds), represented approximately 79.7% of total deposits, compared to 84.7% and 90.8% as of December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. We primarily rely on competitive pricing policies, marketing and client service to attract and retain these deposits and we expect to continue these practices in the future.
The flow of deposits is influenced significantly by general economic conditions, changes in money market and prevailing interest rates and competition.  The variety of deposit accounts we offer has allowed us to be competitive in obtaining funds and to respond with flexibility to changes in consumer demand. We manage the pricing of our deposits in keeping with our asset/liability management, liquidity and profitability objectives, subject to competitive factors.  Based on our experience, we

23


believe that our deposits are relatively stable sources of funds.  Despite this stability, our ability to attract and maintain these deposits and the rates paid on them is and will continue to be significantly affected by market conditions.
The following table sets forth our deposit flows during the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Opening balance
$
553,601

 
$
514,400

 
$
467,731

Net deposits
56,252

 
35,362

 
43,648

Interest credited
6,865

 
3,839

 
3,021

Ending balance
$
616,718

 
$
553,601

 
$
514,400

Net increase
$
63,117

 
$
39,201

 
$
46,669

Percent increase
11.4
%
 
7.6
%
 
10.0
%

The following table sets forth the dollar amount of deposits in the various types of deposit programs offered by us at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Amount
 
Percent of total
 
Amount
 
Percent of total
 
Amount
 
Percent of total
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
94,973

 
15.4
%
 
$
93,823

 
17.0
%
 
$
69,094

 
13.4
%
Interest-bearing demand
159,774

 
25.8

 
164,919

 
29.8

 
173,413

 
33.7

Savings
57,936

 
9.4

 
54,102

 
9.8

 
49,450

 
9.6

Money market
50,337

 
8.2

 
46,689

 
8.4

 
54,860

 
10.7

Escrow
2,311

 
0.4

 
2,243

 
0.4

 
3,029

 
0.6

Total non-maturity deposits
365,331

 
59.2

 
361,776

 
65.4

 
349,846

 
68.0

Certificates of deposit:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

1.99% or below
60,747

 
9.9

 
118,478

 
21.4

 
154,102

 
30.0

2.00 - 3.99%
190,640

 
30.9

 
73,347

 
13.2

 
10,452

 
2.0

Total certificates of deposit
251,387

 
40.8

 
191,825

 
34.6

 
164,554

 
32.0

Total deposits
$
616,718

 
100.0
%
 
$
553,601

 
100.0
%
 
$
514,400

 
100.0
%
Noninterest-bearing demand accounts increased $1.1 million, or 1.2%, in 2019 compared to 2018. The certificates of deposits increased $59.6 million, or 31.1%, in 2019 compared to 2018. The increase in certificate accounts over the past year was as a result of our marketing emphasis on our competitively priced certificates of deposits products.
We are a public funds depository and as of December 31, 2019, we had $39.1 million in public funds compared to $29.0 million in public funds at December 31, 2018. These funds consisted of $38.9 million in certificates of deposit, $100,000 in money market accounts and $118,000 in checking accounts at December 31, 2019.  These accounts must be 50% collateralized if the amount on deposit exceeds FDIC insurance of $250,000.  We use letters of credit from the FHLB as collateral for these funds.

24


The following table shows rate and maturity information for our certificates of deposit at December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
 
0.00-1.99%
 
2.00-3.99%
 
Total
 
Percent of Total
Certificate accounts maturing in quarter ending:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
March 31, 2020
$
15,129

 
$
6,617

 
$
21,746

 
8.7
%
June 30, 2020
6,946

 
13,824

 
20,770

 
8.3

September 30, 2020
5,856

 
13,060

 
18,916

 
7.5

December 31, 2020
4,700

 
20,434

 
25,134

 
10.0

March 31, 2021
4,849

 
50,016

 
54,865

 
21.8

June 30, 2021
4,079

 
35,881

 
39,960

 
15.9

September 30, 2021
6,894

 
22,455

 
29,349

 
11.7

December 31, 2021
7,247

 
2,682

 
9,929

 
3.9

March 31, 2022
1,999

 
132

 
2,131

 
0.8

June 30, 2022
1,388

 
540

 
1,928

 
0.8

September 30, 2022
1,013

 
45

 
1,058

 
0.4

December 31, 2022
524

 
3,323

 
3,847

 
1.5

Thereafter
123

 
21,631

 
21,754

 
8.7

Total
$
60,747

 
$
190,640

 
$
251,387

 
100.0
%
Percent of total
24.2
%
 
75.8
%
 
100.0
%
 
 


The following table indicates the amount of our certificates of deposit and other deposits by time remaining until maturity as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
Maturity
 
 
 
3 months
or less
 
Over 3 to
6 months
 
Over 6 to
12 months
 
Over 12
months
 
Total
Certificates of deposit less than $100,000
$
7,405

 
$
5,043

 
$
16,897

 
$
50,841

 
$
80,186

Certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more
14,341

 
15,727

 
27,153

 
113,980

 
171,201

Total certificates of deposit
$
21,746

 
$
20,770

 
$
44,050

 
$
164,821

 
$
251,387

Borrowings.  Although deposits are our primary source of funds, we may utilize borrowings as a cost-effective source of funds when they can be invested at a positive interest rate spread, for additional capacity to fund loan demand, or to meet our asset/liability management goals. Our borrowings currently consist of advances from the FHLB.  See Note 10 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
We are a member of and obtain advances from the FHLB, which is part of the Federal Home Loan Bank System.  The eleven regional Federal Home Loan Banks provide a central credit facility for their member institutions.  These advances are provided upon the security of certain of our mortgage loans and mortgage-backed securities.  These advances may be made pursuant to several different credit programs, each of which has its own interest rate, range of maturities and call features, and all long-term advances are required to provide funds for residential home financing. We have entered into a loan agreement with the FHLB pursuant to which Sound Community Bank may borrow up to approximately 45% of total assets, secured by a blanket pledge on a portion of our residential mortgage portfolio including one-to-four family loans, commercial and multifamily real estate loans and home equity loans.  Based on eligible collateral, the total amount available under this agreement as of December 31, 2019 was $321.9 million.  At the same date, we had $7.5 million in FHLB advances outstanding with maturities within one year.  We also had outstanding letters of credit from the FHLB with a notional amount of $19.1 million at December 31, 2019.  We plan to rely in part on FHLB advances to fund asset and loan growth. We also use short-term advances to meet short term liquidity needs. We are required to own stock in the FHLB based on the amount of our advances.
From time to time, we also may borrow from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's "discount window" for overnight liquidity needs, although we have not borrowed from the discount window in recent years.

25


The following table sets forth the maximum balance and average balance of borrowings for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Maximum balance:
 
 
 
 
 
FHLB advances
$
72,750

 
$
99,500

 
$
61,500

Average balances:
 
 
 
 
 
FHLB advances
$
24,530

 
$
69,900

 
$
29,791

Weighted average interest rate:
 
 
 
 
 
FHLB advances
3.08
%
 
2.18
%
 
1.16
%

The following table sets forth certain information about our borrowings at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
FHLB advances
$
7,500

 
$
84,000

 
$
59,000

Weighted-average interest rate:
 

 
 

 
 

FHLB advances
3.05
%
 
2.72
%
 
1.63
%
Subsidiary and Other Activities
Sound Financial Bancorp has one subsidiary, Sound Community Bank. In 2019, Sound Community Bank formed Sound Community Insurance Agency, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary for purposes of selling a full range of insurance products.
Competition
We face competition in attracting deposits and originating loans. Competition in originating real estate loans comes primarily from commercial banks, credit unions, life insurance companies, mortgage brokers and more recently financial technology (or "FinTech") companies. Commercial banks, credit unions and finance companies, including FinTech companies, provide vigorous competition in consumer lending.  Commercial business competition is primarily from local commercial banks, but credit unions also compete for this business. We compete by consistently delivering high-quality, personal service to our clients which results in a high level of client satisfaction.
Our market area has a high concentration of financial institutions, many of which are branches of large money center and regional banks that have resulted from the consolidation of the banking industry in Washington and other western states. These include such large national lenders as US Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Key Bank and others in our market area that have greater resources than we do.
We attract our deposits through our branch offices and web site.  Competition for those deposits is principally from savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions, as well as mutual funds, FinTech companies and other alternative investments.  We compete for these deposits by offering superior service, online and mobile access and a variety of deposit accounts at competitive rates.  Based on the most recent data provided by the FDIC, there are approximately 50 other commercial banks and savings banks operating in the Seattle MSA, which includes King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties.  Based on the most recent branch deposit data provided by the FDIC, our share of deposits in the Seattle MSA is approximately 0.18%.  The five largest financial institutions in that area have 71.6% of those deposits.  In Clallam County there are nine other commercial banks and savings banks.  Our share of deposits in Clallam County was the second highest in the county at approximately 17.7%, with the five largest institutions in that county having 76.7% of the deposits.  In Jefferson County there are six other commercial banks and savings banks.  Our share of deposits in Jefferson County is approximately 7.8%, while the five largest institutions in that county have 81.6% of those deposits.

26


How We Are Regulated

General. Sound Community Bank is a Washington state-chartered commercial bank.  The regulators of Sound Community Bank as a commercial bank are the WDFI and the FDIC.  The Federal Reserve is the primary federal regulator for Sound Financial Bancorp.  A brief description of certain laws and regulations that are applicable to Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank is set forth below. This description of these laws and regulations, as well as descriptions of laws and regulations contained elsewhere herein, does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable laws and regulations. Legislation is introduced from time to time in the United States Congress or the Washington State Legislature that may affect the operations of Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank. In addition, the regulations governing us may be amended from time to time. Any such legislation or regulatory changes in the future could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
The WDFI and FDIC have extensive enforcement authority over Sound Community Bank. The Federal Reserve has the same type of authority over Sound Financial Bancorp. This enforcement authority includes, among other things, the ability to assess civil money penalties, issue cease-and-desist orders and removal orders and initiate injunctive actions. In general, these enforcement actions may be initiated for violations of laws and regulations and unsafe or unsound practices. Other actions or inactions may provide the basis for enforcement action, including misleading or untimely reports filed with the regulators.
2018 Regulatory Reform
In May 2018, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act (the “Act”), was enacted to amend or remove certain rules and regulations and modify certain aspects of the regulatory framework for depository institutions with assets of less than $10 billion and for large banks with assets of more than $50 billion. Many of these changes could result in meaningful regulatory changes for community banks such as Sound Community Bank, and their holding companies.
The Act, among other matters, expands the definition of qualified mortgages which may be held by a financial institution and simplifies the regulatory capital rules for financial institutions and their holding companies with total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion by instructing the federal banking regulators to establish a single Community Bank Leverage Ratio of between 8 and 10 percent. Any qualifying depository institution or its holding company that exceeds that ratio will be considered to have met generally applicable leverage and risk-based regulatory capital requirements and any qualifying depository institution that exceeds the new ratio will be considered to be “well capitalized” under the prompt corrective action rules.
The Act also expands the category of holding companies that may rely on the Small Bank Holding Company and Savings and Loan Holding Company Policy Statement of the Federal Reserve by raising the maximum amount of assets a qualifying holding company may have from $1 billion to $3 billion. A major effect of this change is to exclude such holding companies from the minimum capital requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, the Act includes regulatory relief for community banks regarding regulatory examination cycles, call reports, the Volcker Rule (proprietary trading prohibitions), mortgage disclosures and risk weights for certain high-risk commercial real estate loans.
It is difficult at this time to predict when or how any new standards under the Act will ultimately be applied to us or what specific impact the Act and the implementing rules and regulations will have on community banks.
Regulation of Sound Community Bank
General. Sound Community Bank, as a state-chartered commercial bank, is subject to applicable provisions of Washington law and to regulations and examinations of the WDFI. As an insured institution, it also is subject to examination and regulation by the FDIC, which insures the deposits of Sound Community Bank to the maximum permitted by law. During state or federal regulatory examinations, the examiners may require Sound Community Bank to provide for higher general or specific loan loss reserves, which can impact our capital and earnings. This regulation of Sound Community Bank is intended for the protection of depositors and the Deposit Insurance Fund (the “DIF”) of the FDIC and not for the purpose of protecting stockholders of Sound Community Bank or Sound Financial Bancorp. Sound Community Bank is required to maintain minimum levels of regulatory capital and is subject to certain limitations on the payment of dividends to Sound Financial Bancorp. See “- Capital Rules” and “-Limitations on Dividends and Other Capital Distributions.”
Regulation by the WDFI and the FDIC.  State law and regulations govern Sound Community Bank’s ability to take deposits and pay interest, to make loans on or invest in residential and other real estate, to make other loans, to invest in securities, to offer various banking services, and to establish branch offices. As a state commercial bank, Sound Community Bank must pay semi-annual assessments, examination costs and certain other charges to the WDFI.

27


Washington law generally provides the same powers for Washington commercial banks as federally and other-state chartered savings banks with branches in Washington. Washington law allows Washington commercial banks to charge the maximum interest rates on loans and other extensions of credit to Washington residents which are allowable for a national bank in another state if higher than Washington limits. In addition, the WDFI may approve applications by Washington commercial banks to engage in an otherwise unauthorized activity, if it determines that the activity is closely related to banking, and Sound Community Bank is otherwise qualified under the statute. Federal law and regulations generally limit the activities and equity investments of Sound Community Bank to those that are permissible for national banks, unless approved by the FDIC, and govern our relationship with our depositors and borrowers to a great extent, especially with respect to disclosure requirements.
The FDIC has adopted regulatory guidelines establishing safety and soundness standards on such matters as loan underwriting and documentation, asset quality, earnings standards, internal controls and information systems, audit systems, interest rate risk exposure and compensation and other benefits. If the FDIC determines that Sound Community Bank fails to meet any standard prescribed by these guidelines, it may require Sound Community Bank to submit an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard. Among these safety and soundness standards are FDIC regulations that require Sound Community Bank to adopt and maintain written policies that establish appropriate limits and standards for real estate loans. These standards, which must be consistent with safe and sound banking practices, establish loan portfolio diversification standards, prudent underwriting standards (including loan-to-value ratio limits) that are clear and measurable, loan administration procedures, and documentation, approval and reporting requirements. Sound Community Bank is obligated to monitor conditions in its real estate markets to ensure that its standards continue to be appropriate for current market conditions. Sound Community Bank’s board of directors is required to review and approve Sound Community Bank’s standards at least annually. The FDIC has published guidelines for compliance with these regulations, including supervisory limitations on loan-to-value ratios for different categories of real estate loans. Under the guidelines, the aggregate level of all loans in excess of the supervisory loan-to-value ratios should not exceed an aggregate limit of 100% of total capital, and within the aggregate limit, the total of all loans for commercial, agricultural, multifamily or other non-one-to-four family residential properties should not exceed 30% of total capital.
Loans in excess of the supervisory loan-to-value ratio limitations must be identified in Sound Community Bank’s records and reported at least quarterly to Sound Community Bank’s Board of Directors. Sound Community Bank is in compliance with the records and reporting requirements. As of December 31, 2019, Sound Community Bank’s aggregate loans in excess of the supervisory loan-to-value ratios were $19.9 million and were within the aggregate limits set forth in the preceding paragraph.
The FDIC and the WDFI must approve any merger transaction involving Sound Community Bank as the acquirer, including an assumption of deposits from another depository institution. The FDIC generally is authorized to approve interstate merger transactions without regard to whether the transaction is prohibited by the law of any state. Interstate acquisitions of branches are permitted only if the law of the state in which the branch is located permits such acquisitions. Interstate mergers and branch acquisitions are also be subject to the nationwide and statewide insured deposit concentration amounts described below. The Dodd-Frank Act permits de novo interstate branching for banks.
Insurance of Accounts. The FDIC insures deposit accounts in Sound Community Bank up to $250,000 per separately insured deposit ownership right or category.
The FDIC assesses deposit insurance premiums quarterly on each FDIC-insured institution applied to its deposit base, which is their average consolidated total assets minus its Tier 1 capital. No institution may pay a dividend if it is in default on its federal deposit insurance assessment.
The FDIC calculates assessments for small institutions (those with assets of less than $10 billion) based on an institution’s weighted average CAMELS component ratings and certain financial ratios. Currently, assessment rates range from 3 to 16 basis points for institutions with CAMELS composite ratings of 1 or 2, 6 to 30 basis points for those with CAMELS composite ratings of 3, and 16 to 30 basis points for those with CAMELS composite ratings of 4 or 5, all subject to certain adjustments. Assessment rates are expected to decrease in the future as the reserve ratio increases in specified increments.
As required by the Dodd Frank Act, the FDIC has adopted a rule to offset the effect of the increase in the minimum reserve ratio of the DIF on small institutions by imposing a surcharge on institutions with assets of $10 billion or more commencing on July 1, 2016 and ending when the reserve ratio reaches 1.35%, which, the FDIC announced occurred on September 30, 2018. When the reserve ratio reaches 1.38%, small institutions will receive credits for the portions of their regular assessments that contributed to growth in the reserve ratio between 1.15% and 1.35%. Subject to certain limitations, the credits will apply to reduce regular assessments until exhausted.

28


Transactions with Related Parties. Transactions between Sound Community Bank and its affiliates are required to be on terms as favorable to Sound Community Bank as transactions with non-affiliates, and certain of these transactions, such as loans to an affiliate, are restricted to a percentage of Sound Community Bank’s capital and require eligible collateral in specified amounts. Sound Financial Bancorp is an affiliate of Sound Community Bank.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 generally prohibits loans by Sound Financial Bancorp to its executive officers and directors. However, the law contains a specific exception for loans by a depository institution to its executive officers and directors in compliance with federal banking laws. Under such laws, Sound Community Bank’s authority to extend credit to executive officers, directors and 10% or greater stockholders (“insiders”), as well as entities such persons' control, is limited. The laws limit both the individual and aggregate amount of loans that Sound Community Bank may make to insiders based, in part, on Sound Community Bank’s capital level and requires that certain board approval procedures be followed. Such loans are required to be made on terms substantially the same as those offered to unaffiliated borrowers and must not involve more than the normal risk of repayment. There is an exception for loans made pursuant to a benefit or compensation program that is widely available to all employees of the institution and does not give preference to insiders over other employees. Loans to executive officers are subject to additional limitations based on the type of loan involved.
Capital Rules. Sound Community Bank is subject to the capital regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve and the FDIC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act. Under these capital regulations, the minimum capital ratios are: (1) a common equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) capital ratio of 4.5% of risk-weighted assets; (2) a Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.0% of risk-weighted assets; (3) a total capital ratio of 8.0% of risk-weighted assets, and (4) a leverage ratio (the ratio of Tier 1 capital to average total adjusted assets) of 4.0%. CET1 generally consists of common stock, retained earnings, accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) unless an institution elects to exclude AOCI from regulatory capital, as discussed below, and certain minority interests, all subject to applicable regulatory adjustments and deductions. Tier 1 capital generally includes CET1 and noncumulative perpetual preferred stock, less most intangible assets, subject to certain adjustments. Total capital consists of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Capital. Tier 2 capital, which is limited to 100 percent of Tier 1 capital, includes such items as qualifying general loan loss reserves, cumulative perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible debt, term subordinated debt and limited life preferred stock; however, the amount of term subordinated debt and intermediate term preferred stock that may be included in Tier 2 capital is limited to 50 percent of Tier 1 capital. Risk-weighted assets are determined under the capital regulations, which assign risk-weights to all assets and to certain off-balance sheet items.
These regulations include the phasing-out of certain instruments as qualifying capital. Mortgage servicing and deferred tax assets over designated percentages of CET1 are deducted from capital. In addition, Tier 1 capital includes AOCI, which includes all unrealized gains and losses on available for sale debt and equity securities, unless an institution elects to opt out of such inclusion, if eligible to do so. We have elected to permanently opt-out of the inclusion of AOCI in our capital calculations.
The capital regulations include a 150% risk weight for certain high volatility commercial real estate acquisition, development and construction loans and for non-residential mortgage loans that are 90 days past due or otherwise in nonaccrual status; a 20% risk weight for the unused portion of a commitment with an original maturity of one year or less that is not unconditionally cancellable; and a 250% risk weight for mortgage servicing and deferred tax assets that are not deducted from capital.
In addition to the minimum CET1, Tier 1 and total capital ratios, Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank must maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional CET1 capital greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above the required minimum risk-based capital levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses. The capital conservation buffer requirement began to phase in on January 1, 2016, when a buffer greater than 0.625% of risk-weighted assets was required, which amount increased each year until the buffer requirement was fully implemented on January 1, 2019.
Under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action standards, in order to be considered well-capitalized, a bank must have a ratio of CET1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 6.5%, a ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 8%, a ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 10%, and a leverage ratio of at least 5%, and the bank must not be subject to a regulatory capital requirement imposed on it as an individual bank. In order to be considered adequately capitalized, a bank must have the minimum capital ratios described above. Institutions with lower capital ratios are assigned to lower capital categories. Based on safety and soundness concerns, the FDIC may assign an institution to a lower capital category than would originally apply based on its capital ratios. The FDIC is also authorized to require Sound Community Bank to maintain additional amounts of capital in connection with concentrations of assets, interest rate risk, and certain other items. The FDIC has not imposed such a requirement on Sound Community Bank. “Effective January 1, 2020, a bank that elects to use the Community Bank Leverage Ratio will generally be considered well-capitalized and to have met the risk-based and leverage capital requirements of the capital regulations if it has a leverage ratio greater than 9.0%. To be eligible to elect the Community

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Bank Leverage Ratio, the bank also must have total consolidated assets of less than $10 billion, off-balance sheet exposures of 25% or less of its total consolidated assets, and trading assets and trading liabilities of 5.0% or less of its total consolidated assets, all as of the end of the most recent quarter. 
An institution that is not well capitalized is subject to certain restrictions on brokered deposits and interest rates on deposits. An institution that is not at least adequately capitalized is subject to numerous additional restrictions, and a guaranty by its holding company is required. An institution with a ratio of tangible equity to total assets of 2.0% or less is subject to appointment of the FDIC as receiver if its capital level does not improve in timely fashion. When the FDIC as receiver liquidates an institution, the claims of depositors and the FDIC as their successor have priority over other unsecured claims against the institution.
The Financial Accounting Standards Board has adopted a new accounting standard for US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles that are effective for us beginning January 1, 2023. This standard, referred to as Current Expected Credit Loss, or CECL, requires FDIC-insured institutions and their holding companies (banking organizations) to recognize credit losses expected over the life of certain financial assets. CECL covers a broader range of assets than the current method of recognizing credit losses and generally results in earlier recognition of credit losses. Upon adoption of CECL, a banking organization must record a one-time adjustment to its credit loss allowances as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of credit loss allowances under the current methodology and the amount required under CECL. For a banking organization, implementation of CECL is generally likely to reduce retained earnings, and to affect other items, in a manner that reduces its regulatory capital.
The federal banking regulators (the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the FDIC) have adopted a rule that gives a banking organization the option to phase in over a three-year period the day-one adverse effects of CECL on its regulatory capital.
As of December 31, 2019, Sound Community Bank was well capitalized under applicable regulations and met the conservation buffer requirement.
Community Reinvestment and Consumer Protection Laws. In connection with its lending and other activities, Sound Community Bank is subject to a number of federal and state laws designed to protect clients and promote lending to various sectors of the economy and population. These include, among others, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”). Among other things, these laws:
require lenders to disclose credit terms in meaningful and consistent ways;
prohibit discrimination against an applicant in a credit transaction;
prohibit discrimination in housing-related lending activities;
require certain lenders to collect and report applicant and borrower data regarding home loans;
require lenders to provide borrowers with information regarding the nature and cost of real estate settlements;
prohibit certain lending practices and limit escrow account amounts with respect to real estate loan transactions;
require financial institutions to implement identity theft prevention programs and measures to protect the confidentiality of consumer financial information; and
prescribe possible penalties for violations of the requirements of consumer protection statutes and regulations.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”), an independent agency within the Federal Reserve, has the authority to amend existing federal consumer protection regulations and implement new regulations, and is charged with examining the compliance of financial institutions with assets in excess of $10 billion with these rules. Sound Community Bank’s compliance with consumer protection rules is examined by the WDFI and the FDIC.
In addition, federal regulations limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose nonpublic consumer information to non-affiliated third parties. The regulations require disclosure of privacy policies and allow consumers to prevent certain personal information from being shared with non-affiliated parties.

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The CRA requires the appropriate federal banking agency to assess the bank’s record in meeting the credit needs of the communities served by the bank, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. The FDIC examines Sound Community Bank for compliance with its CRA obligations. Under the CRA, institutions are assigned a rating of “outstanding,” “satisfactory,” “needs to improve,” or “substantial non-compliance” and the appropriate federal banking agency is to take this rating into account in the evaluation of certain applications of the institution, such as an application relating to a merger or the establishment of a branch. An unsatisfactory rating may be the basis for the denial of such an application. The CRA also requires that all institutions make public disclosures of their CRA ratings. Sound Community Bank received a “satisfactory” rating in its most recent CRA evaluation. Under the law of the state of Washington, Sound Community Bank has a similar obligation to meet the credit needs of the communities it serves, and is subject to examination by the WDFI for this purpose, including assignment of a rating. An unsatisfactory rating may be the basis for denial of certain applications by the WDFI.
Bank Secrecy Act / Anti-Money Laundering Laws. Sound Community Bank is subject to the Bank Secrecy Act and other anti-money laundering laws and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001. These laws and regulations require Sound Community Bank to implement policies, procedures, and controls to detect, prevent, and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the identity of their clients. Violations of these requirements can result in substantial civil and criminal sanctions. In addition, provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act require the federal financial institution regulatory agencies to consider the effectiveness of a financial institution’s anti-money laundering activities when reviewing mergers and acquisitions.
Federal Home Loan Bank System. Sound Community Bank is a member of the FHLB, one of the 11 regional Federal Home Loan Banks in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Federal Home Loan Bank System provides a central credit facility for member institutions. As a member of the FHLB, the Bank is required to hold shares of capital stock in that FHLB. At December 31, 2019, the Bank had $1.2 million in FHLB stock, which was in compliance with this requirement. Sound Community Bank received $89,000 in dividends from the FHLB for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The Federal Home Loan Banks have continued to contribute to low- and moderately-priced housing programs through direct loans or interest subsidies on advances targeted for community investment and low- and moderate-income housing projects. These contributions have affected adversely the level of dividends paid by the FHLB and could continue to do so in the future. These contributions could also have an adverse effect on the value of FHLB stock in the future. A reduction in value of Sound Community Bank’s FHLB stock may result in a corresponding reduction in its capital.
Regulation of Sound Financial Bancorp

General. Sound Financial Bancorp, as the sole stockholder of Sound Community Bank, is a bank holding company registered with the Federal Reserve. Bank holding companies are subject to comprehensive regulation by the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder. This regulation and oversight is generally intended to ensure that Sound Financial Bancorp limits its activities to those allowed by law and that it operates in a safe and sound manner without endangering the financial health of Sound Community Bank. A bank holding company must serve as a source of financial strength to its subsidiary banks, with the ability to provide financial assistance to a subsidiary bank in financial distress.
As a bank holding company, Sound Financial Bancorp is required to file quarterly and annual reports with the Federal Reserve and any additional information required by the Federal Reserve and is subject to regular examinations by the Federal Reserve and to examination by the WDFI.
A merger or acquisition of Sound Financial Bancorp, or an acquisition of control of Sound Financial Bancorp, is generally subject to approval by the Federal Reserve and WDFI. In general, control for this purpose means 25% of voting stock, but such approval can be required in other circumstances, including but not limited to an acquisition of as low as 5% of voting stock.
Permissible Activities. Under the Bank Holding Company Act, the Federal Reserve may approve the ownership of shares by a bank holding company in any company the activities of which the Federal Reserve has determined to be so closely related to the business of banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. The Bank Holding Company Act prohibits a bank holding company, with certain exceptions, from acquiring ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging in activities other than those of banking, managing or controlling banks, or providing services for its subsidiaries. A bank holding company that meets certain supervisory and financial standards and elects to be designed as a financial holding company may also engage in certain securities, insurance and merchant banking activities and other activities determined to be financial in nature or incidental to financial activities.

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The Federal Reserve must approve an application of a bank holding company to acquire control of, or acquire all or substantially all of the assets of, a bank, and may approve an acquisition located in a state other than the holding company's home state, without regard to whether the transaction is prohibited by the laws of any state, but may not approve the acquisition of a bank that has not been in existence for the minimum time period, not exceeding five years, specified by the law of the host state, or an application where the applicant controls or would control more than 10% of the insured deposits in the United States or 30% or more of the deposits in the target bank’s home state or in any state in which the target bank maintains a branch. Federal law does not affect the authority of states to limit the percentage of total insured deposits in the state that may be held or controlled by a bank holding company to the extent such limitation does not discriminate against out-of-state banks or bank holding companies. Individual states may also waive the 30% state-wide concentration limit contained in the federal law. The Federal Reserve also takes into consideration the CRA performance of a bank when evaluating acquisition proposals involving the bank’s holding company.
Capital Requirements for Sound Financial Bancorp. The capital regulations discussed above generally apply to a bank holding company with less than $3.0 billion in assets on a bank only basis. If Sound Financial Bancorp were subject to regulatory guidelines for bank holding companies with $3.0 billion or more in assets at December 31, 2019, Sound Financial Bancorp would have exceeded all regulatory capital requirements, with estimated regulatory capital ratio of 9.55% for Tier 1 leverage-based capital, 11.08% for both Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital and Tier 1 Capital to risk-based assets, and 11.94% for total risk-based capital. The Federal Reserve expects a holding company's subsidiary banks to be well capitalized under the prompt corrective action regulations. In addition, a bank holding company must serve as a source of financial strength for its depository institution subsidiaries.
Federal Securities Law. The stock of Sound Financial Bancorp is registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Sound Financial Bancorp is subject to the information, proxy solicitation, insider trading restrictions and other requirements of the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
Sound Financial Bancorp stock held by persons who are affiliates of Sound Financial Bancorp may not be resold without registration unless sold in accordance with certain resale restrictions. For this purpose, affiliates are generally considered to be officers, directors and principal stockholders. If Sound Financial Bancorp meets specified current public information requirements, each affiliate of Sound Financial Bancorp will be able to sell in the public market, without registration, a limited number of shares in any three-month period.
The SEC has adopted regulations and policies under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that apply to Sound Financial Bancorp as a registered company under the Exchange Act. The stated goals of these requirements are to increase corporate responsibility, provide for enhanced penalties for accounting and auditing improprieties at publicly traded companies and to protect investors by improving the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosures pursuant to the securities laws. The SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley-related regulations and policies include very specific additional disclosure requirements and corporate governance rules.
Limitations on Dividends and Stock Repurchases
Sound Financial Bancorp. Sound Financial Bancorp’s ability to declare and pay dividends is subject to the Federal Reserve’s limits and Maryland law, and may depend on its ability to receive dividends from Sound Community Bank, which is subject to the capital conservation buffer requirement.
A policy of the Federal Reserve limits the payment of a cash dividend by a bank holding company if the holding company's net income for the past year is not sufficient to cover both the cash dividend and a rate of earnings retention that is consistent with capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. A bank holding company that does not meet any applicable capital standard would not be able to pay any cash dividends under this policy. A bank holding company subject to the Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement, such as Sound Financial Bancorp, is expected not to pay dividends unless its debt-to-equity ratio is less than 1:1 and it meets certain additional criteria. The Federal Reserve also has indicated that it is inappropriate for a company experiencing serious financial problems to borrow funds to pay dividends.
Except for a company that meets the well-capitalized standard for bank holding companies, is well managed, and is not subject to any unresolved supervisory issues, a bank holding company is required to give the Federal Reserve prior written notice of any purchase or redemption of its outstanding equity securities if the gross consideration for the purchase or redemption, when combined with the net consideration paid for all such purchases or redemptions during the preceding 12 months, is equal to 10% or more of the company's consolidated net worth. The Federal Reserve may disapprove such a purchase or redemption if it determines that the proposal would constitute an unsafe or unsound practice or would violate any law, regulation or regulatory order, condition, or written agreement with the Federal Reserve. Regardless of its asset size, a bank holding company is

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considered well-capitalized if on a consolidated basis it has a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.0% and a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.0% or more, and is not subject to an agreement, order, or directive to maintain a specific level for any capital measure.
Under Maryland corporate law, Sound Financial Bancorp generally may not pay dividends if after that payment it would not be able to pay its liabilities as they become due in the usual course of business, or its total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities.
Sound Community Bank. The amount of dividends payable by Sound Community Bank to Sound Financial Bancorp depends upon Sound Community Bank’s earnings and capital position, and is limited by federal and state laws, regulations and policies, including the capital conservation buffer requirement. Sound Community Bank may not declare or pay a cash dividend on its capital stock if the payment would cause its net worth to be reduced below the amount required for its liquidation account. Dividends on Sound Community Bank’s capital stock may not be paid in an aggregate amount greater than the aggregate retained earnings of Sound Community Bank without the approval of the WDFI.
The amount of dividends actually paid during any one period will be strongly affected by Sound Community Bank’s policy of maintaining a strong capital position. Federal law further provides that without prior approval no insured depository institution may pay a cash dividend if it would cause the institution to be less than adequately capitalized as defined in the prompt corrective action regulations. Moreover, the FDIC has the general authority to limit the dividends paid by insured banks if such payments are deemed to constitute an unsafe and unsound practice. In addition, dividends may not be declared or paid if Sound Community Bank is in default in payment of any assessment due the FDIC.
Federal Taxation
General.  We are subject to federal income taxation in the same general manner as other corporations, with some exceptions discussed below.  The following discussion of federal taxation is intended only to summarize certain pertinent federal income tax matters and is not a comprehensive description of the tax rules applicable to Sound Financial Bancorp or Sound Community Bank. Our federal income tax returns have never been audited by the Internal Revenue Service.
Method of Accounting.  For federal income tax purposes, we currently report our income and expenses on the accrual method of accounting and use a fiscal year ending on December 31 for filing our federal income tax return.
Intercompany Dividends-Received Deduction.  Sound Financial Bancorp has elected to file a consolidated return with Sound Community Bank.  Therefore any dividends Sound Financial Bancorp receives from Sound Community Bank will not be included as income to Sound Financial Bancorp.
State Taxation
We are subject to a business and occupation tax imposed under Washington state law at the rate of 1.5% of gross receipts, as well as personal property and sales tax.  Interest received and servicing income both on loans secured by mortgages or deeds of trust on residential properties and certain investment securities are exempt from business and occupation tax.
Employees
At December 31, 2019, we had a total of 117 full-time employees and 15 part-time employees.  Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining group.  Management considers its employee relations to be good.
Executive Officers of Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank
Officers are elected annually to serve for a one year term.  There are no arrangements or understandings between the officers and any other person pursuant to which he or she was or is to be selected as an officer.
Laura Lee Stewart.  Ms. Stewart, age 70, is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Sound Community Bank and Sound Financial Bancorp. Prior to joining Sound Community Bank as its President in 1989, when it was a credit union, Ms. Stewart was Senior Vice President/Retail Banking at Great Western Bank. Ms. Stewart was selected as an inaugural member of the FDIC Community Bank Advisory Board and completed her term in 2011. In 2011, Ms. Stewart was appointed to the inaugural Consumer Financial Protection Bureau board and completed her term in 2013. She also served as Chair of the American Bankers Association’s (ABA) Government Relations Council and is the past Chair of the Washington Bankers Association. The American Banker magazine honored her as one of the top 25 Women to Watch in banking in 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and as one of the most powerful women in Banking in 2019. In 2016, Ms. Stewart was recognized as a Women of Influence by the Puget Sound Business Journal. In 2018, she was named Community Banker of the year by

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American Banker. Ms. Stewart also is Chair of the National Arthritis Foundation’s board of directors as well as serving as the Past Chair of the board of directors of Woodland Park Zoo. In October 2019, Ms. Stewart was elected Chair of the ABA. Her many years of service in all areas of the financial institution operations and duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank bring a special knowledge of the financial, economic and regulatory challenges we face, and she is well suited to educating the Board on these matters.
Elliott Pierce. Mr. Pierce, age 63, was appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Sound Community Bank in April 2015 and was appointed Executive Vice President in January 2016.  Mr. Pierce is responsible for management of the Bank's Credit Administration functions, and is a member of the Bank's Loan Committee.  Prior to joining Sound Community Bank, Mr. Pierce was a Senior Vice President and Credit Administrator with Union Bank N.A.  Mr. Pierce received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Washington and his Master of Business Administration from Seattle Pacific University.  Mr. Pierce is also a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School.
Heidi Sexton. Ms. Sexton, age 44, was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sound Community Bank during 2018. Ms. Sexton is responsible for identification and mitigation of risk through oversight of the Enterprise Risk management and Compliance Management functions. In addition, Ms. Sexton is responsible for Information Technology, Systems Support and Operations, Project Management and Policies and Procedures. Ms. Sexton joined Sound Community Bank in 2007 and previously served as the Vice President of Operations managing deposit, electronic, and lending operations. Ms. Sexton received a Bachelor's of Arts in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  She currently holds a number of professional certifications including Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager and is a graduate of the Washington Bankers Association’s Executive Development Program. Ms. Sexton is also a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Community Bank Advisory Counsel and American Bankers Association's (ABA) Compliance Administrative Committee. She serves on the Board of Financial Beginnings, a non-profit that provides youth to adult financial education programs at no cost. 
Daphne D. Kelley. Ms. Kelley, age 48, is currently Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank. Prior to joining the Bank in July 2018, Ms. Kelley was Senior Vice President, Controller of HomeStreet Bank where she was employed for three years and was responsible for SEC and regulatory reporting, accounting operations, corporate tax and Sarbanes-Oxley. Additional experience includes Controller at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle for eight years as well as various positions at GE Capital, Toyota and Ernst & Young. Ms. Kelley received a Bachelor's of Science degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a Masters of Business Administration from UCLA Anderson School of Management. She currently holds a Certified Public Accountant license in the State of Washington and the State of California and serves on the Board of Family Law CASA.
Website
We maintain a website; www.soundcb.com.  The information contained on our website is not included as a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Other than an investor’s own internet access charges, we make available free of charge through its website the Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we have electronically filed such material with, or furnished such material to, the SEC. Information pertaining to us, including SEC filings, can be found by clicking the link on our site called "Investor Relations." For more information regarding access to these filings on our website, please contact our Corporate Secretary, Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., 2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 150, Seattle, Washington, 98121 or by calling (206) 448-0884.
Item 1A.  Risk Factors

We assume and manage a certain degree of risk in order to conduct our business strategy.  In addition to the risk factors described below, other risks and uncertainties not specifically mentioned, or that are currently known to, or deemed to be immaterial by management, also may materially and adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described below together with all of the other information included in this Form 10-K and our other filings with the SEC.  If any of the circumstances described in the following risk factors actually occur to a significant degree, the value of our common stock could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment. This report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

Risks Related to Our Operations

A worsening of economic conditions in our market area could reduce demand for our products and services and result in increases in our level of non-performing loans, which could adversely affect our operations, financial condition and earnings.


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Substantially all our loans are to businesses and individuals in the state of Washington. Accordingly, local economic conditions have a significant impact on the ability of our borrowers to repay loans and the value of the collateral securing loans which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. A deterioration in economic conditions could have the following consequences, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations:

demand for our products and services may decline;
loan delinquencies, problem assets and foreclosures may increase;
we may increase our allowance for loan losses;
collateral for loans, especially real estate, may decline in value, thereby reducing customers’ future borrowing power, and reducing the value of assets and collateral associated with existing loans;
the net worth and liquidity of loan guarantors may decline, impairing their ability to honor commitments to us; and
the amount of our low-cost or noninterest-bearing deposits may decrease.

Moreover, a significant decline in general local, regional or national economic conditions caused by inflation, recession, severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of terrorism, an outbreak of hostilities or other international or domestic calamities, unemployment or other factors beyond our control could further impact these local economic conditions and could further negatively affect the financial results of our banking operations. Such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans and leases, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue or cause us to incur additional expenses.
 
Weakness in the global economy also may adversely affect many businesses operating in our markets that are dependent upon international trade and it is not known how the recent changes in tariffs being imposed on international trade may have affected these businesses.

Our loan portfolio includes loans with a higher risk of loss.

In addition to one- to four- family residential loans, we originate commercial and multifamily real estate, construction and land, consumer and commercial business loans, primarily within our market areas.   These loans typically present different risks to us for a number of reasons, including those discussed below:

Construction and Land Loans. This type of lending is subject to the inherent difficulties in estimating both a property’s value at completion of a project and the estimated cost (including interest) of the project.  Because of the uncertainties inherent in estimating construction costs, as well as the market value of a completed project and the effects of governmental regulation on real property, it is difficult to evaluate accurately the total funds required to complete a project and the completed project's loan-to-value ratio. If the estimate of construction cost proves to be inaccurate, we may be required to advance funds beyond the amount originally committed to ensure completion of the project. If our appraisal of the value of a completed project proves to be overstated, we may have inadequate security for the repayment of the loan upon completion of construction of the project and may incur a loss. Disagreements between borrowers and builders and the failure of builders to pay subcontractors may also jeopardize projects.  This type of lending also typically involves higher loan principal amounts and may be concentrated with a small number of builders. A downturn in housing or the real estate market could increase delinquencies, defaults and foreclosures, and significantly impair the value of our collateral and our ability to sell the collateral upon foreclosure. Some of the builders we deal with have more than one loan outstanding with us. Consequently, an adverse development with respect to one loan or one credit relationship can expose us to a significantly greater risk of loss. In addition, during the term of some of our construction loans, no payment from the borrower is required since the accumulated interest is added to the principal of the loan through an interest reserve. Increases in market rates of interest may have a more pronounced effect on construction loans by rapidly increasing the end-purchaser's borrowing costs, thereby possibly reducing the homeowner's ability to finance the home upon completion or the overall demand for the project. Properties under construction are often difficult to sell and typically must be completed in order to be successfully sold which also complicates the process of managing our problem construction loans. This may require us to advance additional funds and/or contract with another builder to complete construction and assume the market risk of selling the project at a future market price, which may or may not enable us to fully recover unpaid loan funds and associated construction and liquidation costs. Loans on land under development or held for future construction also pose additional risk because of the lack of income being produced by the property and the potential illiquid nature of the collateral.  These risks can be significantly impacted by supply and demand.  As a result, this type of lending often involves the disbursement of substantial funds with repayment dependent on the success of the ultimate project and the ability of the borrower to sell or lease the property or obtain permanent take-out financing, rather than the ability of the borrower or guarantor to independently repay principal and interest.


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Construction loans made by us include those with a sales contract or permanent loan in place for the finished homes and those for which purchasers for the finished homes may not be identified either during or following the construction period, known as speculative construction loans.  Speculative construction loans to a builder pose a greater potential risk to us than construction loans to individuals on their personal residences.  We attempt to mitigate this risk by actively monitoring the number of unsold homes in our construction loan portfolio and local housing markets to attempt to maintain an appropriate balance between home sales and new loan originations.  In addition, the maximum number of speculative construction loans (loans that are not pre-sold) approved for each builder is based on a combination of factors, including the financial capacity of the builder, the market demand for the finished product and the ratio of sold to unsold inventory the builder maintains.  We have also attempted to diversify the risk associated with speculative construction lending by doing business with a large number of small and mid-sized builders spread over a relatively large geographic region representing numerous sub-markets within our service area.

Commercial and Multifamily Real Estate Loans. These loans typically involve higher principal amounts than other types of loans and some of our commercial borrowers have more than one loan outstanding with us. Consequently, an adverse development with respect to one loan or one credit relationship can expose us to a significantly greater risk of loss compared to an adverse development with respect to a one- to four-family residential mortgage loan. Repayment of these loans is dependent upon income being generated from the property securing the loan in amounts sufficient to cover operating expenses and debt service, which may be adversely affected by changes in the economy or local market conditions.  In addition, many of our commercial and multifamily real estate loans are not fully amortizing and contain large balloon payments upon maturity.  Such balloon payments may require the borrower to either sell or refinance the underlying property in order to make the payment, which may increase the risk of default or non-payment. If we foreclose on a commercial or multifamily real estate loan, our holding period for the collateral typically is longer than for one- to four-family residential loans because there are fewer potential purchasers of the collateral.

Commercial Business Loans.  Our commercial business loans are primarily made based on the cash flow of the borrower and secondarily on the underlying collateral provided by the borrower.  A borrower's cash flow may prove to be unpredictable, and collateral securing these loans may fluctuate in value.  Most often, this collateral includes accounts receivable, inventory, equipment or real estate.  In the case of loans secured by accounts receivable, the availability of funds for the repayment of these loans may be substantially dependent on the ability of the borrower to collect amounts due from its customers.  Other collateral securing loans may depreciate over time, may be difficult to appraise, may be illiquid and may fluctuate in value based on the success of the business. 

Consumer Loans.  Generally, we consider these loans to involve a different degree of risk compared to first mortgage loans on one- to four-family residential properties. As a result of our large portfolio of these loans, it may become necessary to increase the level of our provision for loan losses, which could decrease our profits. Consumer loans generally entail greater risk than do one- to four-family residential mortgage loans, particularly in the case of loans that are secured by rapidly depreciable assets, such as floating homes, manufactured homes, automobiles and recreational vehicles. In these cases, any repossessed collateral for a defaulted loan may not provide an adequate source of repayment of the outstanding loan balance. Manufactured homes are a more risky form of collateral, though this risk is reduced if the owner also owns the land on which the home is located, because they are costly and difficult to relocate when repossessed, and difficult to sell due to the diminishing number of manufactured home parks in the Puget Sound area. Additionally, a good portion of our manufactured home loan borrowers are first-time home buyers, who tend to be a higher credit risk than first-time home buyers of single family residences, due to more limited financial resources. As a result, these loans tend to have a higher probability of default, higher delinquency rates and greater servicing costs than other types of consumer loans. Our floating home, houseboat and house barge loans are typically located on cooperative or condominium moorages. The primary risk in floating home loans is the unique nature of the collateral and the challenges of relocating such collateral to a location other than where such housing is permitted. The process for securing the deed and/or the condominium or cooperative dock is also unique compared to other types of lending we participate in. As a result, these loans may have higher collateral recovery costs than for one- to four-family mortgage loans and other types of consumer loans.

Our business may be adversely affected by credit risk associated with residential property and declining property values.

Our first-lien one- to four-family real estate loans are primarily made based on the repayment ability of the borrower and the collateral securing these loans. Home equity lines of credit generally entail greater risk than do one- to four-family residential mortgage loans where we are in the first lien position. For those home equity lines secured by a second mortgage, it is less likely that we will be successful in recovering all of our loan proceeds in the event of default. Our foreclosure on these loans requires that the value of the property be sufficient to cover the repayment of the first mortgage loan, as well as the costs associated with foreclosure.


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This type of lending is generally sensitive to regional and local economic conditions that significantly impact the ability of borrowers to meet their loan payment obligations, making loss levels difficult to predict. A downturn in the economy or the housing market in our market areas or a rapid increase in interest rates may reduce the value of the real estate collateral securing these types of loans and increase the risk that we would incur losses if borrowers default on their loans. Residential loans with high combined loan-to-value ratios generally will be more sensitive to declining property values than those with lower combined loan-to-value ratios and therefore may experience a higher incidence of default and severity of losses. In addition, if the borrowers sell their homes, the borrowers may be unable to repay their loans in full from the sale proceeds. As a result, these loans may experience higher rates of delinquencies, defaults and losses, which will in turn adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. A majority of our residential loans are “non-conforming” because they are adjustable rate mortgages which contain interest rate floors or do not satisfy credit or other requirements due to personal and financial reasons (i.e. divorce, bankruptcy, length of time employed, etc.), conforming loan limits (i.e. jumbo mortgages), and other requirements imposed by secondary market purchasers. Some of these borrowers have higher debt-to-income ratios, or the loans are secured by unique properties in rural markets for which there are no sales of comparable properties to support the value according to secondary market requirements. We may require additional collateral or lower loan-to-value ratios to reduce the risk of these loans. We believe that these loans satisfy a need in our local market areas. As a result, subject to market conditions, we intend to continue to originate these types of loans.

Our allowance for loan losses may prove inadequate or we may be negatively affected by credit risk exposures. Future additions to our allowance for loan losses, as well as charge-offs in excess of reserves, will reduce our earnings.

Our business depends on the creditworthiness of our customers. As with most financial institutions, we maintain an allowance for loan losses to reflect potential defaults and nonperformance, which represents management's best estimate of probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio. Management's estimate is based on our continuing evaluation of specific credit risks and loan loss experience, current loan portfolio quality, present economic, political and regulatory conditions, industry concentrations and other factors that may indicate future loan losses. The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and requires us to make estimates of current credit risks and future trends, all of which may undergo material changes. There is no certainty that the allowance for loan losses will be adequate over time to cover credit losses in the loan portfolio because of unanticipated adverse changes in the economy, market conditions or events adversely affecting specific customers, industries or markets. If the credit quality of our loan portfolio materially decreases, if the risk profile of a market, industry or group of customers changes materially, or if the allowance for loan losses is not adequate, our business, financial condition, liquidity, capital, and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

A tightening of credit markets and liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition.

We must maintain sufficient funds to respond to the needs of depositors and borrowers. As a part of our liquidity management, we use a number of funding sources in addition to core deposit growth and repayments and maturities of loans and investments, including Federal Home Loan Bank advances, proceeds from the sale of loans, and brokered deposits. Factors that could detrimentally impact our access to liquidity sources include a decrease in the level of our business activity as a result of a downturn in the markets in which our loans are concentrated, negative operating results, or adverse regulatory action against us. Our ability to borrow could also be impaired by factors that are not specific to us, such as a disruption in the financial markets or negative views and expectations about the prospects for the financial services industry or deterioration in credit markets. Any decline in available funding in amounts adequate to finance our activities or on terms which are acceptable could adversely impact our ability to originate loans, invest in securities, meet our expenses, or fulfill obligations such as repaying our borrowings or meeting deposit withdrawal demands, any of which could, in turn, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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Change in the programs offered by Fannie Mae or our ability to qualify for their programs may reduce our mortgage revenues, which would negatively impact our non-interest income.

The sale of residential mortgage loans to Fannie Mae provides a significant portion of our non-interest income. Any future changes in their program, our eligibility to participate in such program, the criteria for loans to be accepted or laws that significantly affect the activity of Fannie Mae could, in turn, materially adversely affect our results of operations if we could not find other purchasers. Mortgage banking is generally considered a volatile source of income because it depends largely on the level of loan volume which, in turn, depends largely on prevailing market interest rates. In a rising or higher interest rate environment, the demand for mortgage loans, particularly refinancing of existing mortgage loans, tends to fall and our originations of mortgage loans may decrease, resulting in fewer loans that are available to be sold. This would result in a decrease in mortgage revenues and a corresponding decrease in non-interest income. In addition, our results of operations are affected by the amount of non-interest expense associated with our loan sale activities, such as salaries and employee benefits, occupancy, equipment and data processing expense and other operating costs. During periods of reduced loan demand, our results of operations may be adversely affected to the extent that we are unable to reduce expenses commensurate with the decline in loan originations. In addition, although we sell loans to Fannie Mae or into the secondary market without recourse, we are required to give customary representations and warranties about the loans we sell. If we breach those representations and warranties, we may be required to repurchase the loans and we may incur a loss on the repurchase.

Our growth or future losses may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed, or the cost of that capital may be very high.

We are required by federal regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations.  At some point, we may need to raise additional capital to support our growth or replenish future losses.  Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside our control, and on our financial condition and performance.  If we are able to raise capital it may not be on terms that are acceptable to us.  Accordingly, we cannot make assurances that we will be able to raise additional capital if needed on terms that are acceptable to us, or at all.  If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations could be materially impaired and our financial condition and liquidity could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, any additional capital we obtain may result in the dilution of the interests of existing holders of our common stock. Further, if we are unable to raise additional capital when required by our bank regulators, we may be subject to adverse regulatory action.

Severe weather, natural disasters, or other catastrophes could significantly impact or business.

Severe weather, natural disasters, widespread disease or pandemics, acts of war or terrorism or other adverse external events could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct business. In addition, such events could affect the stability of our deposit base, impair the ability of borrowers to repay outstanding loans and leases, impair the value of collateral securing loans, cause significant property damage, result in loss of revenue or cause us to incur additional expenses. The occurrence of any of these events in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.


Our framework for managing risks may not be effective in mitigating risk and loss to us.

We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report, analyze and control the types of risk to which we are subject. These risks include liquidity risk, credit risk, market risk, interest rate risk, operational risk, legal and compliance risk, and reputational risk, among others. We also maintain a compliance program to identify, measure, assess, and report on our adherence to applicable laws, policies and procedures. While we assess and improve these programs on an ongoing basis, there can be no assurance that our risk management or compliance programs, along with other related controls, will effectively mitigate all risk and limit losses in our business. As with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our business may be adversely affected by an increasing prevalence of fraud and other financial crimes.

As a bank, we are susceptible to fraudulent activity that may be committed against us or our customers which may result in financial losses or increased costs to us or our customers, disclosure or misuse of our information or our customer’s information, misappropriation of assets, privacy breaches against our customers, litigation or damage to our reputation. Such fraudulent activity may take many forms, including check fraud, electronic fraud, wire fraud, phishing, social engineering and other dishonest acts. Nationally, reported incidents of fraud and other financial crimes have increased. We have also experienced losses due to apparent

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fraud and other financial crimes. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent such losses, there can be no assurance that such losses will not occur.

As a community bank, maintaining our reputation in our market area is critical to the success of our business, and the failure to do so may materially adversely affect our performance.

We are a community bank and our reputation is one of the most valuable components of our business. A key component of our business strategy is to rely on our reputation for customer service and knowledge of local markets to expand our presence by capturing new business opportunities from existing and prospective customers in our current market and contiguous areas. As such, we strive to conduct our business in a manner that enhances our reputation. This is done, in part, by recruiting, hiring and retaining employees who share our core values of being an integral part of the communities we serve, delivering superior service to our customers and caring about our customers and associates. We provide many different financial products and rely on the ability of our employees and systems to process a significant number of transactions. If our reputation is negatively affected by the actions of our employees, by our inability to conduct our operations in a manner that is appealing to current or prospective customers, or otherwise, our business and, therefore, our operating results may be materially adversely affected.

Market-Related Risks

Fluctuating interest rates can adversely affect our profitability.

The rates we earn on our assets and the rates we pay on our liabilities are generally fixed for a contractual period of time. Like many financial institutions, our liabilities generally have shorter contractual maturities than our assets. This imbalance can create significant earnings volatility because market interest rates change over time. In addition, changes in interest rates can affect the average life of loans and mortgage-backed and related securities. In a period of rising interest rates, the interest income we earn on our assets may not increase as rapidly as the interest we pay on our liabilities. A decline in interest rates results in increased prepayments of loans and mortgage-backed and related securities as borrowers refinance their debt to reduce their borrowing costs. This creates reinvestment risk, which is the risk that we may not be able to reinvest prepayments at rates that are comparable to the rates we earned on the prepaid loans or securities. Furthermore, an inverted interest rate yield curve, where short-term interest rates (which are usually the rates at which financial institutions borrow funds) are higher than long-term interest rates (which are usually the rates at which financial institutions lend funds for fixed-rate loans) can reduce a financial institution’s net interest margin and create financial risk for financial institutions that originate longer-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans.

Any substantial, unexpected, prolonged change in market interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations. Changes in the level of interest rates also may negatively affect the value of our assets and liabilities and ultimately affect our earnings. Interest rates are highly sensitive to many factors that are beyond our control, including general economic conditions and policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, and in particular the Federal Reserve Board. We principally manage interest rate risk by managing our volume and mix of our earning assets and funding liabilities. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, could influence not only the interest we receive on loans and investments and the amount of interest we pay on deposits and borrowings, but these changes could also affect our ability to originate and/or sell loans and obtain deposits, the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities, which could negatively impact shareholders’ equity, and our ability to realize gains from the sale of such assets, and the ability of our borrowers to repay adjustable or variable rate loans. If the interest rates paid on deposits and borrowings increase at a faster rate than the interest received on loans and other investments, our net interest income, and therefore earnings, could be adversely affected. Earnings could also be adversely affected if the interest rates received on loans and other investments decline more rapidly than the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings. In a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to manage this risk effectively. If we are unable to manage interest rate risk effectively, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially affected.

In an attempt to help the overall economy, the Federal Reserve kept interest rates low through its targeted Fed Funds rate for a number of years, however, the Federal Reserve steadily increased the targeted Fed Funds rate in 2018 and 2017. Beginning in August 2019 the Federal Reserve has reduced the targeted Fed Funds rate 25 basis points three times to a range of 1.50% to 1.75% at December 31, 2019 in response to some recent weaknesses in economic data and indicated possible further decreases, subject to economic conditions. In a rare emergency move, the Federal Reserve Board further lowered the targeted federal funds rate in March 2020, by a half-point to a range of 1% to 1.25% in response to the evolving risks the coronavirus outbreak poses to the economy. If the Federal Reserve decreases the targeted federal funds rates further, overall interest rates will likely decline, which may negatively impact our net interest income. If the Federal Reserve increases the targeted federal funds rates, overall interest rates will likely rise, which will positively impact our net interest income but may negatively impact both the housing market by reducing refinancing activity and new home purchases and the U.S. economy. For further discussion of how

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changes in interest rates could impact us, see "Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk" for additional information about our interest rate risk management.

Changes in the valuation of our securities portfolio could hurt our profits and reduce our capital levels.

Our securities portfolio may be impacted by fluctuations in market value, potentially reducing accumulated other comprehensive income and/or earnings. Fluctuations in market value may be caused by changes in market interest rates, lower market prices for securities and limited investor demand. Management evaluates securities for other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis, with more frequent evaluation for selected issues. In analyzing a debt issuer’s financial condition, management considers whether the securities are issued by the federal government or its agencies, whether downgrades by bond rating agencies have occurred and industry analysts’ reports. Changes in interest rates can also have an adverse effect on our financial condition, as our available-for-sale securities are reported at their estimated fair value, and therefore are impacted by fluctuations in interest rates. We increase or decrease our stockholders’ equity by the amount of change in the estimated fair value of the available-for-sale securities, net of taxes. Declines in market value could result in other-than-temporary impairments of these assets, which would lead to accounting charges that could have a material adverse effect on our net income and capital levels. As of December 31, 2019, we have no securities that are deemed impaired.

Uncertainty relating to the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR may adversely affect our results of operations.
 
On July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit rates for the calibration of LIBOR to the administrator of LIBOR after 2021. The announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. It is impossible to predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. At this time, no consensus exists as to what rate or rates may become acceptable alternatives to LIBOR and it is impossible to predict the effect of any such alternatives on the value of LIBOR-based securities and variable rate loans, or other securities or financial arrangements, given LIBOR's role in determining market interest rates globally. The Federal Reserve Board, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, is considering replacing U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities ("SOFR"). SOFR is observed and backward looking, which stands in contrast with LIBOR under the current methodology, which is an estimated forward-looking rate and relies, to some degree, on the expert judgment of submitting panel members. Given that SOFR is a secured rate backed by government securities, it will be a rate that does not consider bank credit risk (as is the case with LIBOR). SOFR is therefore likely to be lower than LIBOR and is less likely to correlate with the funding costs of financial institutions. Whether or not SOFR attains market traction as a LIBOR replacement tool remains in question, although some transactions using SOFR have been completed in 2019, including by Fannie Mae. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have recently announced that they will cease accepting adjustable rate mortgages tied to LIBOR by the end of 2020 and will soon begin accepting mortgages based on SOFR. Uncertainty as to the nature of alternative reference rates and as to potential changes or other reforms to LIBOR may adversely affect LIBOR rates and the value of LIBOR-based loans, and securities in our portfolio. If LIBOR rates are no longer available, and we are required to implement substitute indices for the calculation of interest rates under our loan agreements with our borrowers, we may experience significant expenses in effecting the transition which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
 
We may incur losses in the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights due to changes in prepayment rates.

Our mortgage servicing rights carry interest rate risk because the total amount of servicing fees earned, as well as changes in fair-market value, fluctuate based on expected loan prepayments (affecting the expected average life of a portfolio of residential mortgage servicing rights). The rate of prepayment of residential mortgage loans may be influenced by changing national and regional economic trends, such as recessions or stagnating real estate markets, as well as the difference between interest rates on existing residential mortgage loans relative to prevailing residential mortgage rates. During periods of declining interest rates, many residential borrowers refinance their mortgage loans. Changes in prepayment rates are therefore difficult for us to predict. The loan administration fee income (related to the residential mortgage loan servicing rights corresponding to a mortgage loan) decreases as mortgage loans are prepaid. Consequently, in the event of an increase in prepayment rates, we would expect the fair value of portfolios of residential mortgage loan servicing rights to decrease along with the amount of loan administration income received.


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Risks Related to Information Systems and Security

A failure in or breach of our security systems or infrastructure, including breaches resulting from cyber-attacks, could disrupt our businesses, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, increase our costs and cause losses.

Information security risks for financial institutions have increased in recent years in part because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial transactions, and the increased sophistication and activities of organized crime, hackers, terrorists, activists, and other external parties. Those parties also may attempt to fraudulently induce employees, customers, or other users of our systems to disclose confidential information in order to gain access to our data or that of our customers. Our operations rely on the secure processing, transmission and storage of confidential information in our computer systems and networks, either managed directly by us or through our data processing vendors. In addition, to access our products and services, our customers may use personal computers, smartphones, tablet PCs, and other mobile devices that are beyond our control systems. Although we believe we have robust information security procedures and controls, we rely heavily on our third party vendors, technologies, systems, networks and our customers' devices all of which may become the target of cyber-attacks, computer viruses, malicious code, unauthorized access, hackers or information security breaches that could result in the unauthorized release, gathering, monitoring, misuse, loss, theft or destruction of our confidential, proprietary and other information or that of our customers, or disrupt our operations or those of our customers or third parties.

To date we have not incurred any material losses relating to cyber-attacks or other information security breaches, but there can be no assurance that we will not suffer such attacks, breaches and losses in the future. Our risk and exposure to these matters remains heightened because of, among other things, the evolving nature of these threats and our plans to continue to evolve our Internet banking and mobile banking channel. As a result, the continued development and enhancement of our information security controls, processes and practices designed to protect customer information, our systems, computers, software, data and networks from attack, damage or unauthorized access remain a priority for our management. As cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to insure, modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate important information security vulnerabilities or exposures; however, our measures may be insufficient to prevent all physical and electronic break-ins, denial of service and other cyber-attacks or security breaches.

Disruptions or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support our businesses and customers, or cyber-attacks or security breaches of the networks, systems or devices that our customers use to access our products and services could result in customer attrition, uninsured financial losses, the inability of our customers to transact business with us, employee productivity losses, technology replacement costs, incident response costs, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties or intervention, additional regulatory scrutiny, reputational damage, litigation, reimbursement or other compensation costs, and/or additional compliance costs, any of which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

The failure to protect our customers' confidential information and privacy could adversely affect our business.

We are subject to federal and state privacy regulations and confidentiality obligations that, among other things restrict the use and dissemination of, and access to, certain information that we produce, store or maintain in the course of our business. We also have contractual obligations to protect certain confidential information we obtain from our existing vendors and customers.

These obligations generally include protecting such confidential information in the same manner and to the same extent as we protect our own confidential information, and in some instances may impose indemnity obligations on us relating to unlawful or unauthorized disclosure of any such information.

If we do not properly comply with privacy regulations and contractual obligations that require us to protect confidential information, or if we experience a security breach or network compromise, we could experience adverse consequences, including regulatory sanctions, penalties or fines, increased compliance costs, remedial costs such as providing credit monitoring or other services to affected customers, litigation and damage to our reputation, which in turn could result in decreased revenues and loss of customers, all of which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The network and computer systems on which we depend could fail for reasons not related to security breaches.

Our computer systems could be vulnerable to unforeseen problems other than a cyber-attack or other security breach. Because we conduct a part of our business over the Internet and outsource several critical functions to third parties, operations will depend on our ability, as well as the ability of third-party service providers, to protect computer systems and network infrastructure against damage from fire, power loss, telecommunications failure, physical break-ins or similar catastrophic events. Any damage or failure

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that causes interruptions in operations may compromise our ability to perform critical functions in a timely manner (or may give rise to perceptions of such compromise) and could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations as well as our reputation and customer or vendor relationships.

We continually encounter technological change, and we may have fewer resources than many of our competitors to invest in technological improvements.

The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our clients by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy client demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many national vendors provide turn-key services to community banks, such as Internet banking and remote deposit capture that allow smaller banks to compete with institutions that have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We may not be able, however, to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers.

Regulatory-Related Risks

We are subject to extensive regulation that may restrict our activities, including declaring cash dividends or capital distributions, and imposing financial requirements or limitations on the conduct of our business.

Our operations are subject to extensive regulation by federal, state and local governmental authorities, including the FDIC, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions and the Federal Reserve Board, and to various laws and judicial and administrative decisions imposing requirements and restrictions on part or all of our operations. The laws, rules and regulations to which we are subject evolve and change frequently, including changes that come from judicial or regulatory agency interpretations of laws and regulations outside of the legislative process that may be more difficult to anticipate. We are subject to various examinations by our regulators during the course of the year. Regulatory authorities who conduct these examinations have extensive discretion in their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the authority to restrict our operations, adversely reclassify our assets, determine the level of deposit insurance premiums assessed, require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, require customer restitution and impose fines or other penalties.

Changes in regulation of our industry have the potential to create higher costs of compliance, including short-term costs to meet new compliance standards, limit our ability to pursue business opportunities and increase our exposure to potential litigation.

We operate in a highly regulated environment and may be adversely affected by changes in federal and state laws and regulations that could increase our costs of operations.

The banking industry is extensively regulated. Federal banking regulations are designed primarily to protect the deposit insurance funds and consumers, not to benefit a company's shareholders. These regulations may sometimes impose significant limitations on our operations. Certain significant federal and state banking regulations that affect us are described in this report under the heading "Item 1. Business - How We Are Regulated." These regulations, along with the currently existing tax, accounting, securities, insurance, and monetary laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies, and interpretations control the methods by which financial institutions conduct business, implement strategic initiatives and tax compliance, and govern financial reporting and disclosures. These laws, regulations, rules, standards, policies, and interpretations are constantly evolving and may change significantly over time. Any new regulations or legislation, change in existing regulation or oversight, whether a change in regulatory policy or a change in a regulator's interpretation of a law or regulation, could have a material impact on our operations, increase our costs of regulatory compliance and of doing business and adversely affect our profitability. In this regard, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN"), published guidelines in 2014 for financial institutions servicing marijuana businesses that are legal under state law. These guidelines generally allow us to work with marijuana-related businesses that are operating in accordance with state laws and regulations, so long as we comply with required regulatory oversight of their accounts with us. In addition, a marijuana financial services bill is currently pending in Congress that would allow banks and financial institutions to serve marijuana businesses in states where it is legal without any risk of federal prosecution. At December 31, 2019, approximately 0.59% of our total deposits and a portion of our service charges from deposits are from legal marijuana-related businesses. Any adverse change in this FinCEN guidance, any new regulations or legislation, any change in existing regulations or oversight, whether a change in regulatory policy or a change in a regulator's interpretation of a law or regulation, could have a negative impact on our non-interest income, as well as the cost of our operations, increasing our cost of regulatory compliance and of doing business and/or otherwise affect us, which may materially affect our profitability.


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Non-compliance with the USA PATRIOT Act, Bank Secrecy Act, or other laws and regulations could result in fines or sanctions and limit our ability to get regulatory approval of acquisitions.

The USA PATRIOT and Bank Secrecy Acts require financial institutions to develop programs to prevent financial institutions from being used for money laundering and terrorist activities. If such activities are suspected, financial institutions are obligated to file suspicious activity reports with the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. These rules require financial institutions to establish procedures for identifying and verifying the identity of customers seeking to open new financial accounts. Failure to comply with these regulations could result in fines or sanctions, including restrictions on pursuing acquisitions or establishing new branches. The policies and procedures we have adopted that are designed to assist in compliance with these laws and regulations may not be effective in preventing violations of these laws and regulations. Furthermore, these rules and regulations continue to evolve and expand. Although to date we have not been subject to any fines or other sanctions related to these rules and regulations, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer any penalties or other consequences in the future.

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we report our financial condition and results of operations, and we use estimates in determining the fair value of certain of our assets, which estimates may prove to be imprecise and result in significant changes in valuation.

A portion of our assets are carried on the balance sheet at fair value, including investment securities available for sale, mortgage servicing rights related to single family loans, and single family loans held for sale. Generally, for assets that are reported at fair value, we use quoted market prices or valuation models that use observable market data inputs to estimate their fair value. In certain cases, observable market prices and data may not be readily available, or their availability may be diminished due to market conditions. We use financial models to value certain of these assets. These models are complex and use asset-specific collateral data and market inputs for interest rates. Although we have processes and procedures in place governing valuation models and their review, such assumptions are complex as we must make judgments about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Different assumptions could result in significant changes in valuation, which in turn could affect earnings or result in significant changes in the dollar amount of assets reported on the balance sheet.

Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
Not applicable.
Item 2.
Properties
Seven of our ten offices are leased.  The operating leases contain renewal options and require us to pay property taxes and operating expenses for the properties. Our total rental expense for each of the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively.  The aggregate net book value of our land, buildings, leasehold improvements, furniture and equipment was $6.8 million at December 31, 2019.  See also Note 7 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.  In the opinion of management, the facilities are adequate and suitable for our current needs. We may open additional banking offices to better serve current clients and to attract new clients in subsequent years.

We maintain depositor and borrower client files in a service bureau environment, utilizing a telecommunications network, portions of which are leased. Management has a disaster recovery plan in place with respect to the data processing system, as well as our operations as a whole.

Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time we are involved as plaintiff or defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course of business. We do not anticipate incurring any material legal fees or other material liability as a result of such litigation.

Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.


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PART II

Item 5.
Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The common stock of Sound Financial Bancorp is listed on The NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "SFBC." There were approximately 276 stockholders of record of our common stock as of March 10, 2020
Our cash dividend payout policy is reviewed regularly by management and the Board of Directors.  Any dividends declared and paid in the future would depend upon a number of factors, including capital requirements, our financial condition and results of operations, tax considerations, statutory and regulatory limitations, and general economic conditions.  No assurances can be given that any dividends will be paid or that, if paid, will not be reduced or eliminated in future periods. Our future payment of dividends may depend, in part, upon receipt of dividends from Sound Community Bank, which are restricted by federal regulations.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The equity compensation plan information presented in Part III, Item 12 of this Form 10-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table sets forth information with respect to our repurchases of our outstanding common shares during the three months ended December 31, 2019:

 
Total Number of Shares Purchased
 
Average Price Paid per Share
 
Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs
 
Approximated dollar value of shares that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs (1)
 
October 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019

 
$

 

 
$
1,750,000

November 1, 2019 - November 30, 2019

 

 

 
1,750,000

December 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019

 

 

 
1,750,000

Total

 
$

 

 
$
1,750,000

(1) The Company may repurchase shares of its common stock from time-to-time in open market transactions. The timing, volume and price of purchases are made at our discretion, and are contingent upon our overall financial condition, as well as general market conditions. 

In July 2019, the Company's Board of Directors extended the existing stock repurchase program until the earlier of the completion of the repurchase program or February 5, 2020. Under this repurchase program, the Company may repurchase its outstanding shares in the open market in an amount up to $1,750,000, based on prevailing market prices, or in privately negotiated transactions.

44


Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the Company's consolidated financial position and results of operations at and for the dates indicated and have been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements. The information below is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information included elsewhere herein and should be read along with Item 7., "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Item 8., "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data." (In thousands)
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Selected Financial Condition Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
719,853

 
$
716,735

 
$
645,244

Total loans held for portfolio, net
614,247

 
613,769

 
543,354

Loans held-for-sale
1,063

 
1,172

 
1,777

Available for sale securities, at fair value
9,306

 
4,957

 
5,435

Bank-owned life insurance, net
14,183

 
13,365

 
12,750

Other real estate owned and repossessed assets, net
575

 
575

 
610

FHLB stock, at cost
1,160

 
4,134

 
3,065

Total deposits
616,718

 
553,601

 
514,400

Borrowings
7,500

 
84,000

 
59,000

Stockholders' equity
$
77,726

 
$
71,627

 
$
65,160

 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Selected Operations Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Total interest income
$
34,581

 
$
33,167

 
$
27,449

Total interest expense
7,617

 
5,360

 
3,368

Net interest income
26,964

 
27,807

 
24,081

(Recapture) provision for loan losses
(125
)
 
525

 
500

Net interest income after (recapture) provision for loan losses
27,089

 
27,282

 
23,581

Service charges and fee income
1,954

 
1,876

 
1,895

Earnings on cash surrender value of Bank Owned Life Insurance
381

 
320

 
327

Mortgage servicing income
1,002

 
1,075

 
1,106

Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights
(760
)
 
(513
)
 
(540
)
Net gain on sale of loans
1,449

 
1,038

 
1,071

Other income

 
490

 

Total noninterest income
4,026

 
4,286

 
3,859

Salaries and benefits
12,402

 
12,775

 
10,733

Operations expense
5,905

 
5,472

 
4,348

Occupancy expense
2,060

 
2,139

 
1,889

Net losses and expenses on OREO and repossessed assets
35

 
86

 
110

Other noninterest expense
2,383

 
2,351

 
2,167

Total noninterest expense
22,785

 
22,823

 
19,247

Income before provision for income taxes
8,330

 
8,745

 
8,193

Provision for income taxes
1,651

 
1,706

 
3,068

Net income
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

 
$
5,125


45


 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:
 
 
 
 
 
Performance ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
Return on assets (ratio of net income to average total assets)
0.95
%
 
1.03
%
 
0.87
%
Return on equity (ratio of net income to average equity)
8.90

 
10.24

 
8.13

Dividend payout ratio
21.47

 
19.42

 
29.37

Interest rate spread information:
 
 
 
 
 
Average during period
3.74

 
4.06

 
4.15

End of period
3.83

 
4.11

 
3.95

Net interest margin (1)
4.06

 
4.28

 
4.30

Noninterest income to total net revenue (2)
12.99

 
13.35

 
13.81

Noninterest expense to average total assets
3.23

 
3.34

 
3.25

Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
128.25

 
125.94

 
123.93

Efficiency ratio (3)
73.52

 
71.12

 
68.89

Asset quality ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
Nonperforming assets to total assets at end of period
0.73
%
 
0.45
%
 
0.45
%
Nonperforming loans to total loans
0.75

 
0.43

 
0.42

Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans
121.11

 
216.50

 
229.57

Allowance for loan losses to total loans
0.91

 
0.93

 
0.96

Net charge-offs to average loans outstanding

 

 
0.02

Capital ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
Equity to total assets at end of period
10.80
%
 
9.99
%
 
10.10
%
Average equity to average assets
10.64
%
 
10.08
%
 
10.64
%
Other data:
 
 
 
 
 
Number of full service offices
8

 
8

 
7

(1)
Net interest income divided by average interest earning assets.
(2)
Noninterest income divided by the sum of noninterest income and net interest income.
(3)
Noninterest expense divided by total revenue (net interest income and noninterest income).


Item 7.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This discussion and analysis reviews our consolidated financial statements and other relevant statistical data and is intended to enhance your understanding of our financial condition and results of operations.  The information in this section has been derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes thereto that appear in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.  The information contained in this section should be read in conjunction with these Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes and the business and financial information provided in this Form 10-K.
Overview
Our principal business consists of attracting retail and commercial deposits from the general public and investing those funds, along with borrowed funds, in loans secured by first and second mortgages on one- to four- family residences (including home equity loans and lines of credit), commercial and multifamily real estate, construction and land, consumer and commercial business loans. Our commercial business loans include unsecured lines of credit and secured term loans and lines of credit secured by inventory, equipment and accounts receivable.  We also offer a variety of secured and unsecured consumer loan products, including manufactured home loans, floating home loans, automobile loans, boat loans and recreational vehicle loans.  As part of our business, we focus on residential mortgage loan originations, a portion of which we sell to Fannie Mae and other investors and the remainder of which we retain for our loan portfolio consistent with our asset/liability objectives.  We sell loans which conform to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae (“conforming”) in which we retain the servicing of the loan in order to maintain the direct customer relationship and to generate noninterest income.  Residential loans

46


which do not conform to the underwriting standards of Fannie Mae (“non-conforming”), are either held in our loan portfolio or sold with servicing released. We originate and retain a significant amount of commercial real estate loans, including those secured by owner-occupied and nonowner-occupied commercial real estate, multifamily property, mobile home parks and construction and land development loans.

We originated $129.0 million, $112.5 million and $109.7 million of one-to four-family residential mortgage loans during the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During these same periods, we sold $78.9 million, $50.0 million and $52.0 million, respectively, of one- to four-family residential mortgage loans.
Our operating revenues are derived principally from earnings on interest earning assets, service charges and fees, and gains on the sale of loans. Our primary sources of funds are deposits (both retail and brokered), FHLB advances, and payments received on loans and securities.  We offer a variety of deposit accounts that provide a wide range of interest rates and terms, including savings, money market, NOW, interest bearing and noninterest bearing demand accounts, and certificates of deposit.
Our noninterest expenses consist primarily of salaries, employee benefits, incentive pay, expenses for occupancy, online and mobile services, marketing, professional fees, data processing, charitable contributions, FDIC deposit insurance premiums and regulatory expenses. Salaries and benefits consist primarily of the salaries paid to our employees, payroll taxes, directors' fees, retirement expenses, share-based compensation and other employee benefits.  Occupancy expenses, which are the fixed and variable costs of buildings and equipment, consist primarily of lease payments, property taxes, depreciation charges, maintenance and the cost of utilities.
Our strategic plan targets consumers, small and medium size businesses, and professionals in our market area for loans and deposits. In pursuit of these goals and by managing the size of our loan portfolio, we focus on including a significant amount of commercial business and commercial and multifamily real estate loans in our portfolio. A significant portion of these loans have adjustable rates, higher yields or shorter terms and higher credit risk than traditional fixed-rate mortgages. Our commercial loan portfolio (commercial and multifamily real estate and commercial business loans) increased to $300.2 million or 48.3% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2019, from $291.4 million or 46.8% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2018, and $252.1 million or 45.8% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2017. In addition to higher balances in commercial lending, we also benefit from additional lending opportunities in our consumer loan portfolio. Our consumer loan portfolio, which includes manufactured and floating homes and other consumer loans, increased to $72.7 million or 11.7% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2019, from $67.6 million or 10.9% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2018, and $51.1 million or 9.3% of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2017.  Additional commercial and multifamily real estate and consumer loans have improved our net interest income and helped diversify our loan portfolio mix. 
Our recapture from the allowance for loan losses was $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a provision for loan losses expense of $525,000 and $500,000 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The recapture in the current year was due to changes in the composition and size of our loan portfolio during the year.

Recent Accounting Standards
For a discussion of recent accounting standards, please see Note 2 - Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued or Adopted in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
Critical Accounting Policies
Certain of our accounting policies are important to an understanding of our financial condition, since they require management to make difficult, complex or subjective judgments, which may relate to matters that are inherently uncertain. Estimates associated with these policies are susceptible to material changes as a result of changes in facts and circumstances. Facts and circumstances that could affect these judgments include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates, changes in the performance of the economy and changes in the financial condition of borrowers. Management believes that its critical accounting policies include determining the allowance for loan losses, accounting for other-than-temporary impairment of securities, accounting for mortgage servicing rights, accounting for other real estate owned, and accounting for deferred income taxes. For additional information on our accounting policies see "Note 1 - Organization and Significant Accounting Policies" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K.
Allowance for Loan Loss. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to cover losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date.  The allowance is established through the provision for loan losses, which is charged to income. Determining the amount of the allowance for loan losses necessarily involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires us to make various assumptions and judgments about the collectability of our loan portfolio, including

47


the creditworthiness of our borrowers and the value of the real estate and other assets serving as collateral for the repayment of many of our loans.   Among the material estimates required to establish the allowance are: loss exposure at default; the amount and timing of future cash flows on impaired loans; value of collateral; and determination of historical and current loss factors to be applied to the various elements of the portfolio. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change. Management reviews the level of the allowance at least quarterly and establishes the provision for loan losses based upon an evaluation of the portfolio, past loss experience, current economic conditions and other factors related to the collectability of the loan portfolio.  To strengthen our loan review and classification process, we engage an independent consultant to review our classified loans and a significant sample of recently originated non-classified loans annually.  We also enhanced our credit administration policies and procedures to improve our maintenance of updated financial data on commercial borrowers.  While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, the determination of the amount of our allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the adjustment of reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.
Other-than-temporary impairment of securities.  Management reviews investment securities on an ongoing basis for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"), taking into consideration current market conditions; fair value in relationship to cost; extent and nature of the change in fair value; issuer rating changes and trends; whether management intends to sell a security or if it is likely that we will be required to sell the security before recovery of the amortized cost basis of the investment, which may be upon maturity; and other factors. For debt securities, if management intends to sell the security or it is likely that we will be required to sell the security before recovering our cost basis, the entire impairment loss would be recognized in earnings as an OTTI. If management does not intend to sell the security and it is not more likely than not that we will be required to sell the security, but management does not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security, only the portion of the impairment loss representing credit losses would be recognized in earnings.  The credit loss on a security is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected. Projected cash flows are discounted by the original or current effective interest rate depending on the nature of the security being measured for potential OTTI. The remaining impairment related to all other factors, i.e., the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and fair value, is recognized as a charge to other comprehensive income (loss). Impairment losses related to all other factors are presented as separate components within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Mortgage Servicing Rights We record mortgage servicing rights on loans sold to Fannie Mae with servicing retained as well as for acquired servicing rights.  We stratify our capitalized mortgage servicing rights based on the type, term and interest rates of the underlying loans.  Mortgage servicing rights are carried at fair value.  The value is determined through a discounted cash flow analysis, which uses interest rates, prepayment speeds and delinquency rate assumptions as inputs.  All of these assumptions require a significant degree of management judgment. If our assumptions prove to be incorrect, the value of our mortgage servicing rights could be negatively impacted. We use a third party to assist us in the preparation of the analysis of the market value each quarter.
Other Real Estate Owned.  Other real estate owned ("OREO") represents real estate that we have taken control of in partial or full satisfaction of significantly delinquent loans. At the time of foreclosure, OREO is recorded at the fair value less costs to sell, which becomes the property's new basis. Any write-downs based on the asset's fair value at the date of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses.  After foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations such that the real estate is carried at the lower of its new cost basis or fair value, net of estimated costs to sell.  Subsequent valuation adjustments are recognized within net (loss) gain on OREO.  Revenue and expenses from operations and subsequent adjustments to the carrying amount of the property are included in other non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income.  In some instances, we may make loans to facilitate the sales of OREO. Management reviews all sales for which it is the lending institution for compliance with sales treatment under provisions established by ASC Topic 360, "Accounting for Sales of Real Estate".  Any gains related to sales of OREO are deferred until the buyer has a sufficient initial and continuing investment in the property.
Income Taxes.  Income taxes are reflected in our financial statements to show the tax effects of the operations and transactions reported in the financial statements and consist of taxes currently payable plus deferred taxes.  ASC Topic 740, "Accounting for Income Taxes," requires the asset and liability approach for financial accounting and reporting for deferred income taxes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities result from differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.  They are reflected at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets or liabilities are expected to be realized or settled and are determined using the assets and liability method of accounting.  The deferred income provision represents the difference between net deferred tax asset/liability at the beginning and end of the reported period.  In formulating our deferred tax asset, we are required to estimate our income and taxes in the jurisdiction in

48


which we operate.  This process involves estimating our actual current tax exposure for the reported period together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items, such as depreciation and the provision for loan losses, for tax and financial reporting purposes. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets if it is determined to be more likely than not all or some portion of the potential deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Business and Operating Strategies and Goals
Our goal is to deliver returns to stockholders by increasing higher-yielding assets (including consumer, commercial and multifamily real estate and commercial business loans), increasing lower costing core deposit balances, managing expenses, managing problem assets and exploring expansion opportunities. We seek to achieve these results by focusing on the following objectives:
Focusing on Asset Quality.  We believe that strong asset quality is a key to our long-term financial success. We are focused on monitoring existing performing loans, resolving nonperforming assets and selling foreclosed assets. Nonperforming assets were $5.2 million, or 0.73% of total assets, at December 31, 2019 compared to $3.2 million or 0.45% of total assets, at December 31, 2018. We continue to seek to reduce the level of non-performing assets through collections, modifications and sales of OREO. We also take proactive steps to resolve our non-performing loans, including negotiating payment plans, forbearances, loan modifications and loan extensions on delinquent loans when such actions have been deemed appropriate. Our goal is to maintain or improve upon our level of nonperforming assets by managing all segments of our loan portfolio in order to proactively identify and mitigate risk.
Improving Earnings by Expanding Product Offerings. We intend to prudently maintain the percentage of our assets consisting of higher-yielding commercial and multifamily real estate and commercial business loans, which offer higher risk-adjusted returns, shorter maturities and more sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations than one-to-four family mortgage loans while maintaining our focus on residential lending. In addition, we continue to focus on consumer products, such as floating and manufactured homes loans. With our long experience and expertise in residential lending we believe we can be effective in capturing mortgage banking opportunities and grow consumer deposits. We continue to develop correspondent relationships to sell nonconforming mortgage loans servicing-released. We also intend to selectively add additional products to further diversify revenue sources and to capture more of each client's banking relationship by offering additional services to our clients. We continue to refine our products and services for additional business and automate services, such as automating consumer loans originations this past year, in an effort to improve customer service. We intend to further build relationships with medium and small businesses through new and improving existing service offerings including remote deposit.
Emphasizing lower cost core deposits to manage the funding costs of our loan growth.  Our strategic focus is to emphasize total relationship banking with our clients to internally fund our loan growth.  We also emphasize reducing wholesale funding sources, including FHLB advances, through the continued growth of core deposits.  We believe that a continued focus on client relationships will help increase the level of core deposits and retail certificates of deposit from consumers and businesses in our market area. We intend to increase demand deposits by growing retail and business banking relationships. New technology and services are generally reviewed for business development and cost saving opportunities. We continue to experience growth in client use of our online and mobile banking services, which allow clients to conduct a full range of services on a real-time basis, including balance inquiries, transfers and electronic bill paying while providing our clients greater flexibility and convenience in conducting their banking. In addition to our retail branches, we maintain state of the art technology-based products, such as business cash management, business remote deposit products, business and consumer mobile banking applications and consumer remote deposit products. Total deposits increased to $616.7 million, which includes $8.0 million of brokered deposits at December 31, 2019, from $553.6 million at December 31, 2018, and $514.4 million at December 31, 2017.  At December 31, 2019, core deposits, which we define as our non-time deposit accounts and time deposit accounts of less than $250,000, increased $22.1 million to $491.3 million, while FHLB advances decreased $76.5 million to $7.5 million from December 31, 2018.
Maintaining Our Client Service Focus.  Exceptional service, local involvement (including volunteering and contributing to the communities where we do business) and timely decision-making are integral parts of our business strategy.  Our employees understand the importance of delivering exemplary customer service and seeking opportunities to build relationships with our clients to enhance our market position and add profitable growth opportunities.  We compete with other financial service providers by relying on the strength of our customer service and relationship banking approach.  We believe that one of our strengths is that our employees are also significant stockholders through our employee stock ownership ("ESOP") and 401(k) plans.  We also offer incentives that are designed to reward employees for achieving high quality client relationship growth.
Expanding our presence, including through digital channels and streamlining operations, within our existing and contiguous market areas and by capturing business opportunities resulting from changes in the competitive

49


environment.  We believe that opportunities currently exist within our market area to grow our franchise. We anticipate continued organic growth as the local economy and loan demand remains strong, through our marketing efforts and as a result of the opportunities created as a result of the consolidation of financial institutions that is occurring in our market area.  In addition, by delivering high quality, client-focused products and services, we expect to attract additional borrowers and depositors and thus increase our market share and revenue generation. We continue to be disciplined as it pertains to future expansion, acquisitions and de novo branching focusing on the markets in Western Washington, which we know and understand.
Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
General.   Total assets increased by $3.2 million, or 0.4%, to $719.9 million at December 31, 2019 from $716.7 million at December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily a result of the capitalization of right of use assets of $7.6 million, combined with a higher balance in available for sale securities, which increased $4.3 million, partially offset by decreases in cash and cash equivalents of $6.0 million and in FHLB stock. FHLB stock decreased $2.9 million to $1.2 million at December 31, 2019, from $4.1 million at December 31, 2018, as a result of reduced borrowing needs due to deposit growth. The adoption of accounting guidance for leases (“ASU 2016-02”) in 2019 required the Company to recognize right of use lease assets and corresponding lease liabilities on the balance sheet.
Cash and Securities Cash, cash equivalents and our available-for-sale securities decreased $1.7 million, or 2.5%, to $65.1 million at December 31, 2019.  Cash and cash equivalents decreased $6.0 million, or 9.8%, to $55.8 million at December 31, 2019.  The decrease in total cash and cash equivalents, combined with our deposit growth was primarily utilized to fund loan originations, purchases of investment securities and reduce FHLB borrowings during the year. Available-for-sale securities, which consist primarily of agency mortgage-backed securities, increased $4.3 million, or 86.0%, to $9.3 million at December 31, 2019 from $5.0 million at December 31, 2018, primarily as a result of investment securities purchased during the year.
At December 31, 2019, our securities portfolio consisted of 13 agency mortgage-backed securities and eight municipal securities with a fair value of $9.3 million.  At December 31, 2018, our securities portfolio consisted of six agency mortgage-backed securities and eight municipal bonds with a fair value of $5.0 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2019 we did not recognize any non-cash OTTI charges on our investment securities.  At December 31, 2019, five agency mortgage-backed securities had unrealized losses but management determined the decline in value was not related to specific credit deterioration. The unrealized losses were caused by changes in interest rates and the widening of market spreads subsequent to purchase of these securities. We do not intend to sell these securities and it is more likely than not that we will not be required to sell these securities before anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis.
Loans.  Loans held for portfolio, net, excluding loans held-for-sale, increased $478,000, or 0.1%, to $614.2 million at December 31, 2019 from $613.8 million at December 31, 2018.  Loans held-for-sale decreased to $1.1 million at December 31, 2019 from $1.2 million at December 31, 2018.

50


The following table reflects the changes in the loan mix, excluding deferred fees, of our portfolio at December 31, 2019, as compared to December 31, 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Change
One-to-four family
$
149,393

 
$
169,830

 
$
(20,437
)
 
(12.0
)%
Home equity
23,845

 
27,655

 
(3,810
)
 
(13.8
)
Commercial and multifamily
261,268

 
252,644

 
8,624

 
3.4

Construction and land
75,756

 
65,259

 
10,497

 
16.1

Manufactured homes
20,613

 
20,145

 
468

 
2.3

Floating homes
43,799

 
40,806

 
2,993

 
7.3

Other consumer
8,302

 
6,628

 
1,674

 
25.3

Commercial business
38,931

 
38,804

 
127

 
0.3

Total loans
$
621,907


$
621,771

 
$
136

 
 %
All categories of our loan portfolio increased at December 31, 2019, compared to December 31, 2018, except for one-to-four family and home equity loan portfolios. The largest dollar increases in the loan portfolio were in construction and land loans which increased $10.5 million, or 16.1%, to $75.8 million, commercial and multifamily loans which increased $8.6 million, or 3.4%, to $261.3 million, floating homes loans which increased $3.0 million, or 7.3%, to $43.8 million, and other consumer loans which increased $1.7 million, or 25.3%, to $8.3 million. These increases were offset by decreases in the one-to-four family loans portfolio, which decreased $20.4 million, or 12.0%, to $149.4 million primarily as a result of the sale of $16.2 million of residential loans during the first quarter of 2019, and the home equity loan portfolio, which decreased $3.8 million, or 13.8%, to $23.8 million.
The increase in our commercial and multifamily real estate loan portfolio was primarily a result of opportunities in the markets where we do business and an emphasis by our commercial lenders to originate these types of loans. Commercial and multifamily real estate loans are generally higher yielding loans and have contributed to diversifying our loan portfolio. We have also experienced appreciation in residential market prices and have low inventory of homes for sale due to continued strong demand. Floating and manufactured home loans increased as a result of increased demand for these types of loans by well-qualified borrowers coupled with less competition for these types of loans. The loan portfolio remains well-diversified with commercial and multifamily real estate loans accounting for 42.0% of the portfolio, one-to-four family real estate loans, including home equity loans accounting for approximately 27.9% of the portfolio and consumer loans, consisting of manufactured homes, floating homes, and other consumer loans accounting for 11.7% of the total loans portfolio at December 31, 2019. Construction and land loans accounted for 12.2% of the portfolio and commercial business loans accounted for the remaining 6.3% of the portfolio at December 31, 2019.
Mortgage Servicing Rights.  The fair value of mortgage servicing rights was $3.2 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $3.4 million at December 31, 2018. We record mortgage servicing rights on loans sold with servicing retained and upon acquisition of a servicing portfolio. We stratify our capitalized mortgage servicing rights based upon the type, term and interest rates of the underlying loans. Mortgage servicing rights are carried at fair value. If the fair value of our mortgage servicing rights fluctuates significantly, our financial results could be materially impacted.
Nonperforming Assets.  At December 31, 2019, our nonperforming assets totaled $5.2 million, or 0.73% of total assets, compared to $3.2 million, or 0.45% of total assets at December 31, 2018.
The table below sets forth the amounts and categories of nonperforming assets in our loan portfolio at the dates indicated (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Change
Nonaccrual loans
$
4,657

 
$
2,667

 
$
1,990

 
74.6
%
OREO and repossessed assets
575

 
575

 

 

Total nonperforming assets
$
5,232


$
3,242

 
$
1,990

 
61.4
%


51


Nonaccrual loans increased $2.0 million or 74.6%, to $4.7 million at December 31, 2019, compared to the prior year. Nonaccrual loans were 0.75% of total loans at December 31, 2019, compared to 0.43% of total loans at December 31, 2018. We had no loans greater than 90 days delinquent and still accruing at December 31, 2019 and 2018.
OREO and repossessed assets were $575,000 at both December 31, 2019 and 2018.  OREO and repossessed assets at December 31, 2019 consisted solely of a former bank branch property located in Port Angeles, Washington which was acquired in 2015 as a part of three branches purchased from another financial institution. It is currently leased to a not-for-profit organization headquartered in our market area at a below market rate. We sold one residential OREO property during 2019 resulting in a net loss of $21,000 and one residential OREO property in 2018 resulting in a net loss of $74,000.
Allowance for Loan Losses.  The allowance for loan losses is maintained to cover losses that are probable and can be estimated on the date of evaluation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.  It is our best estimate of probable incurred credit losses in our loan portfolio.
The following table reflects the adjustments in our allowance during 2019 and 2018 (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Balance at beginning of period
$
5,774

 
$
5,241

Charge-offs
(52
)
 
(50
)
Recoveries
43

 
58

Net (charge-offs) recoveries
(9
)
 
8

(Recapture) provision charged to operations
(125
)
 
525

Balance at end of period
$
5,640

 
$
5,774

Ratio of net (charge-offs) recoveries during the period to average loans outstanding during the period
%
 
%
Allowance as a percentage of nonperforming loans
121.11
%
 
216.50
%
Allowance as a percentage of total loans (end of period)
0.91
%
 
0.93
%
Our allowance for loan losses decreased $134,000, or 2.32%, to $5.6 million at December 31, 2019, from $5.8 million at December 31, 2018. We recorded a recapture from the allowance for loan losses of $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a provision for loan losses of $525,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The recapture in the current year was due to changes in the composition and size of our loan portfolio during the year.

Specific loan loss reserves decreased to $724,000 at December 31, 2019 compared to $736,000 at December 31, 2018, while general loan loss reserves stayed consistent at $4.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and the unallocated reserve decreased to $948,000 at December 31, 2019, compared to $1.0 million at December 31, 2018.
The overall decrease in the allowance for loan losses was primarily due to changes in the composition of our loan portfolio during the year, largely as a result of the sale of $16.2 million of residential loans during the first quarter of 2019. Loans individually evaluated for impairment increased to $12.4 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $5.9 million at December 31, 2018.  Net charge-offs were $9,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to net recoveries of $8,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018.  At December 31, 2019, the allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans and nonperforming loans was 0.91% and 121.11%, respectively, compared to 0.93% and 216.50%, respectively, at December 31, 2018.
Deposits.  Total deposits increased $63.1 million, or 11.4%, to $616.7 million at December 31, 2019 from $553.6 million at December 31, 2018. The increase was primarily due to increases in certificates of deposit, savings and money market deposits, partially offset by a $5.1 million, or 3.1% decrease in interest bearing demand deposits. The certificates of deposits increased $59.6 million, or 31.1%, to $251.4 million at December 31, 2019 from $164.9 million at December 31, 2018, savings increased $3.8 million, or 7.1%, to $57.9 million at December 31, 2019 from $54.1 million at December 31, 2018, and money market deposits increased $3.6 million, or 7.8%, to $50.3 million at December 31, 2019 from $46.7 million at December 31, 2018. The increase at December 31, 2019 compared to December 31, 2018 was a result of our effort to grow deposits, which allowed us to reduce our reliance on higher cost FHLB borrowings and stabilize our cost of funds during the year. The year over year increase in deposits included $8.0 million of brokered deposits at December 31, 2019. There were no brokered deposits outstanding at December 31, 2018.

52


A summary of deposit accounts with the corresponding weighted-average cost at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is presented below (dollars in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
December 31, 2018
 
Amount
 
Wtd. Avg. Rate
 
Amount
 
Wtd. Avg. Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
94,973

 
%
 
$
93,823

 
%
Interest-bearing demand
159,774

 
0.54

 
164,919

 
0.47

Savings
57,936

 
0.33

 
54,102

 
0.29

Money market
50,337

 
0.49

 
46,689

 
0.24

Certificates
251,387

 
2.23

 
191,825

 
1.58

Escrow
2,311

 

 
2,243

 

Total
$
616,718

 
1.16
%
 
$
553,601

 
0.71
%
Borrowings.  FHLB advances decreased $76.5 million, or 91.1%, to $7.5 million at December 31, 2019, with a weighted-average cost of 3.05%, from $84.0 million at December 31, 2018, with a weighted-average cost of 2.72%, as we utilized our increase in deposits for funding needs. We rely on FHLB advances to fund interest-earning assets when deposits alone cannot fully fund interest-earning asset growth. 

Stockholders' Equity.  Total stockholders' equity increased $6.1 million, or 8.5%, to $77.7 million at December 31, 2019, from $71.6 million December 31, 2018. This increase primarily reflects net income of $6.7 million, stock-based compensation of $267,000, and ESOP share allocations of $395,000, partially offset by cash dividends of $1.4 million.
Average Balances, Net Interest Income, Yields Earned and Rates Paid
The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resultant yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates. Income and yields on tax-exempt obligations have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis. All average balances are daily average balances. Nonaccrual loans have been included in the table as loans carrying a zero yield for the period they have been on nonaccrual (dollars in thousands).
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Outstanding
Balance
 
Interest
Earned/
Paid
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Outstanding
Balance
 
Interest
Earned/
Paid
 
Yield/
Rate
 
Average
Outstanding
Balance
 
Interest
Earned/
Paid
 
Yield/
Rate
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans (1)
$
599,944

 
$
33,090

 
5.52
%
 
$
589,205

 
$
31,881

 
5.41
%
 
$
508,520

 
$
26,707

 
5.25
%
Investments and interest bearing accounts
64,386

 
1,491

 
2.32

 
60,628

 
1,286

 
2.12

 
51,747

 
742

 
1.43

Total interest-earning assets (1)
664,330

 
34,581

 
5.21

 
649,833

 
33,167

 
5.10

 
560,267

 
27,449

 
4.90

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Savings and money market accounts
103,482

 
386

 
0.37

 
100,639

 
200

 
0.20

 
101,717

 
164

 
0.16

Demand and NOW accounts
154,738

 
924

 
0.60

 
170,518

 
874

 
0.51

 
163,009

 
744

 
0.46

Certificate accounts
235,363

 
5,555

 
2.36

 
174,922

 
2,765

 
1.58

 
157,575

 
2,113

 
1.34

Borrowings
24,406

 
752

 
3.08

 
69,900

 
1,521

 
2.18

 
29,791

 
347

 
1.16

Total interest-bearing liabilities
517,989

 
7,617

 
1.47
%
 
515,979

 
5,360

 
1.04
%
 
452,092

 
3,368

 
0.74

Net interest income
 

 
$
26,964

 
 
 
 

 
$
27,807

 
 
 
 

 
$
24,081

 
 

Net interest rate spread
 

 
 

 
3.74
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.06
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.15
%
Net earning assets
$
146,341

 
 

 
 

 
$
133,854

 
 

 
 

 
$
108,175

 
 

 
 

Net interest margin
 

 
 

 
4.06
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.28
%
 
 

 
 

 
4.30
%
Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities
 

 
128.25
%
 
 

 
 

 
125.94
%
 
 

 
 

 
123.93
%
 
 

(1)
Calculated net of deferred loan fees, loan discounts and loans in process.

53


Rate/Volume Analysis
The following schedule presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. It distinguishes between changes related to outstanding balances and changes due to interest rates. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in volume (i.e., changes in volume multiplied by old rate) and (ii) changes in rate (i.e., changes in rate multiplied by old volume). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate (dollars in thousands).
 
Year Ended December 31,
2019 vs. 2018
 
Year Ended December 31,
2018 vs. 2017
 
Increase (Decrease) due to
 
Total
Increase (Decrease)
 
Increase (Decrease) due to
 
Total
Increase (Decrease)
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
$
592

 
$
617

 
$
1,209

 
$
4,336

 
$
618

 
$
4,954

Investments and interest bearing accounts
87

 
118

 
205

 
188

 
356

 
544

Total interest-earning assets
679

 
735

 
1,414

 
4,524

 
974

 
5,498

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Savings and Money Market accounts
11

 
175

 
186

 
(2
)
 
38

 
36

Demand and NOW accounts
(94
)
 
145

 
51

 
38

 
92

 
130

Certificate accounts
1,426

 
1,363

 
2,789

 
274

 
378

 
652

Borrowings
(1,401
)
 
632

 
(769
)
 
873

 
301

 
1,174

Total interest-bearing liabilities
$
(58
)
 
$
2,315

 
$
2,257

 
$
1,183

 
$
809

 
$
1,992

Change in net interest income
 

 
 

 
$
(843
)
 
 

 
 

 
$
3,506

Comparison of Results of Operation for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
General. Net income decreased $360,000 to $6.7 million, or $2.57 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2019, from $7.0 million, or $2.74 per diluted common share for the year ended December 31, 2018. The primary reasons for the decrease in net income in 2019 compared to 2018 was due to a lower net interest income and noninterest income, partially offset by a recapture from the allowance for loan losses of $125,000.
Interest Income.  Total interest income increased by $1.4 million, or 4.3%, to $34.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, from $33.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.  Interest income on loans increased $1.2 million, or 3.8%, to $33.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $31.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, due to higher average loan balances and yields. The average loans held-for-portfolio balance was $599.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $589.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. The average yield on loans held-for-portfolio was 5.52% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 5.41% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in the average loan yield during 2019 was due to the change in the composition of the loan portfolio, with an increase in higher yielding commercial and multifamily real estate and construction and land loans.
Interest income on the investment portfolio increased $205,000, or 15.9%, to $1.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $1.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2018, due to higher average investment balance and yields in 2019.
Interest Expense Interest expense increased $2.3 million, or 42.1%, to $7.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to $5.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2018 as a result of both a higher weighted average cost and balance of deposits, partially offset by a decrease in the average balance of Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") borrowings. 
Interest expense on deposits increased $3.0 million, or 78.8%, to $6.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the prior year, driven by an increase of $47.5 million, or 10.6%, in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits to $493.6 million, and a 45 basis point increase in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits to 1.16% for the year ended

54


December 31, 2019, from 0.71% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The average balance of total deposits increased $52.8 million, to $590.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 as compared to $537.2 million for the same period in 2018.
Interest expense on FHLB borrowings decreased $769,000, or 50.6%, to $752,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 from $1.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, due to a $45.5 million, or 65.1% decrease in the average balance of FHLB borrowings to $24.4 million from $69.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. Our overall weighted-average cost of interest-bearing liabilities was 1.47% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 1.04% for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Net Interest Income.  Net interest income decreased $843,000, or 3.0%, to $27.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, from $27.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2018.  The decrease primarily resulted from an increase in net interest expense due to rates paid on deposits and higher average deposit balances, partially offset by increased interest income on loans and investments and decreased interest expense paid on FHLB borrowings. Our net interest margin was 4.06% for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to 4.28% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was primarily due to yields earned on interest-earning assets declining at a faster rate than interest rates paid on interest-bearing liabilities.
Provision for Loan Losses.  We establish our allowance for loan losses through provisions for loan losses, which are charged to earnings, at a level required to reflect management's best estimate of the probable incurred credit losses in the loan portfolio.  In evaluating the level of the allowance for loan losses, management considers historical loss experience, the types of loans and the amount of loans in the loan portfolio, adverse situations that may affect borrowers' ability to repay, estimated value of any underlying collateral, peer group data, prevailing economic conditions, and other qualitative factors.  Large groups of smaller balance homogeneous loans, such as one-to four-family, commercial and multifamily real estate, home equity and consumer loans, including floating homes and manufactured homes, are evaluated in the aggregate using historical loss factors adjusted for current economic conditions and other relevant data.  Loans, for which management has concerns about the borrowers' ability to repay, are evaluated individually, and specific loss allocations are provided for these loans when necessary.
We recorded a recapture from the allowance for loan losses of $125,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a
provision for loan losses of $525,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The recapture in the current year was due to changes in the composition of our loan portfolio during the year. Net loan charge-offs were $9,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to net recoveries of $8,000 for the year ended December 31, 2018.  Nonperforming loans increased $2.0 million during the year to $4.7 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $2.7 million a year ago.

Nonperforming loans to total loans increased to 0.75% at December 31, 2019 from 0.43% at December 31, 2018.  The allowance for loan losses decreased to $5.6 million at December 31, 2019 compared to $5.8 million at December 31, 2018.  See "- Comparison of Financial Condition at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 – Delinquencies and Nonperforming Assets" for more information on nonperforming loans in 2019.
While we believe the estimates and assumptions used in our determination of the adequacy of the allowance are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will not be proven incorrect in the future, or that the actual amount of future provisions will not exceed the amount of past provisions or that any increased provisions that may be required will not adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the determination of the amount of our allowance for loan losses is subject to review by bank regulators as part of the routine examination process, which may result in the adjustment of reserves based upon their judgment of information available to them at the time of their examination.
Noninterest Income.  Noninterest income decreased $260,000, or 6.1%, to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, as compared to $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2018 as reflected below (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Change
Service charges and fee income
$
1,954

 
$
1,876

 
$
78

 
4.2
 %
Earnings on cash surrender value of bank owned life insurance
381

 
320

 
61

 
19.1

Mortgage servicing income
1,002

 
1,075

 
(73
)
 
(6.8
)
Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights
(760
)
 
(513
)
 
(247
)
 
48.1

Net gain on sale of loans
1,449

 
1,038

 
411

 
39.6

Other income

 
490

 
(490
)
 
NM

Total noninterest income
$
4,026

 
$
4,286

 
$
(260
)
 
(6.1
)%
NM = not meaningful

55


The decrease in noninterest income from one year ago was primarily due to a $247,000 decrease in the mark-to-market
adjustment on fair value of mortgage servicing rights during the year ended December 31, 2019, combined with one-time proceeds of $490,000 recognized in other noninterest income from the sale of Visa B Shares during year ended December 31, 2018. The decrease was partially offset by a $411,000 increase in the net gain on sale of loans.


Noninterest Expense.  Noninterest expense remained relatively flat, decreasing $38,000, or 0.2%, to $22.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, from the year ended December 31, 2018, as reflected below (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
2019
 
2018
 
Change
 
Change
Salaries and benefits
$
12,402

 
$
12,775

 
$
(373
)
 
(2.9
)%
Operations
5,905

 
5,472

 
433

 
7.9

Regulatory assessments
279

 
432

 
(153
)
 
(35.4
)
Occupancy
2,060

 
2,139

 
(79
)
 
(3.7
)
Data processing
2,104

 
1,919

 
185

 
9.6

Losses and expenses on OREO and repossessed assets
35

 
86

 
(51
)
 
(59.3
)
Total noninterest expense
$
22,785

 
$
22,823

 
$
(38
)
 
(0.2
)%
Salaries and benefits decreased $373,000 as a result of lower commissions on loan originations paid during the year and regulatory assessments decreased $153,000 as a result of a small bank credit awarded by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). These decreases were partially offset by a $433,000 increase in operations expense and $185,000 increase in data processing expense. Operations expense increased due to increases in marketing and adverting expense of $133,000, wire fraud expenses of $114,000, travel and conference expense of $88,000, charitable contributions of $81,000 and consulting expenses of $37,000.

The efficiency ratio, which is noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income and noninterest income, for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 73.52%, compared to 71.12% for the year ended December 31, 2018. The increase in the efficiency ratio compared to the prior year was primarily due to higher interest expense on deposits.
Income Tax Expense. The provision for income taxes decreased $55,000, or 3.2% to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018 due to a decrease in taxable net income. The effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were 19.8% and 19.5%, respectively.


56


Liquidity
Liquidity management is both a daily and longer-term function of management.  Excess liquidity is generally invested in short-term investments, such as overnight deposits and federal funds.  On a longer term basis, we maintain a strategy of investing in various loan products and investment securities, including mortgage-backed securities.  We use our sources of funds primarily to meet ongoing commitments, pay maturing deposits, fund deposit withdrawals and fund loan commitments.
We maintain cash and investments that qualify as liquid assets to maintain adequate liquidity to ensure safe and sound operations and meet demands for client funds (particularly withdrawals of deposits).  At December 31, 2019, we had $65.1 million in cash and investment securities available for sale and $1.1 million in loans held-for-sale. We can also obtain funds from borrowings, primarily FHLB advances.  At December 31, 2019, we had the ability to borrow an additional $217.8 million in FHLB advances, subject to certain collateral requirements and we had access to additional borrowings of $41.7 million through the Federal Reserve's Discount Window, subject to certain collateral requirements. In addition, we also had available $20.0 million of credit facilities with other financial institutions, with no balance outstanding at December 31, 2019 or 2018.
We are required to have adequate cash and investments that qualify as liquid assets in order to maintain sufficient liquidity to ensure safe and sound operations.  Liquidity may increase or decrease depending upon the availability of funds and comparative yields on investments in relation to the return on loans.  Historically, we have maintained liquid assets above levels believed to be adequate to meet the requirements of normal operations, including potential deposit outflows.  Cash flow projections are regularly reviewed and updated to assure that adequate liquidity is maintained.
Liquidity management involves the matching of cash flow requirements of clients, who may be either depositors desiring to withdraw funds or borrowers needing assurance that sufficient funds will be available to meet their credit needs and our ability to manage those requirements.  We strive to maintain an adequate liquidity position by managing the balances and maturities of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities so that the balance we have in short-term investments at any given time will adequately cover any reasonably anticipated, immediate need for funds.  Additionally, we maintain relationships with correspondent banks, which could provide funds on short-term notice if needed.  Our liquidity, represented by cash and cash-equivalents, is a product of our operating, investing and financing activities.
As disclosed in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, cash and cash equivalents decreased $6.0 million to $55.8 million as of December 31, 2019, from $61.8 million at December 31, 2018.  Net cash provided by operating activities was $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019.  Net cash of $5.8 million was used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 and consisted principally of purchase of investment securities. There was $11.3 million of cash used in financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 which primarily consisted of a $76.5 million net decrease in FHLB advances, partially offset by a $63.1 million increase in deposits.
Sound Financial Bancorp is a separate legal entity from Sound Community Bank and must provide for its own liquidity.  In addition to its own operating expenses (many of which are paid to Sound Community Bank), Sound Financial Bancorp is responsible for paying any dividends declared to its stockholders, and interest and principal on outstanding debt.  Sound Financial Bancorp's primary source of funds is dividends from Sound Community Bank, which are subject to regulatory limits.  At December 31, 2019 Sound Financial Bancorp, on an unconsolidated basis, had $2.7 million in cash, noninterest-bearing deposits and liquid investments generally available for its cash needs.
Our liquidity, represented by cash and cash equivalents and investment securities, is a product of our operating, investing and financing activities.  Our primary sources of funds are deposits, amortization, prepayments and maturities of outstanding loans and mortgage-backed securities, maturities of investment securities and other short-term investments and funds provided from operations.  While scheduled payments from the amortization of loans and mortgage-backed securities and maturing investment securities and short-term investments are relatively predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and loan prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates. We also generate cash through borrowings. We utilize FHLB advances to leverage our capital base and provide funds for our lending and investment activities, and to enhance our interest rate risk management.
We use our sources of funds primarily to meet ongoing commitments, pay maturing deposits and fund withdrawals, and to fund loan commitments.  At December 31, 2019, the approved outstanding loan commitments, including unused lines and letters of credit, amounted to $86.0 million.  Certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in one year or less at December 31, 2019, totaled $86.6 million.  It is management's policy to offer deposit rates that are competitive with other local financial institutions.  Based on this management strategy, we believe that a majority of maturing deposits will remain with us. See also the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, included in Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data," of this Form 10-K, for further information.

57


Off-Balance Sheet Activities
In the normal course of operations, we engage in a variety of financial transactions that are not recorded in our financial statements.  These transactions involve varying degrees of off-balance sheet credit, interest rate and liquidity risks.  These transactions are used primarily to manage clients' requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments and lines of credit.  For the year ended December 31, 2019, we did not engage in any off-balance sheet transactions likely to have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
A summary of our off-balance sheet loan commitments at December 31, 2019, is as follows (in thousands):
Off-balance sheet loan commitments:
Amount
Residential mortgage commitments
$
4,968

Unfunded construction commitments
40,181

Unused lines of credit
39,605

Irrevocable letters of credit
1,240

Total loan commitments
$
85,994

Capital
Sound Community Bank is subject to minimum capital requirements imposed by regulations of the FDIC.  Based on its capital levels at December 31, 2019, Sound Community Bank exceeded these requirements as of that date. Consistent with our goals to operate a sound and profitable organization, our policy is for Sound Community Bank to maintain a "well-capitalized" status under the regulatory capital categories of the FDIC. Based on capital levels at December 31, 2019, Sound Community Bank was considered to be well-capitalized. Management monitors the capital levels to provide for current and future business opportunities and to maintain Sound Community Bank's "well-capitalized" status. For additional details see Note 15 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in "Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" and "Item 1. "Business - How We Are Regulated—Regulation of Sound Community Bank—Capital Rules" of this Form 10-K.
The following table shows the capital ratios of Sound Community Bank at December 31, 2019 (dollars in thousands):
 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Capital
Requirements
 
Minimum Required to be
Well-Capitalized Under Prompt
Corrective Action Provisions
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
Tier 1 Capital to average total adjusted assets (1)
 
$
74,031

 
10.22
%
 
$
28,981

 
4.0
%
 
$
36,226

 
5.0
%
Common Equity Tier 1 to risk-weighted   assets (2)
 
74,031

 
12.07

 
27,601

 
4.5

 
39,868

 
6.5

Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
 
74,031

 
12.07

 
36,801

 
6.0

 
49,068

 
8.0

Total Capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
 
$
79,974

 
13.04
%
 
$
49,068

 
8.0
%
 
$
61,335

 
10.0
%
(1)
Based on total adjusted assets of $724,527 at December 31, 2019.
(2)
Based on risk-weighted assets of $613,354 at December 31, 2019.

In addition to the minimum CET1, Tier 1 and total capital ratios, Sound Financial Bancorp and Sound Community Bank must maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional CET1 capital greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above the required minimum risk-based capital levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses. At December 31, 2019, the conservation buffer requirement was 2.50% and the Bank's actual conservation buffer was 5.04%.

For a bank holding company with less than $3.0 billion in assets, the capital guidelines apply on a bank only basis and the Federal Reserve expects the holding company's subsidiary banks to be well-capitalized under the prompt corrective action regulations. If Sound Financial Bancorp was subject to regulatory guidelines for bank holding companies with $3.0 billion or more in assets, at December 31, 2019, Sound Financial Bancorp would have exceeded all regulatory capital requirements. The estimated regulatory capital ratios calculated for Sound Financial Bancorp as of December 31, 2019 were 9.55% for Tier 1

58


Capital to total adjusted assets (leverage ratio), 11.08% for both Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital, and Tier 1 Capital to risk-based assets, and 11.94% for Total Capital to risk weighted assets.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Asset/Liability Management
Our Risk When Interest Rates Change. The rates of interest we earn on assets and pay on liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Market rates change over time. Like other financial institutions, our results of operations are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities. The risk associated with changes in interest rates and our ability to adapt to these changes is known as interest rate risk and is our most significant market risk.
How We Measure Our Risk of Interest Rate Changes. As part of efforts to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates and comply with applicable regulations, we monitor our interest rate risk. In doing so, we analyze and manage assets and liabilities based on their interest rates and payment streams, timing of maturities, re-pricing opportunities, and sensitivity to actual or potential changes in market interest rates.
We are subject to interest rate risk to the extent that our interest-bearing liabilities, primarily deposits and FHLB advances, re-price more rapidly or at different rates than our interest-earning assets. In order to minimize the potential for adverse effects of material prolonged increases or decreases in interest rates on our results of operations, we have adopted an asset and liability management policy. Our Board of Directors approves the asset and liability policy, which is implemented by the asset/liability committee.
The purpose of the asset/liability committee is to communicate, coordinate, and control asset/liability management consistent with our business plan and board-approved policies. The committee establishes and monitors the volume and mix of assets and funding sources, taking into account relative costs and spreads, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity needs. The objectives are to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals.
The committee generally meets monthly to, among other things, protect capital through earnings stability over the interest rate cycle; maintain our well-capitalized status; and provide a reasonable return on investment. The committee recommends appropriate strategy changes based on this review. The committee is responsible for reviewing and reporting the effects of the policy implementations and strategies to the board of directors at least quarterly. Senior managers oversee the process on a daily basis.
A key element of our asset/liability management plan is to protect net earnings by managing the maturity or re-pricing mismatch between our interest-earning assets and our rate-sensitive liabilities. We seek to reduce exposure to earnings by extending funding maturities through the use of FHLB advances, through the use of adjustable rate loans and through the sale of certain fixed rate loans in the secondary market.
As part of our efforts to monitor and manage interest rate risk, we maintain an interest rate risk model and utilize software and resources provided by a third party. The model contains several assumptions that are based upon a combination of proprietary and market data that reflect historical results and current market conditions. These assumptions relate to interest rates, prepayments, deposit decay rates and the market value of certain assets under the various interest rate scenarios. The model's capital at risk measure, also known as the Economic Value of Equity ("EVE"), evaluates the change in the projected EVE over a two-year period given an immediate increase or decrease in interest rates. The EVE presents a hypothetical valuation of equity and is defined as the present value of projected asset cash flows less the present value of projected liability cash flows. EVE values only the current position of the balance sheet at December 31, 2019, and therefore does not incorporate any new business assumptions that might be inherent in a simulation of net interest income. The following table projections assume instantaneous parallel shifts upward of the yield curve of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points and downward of the yield curve 100 and 200 basis points occurring immediately. Given that the targeted Federal Funds Rate at December 31, 2019 was a range of 1.50 to 1.75%, a 300 and 400 basis point reduction in rates is not reported. Management and the Board of Directors review these measurements on a quarterly basis to determine whether our interest rate exposure is within the limits established by the Board of Directors.
Our asset/liability management strategy dictates acceptable limits on the amounts of change in given changes in interest rates. For interest rate increases of 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points, our internal policy states that our EVE percentage change should not decrease greater than 10%, 20%, 25% and 30%, respectively and that our EVE ratio should not fall below 9%, 8%, 6% and 5%, respectively. For interest rate decreases of 100 and 200 basis points, our internal policy states that our EVE

59


percentage change should not decrease greater than 10% and 20%, respectively, and that our EVE ratio should not fall below 9% and 8%, respectively.
As indicated in the following table (dollars in thousands), our EVE shows an asset sensitive position at December 31, 2019 due to the duration of our interest-bearing liabilities exceeding our interest-earning assets. Since EVE measures the discounted present value of cash flows over the estimated lives of instruments, the change in EVE does not directly correlate to the degree that earnings would be impacted over a shorter time horizon.
December 31, 2019
Change in Interest Rates in Basis Points (bps)
 
Economic Value of Equity
 
EVE
Ratio %
$ Amount
 
$ Change
 
% Change
 
+400
 
$
84,853

 
$
13,006

 
18.10
 %
 
12.8
%
+300
 
83,330

 
11,483

 
15.98

 
12.4

+200
 
81,065

 
9,219

 
12.83

 
11.8

+100
 
77,406

 
5,560

 
7.74

 
11.1

0
 
71,846

 

 

 
10.1

-100
 
64,849

 
(6,998
)
 
(9.74
)
 
9.0

-200
 
$
55,719

 
$
(16,127
)
 
(22.45
)%
 
7.6
%
In addition to monitoring selected measures of EVE, management also monitors effects on net interest income resulting from increases or decrease in rates. This process is used in conjunction with EVE measures to identify excessive interest rate risk. In managing our assets/liability mix, depending on the relationship between long- and short-term interest rates, market conditions and consumer preference, we may place somewhat greater emphasis on maximizing our net interest margin than on strictly matching the interest rate sensitivity of assets and liabilities. Management also believes that the increased net income which may result from an acceptable mismatch in the actual maturity or re-pricing of its asset and liability portfolios can, during periods of declining or stable interest rates, provide sufficient returns to justify the increased exposure to sudden and unexpected increases in interest rates which may result from such a mismatch. Management believes that our level of interest rate risk is acceptable under this approach.
In evaluating our exposure to interest rate movements, certain shortcomings inherent in the method of analysis presented in the foregoing table must be considered. For example, although certain assets and liabilities may have similar maturities or re-pricing periods, they may react in different degrees to changes in market interest rates. Also, the interest rates on certain types of assets and liabilities may fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest rates, while interest rates on other types may lag behind changes in interest rates. Additionally, certain assets, such as adjustable rate mortgages, have features which restrict changes in interest rates on a short-term basis and over the life of the asset. Further, in the event of a significant change in interest rates, prepayment and early withdrawal levels would likely deviate significantly from those assumed above. Finally, the ability of many borrowers to service their debt may decrease in the event of an interest rate increase. We consider all of these factors in monitoring our exposure to interest rate risk.


60


Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc.

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. and Subsidiary (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“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 audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures to respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or

61


disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Moss Adams, LLP

Everett, Washington
March 12, 2020

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.



62


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
55,770

 
$
61,810

Available-for-sale securities, at fair value
9,306

 
4,957

Loans held-for-sale
1,063

 
1,172

Loans held for portfolio
619,887

 
619,543

Allowance for loan losses
(5,640
)
 
(5,774
)
Total loans held for portfolio, net
614,247

 
613,769

Accrued interest receivable
2,206

 
2,287

Bank-owned life insurance, net
14,183

 
13,365

Other real estate owned ("OREO") and repossessed assets, net
575

 
575

Mortgage servicing rights, at fair value
3,239

 
3,414

Federal Home Loan Bank ("FHLB") stock, at cost
1,160

 
4,134

Premises and equipment, net
6,767

 
7,044

Lease right of use assets
7,641

 

Other assets
3,696

 
4,208

Total assets
$
719,853

 
$
716,735

LIABILITIES
 
 
 
Deposits
 
 
 
Interest-bearing
$
519,434

 
$
457,535

Noninterest-bearing demand
97,284

 
96,066

Total deposits
616,718

 
553,601

Borrowings
7,500

 
84,000

Accrued interest payable
226

 
137

Lease liabilities
8,010

 

Other liabilities
8,368

 
6,681

Advance payments from borrowers for taxes and insurance
1,305

 
689

Total liabilities
642,127

 
645,108

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (NOTE 17 and 20)


 


STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 2,567,389 and 2,544,059 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively
25

 
25

Additional paid-in capital
26,343

 
25,663

Unearned shares - Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP")
(227
)
 
(340
)
Retained earnings
51,410

 
46,165

Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
175

 
114

Total stockholders' equity
77,726

 
71,627

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
719,853

 
$
716,735

See notes to consolidated financial statements


63


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
INTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
Loans, including fees
$
33,090

 
$
31,881

Interest and dividends on investments, cash and cash equivalents
1,491

 
1,286

Total interest income
34,581

 
33,167

INTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
Deposits
6,865

 
3,839

Borrowings
752

 
1,521

Total interest expense
7,617

 
5,360

Net interest income
26,964

 
27,807

(RECAPTURE) PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
(125
)
 
525

Net interest income after (recapture) provision for loan losses
27,089

 
27,282

NONINTEREST INCOME
 
 
 
Service charges and fee income
1,954

 
1,876

Earnings on cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance
381

 
320

Mortgage servicing income
1,002

 
1,075

Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights
(760
)
 
(513
)
Net gain on sale of loans
1,449

 
1,038

Other income

 
490

Total noninterest income
4,026

 
4,286

NONINTEREST EXPENSE
 
 
 
Salaries and benefits
12,402

 
12,775

Operations
5,905

 
5,472

Regulatory assessments
279

 
432

Occupancy
2,060

 
2,139

Data processing
2,104

 
1,919

Net loss and expenses on OREO and repossessed assets
35

 
86

Total noninterest expense
22,785

 
22,823

Income before provision for income taxes
8,330

 
8,745

Provision for income taxes
1,651

 
1,706

Net income
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

Earnings per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
2.63

 
$
2.82

Diluted
$
2.57

 
$
2.74

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
 
 
 
Basic
2,527,329

 
2,498,161

Diluted
2,583,312

 
2,567,165

See notes to consolidated financial statements


64


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(In thousands)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Net income
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

Available for sale securities:
 
 
 
Unrealized gains arising during the year
78

 
7

Income tax expense related to unrealized gains
(17
)
 
(2
)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax
61

 
5

Comprehensive income
$
6,740

 
$
7,044

See notes to consolidated financial statements


65


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts)
 
Shares
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Unearned
ESOP Shares
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income, net of tax
 
Total
Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2018
2,544,059

 
$
25

 
$
25,663

 
$
(340
)
 
$
46,165

 
$
114

 
$
71,627

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6,679

 
 
 
6,679

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
61

 
61

Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
267

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
267

Restricted stock awards issued
15,925

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.56 per share)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,434
)
 
 
 
(1,434
)
Common stock surrendered
(3,487
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Restricted shares forfeited
(880)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Common stock options exercised
11,772

 
 
 
131

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
131

Allocation of ESOP shares
 
 
 
 
282

 
113

 
 
 
 
 
395

Balance at December 31, 2019
2,567,389

 
$
25

 
$
26,343

 
$
(227
)
 
$
51,410

 
$
175

 
$
77,726

 
Shares
 
Common Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in Capital
 
Unearned
ESOP Shares
 
Retained
Earnings
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income, net of tax
 
Total
Stockholders' Equity
Balance at December 31, 2017
2,511,127

 
$
25

 
$
24,986

 
$
(453
)
 
$
40,493

 
$
109

 
$
65,160

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7,039

 
 
 
7,039

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax
 
 
 
 
(22
)
 
 
 
 
 
5

 
(17
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
 
 
273

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
273

Restricted stock awards issued
323

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.54 per share)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1,367
)
 
 
 
(1,367
)
Common stock repurchased
(16,314
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Restricted shares forfeited
(343
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Common stock options exercised
49,266

 
 
 
118

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
118

Allocation of ESOP shares
 
 
 
 
308

 
113

 
 
 
 
 
421

Balance at December 31, 2018
2,544,059

 
$
25

 
$
25,663

 
$
(340
)
 
$
46,165

 
$
114

 
$
71,627


See notes to consolidated financial statements

66


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Net income
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
 
 
 
 Amortization of net premiums/discounts on investments
50

 
41

(Recapture) provision for loan losses
(125
)
 
525

Depreciation and amortization
931

 
989

Compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock
267

 
273

Change in fair value of mortgage servicing rights
760

 
513

Change in right of use assets amortization
592

 

Change in lease liabilities
(480
)
 

Increase in cash surrender value of BOLI
(381
)
 
(320
)
Net change in advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
616

 
54

Deferred income tax
(267
)
 
69

Net gain on sale of loans
(1,449
)
 
(1,038
)
Proceeds from sale of loans held-for-sale
78,214

 
49,121

Originations of loans held-for-sale
(77,241
)
 
(47,979
)
Net loss on OREO and repossessed assets
21

 
74

Change in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accrued interest receivable
81

 
(310
)
Other assets
762

 
505

Accrued interest payable
89

 
60

Other liabilities
1,944

 
709

Net cash provided by operating activities
11,063

 
10,325

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
Proceeds from principal payments, maturities and sales of available for sale securities
845

 
416

Purchases of available for sale securities
(5,166
)
 

Net increase in loans
(847
)
 
(70,995
)
Purchase of BOLI
(437
)
 
(295
)
Proceeds from sale of OREO and other repossessed assets
473

 
16

Purchases of premises and equipment, net
(654
)
 
(641
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(5,786
)
 
(71,499
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net increase in deposits
63,117

 
39,201

Proceeds from borrowings
166,800

 
262,000

Repayment of borrowings
(243,300
)
 
(237,000
)
FHLB stock redeemed (purchased)
2,974

 
(1,069
)
ESOP shares released
395

 
421

Proceeds from common stock option exercises
131

 
118

Dividends paid on common stock
(1,434
)
 
(1,367
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(11,317
)
 
62,304

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(6,040
)
 
1,130

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
61,810

 
60,680

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
$
55,770

 
$
61,810

 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
 
 

67


Cash paid for income taxes
$
915

 
$
2,670

Interest paid on deposits and borrowings
7,528

 
5,300

Noncash net transfer from loans to OREO and repossessed assets
494

 
55

Leases right of use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities:
 
 
 
Right of use assets
8,490

 

Lease Liabilities
$
8,233

 
$

See notes to consolidated financial statements


68


SOUND FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1 - Organization and significant accounting policies
Sound Financial Bancorp, a Maryland corporation ("Sound Financial Bancorp" or the "Company"), is a bank holding company for its wholly owned subsidiary, Sound Community Bank (the "Bank"). Substantially all of Sound Financial Bancorp's business is conducted through Sound Community Bank, a Washington state-chartered commercial bank. As a Washington commercial bank, the Bank's regulators are the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions ("WDFI") and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"). The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") is the primary federal regulator for Sound Financial Bancorp. The Company’s business activities generally are limited to passive investment activities and oversight of its investment in the Bank. Accordingly, the information set forth in this report relates primarily to the Bank.
Subsequent events – The Company has evaluated subsequent events for potential recognition and disclosure. See Note 21 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K. 
Basis of Presentation and Use of Estimates – The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Material estimates that are particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relate to the determination of the allowance for loan losses, the fair value of mortgage servicing rights, valuations of impaired loans and OREO, and the realization of deferred taxes.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sound Financial Bancorp and its wholly-owned subsidiary Sound Community Bank. All significant intercompany balances and transactions between Sound Financial Bancorp and its subsidiary have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and cash equivalents – For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and in banks and interest-bearing deposits. All have original maturities of three months or less and may exceed federally insured limits.
Investment securities – Investment securities are classified into one of three categories: (1) held-to-maturity, (2) available-for-sale ("AFS"), or (3) trading. The Company had no held-to-maturity or trading securities at December 31, 2019 or 2018. AFS securities consist of debt securities that the Company has the intent and ability to hold for an indefinite period, but not necessarily to maturity. Such securities may be sold to implement the Company's asset/liability management strategies and/or in response to changes in interest rates and similar factors. AFS securities are reported at fair value. Dividend and interest income are recognized when earned.
Unrealized gains and losses, net of the related deferred tax effect, are reported as a net amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on AFS securities in the consolidated balance sheets. Realized gains and losses on AFS securities, determined using the specific identification method, are included in earnings. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts are recognized as adjustments to interest income using the interest method over the period to the earlier of call date or maturity.
The Company reviews investment securities on an ongoing basis for the presence of other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") or permanent impairment, taking into consideration current market conditions, fair value in relation to cost, extent and nature of the change in fair value, issuer rating changes and trends, whether the Company intends to sell a security or if it is likely that the Company will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis of the investment, which may be maturity, and other factors. For debt securities, if the Company intends to sell the security or it is likely that it will be required to sell the security before recovering its cost basis, the entire impairment loss would be recognized in earnings as an OTTI. If the Company does not intend to sell the security and it is not likely that we will be required to sell the security but we do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security, only the portion of the impairment loss representing credit losses would be recognized in earnings. The credit loss on a security is measured as the difference between the amortized cost basis and the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected. Projected cash flows are discounted by the original or current effective interest rate depending on the nature of the security being measured for potential OTTI.
The remaining impairment related to all other factors, the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the fair value, is recognized as a charge to other comprehensive income ("OCI"). The Company does not intend to

69


sell these securities and it is more likely than not that it will not be required to sell the securities before anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis. The Company closely monitors its investment securities for changes in credit risk.
Loans held-for-sale – To mitigate interest rate sensitivity, from time to time, certain fixed rate mortgage loans are identified as held-for-sale in the secondary market. Accordingly, such loans are classified as held-for-sale in the consolidated balance sheets and are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair market value in the aggregate. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income. Mortgage loans held-for-sale are generally sold with the mortgage servicing rights retained by the Company. Gains or losses on sales of loans are recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related loans sold based on the specific identification method.
Loans – The Company grants mortgage, commercial, and consumer loans to clients. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is represented by loans secured by real estate located throughout the Puget Sound region, especially King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, and in Clallam and Jefferson Counties of Washington State. The ability of the Company's debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon employment, real estate and general economic conditions in these areas.
Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off generally are reported at their outstanding unpaid principal balance adjusted for any charge-offs, allowance for loan losses, and any deferred fees or costs on origination of loans. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized as an adjustment of the related loan yield using the interest method over the contractual life of the loan for term loans or the straight-line method for open ended loans.
The accrual of interest is discontinued at the time the loan is 90 days past due or if, in management's opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment of obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions. Loans are typically charged off no later than 120 days past due, unless secured by collateral. Past due status is based on contractual terms of the loan. In all cases, loans are placed on nonaccrual or charged off at an earlier date if collection of principal or interest is considered doubtful.
All interest accrued but not collected for loans that are placed on nonaccrual or charged-off is reversed against interest income. The interest on these loans is accounted for on the cash-basis or cost-recovery method, until qualifying for return to accrual. Loans are returned to accrual status when all of the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current, future payments are reasonably assured and payments have been received for six consecutive months.
A loan is considered impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts (principal and interest) due according to the contractual terms of the original loan agreement. When a loan has been identified as being impaired, the amount of the impairment is measured by using discounted cash flows, except when, as a practical expedient, the current fair value of the collateral, reduced by costs to sell, is used. When the measurement of the impaired loan is less than the recorded investment in the loan (including accrued interest), impairment is recognized by charging off the impaired portion or creating or adjusting a specific allocation of the allowance for loan losses.
A loan is classified as a troubled debt restructuring ("TDR") when certain concessions have been made to the contractual terms, such as reductions of interest rates or deferrals of interest or principal payments due to the borrower's deteriorated financial condition. All TDRs are reported and accounted for as impaired loans.
Allowance for loan losses – The allowance for loan losses is a reserve established through a provision for loan losses charged to expense and represents management's best estimate of probable losses incurred within the existing loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The level of the allowance reflects management's view of trends in loan loss activity, current loan portfolio quality and present economic, political and regulatory conditions. Portions of the allowance may be allocated for specific loans; however, the allowance is available for any loan that is charged off. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to earnings and by recoveries of amounts previously charged off, and is reduced by charge-offs on loans (or portions thereof) deemed to be uncollectible. Loan charge-offs are recognized when management believes the collectability of the principal balance outstanding is unlikely. Full or partial charge-offs on collateral dependent impaired loans are generally recognized when the collateral is deemed to be insufficient to support the carrying value of the loan.
The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level sufficient to provide for probable credit losses based upon evaluating known and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. The allowance is provided based upon management's continuing analysis of the pertinent factors underlying the quality of the loan portfolio. These factors include changes in the size and composition of the loan portfolio, delinquency levels, actual loan loss experience, current economic conditions, and detailed analysis of individual loans for which full collectability may not be assured. The detailed analysis includes techniques to estimate the fair value of

70


loan collateral and the existence of potential alternative sources of repayment. The allowance consists of specific, general, and unallocated components.
The Company considers installment loans to be pools of smaller balance, homogenous loans that are collectively evaluated for impairment, unless such loans are subject to a TDR agreement.
For such loans that are also classified as impaired, a specific component within the allowance is established when the discounted cash flows (or collateral value or observable market price) of the impaired loan are lower than the carrying value of that loan. The general component covers non-impaired loans and is based upon historical loss experience adjusted for qualitative factors.
An unallocated component is maintained to cover uncertainties that could affect management's estimate of probable losses. The unallocated component of the allowance reflects the margin of imprecision inherent in the underlying assumptions used in the methodologies for estimating specific and general losses in the portfolio.
The appropriateness of the allowance for loan losses is estimated based upon those factors and trends identified by management at the time consolidated financial statements are prepared. When available information confirms that specific loans or portions thereof are uncollectible, identified amounts are charged against the allowance for loan losses.
The existence of some or all of the following criteria will generally confirm that a loss has been incurred: the loan is significantly delinquent and the borrower has not demonstrated the ability or intent to bring the loan current; the Company has no recourse to the borrower, or if it does, the borrower has insufficient assets to pay the debt; the estimated fair value of the loan collateral is significantly below the current loan balance, and there is little or no near-term prospect for improvement.
The ultimate recovery of all loans is susceptible to future market factors beyond the Company's control. These factors may result in losses or recoveries differing significantly from those provided in the consolidated financial statements.
Transfers of financial assets – Transfers of an entire financial asset, or a participating interest in an entire financial asset, are accounted for as sales when control over the assets has been surrendered. Control over transferred assets is deemed to be surrendered when: (1) a group of financial assets or a participating interest in an entire financial asset has been isolated from the Company, (2) the transferee obtains the right (free of conditions that constrain it from taking advantage of that right) to pledge or exchange the transferred assets, and (3) the Company does not maintain effective control over the transferred assets through an agreement to repurchase them before their maturity.
Mortgage servicing rights ("MSR") – Mortgage servicing rights represent the value associated with servicing residential mortgage loans, when the mortgage loans have been sold into the secondary market and the related servicing has been retained by the Company. The Company may also purchase mortgage servicing rights. The value is determined through a discounted cash flow analysis, which uses interest rates, prepayment speeds and delinquency rate assumptions as inputs. All of these assumptions require a significant degree of management judgment. The Company measures its mortgage servicing assets at fair value and reports changes in fair value through earnings under the caption mortgage banking revenue in the period in which the change occurs.
Premises and equipment – Premises, leasehold improvements and furniture and equipment are carried at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Furniture and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from 1 to 10 years. The cost of leasehold improvements is amortized using the straight-line method over the terms of the related leases. The cost of premises is amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the building, up to 39 years. Management reviews premises, leasehold improvements and furniture and equipment for impairment on an annual basis.
Bank-owned life insurance, net – The carrying amount of bank owned life insurance approximates its fair value, and is estimated using the cash surrender value, net of any surrender charges.
Federal Home Loan Bank stock – The Company is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines ("FHLB"). FHLB stock represents the Company's investment in the FHLB and is carried at par value, which reasonably approximates its fair value. As a member of the FHLB, the Company is required to maintain a minimum level of investment in FHLB stock based on specific percentages of its outstanding mortgages, total assets, or FHLB advances. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company's minimum required investment in FHLB stock was $1.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively. Typically, the Company may request redemption at par value of any stock in excess of the minimum required investment. Stock redemptions are at the discretion of the FHLB.

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Other real estate owned and repossessed assets – OREO and repossessed assets represent real estate and other assets which the Company has taken control of in partial or full satisfaction of loans. At the time of foreclosure, OREO and repossessed assets are recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell, which becomes the new basis. Any write-downs based on the asset's fair value at the date of acquisition are charged to the allowance for loan and lease losses. After foreclosure, management periodically performs valuations such that the property is carried at the lower of its new cost basis or fair value, net of estimated costs to sell. Revenue and expenses from operations and subsequent adjustments to the carrying amount of the property are included in other noninterest expense in the consolidated statements of income.
In some instances, the Company may make loans to facilitate the sales of OREO. Management reviews all sales for which it is the lending institution. Any gains related to sales of other real estate owned may be deferred until the buyer has a sufficient investment in the property.
Leases We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and operating lease liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. ROU assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are recognized at commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we generally use our incremental borrowing rate based on the estimated rate of interest for collateralized borrowing over a similar term of the lease payments at commencement date. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Additionally, for equipment leases, we apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.

Income Taxes – Income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. Under this method a deferred tax asset or liability is determined based on the enacted tax rates which will be in effect when the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of existing assets and liabilities are expected to be reported in the Company's income tax returns. The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are established to reduce the net carrying amount of deferred tax assets if it is determined to be more likely than not, that all or some portion of the potential deferred tax asset will not be realized.
Segment reporting – The Company operates in one segment and makes management decisions based on consolidated results. The Company's operations are solely in the financial services industry and include providing to its clients traditional banking and other financial services.
Off-balance-sheet credit-related financial instruments – In the normal course of operations, the Company engages in a variety of financial transactions that are not recorded in our financial statements. These transactions involve varying degrees of off-balance sheet credit, interest rate and liquidity risks. These transactions are used primarily to manage customers' requests for funding and take the form of loan commitments, letters of credit and lines of credit. Such financial instruments are recorded when they are funded.
Advertising costs – The Company expenses advertising costs as they are incurred. Advertising costs, including other marketing expenses were $376,000 and $244,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Comprehensive income – Accounting principles generally require that recognized revenue, expenses, gains, and losses be included in net income. Certain changes in assets and liabilities, such as unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale investments, are reported as a separate component of the equity section of the consolidated balance sheets, net of tax. Such items, along with net income, are components of comprehensive income.
Intangible assets – At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had $158,000 and $209,000, respectively, of identifiable intangible assets included in other assets as a result of the acquisition of deposits from other institutions. These assets are amortized using the straight-line method over a period of 8-10 years and have a remaining weighted average life of 5.2 years. Management reviews intangible assets for impairment on an annual basis. No impairment losses have been recognized in the periods presented.
Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) – The Company sponsors a leveraged ESOP. As shares are committed to be released, compensation expense is recorded equal to the market price of the shares, and the shares become outstanding for purposes of earnings per share calculations. Cash dividends on allocated shares (those credited to ESOP participants' accounts) are recorded as a reduction of stockholders' equity and distributed directly to participants' accounts. Cash dividends on unallocated shares

72


(those held by the ESOP not yet credited to participants' accounts) are used to pay administrative expenses and debt service requirements of the ESOP. See Note 13 – Employee Benefits for further information. At December 31, 2019, there were 22,680 unallocated shares in the plan. Shares released on December 31, 2019 totaled 11,340 and will be credited to plan participants' accounts in 2020.
Unearned ESOP shares are shown as a reduction of stockholders' equity. When the shares are released, unearned common shares held by the ESOP are reduced by the cost of the ESOP shares released and the differential between the fair value and the cost is charged to additional paid in capital. The loan receivable from the ESOP to the Company is not reported as an asset nor is the debt of the ESOP reported as a liability on the Company's consolidated statements of condition.
Earnings Per Common Share – Earnings per share ("EPS") is computed using the two-class method. Basic EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common shares by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, excluding any participating securities. Participating securities include unvested restricted shares. Unvested restricted shares are considered participating securities because holders of these securities receive non-forfeitable dividends at the same rate as the holders of the Company's common stock. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders adjusted for reallocation of undistributed earnings of unvested restricted shares by the weighted average number of common shares determined for the basic EPS plus the dilutive effect of common stock equivalents using the treasury stock method based on the average market price for the period. Some stock options are anti-dilutive and therefore are not included in the calculation of diluted EPS.
Fair value – Fair value is the price that would be received when an asset is sold or a liability is transferred in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
Fair values of the Company's financial instruments are based on the fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, typically market data obtained from third parties, and minimize the use of unobservable inputs, which reflects its estimates for market assumptions, when measuring fair value.
Three levels of valuation inputs are ranked in accordance with the prescribed fair value hierarchy as follows:
Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2: Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
Level 3: Assets or liabilities whose significant value drivers are unobservable.
In determining the appropriate levels, the Company performs a detailed analysis of the assets and liabilities that are subject to fair value measurements. In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value of an asset or liability may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. The level within which the fair value measurement is categorized is based on the lowest level unobservable input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. Therefore, an item may be classified in Level 3 even though there may be some significant inputs that are readily observable.
Share-Based Compensation – The Company measures the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant date fair value of the award. These costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period during which an employee is required to provide services in exchange for the award, also known as the requisite service period. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted. When determining the estimated fair value of stock options granted, the Company utilizes various assumptions regarding the expected volatility of the stock price, estimated forfeitures using historical data on employee terminations, the risk-free interest rate for periods within the contractual life of the stock option, and the expected dividend yield that the Company expects over the expected life of the options granted. Reductions in compensation expense associated with forfeited options are estimated at the date of grant, and this estimated forfeiture rate is adjusted monthly based on actual forfeiture experience. The Company measures the fair value of the restricted stock using the closing market price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. The Company expenses the grant date fair value of the Company's stock options and restricted stock with a corresponding increase in equity.
Reclassifications – Certain amounts reported in prior years' consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. The results of the reclassifications are not considered material and have no effect on previously reported net income, earnings per share or stockholders' equity.

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Note 2 – Accounting Pronouncements Recently Issued or Adopted
In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12). This ASU simplifies the accounting for income taxes by removing the exception to the incremental approach for intra-period tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items, removing the requirement to recognize a deferred tax liability for equity method investments when a foreign subsidiary becomes an equity method investment, and removing the general methodology for calculating income taxes in an interim period when a year-to-date loss exceeds the anticipated loss for the year. This ASU is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2019-12 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General (Subtopic 715-20): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This ASU modifies disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. Disclosure requirements removed from FASB Subtopic 715-20 include the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year, the amount and timing of plan assets expected to be returned to the employer, related party disclosures about the amount of future annual benefits covered by insurance and annuity contracts and significant transactions between the employer or related parties and the plan, and, for public entities, the effects of a one-percentage-point change in assumed health care cost trend rates on the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic benefit costs and benefit obligation for postretirement health care benefits. Disclosure requirements added to FASB Subtopic 715-20 include the weighted-average interest crediting rates for cash balance plans and other plans with promised interest crediting rates, and an explanation of the reasons for significant gains and losses related to changes in the benefit obligation for the period. This ASU is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2018-14 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement: Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement . This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements by removing the amount of and reasons for transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the policy for timing of transfers between levels, and the valuation processes for Level 3 fair value measurements. This ASU clarifies that the measurement uncertainty disclosure is to communicate information about the uncertainty in measurement as of the reporting date. The ASU adds disclosure requirements for Level 3 measurements, including changes in unrealized gains and losses for the period included in other comprehensive income for the recurring Level 3 fair value measurements held at the end of the reporting period, and the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements.  Amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for any removed or modified disclosures. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU amends the accounting for share-based payments awards to nonemployees to align with the accounting for employee awards. Under the new guidance, the existing employee guidance will apply to nonemployee share-based transactions (as long as the transaction is not effectively a form of financing), with the exception of specific guidance related to the attribution of compensation cost. The cost of nonemployee awards will continue to be recorded as if the grantor had paid cash for the goods or services. In addition, the contractual term will be able to be used in lieu of an expected term in the option-pricing model for nonemployee awards. Amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2018-07 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This ASU amends the hedge accounting recognition and presentation requirements in ASC

74


815 to improve the transparency and understandability of information conveyed to financial statement users about an entity's risk management activities by better aligning the entity's financial reporting for hedging relationships with those risk management activities and reduce the complexity of and simplify the application of hedge accounting by preparers. The amendments in this ASU permit hedge accounting for hedging relationships involving nonfinancial risk and interest rate risk by removing certain limitations in cash flow and fair value hedging relationships. In addition, the ASU requires an entity to present the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-12 on January 1, 2019, did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-08, Receivables-Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20). ASU 2017-08 is intended to amend the amortization period for certain purchased callable debt securities held at a premium. Under ASU 2017-08, the FASB is shortening the amortization period for the premium to the earliest call date. ASU 2017-08 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2018. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-08 on January 1, 2019 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, or ASU 2017-04, which eliminates Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 also eliminates the requirements for any reporting unit with a zero or negative carrying amount to perform a qualitative assessment and, if it fails that qualitative test, to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. Adoption of ASU 2017-04 is required for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company does not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-04 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. This ASU replaces the existing incurred loss impairment methodology that recognizes credit losses when a probable loss has been incurred with new methodology where loss estimates are based upon lifetime expected credit losses. The amendments in this ASU require a financial asset that is measured at amortized cost to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected. The income statement would then reflect the measurement of credit losses for newly recognized financial assets as well as changes to the expected credit losses that have taken place during the reporting period. The change in allowance recognized as a result of adoption will occur through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the ASU is adopted. The FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses (Topic 326), delaying implementation of ASU 2016-13 for SEC smaller reporting company filers until fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2022. The Bank meets the requirements of a smaller reporting company and will delay implementation of ASU 2016-13.

In February 2016, FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). ASU No. 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize, on the balance sheet, the assets and liabilities arising from operating leases. A lessee should recognize a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. A lessee should include payments to be made in an optional period only if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. For a finance lease, interest payments should be recognized separately from amortization of the right-of-use asset in the statement of comprehensive income. For operating leases, the lease cost should be allocated over the lease term on a generally straight-line basis. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), Targeted Improvements. This ASU amended the new leases standard to give entities another option for transition and to provide lessors with a practical expedient. The transition option allows entities to not apply the new leases standard in the comparative periods they present in their financial statements in the year of adoption. The practical expedient provides lessors with an option to not separate non-lease components from the associated lease components when certain criteria are met and requires them to account for the combined component in accordance with the new revenue standard if the associated non-lease components are the predominant components. The Company adopted these ASUs on January 1, 2019. In March 2019, FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842), Codification Improvements. The amendments in this ASU include determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers, requiring cash received from lessors from sales-type and direct financing leases to be presented in the cash flow statement within investing activities, and clarifying interim disclosure requirements. The effective date and transition requirements for the first and second items of this ASU are effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2019 and early

75


adoption is permitted. We have adopted the third item of this ASU and provided the required annual disclosures in this report.  Refer to Note 20 - Leases for further information.

Note 3 – Restricted Cash
Federal Reserve Board regulations require that the Company maintain certain minimum reserve balances either as cash on hand or on deposit with the Federal Reserve Bank, based on a percentage of deposits. The reserve balances were $12.4 million and $13.8 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Note 4 – Investments
The amortized cost and fair value of AFS securities and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized Losses
 
Estimated
Fair Value
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal bonds
$
3,197

 
$
173

 
$

 
$
3,370

Agency mortgage-backed securities
5,888

 
56

 
(8
)
 
5,936

Total
$
9,085

 
$
229

 
$
(8
)
 
$
9,306

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Municipal bonds
$
3,218

 
$
122

 
$
(23
)
 
$
3,317

Agency mortgage-backed securities
1,594

 
46

 

 
1,640

Total
$
4,812

 
$
168

 
$
(23
)
 
$
4,957

The amortized cost and fair value of AFS securities at December 31, 2019, by contractual maturity, are shown below (in thousands). Expected maturities of AFS securities may differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Investments not due at a single maturity date, primarily mortgage-backed securities, are shown separately.
 
December 31, 2019
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted-Average Yield
Due within one year
$
1,052

 
$
1,053

 
1.55
%
Due in one to five years
492

 
505

 
2.83

Due after five to ten years
459

 
496

 
4.77

Due after ten years
1,194

 
1,315

 
5.43

Mortgage-backed securities
5,888

 
5,937

 
3.07

Total
$
9,085

 
$
9,306

 
3.28
%
There were no pledged securities at December 31, 2019 and 2018. There were no sales of AFS securities during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.

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The following tables summarize the aggregate fair value and gross unrealized loss by length of time of those investments that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
Agency mortgage-backed securities
$
3,387

 
(8
)
 

 

 
3,387

 
(8
)
Total
$
3,387

 
$
(8
)
 
$

 
$

 
$
3,387

 
$
(8
)
 
December 31, 2018
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or Longer
 
Total
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Fair
Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
Municipal bonds
$

 
$

 
$
1,283

 
$
(23
)
 
$
1,283

 
$
(23
)
Total
$

 
$

 
$
1,283

 
$
(23
)
 
$
1,283

 
$
(23
)
There were no credit losses recognized in earnings during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 relating to the Company's securities.
At December 31, 2019, the securities portfolio consisted of 13 agency mortgage-backed securities and eight municipal securities with a fair value of $9.3 million. At December 31, 2018, the securities portfolio consisted of six agency mortgage-backed securities and eight municipal bonds with a fair value of $5.0 million. At December 31, 2019, there were five agency securities in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months, and there were no securities in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. At December 31, 2018, there were no securities in an unrealized loss position for less than 12 months, and there were three municipal securities in an unrealized loss position for more than 12 months. For both the 2019 and 2018 periods, the unrealized losses were caused by changes in market interest rates or the widening of market spreads subsequent to the initial purchase of these securities, and not related to the underlying credit of the issuers or the underlying collateral. It is expected that these securities will not be settled at a price less than the amortized cost of each investment. The unrealized losses on these investments are not considered other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, because the decline in fair value is not attributable to credit quality and because we do not intend, and it is not likely that we will be required, to sell these securities before recovery of their amortized cost basis

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Note 5 – Loans
The composition of the loan portfolio, excluding loans held-for-sale, at December 31, 2019 and 2018 is as follows (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
One-to-four family
$
149,393

 
$
169,830

Home equity
23,845

 
27,655

Commercial and multifamily
261,268

 
252,644

Construction and land
75,756

 
65,259

Total real estate loans
510,262

 
515,388

Consumer loans:
 
 
 
Manufactured homes
20,613

 
20,145

Floating homes
43,799

 
40,806

Other consumer
8,302

 
6,628

Total consumer loans
72,714

 
67,579

Commercial business loans
38,931

 
38,804

Total loans
621,907

 
621,771

Deferred fees
(2,020
)
 
(2,228
)
Total loans, gross
619,887

 
619,543

Allowance for loan losses
(5,640
)
 
(5,774
)
Total loans, net
$
614,247

 
$
613,769

The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the unpaid principal balance in loans, net of partial charge-offs by portfolio segment and based on impairment method as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
Allowance: Individually evaluated for impairment
 
Allowance: Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
Ending balance
 
Loans held for investment: Individually evaluated for impairment
 
Loans held for investment: Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
Ending balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
$
205

 
$
915

 
$
1,120

 
$
8,620

 
$
140,773

 
$
149,393

Home equity
25

 
153

 
178

 
335

 
23,510

 
23,845

Commercial and multifamily

 
1,696

 
1,696

 
353

 
260,915

 
261,268

Construction and land
7

 
485

 
492

 
1,215

 
74,541

 
75,756

Manufactured homes
349

 
131

 
480

 
440

 
20,173

 
20,613

Floating homes

 
283

 
283

 
290

 
43,509

 
43,799

Other consumer
54

 
58

 
112

 
143

 
8,159

 
8,302

Commercial business
84

 
247

 
331

 
997

 
37,934

 
38,931

Unallocated

 
948

 
948

 

 

 

Total
$
724

 
$
4,916


$
5,640

 
$
12,393

 
$
609,514

 
$
621,907


78



The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the unpaid principal balance in loans, net of partial charge-offs by portfolio segment and based on impairment method as of December 31, 2018 (in thousands):
 
Allowance: Individually evaluated for impairment
 
Allowance: Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
Ending balance
 
Loans held for investment: Individually evaluated for impairment
 
Loans held for investment: Collectively evaluated for impairment
 
Ending balance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
One-to-four family
$
228

 
$
1,086

 
$
1,314

 
$
2,760

 
$
167,070

 
$
169,830

Home equity
25

 
177

 
202

 
440

 
27,215

 
27,655

Commercial and multifamily

 
1,638

 
1,638

 
702

 
251,942

 
252,644

Construction and land
8

 
423

 
431

 
163

 
65,096

 
65,259

Manufactured homes
299

 
128

 
427

 
424

 
19,721

 
20,145

Floating homes

 
265

 
265

 

 
40,806

 
40,806

Other consumer
64

 
48

 
112

 
157

 
6,471

 
6,628

Commercial business
112

 
244

 
356

 
1,192

 
37,612

 
38,804

Unallocated

 
1,029

 
1,029

 

 

 

Total
$
736

 
$
5,038

 
$
5,774

 
$
5,838

 
$
615,933

 
$
621,771


The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
 
Beginning
Allowance
 
Charge-offs
 
Recoveries
 
(Recapture)/ Provision
 
Ending
Allowance
One-to-four family
$
1,314

 
$

 
$
6

 
$
(200
)
 
$
1,120

Home equity
202

 

 
10

 
(34
)
 
178

Commercial and multifamily
1,638

 

 

 
58

 
1,696

Construction and land
431

 

 

 
61

 
492

Manufactured homes
427

 

 

 
53

 
480

Floating homes
265

 

 

 
18

 
283

Other consumer
112

 
(52
)
 
24

 
28

 
112

Commercial business
356

 

 
3

 
(28
)
 
331

Unallocated
1,029

 

 

 
(81
)
 
948

 
$
5,774

 
$
(52
)
 
$
43

 
$
(125
)
 
$
5,640


79


The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the year ended December 31, 2018 (in thousands):
 
Beginning
Allowance
 
Charge-offs
 
Recoveries
 
(Recapture)/ Provision
 
Ending
Allowance
One-to-four family
$
1,436

 
$

 
$
1

 
$
(123
)
 
$
1,314

Home equity
293

 
(7
)
 
44

 
(128
)
 
202

Commercial and multifamily
1,250

 

 

 
388

 
1,638

Construction and land
378

 

 

 
53

 
431

Manufactured homes
355

 
(12
)
 

 
84

 
427

Floating homes
169

 

 

 
96

 
265

Other consumer
80

 
(31
)
 
12

 
51

 
112

Commercial business
372

 

 
1

 
(17
)
 
356

Unallocated
908

 

 

 
121

 
1,029

 
$
5,241

 
$
(50
)
 
$
58

 
$
525

 
$
5,774

Credit Quality Indicators. Federal regulations provide for the classification of lower quality loans as substandard, doubtful or loss. A loan is considered substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current net worth and pay capacity of the borrower or of any collateral pledged. Substandard loans include those characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses of currently existing facts, conditions and values. Loans classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets without establishment of a specific loss reserve is not warranted.
When the Company classifies problem loans as either substandard or doubtful, it may establish a specific allowance in an amount it deems prudent to address the risk specifically (if the loan is impaired) or it may allow the loss to be addressed in the general allowance (if the loan is not impaired). General allowances represent loss reserves which have been established to recognize the inherent risk associated with lending activities, but which, unlike specific allowances, have not been specifically allocated to particular problem assets. When the Company classifies problem loans as a loss, it charges off such loans in the period in which they are deemed uncollectible. Loans that do not currently expose the Company to sufficient risk to warrant classification as substandard or doubtful but possess identified weaknesses are classified as either watch or special mention loans. The Company's determination as the classification of its loans and the amount of its valuation allowances is subject to review by the FDIC, which can order the establishment of additional loss allowances. Pass rated loans are loans that are not otherwise classified or criticized.
The following table represents the internally assigned grades as of December 31, 2019, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
One-to-four
family
 
Home
equity
 
Commercial
and multifamily
 
Construction
and land
 
Manufactured
homes
 
Floating
homes
 
Other
consumer
 
Commercial
business
 
Total
Grade:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
138,900

 
$
23,206

 
$
256,139

 
$
68,268

 
$
20,204

 
$
43,509

 
$
8,250

 
$
35,347

 
$
593,823

Watch

 

 
217

 
2,634

 
124

 

 

 
378

 
3,353

Special Mention
2,484

 

 
2,178

 
3,677

 

 

 

 
1,649

 
9,988

Substandard
8,009

 
639

 
2,734

 
1,177

 
285

 
290

 
52

 
1,557

 
14,743

Doubtful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
149,393

 
$
23,845

 
$
261,268

 
$
75,756

 
$
20,613

 
$
43,799

 
$
8,302

 
$
38,931

 
$
621,907


80


The following table represents the internally assigned grades as of December 31, 2018, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
One-to-four
family
 
Home
equity
 
Commercial
and multifamily
 
Construction
and land
 
Manufactured
homes
 
Floating
homes
 
Other
consumer
 
Commercial
business
 
Total
Grade:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pass
$
163,655

 
$
27,150

 
$
246,907

 
$
55,916

 
$
19,860

 
$
40,806

 
$
6,576

 
$
35,876

 
$
596,746

Watch

 

 
1,139

 
5,968

 

 

 

 
689

 
7,796

Special Mention

 

 
2,497

 
3,252

 

 

 

 
367

 
6,116

Substandard
6,175

 
505

 
2,101

 
123

 
285

 

 
52

 
1,872

 
11,113

Doubtful

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total
$
169,830

 
$
27,655

 
$
252,644

 
$
65,259

 
$
20,145

 
$
40,806

 
$
6,628

 
$
38,804

 
$
621,771

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 automatically placed on nonaccrual once the loan is 90 days past due or if, in management's opinion, the borrower may be unable to meet payment of obligations as they become due, as well as when required by regulatory provisions.

81


The following table presents the recorded investment in nonaccrual loans as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
2019
 
2018
One-to-four family
$
2,090

 
$
1,075

Home equity
261

 
360

Commercial and multifamily
353

 
534

Construction and land
1,177

 
123

Manufactured homes
226

 
214

Floating homes
290

 

Commercial business
260

 
235

Total
$
4,657

 
$
2,541


The following table represents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of December 31, 2019, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Greater than 90
Days Past Due
 
Recorded Investment
> 90 Days and Accruing
 
Total
Past Due
 
Current
 
Total
Loans
One-to-four family
$
789

 
$
105

 
$
1,810

 
$

 
$
2,704

 
$
146,689

 
$
149,393

Home equity
81

 
161

 
197

 

 
439

 
23,406

 
23,845

Commercial and multifamily
1,742

 

 
353

 

 
2,095

 
259,173

 
261,268

Construction and land
3,340

 
1,100

 
50

 

 
4,490

 
71,266

 
75,756

Manufactured homes
324

 
43

 
125

 

 
492

 
20,121

 
20,613

Floating homes
297

 
250

 
290

 

 
837

 
42,962

 
43,799

Other consumer
19

 
2

 

 

 
21

 
8,281

 
8,302

Commercial business
226

 

 
162

 

 
388

 
38,543

 
38,931

Total
$
6,818

 
$
1,661

 
$
2,987

 
$

 
$
11,466

 
$
610,441

 
$
621,907












82


The following table represents the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of December 31, 2018, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
Greater Than 90
Days Past Due
 
Recorded Investment
> 90 Days and Accruing
 
Total
Past Due
 
Current
 
Total
Loans
One-to-four family
$
1,362

 
$
167

 
$
514

 
$

 
$
2,043

 
$
167,787

 
$
169,830

Home equity
298

 
149

 
284

 

 
731

 
26,924

 
27,655

Commercial and multifamily
139

 

 
353

 

 
492

 
252,152

 
252,644

Construction and land
650

 

 
50

 

 
700

 
64,559

 
65,259

Manufactured homes
78

 
129

 
199

 

 
406

 
19,739

 
20,145

Floating homes

 

 

 

 

 
40,806

 
40,806

Other consumer
11

 
5

 

 

 
16

 
6,612

 
6,628

Commercial business
228

 
177

 
122

 

 
527

 
38,277

 
38,804

Total
$
2,766

 
$
627

 
$
1,522

 
$

 
$
4,915

 
$
616,856

 
$
621,771

Nonperforming Loans. Loans are considered nonperforming when they are placed on nonaccrual.
The following table represents the credit risk profile based on payment activity as of December 31, 2019, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
One-to-four
family
 
Home
equity
 
Commercial
and multifamily
 
Construction
and land
 
Manufactured
homes
 
Floating
homes
 
Other
consumer
 
Commercial
business
 
Total
Performing
$
147,303

 
$
23,584

 
$
260,915

 
$
74,579

 
$
20,387

 
$
43,509

 
$
8,302

 
$
38,671

 
$
617,250

Nonperforming
2,090

 
261

 
353

 
1,177

 
226

 
290

 

 
260

 
4,657

Total
$
149,393

 
$
23,845

 
$
261,268

 
$
75,756

 
$
20,613

 
$
43,799

 
$
8,302

 
$
38,931

 
$
621,907


The following table represents the credit risk profile based on payment activity as of December 31, 2018, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
One-to-four
family
 
Home
equity
 
Commercial
and multifamily
 
Construction
and land
 
Manufactured
homes
 
Floating
homes
 
Other
consumer
 
Commercial
business
 
Total
Performing
$
168,755

 
$
27,295

 
$
252,110

 
$
65,136

 
$
19,931

 
$
40,806

 
$
6,628

 
$
38,569

 
$
619,230

Nonperforming
1,075

 
360

 
534

 
123

 
214

 

 

 
235

 
2,541

Total
$
169,830

 
$
27,655

 
$
252,644

 
$
65,259

 
$
20,145

 
$
40,806

 
$
6,628

 
$
38,804

 
$
621,771

Impaired Loans. A loan is considered impaired when the Company has determined that it may be unable to collect payments of principal or interest when due under the terms of the loan. In the process of identifying loans as impaired, the Company takes into consideration factors which include payment history and status, collateral value, financial condition of the borrower, and the probability of collecting scheduled payments in the future. Minor payment delays and insignificant payment shortfalls typically do not result in a loan being classified as impaired. The significance of payment delays and shortfalls is considered on a case by case basis, after taking into consideration the totality of circumstances surrounding the loans and the borrowers, including payment history and amounts of any payment shortfall, length and reason for delay, and likelihood of return to stable performance. Impairment is measured on a loan by loan basis for all loans in the portfolio. All TDRs are also classified as impaired loans and are included in the loans individually evaluated for impairment in the calculation of the allowance for loan losses.

83


Impaired loans at December 31, 2019 and 2018, by type of loan were as follows (in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
 
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Without
Allowance
 
With
Allowance
 
Total
Recorded
Investment
 
Related
Allowance
One-to-four family
$
8,748

 
$
7,236

 
$
1,384

 
$
8,620

 
$
205

Home equity
335

 
256

 
79

 
335

 
25

Commercial and multifamily
353

 
353

 

 
353

 

Construction and land
1,215

 
1,177

 
38

 
1,215

 
7

Manufactured homes
445

 
46

 
394

 
440

 
349

Floating homes
290

 
290

 

 
290

 

Other consumer
143

 

 
143

 
143

 
54

Commercial business
997

 
714

 
283

 
997

 
84

Total
$
12,526

 
$
10,072

 
$
2,321

 
$
12,393

 
$
724

 
December 31, 2018
 
 
 
Recorded Investment
 
 
 
Unpaid Principal
Balance
 
Without
Allowance
 
With
Allowance
 
Total
Recorded
Investment
 
Related
Allowance
One-to-four family
$
2,894

 
$
1,085

 
$
1,675

 
$
2,760

 
$
228

Home equity
520

 
359

 
81

 
440

 
25

Commercial and multifamily
702

 
702

 

 
702

 

Construction and land
163

 
123

 
40

 
163

 
8

Manufactured homes
430

 

 
424

 
424

 
299

Other consumer
156

 

 
157

 
157

 
64

Commercial business
1,192

 
659

 
533

 
1,192

 
112

Total
$
6,057

 
$
2,928

 
$
2,910

 
$
5,838

 
$
736

The following table provides the average recorded investment and interest income on impaired loans for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, by type of loan (in thousands):
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2019
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2018
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest Income
Recognized
One-to-four family
$
4,788

 
$
280

 
$
4,704

 
$
214

Home equity
1,109

 
19

 
740

 
29

Commercial and multifamily
888

 
19

 
2,564

 
140

Construction and land
462

 
156

 
726

 
95

Manufactured homes
456

 
39

 
414

 
35

Floating homes
58

 
16

 

 

Other consumer
155

 
8

 
169

 
9

Commercial business
1,082

 
56

 
1,854

 
140

Total
$
8,998

 
$
593

 
$
11,171

 
$
662


84


Forgone interest on nonaccrual loans was $370,000 and $172,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. There were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose loans were classified as nonaccrual, TDR or impaired at December 31, 2019 and 2018.
Troubled debt restructurings. Loans classified as TDRs totaled $7.9 million and $2.8 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and are included in impaired loans.  A TDR is a loan to a borrower that is experiencing financial difficulty that has been modified from its original terms and conditions in such a way that the Company is granting the borrower a concession of some kind. The Company has granted, in its TDRs, a variety of concessions to borrowers in the form of loan modifications.  The modifications granted can generally be described in the following categories:
Rate Modification: A modification in which the interest rate is changed.
Term Modification: A modification in which the maturity date, timing of payments or frequency of payments is changed.
Payment Modifications: A modification in which the dollar amount of the payment is changed.  Interest only modifications in which a loan is converted to interest only payments for a period of time are included in this category.
Combination Modification: Any other type of modification, including the use of multiple categories above.
There were eight loans totaling $5.7 million, that were modified as a TDR during the year ended December 31, 2019. The following TDR loans were paid off during the year ended December 31, 2019three one-to-four family residential loans totaling $262,000 and three home equity loans totaling $165,000, one manufactured home loan totaling $19,000 and one land loan totaling $4,000.
There was one TDR totaling $49,000 for which there was a payment default within the first 12 months of modification during the year ended December 31, 2019. There were three TDRs totaling $362,000 for which there was a payment default within the first 12 months of modification during the year ended December 31, 2018.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company makes loans to its employees, officers and directors.  Certain loans to employees, officers and directors are offered at discounted rates as compared to other clients as permitted by federal regulations. Employees, officers, and directors are eligible for mortgage loans with an adjustable rate that resets annually to 1.0% - 1.5% over the rolling cost of funds. Employees, officers and directors are also eligible for consumer loans that are 1.0% below the market loan rate at the time of origination. Director and officer loans are summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Balance, beginning of period
$
3,370

 
$
4,012

Advances
88

 
291

New / (reclassified) loans, net (1)
515

 
(526
)
Repayments
(748
)
 
(407
)
Balance, end of period
$
3,225

 
$
3,370

(1) Reclassified loans relate to changes in related parties during the year.
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, loans totaling $19.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively, represented real estate secured loans that had current loan-to-value ratios above supervisory guidelines.

Note 6 – Mortgage Servicing Rights
The Company’s mortgage servicing rights portfolio totaled $377.3 million at December 31, 2019, compared to $378.7 million at December 31, 2018. Of this total balance, the unpaid principal balance of loans serviced for Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $363.3 million and $376.5 million, respectively. The unpaid principal balances of loans serviced for other financial institutions at December 31, 2019 and 2018, totaled $14.0 million and $2.2 million, respectively. Loans serviced for Fannie Mae and others are not included in the Company’s financial statements as they are not assets of the Company. 

85


A summary of the change in the balance of mortgage servicing assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Beginning balance, at fair value
$
3,414

 
$
3,426

Servicing rights that result from transfers and sale of financial assets
585

 
481

Changes in fair value:
 
 
 
Due to changes in model inputs or assumptions(1)
(760
)
 
(493
)
Ending balance, at fair value
$
3,239

 
$
3,414

(1) Represents changes due to collection/realization of expected cash flows and curtailments.

The key economic assumptions used in determining the fair value of mortgage servicing rights at the dates indicated are as follows:
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Prepayment speed (Public Securities Association "PSA" model)
187
%
 
123
%
Weighted-average life
6.2 years

 
7.7 years

Yield to maturity discount rate
12.5
%
 
12.5
%
The amount of contractually specified servicing, late and ancillary fees earned on the mortgage servicing rights are included in
mortgage servicing income on the Consolidated Statements of Income and totaled $1.0 million and $1.1 million, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Note 7 – Premises and Equipment
Premises and equipment at December 31, 2019 and 2018 are summarized as follows (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Land
$
920

 
$
920

Buildings and improvements
7,067

 
6,393

Furniture and equipment
5,163

 
5,203

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
(6,383
)
 
(5,472
)
Premises and equipment, net
$
6,767

 
$
7,044

Depreciation and amortization expense was $931,000 and $989,000, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company leases office space in several buildings. Generally, operating leases contain renewal options and provisions requiring the Company to pay property taxes and operating expenses over base period amounts. All rental payments are dependent only upon the lapse of time.
 
The total rental expense for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 for all facilities leased under operating leases was approximately $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

86


Note 8 – Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessed Assets
The following table presents activity related to OREO and other repossessed assets for the periods shown (in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Beginning balance
$
575

 
$
610

Additions to OREO and repossessed assets
494

 
55

Sales
(473
)
 
(16
)
Write-downs/Losses
(21
)
 
(74
)
 
$
575

 
$
575


Note 9 – Deposits
A summary of deposit accounts with the corresponding weighted average cost of funds at December 31, 2019 and 2018, are presented below (dollars in thousands):
 
As of December 31, 2019
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
Deposit
Balance
 
Wtd. Avg
Rate
 
Deposit
Balance
 
Wtd. Avg
Rate
Noninterest-bearing demand
$
94,973

 
%
 
$
93,823

 
%
Interest-bearing demand
159,774

 
0.54

 
164,919

 
0.47

Savings
57,936

 
0.33

 
54,102

 
0.29

Money market
50,337

 
0.49

 
46,689

 
0.24

Certificates
251,387

 
2.23

 
191,825

 
1.58

Escrow (1)
2,311

 

 
2,243

 

Total
$
616,718

 
1.16
%
 
$
553,601

 
0.71
%
(1)
Escrow balances shown in noninterest-bearing deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Scheduled maturities of time deposits at December 31, 2019, are as follows (in thousands):
Year Ending December 31,
Amount
2020
$
86,566

2021
134,104

2022
8,964

2023
20,124

Thereafter
1,629

 
$
251,387

Savings, demand, and money market accounts have no contractual maturity. Certificates of deposit have maturities of five years or less.
The aggregate amount of time deposits in denominations of more than $250,000 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, was approximately $78.3 million and $52.7 million, respectively. Deposits in excess of $250,000 are not federally insured. There were $8.0 million brokered deposits outstanding at December 31, 2019, compared to no brokered deposits at December 31, 2018.
Deposits from related parties held by the Company were $2.9 million and $2.8 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

87



Note 10 – Borrowings
The Company utilizes a loan agreement with the FHLB. The terms of the agreement call for a blanket pledge of a portion of the Company's mortgage and commercial and multifamily portfolio based on the outstanding balance. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the amount available to borrow under this credit facility was $321.9 million and $321.5 million, respectively, subject to the amount of pledged collateral. At December 31, 2019, the credit facility was collateralized as follows: one- to four- family mortgage loans with an advance equivalent of $111.4 million, commercial and multifamily mortgage loans with an advance equivalent of $126.1 million and home equity loans with an advance equivalent of $6.9 million. At December 31, 2018, the credit facility was collateralized as follows:  one-to-four family mortgage loans with an advance equivalent of $128.4 million, commercial and multifamily mortgage loans with an advance equivalent of $119.8 million and home equity loans with an advance equivalent of $6.3 million.  The Company had outstanding borrowings under this arrangement of $7.5 million and $84.0 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The weighted-average interest rate of the Company's borrowings was 3.05% at December 31, 2019 and was 2.72% at December 31, 2018. Additionally, the Company had outstanding letters of credit from the FHLB of Des Moines with a notional amount of $19.1 million and $14.5 million at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, to secure public deposits. The remaining amount available to borrow as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, was $217.8 million and $156.0 million, respectively. Fixed rate advances of $7.5 million, with a weighted-average interest rate of 3.05% are due within a year.
The maximum amount outstanding from the FHLB under term advances at month-end during 2019 was $72.8 million and during 2018 was $99.5 million. The average balance outstanding was $24.4 million during 2019 and $69.9 million during 2018. The weighted-average interest rate on the borrowings was 3.08% in 2019 and 2.18% in 2018.
As a member of the FHLB system, the Bank is required to maintain a minimum level of investment in the FHLB of Des Moines stock based on specific percentages of its outstanding FHLB advances. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had an investment of $1.2 million and $4.1 million, respectively, in FHLB of Des Moines stock.
The Company participates in the Federal Reserve Bank Borrower-in-Custody program, which gives the Company access to the discount window. The terms of the program call for a pledge of specific assets.  The Company pledges commercial and consumer loans as collateral for this line of credit. The Company had unused borrowing capacity of $41.7 million and $47.3 million and no outstanding borrowings under this program at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company has access to an unsecured Fed Funds line of credit from the Pacific Coast Banker's Bank. The line has a one-year term maturing on June 30, 2020 and is renewable annually. As of December 31, 2019, the amount available under this line of credit was $10.0 million. There was no balance on this line of credit as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company has access to an unsecured Fed Funds line of credit from The Independent Bank.  As of December 31, 2019, the amount available under this line of credit was $10.0 million.  The agreement may be terminated by either party.  There was no balance on this line of credit as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements
The Company determines the fair values of its financial instruments based on the requirements established in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements, which provides a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with U.S. GAAP and requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. ASC 820 defines fair values for financial instruments as the exit price, the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date under current market conditions. The Company’s fair values for financial instruments at December 31, 2019 were determined based on these requirements.

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of other financial instruments:

Cash and cash equivalents - The estimated fair value is equal to the carrying amount.
 
Available-for-Sale Securities - Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices, if available.  If quoted market prices are not available, management utilizes third-party pricing services or broker quotations from

88


dealers in the specific instruments. Level 2 securities include those traded on an active exchange, as well as U.S. government securities.  
 
Loans Held-for-Sale - Residential mortgage loans held-for-sale are recorded at the lower of cost or fair value. The fair value of fixed-rate residential loans is based on whole loan forward prices obtained from government sponsored enterprises. At December 31, 2019 and 2018, loans held-for-sale were carried at cost, as no impairment was required.

Loans Held for Portfolio - The estimated fair value of loans consists of a credit adjustment to reflect the estimated adjustment to the carrying value of the loans due to credit-related factors and a yield adjustment, to reflect the estimated adjustment to the carrying value of the loans due to a differential in yield between the portfolio loan yields and estimated current market rate yields on loans with similar characteristics.
 
Mortgage Servicing Rights -The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is determined through a discounted cash flow analysis, which uses interest rates, prepayment speeds, discount rates, and delinquency rate assumptions as inputs.
 
FHLB stock - The estimated fair value is equal to the par value of the stock.

Non-maturity deposits - The estimated fair value is equal to the carrying amount.

Time deposits - The estimated fair value of time deposits is based on the difference between interest costs paid on the
Company’s time deposits and current market rates for time deposits with comparable characteristics.

Borrowings - The fair value of borrowings are estimated using the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.

A description of the valuation methodologies used for impaired loans and OREO is as follows:
 
Impaired Loans - The fair value of collateral dependent loans is based on the current appraised value of the collateral less estimated costs to sell, or internally developed models utilizing a calculation of expected discounted cash flows which contain management’s assumptions.
 
OREO and Repossessed Assets - The fair value of OREO and repossessed assets is based on the current appraised value of the collateral less estimated costs to sell. 

Off-balance sheet financial instruments - The fair value for the Company's off-balance sheet loan commitments are estimated based on fees charged to others to enter into similar agreements taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and credit standing of the Company's clients. The estimated fair value of these commitments is not significant.


89


The following tables present information about the level in the fair value hierarchy for the Company’s financial assets and
liabilities, whether or not recognized or recorded at fair value as December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
 
December 31, 2019
 
Fair Value Measurements Using:
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
FINANCIAL ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
55,770

 
$
55,770

 
$
55,770

 
$

 
$

Available for sale securities
9,306

 
9,306

 

 
9,306

 

Loans held-for-sale
1,063

 
1,063

 

 
1,063

 

Loans held for portfolio, net
614,247

 
622,147

 

 

 
622,147

Mortgage servicing rights
3,239

 
3,239

 

 

 
3,239

FHLB Stock
1,160

 
1,160

 

 
1,160

 

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-maturity deposits
365,331

 
365,331

 

 
365,331

 

Time deposits
251,387

 
255,261

 

 
255,261

 

Borrowings
7,500

 
7,500

 

 
7,500

 

 
December 31, 2018
 
Fair Value Measurements Using:
 
Carrying
Value
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
FINANCIAL ASSETS:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
61,810

 
$
61,810

 
$
61,810

 
$

 
$

Available for sale securities
4,957

 
4,957

 

 
4,957

 

Loans held-for-sale
1,172

 
1,172

 

 
1,172

 

Loans held for portfolio, net
613,769

 
613,371

 

 

 
613,371

Mortgage servicing rights
3,414

 
3,414

 

 

 
3,414

FHLB Stock
4,134

 
4,134

 

 
4,134

 

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-maturity deposits
361,776

 
361,776

 

 
361,776

 

Time deposits
191,825

 
191,679

 

 
191,679

 

Borrowings
84,000

 
84,000

 

 
84,000

 



90



The following tables present the balance of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
 
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2019
Description
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Municipal bonds
 
$
3,370

 
$

 
$
3,370

 
$

Agency mortgage-backed securities
 
5,936

 

 
5,936

 

Mortgage servicing rights
 
3,239

 

 

 
3,239

 
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2018
Description
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Municipal bonds
 
$
3,317

 
$

 
$
3,317

 
$

Agency mortgage-backed securities
 
1,640

 

 
1,640

 

Mortgage servicing rights
 
3,414

 

 

 
3,414

For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 or between Level 2 and Level 3.
The following table provides a description of the valuation technique, unobservable input, and qualitative information about the unobservable inputs for the Company's assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 and measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019:
Financial
Instrument
 
Valuation
Technique
 
Unobservable Input(s)
 
Range
(Weighted Average)
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Prepayment speed assumption
 
132-485% (187%)
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
12.5%-13.5% (12.5%)
The following table provides a description of the valuation technique, unobservable input, and qualitative information about the unobservable inputs for the Company's assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 and measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2018:
Financial
Instrument
 
Valuation
Technique
 
Unobservable Input(s)
 
Range
(Weighted Average)
Mortgage Servicing Rights
 
Discounted cash flow
 
Prepayment speed assumption
 
80-515% (123%)
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
 
12.5%-13.5% (12.5%)
Generally, any significant increases in the constant prepayment rate and discount rate utilized in the fair value measurement of the mortgage servicing rights will result in a negative fair value adjustment (and decrease in the fair value measurement). Conversely, a decrease in the constant prepayment rate and discount rate will result in a positive fair value adjustment (and increase in the fair value measurement). An increase in the weighted average life assumptions will result in a decrease in the constant prepayment rate and conversely, a decrease in the weighted average life will result in an increase of the constant prepayment rate.
There were no assets or liabilities (excluding mortgage servicing rights) measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) on a recurring basis during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
 
Mortgage servicing rights are measured at fair value using significant unobservable input (Level 3) on a recurring basis and a reconciliation of this asset can be found in Note 6 – Mortgage Servicing Rights.

91


The following table presents the balance of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the total losses resulting from these fair value adjustments (in thousands):
 
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2019
Description
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
OREO and repossessed assets
 
$
575

 
$

 
$

 
$
575

Impaired loans
 
12,393

 

 

 
12,393

 
 
Fair Value at December 31, 2018
Description
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
OREO and repossessed assets
 
$
575

 
$

 
$

 
$
575

Impaired loans
 
5,838

 

 

 
5,838

There were no liabilities carried at fair value, measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis, at December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.
The following table provides a description of the valuation technique, observable input, and qualitative information about the unobservable inputs for the Company's assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 and measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2019:
Financial
Instrument
 
Valuation
Technique(s)
 
Unobservable Input(s)
 
Range
(Weighted Average)
OREO
 
Market approach
 
Adjusted for difference
between comparable sales
 
0-0% (0%)
Impaired loans
 
Market approach
 
Adjusted for difference
between comparable sales
 
0-100% (6%)

The following table provides a description of the valuation technique, observable input, and qualitative information about the unobservable inputs for the Company's assets and liabilities classified as Level 3 and measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at December 31, 2018:
Financial
Instrument
 
Valuation
Technique(s)
 
Unobservable Input(s)
 
Range
(Weighted Average)
OREO
 
Market approach
 
Adjusted for difference
between comparable sales
 
0-0% (0%)
Impaired loans
 
Market approach
 
Adjusted for difference
between comparable sales
 
0-100% (13%)

Note 12 – Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period, reduced for average unallocated ESOP shares and average unvested restricted stock awards. Unvested share-based awards containing non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and are included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Diluted earnings per common share reflect the potential dilution that could occur if securities or other contracts to issue common stock (such as stock awards and options) were exercised or converted to common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that then shared in the Company’s earnings. Diluted earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period increased for the dilutive effect of unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock awards. The dilutive effect of the unexercised stock options and unvested restricted stock awards is calculated under the treasury stock method utilizing the average market value of the Company's stock for the period.

92



Earnings per share are summarized for the periods presented in the following table (in thousands, except per share data):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Net income
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic
2,527

 
2,498

Effect of potentially dilutive common shares
56

 
69

Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted
2,583

 
2,567

Earnings per share, basic
$
2.63

 
$
2.82

Earnings per share, diluted
$
2.57

 
$
2.74

There were no anti-dilutive securities at December 31, 2019 or 2018.


Note 13 – Employee Benefits
The Company has a 401(k) retirement plan that allows employees to defer a portion of their salary into the 401(k) plan. The Company matches a portion of employees' salary deferrals. 401(k) costs are accrued and funded on a current basis. The Company contributed $180,000 and $172,000 to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Bank maintains a deferred compensation account for the benefit of Ms. Stewart, established in 1994 in connection with an incentive plan which is no longer active. Ms. Stewart was fully vested in her benefits under this plan as of January 2005. Pursuant to the terms of the plan, payments in an amount equal to the fair market value of the assets in the deferred compensation account shall be made to Ms. Stewart (or to her designated beneficiary in the event of her death) in 120 equal monthly installments commencing on the last day of the month following the month in which her employment with the Bank is terminated. In the event of the death of Ms. Stewart and her designated beneficiary prior to the account being fully paid, the remaining value of the account shall be paid in a lump sum to the beneficiary’s estate. The assets in the deferred compensation account consist of cash which is held in a certificate of deposit at the Bank and earns interest at market rates. At December 31, 2019, the amounts held in the certificates of deposit at the Bank were $106,000, compared to $104,000 at December 31, 2018.

The Bank maintains a nonqualified deferred compensation plan (the “NQDC Plan”), which was effective on January 1, 2017. The purpose of the NQDC Plan is to provide a select group of management or highly-compensated employees of the Bank with an opportunity to defer the receipt of up to eighty percent (80%) of their annual base salary, bonus, performance-based compensation and any commission income and to assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees of high caliber and experience. In addition to elective deferrals, the Bank may make discretionary and other contributions to be credited to the account of any or all participants, subject to the vesting requirements set forth in the NQDC Plan. Discretionary contributions by the Bank become 100% vested upon the completion of three years of service from a participant’s effective date of participation in the NQDC Plan (with accelerated vesting upon death, disability or a change in control), while other Bank contributions (including matching contributions) vest at the rate of 20% per year, beginning with the participant’s two-year anniversary of his or her date of hire. The board of directors of the Bank agreed that in the event Ms. Stewart has a separation from service prior to January 1, 2020, the date she becomes vested in her discretionary contributions, then the Bank shall amend the NQDC Plan to provide for immediate vesting as of the date of the separation from service. During the years ended December 31, 2019, and 2018, the Bank made discretionary contributions to the 2017 NQDC Plan in the amount of $90,000 and $75,000, respectively.

Each participant’s deferred compensation account is credited with an investment return determined as if the account was invested in one or more investment funds. Each participant elects the investment funds in which his or her account shall be deemed to be invested. Distributions of vested account balances are made upon death, disability, separation from service, or a specified in-service date unforeseeable emergency. Distributions shall be made in a single cash payment or, at the election of the participant, in annual installments for a period of up to ten (10) years in the case of a separation from service and in annual installments for a period of up to five (5) years in the case of an in-service distribution.

93



The obligations of the Bank under the NQDC Plan are general unsecured obligations of the Bank to pay deferred compensation in the future to eligible participants in accordance with the terms of the NQDC Plan from the general assets of the Bank, although the Bank may establish a trust to hold amounts which the Bank may use to satisfy NQDC Plan distributions from time to time. Distributions from the NQDC Plan are governed by the Internal Revenue Code and the NQDC Plan. The Company may, at any time, in its sole discretion, terminate the NQDC Plan or amend or modify the NQDC Plan, in whole or in part, except that no such termination, amendment or modification shall have any retroactive effect to reduce any amounts deemed to be accrued and vested prior to such amendment.

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans.
The Company maintains two supplemental executive retirement plans for the benefit of Ms. Stewart, which are intended to be unfunded, non-contributory defined benefit plans maintained primarily to provide her with supplemental retirement income. The first supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP 1") was effective as of August 2007. The second supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP 2") was effective as of December 30, 2011, at which time the benefits under SERP 1 were frozen. At that time, the Company also entered into a Confidentiality, Non-Competition, and Non-Solicitation Agreement with Ms. Stewart, which is discussed below.
Under the terms of SERP 1, as amended, Ms. Stewart is entitled to receive $53,320 per year for life commencing on the first day of the month following her separation from service (as defined in SERP 1) for any reason from Sound Community Bank.  No payments will be made under SERP 1 in the event of Ms. Stewart's death and any payments that have commenced will cease upon death. In the event Ms. Stewart is involuntarily terminated in connection with a change in control (as defined in SERP 1), she will be entitled to receive the annual benefit described in the first sentence of this paragraph commencing upon such termination (subject to any applicable cutback for payments after a change in control as required by Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code).
Under the terms of SERP 2, as amended, upon Ms. Stewart's termination of employment with Sound Community Bank for any reason other than death, she will be entitled to receive additional retirement benefits of $96,390 per year for life commencing on the first day of the month following the later of age 70 or her separation from service (as defined in SERP 2) from Sound Community Bank. In the event of Ms. Stewart's death, her beneficiary will be entitled to a single lump sum payment within 90 days thereafter in an amount equal to the account value as of the death benefit valuation date, or approximately $1.1 million at December 31, 2019. If a change in control occurs (as defined in SERP 2), Ms. Stewart will receive her full retirement benefit under SERP 2 commencing upon the first day of the month following her separation from service from Sound Community Bank.
Confidentiality, Non-Competition, and Non-Solicitation Agreement.
On December 13, 2019, the Bank entered into an Amended and Restated Confidentiality, Non-competition, and Non-solicitation Agreement (the “Amended Non-compete Agreement”) with Ms. Stewart. This Amended Non-compete Agreement amends and restates the Confidentiality, Non-Competition, and Non-Solicitation Agreement between the Bank and Ms. Stewart as originally adopted effective December 30, 2011, as amended and restated on November 23, 2015 and January 25, 2019.
The Amended Non-Compete Agreement provides that the term of the non-compete and non-solicitation periods applicable to Ms. Stewart is a fixed period of 18 months following the date of Ms. Stewart’s separation from service with the Company and the Bank (the “Restricted Period”). Under the terms of the Amended Non-compete Agreement, upon Ms. Stewart's termination of employment by the Bank for cause or voluntarily by Ms. Stewart (other than for good reason), Ms. Stewart will be entitled to receive a bi-monthly payment, in an amount equal to Three Thousand Five Hundred Forty-Two Dollars ($3,542), which amount shall be paid in equal bi-monthly payments during the Restricted Period beginning on the fifth day of the month following her separation from service with the Bank. Upon Ms. Stewart’s termination of employment with the Bank for any reason other than set forth in the preceding sentence, she will be entitled to receive an amount equal to 150% of her then-base salary plus the average of her past three years short term bonus pay, or approximately $835,000 at December 31, 2019, payable in 12 monthly installments beginning on the first day of the month following her termination. If Ms. Stewart breaches any of the covenants contained in the Amended Non-compete Agreement, her right to any of the payments specified above after the date of the breach shall be forever forfeited. Notwithstanding the foregoing, under her Amended Non-compete Agreement, if Ms. Stewart’s employment with the Bank is involuntarily terminated or she terminates her employment with the Bank for good reason at any time within 24 months following a change in control, Ms. Stewart will be entitled to receive an amount equal to 150% of her then-base salary plus the average of her past three years short term bonus, payable in a lump sum.

94



Stock Options and Restricted Stock
The Company currently has one active stockholder approved Equity Incentive Plan, the Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (the "2013 Plan"). The 2013 Plan permits the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, and stock appreciation rights. The equity incentive plan approved by stockholders in 2008 (the"2008 Plan") expired in November 2018 and no further awards may be made under the 2008 Plan; provided, however, all awards outstanding under the 2008 Plan remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. Under the 2013 Plan, 181,750 shares of common stock were approved for awards for stock options and stock appreciation rights and 116,700 shares of common stock were approved for awards for restricted stock and restricted stock units.
As of December 31, 2019, on an adjusted basis, awards for stock options totaling 261,732 shares and awards for restricted stock totaling 122,238 shares of Company common stock have been granted in the aggregate, net of any forfeitures, under the 2008 Plan and 2013 Plan to participants. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, share-based compensation expense totaled $267,000 and $273,000, respectively.
Stock Option Awards
All stock option awards granted under the 2008 Plan vest in 20 percent annual increments commencing one year from the grant date in accordance with the requirements of the 2008 Plan. The stock option awards granted to date under the 2013 Plan provide for immediate vesting of a portion of the award with the balance of the award vesting on the anniversary date of each grant date in equal annual installments over periods of one-to-four years subject to the continued service of the participant with the Company. All of the options granted under the 2008 Plan and the 2013 Plan are exercisable for a period of 10 years from the date of grant, subject to vesting.

The following is a summary of the Company's stock option plan award activity during the period ended December 31, 2019:
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price
 
Weighted-Average
Remaining Contractual
Term In Years
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2019
133,176

 
$
19.66

 
5.89
 
$
1,716,306

Granted
12,425

 
33.50

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(11,772
)
 
20.33

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
(1,400
)
 
34.51

 
 
 
 
Expired
(11,169
)
 
19.88

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at December 31, 2019
121,260

 
20.80

 
5.33
 
1,842,687

Exercisable
106,492

 
19.44

 
4.93
 
1,763,206

Expected to vest, assuming a 0% forfeiture rate over the vesting term
14,768

 
$
30.62

 
8.23
 
$
79,481

As of December 31, 2019, there was $72,000 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested stock options granted under the Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted-average vesting period of 2.59 years.
The fair value of each option grant is estimated as of the grant date using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The fair value of options granted in 2019 and 2018 were determined using the following weighted-average assumptions as of the grant date.

95


 
2019
 
2018
Annual dividend yield
1.72
%
 
1.72
%
Expected volatility
21.68
%
 
21.75
%
Risk-free interest rate
2.64
%
 
2.95
%
Expected term
6.50 years
 
6.50 years
Weighted-average grant date fair value per option granted
$
7.24

 
$
7.63

Restricted Stock Awards
The fair value of the restricted stock awards is equal to the fair value of the Company's stock at the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period that the awards are based. The restricted stock awards granted under the 2008 Plan vest in 20% annual increments commencing one year from the grant date. The restricted stock awards granted to date under the 2013 Plan provide for immediate vesting of a portion of the award with the balance of the award vesting on the anniversary date of each of the grant date in equal annual installments over periods of one to four years subject to the continued service of the participant with the Company.

The following is a summary of the Company's non-vested restricted stock awards for the year ended December 31, 2019:
Non-vested Shares
 
Shares
 
Weighted-Average
Grant-Date Fair Value
Per Share
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Per Share
Non-vested at January 1, 2019
 
858

 
$
26.96

 
 
Granted
 
15,925

 
33.50

 
 
Vested
 
(3,613
)
 
32.54

 
 
Forfeited
 
(880
)
 
33.66

 
 
Expired
 

 

 
 
Non-vested at December 31, 2019
 
12,290

 
33.32

 
$
36.00

Expected to vest assuming a 0% forfeiture rate over the vesting term
 
12,290

 
$
33.32

 
$
36.00

As of December 31, 2019, there was $313,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock granted under the Plan. The cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average vesting period of 3.08 years. The total fair value of shares vested for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $118,000 and $206,000, respectively.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
In January 2008, the ESOP borrowed $1.2 million from the Company to purchase common stock of the Company. In August 2012, in conjunction with the Company's conversion to a full stock company from the mutual holding company structure, the ESOP borrowed an additional $1.1 million from the Company to purchase common stock of the Company.  The first loan for $1.2 million was paid off in 2017.  The remaining loan for $1.1 million is being repaid principally by the Bank through contributions to the ESOP over a period of 10 years. The interest rate on the loan is fixed at 2.25%, per annum. As of December 31, 2019, the remaining balance of the ESOP loan was $244,000.
Neither the loan balance nor the related interest expense is reflected on the consolidated financial statements.
For the calendar year 2019, the ESOP was committed to release 11,340 shares of the Company's common stock to participants and held 22,680 unallocated shares remaining to be released in future years. The funds to purchase shares in the ESOP come from contributions the Bank makes twice a year to the Plan. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the ESOP trustee purchased 6,874 shares of the Company's common stock for inclusion in the Plan. The fair value of the 162,520 restricted shares held by the ESOP trust was $5.9 million at December 31, 2019. ESOP compensation expense included in salaries and benefits was $627,000 and $652,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

96



Note 14 – Income Taxes
The provision for income taxes at December 31, 2019 and 2018 was as follows (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Current
$
1,918

 
$
1,637

Deferred
(267
)
 
69

Total tax expense
$
1,651

 
$
1,706


A reconciliation of the provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, with amounts determined by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income before income taxes, is as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Provision at statutory rate
$
1,749

 
$
1,836

Tax-exempt income
(174
)
 
(79
)
Other
76

 
(51
)
 
$
1,651

 
$
1,706

Federal Tax Rate
21.0
 %
 
21.0
 %
Tax exempt rate
(2.1
)
 
(0.9
)
Other
0.9

 
(0.6
)
Effective tax rate
19.8
 %
 
19.5
 %

97


The following table reflects the temporary differences that gave rise to the components of the Company's deferred tax assets at December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Deferred tax assets
 
 
 
Deferred compensation and supplemental retirement
$
508

 
$
411

Equity based compensation
110

 
35

Intangible assets
58

 
66

Lease liabilities
1,682

 

Other, net
107

 
89

Allowance for loan losses
1,184

 
1,212

Total deferred tax assets
3,649

 
1,813

Deferred tax liabilities
 
 
 
Prepaid expenses
(59
)
 
(59
)
FHLB stock dividends
(52
)
 
(87
)
Unrealized gain on securities
(47
)
 
(30
)
Depreciation
(198
)
 
(312
)
Mortgage servicing rights
(263
)
 
(161
)
Deferred loan costs
(739
)
 
(728
)
Right of use assets
(1,605
)
 

Total deferred tax liabilities
(2,963
)
 
(1,377
)
Net deferred tax asset
$
686

 
$
436

As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. The Company recognizes interest accrued and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in "Provision for income taxes" in the Consolidated Statements of Income. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company recognized no interest and penalties related to income taxes.
The Company or its subsidiary files an income tax return in the U.S. federal jurisdiction. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2016.

Note 15 – Minimum Regulatory Capital Requirements
The Company is a bank holding company under the supervision of the Federal Reserve. Bank holding companies are subject to capital adequacy requirements of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations of the Federal Reserve Board, except that, pursuant to the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, effective August 30, 2018, a bank holding company with consolidated assets of less than $3.0 billion is generally not subject to the Federal Reserve’s capital regulations, which parallel the FDIC’s capital regulations.The Bank is a state-chartered, federally insured institution and thereby is subject to the capital requirements established by the FDIC. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and, possibly, additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Company’s financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital regulations that involve quantitative measures of their assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance- sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices.

The capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors. Prompt corrective action provisions are not applicable to bank holding companies.


98


Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the following table) of total and Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets (as defined in the regulations) and of Tier 1 capital to average assets.

As of December 31, 2019, according to the most recent notification from the FDIC, the Bank was categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. There are no conditions or events since the notification that management believes have changed the Bank’s category.

The Bank's actual capital amounts (in thousands) and ratios as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 are presented in the following table:
 
 
Actual
 
Minimum Capital
Requirements
 
Minimum Required to be
Well-Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions
 
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount
 
Ratio
As of December 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted assets (1)
 
$
74,031

 
10.22
%
 
$
28,981

 
4.0
%
 
$
36,226

 
5.0
%
Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (2)
 
74,031

 
12.07

 
27,601

 
4.5

 
39,868

 
6.5

Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
 
74,031

 
12.07

 
36,801

 
6.0

 
49,068

 
8.0

Total Capital to risk-weighted assets (2)
 
$
79,974

 
13.04
%
 
$
49,068

 
8.0
%
 
$
61,335

 
10.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of December 31, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted assets (3)
 
$
69,685

 
9.73
%
 
$
28,659

 
4.0
%
 
$
35,824

 
5.0
%
Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio (4)
 
69,685

 
11.76

 
26,665

 
4.5

 
38,516

 
6.5

Tier 1 Capital to risk-weighted assets (4)
 
69,685

 
11.76

 
35,553

 
6.0

 
47,404

 
8.0

Total Capital to risk-weighted assets (4)
 
$
75,874

 
12.80
%
 
$
47,404

 
8.0
%
 
$
59,255

 
10.0
%
(1)
Based on total adjusted assets of $724,527 at December 31, 2019.
(2)
Based on risk-weighted assets of $613,354 at December 31, 2019.
(3)
Based on total adjusted assets of $716,475 at December 31, 2018.
(4)
Based on risk-weighted assets of $592,551 at December 31, 2018.
In addition to the minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio (“CET1”) and total capital ratios, the Bank must maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional CET1 capital greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above the required minimum risk-based capital levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends, engaging in share repurchases, and paying discretionary bonuses. At December 31, 2019, the conservation buffer requirement was 2.50% and the Bank's actual conservation buffer was 5.04%.
For a bank holding company with less than $3.0 billion in assets, the capital guidelines apply on a bank only basis and the Federal Reserve expects the holding company’s subsidiary banks to be well capitalized under the prompt corrective action regulations. If Sound Financial Bancorp was subject to regulatory guidelines for bank holding companies with $3.0 billion or more in assets, at December 31, 2019 and 2018, Sound Financial Bancorp would have exceeded all regulatory capital requirements.  The estimated regulatory capital ratios calculated for Sound Financial Bancorp as of December 31, 2019 were 9.55% for Tier 1 Capital to total adjusted assets (leverage ratio), 11.08% for both Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based capital and Tier 1 Capital to risk-based assets, and 11.94% for Total Capital to risk weighted assets.

Note 16 – Concentrations of Credit Risk
Most of the Company's business activity is with clients located in the state of Washington. A substantial portion of the loan portfolio is represented by real estate loans throughout western Washington. The ability of the Company's debtors to honor their contracts is dependent upon the real estate and general economic conditions in the area. Loans to one borrower are generally limited by federal banking regulations to 15% of the Company's unimpaired capital and surplus.

99


Note 17 – Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its clients. These financial instruments generally represent a commitment to extend credit in the form of loans. The instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets.
The Company's exposure to credit loss, in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, is represented by the contractual notional amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments.
Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a client as long as there is no violation of any condition established by the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Because many of the commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. These commitments are not reflected in the consolidated financial statements. The Company evaluates each client's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if it is deemed necessary by the Company, is based on management's credit evaluation of the client.
Financial instruments whose contract amount represents credit risk were as follow (in thousands):
 
At December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
Commitments to make loans
$
4,968

 
$
3,176

Unfunded construction commitments
40,181

 
60,632

Unused lines of credit
39,605

 
45,315

Irrevocable letters of credit
1,240

 
1,460

Total loan commitments
$
85,994

 
$
110,583

At December 31, 2019, fixed rate loan commitments totaled $6.1 million and had a weighted-average interest rate of 3.87%. At December 31, 2018, fixed rate loan commitments totaled $4.1 million and had a weighted-average interest rate of 4.93%.

At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had letters of credit issued by the FHLB with a notional amount of $19.1 million and $14.5 million, respectively, in order to secure Washington State Public Funds.
In the ordinary course of business, the Company sells loans without recourse that may have to be subsequently repurchased due to defects that occurred during the origination of the loan. The defects are categorized as documentation errors, underwriting errors, early payment defaults, and fraud. When a loan sold to an investor without recourse fails to perform, the investor will typically review the loan file to determine whether defects in the origination process occurred. If a defect is identified, the Company may be required to either repurchase the loan or indemnify the investor for losses sustained. If there are no defects, the Company has no commitment to repurchase the loan. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the maximum amount of these guarantees totaled $377.3 million and $376.5 million, respectively. These amounts represent the unpaid principal balances of the Company's loans serviced for others' portfolios. There were no loans repurchased during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
The Company pays certain medical, dental, prescription, and vision claims for its employees, on a self-insured basis. The Company has purchased stop-loss insurance to cover claims that exceed stated limits and has recorded estimated reserves for the ultimate costs for both reported claims and claims incurred but not reported, which were not considered significant at December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2018, the Company recorded $239,000 in stop loss medical insurance claim which is included in other assets on the consolidated statements of financial condition.
At various times, the Company may be the defendant in various legal proceedings arising in connection with its business. It is the opinion of management that the financial position and the results of operations of the Company will not be materially adversely affected by the outcome of these legal proceedings and that adequate provision has been made in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

100



Note 18 – Parent Company Financial Information
The Balance Sheets, Statements of Income, and Statements of Cash Flows for Sound Financial Bancorp (Parent Only) are presented below (dollars in thousands):
Balance sheets
 
December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
2,740

 
$
18

Investment in Sound Community Bank
 
75,141

 
70,785

Other assets
 
41

 
824

Total assets
 
$
77,922

 
$
71,627

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
Other liabilities
 
$
196

 
$

Total liabilities
 
196

 

Stockholders' equity
 
77,726

 
71,627

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
77,922

 
$
71,627

Statements of Income
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Other expenses
 
$
(792
)
 
$
(310
)
Income before income tax benefit and equity in undistributed net
 
 
 
 
Income of subsidiary
 
(792
)
 
(310
)
Income tax benefit
 
166

 
65

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiary
 
7,305

 
7,284

Net income
 
$
6,679

 
$
7,039


101


Statements of Cash Flows
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
6,679

 
$
7,039

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
 
Other, net
 
(166
)
 
(65
)
Expense allocation to holding company
 
196

 

Change in undistributed equity of subsidiary
 
(7,305
)
 
(7,284
)
Net cash used in operating activities
 
(596
)
 
(310
)
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
ESOP shares released
 
716

 

Net cash provided by investing activities
 
716

 

Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid
 
(1,434
)
 
(1,367
)
Dividends received from subsidiary
 
2,155

 
711

Stock repurchase funding from subsidiary
 
1,750

 

Stock options exercised
 
131

 
102

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
2,602

 
(554
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash
 
2,722

 
(864
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
18

 
882

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
 
$
2,740

 
$
18

Note 19 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers
All of the Company's revenue from contracts with customers in the scope of ASC 606 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers ("ASC 606") is recognized in Noninterest Income with the exception of the net loss on OREO and repossessed assets, which is included in Noninterest Expense. The following table presents the Company's sources of Noninterest Income for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands). Items outside of the scope of ASC 606 are noted as such.

 
 
Year Ended December 31,
 
 
2019
 
2018
Noninterest income:
 
 
 
 
Service charges and fee income
 
 
 
 
Account maintenance fees
 
$
199

 
$
192

Transaction-based and overdraft service charges
 
447

 
481

Debit/ATM interchange fees
 
982

 
927

Credit card interchange fees
 
27

 
40

Loan fees (a)
 
239

 
188

Other fees (a)
 
60

 
48

Total service charges and fee income
 
1,954


1,876

Earnings on cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance (a)
 
381

 
320

Mortgage servicing income (a)
 
1,002

 
1,075

Fair value adjustment on mortgage servicing rights (a)
 
(760
)
 
(513
)
Net gain on sale of loans (a)
 
1,449

 
1,038

Other income (a)
 

 
490

Total noninterest income
 
$
4,026


$
4,286

(a) Not within scope of ASC 606

102



Account maintenance fees and transaction-based and overdraft service charges

The Company earns fees from its customers for account maintenance, transaction-based and overdraft services. Account maintenance fees consist primarily of account fees and analyzed account fees charged on deposit accounts on a monthly basis.The performance obligation is satisfied and fees are recognized on a monthly basis as the service period is completed. Transaction-based fees and overdraft service fees on deposit accounts are charged to deposit customers for specific services provided to the customer, such as non-sufficient funds, overdraft, and wire services. The performance obligation is completed as the transaction occurs and the fees are recognized at the time each specific service is provided to the customer.

Debit/ATM and credit card interchange income

Debit/ATM interchange income represent fees earned when a debit card issued by the Bank is used for a transaction. The Bank earns interchange fees from debit cardholder transactions through the MasterCard payment network. Interchange fees from cardholder transactions represent a percentage of the underlying transaction value and are recognized daily, concurrently with the transaction processing services provided to the cardholder. The performance obligation is satisfied and the fees are earned when the cost of the transaction is charged to the cardholders' account. Certain expenses directly associated with the debit card are recorded on a net basis with the interchange income.

The Company utilizes a third party agency relationship to brand credit cards with fees for originating new accounts paid by the issuing bank. Credit card interchange income represents fees earned when a credit card is issued by the third party agent. Similar to debit card interchange fees, the Bank earns an interchange fee for each transaction made with Sound Community Bank's branded credit cards. The performance obligation is satisfied and the fees are earned when the cost of the transaction is charged to the cardholders' credit card. Certain expenses and rebates directly related to the credit card interchange contract arerecorded net of the interchange income.

Net loss on OREO and repossessed assets

We record a gain or loss from the sale of other real estate owned when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at the time of an executed deed of trust. When the Bank finances the sale of other real estate owned to the buyer, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether collectability of the transaction price is probable. Once these criteria are met, the other real estate owned asset is derecognized and the gain or loss on sale is recorded upon the transfer of control of the property to the buyer. In determining the gain or loss on sale, we adjust the transaction price and related gain or loss on sale if a significant financing component is present. Company incurred expenses on our OREO properties of $35,000 and $86,000 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, included in noninterest expense on the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 20 – Leases
We have operating leases for branch locations, loan production offices, our corporate office and certain equipment. The lease term for our leases begins on the date we become legally obligated for the rent payments or we take possession of the building, whichever is earlier. Generally, our real estate leases have initial terms of three to 10 years and typically include one renewal option. Our leases have remaining lease terms of 1 year to 10 years. The operating leases require us to pay property taxes and operating expenses for the properties.

The following table represents the Consolidated Balance Sheet classification of the Company’s right of use assets and lease liabilities (in thousands):
 
 
December 31, 2019
Operating lease right-of-use assets
 
$
7,641

Operating lease liabilities
 
$
8,010



103


The following table represents the components of lease expense (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2019
Operating lease expense
 
 
Office leases
 
$
1,223

Equipment leases
 
20

Sublease income
 
(12
)
Net lease expense
 
$
1,231


The following table represents the maturity of lease liabilities:
 
 
December 31, 2019
 
 
Office leases
 
Equipment leases
Operating Lease Commitments
 
 
 
 
2020
 
1,097

 
8

2021
 
1,042

 

2022
 
1,016

 

2023
 
989

 

Thereafter
 
4,865

 

Total lease payments
 
9,009

 
8

Less: Present value discount
 
1,007

 

Present value of lease liabilities
 
$
8,002

 
$
8


Lease term and discount rate by lease type consist of the following:
 
 
December 31, 2019
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years):
 
 
Office leases
 
8.72

Equipment leases
 
0.42

Weighted-average discount rate (annualized):
 
 
Office leases
 
2.64
%
Equipment leases
 
1.62
%

Supplemental cash flow information related to leases was as follows (in thousands):
 
 
Year Ended
December 31, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities for operating leases:
 
 
Operating cash flows
 
 
Office leases
 
$
1,099

Equipment leases
 
$
20


Note 21 – Subsequent Events
On January 28, 2020, the Company declared on Company common stock a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share and a special cash dividend of $0.20 per share, payable on February 24, 2020 to stockholders of record at the close of business February 10, 2020.

104


Item 9.
Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) as of December 31, 2019, was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and several other members of our senior management team within the 90-day period preceding the filing of this annual report. Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer) in a timely manner, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.
We intend to continually review and evaluate the design and effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and to improve the Company's controls and procedures over time and to correct any deficiencies that we may discover in the future. The goal is to ensure that senior management has timely access to all material financial and non-financial information concerning the Company's business. While we believe the present design of the disclosure controls and procedures is effective to achieve its goal, future events affecting its business may cause the Company to modify its disclosure controls and procedures.
The Company does not expect that its disclosure controls and procedures will prevent all error and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.
(b) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of Sound Financial Bancorp is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). The Company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company's management and board of directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of the financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of human error and circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013). Based on this assessment, we concluded that, as of December 31, 2019, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.
Moss Adams, LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm that audited our consolidated financial statements at and, for, the year ended December 31, 2019, included in this annual report on Form 10-K, has issued an attestation report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The attestation report is included above in Item 8.


105


(c) Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting
As required by Rule 13a-15(d), our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of our internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during quarter ended December 31, 2019 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2019, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Item 9B.
Other Information
None.

PART III

Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Directors
Information concerning the Company's directors is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020, a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
Executive Officers
Information concerning the executive officers of the Company and the Bank is contained under the heading "Executive Officers" under Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Code of Ethics
We have adopted a code of ethics that applies to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, and person performing similar functions, and to all of our other employees and our directors. You may obtain a copy of the code of ethics free of charge by writing to the Corporate Secretary of Sound Financial Bancorp, 2400 3rd Avenue, Suite 150, Seattle, Washington, 98121 or by calling (206) 448-0884. In addition, the code of ethics is available on our website at www.soundcb.com under "Investor Relations – Governance."
Corporate Governance
Nominating Procedures. There have been no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our Board of Directors since last disclosed to stockholders.
Audit Committee and Audit Committee Financial Expert. Sound Financial Bancorp has an Audit Committee that is appointed by the Board of Directors to provide assistance to the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to the integrity of our consolidated financial statements and the financial reporting processes, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the annual independent audit of our consolidated financial statements, the independent auditors' qualifications and independence, the performance of our internal audit function and independent auditors and any other areas of potential financial risk to Sound Financial Bancorp specified by its Board of Directors. The Audit Committee also is responsible for the appointment, retention and oversight of our independent auditors, including pre-approval of all audit and non-audit services to be performed by the independent auditors. During 2019, the Audit Committee was comprised of Directors Jones (chair), Carney, Cook, Riojas and Haddad, each of whom is "independent" as that term is defined for audit committee members in the Nasdaq Rules. The Board of Directors has determined that Director Jones is an "audit committee financial expert" as defined in Item 407(e) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission and that all of the Audit Committee members meet the financial literacy requirements under the NASDAQ listing standards. Additional information concerning the Audit Committee is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020 (except for information contained under the heading "Report of the Audit Committee"), a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.

106



Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Information concerning executive compensation is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020 (except for information contained under the heading "Report of the Audit Committee"), a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.

Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Information concerning security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020, a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
The Company is not aware of any arrangements, including any pledge by any person of securities of the Company, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc.
Equity Compensation Plan Information. The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2019 with respect to the Company’s equity compensation plans, all of which were approved by the Company’s shareholders.

Plan Category
 
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and rights
 
Weighted average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
 
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity compensation plan (1)
Equity Incentive Plan approved by security holders
 
121,260

 
$
20.80

 
85,756

Equity Incentive Plan not approved by security holders
 

 

 

Total
 
121,260

 
$
20.80

 
85,756

(1) Includes 44,876 shares available for issuance for stock awards, other than awards of stock options and stock appreciation rights.

Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Information concerning certain relationships and related transactions, our independent directors and our audit and nominating committee charters is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020, a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.

Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Information concerning principal accountant fees and services is incorporated herein by reference from the Company's definitive proxy statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held in May 2020 (except for information contained under the heading "Report of the Audit Committee") a copy of which will be filed with the SEC not later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year.
PART IV

Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) List of Financial Statements
The following are contained in Item 8:

107


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Years December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(a)(2) List of Financial Statement Schedules:
All financial statement schedules have been omitted as the information is not required under the related instructions or is not applicable.
(a)(3) List of Exhibits:

(b) Exhibits:
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits:
 
 
 
Articles of Incorporation of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2012 (File No. 333-180385))
 
Bylaws of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc . (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2015 (File No. 001-35633))
 
Form of Common Stock Certificate of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc . (incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on March 27, 2012 (File No. 333-180385))
 
Description of capital stock
 
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated January 25, 2019, among Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., Sound Community Bank and Laura Lee Stewart (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 30, 2019 (File No. 001-35633))
 
Amended and Restated Supplemental Executive Retirement Agreement by and between Sound Community Bank and Laura Lee Stewart (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 27, 2015 (File No. 001-35633))
 
Amended and Restated Long Term Compensation Agreement by and between Sound Community Bank and Laura Lee Stewart (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 27, 2015 (File No. 001-35633))
 
Amended and Restated Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement by and between Sound Community Bank and Laura Lee Stewart (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 16, 2019 (File No. 001-35633))
 
2008 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2009 (File No. 000-52889))
10.6
 
Forms of Incentive Stock Option Agreement, Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Agreements under the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2009 (File No. 000-52889))
 
Summary of Annual Bonus Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 3, 2020 (File No. 000-35633))
 
2013 Equity Inventive Plan (included as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,2013 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-35633))
 
Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement, Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Agreement under the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan (included as Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-35633))
 
Change of Control Agreement dated June 21, 2016, by and among Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., Sound Community Bank and Elliott Pierce (included as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference (File No. 001-35633))

108


 
Adoption Agreement for the Sound Community Bank Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2017 (File No. 001-35633))
 
The Sound Community Bank Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 24, 2017 (File No. 001-35633))
 
Change of Control Agreement dated October 25, 2018, by and among Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., Sound Community Bank and Daphne Kelley (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2018 (File No. (001-35633))
 
Change of Control Agreement dated October 25, 2018, by and among Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., Sound Community Bank and Heidi Sexton (incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2018 (File No. (001-35633))
 
Credit Union of the Pacific Incentive Compensation Achievement Plan, dated January 1, 1994 (incorporated herein by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 14, 2019 (File No. (001-35633))
 
Subsidiaries of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc.
 
Consent of Accountants
 
Power of Attorney (set forth on signature page)
 
CEO 302 Certification. Filed herewith.
 
CFO 302 Certification. Filed herewith.
 
CEO and CFO 906 Certification. Furnished herewith.
101
 
Interactive Data File
(c) Financial Statements Schedules - None

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary - None


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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc.
 
 
 
Date: March 12, 2020
By:
/s/ Laura Lee Stewart
 
 
Laura Lee Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
(Duly Authorized Representative)


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POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and directors of Sound Financial Bancorp, Inc., hereby severally and individually constitute and appoint Laura Lee Stewart and Daphne D. Kelley, and each of them, the true and lawful attorneys and agents of each of us to execute in the name, place and stead of each of us (individually and in any capacity stated below) any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and all instruments necessary or advisable in connection therewith and to file the same with the Securities and Exchange Commission, each of said attorneys and agents to have the power to act with or without the others and to have full power and authority to do and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned every act whatsoever necessary or advisable to be done in the premises as fully and to all intents and purposes as any of the undersigned might or could do in person, and we hereby ratify and confirm our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys and agents or each of them to any and all such amendments and instruments.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Laura Lee Stewart
 
/s/ Tyler K. Myers
Laura Lee Stewart, President and Director
 
Tyler K. Myers, Chairman of the Board
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Date: March 12, 2020
Date: March 12, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ David S. Haddad, Jr.
 
/s/ Robert F. Carney
David S. Haddad, Jr., Director
 
Robert F. Carney, Director
Date: March 12, 2020
 
Date: March 12, 2020
 
 
 
/s/ Debra Jones
 
/s/ Rogelio Riojas
Debra Jones, Director
 
Rogelio Riojas, Director
Date: March 12, 2020
 
Date: March 12, 2020
 
 
 
/s/ James E. Sweeney
 
/s/ Kathleen B. Cook
James E. Sweeney, Director
 
Kathleen B. Cook, Director
Date: March 12, 2020
 
Date: March 12, 2020
 
 
 
/s/ Daphne D. Kelley
 
 
Daphne D. Kelley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
Date: March 12, 2020
 
 


111