SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES INC - Quarter Report: 2020 September (Form 10-Q)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)


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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2020


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

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission file number: 000-12247

SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas

75-1848732

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1201 S. Beckham Avenue,

Tyler,

Texas

75701

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

903-531-7111

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common Stock, $1.25 par value

SBSI

NASDAQ Global Select Market

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

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

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


Large Accelerated Filer	☒	Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	Smaller reporting company	☐
		Emerging growth company	☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock, par value $1.25, outstanding as of October 28, 2020 was 33,072,121 shares.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS			1
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS			45
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK			73
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES			75
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS			75
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS			75
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS			75
ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES			75
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES			75
ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION			75
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS			76
EXHIBIT INDEX			76
SIGNATURES			77

Table of Contents

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except share amounts)


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019

ASSETS
Cash and due from banks	$	81,643	$	66,949
Interest earning deposits	14,561		43,748
Total cash and cash equivalents	96,204		110,697
Securities:
Securities available for sale, at estimated fair value (amortized cost of $2,500,696 and $2,306,741, respectively)	2,633,519		2,358,597
Securities held to maturity (estimated fair value of $125,381 and $138,879, respectively)	115,089		134,863
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	35,860		50,087
Equity investments	12,083		12,331
Loans held for sale	8,686		383
Loans:
Loans	3,789,975		3,568,204
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(55,110)		(24,797)
Net loans	3,734,865		3,543,407
Premises and equipment, net	147,169		143,912
Operating lease right-of-use assets	16,616		9,755
Goodwill	201,116		201,116
Other intangible assets, net	10,569		13,361
Interest receivable	30,439		28,452

Unsettled issuances of brokered certificates of deposit	—		20,000
Bank owned life insurance	114,928		100,498
Other assets	33,817		21,454
Total assets	$	7,190,960	$	6,748,913

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Deposits:
Noninterest bearing	$	1,363,228	$	1,040,112
Interest bearing	3,739,798		3,662,657
Total deposits	5,103,026		4,702,769
Other borrowings	41,568		28,358
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	952,944		972,744
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	98,708		98,576
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	60,254		60,250
Deferred tax liability, net	9,610		4,823
Unsettled trades to purchase securities	7,294		17,538
Operating lease liabilities	17,910		10,174
Other liabilities	60,498		49,101
Total liabilities	6,351,812		5,944,333

Off-balance-sheet arrangements, commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

Shareholders’ equity:
Common stock: ($1.25 par value, 80,000,000 shares authorized, 37,922,002 shares issued at September 30, 2020 and 37,887,662 shares issued at December 31, 2019)	47,402		47,360
Paid-in capital	770,639		766,718
Retained earnings	93,916		80,274
Treasury stock: (shares at cost, 4,849,881 at September 30, 2020 and 4,064,405 at December 31, 2019)	(119,080)		(94,008)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	46,271		4,236
Total shareholders’ equity	839,148		804,580
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,190,960	$	6,748,913

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except per share data)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Interest income:
Loans	$	38,185	$	43,165	$	119,195	$	127,766
Taxable investment securities	1,175		26		2,419		81
Tax-exempt investment securities	9,003		4,167		24,430		11,812
Mortgage-backed securities	7,048		12,569		27,626		38,289
Federal Home Loan Bank stock and equity investments	249		422		1,034		1,217
Other interest earning assets	17		206		220		1,089
Total interest income	55,677		60,555		174,924		180,254
Interest expense:
Deposits	4,862		11,366		21,010		34,064
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	2,369		4,647		9,272		13,003
Subordinated notes	1,427		1,425		4,250		4,235
Trust preferred subordinated debentures	378		685		1,469		2,132
Other borrowings	55		59		365		191
Total interest expense	9,091		18,182		36,366		53,625
Net interest income	46,586		42,373		138,558		126,629
Provision for credit losses	(4,746)		1,005		25,746		2,593
Net interest income after provision for credit losses	51,332		41,368		112,812		124,036
Noninterest income:
Deposit services	6,129		6,753		17,940		19,391
Net gain on sale of securities available for sale	78		42		8,281		714
Gain on sale of loans	1,071		131		1,924		405
Trust fees	1,253		1,523		3,779		4,584
Bank owned life insurance	680		622		1,899		1,725
Brokerage services	564		555		1,643		1,549
Other	1,366		1,485		3,366		3,535
Total noninterest income	11,141		11,111		38,832		31,903
Noninterest expense:
Salaries and employee benefits	19,344		18,388		57,616		54,325
Net occupancy	3,595		3,430		10,574		9,894

Advertising, travel & entertainment	519		593		1,643		2,173
ATM expense	271		232		728		658
Professional fees	961		1,192		3,238		3,575
Software and data processing	1,215		1,116		3,737		3,278
Communications	495		480		1,494		1,456
FDIC insurance	469		—		668		859
Amortization of intangibles	881		1,080		2,792		3,388
Other	3,866		2,515		9,502		8,747
Total noninterest expense	31,616		29,026		91,992		88,353
Income before income tax expense	30,857		23,453		59,652		67,586
Income tax expense	3,783		3,661		7,071		10,367
Net income	$	27,074	$	19,792	$	52,581	$	57,219

Earnings per common share – basic	$	0.82	$	0.59	$	1.58	$	1.70
Earnings per common share – diluted	$	0.82	$	0.58	$	1.58	$	1.69
Cash dividends paid per common share	$	0.31	$	0.31	$	0.93	$	0.92

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net income	$	27,074	$	19,792	$	52,581	$	57,219
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Securities available for sale and transferred securities:
Change in unrealized holding gain on available for sale securities during the period	1,601		17,334		88,900		96,156




Reclassification adjustment for amortization related to available for sale and held to maturity debt securities	394		112		730		683

Reclassification adjustment for net gain on sale of available for sale securities, included in net income	(78)		(42)		(8,281)		(714)

Derivatives:
Change in net unrealized loss on effective cash flow hedge interest rate swap derivatives	(197)		(2,619)		(25,236)		(11,392)

Reclassification adjustment of net loss (gain) related to derivatives designated as cash flow hedges	1,587		(499)		2,283		(1,809)

Pension plans:
Amortization of net actuarial loss and prior service credit, included in net periodic benefit cost	819		595		2,207		1,784
Prior service cost adjustment due to plan amendment	—		—		163		—
Change in net actuarial loss	—		—		(7,558)		—
Other comprehensive income, before tax	4,126		14,881		53,208		84,708
Income tax expense related to items of other comprehensive income	(866)		(3,125)		(11,173)		(17,789)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	3,260		11,756		42,035		66,919
Comprehensive income	$	30,334	$	31,548	$	94,616	$	124,138

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)


	Common Stock		Paid In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2019	$	47,360	$	766,718	$	80,274	$	(94,008)	$	4,236	$	804,580
Cumulative effect of accounting change	—		—		(7,830)		—		—		(7,830)
Adjusted beginning balance	47,360		766,718		72,444		(94,008)		4,236		796,750
Net income	—		—		3,953		—		—		3,953
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		29,303		29,303
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (10,607 shares)	13		334		—		—		—		347
Purchase of common stock (869,723 shares)	—		—		—		(25,842)		—		(25,842)
Stock compensation expense	—		695		—		—		—		695
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (47,428 shares)	—		693		(40)		435		—		1,088
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.31 per share)	—		—		(10,494)		—		—		(10,494)



Balance at March 31, 2020	47,373		768,440		65,863		(119,415)		33,539		795,800
Net income	—		—		21,554		—		—		21,554
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		9,472		9,472
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (11,532 shares)	14		322		—		—		—		336

Stock compensation expense	—		772		—		—		—		772
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (9,342 shares)	—		(127)		(50)		81		—		(96)
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.31 per share)	—		—		(10,233)		—		—		(10,233)



Balance at June 30, 2020	47,387		769,407		77,134		(119,334)		43,011		817,605
Net income	—		—		27,074		—		—		27,074
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		3,260		3,260
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (12,201 shares)	15		322		—		—		—		337
Stock compensation expense	—		786		—		—		—		786
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (27,477 shares)	—		124		(47)		254		—		331
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.31 per share)	—		—		(10,245)		—		—		(10,245)
Balance at September 30, 2020	$	47,402	$	770,639	$	93,916	$	(119,080)	$	46,271	$	839,148

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(UNAUDITED) (continued)

(in thousands, except share and per share data)


	Common Stock		Paid In Capital		Retained Earnings		Treasury Stock		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	47,307	$	762,470	$	64,797	$	(93,055)	$	(50,228)	$	731,291
Cumulative effect of accounting change	—		—		(16,452)		—		—		(16,452)
Adjusted beginning balance	47,307		762,470		48,345		(93,055)		(50,228)		714,839
Net income	—		—		18,817		—		—		18,817
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		34,455		34,455
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (10,565 shares)	13		342		—		—		—		355
Purchase of common stock (40,852 shares)	—		—		—		(1,325)		—		(1,325)
Stock compensation expense	—		661		—		—		—		661
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (23,617 shares)	—		109		(32)		261		—		338
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.30 per share)	—		—		(10,107)		—		—		(10,107)


Balance at March 31, 2019	47,320		763,582		57,023		(94,119)		(15,773)		758,033
Net income	—		—		18,610		—		—		18,610
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		20,708		20,708
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (10,570 shares)	13		336		—		—		—		349

Stock compensation expense	—		571		—		—		—		571
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (20,115 shares)	—		(269)		3		213		—		(53)
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.31 per share)	—		—		(10,453)		—		—		(10,453)


Balance at June 30, 2019	47,333		764,220		65,183		(93,906)		4,935		787,765
Net income	—		—		19,792		—		—		19,792
Other comprehensive income	—		—		—		—		11,756		11,756
Issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan (10,744 shares)	13		340		—		—		—		353

Stock compensation expense	—		522		—		—		—		522
Net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans (35,070 shares)	—		430		(27)		333		—		736
Cash dividends paid on common stock ($0.31 per share)	—		—		(10,471)		—		—		(10,471)
Balance at September 30, 2019	$	47,346	$	765,512	$	74,477	$	(93,573)	$	16,691	$	810,453

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)


	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2020		2019
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$	52,581	$	57,219
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and net amortization	9,128		9,110
Securities premium amortization (discount accretion), net	17,954		9,370
Loan (discount accretion) premium amortization, net	(847)		(1,056)
Provision for credit losses	25,746		2,593
Stock compensation expense	2,253		1,754
Deferred tax (benefit) expense	(4,305)		(4)

Net gain on sale of securities available for sale	(8,281)		(714)
Net loss on premises and equipment	821		258
Gross proceeds from sales of loans held for sale	48,343		16,862
Gross originations of loans held for sale	(56,646)		(17,261)
Net loss (gain) on other real estate owned	129		(93)
Retirement plan curtailment expense	163		—

Net change in:
Interest receivable	(1,987)		4,804
Other assets	(35,530)		(15,280)
Interest payable	(3,673)		16
Other liabilities	4,402		(7,624)
Net cash provided by operating activities	50,251		59,954

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Securities available for sale:
Purchases	(821,232)		(999,403)
Sales	291,581		728,107
Maturities, calls and principal repayments	316,072		114,739
Securities held to maturity:

Maturities, calls and principal repayments	19,820		21,809
Proceeds from redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock and equity investments	20,000		8,788
Purchases of Federal Home Loan Bank stock and equity investments	(5,483)		(21,504)
Net loan originations	(222,342)		(191,116)

Purchases of premises and equipment	(10,216)		(11,449)
Proceeds from sales of premises and equipment	114		94
Proceeds from sales of other real estate owned	277		674
Purchases of bank owned life insurance	(12,500)		—
Proceeds from sales of repossessed assets	158		275
Net cash used in investing activities	(423,751)		(348,986)

(continued)

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)
(UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30,
	2020		2019
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net change in deposits	$	420,068	$	80,711
Net change in other borrowings	13,210		(27,184)
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	10,135,401		4,368,700
Repayment of Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	(10,155,201)		(4,108,812)


Proceeds from stock option exercises	1,502		1,284
Cash paid to tax authority related to tax withholding on share-based awards	(179)		(263)
Purchase of common stock	(25,842)		(1,325)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock for dividend reinvestment plan	1,020		1,057

Cash dividends paid	(30,972)		(31,031)
Net cash provided by financing activities	359,007		283,137

Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(14,493)		(5,895)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	110,697		120,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	96,204	$	114,824

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES FOR CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Interest paid	$	40,039	$	53,610
Income taxes paid	$	9,000	$	7,500

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Loans transferred to other repossessed assets and real estate through foreclosure	$	627	$	606





Unsettled trades to purchase securities	$	(7,294)	$	(30,270)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

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SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

1. Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies

Basis of Presentation

In this report, the words “the Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the combined entities of Southside Bancshares, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Southside Bank. The words “Southside” and “Southside Bancshares” refer to Southside Bancshares, Inc. The words “Southside Bank” and “the Bank” refer to Southside Bank. “Omni” refers to OmniAmerican Bancorp, Inc., a bank holding company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, OmniAmerican Bank, acquired by Southside on December 17, 2014. “Diboll” refers to Diboll State Bancshares, Inc., a bank holding company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, First Bank & Trust East Texas, acquired by Southside on November 30, 2017.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, not all information required by GAAP for complete financial statements is included in these interim statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of such financial statements have been included. Such adjustments consisted only of normal recurring items. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires the use of management’s estimates. These estimates are subjective in nature and involve matters of judgment. Actual amounts could differ from these estimates.

Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Accounting Changes and Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts may be reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

Current Expected Credit Losses

We adopted ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments” on January 1, 2020, the effective date of the guidance. ASU 2016-13 replaced the incurred loss model with an expected loss methodology that is referred to as current expected credit loss (“CECL”). The CECL model is used to estimate credit losses on certain off-balance-sheet credit exposures and certain types of financial instruments measured at amortized cost including loan receivables and held to maturity (“HTM”) debt securities. ASU 2016-13 also modified the impairment model on available for sale (“AFS”) debt securities, whereby credit losses are recognized as an allowance rather than a direct write-down of the AFS debt security. In addition, ASU 2016-13 modified the accounting model for purchased financial assets with credit deterioration (“PCD”) since their origination.

We adopted ASU 2016-13 using the modified retrospective approach for all financial assets measured at amortized cost and off-balance-sheet credit exposures. Adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2020, resulted in a cumulative-effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $7.8 million, net of tax. Due to the implementation of the guidance under the modified retrospective approach, prior periods have not been adjusted and are reported in accordance with previously applicable GAAP. The impairment model for AFS securities will be applied using a prospective approach.

We adopted ASU 2016-13 using the prospective transition approach for financial assets purchased with credit deterioration since their origination that were previously classified as purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) and accounted for under ASC 310-30. On the date of adoption, the amortized cost basis of the PCD assets was adjusted by an allowance for credit losses of $231,000. The remaining noncredit discount based upon the adjusted amortized cost basis will be accreted into interest income at the effective interest rate as of the date of adoption.

Current Expected Credit Losses ("CECL"). Current expected credit losses is the estimated credit loss over the contractual life of a financial instrument measured upon origination or purchase of the instrument. The measurement of the credit loss is based upon the historical or expected credit loss patterns adjusted for current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecast periods adjusted for prepayments and significant reserve factors. The impact of varying economic conditions and portfolio stress factors are now a component of the credit loss models applied to each portfolio. Reserve factors are specific to the financial instrument segments that share similar risk characteristics based on the probability of default assumptions and loss given default assumptions, over the contractual term. The forecasted periods gradually mean-revert to the long-run trend based upon historical data. Management evaluates the economic data points used in the Moody’s forecasting scenarios on a quarterly basis to determine the most appropriate impact to the various portfolio characteristics based on management’s view and may apply additional scenario conditions, weights, and/or relevant qualitative factors, not previously considered, to determine the

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appropriate allowance level. The use of the CECL model includes significant judgment by management and may differ from those of our peers due to different historical loss patterns and the length of time of the reasonable and supportable forecast period and reversion period.

When assessing for credit losses from period to period, the change may be indicative of changes in the estimates of timing or the amount of future cash flows, based on the probability of economic forecast scenarios applied, as well as the passage of time. We have elected to report the entire change in present value as provision for credit losses.

When using the discounted cash flow method to determine the allowance for credit losses, management does not adjust the effective interest rate used to discount expected cash flows to incorporate expected prepayments, but rather applies separate prepayment factors.

The following table reflects the impact of ASU 2016-13 on our allowances for credit losses as of January 1, 2020, the date of adoption:


	January 1, 2020
	Pre-Adoption		Impact of Adoption		Post-Adoption
ASSETS
Allowance for loan losses
Loans:
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	3,539	$	2,953	$	6,492
1-4 family residential	3,833		(1,453)		2,380
Commercial	9,572		8,063		17,635
Commercial loans	6,351		(3,554)		2,797
Municipal loans	570		(522)		48
Loans to individuals	932		(184)		748
Allowance for loan losses	$	24,797	$	5,303	$	30,100

LIABILITIES
Allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures	$	1,455	$	4,840	$	6,295

Accrued Interest. Accrued interest for our loans and debt securities, included in interest receivable on our consolidated balance sheets, is excluded from the estimate of allowance for credit losses (“ACL”).

Nonaccrual Assets and Loan Charge-offs. Nonaccrual assets include financial assets 90 days or more delinquent and full collection of both principal and interest is not expected. Financial instruments that are not delinquent or that are delinquent less than 90 days may be placed on nonaccrual status if it is probable that we will not receive contractual principal or interest. When an asset is categorized as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest is discontinued and any accrued balance is reversed for financial statement purposes. Payments received on nonaccrual assets are applied to the outstanding principal balance. Payments of contractual interest are recognized as income only to the extent that full recovery of the principal balance is reasonably certain. Assets are returned to accrual status when all payments contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Industry and our own experience indicates that a portion of our loans will become delinquent and a portion of our loans will require partial or full charge-off. Regardless of the underwriting criteria utilized, losses may occur as a result of various factors beyond our control, including, among other things, changes in market conditions affecting the value of properties used as collateral for loans and problems affecting the credit worthiness of the borrower and the ability of the borrower to make payments on the loan. We charge-off loans when deemed uncollectible. Our policy is to charge-off or partially charge-off a retail credit after it is 120 days past due. Charge-offs on commercial credits are determined on a case-by-case basis when a credit loss has been confirmed.

Debt Securities

Available for Sale (“AFS”). Debt securities that will be held for indefinite periods of time, including securities that may be sold in response to changes in market interest or prepayment rates, needs for liquidity and changes in the availability of and the yield on alternative investments are classified as AFS. These assets are carried at fair value with unrealized gains and losses, not related to credit losses, reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”), net of tax. Fair value is determined using quoted market prices as of the close of business on the balance sheet date. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices for similar securities or estimates from independent pricing services.

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Held to Maturity (“HTM”). Debt securities that management has the positive intent and ability to hold until maturity are classified as HTM and are carried at their amortized cost which includes the remaining unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized premiums or unaccreted discounts. Our HTM securities are presented on the consolidated balance sheet net of allowance for credit losses, if any. As of September 30, 2020, there was no allowance for credit losses on our HTM securities portfolio.

Premiums and Discounts. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are generally amortized over the contractual life of the security, except for mortgage backed securities where prepayments are anticipated and for callable debt securities whose premiums are amortized to the earliest call date in accordance with ASC 310. The amortization of purchased premium or discount is included in interest income on our consolidated statements of income. Gains and losses on the sale of securities are recorded in the month of the trade date and are determined using the specific identification method. On January 1, 2019, we adopted ASU 2017-08, “Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20): Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities,” and in conjunction with the adoption recognized a cumulative effect adjustment to reduce retained earnings by $16.5 million, before tax, related to premiums on callable debt securities. With the adoption of ASU 2017-08, premiums on debt securities will be amortized to the earliest call date.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Available for Sale Securities. For AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position where management (i) has the intent to sell or (ii) where it will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, we write the security down to fair value through income. For those AFS debt securities that do not meet either of these criteria, management assesses whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit losses or other factors. Management assesses the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, industry and/or geographic conditions, credit ratings as well as other indicators at the individual security level. If a credit loss is determined to exist, the present value of discounted cash flows expected to be collected from the security are compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. If the present value of discounted cash flows expected to be collected is less than the amortized cost basis, a credit loss exists and an allowance for credit loss is recorded, limited by the amount that the fair value is less than the amortized cost. Any impairment that is not recorded through an allowance for credit losses is recognized in comprehensive income. Any future changes in the allowance for credit losses is recorded as provision for (reversal of) credit losses. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the credit related portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized as a direct write-down of the AFS debt security.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Held to Maturity Securities. Expected credit losses on HTM securities are measured on a collective basis by major security type, when similar risk characteristics exist. Risk characteristics for segmenting HTM debt securities include issuer, maturity, coupon rate, yield, payment frequency, source of repayment, bond payment structure, and embedded options. Upon assignment of the risk characteristics to the major security types, management may further evaluate the qualitative factors associated with these securities to determine the expectation of credit losses, if any.

The major security types within our HTM portfolio include residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) and state and political subdivisions.

Our state and political subdivisions include highly-rated municipal securities with a long history of no credit losses. Our investment policy prohibits bond purchases with a rating less than BAA and limits our entity concentration. We utilize term structures and due to no prior loss exposure on our state and political subdivision securities, we apply third party average data to model our securities to represent the portion of the asset that would be lost if the issuer were to default. These third party estimates of recoveries and defaults, adjusted for constant probability over the securities expected life, are used to evaluate the expected loss of the securities. Due to the limited number and the nature of the HTM state and political subdivisions we hold, we do not model these securities as a pool, but on the specific identification method in conjunction with the application of our third-party fair value measurement.

Our residential and commercial MBS are issued and/or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises (“GSEs”) and are collateralized by pools of single- or multi-family mortgages. Our MBS are highly rated securities with a long history of no credit losses which are either explicitly or implicitly backed by the U.S. government agencies, primarily the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) and GSEs, primarily Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) and Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”) which guarantee the payment of principal and interest to investors. Management has collectively evaluated the characteristics of these securities and has assumed an expectation of zero credit loss. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, the credit related portion of an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized as a direct write-down of the HTM debt security.

We reevaluate the characteristics of our major security types at every reporting period and reassess the considerations to continue to support our expectation of credit loss.

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Loans

Loans. Loans that management has the intent and ability to hold for the foreseeable future or until maturity or pay-off are reported at amortized cost. Amortized cost consists of the outstanding principal balance adjusted for any charge-offs and any unamortized origination fees and unamortized premiums or discounts on purchased loans. Loan origination fees, net of certain direct origination costs, are deferred and recognized in interest income over the life of the loan.

Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans. With the adoption of ASU 2016-13 on January 1, 2020, the allowance for credit losses on loans is estimated and recognized upon origination of the loan based on expected credit losses. ASU 2016-13 replaced the previous incurred loss model which incorporated only known information as of the balance sheet date. The CECL model uses historical experience and current conditions for homogeneous pools of loans, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about future events. We utilize Moody’s Analytics economic forecast scenarios and assign probability weighting to those scenarios which best reflect management’s views on the economic forecast. The probability weighting and scenarios utilized for the third quarter 2020 estimate of the allowance, were generally reflective of an improved economic forecast as compared to prior quarters.

When determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses on our loan portfolio, our commercial construction and real estate loans, commercial loans and municipal loans utilize the probability of default/loss given default discounted cash flow approach. These loans are assigned to pools based upon risk factors including the loan type and structure, collateral type, leverage ratio, refinancing risk and origination quality, among others. Our consumer construction real estate loans, 1-4 family residential loans and our loans to individuals use a loss rate approach and are assigned to pools based upon risk factors including loan types, origination year and credit scores.

Loans evaluated collectively in a pool are monitored to ensure they continue to exhibit similar risk characteristics with other loans in a pool. If a loan does not share similar risk characteristics with other loans, expected credit losses for that loan are evaluated individually.

Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) Loans. We have purchased certain loans that as of the date of purchase have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. Management evaluates these loans against a probability threshold to determine if substantially all of the contractually required payments will be received. With the adoption of ASU 2016-13, PCD loans are recorded at the purchase price plus an allowance for credit losses which becomes the PCD loan's initial amortized cost. The non-credit related discount or premium, the difference between the initial amortized cost and the par value, will be amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Any further changes to the allowance for credit losses are recorded through provision expense. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, acquired loans considered purchase credit impaired (“PCI”) were measured at fair value at acquisition date. The difference in expected cash flows at the acquisition date in excess of the fair value was recorded as interest income over the life of the loan. In accordance with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, management did not reassess whether PCI assets met the criteria of PCD assets and elected to not maintain pools of loans as of the date of adoption. All PCD loans are evaluated based upon product type within the underlying segment.

Troubled Debt Restructurings (“TDRs”). A loan is considered a TDR if the original terms of a loan are modified, or concessions are made to accommodate a borrower experiencing financial duress. The modification or concession may include reduction of interest rates, reduced payment amounts, and/or extension of terms, among others. The likelihood of initiating a TDR is evaluated at each reporting date for each loan. This evaluation is based on qualitative judgments made by management on a case-by-case basis. If a reasonable expectation of a TDR exists, the expected credit loss is adjusted for any potential delays and/or modifications.

In response to the novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, in March 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law. Under the CARES Act, banks may elect to deem that loan modifications do not result in TDRs if they are (1) related to COVID-19; (2) executed on a loan that was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019; and (3) executed between March 1, 2020, and the earlier of (A) 60 days after the date of termination of the national emergency declaration or (B) December 31, 2020. Additionally, in accordance with the Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (Revised), other short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief are not TDRs under ASC Subtopic 310-40. This includes short-term (e.g., up to six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or delays in payments that are insignificant. Borrowers considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented.

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Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Contingencies

Allowance for Credit Losses - Off-Balance-Sheet Credit Exposures. Our off-balance-sheet credit exposures include contractual commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. For these credit exposures we evaluate the expected credit losses using usage given defaults and credit conversion factors depending on the type of commitment and based upon historical usage rates. These assumptions are reevaluated on an annual basis and adjusted if necessary. In accordance with Topic 326, credit losses are not recognized for those credit exposures that are unconditionally cancellable by the Company.

The allowance for credit losses for these off-balance-sheet credit exposures is included in other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets and is adjusted with a corresponding adjustment to provision for credit losses on our consolidated statements of income. Prior to the adoption of CECL on January 1, 2020, the provision for off-balance-sheet credit exposures was included in other noninterest expense.

Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” ASU 2020-04 is intended to provide relief for companies preparing for discontinuation of interest rates based on LIBOR. The ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, that reference LIBOR or other reference rates expected to be discontinued. ASU 2020-04 also provides for a one-time sale and/or transfer to AFS or trading to be made for HTM debt securities that both reference an eligible reference rate and were classified as HTM before January 1, 2020. ASU 2020-04 was effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 and through December 31, 2022. Companies can apply the ASU as of the beginning of the interim period that includes March 12, 2020 or any date thereafter. The guidance requires companies to apply the guidance prospectively to contract modifications and hedging relationships while the one-time election to sell and/or transfer debt securities classified as HTM may be made any time after March 12, 2020. ASU 2020-04 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

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2. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share on a basic and diluted basis are calculated as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Basic and Diluted Earnings:
Net income	$	27,074	$	19,792	$	52,581	$	57,219
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	33,047		33,773		33,250		33,732
Add: Stock awards	51		128		81		146
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	33,098		33,901		33,331		33,878
Basic earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.82	$	0.59	$	1.58	$	1.70
Diluted earnings per share:
Net income	$	0.82	$	0.58	$	1.58	$	1.69

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, there were approximately 835,000 and 811,000 anti-dilutive shares, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, there were approximately 477,000 and 482,000 anti-dilutive shares, respectively.

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3. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component are as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
					Pension Plans
	Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities		Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit		Net Gain (Loss)		Total
Beginning balance, net of tax	$	100,790	$	(20,904)		$	(20)	$	(36,855)	$	43,011
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	1,601		(197)			—		—		1,404
Reclassification adjustments included in net income	316		1,587			(2)		821		2,722
Income tax expense	(403)		(292)			—		(171)		(866)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,514		1,098			(2)		650		3,260
Ending balance, net of tax	$	102,304	$	(19,806)		$	(22)	$	(36,205)	$	46,271

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
					Pension Plans
	Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities		Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit		Net Gain (Loss)		Total
Beginning balance, net of tax	$	38,038	$	(1,672)		$	(145)	$	(31,985)	$	4,236
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	88,900		(25,236)			163		(7,558)		56,269
Reclassification adjustments included in net income	(7,551)		2,283			(6)		2,213		(3,061)

Income tax (expense) benefit	(17,083)		4,819			(34)		1,125		(11,173)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	64,266		(18,134)			123		(4,220)		42,035

Ending balance, net of tax	$	102,304	$	(19,806)		$	(22)	$	(36,205)	$	46,271

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	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
					Pension Plans
	Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities		Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit		Net Gain (Loss)		Total
Beginning balance, net of tax	$	31,070	$	(820)		$	(142)	$	(25,173)	$	4,935
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	17,334		(2,619)			—		—		14,715
Reclassification adjustments included in net income	70		(499)			(1)		596		166
Income tax expense	(3,655)		655			—		(125)		(3,125)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	13,749		(2,463)			(1)		471		11,756
Ending balance, net of tax	$	44,819	$	(3,283)		$	(143)	$	(24,702)	$	16,691

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
					Pension Plans
	Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities		Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Derivatives			Net Prior Service (Cost) Credit		Net Gain (Loss)		Total
Beginning balance, net of tax	$	(31,120)	$	7,146		$	(139)	$	(26,115)	$	(50,228)


Other comprehensive income (loss):
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	96,156		(11,392)			—		—		84,764
Reclassification adjustments included in net income	(31)		(1,809)			(5)		1,789		(56)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(20,186)		2,772			1		(376)		(17,789)
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	75,939		(10,429)			(4)		1,413		66,919
Ending balance, net of tax	$	44,819	$	(3,283)		$	(143)	$	(24,702)	$	16,691

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The reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in net income are presented below (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019






Unrealized gains and losses on securities transferred:
Amortization of unrealized gains and losses (1)	$	(394)	$	(112)	$	(730)	$	(683)
Tax benefit	82		23		153		143
Net of tax	(312)		(89)		(577)		(540)

Unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities:
Realized net gain on sale of securities (2)	78		42		8,281		714


Tax expense	(16)		(9)		(1,739)		(150)
Net of tax	62		33		6,542		564

Derivatives:
Realized net (loss) gain on interest rate swap derivatives (3)	(1,593)		477		(2,303)		1,744
Tax benefit (expense)	335		(100)		484		(366)
Net of tax	(1,258)		377		(1,819)		1,378

Amortization of unrealized gains on terminated interest rate swap derivatives (3)	6		22		20		65
Tax expense	(1)		(5)		(4)		(14)
Net of tax	5		17		16		51

Amortization of pension plan:
Net actuarial loss (4)	(821)		(596)		(2,213)		(1,789)
Prior service credit (4)	2		1		6		5
Total before tax	(819)		(595)		(2,207)		(1,784)
Tax benefit	172		125		463		375
Net of tax	(647)		(470)		(1,744)		(1,409)
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax	$	(2,150)	$	(132)	$	2,418	$	44

(1) Included in interest income on the consolidated statements of income.

(2) Listed as net gain on sale of securities available for sale on the consolidated statements of income.

(3) Included in interest expense for Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (“FHLB”) borrowings on the consolidated statements of income.

(4) These AOCI components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost (income) presented in “Note 8 – Employee Benefit Plans.”

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4. Securities

Debt securities

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and estimated fair value of investment and mortgage-backed securities available for sale (“AFS”) and held to maturity (“HTM”) as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are reflected in the tables below (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020
	Amortized		Gross Unrealized		Gross Unrealized		Estimated
AVAILABLE FOR SALE	Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	1,430,978	$	82,170	$	294	$	1,512,854
Other stocks and bonds	47,110		644		54		47,700

Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	899,713		45,017		27		944,703
Commercial	122,895		5,465		98		128,262
Total	$	2,500,696	$	133,296	$	473	$	2,633,519




HELD TO MATURITY
Investment securities:
State and political subdivisions	$	907	$	17	$	—	$	924
Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	53,818		4,997		—		58,815
Commercial	60,364		5,278		—		65,642
Total	$	115,089	$	10,292	$	—	$	125,381


	December 31, 2019
	Amortized		Gross Unrealized		Gross Unrealized		Estimated
AVAILABLE FOR SALE	Cost		Gains		Losses		Fair Value
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	780,376	$	23,832	$	1,406	$	802,802
Other stocks and bonds	10,000		137		—		10,137

Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	1,286,110		25,662		1,130		1,310,642
Commercial	230,255		4,795		34		235,016
Total	$	2,306,741	$	54,426	$	2,570	$	2,358,597





HELD TO MATURITY
Investment securities:
State and political subdivisions	$	2,888	$	30	$	—	$	2,918
Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	59,701		2,586		139		62,148
Commercial	72,274		1,622		83		73,813
Total	$	134,863	$	4,238	$	222	$	138,879

(1) All mortgage-backed securities issued and/or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises.

Investment securities and MBS with carrying values of $1.51 billion and $1.12 billion were pledged as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, to collateralize FHLB borrowings, borrowings from the Federal Reserve Discount Window, repurchase agreements and public fund deposits, for potential liquidity needs or other purposes as required by law.

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The following tables represent the fair value and unrealized losses on AFS investment and mortgage-backed securities for which an allowance for credit losses has not been recorded as of September 30, 2020 and AFS and HTM investment and mortgage-backed securities as of December 31, 2019, segregated by major security type and length of time in a continuous loss position (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020
	Less Than 12 Months				More Than 12 Months				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	32,638	$	294	$	—	$	—	$	32,638	$	294
Other stocks and bonds	9,946		54		—		—		9,946		54

Mortgage-backed securities:
Residential	6,062		27		—		—		6,062		27
Commercial	4,797		98		—		—		4,797		98
Total	$	53,443	$	473	$	—	$	—	$	53,443	$	473

	December 31, 2019
	Less Than 12 Months				More Than 12 Months				Total
	Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss		Fair Value		Unrealized Loss
AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	158,629	$	1,270	$	7,555	$	136	$	166,184	$	1,406


Mortgage-backed securities:
Residential	101,779		980		21,696		150		123,475		1,130
Commercial	13,555		32		1,446		2		15,001		34
Total	$	273,963	$	2,282	$	30,697	$	288	$	304,660	$	2,570

HELD TO MATURITY


Mortgage-backed securities:
Residential	$	272	$	9	$	2,304	$	130	$	2,576	$	139
Commercial	12,781		67		1,788		16		14,569		83
Total	$	13,053	$	76	$	4,092	$	146	$	17,145	$	222

With the adoption of ASU 2016-13, for those AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position where management (i) has the intent to sell or (ii) where it will more-likely-than-not be required to sell the security before the recovery of its amortized cost basis, we write the security down to fair value with an adjustment to earnings. For those AFS debt securities in an unrealized loss position that do not meet either of these criteria, management assesses whether the decline in fair value has resulted from credit-related factors, using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. Determining the allowance under the credit loss method requires the use of a discounted cash flow method to assess the credit losses. Any credit-related impairment will be recognized in allowance for credit losses on the balance sheet with a corresponding adjustment to earnings. Noncredit-related impairment, the portion of the impairment relating to factors other than credit (such as changes in market interest rates), is recognized in other comprehensive income, net of tax.

Based on our consideration of the qualitative factors associated with each security type in our AFS portfolio, we did not recognize any unrealized losses in income on our AFS securities during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Our state and political subdivisions are highly rated municipal securities with a long history of no credit losses. Our AFS MBS are highly rated securities which are either explicitly or implicitly backed by the U.S. Government through its agencies which are highly rated by major ratings agencies and also have a long history of no credit losses. Our other stocks and bonds as of September 30, 2020 consist of highly rated investment grade bonds. Management does not intend to sell and it is likely we will not be required to sell those securities in an unrealized loss position prior to the anticipated recovery of the amortized cost basis. These unrealized losses on our investment and MBS are largely due to changes in interest rates and spreads and other market conditions impacted by COVID-19. As of September 30, 2020, we did not have an allowance for credit losses on our AFS securities.

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We assess the likelihood of default and the potential amount of default when assessing our HTM securities for credit losses. We utilize term structures and, due to no prior loss exposure on our state and political subdivision securities, we currently apply a third-party average loss given default rate to model our securities. Due to a small number of HTM municipal securities in our portfolio as of September 30, 2020, we elected to use the specific identification method to model these securities which aligns with our third party fair value measurement process. The model determined the expected credit loss over the life of these securities to be remote. Management further evaluated the remote expectation of loss along with the qualitative factors associated with these securities and concluded that, due to the securities being highly rated municipals with a long history of no credit losses, no credit loss should be recognized for these securities for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. We recognize the change in the allowance for credit losses due to the passage of time for our HTM debt securities, if any, in provision for credit losses. As of September 30, 2020, we did not have an allowance for credit losses on our HTM securities.

From time to time, we have transferred securities from AFS to HTM due to overall balance sheet strategies. The remaining net unamortized, unrealized loss on the transferred securities included in AOCI in the accompanying balance sheets totaled $3.3 million ($2.6 million, net of tax) at September 30, 2020 and $3.7 million ($2.9 million, net of tax) at December 31, 2019. Any net unrealized gain or loss on the transferred securities included in AOCI at the time of transfer will be amortized over the remaining life of the underlying security as an adjustment to the yield on those securities. Securities transferred with losses included in AOCI continue to be included in management’s assessment for impairment for each individual security. There were no securities transferred from AFS to HTM during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 or the year ended December 31, 2019.

The accrued interest receivable on our debt securities is excluded from the credit loss estimate and is included in interest receivable on our consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2020, accrued interest receivable on AFS and HTM debt securities totaled $13.7 million and $304,000, respectively. No HTM debt securities were past-due or on nonaccrual status as of September 30, 2020.

The following table reflects interest income recognized on securities for the periods presented (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019


State and political subdivisions	$	9,787	$	4,167

Other stocks and bonds	391		26
Mortgage-backed securities	7,048		12,569
Total interest income on securities	$	17,226	$	16,762


	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019


State and political subdivisions	$	26,281	$	11,812
Other stocks and bonds	568		81
Mortgage-backed securities	27,626		38,289
Total interest income on securities	$	54,475	$	50,182

There was a $8.3 million net realized gain from the AFS securities portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, which consisted of $8.4 million in realized gains and $89,000 in realized losses. There was a $714,000 net realized gain from the AFS securities portfolio for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, which consisted of $5.6 million in realized gains and $4.9 million in realized losses. There were no sales from the HTM portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 or 2019. We calculate realized gains and losses on sales of securities under the specific identification method.

Expected maturities on our securities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations. MBS are presented in total by category since MBS are typically issued with stated principal amounts and are backed by pools of mortgages that have loans with varying maturities. The characteristics of the underlying pool of mortgages, such as fixed-rate or adjustable-rate, as well as prepayment risk, are passed on to the security holder. The term of a mortgage-backed pass-through security thus approximates the term of the underlying mortgages and can vary significantly due to prepayments.

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The amortized cost and estimated fair value of AFS and HTM securities at September 30, 2020, are presented below by contractual maturity (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Investment securities:
Due in one year or less	$	1,178	$	1,186
Due after one year through five years	36,365		37,241
Due after five years through ten years	57,583		59,997
Due after ten years	1,382,962		1,462,130
	1,478,088		1,560,554
Mortgage-backed securities:	1,022,608		1,072,965
Total	$	2,500,696	$	2,633,519


	September 30, 2020
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value
HELD TO MATURITY
Investment securities:
Due in one year or less	$	120	$	122
Due after one year through five years	509		518
Due after five years through ten years	278		284
Due after ten years	—		—
	907		924
Mortgage-backed securities:	114,182		124,457
Total	$	115,089	$	125,381

Equity Investments

Equity investments on our consolidated balance sheets include Community Reinvestment Act funds with a readily determinable fair value as well as equity investments without readily determinable fair values. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, we had equity investments recorded in our consolidated balance sheets of $12.1 million and $12.3 million, respectively.

Any realized and unrealized gains and losses on equity investments are reported in income. Equity investments without readily determinable fair values are recorded at cost less impairment, if any.

The following is a summary of unrealized and realized gains and losses on equity investments recognized in other noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income during the periods presented (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Net gains (losses) recognized during the period on equity investments	$	(232)	$	(27)	$	(178)	$	136
Less: Net gains recognized during the period on equity investments sold during the period	—		—		—		—
Unrealized gains (losses) recognized during the reporting period on equity investments held at the reporting date	$	(232)	$	(27)	$	(178)	$	136

Equity investments are assessed quarterly for other-than-temporary impairment. Based upon that evaluation, management does not consider any of our equity investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2020.

FHLB Stock

Our FHLB stock, which has limited marketability, is carried at cost and is assessed quarterly for other-than-temporary impairment. Based upon evaluation by management at September 30, 2020, our FHLB stock was not impaired and thus was not considered to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

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5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses

Loans in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are classified as follows (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	610,394	$	644,948
1-4 family residential	738,343		787,562
Commercial	1,327,233		1,250,208
Commercial loans	629,170		401,521
Municipal loans	387,286		383,960
Loans to individuals	97,549		100,005
Total loans	3,789,975		3,568,204
Less: Allowance for loan losses	55,110		24,797
Net loans	$	3,734,865	$	3,543,407

Construction Real Estate Loans

Our construction loans are collateralized by property located primarily in or near the market areas we serve. A number of our construction loans will be owner occupied upon completion. Construction loans for non-owner occupied projects are financed, but these typically have cash flows from leases with tenants, secondary sources of repayment, and in some cases, additional collateral. Our construction loans have both adjustable and fixed interest rates during the construction period. Construction loans to individuals are typically priced and made with the intention of granting the permanent loan on the completed property. Speculative and commercial construction loans are subject to underwriting standards similar to that of the commercial portfolio. Owner occupied 1-4 family residential construction loans are subject to the underwriting standards of the permanent loan.

1-4 Family Residential Real Estate Loans

Residential loan originations are generated by our loan officers, in-house origination staff, marketing efforts, present customers, walk-in customers and referrals from real estate agents and builders. We focus our lending efforts primarily on the origination of loans secured by first mortgages on owner occupied 1-4 family residences. Substantially all of our 1-4 family residential originations are secured by properties located in or near our market areas.

Our 1-4 family residential loans generally have maturities ranging from five to 30 years. These loans are typically fully amortizing with monthly payments sufficient to repay the total amount of the loan. Our 1-4 family residential loans are made at both fixed and adjustable interest rates.

Underwriting for 1-4 family residential loans includes debt-to-income analysis, credit history analysis, appraised value and down payment considerations. Changes in the market value of real estate can affect the potential losses in the portfolio.

Commercial Real Estate Loans

Commercial real estate loans as of September 30, 2020 consisted of $1.19 billion of owner and non-owner occupied real estate, $119.4 million of loans secured by multi-family properties and $15.1 million of loans secured by farmland. Commercial real estate loans primarily include loans collateralized by retail, commercial office buildings, multi-family residential buildings, medical facilities and offices, senior living, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, warehouse facilities, hotels and churches. In determining whether to originate commercial real estate loans, we generally consider such factors as the financial condition of the borrower and the debt service coverage of the property. Commercial real estate loans are made at both fixed and adjustable interest rates for terms generally up to 20 years.

Commercial Loans

Our commercial loans are diversified loan types including short-term working capital loans for inventory and accounts receivable and short- and medium-term loans for equipment or other business capital expansion. In our commercial loan underwriting, we assess the creditworthiness, ability to repay and the value and liquidity of the collateral being offered. Terms of commercial loans are generally commensurate with the useful life of the collateral offered.

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Municipal Loans

We make loans to municipalities and school districts primarily throughout the state of Texas, with a small percentage originating outside of the state. The majority of the loans to municipalities and school districts have tax or revenue pledges and in some cases are additionally supported by collateral. Municipal loans made without a direct pledge of taxes or revenues are usually made based on some type of collateral that represents an essential service. Lending money directly to these municipalities allows us to earn a higher yield than we could if we purchased municipal securities for similar durations.

Loans to Individuals

Substantially all originations of our loans to individuals are made to consumers in our market areas. The majority of loans to individuals are collateralized by titled equipment, which are primarily automobiles. Loan terms vary according to the type and value of collateral, length of contract and creditworthiness of the borrower. The underwriting standards we employ for consumer loans include an application, a determination of the applicant’s payment history on other debts, with the greatest weight being given to payment history with us and an assessment of the borrower’s ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. Although creditworthiness of the applicant is a primary consideration, the underwriting process also includes a comparison of the value of the collateral, if any, in relation to the proposed loan amount. Most of our loans to individuals are collateralized, which management believes assists in limiting our exposure.

Credit Quality Indicators

We categorize loans into risk categories on an ongoing basis based on relevant information about the ability of borrowers to service their debt such as: current financial information, historical payment experience, credit documentation, public information and current economic trends, among other factors. We use the following definitions for risk ratings:

•Pass (Rating 1 – 4) – This rating is assigned to all satisfactory loans. This category, by definition, consists of acceptable credit. Credit and collateral exceptions should not be present, although their presence would not necessarily prohibit a loan from being rated Pass, if deficiencies are in the process of correction. These loans are not included in the Watch List.

•Pass Watch (Rating 5) – These loans require some degree of special treatment, but not due to credit quality. This category does not include loans specially mentioned or adversely classified; however, particular attention is warranted to characteristics such as:

▪A lack of, or abnormally extended payment program;

▪A heavy degree of concentration of collateral without sufficient margin;

▪A vulnerability to competition through lesser or extensive financial leverage; and

▪A dependence on a single or few customers or sources of supply and materials without suitable substitutes or alternatives.

•Special Mention (Rating 6) – A Special Mention loan has potential weaknesses that deserve management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or in our credit position at some future date. Special Mention loans are not adversely classified and do not expose us to sufficient risk to warrant adverse classification.

•Substandard (Rating 7) – Substandard loans are inadequately protected by the current sound worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified must have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the debt. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

•Doubtful (Rating 8) – Loans classified as Doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified Substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation, in full, on the basis of currently known facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.

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The following table sets forth the amortized cost basis by class of financing receivable and credit quality indicator for the periods presented (in thousands):


	Term Loans Amortized Cost Basis by Origination Year												Revolving Loans Amortized Cost Basis		Total
	2020		2019		2018		2017		2016		Prior
Construction real estate:
Pass	$	87,515	$	214,617	$	108,910	$	74,431	$	3,553	$	9,241	$	110,858	$	609,125
Pass watch	—		—		—		—		23		—		—		23
Special mention	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Substandard	—		995		—		—		—		63		—		1,058
Doubtful	—		—		—		—		—		188		—		188
Total construction real estate	$	87,515	$	215,612	$	108,910	$	74,431	$	3,576	$	9,492	$	110,858	$	610,394

1-4 family residential real estate:
Pass	$	113,367	$	124,089	$	79,065	$	62,838	$	65,842	$	282,651	$	3,135	$	730,987
Pass watch	—		—		—		—		—		14		—		14
Special mention	—		—		—		—		—		12		—		12
Substandard	—		—		84		286		1,461		4,599		114		6,544
Doubtful	—		—		—		160		147		479		—		786
Total 1-4 family residential real estate	$	113,367	$	124,089	$	79,149	$	63,284	$	67,450	$	287,755	$	3,249	$	738,343

Commercial real estate:
Pass	$	168,851	$	347,128	$	161,643	$	210,171	$	115,591	$	226,048	$	6,642	$	1,236,074
Pass watch	—		—		2,211		—		—		2,587		—		4,798
Special mention	5,983		33,008		7,067		141		4,543		7,846		—		58,588
Substandard	9,230		2,599		2,246		112		632		12,898		—		27,717
Doubtful	—		—		—		—		—		56		—		56
Total commercial real estate	$	184,064	$	382,735	$	173,167	$	210,424	$	120,766	$	249,435	$	6,642	$	1,327,233

Commercial loans:
Pass	$	366,405	$	72,148	$	27,755	$	11,448	$	4,989	$	7,484	$	127,918	$	618,147
Pass watch	324		835		31		—		—		—		204		1,394
Special mention	—		693		450		208		325		606		391		2,673
Substandard	379		906		203		20		1		165		4,601		6,275
Doubtful	—		108		508		62		3		—		—		681
Total commercial loans	$	367,108	$	74,690	$	28,947	$	11,738	$	5,318	$	8,255	$	133,114	$	629,170

Municipal loans:
Pass	$	43,539	$	69,964	$	35,013	$	62,626	$	25,873	$	150,271	$	—	$	387,286
Pass watch	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Special mention	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Substandard	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Doubtful	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Total municipal loans	$	43,539	$	69,964	$	35,013	$	62,626	$	25,873	$	150,271	$	—	$	387,286

Loans to individuals:
Pass	$	40,522	$	30,412	$	12,870	$	5,910	$	2,370	$	1,158	$	3,897	$	97,139
Pass watch	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Special mention	—		—		53		—		—		—		4		57
Substandard	3		32		31		64		22		14		7		173
Doubtful	40		4		7		33		91		5		—		180
Total loans to individuals	$	40,565	$	30,448	$	12,961	$	6,007	$	2,483	$	1,177	$	3,908	$	97,549
Total loans	$	836,158	$	897,538	$	438,147	$	428,510	$	225,466	$	706,385	$	257,771	$	3,789,975

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The following tables present the aging of the amortized cost basis in past due loans by class of loans (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020
	30-59 Days Past Due		60-89 Days Past Due		Greater than 90 Days Past Due		Total Past Due		Current		Total
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	1,077	$	—	$	995	$	2,072	$	608,322	$	610,394
1-4 family residential	1,028		913		1,831		3,772		734,571		738,343
Commercial	231		84		—		315		1,326,918		1,327,233
Commercial loans	1,315		282		3		1,600		627,570		629,170
Municipal loans	—		—		—		—		387,286		387,286
Loans to individuals	509		81		37		627		96,922		97,549
Total	$	4,160	$	1,360	$	2,866	$	8,386	$	3,781,589	$	3,789,975


	December 31, 2019
	30-59 Days Past Due		60-89 Days Past Due		Greater than 89 Days Past Due		Total Past Due		Current (1)		Total
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	1,236	$	229	$	337	$	1,802	$	643,146	$	644,948
1-4 family residential	8,788		1,077		1,607		11,472		776,090		787,562
Commercial	795		259		536		1,590		1,248,618		1,250,208
Commercial loans	1,917		722		651		3,290		398,231		401,521
Municipal loans	—		—		—		—		383,960		383,960
Loans to individuals	660		261		128		1,049		98,956		100,005
Total	$	13,396	$	2,548	$	3,259	$	19,203	$	3,549,001	$	3,568,204

(1) Prior to the adoption of CECL, included PCI loans measured at fair value at acquisition if the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected from those sales could be reasonably estimated.

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The following table sets forth the amortized cost basis of nonperforming assets for the periods presented (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Nonaccrual loans:
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	1,246	$	405
1-4 family residential	2,838		2,611
Commercial	884		704
Commercial loans	784		944

Loans to individuals	219		299
Total nonaccrual loans (1)	5,971		4,963

Accruing loans past due more than 90 days	—		—
Troubled debt restructured loans(2)	10,307		12,014
Other real estate owned	536		472
Repossessed assets	8		—
Total nonperforming assets	$	16,822	$	17,449

(1) Prior to the adoption of CECL, excluded PCI loans measured at fair value at acquisition if the timing and amount of cash flows expected to be collected from those sales could be reasonably estimated. Includes $783,000 and $469,000 of restructured loans as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

(2) As of December 31, 2019, prior to the adoption of CECL, included $755,000 in PCI loans restructured.

We reversed no interest income on nonaccrual loans during the three months ended September 30, 2020 and reversed $147,000 of interest income on nonaccrual loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. We had $2.4 million of loans on nonaccrual for which there was no related allowance for credit losses as of September 30, 2020.

Collateral-dependent loans are loans that we expect the repayment to be provided substantially through the operation or sale of the collateral of the loan and we have determined that the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. In such cases, expected credit losses are based on the fair value of the collateral at the measurement date, adjusted for selling costs. As of September 30, 2020, we had $11.6 million of collateral-dependent loans, secured mainly by real estate and equipment. There have been no significant changes to the collateral that secures the collateral-dependent assets. Foreclosed assets include other real estate owned and repossessed assets. For 1-4 family residential real estate properties, a loan is recognized as a foreclosed property once legal title to the real estate property has been received upon completion of foreclosure or the borrower has conveyed all interest in the residential property through a deed in lieu of foreclosure. There were $1.1 million and $992,000 in loans secured by 1-4 family residential properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings were in process as of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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Troubled Debt Restructurings

The restructuring of a loan is considered a TDR if both (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (ii) the creditor has granted a concession. Concessions may include interest rate reductions or below market interest rates, restructuring amortization schedules and other actions intended to minimize potential losses. We may provide a combination of concessions which may include an extension of the amortization period, interest rate reduction and/or converting the loan to interest-only for a limited period of time.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law. Under the CARES Act, banks may elect to deem that loan modifications do not result in TDRs if they are (1) related to COVID-19; (2) executed on a loan that was not more than 30 days past due as of December 31, 2019; and (3) executed between March 1, 2020, and the earlier of (A) 60 days after the date of termination of the national emergency declaration or (B) December 31, 2020. Additionally, in accordance with the Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (Revised), other short-term modifications made on a good faith basis in response to COVID-19 to borrowers who were current prior to any relief are not TDRs under ASC Subtopic 310-40. This includes short-term (e.g., up to six months) modifications such as payment deferrals, fee waivers, extensions of repayment terms, or delays in payment that are insignificant. Borrowers considered current are those that are less than 30 days past due on their contractual payments at the time a modification program is implemented. Loans modified under this guidance are not considered TDRs and as such are not identified in the table below.

The following tables set forth the recorded balance of loans considered to be TDRs that were restructured and the type of concession by class of loans during the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Extend Amortization Period		Interest Rate Reductions		Combination		Total Modifications		Number of Loans
Real estate loans:


Commercial	$	—	$	—	$	58	$	58	1
Commercial loans	—		—		117		117		3


Total	$	—	$	—	$	175	$	175	4



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Extend Amortization Period		Interest Rate Reductions		Combination		Total Modifications		Number of Loans
Real estate loans:

1-4 family residential	$	—	$	—	$	14	$	14	1

Commercial loans	—		—		181		181		3


Total	$	—	$	—	$	195	$	195	4


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Extend Amortization Period		Interest Rate Reductions		Combination		Total Modifications		Number of Loans
Real estate loans:

1-4 family residential	$	—	$	—	$	123	$	123	2
Commercial	7,561		—		94		7,655		2
Commercial loans	54		—		659		713		8

Loans to individuals	—		—		26		26		3
Total	$	7,615	$	—	$	902	$	8,517	15

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There were no TDRs restructured during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

Interest continues to be charged on principal balances outstanding during the extended term. Therefore, the financial effects of the recorded investment of loans restructured as TDRs during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 were not significant. Generally, the loans identified as TDRs were previously reported as impaired loans prior to restructuring, and therefore, the modification did not impact our determination of the allowance for loans losses.

On an ongoing basis, the performance of the TDRs is monitored for subsequent payment default. Payment default for TDRs is recognized when the borrower is 90 days or more past due. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, and 2019 the amount of TDRs in default was not significant. Payment defaults for TDRs did not significantly impact the determination of the allowance for loan losses in the periods presented.

At September 30, 2020 and 2019, there were no commitments to lend additional funds to borrowers whose terms had been modified in TDRs.

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Allowance for Loan Losses

The following tables detail activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the periods presented (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Real Estate
	Construction		1-4 Family Residential		Commercial		Commercial Loans		Municipal Loans		Loans to Individuals		Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	8,500	$	2,702	$	43,785	$	4,221	$	47	$	613	$	59,868


Loans charged-off	(6)		(18)		(12)		(279)		—		(403)		(718)
Recoveries of loans charged-off	—		9		13		61		—		278		361
Net loans (charged-off) recovered	(6)		(9)		1		(218)		—		(125)		(357)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses(1)	(2,868)		(58)		(2,001)		489		(1)		38		(4,401)
Balance at end of period	$	5,626	$	2,635	$	41,785	$	4,492	$	46	$	526	$	55,110



	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020
	Real Estate
	Construction		1-4 Family Residential		Commercial		Commercial Loans		Municipal Loans		Loans to Individuals		Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,539	$	3,833	$	9,572	$	6,351	$	570	$	932	$	24,797
Impact of CECL adoption - cumulative effect adjustment	2,968		(1,447)		7,730		(3,532)		(522)		(125)		5,072
Impact of CECL adoption - purchased loans with credit deterioration	(15)		(6)		333		(22)		—		(59)		231
Loans charged-off	(39)		(74)		(33)		(800)		—		(1,313)		(2,259)
Recoveries of loans charged-off	11		29		94		191		—		923		1,248
Net loans (charged-off) recovered	(28)		(45)		61		(609)		—		(390)		(1,011)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses(1)	(838)		300		24,089		2,304		(2)		168		26,021
Balance at end of period	$	5,626	$	2,635	$	41,785	$	4,492	$	46	$	526	$	55,110



	Three Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Real Estate
	Construction		1-4 Family Residential		Commercial		Commercial Loans		Municipal Loans		Loans to Individuals		Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,599	$	3,522	$	10,534	$	5,546	$	530	$	974	$	24,705
Loans charged-off	—		(24)		—		(394)		—		(582)		(1,000)
Recoveries of loans charged-off	12		40		21		82		—		264		419
Net loans (charged-off) recovered	12		16		21		(312)		—		(318)		(581)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses	(35)		18		27		618		17		360		1,005
Balance at end of period	$	3,576	$	3,556	$	10,582	$	5,852	$	547	$	1,016	$	25,129

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	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019
	Real Estate
	Construction		1-4 Family Residential		Commercial		Commercial Loans		Municipal Loans		Loans to Individuals		Total
Balance at beginning of period	$	3,597	$	3,844	$	13,968	$	3,974	$	525	$	1,111	$	27,019
Loans charged-off	—		(42)		(2,876)		(975)		—		(1,789)		(5,682)
Recoveries of loans charged-off	12		46		59		235		—		847		1,199
Net loans (charged-off) recovered	12		4		(2,817)		(740)		—		(942)		(4,483)
Provision for (reversal of) loan losses	(33)		(292)		(569)		2,618		22		847		2,593
Balance at end of period	$	3,576	$	3,556	$	10,582	$	5,852	$	547	$	1,016	$	25,129

(1) The increase in the provision for credit losses during 2020 was primarily due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on macroeconomic factors used in the CECL methodology.

The accrued interest receivable on our loan receivables is excluded from the allowance for credit loss estimate and is included in interest receivable on our consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the accrued interest on our loan portfolio was $16.4 million and $14.2 million, respectively.

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6. Borrowing Arrangements

Information related to borrowings is provided in the table below (dollars in thousands):


	September 30, 2020			December 31, 2019
Other borrowings:
Balance at end of period	$	41,568		$	28,358
Average amount outstanding during the period (1)	112,851			15,645
Maximum amount outstanding during the period (2)	219,259			28,358
Weighted average interest rate during the period (3)	0.4		%	1.7		%
Interest rate at end of period (4)	0.3		%	1.7		%

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings:
Balance at end of period	$	952,944		$	972,744
Average amount outstanding during the period (1)	1,077,861			868,859
Maximum amount outstanding during the period (2)	1,274,370			1,077,883
Weighted average interest rate during the period (3)	1.2		%	2.0		%
Interest rate at end of period (4)	0.9		%	1.8		%

(1)The average amount outstanding during the period was computed by dividing the total daily outstanding principal balances by the number of days in the period.

(2)The maximum amount outstanding at any month-end during the period.

(3)The weighted average interest rate during the period was computed by dividing the actual interest expense (annualized for interim periods) by the average amount outstanding during the period. The weighted average interest rate on the FHLB borrowings includes the effect of interest rate swaps.

(4)Stated rate.

Maturities of the obligations associated with our borrowing arrangements based on scheduled repayments at September 30, 2020 are as follows (in thousands):


	Payments Due by Period
	Less than 1 Year		1-2 Years		2-3 Years		3-4 Years		4-5 Years		Thereafter		Total
Other borrowings	$	41,568	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	41,568
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	948,741		673		702		732		764		1,332		952,944
Total obligations	$	990,309	$	673	$	702	$	732	$	764	$	1,332	$	994,512

Other borrowings include federal funds purchased, repurchase agreements and borrowings from the Federal Reserve Discount Window (“FRDW”). Southside Bank has three unsecured lines of credit for the purchase of overnight federal funds at prevailing rates with Frost Bank, TIB – The Independent Bankers Bank and Comerica Bank for $40.0 million, $15.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively. There were no federal funds purchased at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019. To provide more liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve took steps to encourage broader use of the discount window. At September 30, 2020, the amount of additional funding the Bank could obtain from the Federal Reserve’s discount window, collateralized by securities and PPP loans, was approximately $785.8 million. There were no borrowings from the FRDW at September 30, 2020. Southside Bank currently has no outstanding letters of credit from FHLB held as collateral for its public fund deposits.

Southside Bank enters into sales of securities under repurchase agreements. These repurchase agreements totaled $41.6 million at September 30, 2020 and $28.4 million at December 31, 2019, and had maturities of less than one year. During the fourth quarter of 2019, Southside Bank entered into a $20.0 million variable rate repurchase agreement with an interest rate tied to one-month LIBOR. Repurchase agreements are secured by investment and MBS securities and are stated at the amount of cash received in connection with the transaction.

FHLB borrowings represent borrowings with fixed interest rates ranging from 0.10% to 4.799% and with remaining maturities of one day to 7.8 years at September 30, 2020. FHLB borrowings may be collateralized by FHLB stock, nonspecified loans

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and/or securities. At September 30, 2020, the amount of additional funding Southside Bank could obtain from FHLB, collateralized by securities, FHLB stock and nonspecified loans and securities, was approximately $1.16 billion, net of FHLB stock purchases required.

Southside Bank has entered into various variable rate agreements and fixed rate short-term pay agreements with third-party financial institutions with rates tied to LIBOR. These agreements totaled $690.0 million at September 30, 2020 and $310.0 million at December 31, 2019. Six of the agreements have an interest rate tied to three-month LIBOR and the remaining agreements have interest rates tied to one-month LIBOR. In connection with $670.0 million of these agreements, Southside Bank also entered into various interest rate swap contracts that are treated as cash flow hedges under ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” that are expected to be effective in hedging the variability in future cash flows attributable to fluctuations in the underlying LIBOR interest rate. The interest rate swap contracts had a weighted average rate of 1.14% with a weighted average maturity of 4.0 years at September 30, 2020. Refer to “Note 9 – Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities” in our consolidated financial statements included in this report for a detailed description of our hedging policy and methodology related to derivative instruments.

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7. Long-term Debt

Information related to our long-term debt is summarized as follows for the periods presented (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019

Subordinated notes: (1)
5.50% Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs (2)	$	98,708	$	98,576
Total Subordinated notes	98,708		98,576
Trust preferred subordinated debentures: (3)
Southside Statutory Trust III, net of unamortized debt issuance costs (4)	20,562		20,558
Southside Statutory Trust IV	23,196		23,196
Southside Statutory Trust V	12,887		12,887
Magnolia Trust Company I	3,609		3,609
Total Trust preferred subordinated debentures	60,254		60,250




Total Long-term debt	$	158,962	$	158,826

(1)This debt consists of subordinated notes with a remaining maturity greater than one year that qualify under the risk-based capital guidelines as Tier 2 capital, subject to certain limitations.

(2)The unamortized discount and debt issuance costs reflected in the carrying amount of the subordinated notes totaled approximately $1.3 million at September 30, 2020 and $1.4 million at December 31, 2019.

(3)This debt consists of trust preferred securities that qualify under the risk-based capital guidelines as Tier 1 capital, subject to certain limitations.

(4)The unamortized debt issuance costs reflected in the carrying amount of the Southside Statutory Trust III junior subordinated debentures totaled $57,000 at September 30, 2020 and $61,000 at December 31, 2019.

As of September 30, 2020, the details of the subordinated notes and the trust preferred subordinated debentures are summarized below (dollars in thousands):

Date Issued

Amount Issued

Fixed or Floating Rate

Interest Rate

Maturity Date

5.50% Subordinated Notes

September 19, 2016

100,000

Fixed-to-Floating

5.50%

September 30, 2026

Southside Statutory Trust III

September 4, 2003

20,619

Floating

3 month LIBOR + 2.94%

September 4, 2033

Southside Statutory Trust IV

August 8, 2007

23,196

Floating

3 month LIBOR + 1.30%

October 30, 2037

Southside Statutory Trust V

August 10, 2007

12,887

Floating

3 month LIBOR + 2.25%

September 15, 2037

Magnolia Trust Company I (1)

October 10, 2007

3,609

Floating

3 month LIBOR + 1.80%

November 23, 2035

(1)On October 10, 2007, as part of an acquisition we assumed $3.6 million of floating rate junior subordinated debentures issued in 2005 to Magnolia Trust Company I.

On September 19, 2016, the Company issued $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of fixed-to-floating rate subordinated notes that mature on September 30, 2026. This debt initially bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.50% through September 29, 2021 and thereafter, adjusts quarterly at a floating rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 429.7 basis points. The proceeds from the sale of the subordinated notes were used for general corporate purposes, which included advances to the Bank to finance its activities.

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8. Employee Benefit Plans

We have a defined benefit pension plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which participants are entitled to benefits based on final average monthly compensation and years of credited service determined in accordance with plan provisions. Entrance into the Plan by new employees was frozen effective December 31, 2005. Employees hired after December 31, 2005 are not eligible to participate in the Plan. All participants in the Plan are fully vested. Additionally, we have a nonfunded supplemental retirement plan (the “Restoration Plan”) for our employees whose benefits under the principal retirement plan are reduced because of compensation deferral elections or limitations under federal tax laws.

On June 18, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved changes to the Plan and Restoration Plan to freeze all future benefit accruals and accrual of benefit service, including consideration of compensation increases, effective December 31, 2020. As a result of these changes, the Plan liability was remeasured as of June 30, 2020. The Company recognized the Plan freeze as a curtailment since it eliminates the accrual of defined benefits for future services for participants. The impact of the curtailment included a one-time accelerated recognition of outstanding unamortized prior service costs of $163,000. We also recorded a decrease to our accumulated other comprehensive income, included in shareholders’ equity, of approximately $6.0 million due primarily to the decrease in the discount rate from 3.41% to 2.78%.

The components of net periodic benefit cost (income) related to our employee benefit plans are as follows (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended September 30,
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan				Defined Benefit Pension Plan Acquired				Restoration Plan
	2020		2019		2020		2019		2020		2019
Service cost	$	483	$	355	$	—	$	—	$	149	$	84
Interest cost	672		914		41		43		126		178
Expected return on assets	(1,344)		(1,508)		(75)		(74)		—		—
Net loss amortization	694		457		2		—		125		139
Prior service (credit) cost amortization	(4)		(3)		—		—		2		2
Loss due to curtailment	—		—		—		—		—		—
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	501	$	215	$	(32)	$	(31)	$	402	$	403



	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	Defined Benefit Pension Plan				Defined Benefit Pension Plan Acquired				Restoration Plan
	2020		2019		2020		2019		2020		2019
Service cost	$	1,311	$	1,065	$	—	$	—	$	280	$	254
Interest cost	2,359		2,741		122		127		442		534
Expected return on assets	(4,332)		(4,523)		(226)		(220)		—		—
Net loss amortization	1,780		1,370		7		—		426		419
Prior service (credit) cost amortization	(11)		(10)		—		—		5		5
Loss due to curtailment	151		—		—		—		12		—
Net periodic benefit cost (income)	$	1,258	$	643	$	(97)	$	(93)	$	1,165	$	1,212

The service cost component is recorded on our consolidated income statements as salaries and employee benefits in noninterest expense while all other components other than service cost are recorded in other noninterest expense.

During the three months ended June 30, 2020, we updated our expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for the Plan and our acquired OmniAmerican Bank Defined Benefit Plan from 7.25% to 6.50%.

The noncash adjustment to the employee benefit plan liabilities, consisting of changes in prior service cost and net loss, was $5.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

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9. Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

Our hedging policy allows the use of interest rate derivative instruments to manage our exposure to interest rate risk or hedge specified assets and liabilities. These instruments may include interest rate swaps and interest rate caps and floors. All derivative instruments are carried on the balance sheet at their estimated fair value and are recorded in other assets or other liabilities, as appropriate.

Derivative instruments may be designated as cash flow hedges of variable rate assets or liabilities, cash flow hedges of forecasted transactions, fair value hedges of a recognized asset or liability or as non-hedging instruments. Gains and losses on derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges are recorded in AOCI to the extent they are effective. If the hedge is effective, the amount recorded in other comprehensive income is reclassified to earnings in the same periods that the hedged cash flows impact earnings. The ineffective portion of changes in fair value is reported in current earnings. Gains and losses on derivative instruments designated as fair value hedges, as well as the change in fair value on the hedged item, are recorded in interest income in the consolidated statements of income. Gains and losses due to changes in fair value of the interest rate swap agreements completely offset changes in the fair value of the hedged portion of the hedged item. For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the gain or loss is recognized in current earnings during the period of change.

We have entered into certain interest rate swap contracts on specific variable rate agreements and fixed rate short-term pay agreements with third-party financial institutions. These interest rate swap contracts were designated as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges under ASC Topic 815. The objective of the interest rate swap contracts is to manage the expected future cash flows on $670.0 million of debt. The cash flows from the swap contracts are expected to be effective in hedging the variability in future cash flows attributable to fluctuations in the underlying LIBOR interest rate.

During the first quarter of 2019, our partial-term fair value hedges for certain of our fixed rate callable AFS municipal securities were ineffective due to the sale of the hedged items. These partial-term hedges of selected cash flows covering the time periods to the call dates of the hedged securities were expected to be effective in offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged securities. Interest rate swaps designated as partial-term fair value hedges are utilized to mitigate the effect of changing interest rates on the hedged securities. The hedging strategy converted a portion of the fixed interest rates on the securities to LIBOR-based variable interest rates. As a result of the sale, the cumulative adjustments to the carrying amount was a fair value loss recognized in earnings and recorded in interest income. The remaining fair value loss from the date of the sale of the hedged items through March 31, 2019, was recognized in earnings and recorded in noninterest income. Due to the sale of the hedged items, the interest rate swaps were considered non-hedging instruments and were subsequently terminated on April 12, 2019.

In accordance with ASC Topic 815, if a hedging item is terminated prior to maturity for a cash settlement, the existing gain or loss within AOCI will continue to be reclassified into earnings during the period or periods in which the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings unless it is probable the forecasted transaction will not occur by the end of the originally specified time period. These transactions are reevaluated on a monthly basis to determine if the hedged forecasted transactions are still probable of occurring. If at a subsequent evaluation, it is determined that the transactions will not occur, any related gains or losses recorded in AOCI are immediately recognized in earnings.

From time to time, we may enter into certain interest rate swaps, cap and floor contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. These interest rate derivative contracts relate to transactions in which we enter into an interest rate swap, cap or floor with a customer while concurrently entering into an offsetting interest rate swap, cap or floor with a third party financial institution. We agree to pay interest to the customer on a notional amount at a variable rate and receive interest from the customer on a similar notional amount at a fixed interest rate. At the same time, we agree to pay a third party financial institution the same fixed interest rate on the same notional amount and receive the same variable interest rate on the same notional amount. These interest rate derivative contracts allow our customers to effectively convert a variable rate loan to a fixed rate loan. The changes in the fair value of the underlying derivative contracts primarily offset each other and do not significantly impact our results of operations. We recognized swap fee income associated with these derivative contracts immediately based upon the difference in the bid/ask spread of the underlying transactions with the customer and the third party financial institution. The swap fee income is included in other noninterest income in our consolidated statements of income.

At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, net derivative liabilities included $46.5 million and $10.1 million, respectively, of cash collateral held by counterparties subject to master netting agreements. We had $280,000 and $883,000 of cash collateral receivable that was not offset against derivative liabilities at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.

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The notional amounts of the derivative instruments represent the contractual cash flows pertaining to the underlying agreements. These amounts are not exchanged and are not reflected in the consolidated balance sheets. The fair value of the interest rate swaps are presented at net in other assets and other liabilities when a right of offset exists, based on transactions with a single counterparty that are subject to a legally enforceable master netting agreement.

The following tables present the notional and estimated fair value amount of derivative positions outstanding (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020						December 31, 2019
			Estimated Fair Value						Estimated Fair Value
	Notional Amount (1)		Asset Derivative		Liability Derivative		Notional Amount (1)		Asset Derivative		Liability Derivative
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
Interest rate contracts:
Swaps-Cash Flow Hedge-Financial institution counterparties	$	670,000	$	—	$	25,075	$	270,000	$	1,513	$	3,655
Derivatives designated as non-hedging instruments
Interest rate contracts:
Swaps-Financial institution counterparties	144,979		—		21,425		131,685		56		8,031
Swaps-Customer counterparties	144,979		21,425		—		131,685		8,031		56
Gross derivatives			21,425		46,500				9,600		11,742
Offsetting derivative assets/liabilities			—		—				(1,569)		(1,569)
Cash collateral received/posted			—		(46,500)				—		(10,117)
Net derivatives included in the consolidated balance sheets (2)			$	21,425	$	—			$	8,031	$	56

(1) Notional amounts, which represent the extent of involvement in the derivatives market, are used to determine the contractual cash flows required in accordance with the terms of the agreement. These amounts are typically not exchanged, significantly exceed amounts subject to credit or market risk and are not reflected in the consolidated balance sheets.

(2) Net derivative assets are included in other assets and net derivative liabilities are included in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. Included in the fair value of net derivative assets and net derivative liabilities are credit valuation adjustments reflecting counterparty credit risk and our credit risk. We had $280,000 credit exposure related to interest rate swaps with financial institutions and $21.4 million related to interest rate swaps with customers at September 30, 2020. We had $883,000 credit exposure related to interest rate swaps with financial institutions and $8.0 million related to interest rate swaps with customers at December 31, 2019. The credit risk associated with customer transactions is partially mitigated as these are generally secured by the non-cash collateral securing the underlying transaction being hedged.

The summarized expected weighted average remaining maturity of the notional amount of interest rate swaps and the weighted average interest rates associated with the amounts expected to be received or paid on interest rate swap agreements are presented below (dollars in thousands). Variable rates received on fixed pay swaps are based on one-month or three-month LIBOR rates in effect at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019:


	September 30, 2020							December 31, 2019
			Weighted Average							Weighted Average
	Notional Amount		Remaining Maturity (in years)	Receive Rate		Pay Rate		Notional Amount		Remaining Maturity (in years)	Receive Rate		Pay Rate
Swaps-Cash Flow hedge
Financial institution counterparties	$	670,000	4.0	0.18	%	1.14	%	$	270,000	3.8	1.77	%	1.58	%
Swaps-Non-hedging
Financial institution counterparties	144,979		10.1	0.30		2.45		131,685		10.6	1.71		2.47
Customer counterparties	144,979		10.1	2.45		0.30		131,685		10.6	2.47		1.71

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10. Fair Value Measurement

Fair value is the price that would be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability (exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants. A fair value measurement assumes the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability. The price in the principal (or most advantageous) market used to measure the fair value of the asset or liability is not adjusted for transaction costs. An orderly transaction is a transaction that assumes exposure to the market for a period prior to the measurement date to allow for marketing activities that are usual and customary for transactions involving such assets and liabilities; it is not a forced transaction. Market participants are buyers and sellers in the principal market that are (i) independent, (ii) knowledgeable, (iii) able to transact and (iv) willing to transact.

Valuation techniques including the market approach, the income approach and/or the cost approach are utilized to determine fair value. Inputs to valuation techniques refer to the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation policies and procedures are determined by our investment department and reported to our Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) for review. An entity must consider all aspects of nonperforming risk, including the entity’s own credit standing, when measuring fair value of a liability. Inputs may be observable, meaning those that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from independent sources, or unobservable, meaning those that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances. A fair value hierarchy for valuation inputs gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1 Inputs - Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the reporting entity has the ability to access at the measurement date.

Level 2 Inputs - Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These might include 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, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (such as interest rates, volatilities, prepayment speeds, credit risks, etc.) or inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by market data by correlation or other means.

Level 3 Inputs - Unobservable inputs for determining the fair values of assets or liabilities that reflect an entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the assets or liabilities.

Certain financial assets are measured at fair value in accordance with GAAP. Adjustments to the fair value of these assets usually result from the application of fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. A description of the valuation methodologies used for assets and liabilities measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy, is set forth below.

Securities Available for Sale and Equity Investments with readily determinable fair values – U.S. Treasury securities and equity investments with readily determinable fair values are reported at fair value utilizing Level 1 inputs. Other securities classified as available for sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from independent pricing services and obtain an understanding of the pricing methodologies used by these independent pricing services. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things, as stated in the pricing methodologies of the independent pricing services.

We review and validate the prices supplied by the independent pricing services for reasonableness by comparison to prices obtained from, in some cases, two additional third party sources. For securities where prices are outside a reasonable range, we further review those securities, based on internal ALCO approved procedures, to determine what a reasonable fair value measurement is for those securities, given available data.

Derivatives – Derivatives are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. We obtain fair value measurements from two sources including an independent pricing service and the counterparty to the derivatives designated as hedges. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, credit information and the derivatives’ terms and conditions, among other things. We review the prices supplied by the sources for reasonableness. In addition, we obtain a basic understanding of their underlying pricing methodology. We validate prices supplied by the sources by comparison to one another.

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Certain nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis include reporting units measured at fair value and tested for goodwill impairment.

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis, which means that the instruments are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). Financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis included foreclosed assets and collateral-dependent loans at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Foreclosed Assets – Foreclosed assets are initially recorded at fair value less costs to sell. The fair value measurements of foreclosed assets can include Level 2 measurement inputs such as real estate appraisals and comparable real estate sales information, in conjunction with Level 3 measurement inputs such as cash flow projections, qualitative adjustments and sales cost estimates. As a result, the categorization of foreclosed assets is Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. In connection with the measurement and initial recognition of certain foreclosed assets, we may recognize charge-offs through the allowance for credit losses.

Collateral-Dependent Loans (Impaired loans prior to the adoption of ASU 2016-13) – Certain loans may be reported at the fair value of the underlying collateral if repayment is expected substantially from the operation or sale of the collateral. Collateral values are estimated using Level 3 inputs based on customized discounting criteria or appraisals. At September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the impact of the fair value of collateral-dependent loans was reflected in our allowance for loan losses.

The fair value estimate of financial instruments for which quoted market prices are unavailable is dependent upon the assumptions used. Consequently, those estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets and, in many cases, could not be realized in immediate settlement of the instruments. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts presented in the fair value tables do not necessarily represent their underlying value.

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The following tables summarize assets measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis segregated by the level of the valuation inputs within the fair value hierarchy utilized to measure fair value (in thousands):



			Fair Value Measurements at the End of the Reporting Period Using
September 30, 2020	Carrying Amount		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Recurring fair value measurements
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	1,512,854	$	—	$	1,512,854	$	—
Other stocks and bonds	47,700		—		47,700		—
Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	944,703		—		944,703		—
Commercial	128,262		—		128,262		—
Equity investments:
Equity investments	6,111		6,111		—		—
Derivative assets:
Interest rate swaps	21,425		—		21,425		—
Total asset recurring fair value measurements	$	2,661,055	$	6,111	$	2,654,944	$	—

Derivative liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	46,500	$	—	$	46,500	$	—
Total liability recurring fair value measurements	$	46,500	$	—	$	46,500	$	—

Nonrecurring fair value measurements
Foreclosed assets	$	544	$	—	$	—	$	544
Collateral-dependent loans (2)	9,741		—		—		9,741
Total asset nonrecurring fair value measurements	$	10,285	$	—	$	—	$	10,285

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			Fair Value Measurements at the End of the Reporting Period Using
December 31, 2019	Carrying Amount		Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Recurring fair value measurements
Investment securities:


State and political subdivisions	$	802,802	$	—	$	802,802	$	—
Other stocks and bonds	10,137		—		10,137		—
Mortgage-backed securities: (1)
Residential	1,310,642		—		1,310,642		—
Commercial	235,016		—		235,016		—
Equity investments:
Equity investments	5,965		5,965		—		—
Derivative assets:
Interest rate swaps	9,600		—		9,600		—
Total asset recurring fair value measurements	$	2,374,162	$	5,965	$	2,368,197	$	—

Derivative liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	$	11,742	$	—	$	11,742	$	—
Total liability recurring fair value measurements	$	11,742	$	—	$	11,742	$	—

Nonrecurring fair value measurements
Foreclosed assets	$	472	$	—	$	—	$	472
Impaired loans (2)	18,586		—		—		18,586

Total asset nonrecurring fair value measurements	$	19,058	$	—	$	—	$	19,058

(1)All mortgage-backed securities are issued and/or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies or U.S. government-sponsored enterprises.

(2)Consists of individually evaluated loans. Loans for which the fair value of the collateral and commercial real estate fair value of the properties is less than cost basis are presented net of allowance. Losses on these loans represent charge-offs which are netted against the allowance for loan losses.

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Disclosure of fair value information about financial instruments, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet, is required when it is practicable to estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on estimates using present value or other estimation techniques. Those techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used, including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Such techniques and assumptions, as they apply to individual categories of our financial instruments, are as follows:

Cash and cash equivalents – The carrying amount for cash and cash equivalents is a reasonable estimate of those assets’ fair value.

Investment and mortgage-backed securities held to maturity – Fair values for these securities are based on quoted market prices, where available. If quoted market prices are not available, fair values are based on quoted market prices for similar securities or estimates from independent pricing services.

FHLB stock – The carrying amount of FHLB stock is a reasonable estimate of the fair value of those assets.

Equity investments – The carrying value of equity investments without readily determinable fair values are measured at cost less impairment, if any, adjusted for observable price changes for an identical or similar investment of the same issuer. This carrying value is a reasonable estimate of the fair value of those assets.

Loans receivable – We estimate the fair value of our loan portfolio to an exit price notion with adjustments for liquidity, credit and prepayment factors. Nonperforming loans continue to be estimated using discounted cash flow analyses or the underlying value of the collateral where applicable.

Loans held for sale – The fair value of loans held for sale is determined based on expected proceeds, which are based on sales contracts and commitments.

Deposit liabilities – The fair value of demand deposits, savings accounts and certain money market deposits is the amount on demand at the reporting date, which is the carrying value. Fair values for fixed rate certificates of deposits (“CDs”) are estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation that applies interest rates currently being offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

Other borrowings – Federal funds purchased generally have original terms to maturity of one day and repurchase agreements generally have terms of less than one year, and therefore both are considered short-term borrowings. Consequently, their carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

FHLB borrowings – The fair value of these borrowings is estimated by discounting the future cash flows using rates at which borrowings would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

Subordinated notes – The fair value of the subordinated notes is estimated by discounting future cash flows using estimated rates at which long-term debt would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the remaining maturities.

Trust preferred subordinated debentures – The fair value of the long-term debt is estimated by discounting future cash flows using estimated rates at which long-term debt would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the remaining maturities.

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The following tables present our financial assets and financial liabilities measured on a nonrecurring basis at both their respective carrying amounts and estimated fair value (in thousands):


			Estimated Fair Value
September 30, 2020	Carrying Amount		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	96,204	$	96,204	$	96,204	$	—	$	—
Investment securities:
Held to maturity, at carrying value	907		924		—		924		—
Mortgage-backed securities:
Held to maturity, at carrying value	114,182		124,457		—		124,457		—
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	35,860		35,860		—		35,860		—
Equity investments	5,972		5,972		—		5,972		—
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses	3,734,865		3,911,176		—		—		3,911,176
Loans held for sale	8,686		8,686		—		8,686		—
Financial liabilities:
Deposits	$	5,103,026	$	5,108,603	$	—	$	5,108,603	$	—
Other borrowings	41,568		41,568		—		41,568		—
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	952,944		978,837		—		978,837		—
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	98,708		100,001		—		100,001		—
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	60,254		52,876		—		52,876		—


			Estimated Fair Value
December 31, 2019	Carrying Amount		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	110,697	$	110,697	$	110,697	$	—	$	—
Investment securities:
Held to maturity, at carrying value	2,888		2,918		—		2,918		—
Mortgage-backed securities:
Held to maturity, at carrying value	131,975		135,961		—		135,961		—
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost	50,087		50,087		—		50,087		—
Equity investments	6,366		6,366		—		6,366		—
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses	3,543,407		3,610,591		—		—		3,610,591
Loans held for sale	383		383		—		383		—
Financial liabilities:
Deposits	$	4,702,769	$	4,703,914	$	—	$	4,703,914	$	—
Other borrowings	28,358		28,358		—		28,358		—
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	972,744		975,606		—		975,606		—
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	98,576		98,346		—		98,346		—
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	60,250		55,937		—		55,937		—

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11. Income Taxes

The income tax expense included in the accompanying consolidated statements of income consists of the following (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Current income tax expense	$	3,133	$	3,807	$	11,376	$	10,371
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	650		(146)		(4,305)		(4)
Income tax expense	$	3,783	$	3,661	$	7,071	$	10,367

The net deferred tax liability totaled $9.6 million at September 30, 2020 and $4.8 million at December 31, 2019. No valuation allowance was recorded at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019, as management believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax asset items will be realized in future years. Unrecognized tax benefits were not material at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019.

We recognized income tax expense of $3.8 million and $7.1 million, for an effective tax rate (“ETR”) of 12.3% and 11.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to income tax expense of $3.7 million and $10.4 million, for an ETR of 15.6% and 15.3%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019. The lower ETR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to an increase in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income as compared to the same periods in 2019. The ETR differs from the stated rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 primarily due to the effect of tax-exempt income from municipal loans and securities, as well as bank owned life insurance. We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdictions and in certain states. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2017 or Texas state tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2016.

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12. Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Contingencies

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk. In the normal course of business, we are a party to certain financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk to meet the financing needs of our customers. These off-balance-sheet instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount reflected in the financial statements. The contract or notional amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement and exposure to credit loss that we have in these particular classes of financial instruments. The allowance for credit losses on these off-balance-sheet credit exposures is included in other liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets.

Allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures were as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019

Balance at beginning of period	$	6,365	$	1,859	$	1,455	$	1,890
Impact of CECL adoption	—		—		4,840		—
Provision for (reversal of) off-balance-sheet credit exposures	(345)		(319)		(275)		(350)
Balance at end of period	$	6,020	$	1,540	$	6,020	$	1,540

Contractual commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided the terms established in the contract are met. Commitments to extend credit generally have fixed expiration dates and may require the payment of fees. Since some commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in commitments to extend credit and similarly do not necessarily represent future cash obligations.

Financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk were as follows (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019

Commitments to extend credit	$	768,941	$	925,671
Standby letters of credit	15,839		17,211
Total	$	784,780	$	942,882

We apply the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit as we do for on-balance-sheet instruments. We evaluate each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, if deemed necessary, upon extension of credit is based on management’s credit evaluation of the borrower. Collateral held varies but may include cash or cash equivalents, negotiable instruments, real estate, accounts receivable, inventory, oil, gas and mineral interests, property, plant and equipment.

Leases. During the three months ended September 30, 2020, there was a reduction to operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities of $89,000 due to a lease amendment that granted additional lease incentives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, there was $7.9 million of operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities, primarily due to one lease that commenced in May 2020 with an initial right-of-use asset of $6.6 million. There was $537,000 and $1.2 million of operating lease right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, respectively.

Securities. In the normal course of business we buy and sell securities. At September 30, 2020, there were $7.3 million of unsettled trades to purchase securities and no unsettled trades to sell securities. At December 31, 2019, there were $17.5 million unsettled trades to purchase securities and no unsettled trades to sell securities.

Deposits. There were no unsettled issuances of brokered CDs at September 30, 2020. There were $20.0 million of unsettled issuances of brokered CDs at December 31, 2019.

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Litigation. We are involved with various litigation in the normal course of business. Management, after consulting with our legal counsel, believes that any liability resulting from litigation will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following is a discussion of our consolidated financial condition, changes in our financial condition and results of our operations, and should be read and reviewed in conjunction with the financial statements, and the notes thereto, in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (the “First Quarter Form 10-Q”) and the quarter ended June 30, 2020 (the “Second Quarter Form 10-Q”) and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, (the “2019 Form 10-K”). Certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, including those set forth under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A. of the 2019 Form 10-K, “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A. of the First Quarter Form 10-Q and the Second Quarter Form 10-Q and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements appearing in this discussion and analysis.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements of other than historical fact that are contained in this report may be considered to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of and subject to the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, nor should they be relied upon as representing management’s views as of any subsequent date. These statements may include words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “anticipate,” “appear,” “believe,” “could,” “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would,” “seek,” “intend,” “probability,” “risk,” “goal,” “target,” “objective,” “plans,” “potential,” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, objectives, goals, anticipations, assumptions, estimates, intentions and future performance and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. For example, discussions of the effect of our expansion, benefits of the Share Repurchase Plan, trends in asset quality and earnings from growth, and certain market risk disclosures are based upon information presently available to management and are dependent on choices about key model characteristics and assumptions and are subject to various limitations. By their nature, certain of the market risk disclosures are only estimates and could be materially different from what actually occurs in the future. Accordingly, our results could materially differ from those that have been estimated. The most recent factor that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated by our forward-looking statements include the negative impact of the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic on our business, financial position, operations and prospects, including our ability to continue our business activities in certain communities we serve, the duration of the pandemic and its continued effects on financial markets, a reduction in financial transaction and business activities resulting in decreased deposits and reduced loan originations, increases in unemployment rates impacting our borrowers’ ability to repay their loans, our ability to manage liquidity in a rapidly changing and unpredictable market, additional interest rate changes by the Federal Reserve and other government actions in response to the pandemic including additional quarantines, regulations or laws enacted to counter the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:

•the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on our future consolidated financial condition and results of operations;

•general (i) political conditions, including, without limitation, governmental action and uncertainty resulting from U.S. and global political trends and (ii) economic conditions, either globally, nationally, in the State of Texas, or in the specific markets in which we operate, including, without limitation, the deterioration of the commercial real estate, residential real estate, construction and development, energy, oil and gas, credit or liquidity markets, which could cause an adverse change in our net interest margin, or a decline in the value of our assets, which could result in realized losses;

•current or future legislation, regulatory changes or changes in monetary or fiscal policy that adversely affect the businesses in which we or our customers or our borrowers are engaged, including the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (“Dodd-Frank Act”), the Federal Reserve’s actions with respect to interest rates, the capital requirements promulgated by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (“Basel Committee”), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), uncertainty relating to calculation of LIBOR and other regulatory responses to economic conditions;

•adverse changes in the status or financial condition of the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (the “GSEs”) which impact the GSEs’ guarantees or ability to pay or issue debt;

•adverse changes in the credit portfolios of other U.S. financial institutions relative to the performance of certain of our investment securities;

•economic or other disruptions caused by acts of terrorism in the United States, Europe or other areas;

•technological changes, including potential cyber-security incidents and other disruptions, or innovations to the financial services industry, including as a result of the increased telework environment;

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•our ability to identify and address cyber-security risks such as data security breaches, malware, “denial of service” attacks, “hacking” and identity theft, which could disrupt our business and result in the disclosure of and/or misuse or misappropriation of confidential or proprietary information, disruption or damage of our systems, increased costs, significant losses, or adverse effects to our reputation;

•the risk that our enterprise risk management framework, compliance program or our corporate governance and supervisory oversight functions may not identify or address risks adequately, which may result in unexpected losses;

•changes in the interest rate yield curve such as flat, inverted or steep yield curves, or changes in the interest rate environment that impact net interest margins and may impact prepayments on our mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) portfolio;

•increases in our nonperforming assets;

•our ability to maintain adequate liquidity to fund operations and growth;

•any applicable regulatory limits or other restrictions on Southside Bank (“the Bank”) and its ability to pay dividends to us;

•the failure of our assumptions underlying our allowance for credit losses and other estimates;

•the failure to maintain an effective system of controls and procedures, including internal control over financial reporting;

•the effectiveness of our derivative financial instruments and hedging activities to manage risk;

•unexpected outcomes of, and the costs associated with, existing or new litigation involving us, including the costs and effects of litigation related to our participation in government stimulus programs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic;

•changes impacting our balance sheet and leverage strategy;

•risks related to actual mortgage prepayments diverging from projections;

•risks related to actual U.S. agency MBS prepayments exceeding projected prepayment levels;

•risks related to U.S. agency MBS prepayments increasing due to U.S. government programs designed to assist homeowners to refinance their mortgage that might not otherwise have qualified;

•our ability to monitor interest rate risk;

•risks related to fluctuations in the price per barrel of crude oil;

•significant increases in competition in the banking and financial services industry;

•changes in consumer spending, borrowing and saving habits;

•execution of future acquisitions, reorganization or disposition transactions, including the risk that the anticipated benefits of such transactions are not realized;

•our ability to increase market share and control expenses;

•our ability to develop competitive new products and services in a timely manner and the acceptance of such products and services by our customers;

•the effect of changes in federal or state tax laws;

•the effect of compliance with legislation or regulatory changes;

•the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices, including the implementation of the current expected credit loss (“CECL”) model;

•credit risks of borrowers, including any increase in those risks due to changing economic conditions;

•risks related to loans secured by real estate, including the risk that the value and marketability of collateral could decline;

•risks related to environmental liability as a result of certain lending activity;

•risks associated with our common stock and our other securities, including fluctuations in our stock price and general volatility in the stock market; and

•other risks and uncertainties discussed in “Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the 2019 Form 10-K, “Part II -Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the First Quarter Form 10-Q and Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

All written or oral forward-looking statements made by us or attributable to us are expressly qualified by this cautionary notice. We disclaim any obligation to update any factors or to announce publicly the result of revisions to any of the forward-looking statements included herein to reflect future events or developments, unless otherwise required by law.

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Critical Accounting Estimates

Our accounting and reporting estimates conform with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. We consider accounting estimates that can (1) be replaced by other reasonable estimates and/or (2) changes to an estimate from period to period that have a material impact on the presentation of our financial condition, changes in financial condition or results of operations as well as (3) those estimates that require significant and complex assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain to be critical accounting estimates. We consider our critical accounting policies to include allowance for credit losses on loans, estimation of fair value and pension plan accounting.

Critical accounting estimates include a high degree of uncertainty in the underlying assumptions. Management bases its estimates on historical experience, current information and other factors deemed relevant. The development, selection and disclosure of our critical accounting estimates are reviewed with the Audit Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. Actual results could differ from these estimates. For additional information regarding critical accounting policies, refer to “Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies” and “Note 5 – Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses” in the notes to consolidated financial statements and refer to “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Estimates,” and “Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies” in the 2019 Form 10-K. As of September 30, 2020, the most significant change to our critical accounting estimates is the determination of the allowance for loan losses under the expected loss model, a direct result of the adoption of new accounting guidance for estimating credit losses, known as the CECL model. For additional information regarding critical accounting policies related specifically to our allowance for credit loss estimates, refer to “Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Certain non-GAAP measures are used by management to supplement the evaluation of our performance. These include the following fully taxable-equivalent measures (“FTE”): Net interest income (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE), which include the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustments using a federal income tax rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, to increase tax-exempt interest income to a tax-equivalent basis. Interest income earned on certain assets is completely or partially exempt from federal income tax. As such, these tax-exempt instruments typically yield lower returns than taxable investments.

Net interest income (FTE), net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE). Net interest income (FTE) is a non-GAAP measure that adjusts for the tax-favored status of net interest income from certain loans and investments and is not permitted under GAAP in the consolidated statements of income. We believe this measure to be the preferred industry measurement of net interest income and that it enhances comparability of net interest income arising from taxable and tax-exempt sources. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest income. Net interest margin (FTE) is the ratio of net interest income (FTE) to average earning assets. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest margin. Net interest spread (FTE) is the difference in the average yield on average earning assets on a tax-equivalent basis and the average rate paid on average interest bearing liabilities. The most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP is our net interest spread.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered alternatives to GAAP-basis financial statements and other bank holding companies may define or calculate these non-GAAP measures or similar measures differently. Whenever we present a non-GAAP financial measure in an SEC filing, we are also required to present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and reconcile the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure and such comparable GAAP measure.

In the following table we present the reconciliation of net interest income to net interest income adjusted to a fully taxable-equivalent basis assuming a 21% marginal tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019, for interest earned on tax-exempt assets such as municipal loans and investment securities (dollars in thousands), along with the calculation of net interest margin (FTE) and net interest spread (FTE).


Non-GAAP Reconciliations
	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020			2019			2020			2019
Net interest income (GAAP)	$	46,586		$	42,373		$	138,558		$	126,629
Tax equivalent adjustments:
Loans	688			641			2,035			1,837
Tax-exempt investment securities	2,415			1,161			6,385			3,761
Net interest income (FTE) (1)	$	49,689		$	44,175		$	146,978		$	132,227

Average earning assets	$	6,548,935		$	5,782,704		$	6,498,162		$	5,723,484

Net interest margin	2.83		%	2.91		%	2.85		%	2.96		%
Net interest margin (FTE) (1)	3.02		%	3.03		%	3.02		%	3.09		%

Net interest spread	2.65		%	2.55		%	2.64		%	2.60		%
Net interest spread (FTE) (1)	2.84		%	2.68		%	2.81		%	2.73		%

(1) These amounts are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are non-GAAP measures.

Management believes adjusting net interest income, net interest margin and net interest spread to a fully taxable-equivalent basis is a standard practice in the banking industry as these measures provide useful information to make peer comparisons. Tax-equivalent adjustments are reported in the respective earning asset categories as listed in the “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” tables under Results of Operations.

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OVERVIEW

COVID-19

During March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel strain of coronavirus (“COVID-19”) a global pandemic in response to the rapidly growing outbreak of the virus. COVID-19 has significantly impacted local, national and global economies due to stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines. In compliance with social distancing guidelines issued by federal, state and local governments, we initially closed all of our grocery store branches. As stay-at-home orders were issued by local governments in our market areas to combat the spread of the virus, we closed all traditional lobbies and wealth management and trust offices to walk-in customers, however, most of these traditional locations were offering certain services by appointment only. All other banking services were available to customers through our drive-thrus, ATMs/ITMs and automated telephone, internet and mobile banking products. After careful consideration and implementation of additional precautions, all locations were reopened on June 1, 2020. We have since made adjustments to select branch hours and openings, and we continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation. Approximately 45% of our workforce has remote working capabilities.

COVID-19 has significantly disrupted supply chains, business activity and the overall economic and financial markets. These disruptions have and are likely to continue to result in a decline in demand for banking products or services, including loans and deposits which could impact our future financial condition, results of operations and liquidity.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act provides an estimated $2.2 trillion to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and stimulate the economy by supporting individuals and businesses through loans, grants, tax changes, and other types of relief. The CARES Act also includes provisions to encourage financial institutions to work prudently with borrowers. As a Small Business Administration lender, we were well positioned to assist business customers in accessing funds available through the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) implemented in April. At September 30, 2020, we had $302.8 million of approved PPP loans outstanding, net of deferred fees. Additionally, we are assisting both our consumer and commercial borrowers that may be experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 related challenges. As of October 27, 2020, we had outstanding loans with payment deferrals, generally for up to three months, for a total of $68.9 million. As of October 27, 2020 and since the release of our second quarter results in July, total COVID-19 modified loans, net of deferred fees, have decreased approximately $257 million, or 78.9%, from $326 million as of July 20, to $68.9 million, or 2.0% of total loans, net of PPP loans. The decrease in the COVID-19 modified loans are related to the loans coming out of the deferral periods and resuming performance. The largest categories of remaining deferrals include hotels of $41.0 million; 1-4 family residential loans of $16.6 million; commercial real estate property of $7.1 million; and retail commercial real estate property of $2.1 million.

Operating Results

Net income increased $7.3 million, or 36.8%, for the three months ended September 30, 2020, to $27.1 million compared to the same period in 2019. The increase was driven by a $9.1 million decrease in interest expense, $5.8 million decrease in provision for credit losses, partially offset by a $4.9 million decrease in interest income, a $2.6 million increase in noninterest expense and a $0.1 million increase in income tax expense. Earnings per diluted common share increased $0.24, or 41.4%, to $0.82 for the three months ended September 30, 2020, from $0.58 for the same period in 2019.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our net income decreased $4.6 million, or 8.1%, to $52.6 million from $57.2 million for the same period in 2019. The decrease in net income was driven by the $23.2 million increase in provision for credit losses, a $5.3 million decrease in interest income and an increase in noninterest expense of $3.6 million, partially offset by a $17.3 million decrease in interest expense, a $6.9 million increase in noninterest income and a $3.3 million decrease in income tax expense. Earnings per diluted common share decreased $0.11, or 6.5%, to $1.58 for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, from $1.69 for the same period in 2019. The increase in the provision for credit losses was primarily due to the on-going economic effect of COVID-19 and the resulting impact on the economic assumptions used in the CECL model.

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Financial Condition

Our total assets increased $442.0 million, or 6.5%, to $7.19 billion at September 30, 2020 from $6.75 billion at December 31, 2019. Our securities portfolio increased by $255.1 million, or 10.2%, to $2.75 billion, compared to $2.49 billion at December 31, 2019. The increase in our securities portfolio was comprised of an increase of $745.6 million in investment securities, partially offset by a decrease of $490.5 million in MBS as we realigned our portfolio in response to the impact of COVID-19 on the financial markets. Our FHLB stock decreased $14.2 million, or 28.4%, to $35.9 million from $50.1 million at December 31, 2019, primarily due to decreases in the amount of FHLB stock we were required to hold in relation to our FHLB borrowings.

Loans increased $221.8 million, or 6.2%, to $3.79 billion at September 30, 2020 from $3.57 billion at December 31, 2019. The net increase in our loan portfolio was comprised of increases of $227.6 million of commercial loans, $77.0 million of commercial real estate loans and $3.3 million of municipal loans, partially offset by decreases of $49.2 million of 1-4 family residential loans, $34.6 million of construction loans, and $2.5 million of loans to individuals. The increase in commercial loans is due entirely to $302.8 million of PPP loans, net of deferred fees, as of September 30, 2020. Loans held for sale increased $8.3 million, or 2,167.9%, to $8.7 million at September 30, 2020 from $383,000 at December 31, 2019.

Our nonperforming assets at September 30, 2020 decreased 3.6%, to $16.8 million and represented 0.23% of total assets, compared to $17.4 million, or 0.26% of total assets at December 31, 2019. Nonaccruing loans increased $1.0 million, or 20.3%, to $6.0 million, and the ratio of nonaccruing loans to total loans increased slightly to 0.16% at September 30, 2020 compared to 0.14% at December 31, 2019. Restructured loans were $10.3 million at September 30, 2020, a decrease of 14.2%, from $12.0 million at December 31, 2019. Other Real Estate Owned (“OREO”) increased to $536,000 at September 30, 2020 from $472,000 at December 31, 2019.

Our deposits increased $400.3 million, or 8.5%, to $5.10 billion at September 30, 2020 from $4.70 billion at December 31, 2019, which was comprised of increases of $323.1 million in noninterest bearing deposits and $77.1 million in interest bearing deposits. The increase was largely driven by PPP loan disbursements and stimulus checks deposited during the second quarter of 2020. The increase in our deposits during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was reflected as an increase in private deposits of $483.8 million, partially offset by a decrease in public fund deposits of $83.5 million. Brokered deposits, included in our private deposits, decreased $32.1 million, or 8.7%, for the nine months ended September 30, 2020.

Total FHLB borrowings decreased $19.8 million, or 2.0%, to $952.9 million at September 30, 2020 from $972.7 million at December 31, 2019.

Our total shareholders’ equity at September 30, 2020 increased 4.3%, or $34.6 million, to $839.1 million, or 11.7% of total assets, compared to $804.6 million, or 11.9% of total assets, at December 31, 2019. The increase in shareholders’ equity was the result of net income of $52.6 million, other comprehensive income of $42.0 million, stock compensation expense of $2.3 million, net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans of $1.3 million and common stock issued under our dividend reinvestment plan of $1.0 million. These increases were partially offset by cash dividends paid of $31.0 million, the repurchase of $25.8 million of our common stock and a reduction to beginning retained earnings of $7.8 million for a cumulative-effect adjustment related to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”.

Key financial indicators management follows include, but are not limited to, numerous interest rate sensitivity and interest rate risk indicators, credit risk, operations risk, liquidity risk, capital risk, regulatory risk, competition risk, yield curve risk, U.S. agency MBS prepayment risk and economic risk indicators.

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Balance Sheet Strategy

We utilize wholesale funding and securities to enhance our profitability and balance sheet composition by determining acceptable levels of credit, interest rate and liquidity risk consistent with prudent capital management. This balance sheet strategy consists of borrowing a combination of long- and short-term funds from the FHLB or the brokered funds market. These funds are invested primarily in U.S. agency MBS and long-term municipal securities. Although U.S. agency MBS often carry lower yields than traditional mortgage loans and other types of loans we make, these securities generally (i) increase the overall quality of our assets because of either the implicit or explicit guarantees of the U.S. Government, (ii) are more liquid than individual loans and (iii) may be used to collateralize our borrowings or other obligations. While the strategy of investing a portion of our assets in U.S. Agency MBS and municipal securities has historically resulted in lower interest rate spreads and margins, we believe the lower operating expenses and reduced credit risk, combined with the managed interest rate risk of this strategy, have enhanced our overall profitability for many years. At this time, we utilize this balance sheet strategy with the goal of enhancing overall profitability by maximizing the use of our capital.

Risks associated with the asset structure we maintain include a lower net interest rate spread and margin when compared to our peers, changes in the slope of the yield curve, which can reduce our net interest rate spread and margin, increased interest rate risk, the length of interest rate cycles, changes in volatility or spreads associated with the MBS and municipal securities, the unpredictable nature of MBS prepayments and credit risks associated with the municipal securities. See “Part I - Item 1A. Risk Factors – Risks Related to Our Business” in the 2019 Form 10-K and in the Second Quarter Form 10-Q, for a discussion of risks related to interest rates. Our asset structure, net interest spread and net interest margin require us to closely monitor our interest rate risk. An additional risk is the change in fair value of the AFS securities portfolio as a result of changes in interest rates. Significant increases in interest rates, especially long-term interest rates, could adversely impact the fair value of the AFS securities portfolio, which could also significantly impact our equity capital. Due to the unpredictable nature of MBS prepayments, the length of interest rate cycles and the slope of the interest rate yield curve, net interest income could fluctuate more than simulated under the scenarios modeled by our Asset/Liability Committee (“ALCO”) and described under “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Determining the appropriate size of the balance sheet is one of the critical decisions any bank makes. Our balance sheet is not merely the result of a series of micro-decisions, but rather the size is controlled based on the economics of assets compared to the economics of funding. The low interest rate environment and economic landscape requires that we monitor the interest rate sensitivity of the assets driving our growth and closely align ALCO objectives accordingly.

The management of our securities portfolio as a percentage of earning assets is guided by the current economics associated with the securities portfolio, changes in our overall loan and deposit levels and changes in our wholesale funding levels. Our balance sheet strategy is designed such that our securities portfolio should help mitigate financial performance associated with potential business and economic cycles that include slower loan growth and higher credit costs.

Our investment securities and U.S. Agency MBS increased from $2.49 billion at December 31, 2019 to $2.75 billion at September 30, 2020. The increase in the securities portfolio was in conjunction with our balance sheet strategy and ALCO objectives.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic adding additional stress in the bond market, our ALCO objectives year-to-date are divided into two periods: pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19. During the pre-COVID-19 period, which includes January and February, we purchased approximately $168 million Texas municipal securities, of which approximately $58 million were taxable municipals. During March, the municipal bond market experienced a significant sell-off associated with illiquidity. When this occurred, we purchased approximately $483 million tax free municipal securities, largely AAA rated, and approximately $8 million of taxable municipals. This balance sheet strategy in the first quarter, along with certain additional funding decisions, such as adding additional interest rate swaps, have impacted our balance sheet as expected. During the second and third quarter of 2020, there were fewer opportunities to purchase bonds fitting our risk reward metrics, therefore the book value of the securities portfolio declined on a linked quarter basis as prepayments on MBS increased. During the third quarter, we purchased $47 million in highly rated Texas municipal securities, $38 million of which were taxable. During the third quarter of 2020, we sold a lower yielding $3 million corporate bond resulting in a net realized gain of $73,000.

At September 30, 2020, securities as a percentage of assets totaled 38.2%, compared to 36.9% at December 31, 2019, due to the $255.1 million, or 10.2%, increase in the securities portfolio which exceeded our loan growth of 6.2%, or $221.8 million, a result of our participation in the PPP. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the financial markets and has created economic uncertainty which will likely limit our opportunity for loan growth for the remainder of 2020 and potentially into 2021. In response to the uncertainty surrounding 2020 loan growth, we purchased additional securities to meet our ALCO objectives. If loan originations increase over the coming months, we may modify the strategy of our securities portfolio. Our balance sheet management strategy is dynamic and is continually evaluated as market conditions warrant. As interest rates,

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yield curves, MBS prepayments, funding costs, security spreads and loan and deposit portfolios change, our determination of the proper types, amount and maturities of securities to invest in, as well as funding needs and funding sources, will continue to be evaluated. Should the economics of purchasing securities decrease, we may allow the securities portfolio to shrink through run-off or security sales. However, should the economics become more attractive, we may strategically increase the securities portfolio and the balance sheet.

With respect to liabilities, we continue to primarily utilize a combination of FHLB borrowings and deposits to achieve our strategy of minimizing cost while achieving overall interest rate risk objectives as well as the liability management objectives of the ALCO. Our primary wholesale funding source is FHLB borrowings and to a lesser extent we utilize federal funds purchased, the Federal Reserve Discount Window (“FRDW”) and brokered deposits. Our FHLB borrowings decreased 2.0%, or $19.8 million, to $952.9 million at September 30, 2020 from $972.7 million at December 31, 2019. To provide more liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve took steps in March of 2020 to encourage broader use of the discount window. We had no borrowings from the FRDW as of September 30, 2020.

In connection with our borrowings, the Bank has entered into various variable rate agreements and fixed rate short-term pay agreements. These agreements totaled $690.0 million and $310.0 million at September 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. Six of the agreements have an interest rate tied to three-month LIBOR and the remaining agreements have interest rates tied to one-month LIBOR. In connection with $670.0 million of these agreements, Southside Bank also entered into various interest rate swap contracts that are treated as cash flow hedges under ASC Topic 815, “Derivatives and Hedging” that are expected to be effective in hedging the variability in future cash flows attributable to fluctuations in the underlying LIBOR interest rate. The interest rate swap contracts had an average interest rate of 1.14% with an average weighted maturity of 4.0 years at September 30, 2020. We have one terminated interest rate swap contract designated as a cash flow hedge having a total notional value of $20.0 million. At the time of termination, we determined that the underlying hedged forecasted transactions were still probable of occurring. These transactions are reevaluated on a monthly basis to determine if the hedged forecasted transactions are still probable of occurring. If at a subsequent evaluation, it is determined that the transactions will not occur, any related gains or losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) are immediately recognized in earnings. Refer to “Note 9 – Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities” in our consolidated financial statements included in this report for a detailed description of our hedging policy and methodology related to derivative instruments.

Our brokered certificates of deposits (“CDs”) decreased $37.1 million, or 10.1%, from $365.7 million at December 31, 2019 to $328.6 million at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2020, our brokered CDs had a weighted average cost of 48 basis points and remaining maturities of less than two years. To provide management flexibility in managing the interest rate risk of wholesale funding, the ALCO has approved up to $50.0 million to issue brokered deposits to replace those maturing within 30 days. Our wholesale funding policy allows for maximum brokered deposits of $450.0 million. The brokered deposit maximum limit could increase or decrease depending on changes in ALCO objectives. Potential higher interest expense and lack of customer loyalty are risks associated with the use of brokered CDs.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the increase in our deposits resulted in a decrease in our total wholesale funding as a percentage of deposits, not including brokered deposits, to 27.1% at September 30, 2020 from 31.0% at December 31, 2019.

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Results of Operations

Our results of operations are dependent primarily on net interest income, which is the difference between the interest income earned on assets (loans and investments) and interest expense due on our funding sources (deposits and borrowings) during a particular period. Results of operations are also affected by our noninterest income, provision for credit losses, noninterest expenses and income tax expense. General economic and competitive conditions, particularly changes in interest rates, changes in interest rate yield curves, prepayment rates of MBS and loans, repricing of loan relationships, government policies and actions of regulatory authorities also significantly affect our results of operations. Future changes in applicable law, regulations or government policies may also have a material impact on us. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted our results of operations in 2020 and is likely to continue to impact our results of operations for the remainder of 2020 and into 2021.

The following table presents net interest income for the periods presented (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
	September 30,				September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019
Interest income:
Loans	$	38,185	$	43,165	$	119,195	$	127,766
Taxable investment securities	1,175		26		2,419		81
Tax-exempt investment securities	9,003		4,167		24,430		11,812
Mortgage-backed securities	7,048		12,569		27,626		38,289
Federal Home Loan Bank stock and equity investments	249		422		1,034		1,217
Other interest earning assets	17		206		220		1,089
Total interest income	55,677		60,555		174,924		180,254
Interest expense:
Deposits	4,862		11,366		21,010		34,064
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	2,369		4,647		9,272		13,003
Subordinated notes	1,427		1,425		4,250		4,235
Trust preferred subordinated debentures	378		685		1,469		2,132
Other borrowings	55		59		365		191
Total interest expense	9,091		18,182		36,366		53,625
Net interest income	$	46,586	$	42,373	$	138,558	$	126,629

Net Interest Income

Net interest income is one of the principal sources of a financial institution’s earnings stream and represents the difference or spread between interest and fee income generated from interest earning assets and the interest expense paid on interest bearing liabilities. Fluctuations in interest rates or interest rate yield curves, as well as repricing characteristics and volume and changes in the mix of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities, materially impact net interest income. During the first quarter of 2020, the Federal Reserve reduced target federal funds rate by 150 basis points. There were no changes to the federal funds rate during the second or third quarters of 2020. During the second half of 2019, the Federal Reserve decreased the federal funds rate by 75 basis points.

Net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 increased by $4.2 million, or 9.9%, compared to the same period in 2019. The increase in net interest income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was due to the decrease in interest expense on our interest bearing liabilities, a result of lower funding costs, partially offset by a decrease in interest income due to a decrease in the average yield on our interest earning assets. Total interest income decreased $4.9 million, or 8.1%, to $55.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $60.6 million during the same period in 2019. Total interest expense decreased $9.1 million, or 50.0%, to $9.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $18.2 million for the same period in 2019. Our net interest margin (FTE), a non-GAAP measure, decreased slightly to 3.02% for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to 3.03% for the same period in 2019 and our net interest spread (FTE), also a non-GAAP measure, increased to 2.84%, compared to 2.68% for the same period in 2019. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and for a reconciliation to GAAP.

Net interest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 increased $11.9 million, or 9.4%, to $138.6 million, compared to $126.6 million for the same period in 2019. The increase in net interest income for the nine months ended

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September 30, 2020 was due to the decrease in interest expense on our interest bearing liabilities, a result of lower funding costs on our interest bearing liabilities, partially offset by a decrease in interest income due to a lower yield on our interest earning assets. Total interest income decreased $5.3 million, or 3.0%, to $174.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $180.3 million during the same period in 2019. Total interest expense decreased $17.3 million, or 32.2%, to $36.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to $53.6 million during the same period in 2019. Our net interest margin (FTE), a non-GAAP measure, decreased to 3.02% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to 3.09% for the same period in 2019, and our net interest spread (FTE), also a non-GAAP measure, increased to 2.81%, compared to 2.73% for the same period in 2019. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and for a reconciliation to GAAP.

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Quarterly Analysis of Changes in Interest Income and Interest Expense

The following table presents on a fully taxable-equivalent basis, a non-GAAP measure, the net change in net interest income and sets forth the dollar amount of increase (decrease) in the average volume of interest earning assets and interest bearing liabilities and from changes in yields/rates. Volume/Yield/Rate variances (change in volume times change in yield/rate) have been allocated to amounts attributable to changes in volumes and to changes in yields/rates in proportion to the amounts directly attributable to those changes (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to 2019
	Change Attributable to				Total
Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis:	Average Volume		Average Yield/Rate		Change
Interest income on:
Loans (1)	$	3,990	$	(8,928)	$	(4,938)
Loans held for sale	12		(7)		5
Taxable investment securities	1,151		(2)		1,149
Tax-exempt investment securities (1)	6,550		(460)		6,090
Mortgage-backed and related securities	(2,985)		(2,536)		(5,521)
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments	24		(197)		(173)
Interest earning deposits	(53)		(136)		(189)
Federal funds sold	—		—		—
Total earning assets	8,689		(12,266)		(3,577)
Interest expense on:
Savings accounts	58		(136)		(78)
Certificates of deposits	276		(2,719)		(2,443)
Interest bearing demand accounts	253		(4,236)		(3,983)
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	715		(2,993)		(2,278)
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	2		—		2
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	—		(307)		(307)
Other borrowings	75		(79)		(4)
Total interest bearing liabilities	1,379		(10,470)		(9,091)
Net change	$	7,310	$	(1,796)	$	5,514

(1)Interest yields on loans and securities that are nontaxable for federal income tax purposes are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for more information and for a reconciliation to GAAP.

The decrease in total interest income was attributable to the decrease in the average yield on earning assets to 3.57% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from 4.28% for the same period in 2019, partially offset by the increase in average earning assets of $766.2 million, or 13.3%, to $6.55 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from $5.78 billion for the same period in 2019. The decrease in the average yield on total earning assets during the three months ended September 30, 2020 was a result of decreases in the federal funds rate during 2020 and the latter half of 2019 and to a lesser extent, the lower yielding PPP loans included in average loans during the third quarter of 2020. The increase in average earning assets was primarily the result of increases in investment securities and the loan portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in average mortgage-backed securities.

The decrease in total interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020 was attributable to the decrease in the average rates paid on total interest bearing liabilities to 0.73% for the three months ended September 30, 2020 from 1.60% for the same period in 2019, partially offset by an increase in average interest bearing liabilities, primarily average interest bearing deposits and FHLB borrowings. The decrease in average rates paid on interest bearing liabilities was due to the decrease in the federal funds rate during 2020 and the latter half of 2019.

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The “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” table that follows shows average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the earning assets and the average rate of the interest bearing liabilities (dollars in thousands) for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. The interest and related yields presented are on a fully taxable-equivalent basis and are therefore non-GAAP measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information, and for a reconciliation to GAAP.


	Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates (Annualized)
	(unaudited)
	Three Months Ended
	September 30, 2020						September 30, 2019
	Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate		Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	3,815,989	$	38,842	4.05	%	$	3,477,187	$	43,780	5.00	%
Loans held for sale	3,934		31		3.13	%	2,497		26		4.13	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)	145,724		1,175		3.21	%	3,000		26		3.44	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)	1,295,179		11,418		3.51	%	555,835		5,328		3.80	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)	1,209,913		7,048		2.32	%	1,660,331		12,569		3.00	%
Total securities	2,650,816		19,641		2.95	%	2,219,166		17,923		3.20	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments	60,528		249		1.64	%	57,108		422		2.93	%
Interest earning deposits	17,668		17		0.38	%	26,746		206		3.06	%

Total earning assets	6,548,935		58,780		3.57	%	5,782,704		62,357		4.28	%
Cash and due from banks	80,368						73,815
Accrued interest and other assets	699,351						570,657
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(61,212)						(24,938)
Total assets	$	7,267,442					$	6,402,238
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	461,895	192		0.17	%	$	367,615	270		0.29	%
Certificates of deposits	1,172,179		3,568		1.21	%	1,118,410		6,011		2.13	%
Interest bearing demand accounts	2,069,751		1,102		0.21	%	1,966,764		5,085		1.03	%
Total interest bearing deposits	3,703,825		4,862		0.52	%	3,452,789		11,366		1.31	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	1,037,855		2,369		0.91	%	881,088		4,647		2.09	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	98,686		1,427		5.75	%	98,511		1,425		5.74	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	60,253		378		2.50	%	60,248		685		4.51	%
Other borrowings	63,526		55		0.34	%	13,401		59		1.75	%
Total interest bearing liabilities	4,964,145		9,091		0.73	%	4,506,037		18,182		1.60	%
Noninterest bearing deposits	1,371,748						1,020,325
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	96,219						72,923
Total liabilities	6,432,112						5,599,285
Shareholders’ equity	835,330						802,953
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,267,442					$	6,402,238
Net interest income (FTE)			$	49,689					$	44,175
Net interest margin (FTE)					3.02	%					3.03	%
Net interest spread (FTE)					2.84	%					2.68	%

(1)Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.

(2)For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

Note: As of September 30, 2020 and 2019, loans totaling $6.0 million and $17.1 million, respectively, were on nonaccrual status. Our policy is to reverse previously accrued but unpaid interest on nonaccrual loans; thereafter, interest income is recorded to the extent received when appropriate.

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Year-to-Date Analysis of Changes in Interest Income and Interest Expense


	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020 Compared to 2019
	Change Attributable to				Total
Fully Taxable-Equivalent Basis:	Average Volume		Average Yield/Rate		Change
Interest income on:
Loans (1)	$	12,755	$	(21,142)	$	(8,387)
Loans held for sale	26		(12)		14
Taxable investment securities	2,350		(12)		2,338
Tax-exempt investment securities (1)	16,149		(907)		15,242
Mortgage-backed and related securities	(5,838)		(4,825)		(10,663)
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments	186		(369)		(183)
Interest earning deposits	(354)		(429)		(783)
Federal funds sold	(86)		—		(86)
Total earning assets	25,188		(27,696)		(2,508)
Interest expense on:
Savings accounts	116		(290)		(174)
Certificates of deposits	1,591		(4,429)		(2,838)
Interest bearing demand accounts	365		(10,407)		(10,042)
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	3,356		(7,087)		(3,731)
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	15		—		15
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	—		(663)		(663)
Other borrowings	413		(239)		174
Total interest bearing liabilities	5,856		(23,115)		(17,259)
Net change	$	19,332	$	(4,581)	$	14,751

(1)Interest yields on loans and securities that are nontaxable for federal income tax purposes are presented on a fully taxable-equivalent basis. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

The decrease in total interest income was attributable to the decrease in the average yield on earning assets to 3.77% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 4.34% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, partially offset by the increase in average earning assets of $774.7 million, or 13.5%. The decrease in the average yield on total earning assets during the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was a result of decreases in the federal funds rate during 2020 and the latter half of 2019. The increase in average earning assets was primarily the result of the increases in the investment securities and the loan portfolio, partially offset by a decrease in mortgage-backed securities.

The decrease in total interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 was attributable to the decrease in the average rates paid on total interest bearing liabilities to 0.96% for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 from 1.61% for the nine months ended September 30, 2019, partially offset by the increase in average interest bearing liabilities. The decrease in average rates paid on interest bearing liabilities was due to the decreases in the federal funds rate during 2020 and the latter half of 2019.

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The “Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates” table that follows shows average earning assets and interest bearing liabilities together with the average yield on the earning assets and the average rate of the interest bearing liabilities (dollars in thousands) for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019. The interest and related yields presented are on a fully taxable-equivalent (“FTE”) basis and are therefore non-GAAP measures. See "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for more information, and for a reconciliation to GAAP.


	Average Balances with Average Yields and Rates (Annualized)
	(unaudited)
	Nine Months Ended
	September 30, 2020						September 30, 2019
	Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate		Average Balance		Interest		Average Yield/Rate
ASSETS
Loans (1)	$	3,743,437	$	121,162	4.32	%	$	3,387,719	$	129,549	5.11	%
Loans held for sale	2,664		68		3.41	%	1,698		54		4.25	%
Securities:
Taxable investment securities (2)	103,576		2,419		3.12	%	3,000		81		3.61	%
Tax-exempt investment securities (2)	1,168,749		30,815		3.52	%	557,961		15,573		3.73	%
Mortgage-backed and related securities (2)	1,388,754		27,626		2.66	%	1,662,715		38,289		3.08	%
Total securities	2,661,079		60,860		3.05	%	2,223,676		53,943		3.24	%
Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost, and equity investments	63,683		1,034		2.17	%	54,407		1,217		2.99	%
Interest earning deposits	27,299		220		1.08	%	52,345		1,003		2.56	%
Federal funds sold	—		—		—		3,639		86		3.16	%
Total earning assets	6,498,162		183,344		3.77	%	5,723,484		185,852		4.34	%
Cash and due from banks	78,484						78,539
Accrued interest and other assets	656,952						538,248
Less: Allowance for loan losses	(49,208)						(25,604)
Total assets	$	7,184,390					$	6,314,667
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Savings accounts	$	424,530	616		0.19	%	$	364,520	790		0.29	%
Certificates of deposits	1,240,506		14,731		1.59	%	1,130,561		17,569		2.08	%
Interest bearing demand accounts	2,019,968		5,663		0.37	%	1,973,024		15,705		1.06	%
Total interest bearing deposits	3,685,004		21,010		0.76	%	3,468,105		34,064		1.31	%
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings	1,077,861		9,272		1.15	%	817,978		13,003		2.13	%
Subordinated notes, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	98,642		4,250		5.76	%	98,470		4,235		5.75	%
Trust preferred subordinated debentures, net of unamortized debt issuance costs	60,252		1,469		3.26	%	60,247		2,132		4.73	%
Other borrowings	112,851		365		0.43	%	14,894		191		1.71	%
Total interest bearing liabilities	5,034,610		36,366		0.96	%	4,459,694		53,625		1.61	%
Noninterest bearing deposits	1,242,055						1,007,263
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	87,170						76,963
Total liabilities	6,363,835						5,543,920
Shareholders’ equity	820,555						770,747
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	7,184,390					$	6,314,667
Net interest income (FTE)			$	146,978					$	132,227
Net interest margin (FTE)					3.02	%					3.09	%
Net interest spread (FTE)					2.81	%					2.73	%

(1)Interest on loans includes net fees on loans that are not material in amount.

(2)For the purpose of calculating the average yield, the average balance of securities is presented at historical cost.

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Noninterest Income

Noninterest income consists of revenue generated from a broad range of financial services and activities and other fee generating services that we either provide or in which we participate.

The following table details the categories included in noninterest income (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				2020
					Change From
	2020		2019		2019
Deposit services	$	6,129	$	6,753	$	(624)	(9.2)	%
Net gain on sale of securities available for sale	78		42		36		85.7	%
Gain on sale of loans	1,071		131		940		717.6	%
Trust fees	1,253		1,523		(270)		(17.7)	%
Bank owned life insurance	680		622		58		9.3	%
Brokerage services	564		555		9		1.6	%
Other noninterest income	1,366		1,485		(119)		(8.0)	%
Total noninterest income	$	11,141	$	11,111	$	30	0.3	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,			2020
			Change From
		2020		2019		2019
Deposit services				$	17,940	$	19,391	$	(1,451)	(7.5)	%
Net gain on sale of securities available for sale				8,281		714		7,567		1,059.8	%
Gain on sale of loans				1,924		405		1,519		375.1	%
Trust fees				3,779		4,584		(805)		(17.6)	%
Bank owned life insurance				1,899		1,725		174		10.1	%
Brokerage services				1,643		1,549		94		6.1	%
Other noninterest income				3,366		3,535		(169)		(4.8)	%
Total noninterest income				$	38,832	$	31,903	$	6,929	21.7	%

The marginal increase in noninterest income for the three months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, was due to an increase in gain on sale of loans, partially offset by decreases in deposit services income and trust fees. The 21.7% increase in noninterest income for the nine months ended September 30, 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, was due to the increases in net gain on sale of securities available for sale and gain on sale of loans, partially offset by decreases in deposit services income and trust fees.

The decrease in deposit services income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily the result of a decrease in overdraft charges due to a general decline in customer spending activity due to COVID-19 related business closings as well as an increase in funds available to customers through government issued stimulus checks and additional unemployment benefits.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, we sold primarily Texas municipal securities, mortgage related securities and corporate bonds that resulted in a net gain on sale of AFS securities of $78,000 and $8.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively.

Gain on sale of loans increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 due to an increase in the volume of loans sold.

The decrease in trust fees for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to a decrease in assets under management. The market value of our wealth management and trust assets under management, which are not reflected in our consolidated balance sheets, decreased 17.1%, and were approximately $1.52 billion at September 30, 2020, compared to $1.83 billion at September 30, 2019.

The increase in our bank owned life insurance income during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, was due to $12.5 million in additional policies purchased during the second quarter of 2020.

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Other noninterest income decreased during the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to a decrease in swap fee income and a write-down to a Community Reinvestment Act equity investment, partially offset by increases in the fair value of mortgage interest rate lock commitments and check cashing fees. Other noninterest income decreased during the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, primarily due to decreases in swap fee income and mortgage servicing fee income, partially offset by increases in the fair value of mortgage interest rate lock commitments and check cashing fees.

Noninterest Expense

We incur certain types of noninterest expenses associated with the operation of our various business activities. The following table details the categories included in noninterest expense (dollars in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				2020
					Change From
	2020		2019		2019
Salaries and employee benefits	$	19,344	$	18,388	$	956	5.2	%
Net occupancy	3,595		3,430		165		4.8	%

Advertising, travel & entertainment	519		593		(74)		(12.5)	%
ATM expense	271		232		39		16.8	%
Professional fees	961		1,192		(231)		(19.4)	%
Software and data processing	1,215		1,116		99		8.9	%
Communications	495		480		15		3.1	%
FDIC insurance	469		—		469		100.0	%
Amortization of intangibles	881		1,080		(199)		(18.4)	%
Other noninterest expense	3,866		2,515		1,351		53.7	%
Total noninterest expense	$	31,616	$	29,026	$	2,590	8.9	%


	Nine Months Ended September 30,			2020
			Change From
		2020		2019		2019
Salaries and employee benefits				$	57,616	$	54,325	$	3,291	6.1	%
Net occupancy				10,574		9,894		680		6.9	%

Advertising, travel & entertainment				1,643		2,173		(530)		(24.4)	%
ATM expense				728		658		70		10.6	%
Professional fees				3,238		3,575		(337)		(9.4)	%
Software and data processing				3,737		3,278		459		14.0	%
Communications				1,494		1,456		38		2.6	%
FDIC insurance				668		859		(191)		(22.2)	%
Amortization of intangibles				2,792		3,388		(596)		(17.6)	%
Other noninterest expense				9,502		8,747		755		8.6	%
Total noninterest expense				$	91,992	$	88,353	$	3,639	4.1	%

The increase in noninterest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, was the result of increases in other noninterest expense, salaries and employee benefits and FDIC insurance. The increase in noninterest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019, was the result of increases in salaries and employee benefits, other noninterest expense, net occupancy expense and software and data processing expense, partially offset by decreases in amortization of intangibles and advertising, travel and entertainment expense.

Salary and employee benefits increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to increases in direct salary expense and retirement expense, partially offset by a decline in health insurance expense.

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For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, direct salary expense increased $583,000, or 3.8%, and $2.3 million, or 5.0%, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to normal salary increases effective in the first quarter of 2020, and to a lesser extent, the addition of several new commercial lenders.

Retirement expense increased $771,000, or 78.3%, and $1.3 million, or 43.6%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2019. The increase was primarily due to increases in our deferred compensation plan expense, 401(k) plan matching expense, defined benefit expense and split dollar agreement expense. The increase in 401(k) plan matching expense was related to an increase in eligible matching participants during the second quarter of 2020. The increase in deferred compensation expense was due to entry into additional deferred compensation agreements. The increase in the defined benefit expense is due primarily to the decrease in the discount rate associated with the re-measurement of the defined benefit plan at June 30, 2020 in connection with freezing the defined benefit plan to further benefit accruals as of December 31, 2020.

Health and life insurance expense, included in salaries and employee benefits, decreased $397,000, or 20.5%, and $264,000, or 4.9%, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2019. We have a self-insured health plan which is supplemented with a stop loss insurance policy. Health insurance costs continue to rise nationwide and these costs may increase during the remainder of 2020.

Net occupancy expense increased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to increased depreciation, rent expense and other occupancy related expense primarily associated with relocating a branch location as well as additional cleaning and precautionary measures taken in response to COVID-19.

Advertising, travel and entertainment expense decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to decreases in travel, meals and entertainment and media advertising as a result of COVID-19. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in donations due to payment of several additional donations during the third quarter of 2020.

ATM expense increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to higher ATM maintenance expense as new ATMs and ITMs were put into service.

Professional fees decreased during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to decreases in legal and audit fees.

Software and data processing expense increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, due to entry into several new software contracts.

FDIC insurance increased for the three months ended September 30, 2020, and decreased for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to a small bank assessment credit issued by the FDIC and utilized in the second half of 2019 and the first half of 2020. As of June 30, 2020, we had used all of the small bank assessment credit issued by the FDIC.

Amortization expense on intangibles decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to a decrease in core deposit intangible amortization which is recognized on an accelerated method resulting in a decline in expense over time.

Other noninterest expense increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, compared to the same periods in 2019, primarily due to losses on retired assets associated with a branch closure and branch right sizing.

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Income Taxes

Pre-tax income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was $30.9 million and $59.7 million, respectively, an increase of 31.6% and a decrease of 11.7%, compared to $23.5 million and $67.6 million for the same periods in 2019. We recorded income tax expense of $3.8 million and $7.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to income tax expense of $3.7 million and $10.4 million for the same periods in 2019. The effective tax rate (“ETR”) as a percentage of pre-tax income was 12.3% and 11.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, respectively, compared to an ETR as a percentage of pre-tax income of 15.6% and 15.3% for the same periods in 2019. The lower ETR for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 was primarily due to an increase in tax-exempt income as a percentage of pre-tax income as compared to the same periods in 2019.

The ETR differs from the stated rate of 21% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020 and 2019 primarily due to the effect of tax-exempt income from municipal loans and securities, as well as bank owned life insurance. The net deferred tax liability totaled $9.6 million at September 30, 2020, compared to $4.8 million at December 31, 2019. The increase in the net deferred tax liability is primarily the result of the increase in unrealized gains in the AFS securities portfolio.

See “Note 11 – Income Taxes” to our consolidated financial statements included in this report. No valuation allowance was recorded at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019, as management believes it is more likely than not that all of the deferred tax asset items will be realized in future years.

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Composition of Loans

One of our main objectives is to seek attractive lending opportunities in Texas, primarily in the counties in which we operate. Refer to “Part I - Item 1. Business - Market Area” in the 2019 Form 10-K for a discussion of our primary market area and the geographic concentration of our loan portfolio as of December 31, 2019. There were no substantial changes in these concentrations during the nine months ended September 30, 2020. Substantially all of our loan originations are made to borrowers who live in and conduct business in the Texas counties in which we operate or adjoin, with the exception of municipal loans, which are made primarily throughout the state of Texas. Municipal loans are made to municipalities, counties, school districts and colleges.

The following table sets forth loan totals by class as of the dates presented (dollars in thousands):


							Compared to
							December 31, 2019		September 30, 2019
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019		September 30, 2019		Change (%)		Change (%)

Real estate loans:
Construction	$	610,394	$	644,948	$	621,040	(5.4)	%	(1.7)	%
1-4 family residential	738,343		787,562		792,638		(6.2)	%	(6.8)	%
Commercial	1,327,233		1,250,208		1,236,307		6.2	%	7.4	%
Commercial loans	629,170		401,521		382,077		56.7	%	64.7	%
Municipal loans	387,286		383,960		366,906		0.9	%	5.6	%
Loans to individuals	97,549		100,005		100,949		(2.5)	%	(3.4)	%
Total loans	$	3,789,975	$	3,568,204	$	3,499,917	6.2	%	8.3	%

Our loan portfolio increased $221.8 million, or 6.2%, at September 30, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 with increases in commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, and municipal loans partially offset by decreases in the other loan categories.

Our loan portfolio increased $290.1 million, or 8.3%, at September 30, 2020 compared to September 30, 2019 with increases in commercial loans, commercial real estate loans, and municipal loans, partially offset by decreases in other loan categories. The increase in commercial loans was due entirely to $302.8 million of PPP loans, net of deferred fees, included in this category at September 30, 2020.

At September 30, 2020, our real estate loans represented 70.6% of our loan portfolio and were comprised of construction loans of 22.8%, 1-4 family residential loans of 27.6% and commercial real estate loans of 49.6%. Our construction loans are collateralized by property located primarily in or near the market areas we serve. A number of our construction loans will be owner occupied upon completion. Construction loans for non-owner occupied projects are financed, but these typically have cash flows from leases with tenants, secondary sources of repayment, and in some cases, additional collateral. Our 1-4 family residential loans consist primarily of loans secured by first mortgages on owner occupied 1-4 family residences. Commercial real estate loans primarily include loans collateralized by retail, commercial office buildings, multi-family residential buildings, medical facilities and offices, senior living, assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, warehouse facilities, hotels and churches.

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Loan Portfolios Most at Risk due to Economic Stress Resulting from Impact of COVID-19

The banking industry is affected by general economic conditions such as interest rates, inflation, recession, unemployment and other factors beyond our control, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the last 30 years the Texas economy has continued to diversify, decreasing the overall impact of fluctuations in oil and gas prices; however, the oil and gas industry is still a significant component of the Texas economy. Oil prices have experienced a significant reduction primarily reflective of the economic impact of COVID-19. We cannot predict whether current economic conditions will improve, remain the same or decline.

As of September 30, 2020, the Company’s exposure to the oil and gas industry totaled $116.4 million, or 3.07% of gross loans, down $8.0 million from December 31, 2019 year-end levels, and consisted primarily of (i) support/service loans of 2.03%, (ii) upstream of 0.91%, (iii) downstream of 0.09%, and (iv) midstream of 0.04%. Expanded monitoring and analysis of these loans has been implemented to address the decline in oil and gas prices as needed.

The following table sets forth our oil and gas information for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


	September 30,						December 31, 2019
	2020			2019
Oil and gas related loans	$	116,428		$	116,719		$	124,417
Oil and gas related loans as a % of loans	3.07		%	3.33		%	3.49		%
Classified oil and gas related loans	$	6,788		$	67		$	1,085
Classified oil and gas related loans as a % of oil and gas related loans	5.83		%	0.06		%	0.87		%
Nonaccrual oil and gas related loans	718			67			7
Net charge-offs for oil and gas related loans	7			—			—
Allowance for oil and gas related loans as a % of oil and gas loans	1.48		%	0.85		%	1.14		%

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the global economy, disrupted global supply chains and increased unemployment levels. The resulting temporary closure of many businesses and the implementation of social distancing and sheltering in place policies have impacted and could continue to impact many of our customers. Although certain business restrictions above have eased in some of our market areas, the ongoing pandemic and increased outbreaks of COVID-19 in various regions, has resulted, and may continue to result, in their reinstitution. In addition to the oil and gas industry, we consider the sectors set forth in the below table to be most vulnerable to financial risks from business disruptions caused by the pandemic mitigation efforts. For further discussion, see Item 1.A "Risk Factors" in the Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

The following table sets forth our sectors considered most vulnerable to financial risks from business disruptions caused by the pandemic mitigation efforts based on North American Industry Classification System (“NAICS”) categories as of September 30, 2020 (dollars in thousands):


	September 30, 2020
	Loans		Percent of Total Loans		Percent Classified (1)
Retail commercial real estate (2)	$	329,645	8.70	%	0.03	%
Retail goods and services	85,443		2.25	%	9.04	%
Hotels	68,881		1.82	%	6.34	%
Food services	43,401		1.15	%	0.12	%
Arts, entertainment and recreation	10,400		0.27	%	0.81	%
Total	$	537,770	14.19	%	2.29	%

(1) Sector classified loans as a percentage of sector total loans.

(2) Loans in the retail commercial real estate sector are included in our commercial real estate portfolio.

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Allowance for Credit Losses - Loans

As discussed in “Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our policies and procedures related to accounting for credit losses changed on January 1, 2020 in connection with the adoption of ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments- Credit Losses, also known as Current Expected Credit Losses (“CECL”). CECL is the estimated credit loss over the contractual life of a financial instrument measured upon origination or purchase of the instrument. The CECL model uses historical experience and current conditions for homogeneous pools of loans, and reasonable and supportable forecasts about future events. The impact of varying economic conditions and portfolio stress factors are now a component of the credit loss models applied to each portfolio. Reserve factors are specific to the loan segments that share similar risk characteristics based on the probability of default assumptions and loss given default assumptions, over the contractual term. The forecasted periods gradually mean-revert to the long-run trend based upon historical data. Management evaluates the economic data points used in the Moody’s forecasting scenarios on a quarterly basis to determine the most appropriate impact to the various portfolio characteristics based on management’s view and may apply additional scenario conditions, weights, and/or relevant qualitative factors, not previously considered, to determine the appropriate allowance level. The use of the CECL model includes significant judgment by management and may differ from those of our peers due to different historical loss patterns and the length of time of the reasonable and supportable forecast period and reversion period.

We utilize Moody’s Analytics economic forecast scenarios and assign probability weighting to those scenarios which best reflect management’s views on the economic forecast. The probability weighting and scenarios utilized for the third quarter 2020 estimate of the allowance, were generally reflective of an improved economic forecast as compared to prior quarters.

When determining the appropriate allowance for credit losses on our loan portfolio, our commercial construction and real estate loans, commercial loans and municipal loans utilize the probability of default/loss given default discounted cash flow approach. These loans are assigned to pools based upon risk factors including the loan type and structure, collateral type, leverage ratio, refinancing risk and origination quality, among others. Our consumer construction real estate loans, 1-4 family residential loans and our loans to individuals use a loss rate dependence and are assigned to pools based upon risk factors including loan types, origination year and credit scores.

As of September 30, 2020, our review of the loan portfolio indicated that an allowance for loan losses of $55.1 million was appropriate to cover losses in the portfolio. Changes in economic and other conditions, including the application of the CECL model and the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19, may require future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2020, the allowance for loan losses increased $30.3 million, or 122.2%, to $55.1 million, or 1.45% of total loans, when compared to $24.8 million, or 0.69% of total loans at December 31, 2019. The increase in the provision for credit losses for the year was primarily due to COVID-19 and the resulting impact on the economic assumptions used in the CECL model.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020, loan charge-offs were $718,000 and $2.3 million, respectively, and recoveries were $361,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019, loan charge-offs were $1.0 million and $5.7 million, respectively, and recoveries were $419,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. We recorded a reversal of provision for credit losses for loans of $4.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2020 and a provision for credit losses for loans of $26.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2020. This represented a decrease of $5.4 million, or 537.9%, compared to a provision of $1.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2019, and an increase of $23.4 million, or 903.5%, from a provision $2.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2019. The partial reversal of provision for credit losses during the three months ended September 30, 2020, was largely driven by an improvement in the economic forecasts and the decrease in commercial real estate loans. The increase for the nine months ended September 30, 2020, was primarily due to the economic impact of COVID-19 on macroeconomic factors used in the CECL methodology, including the potential for credit deterioration. If the COVID-19 pandemic and economic impact is prolonged, there is a material risk that credit losses and nonperforming assets may increase.

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Purchased Credit Deteriorated (“PCD”) Loans

We have purchased certain loans that as of the date of purchase have experienced more-than-insignificant deterioration in credit quality since origination. Management evaluates these loans against a probability threshold to determine if substantially all of the contractually required payments will be received. PCD loans are recorded at the purchase price plus an allowance for credit losses which becomes the PCD loan's initial amortized cost. The non-credit related discount or premium, the difference between the initial amortized cost and the par value, will be amortized into interest income over the life of the loan. Any further changes to the allowance for credit losses are recorded through provision expense. In accordance with the adoption of ASU 2016-13, management did not reassess whether purchased credit impaired (“PCI”) assets met the criteria of PCD assets and elected to not maintain pools of loans as of the date of adoption. All PCD loans are evaluated based upon product type within the underlying segment.

Nonperforming Assets

Nonperforming assets consist of delinquent loans 90 days or more past due, nonaccrual loans, OREO, repossessed assets and troubled debt restructured loans. Nonaccrual loans are loans 90 days or more delinquent and collection in full of both the principal and interest is not expected. Additionally, some loans that are not delinquent or that are delinquent less than 90 days may be placed on nonaccrual status if it is probable that we will not receive contractual principal and interest payments in accordance with the terms of the respective loan agreements. When a loan is categorized as nonaccrual, the accrual of interest is discontinued and any accrued balance is reversed for financial statement purposes. OREO represents real estate taken in full or partial satisfaction of debts previously contracted. The dollar amount of OREO is based on a current evaluation of the OREO at the time it is recorded on our books, net of estimated selling costs. Updated valuations are obtained as needed and any additional impairments are recognized. Restructured loans represent loans that have been renegotiated to provide a below market or deferral of interest or principal because of deterioration in the financial position of the borrowers. The restructuring of a loan is considered a “troubled debt restructuring” if both (i) the borrower is experiencing financial difficulties and (ii) the creditor has granted a concession. Concessions may include interest rate reductions or below market interest rates, restructuring amortization schedules and other actions intended to minimize potential losses. Categorization of a loan as nonperforming is not in itself a reliable indicator of potential loan loss. Other factors, such as the value of collateral securing the loan and the financial condition of the borrower are considered in judgments as to potential loan loss.

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The following table sets forth nonperforming assets for the periods presented (dollars in thousands):


							Compared to
							December 31, 2019		September 30, 2019
	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019		September 30, 2019		Change (%)		Change (%)
Loans on nonaccrual:
Real estate loans:
Construction	$	1,246	$	405	$	412	207.7	%	202.4	%
1-4 family residential	2,838		2,611		2,500		8.7	%	13.5	%
Commercial	884		704		13,237		25.6	%	(93.3)	%
Commercial loans	784		944		747		(16.9)	%	5.0	%
Loans to individuals	219		299		252		(26.8)	%	(13.1)	%
Total nonaccrual loans (1)	5,971		4,963		17,148		20.3	%	(65.2)	%

Accruing loans past due more than 90 days (1)	—		—		—		—		—
Troubled debt restructured loans(2)	10,307		12,014		11,683		(14.2)	%	(11.8)	%
Other real estate owned	536		472		912		13.6	%	(41.2)	%
Repossessed assets	8		—		4		100.0	%	100.0	%
Total nonperforming assets	$	16,822	$	17,449	$	29,747	(3.6)	%	(43.4)	%


Asset quality ratios:
Nonaccruing loans to total loans	0.16	%	0.14	%	0.49	%
Allowance for loan losses to nonaccruing loans	922.96		499.64		146.54
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming assets	327.61		142.11		84.48
Allowance for loan losses to total loans	1.45		0.69		0.72
Nonperforming assets to total assets	0.23		0.26		0.45
Net charge-offs to average loans	0.04		0.21		0.18

(2) Prior to the adoption of CECL, included $0.8 million in PCI loans restructured as of December 31, 2019 and September 30, 2019.

We are actively marketing all OREO properties and none are being held for investment purposes.

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Liquidity and Interest Rate Sensitivity

Liquidity management involves our ability to convert assets to cash with minimum risk of loss while enabling us to meet our obligations to our customers at any time. This means addressing (1) the immediate cash withdrawal requirements of depositors and other fund providers; (2) the funding requirements of lines and letters of credit; and (3) the short-term credit needs of customers. Liquidity is provided by cash, interest earning deposits and short-term investments that can be readily liquidated with a minimum risk of loss. At September 30, 2020, these investments were 7.9% of total assets, as compared with 7.8% for December 31, 2019 and 6.8% for September 30, 2019. The increase to 7.9% at September 30, 2020, is primarily reflective of the increase in the short-term investment portfolio, offset by an increase in total assets. Liquidity is further provided through the matching, by time period, of rate sensitive interest earning assets with rate sensitive interest bearing liabilities. The Bank has three unsecured lines of credit for the purchase of overnight federal funds at prevailing rates with Frost Bank, TIB – The Independent Bankers Bank and Comerica Bank for $40.0 million, $15.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively. There were no federal funds purchased at September 30, 2020 or December 31, 2019. To provide more liquidity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Reserve took steps to encourage broader use of the discount window. At September 30, 2020, the amount of additional funding the Bank could obtain from the Federal Reserve’s discount window, collateralized by securities and PPP loans, was approximately $786 million. There were no borrowings from the FRDW at September 30, 2020. At September 30, 2020, the amount of additional funding Southside Bank could obtain from FHLB, collateralized by securities, FHLB stock and nonspecified loans and securities, was approximately $1.16 billion, net of FHLB stock purchases required. Southside Bank currently has no outstanding letters of credit from FHLB held as collateral for its public fund deposits.

Management continually evaluates our liquidity position and currently believes the Company has adequate funding to meet our financial needs. During March 2020, in response to COVID-19, the Federal Reserve lowered the primary credit rate by 150 basis points to 0.25 percent and extended terms to 90 days to enhance market liquidity and encourage use of the discount window. In addition, the Federal Reserve announced it would begin quantitative easing, or large-scale asset purchases, consisting primarily of U.S. Treasury securities and MBS to stem the effects of the pandemic on the financial markets. A prolonged outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic could cause a widespread liquidity crisis, and the availability of these funds or the options to sell securities currently held could be hindered. The full impact and duration of COVID-19 on our business is unknown but if it continues to curtail economic activity, it could impact our ability to obtain funding and result in the reduction of or the cessation of dividends.

Interest rate sensitivity management seeks to avoid fluctuating net interest margins and to enhance consistent growth of net interest income through periods of changing interest rates. The ALCO closely monitors various liquidity ratios and interest rate spreads and margins. The ALCO utilizes a simulation model to perform interest rate simulation tests that apply various interest rate scenarios including immediate shocks and market value of portfolio equity (“MVPE”) to assist in determining our overall interest rate risk and the adequacy of our liquidity position. In addition, the ALCO utilizes this simulation model to determine the impact on net interest income of various interest rate scenarios. By utilizing this technology, we can determine changes that need to be made to the asset and liability mix to minimize the change in net interest income under these various interest rate scenarios. See Part I - “Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

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Capital Resources

The increase in shareholders’ equity was the result of net income of $52.6 million, other comprehensive income of $42.0 million, stock compensation expense of $2.3 million, net issuance of common stock under employee stock plans of $1.3 million and common stock issued under our dividend reinvestment plan of $1.0 million. These increases were partially offset by cash dividends paid of $31.0 million, the repurchase of $25.8 million of our common stock and a reduction to beginning retained earnings of $7.8 million for a cumulative-effect adjustment related to the adoption of ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”.

At September 30, 2020, our Common Equity Tier 1 “CET1” capital ratio was 14.24% percent, an increase of 17 basis points compared to December 31, 2019. The higher CET1 capital ratio is primarily due to an increase in retained earnings offset by an increase our securities portfolio at the end of the period ended September 30, 2020 that increased risk-weighted assets.

In April 2020, the FDIC, Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued supplemental instructions allowing banking organizations that implement ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”, before the end of 2020 the option to delay for two years an estimate of the CECL methodologies effect on regulatory capital, relative to the incurred loss methodologies effect on capital, followed by a three-year transition period. We elected to use this regulatory relief to defer the impact of adopting the CECL model for measuring credit losses on regulatory capital, which resulted in a 33 basis point benefit to the CET1 capital ratio at September 30, 2020.

Management believes that, as of September 30, 2020, we met all capital adequacy requirements to which we were subject. It is management’s intention to maintain our capital at a level acceptable to all regulatory authorities and future dividend payments will be determined accordingly. Regulatory authorities require that any dividend payments made by either us or the Bank not exceed earnings for that year. Accordingly, shareholders should not anticipate a continuation of the cash dividend payments simply because of the existence of a dividend reinvestment program. The payment of dividends will depend upon future earnings, our financial condition and other related factors including the discretion of the board of directors.

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To be categorized as well capitalized we must maintain minimum Common Equity Tier 1 risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based, Total capital risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table (dollars in thousands):


	Actual				For Capital Adequacy Purposes				To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Actions Provisions
September 30, 2020	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Amount
Common Equity Tier 1 (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	600,085	14.24	%	$	189,644	4.50	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	751,172	17.83	%	$	189,600	4.50	%	$	273,867	6.50	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	658,528	15.63	%	$	252,859	6.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	751,172	17.83	%	$	252,800	6.00	%	$	337,067	8.00	%

Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	802,043	19.03	%	$	337,145	8.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	795,979	18.89	%	$	337,067	8.00	%	$	421,334	10.00	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) (1)
Consolidated	$	658,528	9.50	%	$	277,351	4.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	751,172	10.84	%	$	277,251	4.00	%	$	346,564	5.00	%


	Actual				For Capital Adequacy Purposes				To Be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Actions Provisions
December 31, 2019	Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio		Amount		Ratio










Common Equity Tier 1 (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	591,026	14.07	%	$	189,055	4.50	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	738,311	17.58	%	$	188,992	4.50	%	$	272,989	6.50	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	649,465	15.46	%	$	252,073	6.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	738,311	17.58	%	$	251,989	6.00	%	$	335,986	8.00	%

Total Capital (to Risk-Weighted Assets)
Consolidated	$	774,293	18.43	%	$	336,098	8.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	764,563	18.20	%	$	335,986	8.00	%	$	419,982	10.00	%

Tier 1 Capital (to Average Assets) (1)
Consolidated	$	649,465	10.18	%	$	255,304	4.00	%	N/A		N/A
Bank Only	$	738,311	11.57	%	$	255,204	4.00	%	$	319,004	5.00	%

(1)Refers to quarterly average assets as calculated in accordance with policies established by bank regulatory agencies.

As of September 30, 2020, Southside Bancshares and Southside Bank meet all capital adequacy requirements under the Basel III Capital Rules that became fully phased-in as of January 1, 2019. Refer to the Supervision and Regulation section in the 2019 Form 10-K for further discussion of our capital requirements.

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The table below summarizes our key equity ratios for the periods presented:


	Three Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019
Return on average assets	1.48	%	1.23	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity	12.89		9.78
Dividend payout ratio – Basic	37.80		52.54
Dividend payout ratio – Diluted	37.80		53.45
Average shareholders’ equity to average total assets	11.49		12.54
	Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019
Return on average assets	0.98	%	1.21	%
Return on average shareholders’ equity	8.56		9.93
Dividend payout ratio – Basic	58.86		54.12
Dividend payout ratio – Diluted	58.86		54.44
Average shareholders’ equity to average total assets	11.42		12.21

Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements, Commitments and Contingencies

Allowance for off-balance-sheet credit exposures were as follows (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended September 30,				Nine Months Ended September 30,
	2020		2019		2020		2019

Balance at beginning of period	$	6,365	$	1,859	$	1,455	$	1,890
Impact of CECL adoption	—		—		4,840		—
Provision for (reversal of) off-balance-sheet credit exposures	(345)		(319)		(275)		(350)
Balance at end of period	$	6,020	$	1,540	$	6,020	$	1,540

Contractual commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer provided that the terms established in the contract are met. Commitments to extend credit generally have fixed expiration dates and may require the payment of fees. Since some commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements. Standby letters of credit are conditional commitments issued to guarantee the performance of a customer to a third party. These guarantees are primarily issued to support public and private borrowing arrangements. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in commitments to extend credit and similarly do not necessarily represent future cash obligations.

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Financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk were as follows (in thousands):


	September 30, 2020		December 31, 2019
Unused commitments:
Commitments to extend credit	$	768,941	$	925,671
Standby letters of credit	15,839		17,211
Total	$	784,780	$	942,882

Deposits. There were no unsettled issuances of brokered CDs at September 30, 2020. There were $20.0 million unsettled issuances of brokered CDs at December 31, 2019.

Litigation. We are a party to various litigation in the normal course of business. Management, after consulting with our legal counsel, believes that any liability resulting from litigation will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See “Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting and Reporting Policies” in our consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Branch Closures

Due to the close proximity of an acquired Diboll traditional branch location to our retail grocery store branch location in Palestine, Texas, we closed the retail grocery store branch located at 2107 S. Loop 256, Palestine, TX 75801, on July 17, 2020.

Due to the close proximity of our traditional branch location to an acquired Diboll traditional branch location in Longview, Texas, we closed the acquired branch located at 2395 H.G. Mosley Parkway, Longview, TX 75604, on September 18, 2020.

Due to pandemic-related access restrictions implemented at nursing homes, we closed the Pinecrest Nursing Home branch which provided very limited operations on a weekly basis for residents located at 1302 Tom Temple Drive, Lufkin, TX 75901, on September 18, 2020.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The disclosures set forth in this item are qualified by the section captioned “Forward-Looking Statements” included in “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this report and other cautionary statements set forth elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Refer to the discussion of market risks included in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks” in the 2019 Form 10-K.

In the banking industry, a major risk exposure is changing interest rates. The primary objective of monitoring our interest rate sensitivity, or risk, is to provide management the tools necessary to manage the balance sheet to minimize adverse changes in net interest income as a result of changes in the direction and level of interest rates. Federal Reserve Board monetary control efforts, the effects of deregulation, economic uncertainty and legislative changes have been significant factors affecting the task of managing interest rate sensitivity positions in recent years.

In an attempt to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates, management closely monitors our exposure to interest rate risk through our ALCO. Our ALCO meets regularly and reviews our interest rate risk position and makes recommendations to our board for adjusting this position. In addition, our board reviews our asset/liability position on a monthly basis. We primarily use two methods for measuring and analyzing interest rate risk: net income simulation analysis and MVPE modeling. We utilize the net income simulation model as the primary quantitative tool in measuring the amount of interest rate risk associated with changing market rates. This model quantifies the effects of various interest rate scenarios on projected net interest income and net income over the next 12 months. The model is used to measure the impact on net interest income relative to a base case scenario of rates immediately increasing 100 and 200 basis points or decreasing 50 basis points over the next 12 months. These simulations incorporate assumptions regarding balance sheet growth and mix, pricing and the repricing and maturity characteristics of the existing and projected balance sheet. The impact of interest rate-related risks such as prepayment, basis and option risk are also considered. The model has interest rate floors, and no interest rates are assumed to go negative. The interest rate environment has declined during 2020 to a point where most treasury terms are under 100 basis points; therefore, we do not believe an analysis of an assumed decrease in interest rates beyond 50 basis points would provide meaningful results. We will continue to monitor interest rates, and we will resume the simulation of rates decreasing 100 and 200 basis points once rates begin to rise.

The following table reflects the noted increases and decreases in interest rates under the model simulations and the anticipated impact on net interest income relative to the base case over the next twelve months for the periods presented.

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	Anticipated impact over the next twelve months
	September 30,
Rate projections:	2020		2019
Increase:
100 basis points	1.73	%	1.59	%
200 basis points	3.82	%	(1.37)	%

Decrease:
50 basis points	(2.05)	%	1.44	%

As part of the overall assumptions, certain assets and liabilities are given reasonable floors. This type of simulation analysis requires numerous assumptions including but not limited to changes in balance sheet mix, prepayment rates on mortgage-related assets and fixed rate loans, cash flows and repricing of all financial instruments, changes in volumes and pricing, future shapes of the yield curve, relationship of market interest rates to each other (basis risk), credit spread and deposit sensitivity. Assumptions are based on management’s best estimates but may not accurately reflect actual results under certain changes in interest rates.

In addition to interest rate risk, the COVID-19 pandemic and the related stay-at-home and self-distancing mandates have exposed us and will likely continue to expose us to additional market value risk. Protracted closures, furloughs and lay-offs have curtailed economic activity, and will likely continue to curtail economic activity and could result in lower fair values for collateral in our commercial and 1-4 family portfolio segments.

The ALCO monitors various liquidity ratios to ensure a satisfactory liquidity position for us. Management continually evaluates the condition of the economy, the pattern of market interest rates and other economic data to determine the types of investments that should be made and at what maturities. Using this analysis, management from time to time assumes calculated interest sensitivity gap positions to maximize net interest income based upon anticipated movements in the general level of interest rates. Regulatory authorities also monitor our gap position along with other liquidity ratios. In addition, as described above, we utilize a simulation model to determine the impact of net interest income under several different interest rate scenarios. By utilizing this technology, we can determine changes that need to be made to the asset and liability mixes to mitigate the change in net interest income under these various interest rate scenarios.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), undertook an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report, and, based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report, in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting in a timely manner the information that the Company is required to disclose in its reports under the Exchange Act and in accumulating and communicating to the Company’s management, including the Company’s CEO and CFO, such information as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No changes were made to our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the quarter ended September 30, 2020 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a party to various litigation in the normal course of business. Management, after consulting with our legal counsel, believes that any liability resulting from litigation will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors previously disclosed in the Second Quarter Form 10Q and the 2019 Form 10-K.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit Index

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit Number

Exhibit Description

Filed Herewith

Exhibit

Form

Filing Date

File No.

(3)

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

3.1

Restated Certificate of Formation of Southside Bancshares, Inc.

3.1

8-K

05/14/2018

0-12247

3.2

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Southside Bancshares, Inc.

3.1

8-K

02/22/2018

0-12247

(31)

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications

31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

(32)

Section 1350 Certification

†32

Certification of Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

(101)

Interactive Date File

101.INS

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101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document.

101.LAB

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101.PRE

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101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

† The certification attached as Exhibit 32 accompanies this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and is “furnished” to the Commission pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed “filed” by us for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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SIGNATURES

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


		SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES, INC.

DATE:	October 30, 2020	BY:	/s/ Lee R. Gibson
			Lee R. Gibson, CPA
			President and Chief Executive Officer
			(Principal Executive Officer)




DATE:	October 30, 2020	BY:	/s/ Julie N. Shamburger
			Julie N. Shamburger, CPA
			Chief Financial Officer
			(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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