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Sterling Bancorp, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2022 September (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2022

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

For the transition period from       to       

Commission File Number 001-38290

Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Michigan

    

38-3163775

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

One Towne Square, Suite 1900

Southfield, Michigan 48076

(248) 355-2400

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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

Title of each class

    

Trading Symbol(s)

    

Name of each exchange on which registered

Common stock, no par value per share

SBT

NASDAQ Capital 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 

As of November 4, 2022, 50,800,012 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

FORM 10-Q

INDEX

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

2

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021

2

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

4

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

5

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

6

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

37

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

62

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

64

PART II — OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

65

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

66

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

66

Item 6.

Exhibits

67

Exhibit Index

SIGNATURES

68

1

Table of Contents

Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)

PART 1. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Assets

 

  

 

  

Cash and due from banks

$

352,404

$

411,676

Interest-bearing time deposits with other banks

1,183

1,183

Investment securities

 

353,219

 

313,879

Loans held for sale

 

8,833

 

64,987

Loans, net of allowance for loan losses of $45,362 and $56,548

 

1,636,266

 

1,956,266

Accrued interest receivable

 

7,061

 

7,696

Mortgage servicing rights, net

1,842

2,722

Leasehold improvements and equipment, net

 

6,585

 

7,421

Operating lease right-of-use assets

15,467

18,184

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost

20,288

22,950

Cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance

 

8,448

 

33,033

Deferred tax asset, net

 

23,907

 

21,426

Other assets

 

12,401

 

15,407

Total assets

$

2,447,904

$

2,876,830

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

Liabilities

 

  

 

  

Noninterest-bearing deposits

$

70,063

$

63,760

Interest-bearing deposits

 

1,880,951

 

2,197,975

Total deposits

 

1,951,014

 

2,261,735

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

 

50,000

 

150,000

Subordinated notes, net

 

65,290

 

65,343

Operating lease liabilities

16,664

19,400

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

35,335

 

36,725

Total liabilities

 

2,118,303

 

2,533,203

Shareholders’ Equity

 

  

 

  

Preferred stock, authorized 10,000,000 shares; no shares issued and outstanding

 

 

Common stock, no par value, authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 50,800,012 shares at September 30, 2022 and 50,460,932 shares at December 31, 2021

 

83,295

 

82,157

Additional paid-in capital

 

14,560

 

14,124

Retained earnings

 

252,482

 

248,243

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(20,736)

 

(897)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

329,601

 

343,627

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

2,447,904

$

2,876,830

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2

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Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Interest income

  

  

Interest and fees on loans

$

20,975

$

27,348

$

65,589

$

88,716

Interest and dividends on investment securities and restricted stock

1,945

375

 

4,133

 

1,150

Other interest

1,925

253

 

2,931

 

743

Total interest income

24,845

27,976

 

72,653

 

90,609

Interest expense

 

 

Interest on deposits

3,724

3,541

 

8,070

 

15,479

Interest on Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

253

826

 

919

 

2,511

Interest on subordinated notes

1,329

972

 

3,383

 

3,157

Total interest expense

5,306

5,339

 

12,372

 

21,147

Net interest income

19,539

22,637

 

60,281

 

69,462

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

(4,357)

397

 

(9,755)

 

(2,146)

Net interest income after provision (recovery) for loan losses

23,896

22,240

 

70,036

 

71,608

Non-interest income

 

 

Service charges and fees

124

120

 

351

 

423

Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale

151

 

200

 

619

Unrealized losses on equity securities

(184)

(24)

(590)

(99)

Gain on sale of branch office

1,417

1,417

Net servicing loss

(384)

(31)

(118)

(1,369)

Income on cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance

87

325

 

670

 

960

Other

100

 

586

 

291

Total non-interest income

(357)

2,058

 

1,099

 

2,242

Non-interest expense

 

 

Salaries and employee benefits

9,336

2,774

 

24,522

 

19,300

Occupancy and equipment

2,112

2,395

 

6,441

 

6,840

Professional fees

5,756

4,024

 

17,979

 

18,500

FDIC assessments

316

417

 

1,031

 

1,636

Data processing

725

403

 

2,292

 

1,189

Net recovery of mortgage repurchase liability

(145)

(298)

(670)

(963)

Other

3,521

1,361

 

8,943

 

5,852

Total non-interest expense

21,621

11,076

 

60,538

 

52,354

Income before income taxes

1,918

13,222

 

10,597

 

21,496

Income tax expense

742

3,665

 

6,358

 

6,162

Net income

$

1,176

$

9,557

$

4,239

$

15,334

Income per share, basic and diluted

$

0.02

$

0.19

$

0.08

$

0.31

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

Basic

50,400,412

50,167,295

50,326,951

50,010,341

Diluted

50,572,931

50,262,686

50,523,076

50,079,931

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Net income

$

1,176

$

9,557

$

4,239

$

15,334

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:

 

 

Unrealized losses on investment securities, arising during the period, net of tax effect of $(2,632), $(89), $(7,515) and $(61), respectively

(7,154)

(230)

 

(19,839)

 

(158)

Comprehensive income (loss)

$

(5,978)

$

9,327

$

(15,600)

$

15,176

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4

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Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)

Accumulated

Additional

Other

Total

Common Stock

Paid-in

Retained

Comprehensive

Shareholders’

    

Shares

    

Amount

    

Capital

    

Earnings

    

Income (Loss)

    

Equity

Balance at January 1, 2021

49,981,861

$

80,807

$

13,544

$

224,853

$

387

$

319,591

Net income

2,325

2,325

Repurchase of restricted shares to pay employee tax liability

(8,536)

(46)

(46)

Stock-based compensation

36,082

105

105

Other comprehensive loss

 

 

 

 

(59)

 

(59)

Balance at March 31, 2021

50,009,407

$

80,807

$

13,603

$

227,178

$

328

$

321,916

Net income

3,452

3,452

Issuance of shares of common stock for cash ($4.50 per share) (Note 9)

300,000

1,350

1,350

Stock-based compensation

165,774

193

193

Other comprehensive income

131

131

Balance at June 30, 2021

50,475,181

$

82,157

$

13,796

$

230,630

$

459

$

327,042

Net income

9,557

9,557

Stock-based compensation

(117)

196

196

Other comprehensive loss

— 

— 

— 

(230)

(230)

Balance at September 30, 2021

50,475,064

$

82,157

$

13,992

$

240,187

$

229

$

336,565

Balance at January 1, 2022

50,460,932

$

82,157

$

14,124

$

248,243

$

(897)

$

343,627

Net income

5,260

5,260

Repurchase of restricted shares to pay employee tax liability

(13,383)

(84)

(84)

Stock-based compensation

49,284

146

146

Other comprehensive loss

(7,543)

(7,543)

Balance at March 31, 2022

50,496,833

$

82,157

$

14,186

$

253,503

$

(8,440)

$

341,406

Net loss

(2,197)

(2,197)

Repurchase of restricted shares to pay employee tax liability

(16,345)

(112)

(112)

Issuance of shares of common stock to defined contribution retirement plan (Note 9)

160,978

1,138

1,138

Stock-based compensation

176,746

239

239

Other comprehensive loss

(5,142)

(5,142)

Balance at June 30, 2022

50,818,212

$

83,295

$

14,313

$

251,306

$

(13,582)

$

335,332

Net income

1,176

1,176

Repurchase of restricted shares to pay employee tax liability

(1,299)

(8)

(8)

Stock-based compensation

(16,901)

255

255

Other comprehensive loss

(7,154)

(7,154)

Balance at September 30, 2022

50,800,012

$

83,295

$

14,560

$

252,482

$

(20,736)

$

329,601

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands)

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

 

  

 

  

Net income

$

4,239

$

15,334

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

(9,755)

 

(2,146)

Deferred income taxes

 

5,034

 

1,009

Gain on sale of branch office

(1,417)

Unrealized losses on equity securities

 

590

 

99

Net amortization (acrretion) on investment securities

 

(342)

 

1,229

Depreciation and amortization on leasehold improvements and equipment

1,162

1,395

Net principal payments (originations) of loans held for sale

 

2,284

 

(9,385)

Proceeds from sale of mortgage loans held for sale

 

1,831

 

19,179

Gain on sale of loans held for sale

 

(200)

 

(619)

Net recovery of mortgage repurchase liability

(670)

(963)

Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance, net of premiums

 

(292)

 

(404)

Valuation allowance adjustments and amortization of mortgage servicing rights

 

891

 

2,939

Stock-based compensation

640

494

Other

 

82

 

475

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

Accrued interest receivable

 

635

 

2,635

Other assets

2,214

1,588

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

 

(812)

 

4,549

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

7,531

 

35,991

Cash Flows From Investing Activities

 

  

 

  

Maturities of interest-bearing time deposits with other banks

6,216

Maturities and principal receipts of investment securities

80,551

121,958

Purchases of investment securities

 

(147,493)

(23,237)

Proceeds received from redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock

2,662

Net decrease in loans

 

380,865

 

441,787

Purchases of portfolio loans

(67,127)

(179,341)

Principal payments received on commercial real estate loans held for sale

2,529

Proceeds from the sale of commercial real estate loans originated for investment

67,584

Proceeds received from settlement of bank-owned life insurance policies

24,877

Cash paid on sale of branch office

(63,545)

Purchases of leasehold improvements and equipment

 

(326)

 

(2,321)

Net cash provided by investing activities

 

344,122

 

301,517

Cash Flows From Financing Activities

 

  

 

  

Net decrease in deposits

 

(310,721)

 

(716,897)

Proceeds from FHLB advances

35,000

Repayment of FHLB advances

(135,000)

(11,000)

Proceeds from issuance of shares of common stock

1,350

Cash paid for surrender of vested shares to satisfy employee tax liability

(204)

(46)

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(410,925)

 

(726,593)

Net change in cash and due from banks

 

(59,272)

 

(389,085)

Cash and due from banks at beginning of period

 

411,676

 

998,497

Cash and due from banks at end of period

$

352,404

$

609,412

Supplemental cash flows information

 

  

 

  

Cash paid for:

 

  

 

  

Interest

$

11,872

$

38,156

Income taxes

1,779

11

Noncash investing and financing activities:

Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities

3,186

Shares of common stock issued in satisfaction of Company’s matching contribution in defined contribution retirement plan

1,138

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 1—Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation

Nature of Operations

Sterling Bancorp, Inc. (unless stated otherwise or the context otherwise requires, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is a unitary thrift holding company that was incorporated in 1989 and the parent company of its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. (the “Bank”). The Company’s business is conducted through the Bank, which was formed in 1984. The Bank originates residential and commercial real estate loans, construction loans, commercial lines of credit and other consumer loans and provides deposit products, consisting primarily of checking, savings and term certificate accounts. The Bank operates through a network of 28 branches of which 26 branches are located in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California with the remaining branches located in New York, New York and Southfield, Michigan.

The Company is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and its operations are in the financial services industry. Management evaluates the performance of the Company’s business based on one reportable segment, community banking.

The Company is subject to regulation, examination and supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “FRB” or “Federal Reserve”). The Bank is a federally chartered stock savings bank that is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (“FHLB”) system.

In July 2021, the Company completed the sale of the Bellevue, Washington branch office to First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Port Angeles (“First Federal”), a Washington state chartered bank. The sale included the transfer of customer deposit accounts of $65,437 located at the branch, as well as the transfer of all branch premises and equipment. The transaction resulted in a net cash payment to First Federal of $63,545. The Company recorded a gain on the sale of $1,417 during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2022, and the condensed consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 are unaudited. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the annual consolidated financial statements and reflect all adjustments, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature that are necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The financial data and other financial information disclosed in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements related to these periods are also unaudited. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2022 or for any future annual or interim period. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2021 included herein was derived from the audited financial statements as of that date. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 31, 2022 (the “2021 Form 10-K”).

Note 2— Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of Sterling Bancorp, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, actual results reported in future periods may be based upon amounts that could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The loan portfolio consists primarily of residential real estate loans, which are collateralized by real estate. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, residential real estate loans accounted for 85% and 83%, respectively, of total gross loans. In addition, most of these residential loans and other commercial loans have been made to individuals and businesses in the state of California, which are dependent on the area economy for their livelihoods and servicing of their loan obligation. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, approximately 83% and 85%, respectively, of gross loans was originated with respect to properties or businesses located in the state of California.

In March 2020, the Bank permanently discontinued its Advantage Loan program. Loans originated under this program comprised a significant component of the Bank’s total loan originations. Advantage Loan Program loans (including residential real estate loans held for sale of $7,279 and $11,359 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, of which $3,657 and $8,671 were on nonaccrual status as of those respective dates) totaled $937,225 and $1,185,458, or 65% and 69% of gross residential loans, at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Refer to Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies.

Employee Retention Credits Under the Cares Act

The Company evaluated its eligibility for the employee retention credits (“ERC”) offered under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) in the third quarter of 2021 and determined it qualified for the ERC for the first three quarters of 2021. The Company qualified for the ERC because its gross receipts (which consisted of total interest income and other fees from banking activities and services) decreased more than 20% in 2021 from each of the respective quarters of 2019. The ERC was a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes.

The Company accounted for the ERC by analogy to International Accounting Standards 20 (“IAS 20”). Under IAS 20, the credit is recognized on a systematic basis over the periods in which the entity recognizes the payroll expenses for which the grant (tax credit) is intended to compensate when there is reasonable assurance that the entity will comply with any conditions attached to the grant and the grant will be received. The Company has made an accounting policy election to record the ERC benefit as a reduction to payroll expenses.

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recorded a benefit of $6,529 resulting in a net reduction of salaries and employee benefits expense in the condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company initially recorded a grant receivable of $6,529 and has received refunds or credits of $886, with a remaining receivable of $5,643 which is recorded in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2022. The Company expects to receive the balance of the refunds within the near term.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

In March 2022, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2022-02, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, which eliminates the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors in ASC 310-40, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings involving borrowings that are experiencing financial difficulty. Specifically, rather than applying the troubled debt restructuring recognition and measurement guidance, creditors will evaluate all loan modifications to determine if they result in a new loan or a continuation of the existing loan. Also, losses associated with troubled debt restructurings should be incorporated in a creditor’s estimate of its allowance for credit losses. Public business entities are required to disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for loan financing receivables and net investment in leases. For entities that have not yet adopted ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“2016-13”), ASU 2022-02 is effective when the entity adopts the guidance in ASU 2016-13. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU, along with its adoption of ASU 2016-13, as discussed below.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, which is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments on a more timely basis. The guidance will replace the current incurred loss accounting model with an expected loss approach and requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The guidance requires enhanced disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand significant estimates and judgments used in estimating credit losses, as well as the credit quality and underwriting standards of an organization’s portfolio. In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments, which clarifies the scope of the credit losses standard and addresses issues related to accrued interest receivable balances and recoveries, among other things. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-05, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Targeted Transition Relief. The amendments provide entities with an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured at amortized cost basis, upon adoption of Topic 326. In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. This update deferred the effective dates of Topic 326 to January 1, 2023 for certain entities including smaller reporting companies as defined by the SEC. The Company, as a smaller reporting company as of the relevant measuring period, qualified for this extension.

At this time, a cross-functional implementation team consisting of individuals from accounting, finance, servicing and information systems is working with the Company’s loan system vendor and consultants, and an application to create credit loss estimation models and processes has been developed. The historical data set for model development has been finalized, and the credit loss estimation models have been developed and tested. The Company is working to finalize the assessment and documentation of processes and internal controls as well as adjustments to qualitative factors. In addition, the Company has engaged a third party to perform a model validation. The Company will run the new credit loss estimation models under the new internal controls in parallel with the current allowance for loan losses model to understand the differences in the models and assess the impact of the change. The Company expects to recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of January 1, 2023, the beginning of the first reporting period in which ASU No. 2016-13 is effective. The Company has not yet determined the magnitude of any such one-time cumulative adjustment or of the overall impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 3—Investment Securities

Debt Securities

The following tables summarize the amortized cost and fair value of debt securities available for sale at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 and the corresponding amounts of gross unrealized gains and losses:

September 30, 2022

Amortized

Gross Unrealized

Fair

    

Cost

    

Gain

    

Loss

    

Value

Available for sale:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

$

175,433

$

27

$

(7,998)

$

167,462

Mortgage-backed securities

43,183

(5,557)

37,626

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

158,414

 

60

 

(15,128)

 

143,346

Collateralized debt obligations

 

158

 

 

(5)

 

153

Total

$

377,188

$

87

$

(28,688)

$

348,587

December 31, 2021

Amortized

Gross Unrealized

Fair

    

Cost

    

Gain

    

Loss

    

Value

Available for sale:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

$

122,291

$

106

$

(229)

$

122,168

Mortgage-backed securities

49,739

84

(386)

49,437

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

137,662

 

530

 

(1,343)

 

136,849

Collateralized debt obligations

 

211

 

 

(8)

 

203

Total

$

309,903

$

720

$

(1,966)

$

308,657

Securities with a fair value of $106,049 were pledged as collateral on FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2022.

All of the mortgage-backed securities, and a majority of the collateralized mortgage obligations, are issued and/or guaranteed by a U.S. government agency (Government National Mortgage Association) or a U.S. government-sponsored enterprise (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”) or Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”)). The fair value of the private-label collateralized mortgage obligations was $438 and $529 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

No securities of any single issuer, other than debt securities issued by the U.S. government, government agency and government-sponsored enterprises, were in excess of 10% of total shareholders’ equity as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

The amortized cost and fair value of U.S. Treasury and Agency securities at September 30, 2022 are shown by contractual maturity in the table below. Mortgage-backed securities, collateralized mortgage obligations and collateralized debt obligations are disclosed separately, as the expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities if borrowers have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

Amortized

Fair

    

Cost

    

Value

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

 

  

 

  

Due less than one year

$

24,277

$

24,125

Due after one year through five years

151,156

143,337

Mortgage-backed securities

43,183

37,626

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

158,414

 

143,346

Collateralized debt obligations

 

158

 

153

Total

$

377,188

$

348,587

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following table summarizes debt securities available for sale, at fair value, with unrealized losses at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 aggregated by major security type and length of time the individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position:

September 30, 2022

Less than 12 Months

12 Months or More

Total

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

    

Value

    

Losses

    

Value

    

Losses

    

Value

    

Losses

U.S Treasury and Agency securities

$

122,428

$

(5,191)

$

22,008

$

(2,807)

$

144,436

$

(7,998)

Mortgage-backed securities

34,553

(4,722)

3,073

(835)

37,626

(5,557)

Collateralized mortgage obligations

107,001

(14,440)

15,398

(688)

122,399

(15,128)

Collateralized debt obligations

 

153

(5)

153

(5)

Total

$

263,982

$

(24,353)

$

40,632

$

(4,335)

$

304,614

$

(28,688)

December 31, 2021

Less than 12 Months

12 Months or More

Total

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

Fair

Unrealized

    

Value

    

Losses

    

Value

    

Losses

    

Value

    

Losses

U.S Treasury and Agency securities

$

49,865

$

(229)

$

$

$

49,865

$

(229)

Mortgage-backed securities

7,878

(36)

8,729

(350)

16,607

(386)

Collateralized mortgage obligations

86,354

(1,342)

2,413

(1)

88,767

(1,343)

Collateralized debt obligations

 

 

 

203

 

(8)

 

203

 

(8)

Total

$

144,097

$

(1,607)

$

11,345

$

(359)

$

155,442

$

(1,966)

As of September 30, 2022, the debt securities portfolio consisted of 35 debt securities, with 28 debt securities in an unrealized loss position. For debt securities in an unrealized loss position, management has both the intent and ability to hold these investments until the recovery of the decline. The fair value is expected to increase as these securities approach their maturity date or repricing date or if market yields for such investments decline. Accordingly, as of September 30, 2022, the unrealized losses in these securities are due to non-credit-related factors, including changes in interest rates and other market conditions; thus, the impairment was determined to be temporary. All interest and dividends are considered taxable.

Equity Securities

Equity securities consist of an investment in a qualified community reinvestment act investment fund, which is a publicly-traded mutual fund and an investment in the common equity of Pacific Coast Banker’s Bank, a thinly traded restricted stock. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, equity securities totaled $4,632 and $5,222, respectively, and are included in investment securities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Equity securities with readily determinable fair values are stated at fair value with realized and unrealized gains and losses reported in non-interest income in the condensed consolidated statements of income. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, equity securities with readily determinable fair values were $4,386 and $4,976, respectively. The following is a summary of unrealized and realized gains and losses recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Net losses recorded during the period on equity securities

$

(184)

$

(24)

$

(590)

$

(99)

Less: net gains (losses) recorded during the period on equity securities sold during the period

 

 

Unrealized losses recorded during the period on equity securities held at the reporting date

$

(184)

$

(24)

$

(590)

$

(99)

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The Company has elected to account for its investment in a thinly traded restricted stock using the measurement alternative for equity securities without readily determinable fair values, resulting in the investment carried at cost based on no evidence of impairment or observable trading activity during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The investment was reported at $246 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Note 4—Loans

Loans Held for Sale

The major categories of loans held for sale were as follows:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Residential real estate

$

7,279

$

11,359

Commercial real estate

 

1,554

 

53,628

Total loans held for sale

$

8,833

$

64,987

At September 30, 2022, loans held for sale includes nonaccrual residential real estate loans of $3,657. Also, a commercial real estate loan with a recorded investment of $1,554 included as held for sale has been classified in the Special Mention category. At December 31, 2021, loans held for sale includes nonaccrual loans of $18,026, consisting of residential real estate loans of $8,671 and commercial real estate loans of $9,355, of which one commercial real estate loan of $2,059 was considered a troubled debt restructuring.

In February 2022, the Company sold substantially all of its commercial real estate loans held for sale, which loans had a carrying value of $49,455 on the date of sale, to a third party for cash proceeds of $49,610.

Loans Held for Investment and Allowance for Loan Losses

The major categories of loans held for investment and the allowance for loan losses were as follows:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Residential real estate

$

1,430,472

$

1,704,231

Commercial real estate

199,446

201,240

Construction

 

50,320

 

106,759

Commercial lines of credit

 

1,389

 

363

Other consumer

 

1

 

221

Total loans

 

1,681,628

 

2,012,814

Less: allowance for loan losses

 

(45,362)

 

(56,548)

Loans, net

$

1,636,266

$

1,956,266

Loans totaling $446,153 and $557,410 were pledged as collateral on FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following tables present the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:

Commercial

    

Residential

    

Commercial

    

    

Lines of

    

Other

    

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

Real Estate

Real Estate

Construction

Credit

Consumer

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

29,982

$

15,035

$

6,708

$

36

$

5

$

51,766

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

(1,841)

 

(209)

 

(2,304)

 

2

 

(5)

 

(4,357)

Charge offs

 

 

(4,064)

 

 

 

 

(4,064)

Recoveries

 

46

 

5

 

1,966

 

 

 

2,017

Total ending balance

$

28,187

$

10,767

$

6,370

$

38

$

$

45,362

Commercial

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

32,202

$

12,608

$

11,730

$

8

$

$

56,548

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

(4,594)

 

2,138

 

(7,329)

 

30

 

 

(9,755)

Charge offs

 

(197)

 

(4,064)

 

 

 

 

(4,261)

Recoveries

 

776

 

85

 

1,969

 

 

 

2,830

Total ending balance

$

28,187

$

10,767

$

6,370

$

38

$

$

45,362

Commercial

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

    

 Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

33,064

$

22,491

$

15,056

$

58

$

$

70,669

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

109

 

1,486

 

(1,194)

 

(4)

 

 

397

Charge offs

 

 

 

(1,965)

 

 

 

(1,965)

Recoveries

 

530

 

605

 

2

 

 

 

1,137

Total ending balance

$

33,703

$

24,582

$

11,899

$

54

$

$

70,238

Commercial 

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

    

 Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

32,366

$

21,942

$

17,988

$

91

$

$

72,387

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

16

 

2,004

 

(4,129)

 

(37)

 

 

(2,146)

Charge offs

 

 

 

(1,965)

 

 

 

(1,965)

Recoveries

 

1,321

 

636

 

5

 

 

 

1,962

Total ending balance

$

33,703

$

24,582

$

11,899

$

54

$

$

70,238

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following tables present the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans by portfolio segment by impairment methodology as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

Commercial

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

September 30, 2022

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

Ending allowance balance attributable to loans:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

12

$

$

$

$

$

12

Collectively evaluated for impairment

28,175

10,767

6,370

38

45,350

Total ending allowance balance

$

28,187

$

10,767

$

6,370

$

38

$

$

45,362

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans individually evaluated for impairment

$

48

$

$

2,485

$

110

$

$

2,643

Loans collectively evaluated for impairment

 

1,430,424

 

199,446

 

47,835

 

1,279

 

1

 

1,678,985

Total ending loans balance

$

1,430,472

$

199,446

$

50,320

$

1,389

$

1

$

1,681,628

Commercial

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

December 31, 2021

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Ending allowance balance attributable to loans:

Individually evaluated for impairment

$

159

$

$

$

$

$

159

Collectively evaluated for impairment

32,043

12,608

11,730

8

56,389

Total ending allowance balance

$

32,202

$

12,608

$

11,730

$

8

$

$

56,548

Loans:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loans individually evaluated for impairment

$

350

$

4,441

$

14,984

$

116

$

$

19,891

Loans collectively evaluated for impairment

 

1,703,881

 

196,799

 

91,775

 

247

 

221

 

1,992,923

Total ending loans balance

$

1,704,231

$

201,240

$

106,759

$

363

$

221

$

2,012,814

14

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following tables present information related to impaired loans by class of loans as of and for the periods indicated:

At September 30, 2022

At December 31, 2021

Unpaid

Allowance

Unpaid

Allowance

Principal

Recorded

for Loan

Principal

Recorded

for Loan

    

Balance

    

Investment

    

Losses

    

Balance

    

Investment

    

Losses

With no related allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

  

 

  

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

Residential real estate:

First mortgage

$

$

$

$

91

$

65

$

Commercial real estate:

Retail

229

Hotels/Single-room occupancy hotels

4,459

4,441

Construction

2,485

2,485

15,004

14,984

Commercial lines of credit:

Private banking

110

110

116

116

Subtotal

 

2,824

2,595

 

 

19,670

 

19,606

 

With an allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Residential real estate:

First mortgage

 

82

 

48

 

12

 

273

 

285

 

159

Total

$

2,906

$

2,643

$

12

$

19,943

$

19,891

$

159

Three Months Ended at September 30,

2022

2021

Average

Interest

Cash Basis

Average

Interest

Cash Basis

Recorded

Income

Interest

Recorded

Income

Interest

    

Investment

    

Recognized

    

Recognized

    

Investment

    

Recognized

    

Recognized

With no related allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Residential real estate:

First mortgage

$

$

$

$

82

$

$

Commercial real estate:

Retail

 

7

Hotels/Single-room occupancy hotels

10,862

Office

2,769

Construction

5,375

40

27

18,820

40

27

Commercial lines of credit:

Private banking

111

2

1

119

2

1

Subtotal

5,486

42

28

 

32,659

 

42

 

28

With an allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Residential real estate:

 

 

 

First mortgage

48

2

2

279

1

1

Construction

10,387

56

38

Subtotal

48

2

2

 

10,666

 

57

 

39

Total

$

5,534

$

44

$

30

$

43,325

$

99

$

67

15

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Nine Months Ended at September 30,

2022

2021

Average

Interest

Cash Basis

Average

Interest

Cash Basis

Recorded

Income

Interest

Recorded

Income

Interest

    

Investment

    

Recognized

    

Recognized

    

Investment

    

Recognized

    

Recognized

With no related allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Residential real estate:

First mortgage

$

$

$

$

88

$

$

Commercial real estate:

Retail

 

765

Hotels/Single-room occupancy hotels

17,948

Office

2,768

Other

91

Construction

6,885

118

105

27,387

192

179

Commercial lines of credit:

Private banking

113

5

4

1,264

7

7

Subtotal

6,998

123

109

 

50,311

 

199

 

186

With an allowance for loan losses recorded:

 

  

 

  

 

  

Residential real estate:

 

 

 

First mortgage

198

3

3

280

3

3

Construction

9,751

181

163

Subtotal

198

3

3

 

10,031

 

184

 

166

Total

$

7,196

$

126

$

112

$

60,342

$

383

$

352

In the tables above, the unpaid principal balance is not reduced for partial charge offs. Also, the recorded investment excludes accrued interest receivable on loans, which was not significant.

Also presented in the table above is the average recorded investment of the impaired loans and the related amount of interest recognized during the time within the period that the impaired loans were impaired. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual status, all payments are applied to principal under the cost recovery method. When the ultimate collectability of the total principal of an impaired loan is not in doubt and the loan is on nonaccrual status, contractual interest is credited to interest income when received under the cash basis method. The average balances are calculated based on the month-end balances of the loans for the period reported.

The following table presents the recorded investment in nonaccrual and loans past due over 90 days still on accrual, excluding nonaccrual loans held for sale, by class of loans as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

September 30, 2022

December 31, 2021

Loans Past

Loans Past 

Due Over

Due Over

90 Days Still

90 Days Still

    

Nonaccrual

    

Accruing

    

Nonaccrual

    

Accruing

Residential real estate:

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

Residential first mortgage

$

35,654

$

36

$

45,439

$

39

Residential second mortgage

189

236

Commercial real estate:

 

Hotels/Single-room occupancy hotels

4,441

Construction

12,499

Total

$

35,843

$

36

$

62,615

$

39

16

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The following tables present the aging of the recorded investment in past due loans as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 by class of loans:

Greater

30 - 59 

60 - 89 

than

Days

Days

89 Days

Total

Loans Not

September 30, 2022

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Total

Residential real estate:

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

 

  

Residential first mortgage

$

20,839

$

3,284

$

35,690

$

59,813

$

1,360,315

$

1,420,128

Residential second mortgage

 

 

 

189

 

189

 

10,155

 

10,344

Commercial real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

 

 

 

 

26,026

 

26,026

Multifamily

 

 

 

 

 

81,723

 

81,723

Office

 

 

 

 

 

18,216

 

18,216

Hotels/ Single-room occupancy hotels

 

 

 

 

 

5,240

 

5,240

Industrial

 

 

 

 

 

30,372

 

30,372

Other

 

 

 

 

 

37,869

 

37,869

Construction

 

 

 

 

 

50,320

 

50,320

Commercial lines of credit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private banking

 

 

 

 

 

110

 

110

C&I lending

 

 

 

 

 

1,279

 

1,279

Other consumer

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

1

Total

$

20,839

$

3,284

$

35,879

$

60,002

$

1,621,626

$

1,681,628

Greater

30 - 59 

60 - 89 

than

Days

Days

89 Days

Total

Loans Not

December 31, 2021

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Total

Residential real estate:

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Residential first mortgage

$

24,044

$

3,425

$

45,478

$

72,947

$

1,617,509

$

1,690,456

Residential second mortgage

 

107

 

 

236

 

343

 

13,432

 

13,775

Commercial real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

 

 

 

 

19,574

 

19,574

Multifamily

 

 

 

 

 

96,960

 

96,960

Office

 

 

 

 

 

12,382

 

12,382

Hotels/Single-room occupancy hotels

 

 

 

4,441

 

4,441

 

9,780

 

14,221

Industrial

 

 

 

 

 

7,320

 

7,320

Other

 

 

 

 

 

50,783

 

50,783

Construction

 

10,500

 

 

12,499

 

22,999

 

83,760

 

106,759

Commercial lines of credit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Private banking

 

 

 

 

 

116

 

116

C&I lending

 

 

 

 

 

247

 

247

Other consumer

 

 

 

 

 

221

 

221

Total

$

34,651

$

3,425

$

62,654

$

100,730

$

1,912,084

$

2,012,814

The Company considers the performance of the loan portfolio and its impact on the allowance for loan losses. For residential real estate and other consumer loans, the Company also evaluates credit quality based on the aging status of the loan, which is presented above, and by payment activity. The Company reviews the status of nonperforming loans, which include loans 90 days past due and still accruing, and nonaccrual loans.

17

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Troubled Debt Restructurings

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has a recorded investment in troubled debt restructurings (“TDR”) of $2,643 and $18,416, respectively. The Company has allocated a specific allowance for loan losses for these loans of $12 as of September 30, 2022 and has allocated $39 of specific allowance for loan loss for these loans as of December 31, 2021. There are no commitments to lend additional amounts.

There were no loans modified as TDRs during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2022 or 2021.

There were no TDRs for which there was a payment default within twelve months following the modification during the three or nine months ended September 30, 2022 or 2021. At September 30, 2022, there were no loans in default. At December 31, 2021, five loans totaling $15,752 were in default.

The terms of certain other loans have been modified during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 that did not meet the definition of a TDR. These other loans that were modified were not considered significant.

Foreclosure Proceedings

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the recorded investment of residential mortgage loans secured by residential real estate properties for which formal foreclosure proceedings are in process totaled $7,266 and $2,780, respectively. Of the loans in formal foreclosure proceedings, $2,755 and $2,770 were included in loans held for sale in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, and were carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. The balance of loans is classified as held for investment and receives an allocation of the allowance for loan losses consistent with a substandard loan loss allocation rate as these loans were classified as substandard at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Credit Quality

The Company categorizes loans into risk categories 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. The Company analyzes loans individually by classifying the loans as to credit risk. This analysis includes homogeneous loans, such as residential real estate and other consumer loans, and non-homogeneous loans, such as commercial lines of credit, construction and commercial real estate loans. This analysis is performed at least quarterly. The Company uses the following definitions for risk ratings:

Pass: Loans are of satisfactory quality.

Special Mention: Loans classified as special mention have a potential weakness that deserves management’s close attention. If left uncorrected, these potential weaknesses may result in deterioration of the repayment prospects for the loan or of the Company’s credit position at some future date.

Substandard: Loans classified as substandard are inadequately protected by the current net worth and paying capacity of the obligor or of the collateral pledged, if any. Loans so classified have a well-defined weakness or weaknesses that jeopardize the liquidation of the loan. They are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Company will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected.

Doubtful: Loans classified as doubtful have all the weaknesses inherent in those classified as substandard, with the added characteristic that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, based on currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the risk rating of loans by class of loans was as follows:

Special

September 30, 2022

    

Pass

    

Mention

    

Substandard

    

Doubtful

    

Total

Residential real estate:

 

  

 

  

 

 

  

 

  

Residential first mortgage

$

1,384,438

$

$

35,690

$

$

1,420,128

Residential second mortgage

 

10,155

 

 

189

 

 

10,344

Commercial real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

26,026

 

 

 

 

26,026

Multifamily

 

69,369

 

12,354

 

 

 

81,723

Office

 

18,216

 

 

 

 

18,216

Hotels/ Single-room occupancy hotels

 

 

3,692

 

1,548

 

 

5,240

Industrial

 

30,372

 

 

 

 

30,372

Other

 

22,703

 

15,166

 

 

 

37,869

Construction

 

37,617

 

4,648

 

8,055

 

 

50,320

Commercial lines of credit:

 

 

 

 

 

Private banking

 

110

 

 

 

 

110

C&I lending

 

1,279

 

 

 

 

1,279

Other consumer

 

1

 

 

 

 

1

Total

$

1,600,286

$

35,860

$

45,482

$

$

1,681,628

Special

December 31, 2021

    

Pass

    

Mention

    

Substandard

    

Doubtful

    

Total

Residential real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

Residential first mortgage

$

1,644,974

$

$

45,249

$

233

$

1,690,456

Residential second mortgage

 

13,539

 

 

236

 

 

13,775

Commercial real estate:

 

 

 

 

 

Retail

 

18,846

 

728

 

 

 

19,574

Multifamily

 

75,543

 

8,104

 

13,313

 

 

96,960

Office

 

10,413

 

 

1,969

 

 

12,382

Hotels/ Single-room occupancy hotels

 

8,205

 

 

6,016

 

 

14,221

Industrial

 

7,320

 

 

 

 

7,320

Other

 

48,996

 

1,692

 

95

 

 

50,783

Construction

 

67,254

 

17,226

 

16,348

 

5,931

 

106,759

Commercial lines of credit:

 

 

 

 

 

Private banking

 

116

 

 

 

 

116

C&I lending

 

236

 

11

 

 

 

247

Other consumer

 

221

 

 

 

 

221

Total

$

1,895,663

$

27,761

$

83,226

$

6,164

$

2,012,814

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company repurchased a pool of Advantage Loan Program loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $35,241 and $65,621. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, the Company repurchased pools of Advantage Loan Program loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $6,067 and $173,829, respectively. The Advantage Loan Program loans that have been repurchased and included in the loan portfolio have an outstanding principal balance of $190,467 and $171,185 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. For more information on the repurchases of Advantage Loan Program loans, refer to Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies.

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company charged off $4,064 of its recorded investment in certain higher risk commercial real estate loans held in its portfolio. These commercial real estate loans were then sold to a third-party investor for net cash proceeds of $17,794. No gain or loss was recorded on the sale of the commercial real estate loans.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 5—Mortgage Servicing Rights, net

The Company records servicing assets from the sale of residential real estate mortgage loans to the secondary market for which servicing has been retained. Residential real estate mortgage loans serviced for others are not included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The principal balance of these loans at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 are as follows:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Residential real estate mortgage loan portfolios serviced for: 

 

  

 

  

FNMA

$

115,446

$

124,764

FHLB

 

35,357

 

40,209

Private investors

 

44,955

 

142,810

Total

$

195,758

$

307,783

Custodial escrow balances maintained with these serviced loans were $1,528 and $5,501 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. These balances are included in noninterest-bearing deposits in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Activity for mortgage servicing rights and the related valuation allowance are as follows:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Mortgage servicing rights:

  

  

Beginning of period

$

2,542

$

4,200

$

3,332

$

7,853

Additions

25

 

11

 

124

Amortization

(657)

(550)

 

(1,458)

 

(4,302)

End of period

1,885

3,675

 

1,885

 

3,675

Valuation allowance at beginning of period

89

968

 

610

 

2,165

Additions (recoveries)

(46)

(166)

 

(567)

 

(1,363)

Valuation allowance at end of period

43

802

 

43

 

802

Mortgage servicing rights, net

$

1,842

$

2,873

$

1,842

$

2,873

Servicing fee loss, net of amortization of servicing rights and changes in the valuation allowance, was $(384) and $(31) for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $(118) and $(1,369) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The fair value of mortgage servicing rights was $2,265 and $2,916 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The fair value of mortgage servicing rights is highly sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions. Changes in prepayment speed assumptions have the most significant impact on the estimate of the fair value of mortgage servicing rights. The fair value at September 30, 2022 was determined using discount rates ranging from 9.5% to 12.0%, prepayment speeds with a weighted average of 10.2% (depending on the stratification of the specific right), a weighted average life of the mortgage servicing right of 77 months and a weighted average default rate of 0.2%. The fair value at December 31, 2021 was determined using discount rates ranging from 9.5% to 12.0%, prepayment speeds with a weighted average of 17.6% (depending on the stratification of the specific right), a weighted average life of the mortgage servicing right of 52 months and a weighted average default rate of 0.2%.

Impairment is determined by stratifying the mortgage servicing rights into groupings based on predominant risk characteristics, such as interest rate, loan type and investor type. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the carrying amount of certain individual groupings exceeded their fair values, resulting in write-downs to fair value. Refer to Note 14Fair Values of Financial Instruments.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 6—Deposits

Time deposits, included in interest-bearing deposits, were $757,576 and $891,820 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Time deposits included brokered deposits of $20,109 at December 31, 2021. There were no brokered deposits at September 30, 2022.

Time deposits that meet or exceed the FDIC insurance limit of $250 were $222,630 and $244,868 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

Note 7—FHLB Borrowings

FHLB Advances

FHLB borrowings at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 consist of the following:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

 Interest Rates

    

2021

    

 Interest Rates

Long-term fixed rate-advances

$

50,000

 

1.96

%  

$

150,000

 

0.43% - 1.96

%

At September 30, 2022, the Company has a long-term fixed-rate advance of $50,000 with a maturity date of May 2029. The advance requires monthly interest-only payments with the principal amount due on the maturity date and may contain a prepayment penalty if paid before maturity. The advance is callable by the FHLB in May 2024.

The Company utilized its excess liquidity to repay $100,000 in long-term fixed rate advances that were called by the FHLB in May 2022. Additionally, in September 2022, the Company entered into a short-term variable-rate advance for $35,000 with a maturity date of March 2023 which was then repaid during the month. At September 30, 2022, the Company had additional borrowing capacity of $354,479 from the FHLB.

FHLB Overdraft Line of Credit and Letters of Credit

The Company has established a short-term overdraft line of credit agreement with the FHLB, which provides for maximum borrowings of $20,000. The overdraft line of credit was not used during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, there were no outstanding borrowings under this agreement. Borrowings accrue interest based on a variable rate based on the FHLB’s overnight cost of funds rate, which was 3.45% and 0.43% at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. The overdraft line of credit has a one-year term and was automatically renewed in October 2022 on substantially the same terms through October 2023.

The Company has entered into irrevocable standby letters of credit arrangements with the FHLB to provide credit support for certain of its obligations related to its commitment to repurchase certain pools of Advantage Loan Program loans. An irrevocable standby letter of credit of $7,500 had a 16-month term and expired in July 2022. An irrevocable standby letter of credit originally of $4,000 has a 36-month term and expires in July 2024. This letter was reduced to $2,000 during the second quarter of 2022; thereby, the Company has total available letters of credit of $2,000 and $11,500 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. There were no borrowings outstanding on these standby letters of credit during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

The long-term fixed-rate advances and the overdraft line of credit are collateralized by certain investment securities and loans. Refer to Note 3—Investment Securities for further information on securities pledged as collateral and Note 4—Loans for further information on loans pledged as collateral.

Other Borrowings

The Company had available unsecured credit lines with other banks totaling $80,000 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. There were no borrowings under these unsecured credit lines during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 8—Subordinated Notes, net

The subordinated notes (the “Notes”) were as follows:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Subordinated notes

$

65,000

$

65,000

Unamortized note premium

 

290

 

343

Total

$

65,290

$

65,343

The Notes bore interest at 7.0% per annum, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in arrears, through April 2021 after which the Notes have a variable interest rate of the three-month LIBOR rate plus a margin of 5.82%. The interest rate was 8.33% and 5.94% at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. Note premium costs are amortized over the contractual term of the Notes into interest expense using the effective interest method. Interest expense on these Notes was $1,329 and $972 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $3,383 and $3,157 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Notes mature in April 2026.

The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount being redeemed plus accrued interest, in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1. There have been no redemptions of the Notes. The Notes are not subject to redemption by the noteholders.

The Notes are unsecured obligations and are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future indebtedness, deposits and other liabilities of the Company’s current and future subsidiaries, including the Company’s deposits as well as the Company’s subsidiaries’ liabilities to general creditors and liabilities arising during the ordinary course of business. The Notes may be included in Tier 2 capital for the Company under current regulatory guidelines and interpretations. As long as the Notes are outstanding, the Company is permitted to pay dividends if prior to such dividends, the Bank is considered well capitalized, as defined by regulatory guidelines.

The Company currently may not issue new debt without the prior approval of the FRB.

Note 9 – Shareholders’ Equity

In April 2022, the Company issued and contributed 160,978 shares of common stock to fund the matching contribution made under the Company’s defined contribution retirement plan. The contribution amount of $1,138 was valued using the closing market price of the stock on the date contributed or $7.07 per share.

In May 2021, the Company issued and sold 300,000 unregistered shares of common stock to its chief executive officer pursuant to the terms of a stock purchase agreement entered into at the time of the chief executive officer’s employment for cash consideration of $1,350 or $4.50 per share, the fair market value on date of sale.

Note 10—Stock-based Compensation

The board of directors established the 2020 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2020 Plan”), which was approved by the shareholders in December 2020. The 2020 Plan provides for the grant of up to 3,979,661 shares of common stock for stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance units and performance shares for issuance to employees, consultants and the board of directors of the Company. The stock-based awards are issued at no less than the market price on the date the awards are granted.

Previously, the board of directors had established a 2017 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”) which was approved by the shareholders. The 2017 Plan initially provided for the grant of up to 4,237,100 shares of common stock for stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other stock-based awards for issuance to employees, consultants and the board of directors of the Company. The stock-based awards were issued at no less than the market price on the date the awards were granted. Due to the adoption of the 2020 Plan, no further grants will be issued under the 2017 Plan.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Stock Options

Stock option awards are granted with an exercise price equal to the market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Beginning with grants in 2020, stock option awards vest ratably over three years (one-third per year) after the date of grant, while stock option awards granted prior to 2020 generally vest in installments of 50% in each of the third and fourth year after the date of grant. All stock option awards have a maximum term of ten years. No stock option awards were granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021.

A summary of the Company’s stock option activity as of and for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is as follows:

Weighted

 

Weighted

Average

 

Average

Remaining

Aggregate

Number

Exercise

Contractual

Intrinsic

    

of Shares

    

Price

    

Term

    

Value

(Years)

Outstanding at January 1, 2022

367,767

 

$

5.41

8.13

$

525

Granted

Exercised 

Forfeited/expired

(18,222)

9.67

Outstanding at September 30, 2022

349,545

$

5.19

7.43

$

609

Exercisable at September 30, 2022

344,506

 

$

5.14

7.43

 

$

609

The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense associated with stock options of $3 and $34 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $(8) and $137 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At September 30, 2022, there was $3 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of less than one year.

Restricted Stock Awards

Restricted stock awards are issued to independent directors and certain key employees. The restricted stock awards generally vest ratably over three years (one-third per year) after the date of grant. The value of a restricted stock award is based on the market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant reduced by the present value of dividends per share expected to be paid during the period the shares are not vested. Upon a change in control, as defined in the 2017 Plan and the 2020 Plan, the outstanding restricted stock awards will immediately vest.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the board of directors approved the issuance of 231,842 shares of restricted stock, of which 45,000 shares were awarded to independent directors and 186,842 shares were awarded to key employees. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, the board of directors approved the issuance of 234,996 shares of restricted stock, of which 45,000 shares were awarded to independent directors and 189,996 shares were awarded to key employees.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, the Company withheld 31,027 shares and 8,536 shares, respectively, of common stock representing a portion of the restricted stock awards that vested during the period in order to satisfy certain related employee tax withholding liabilities of $204 and $46, respectively, associated with vesting. These withheld shares are treated the same as repurchased shares for accounting purposes.

23

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

A summary of the restricted stock awards activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is as follows:

    

    

Weighted Average 

Number 

Grant Date

    

of Shares

    

Fair Value

Nonvested at January 1, 2022

 

293,637

$

5.81

Granted

 

231,842

 

6.57

Vested

 

(104,739)

 

6.21

Forfeited

 

(22,713)

 

5.70

Nonvested at September 30, 2022

 

398,027

$

6.16

The fair value of the award is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense associated with restricted stock awards of $252 and $162 for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $648 and $357 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. At September 30, 2022, there was $2,017 of total unrecognized compensation cost related to the nonvested stock granted which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.17 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021 was $644 and $173, respectively.

Note 11—Regulatory Capital Requirements

The Bank is subject to the capital adequacy requirements of the OCC. The Company, as a thrift holding company, is subject to the capital adequacy requirements of the Federal Reserve. Capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action regulations involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance sheet items calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Prompt corrective action regulations provide five classifications for depository institutions like the Bank, including well capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized and critically undercapitalized, although these terms are not used to represent overall financial condition. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors, and the regulators, in their discretion, can require the Company to lower classifications in certain cases. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate regulatory action that could have a direct material effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Bank, after consultation with the OCC, determined that a risk-weighting of 100% should be applied to its Advantage Loan Program loans under the risk weighting requirements for first-lien residential mortgage exposures set forth under the Basel III capital rules. Previously, the Company and the Bank generally applied a 50% risk weight to the Advantage Loan Program loans. The table below presents the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital amounts and ratios applying the 100% risk weight as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 for the Company’s and Bank’s total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets, Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets and CET1 to risk weighted assets.

Under the Basel III capital rules, both the Company and the Bank must hold a capital conservation buffer (“CCB”) consisting of at least 2.5% above the minimum risk-based capital ratios, or 7.0% for common equity Tier 1 (“CET1”) capital ratio, 8.5% for Tier 1 capital ratio and 10.5% for total capital ratio, in order to avoid limitations on capital distributions and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers and similar employees.

24

Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company and the Bank had met all regulatory capital requirements to which they are subject and held capital in excess of the CCB, and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios exceeded the requirements to be considered well capitalized for all regulatory purposes. The following tables present the Company’s consolidated and the Bank’s actual and minimum required capital amounts and ratios at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, applying the 100% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans:

For Capital

To be Well

Actual

Adequacy Purposes

Capitalized

 

    

Amount

    

Ratio

    

Amount

    

Ratio

    

Amount

    

Ratio

 

September 30, 2022

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

$

409,170

26.21

%  

$

124,357

8.00

%  

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

413,262

26.60

 

124,275

8.00

$

155,344

10.00

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

 

Consolidated

 

350,162

22.43

 

93,268

6.00

 

N/A

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

25.33

 

93,206

6.00

 

124,275

8.00

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

 

Consolidated

 

350,162

22.43

 

69,951

4.50

 

N/A

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

25.33

 

69,905

4.50

 

100,974

6.50

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

 

Consolidated

 

350,162

14.09

 

99,151

4.00

 

N/A

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

15.88

 

99,103

4.00

 

123,879

5.00

For Capital

To be Well

Actual

Adequacy Purposes

Capitalized

 

    

Amount

    

Ratio

    

Amount

    

Ratio

    

Amount

    

Ratio

 

December 31, 2021

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

$

421,732

21.24

%  

$

158,851

8.00

%  

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

407,699

20.55

 

158,707

8.00

$

198,384

 

10.00

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

344,247

17.34

 

119,138

6.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

19.28

 

119,030

6.00

 

158,707

 

8.00

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

344,247

17.34

 

89,354

4.50

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

19.28

 

89,273

4.50

 

128,950

 

6.50

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

344,247

11.47

 

120,039

4.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

12.77

 

119,859

4.00

 

149,824

 

5.00

25

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

In order to provide a comparable trend analysis for the Bank’s and the Company’s risk based capital ratios applying the 100% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans, the tables below present the regulatory capital ratios applying the 100% risk weight at December 31 for each of the past five years. At each of the year-end dates reported, the Company and the Bank had met all minimum regulatory capital requirements and applicable capital cushions to which they are subject and held capital in excess of the CCB, and the Bank would have been considered well capitalized for all regulatory purposes. The CCB requirement was phased in beginning on January 1, 2016 at the 0.625% level and increased by 0.625% on each subsequent January 1, until the buffer was implemented in full at 2.5% on January 1, 2019. Accordingly, the CCB at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 1.875% and 1.25%, respectively.

    

Company at December 31,

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

21.24

%  

16.51

%  

14.58

%  

14.82

%  

13.49

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

17.34

%  

12.65

%  

11.56

%  

11.77

%  

10.33

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

17.34

%  

12.65

%  

11.56

%  

11.77

%  

10.33

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

11.47

%  

8.08

%  

10.11

%  

10.42

%  

9.83

%

    

Bank at December 31,

 

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

20.55

%  

15.74

%  

12.08

%  

11.43

%  

10.06

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

19.28

%  

14.47

%  

11.32

%  

10.66

%  

9.12

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

19.28

%  

14.47

%  

11.32

%  

10.66

%  

9.12

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

12.77

%  

9.20

%  

9.90

%  

9.44

%  

8.68

%

In comparison to the above tables, the tables below present the Bank’s and the Company’s regulatory capital ratios applying the 50% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans at December 31 for each of the past five years, as previously reported.

    

Company at December 31,

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

29.02

%  

22.58

%  

21.49

%

21.98

%

20.28

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

24.08

%  

17.68

%  

17.04

%

17.45

%

15.53

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

24.08

%  

17.68

%  

17.04

%

17.45

%

15.53

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

11.47

%  

8.08

%  

10.11

%

10.42

%

9.83

%

    

Bank at December 31,

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

28.07

%  

21.56

%  

17.82

%  

16.94

%  

14.76

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

26.79

%  

20.27

%  

16.70

%  

15.80

%  

13.71

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

26.79

%  

20.27

%  

16.70

%  

15.80

%  

13.71

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

12.77

%  

9.20

%  

9.90

%  

9.44

%  

8.68

%

Dividend Restrictions

As noted above, banking regulations require the Bank to maintain certain capital levels and may limit the dividends paid by the bank to the holding company or by the holding company to its shareholders. The Company’s principal source of funds for dividend payments is dividends received from the Bank, and banking regulations limit the dividends that may be paid. Approval by regulatory authorities is required if (i) the total capital distributions for the applicable calendar year exceed the sum of the Bank’s net income for that year to date plus the Bank’s retained net income for the preceding two years or (ii) the Bank would not be at least adequately capitalized following the distribution.

The Qualified Thrift Lender (“QTL”) test requires that a minimum of 65% of assets be maintained in qualified thrift investments, including mortgage loans, housing- and real estate-related finance and other specified areas. If the QTL test is not met, limits are placed on growth, branching, new investments, FHLB advances and dividends, or the Bank must convert to a commercial bank charter. Management believes that the QTL test has been met. Also, pursuant to the terms of the subordinated note agreements, the Company may pay dividends if it is well capitalized as defined by regulatory guidelines.

26

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Refer to Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies. In addition, the Company currently is required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB in order to pay dividends to the Company’s shareholders.

Note 12—Income Per Share

Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted income per common share further includes any common shares available to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding stock options and restricted stock awards if such inclusions would be dilutive. The Company determines the potentially dilutive common shares using the treasury stock method. The following table presents the computation of income per share, basic and diluted:

Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Numerator:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Net income

$

1,176

$

9,557

$

4,239

$

15,334

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic

 

50,400,412

 

50,167,295

 

50,326,951

 

50,010,341

Weighted average effect of potentially dilutive common shares:

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

97,884

 

55,131

 

107,671

 

48,659

Restricted stock

 

74,635

 

40,260

 

88,454

 

20,931

Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted

 

50,572,931

 

50,262,686

 

50,523,076

 

50,079,931

 

 

 

 

Income per share, basic and diluted

$

0.02

$

0.19

$

0.08

$

0.31

The weighted average effect of certain stock options and nonvested restricted stock that were excluded from the computation of weighted average diluted shares outstanding, as inclusion would be anti-dilutive, are summarized as follows:

Three Months Ended

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

    

2022

    

2021

Stock options

 

49,545

 

67,767

 

49,897

 

70,139

Restricted stock

 

176,707

 

7,294

 

99,784

 

104,558

Total

 

226,252

 

75,061

 

149,681

 

174,697

Note 13—Employee Benefit Plans

In May 2022, the Company surrendered a large split-dollar life program and a few smaller bank-owned life insurance (“BOLI”) policies related to former executives and a controlling shareholder with a cash surrender value of $24,877. The $13,142 increase in value over the duration of the ownership of the policies has moved from non-taxable income to taxable income, resulting in a $3,614 million increase in income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Additional taxes of $1,314 relating to this surrender are included in other expense within non-interest expense during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

In connection with the surrender, the Company also cancelled certain deferred compensation and the split dollar life insurance agreement with its controlling shareholder which resulted in the reversal of the related liabilities of $4,514 which are included as a reduction in salaries and employee benefits expense in the condensed consolidated statement of income for the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

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Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Note 14—Fair Values of Financial Instruments

Financial instruments include assets carried at fair value, as well as certain assets and liabilities carried at cost or amortized cost but disclosed at fair value in these condensed consolidated financial statements. Fair value is defined as the exit price, the price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date under current market conditions. The inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value are prioritized into a three-level hierarchy. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The fair value hierarchy is as follows:

Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the entity has the ability to access as of the measurement date.

Level 2: Significant other observable inputs other than Level 1 prices such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3: Significant unobservable inputs that reflect a reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.

The following methods and significant assumptions are used to estimate fair value:

Investment Securities

The fair values for investment securities are determined by quoted market prices, if available (Level 1). For securities where quoted prices are not available, fair values are calculated based on market prices of similar investment securities (Level 2). For investment securities where quoted prices or market prices of similar investment securities are not available, fair values are calculated using discounted cash flows or other market indicators (Level 3). Discounted cash flows are calculated using spread to LIBOR curves that are updated to incorporate loss severities, volatility, credit spread and optionality. During times when trading is more liquid, broker quotes are used (if available) to validate the analysis. Rating agency and industry research reports as well as defaults and deferrals on individual investment securities are reviewed and incorporated into the calculations.

Loans Held for Sale

Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of amortized cost or fair value. Fair value is determined based on outstanding commitments from investors or quoted prices for loans with similar characteristics (Level 2).

Impaired Loans

The fair value of collateral-dependent impaired loans with specific allocations of the allowance for loan losses is generally based on recent real estate appraisals. These appraisals may utilize a single valuation approach, such as comparable sales or the income approach, or a combination of both. Adjustments are routinely made in the appraisal process by the appraisers to adjust for differences between the comparable sales and income data available. Such adjustments are usually significant and typically result in a Level 3 classification of the inputs for determining fair value.

Appraisals for collateral-dependent impaired loans are performed by certified general appraisers whose qualifications and licenses have been reviewed and verified by management. Once received, an appraisal compliance review is completed in accordance with regulatory guidelines.

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Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Mortgage Servicing Rights

Fair value of mortgage servicing rights is initially determined at the individual grouping level based on an internal valuation model that calculates the present value of estimated future net servicing income. On a quarterly basis, mortgage servicing rights are evaluated for impairment based upon third-party valuations obtained. As disclosed in Note 5—Mortgage Servicing Rights, net, the valuation model utilizes interest rate, prepayment speed and default rate assumptions that are specific to loans serviced by the Company and that market participants would use in estimating future net servicing income (Level 3).

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The table below presents the assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis categorized by the level of inputs used in the valuation of each asset at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

Fair Value Measurements at

September 30, 2022

Quoted Prices 

in Active

Significant

Markets for

Other

Significant

Identical

Observable

Unobservable

Assets

Inputs

Inputs

    

Total

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

Financial Assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Available for sale debt securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

$

167,462

$

115,484

$

51,978

$

Mortgage-backed securities

37,626

37,626

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

143,346

 

 

143,346

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

153

 

 

 

153

Equity securities

 

4,386

 

4,386

 

 

Fair Value Measurements at

December 31, 2021

Quoted Prices 

in Active

Significant

Markets for

Other

Significant

Identical

Observable

Unobservable

Assets

Inputs

Inputs

    

Total

    

(Level 1)

    

(Level 2)

    

(Level 3)

Financial Assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Available for sale debt securities:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

$

122,168

$

48,827

$

73,341

$

Mortgage-backed securities

49,437

49,437

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

136,849

 

 

136,849

 

Collateralized debt obligations

 

203

 

 

 

203

Equity securities

4,976

4,976

29

Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

The table below presents a reconciliation for assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021:

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant

Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

Collateralized Debt Obligations

Nine Months Ended September 30,

    

2022

    

2021

Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at beginning of period

$

203

$

187

Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized):

 

 

  

Included in income-realized

 

 

Included in other comprehensive loss

 

3

 

7

Principal maturities/settlements

(53)

(3)

Sales

 

 

Transfers in and/or out of Level 3

 

 

Balance of recurring Level 3 assets at end of period

$

153

$

191

Unrealized losses on Level 3 investments for collateralized debt obligations was $5 and $8 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. In addition to the amounts included in income as presented in the table above, interest income recorded on collateralized debt obligations was $5 and $4 for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

The fair value of the collateralized debt obligations is obtained from third-party pricing information. It is determined by calculating discounted cash flows using LIBOR curves plus spreads that adjust for credit risk and illiquidity. The Company also performs an internal analysis that considers the structure and term of the collateralized debt obligations and the financial condition of the underlying issuers to corroborate the information used from the independent third party.

Assets Measured at Fair Value on a Non-recurring Basis

From time to time, the Company may be required to measure certain other assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis in accordance with U.S. GAAP. These adjustments to fair value usually result from the application of lower of cost or fair value accounting or write-downs of individual assets. For assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis that were recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the following table provides the level of valuation assumptions used to determine each adjustment and the related carrying value:

Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2022

    

    

Quoted Prices in

    

Significant 

    

Active Markets

Other 

Significant 

for Identical

Observable 

Unobservable 

Assets

Inputs

Inputs 

Fair Value

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

Commercial real estate loans held for sale

$

1,554

$

$

1,554

$

Mortgage servicing rights

311

311

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021

    

    

Quoted Prices in

    

Significant 

    

Active Markets

Other 

Significant 

for Identical

Observable 

Unobservable 

Assets

Inputs

Inputs 

Fair Value

(Level 1)

(Level 2)

(Level 3)

Impaired loans:

Residential real estate

$

86

$

$

$

86

Commercial real estate loans held for sale

53,628

53,628

Mortgage servicing rights

2,052

2,052

30

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

As discussed above, the fair values of collateral-dependent impaired loans carried at fair value are determined by third-party appraisals. Management adjusts these appraised values based on the age of the appraisal and the type of the property. The following tables present quantitative information about Level 3 fair value measurements at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2022

Range

    

Fair Value

    

Valuation Technique

    

Unobservable Inputs

    

(Weighted Average)(1)

Mortgage servicing rights

$

311

Discounted cash flow

Discount rate

9.5% - 12.0%
(11.8%)

 

 

  

 

Prepayment speed

7.5% - 22.5%
(19.5%)

Default rate

0.1% - 0.2%
(0.2%)

(1)The range and weighted average for an asset category consisting of a single investment represents the significant unobservable input used in the fair value of the investment.

Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021

Range

    

Fair Value

    

Valuation Technique

    

Unobservable Inputs

    

(Weighted Average)(1)

Impaired loans:

Residential real estate

$

86

Sales comparison approach

Adjustments for differences between the comparable sales

N/A
(15%)

Mortgage servicing rights

$

2,052

Discounted cash flow

Discount rate

9.5% - 12.0%
(11.0%)

Prepayment speed

10.5% - 37.1%
(19.7%)

Default rate

0.1% - 0.2%
(0.2%)

(1)The range and weighted average for an asset category consisting of a single investment represents the significant unobservable input used in the fair value of the investment.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial instruments not carried at fair value at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, are as follows:

Fair Value Measurements at September 30, 2022

Carrying

Fair

    

Amount

    

Value

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Financial Assets

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash and due from banks

$

352,404

$

352,404

$

352,404

$

$

Interest-bearing time deposits with other banks

 

1,183

 

1,183

 

1,183

 

 

Loans held for sale (1)

 

7,279

 

7,719

 

 

7,719

 

Loans, net

 

1,636,266

 

1,676,322

 

 

 

1,676,322

Financial Liabilities

 

Time deposits

 

757,576

 

752,286

 

 

752,286

 

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

 

50,000

 

48,260

 

 

48,260

 

Subordinated notes, net

 

65,290

 

65,056

 

 

65,056

 

Fair Value Measurements at December 31, 2021

Carrying

Fair

    

Amount

    

Value

    

Level 1

    

Level 2

    

Level 3

Financial Assets

 

  

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Cash and due from banks

$

411,676

$

411,676

$

411,676

$

$

Interest-bearing time deposits with other banks

 

1,183

 

1,183

 

1,183

 

 

Loans held for sale

 

11,359

 

11,809

 

 

11,809

 

Loans, net(1)

 

1,956,180

 

2,025,409

 

 

 

2,025,409

Financial Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Time deposits

 

891,820

 

894,049

 

 

894,049

 

Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings

 

150,000

 

152,560

 

 

152,560

 

Subordinated notes, net

 

65,343

 

65,073

 

 

65,073

 

(1)Excludes impaired loans measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

Note 15—Related Party Transactions

In May 2021, the Company issued and sold unregistered shares of common stock to its Chief Executive Officer in exchange for cash consideration. Refer to Note 9 – Shareholders’ Equity.

The Company subleased certain office space to entities owned by the Company’s controlling shareholders. Amounts received under such subleases totaled $97 for the three months ended September 30, 2021, and $112 and $289 during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The sublease agreements ended on March 31, 2022.

Note 16—Commitments and Contingencies

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance Sheet Risk

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit, which are not reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

Unfunded Commitments to Extend Credit

A commitment to extend credit, such as a loan commitment, credit line and overdraft protection, is a legally binding agreement to lend funds to a customer, usually at a stated interest rate and for a specific purpose. Such commitments have fixed expiration dates and generally require a fee. The extension of a commitment gives rise to credit risk. The actual liquidity requirements or credit risk that the Company will experience is expected to be lower than the contractual amount of commitments to extend credit because a significant portion of those commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon. Certain commitments are subject to loan agreements containing covenants regarding the financial performance of the customer that must be met before the Company is required to fund the commitment. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments to extend credit as it does in making loans.

The commitments outstanding to make loans include primarily residential real estate loans that are made for a period of 90 days or less. At September 30, 2022, outstanding commitments to make loans consisted of variable-rate loans of $2,560 at varying interest rates ranging from 4.50% to 5.125% at September 30, 2022 with maturities of 30 years and fixed-rate loans of $113 at an interest rate of 4.875% with maturities of 15 years.

Unused Lines of Credit

The Company also issues unused lines of credit to meet customer financing needs. At September 30, 2022, the unused lines of credit include residential second mortgages of $10,874 and construction loans of $9,736 totaling $20,610. These unused lines of credit are associated with variable-rate commitments at interest rates ranging from 5.50% to 8.50% at September 30, 2022 with maturities ranging from one month to 23 years.

Standby Letters of Credit

Standby letters of credit are issued on behalf of customers in connection with construction contracts between the customers and third parties. Under standby letters of credit, the Company assures that the third parties will receive specified funds if customers fail to meet their contractual obligations. The credit risk to the Company arises from its obligation to make payment in the event of a customer’s contractual default. The maximum amount of potential future payments guaranteed by the Company is limited to the contractual amount of these letters. Collateral may be obtained at exercise of the commitment. The credit risk involved in issuing letters of credit is essentially the same as that involved in extending loans to customers.

The following is a summary of the total amount of unfunded commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit outstanding at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021:

September 30, 

December 31, 

    

2022

    

2021

Commitments to make loans

$

2,673

$

23,610

Unused lines of credit

 

20,610

 

45,805

Standby letters of credit

 

24

 

24

Legal Proceedings

The Company and its subsidiaries may be subject to legal actions and claims arising from contracts or other matters from time to time in the ordinary course of business. Management is not aware of any pending or threatened legal proceedings, except as described below, that are considered other than routine legal proceedings. The Company believes that the ultimate disposition or resolution of its routine legal proceedings, in the aggregate, are immaterial to its financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

On September 27, 2022, the Company entered into a Consent Order with the OCC, resolving the formal investigation by the OCC relating to the Bank’s former residential loan product, marketed as the Advantage Loan Program, and related matters (the “OCC Investigation”). Pursuant to the Consent Order, the Bank has paid a civil money penalty of $6,000. The civil money penalty has been applied against the previously accrued liability for contingent losses reflected on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. The Consent Order represents a full and final settlement of the OCC Investigation with respect to the Bank. Concurrent with the Consent Order, the OCC notified the Bank that the formal agreement between the Bank and the OCC entered on June 18, 2019 (the “OCC Agreement “) was terminated, which primarily related to certain aspects of the Bank’s Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (“BSA/AML”) compliance program and the Bank’s credit administration.

The Bank has received grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) beginning in 2020 requesting the production of documents and information in connection with an investigation that appears to be focused on the Bank’s Advantage Loan Program and related issues, including residential lending practices and public disclosures about that program contained in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The Bank is fully cooperating with this investigation. Adverse findings in the DOJ investigation could result in material losses due to damages, restitution, penalties, costs, and/or expenses imposed on the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future operations, financial condition, growth, or other aspects of the business.

The Company is currently under a formal investigation by the SEC. This investigation appears to be focused on accounting, financial reporting and disclosure matters, as well as the Company’s internal controls, related to the Advantage Loan Program. The Company has received document and information requests from the SEC and has fully cooperated with this investigation. Adverse findings in the SEC investigation could result in material losses due to penalties, disgorgement, costs and/or expenses imposed on the Company, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s future operations, financial condition, growth or other aspects of its business.

The Bank has incurred and expects to continue to incur significant costs in its efforts to respond to the government investigations, which are reflected in the Company’s results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. Adverse findings in any of the aforementioned government investigations could also have collateral consequences for the Company and the Bank, such as creating breaches of representation in certain third-party agreements and loss of eligibility to participate in certain government programs and programs of government sponsored entities.

In 2019, the Company commenced an internal review of the Advantage Loan Program and related matters (the “Internal Review”). The primary focus of the Internal Review, which has been led by outside legal counsel at the direction of a special committee of independent directors (the “Special Committee”), has involved the origination of residential real estate loans under the Advantage Loan Program and related matters. Results from the Special Committee’s Internal Review have indicated that certain employees engaged in misconduct in connection with the origination of a significant number of such loans, including with respect to verification of income, the amount of income reported for borrowers, reliance on third parties, and related documentation. As a result, the Company permanently discontinued the Advantage Loan Program. While the Internal Review is substantially complete, the Company expects the Internal Review to remain open during the pendency of the government investigations discussed herein, and it is possible additional work will be required in connection with the Internal Review.

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company has a liability for contingent losses of $9,000 and $15,000, respectively, for the outcome of the pending investigations. There can be no assurance (i) that the Company will not incur material losses due to damages, penalties, costs and/or expenses as a result of such investigations, (ii) that the accrual for contingent losses will be sufficient to cover such losses, or (iii) that such losses will not materially exceed such accrual and have a material impact on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

In addition, on July 28, 2020, the Company received a demand letter from two law firms representing a purported shareholder of the Company (the “Shareholder Demand”) which was later reflected in a shareholder derivative complaint that was filed against us and certain of our current and former directors, styled Cahnman v. Allen, et al., No. 2:22-cv-10124 (E.D. Mich.), alleging that members of the Company’s board of directors breached their fiduciary duties of oversight and disclosure based on allegations concerning the Bank’s residential lending practices and disclosures concerning those practices that were made in the Company’s registration statement and prospectus for its initial public offering, in subsequent press releases, in periodic and other filings with the SEC and during earnings calls. On January 21, 2022, the Company and the purported shareholder entered into an agreement in the form of a definitive stipulation of settlement (the “Settlement”), of which the court granted final approval on September 29, 2022. Pursuant to the Settlement, the Company agreed to adopt and implement substantial corporate governance reforms (the “Corporate Governance Enhancements”), many of which were already in progress and have now been completed, and pay attorneys’ fees and expenses in the amount of $650 in exchange for the release of all defendants from all alleged claims therein. The Settlement provides customary releases of certain individuals and entities, including the current board of directors and certain former board members, and reserves for the Company’s board of directors the exclusive right to continue to evaluate and pursue claims against non-released individuals based on their conduct concerning, related to, or arising from the matters raised in the Shareholder Demand. Reimbursement of the $650 due under the Settlement was paid by the Company’s insurance carriers under applicable insurance policies during the fourth quarter of 2022.

Mortgage Repurchase Liability

During the period 2015 through 2019, the Company sold portfolio loans originated under the Advantage Loan Program to private investors in the secondary market. The Company also sells conventional residential real estate loans (which excludes Advantage Loan Program loans) in the secondary market primarily to Fannie Mae on an ongoing basis. In connection with these loans sold, the Company makes customary representations and warranties about various characteristics of each loan. The Company may be required pursuant to the terms of the applicable mortgage loan purchase and sale agreements to repurchase any previously sold loan or indemnify (make whole) the investor for which the representation or warranty of the Company proves to be inaccurate, incomplete or misleading. In the event of a repurchase, the Company is typically required to pay the unpaid principal balance, the proportionate premium received when selling the loan and certain expenses. As a result, the Company may incur a loss with respect to each repurchased loan.

In 2019, in connection with the above mentioned investigations stemming from the Advantage Loan Program, the Company recorded a mortgage repurchase liability of $7,823, primarily related to probable losses on the previously sold Advantage Loan Program portfolio. The Company determined that these losses became probable in the latter part of the fourth quarter of 2019, taking into account the results of the Internal Review.

To avoid the uncertainty of audits and inquiries by third-party investors in the Advantage Loan Program, beginning at the end of the second quarter of 2020, the Company commenced making offers to each of those investors to repurchase 100% of the previously sold Advantage Loan Program loans. Since this time, certain third-party investors have accepted this offer. In May 2022, the Company repurchased a pool of Advantage Loan Program loans with a total outstanding unpaid principal balance of $30,380, which was not subject to an existing written agreement to repurchase. In connection with this repurchase, the Company recognized a loss of $695 related to a fair value discount in other non-interest expense and a disposition of $376 of mortgage servicing rights, and charged a loss of $622 against the mortgage repurchase liability. In September 2022, the Company repurchased pools of Advantage Loan Program loans with a total outstanding unpaid principal balance of $35,241. In connection with this repurchase, the Company recognized a loss of $1,608 related to a fair value discount in other non-interest expense and a disposition of $487 of mortgage servicing rights, and charged a loss of $884 against the mortgage repurchase liability. Pursuant to the existing agreements with such investors, the Company also agreed to repurchase additional pools of Advantage Loan Program loans at the predetermined repurchase prices as stated in the agreements. The Company has entered into an agreement to repurchase an additional pool of Advantage Loan Program loans with an outstanding principal balance of $21,392 at September 30, 2022, with the final decision to effect any such repurchase and the specific date of repurchase, as determined by the applicable investor. The last date on which the investor has the right to cause the repurchase of this pool of loans is July 22, 2023. Losses expected to be incurred upon the repurchase of such loans are reflected in the mortgage repurchase liability.

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STERLING BANCORP, INC.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

(dollars in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

As of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the mortgage repurchase liability was $778 and $2,954, respectively, which is included in accrued expenses and other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. The unpaid principal balance of residential real estate loans sold that were subject to potential repurchase obligations in the event of breach of representations and warranties totaled $160,401 and $237,049 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, including Advantage Loan Program loans totaling $44,955 and $142,810 at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.

The mortgage repurchase liability reflects management’s estimate of losses based on a combination of factors. The Company’s estimation process requires management to make subjective and complex judgements about matters that are inherently uncertain, such as future repurchase demand expectations, economic factors and findings from the Internal Review. The actual repurchase losses could vary significantly from the recorded mortgage repurchase liability, depending on the outcome of various factors, including those previously discussed.

Activity in the mortgage repurchase liability was as follows:

Nine Months Ended

September 30, 

    

2022

    

2021

Balance, beginning of period

$

2,954

$

9,699

Net recovery

 

(670)

 

(963)

Loss on loan repurchases

 

(1,506)

 

(5,511)

Balance, end of the period

$

778

$

3,225

Note 17—Subsequent Events

During the second quarter of 2022, the Company outsourced its residential loan origination function to Promontory MortgagePath, which provides community banks with an outsourced residential lending service for mortgage loan production. In November 2022, Promontory MortgagePath advised the Company of its intent to cease conducting business. Promontory MortgagePath and the Company will continue to accept loan applications through November 30, 2022, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to evaluate and originate pending loan applications by February 28, 2023. At that time, the Company will suspend the origination of residential loans pending further evaluation of its alternatives, which may include discontinuing the origination of residential loans. However, the Company may purchase residential loans from the secondary market in the future.

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

The following management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) should be read in conjunction with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, related notes, and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2021 Form 10-K.

Unless we state otherwise or the context otherwise requires, references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “Sterling,” “we,” “our,” “us” or “the Company” refer to Sterling Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation, and its subsidiaries, including Sterling Bank & Trust, F.S.B., which we sometimes refer to as “Sterling Bank,” “the Bank” or “our Bank.”

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), regarding the Company’s plans, expectations, thoughts, beliefs, estimates, goals, and outlook for the future that are intended to be covered by the protections provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, future events and our financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “may,” “might,” “should,” “could,” “predict,” “potential,” “believe,” “expect,” “attribute,” “continue,” “will,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “projection,” “goal,” “target,” “outlook,” “aim,” “would” and “annualized” or the negative version of those words or other comparable words or phrases of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and they are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, management’s beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Accordingly, we caution you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.

The risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in our filings with the SEC, and others, may cause actual future results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. A summary of these factors is below, under the heading “Risk Factors Summary.” For additional information on factors that could materially affect the forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, see the risk factors set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2021 Form 10-K. You should carefully consider the factors discussed below, and in our Risk Factors and other disclosures, in evaluating these forward-looking statements.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise except as required by law. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, we cannot assess the impact of any particular risk, uncertainty or other factor on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

Risk Factors Summary

The following is a summary of the material risks we are exposed to in the course of our business activities. The below summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you, and you should read the below summary together with the more detailed discussion of risks set forth under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors” and in our 2021 Form 10-K, as well as under this “Part I, Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

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Risks Related to the Advantage Loan Program

The results of the Internal Review of our Advantage Loan Program and related matters
The results of investigations of us by the DOJ, the SEC or other governmental agencies
The costs of legal proceedings, including settlements and judgments
The effects of the permanent discontinuation of our Advantage Loan Program
Compliance with BSA/AML laws and regulations generally
Potential future losses in connection with representations and warranties we have made with respect to residential real estate loans that we have sold into the secondary market

Risks Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic

The economic impact, and governmental and regulatory actions to mitigate the impact, of the disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic
The effects of the economic disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic on our loan portfolio

Risks Related to the Economy and Financial Markets

The effects of fiscal and monetary policies and regulations of the federal government and the Federal Reserve
Changes in the state of the general economy and the financial markets and their effects on the demand for our loan services
The effects of fiscal challenges facing the U.S. government
Macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges and uncertainties affecting the stability of regions and countries around the globe

Risks Related to Credit

The credit risks of lending activities, including changes in the levels of delinquencies and nonperforming assets and changes in the financial performance and/or economic condition of our borrowers
Our concentration in residential real estate loans
The geographic concentration of our loans and operations in California
The potential insufficiency of our allowance for loan losses to cover losses in our loan portfolio

Risks Related to Our Highly Regulated Industry

The extensive laws and regulations affecting the financial services industry, including the QTL test, the continued effects of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) and related rulemaking, changes in banking, securities and tax laws and regulations and their application by our regulators and the Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending laws
Failure to comply with banking laws and regulations

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Enforcement priorities of the federal bank regulatory agencies

Risks Related to Competition

Strong competition within our market areas or with respect to our products and pricing
Our reputation as a community bank and the effects of continued negative publicity
Our ability to keep pace with technological change and introduce new products and services
Consumers deciding not to use banks to complete their financial transactions

Risks Related to Interest Rates

Negative impacts of future changes in interest rates
Uncertainty relating to the determination and discontinuation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”)

Risks Related to Liquidity

Our ability to ensure we have adequate liquidity
Our ability to obtain external financing on favorable terms, or at all, in the future
The quality of our real estate loans and our ability to sell our loans to the secondary market

Other Risks Related to Our Business

Our ability to attract and retain key employees and other qualified personnel
Our operational, technological and organizational infrastructure, including the effectiveness of our enterprise risk management framework at mitigating risk and loss to us
Operational risks from a high volume of financial transactions and increased reliance on technology, including risk of loss related to cybersecurity or privacy breaches and the increased frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks
The operational risk associated with third-party vendors and other financial institutions
The ability of customers and counterparties to provide accurate and complete information and the soundness of third parties on which we rely
Our employees’ adherence to our internal policies and procedures
The effects of natural disasters on us and our California borrowers and the adequacy of our business continuity and disaster recovery plans
Environmental, social and governance matters and their effects on our reputation and the market price of our securities
Climate change and related legislative and regulatory initiatives
Adverse conditions internationally and their effects on our customers
Fluctuations in securities markets, including changes to the valuation of our securities portfolio

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The value of our mortgage servicing rights
The reliance of our critical accounting policies and estimates, including for the allowance for loan losses, on analytical and forecasting techniques and models
Other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory and technological factors affecting our operations, pricing, products and services and the other risks described elsewhere herein or in the documents incorporated by reference herein and our other filings with the SEC

Risks Related to Governance Matters

The Seligman family’s ability to influence our operations and control the outcome of matters submitted for shareholder approval
Our ability to pay dividends

The foregoing risk factors should not be construed as an exhaustive list and should be read in conjunction with the cautionary statements that are included under “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” above, under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2021 Form 10-K and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as well as the items set forth under “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors.”

Executive Summary

The following overview should be read in conjunction with our MD&A in its entirety.

Company Overview

We are a unitary thrift holding company headquartered in Southfield, Michigan and our primary business is the operation of our wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Bank. Through Sterling Bank, we offer a range of loan products to the residential and commercial markets, as well as retail banking services.

Internal Review, Investigations and Regulatory Matters Related to the Advantage Loan Program

The primary focus of the Internal Review, which has been led by outside legal counsel under the direction of the Special Committee, has involved the origination of residential real estate loans under the Advantage Loan Program and related matters. The Internal Review has indicated that certain employees engaged in misconduct in connection with the origination of a significant number of such loans, including with respect to verification of income and employment, the amount of income reported for borrowers, reliance on third parties, and related documentation. As a result, the Company permanently discontinued the Advantage Loan Program, and a significant number of officers and employees have been terminated or resigned, including the top loan producers within the Advantage Loan Program. While the Internal Review is substantially complete, the Company expects it to remain open during the pendency of the government investigations discussed below, and it is possible additional work will be required in connection with the Internal Review.

On September 27, 2022, the Company entered into a Consent Order with the OCC, resolving the OCC Investigation, which had been ongoing for almost three years. Pursuant to the Consent Order, the Bank has paid a civil money penalty of $6 million, which has been applied against the Company’s previously accrued liability for contingent losses. The Consent Order represents a full and final settlement of the OCC Investigation with respect to the Bank. Concurrent with the Consent Order, the OCC notified the Bank that the OCC Agreement entered into on June 18, 2019 was terminated, which primarily related to certain aspects of the Bank’s BSA/AML compliance program and the Bank’s credit administration.

The Bank is currently responding to grand jury subpoenas from the DOJ and remains under a formal investigation by the SEC, both of which are related to the Advantage Loan Program and the related disclosures of that program in the Company’s federal securities law filings.

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The Company incurred significant legal, consulting and other third-party expenses during the third quarter of 2022, as it has over the past two years, in connection with the Internal Review, the government investigations, compliance with the OCC Agreement, defending litigation related to the Advantage Loan Program and reimbursing current and former officers and directors for their out-of-pocket legal costs in connection with the government investigations.

On October 7, 2022, we commenced an action against Scott Seligman, the Bank’s founder and controlling shareholder, and other nominal defendants, styled Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. and Sterling Bancorp, Inc. vs. Scott Seligman, et al., No. 2:22-cv-12398-SFC-DRG (E.D. Mich.), seeking compensatory and other damages, disgorgement of certain monies and injunctive relief. There is no assurance that we will be successful in any final adjudication of this case, that any remedy would be adequate in the event we are successful in the adjudication or that we would achieve an acceptable settlement. See “Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings” for additional detail regarding this matter.

On November 3, 2022, Mr. Seligman commenced an action against the Company in the Oakland County Business Court styled Scott J. Seligman v. Sterling Bancorp, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-12660-MAG-DRG (E.D. Mich.). The complaint alleges that Mr. Seligman is entitled to the advancement and reimbursement of all attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the complaint filed against him by the Company and the Bank as well as certain government investigations involving the Company and the Bank, including investigations by the DOJ and OCC related to the Advantage Loan Program. The Company intends to vigorously defend this and any related actions. See “Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings” for additional detail regarding this matter.

Overview of Quarterly Performance

Net income was $1.2 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2022 compared to $9.6 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021. Our net interest margin continued to improve, though our loan portfolio continued to decline which reduced our net interest income compared to the third quarter of 2021. Also contributing to the decrease in net income for the third quarter of 2022 as compared to the third quarter of 2021, the 2021 period includes a refundable tax credit against certain employment taxes, also known as the ERC tax credit under the CARES Act. The Company recognized $6.5 million of ERC, resulting in a net reduction of salaries and employee benefits expense for the third quarter of 2021. Also, the 2021 period includes a gain of $1.4 million on the sale of the Bellevue, Washington branch in July 2021. We experienced a recovery for loan losses for the third quarter of 2022 compared to the provision for loan losses for the third quarter of 2021 as our asset quality improved during the third quarter of 2022; as our nonperforming assets declined to $42.2 million at September 30, 2022. In addition, the recovery for loan losses also reflects the continued decline of our loan portfolio.

We also completed a sale of higher risk commercial real estate loans with unpaid principal balances of $21.9 million. Prior to the sale, we charged off $4.1 million of its recorded investment. We received net cash proceeds of $17.8 million on the sale of the commercial real estate loans. This sale further improved our credit metrics.

We continued to experience significant repayments in excess of our loan originations contributing to our excess liquidity. This resulted in the continued overall decline of our consolidated balance sheet, with total assets declining from $2.9 billion at December 31, 2021 to $2.4 billion at September 30, 2022.

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased pools of Advantage Loan Program loans with total outstanding unpaid principal balances of $35.2 million. In connection with this repurchase, the Company recognized a loss of $1.6 million to record the fair value discount in other non-interest expense and a disposition of $0.5 million of mortgage servicing rights, and charged a loss of $0.9 million against the mortgage repurchase liability.

Our regulatory capital ratios remained well above the levels required to be considered well capitalized for regulatory purposes.

On September 29, 2022, the court granted final approval of the Settlement in connection with the shareholder derivative action that was filed against us and certain of our current and former directors, styled Cahnman v. Allen, et al., No. 2:22-cv-10124 (E.D. Mich.). The Company entered into the Settlement on January 21, 2022, pursuant to which the Company agreed to adopt and implement the Corporate Governance Enhancements, many of which were already in progress and have now been completed, and pay attorneys’ fees and expenses in the amount of $650 thousand in exchange for the release of all defendants from alleged claims therein. Reimbursement of the $650 thousand due under the Settlement was paid in October 2022 by the Company’s insurance carriers under applicable insurance policies.

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During the second quarter of 2022, we outsourced our residential loan origination function to Promontory MortgagePath, which provides community banks with an outsourced residential lending service for mortgage loan production. In November 2022, Promontory MortgagePath advised the Company of its intent to cease conducting business. Promontory MortgagePath and the Company will continue to accept loan applications through November 30, 2022, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to evaluate and originate pending loan applications by February 28, 2023. At that time, we will suspend the origination of residential loans pending further evaluation of our alternatives, which may include discontinuing the origination of residential loans. However, we may purchase residential loans from the secondary market in the future.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and with general practices within the financial services industry. Application of these principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under current circumstances. These assumptions form the basis for our judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from independent, objective sources. We evaluate our estimates on an ongoing basis. Use of alternative assumptions may have resulted in significantly different estimates. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, there were no significant changes to our accounting policies that we believe are critical to an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations, which critical accounting policies are disclosed in our “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K.

Financial Condition

The Company’s total assets were $2.4 billion at September 30, 2022 compared to $2.9 billion at December 31, 2021. The investment securities portfolio increased $39.3 million, or 13%, to $353.2 million at September 30, 2022 from $313.9 million at December 31, 2021, which is attributable to purchases of additional investments totaling $147.5 million, partially offset by maturing investments, totaling $80.6 million and unrealized losses of $19.8 million. Total loans, net of allowance for loan losses, decreased to $1.6 billion at September 30, 2022 compared to $2.0 billion at December 31, 2021. The Company originated loans held for investment consisting of residential real estate loans of $55.0 million, commercial real estate loans of $51.7 million and commercial and industrial loans of $1.1 million, and originated residential real estate loans held for sale of $1.8 million. The Company repurchased Advantage Loan Program loans with an aggregate principal balance of $65.6 million and sold higher risk commercial real estate loans with a carrying value of $67.4 million. We received loan payoffs of $442.9 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. The significant loan repayments experienced during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 continued the trend over the past several years in our Advantage Loan Program portfolio and, along with the decision to cease origination of construction loans, were the primary driver of the continued reduction of the consolidated balance sheet. Our loan production also continued to be adversely impacted by the termination of the Advantage Loan Program and the inability over the last several years to create and introduce new loan products. Most of the excess liquidity from the loan repayments was used to fund maturing time deposits that generally carried higher interest rates. Total deposits decreased $310.7 million, or 14%, to $2.0 billion at September 30, 2022. In June 2022, with increasing interest rates, our offerings on time deposits returned to more competitive rates, partially offsetting the decline experienced in the first half of 2022. FHLB borrowings decreased from $150.0 million at December 31, 2021 to $50.0 million at September 30, 2022, which is attributable to the repayment of $100.0 million in FHLB advances during the second quarter of 2022.

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

At September 30, 2022

    

At December 31, 2021

    

Amount

    

%

    

Amount

    

%

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Real estate:

Residential real estate

$

1,430,472

85

%  

$

1,704,231

 

85

%

Commercial real estate

 

199,446

12

%  

 

201,240

 

10

%

Construction

 

50,320

3

%  

 

106,759

 

5

%

Total real estate

 

1,680,238

 

100

%  

 

2,012,230

 

100

%

Commercial lines of credit

 

1,389

 

%  

 

363

 

%

Other consumer

 

1

 

%  

 

221

 

%

Total loans

 

1,681,628

 

100

%  

 

2,012,814

 

100

%

Less: allowance for loan losses

 

(45,362)

 

 

(56,548)

 

  

Loans, net

$

1,636,266

$

1,956,266

 

  

The following table sets forth our fixed and adjustable-rate loans in our loan portfolio at September 30, 2022:

    

Fixed

    

Adjustable

    

Total

(In thousands)

Real estate:

  

  

Residential real estate

$

19,314

$

1,411,158

$

1,430,472

Commercial real estate

 

81,333

 

118,113

 

199,446

Construction

 

 

50,320

 

50,320

Commercial lines of credit

 

1,213

 

176

 

1,389

Other consumer

 

1

 

 

1

Total

$

101,861

$

1,579,767

$

1,681,628

The table set forth below contains the repricing dates of adjustable-rate loans included within our loan portfolio as of September 30, 2022:

Residential

Commercial

    

    

Commercial

    

Other

    

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Lines of Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

(In thousands)

Amounts to adjust in:

  

  

  

  

  

  

6 months or less

$

430,218

$

1,601

$

50,320

$

176

$

$

482,315

After 6 months through 12 months

 

469,771

 

5,359

 

 

 

 

475,130

After 12 months through 24 months

 

131,858

 

2,088

 

 

 

 

133,946

After 24 months through 36 months

 

121,124

 

54,242

 

 

 

 

175,366

After 36 months through 60 months

 

187,019

 

54,823

 

 

 

 

241,842

After 60 months

 

71,168

 

 

 

 

 

71,168

Fixed to maturity

 

19,314

 

81,333

 

 

1,213

 

1

 

101,861

Total

$

1,430,472

$

199,446

$

50,320

$

1,389

$

1

$

1,681,628

At September 30, 2022, we have adjustable-rate loans totaling $1.1 billion, or 63%, in our loan portfolio, that are LIBOR-indexed currently and will reprice to an interest rate based on LIBOR, until LIBOR is no longer available as a reference rate. At September 30, 2022, $123.8 million, or 8%, of our adjustable interest rate loans were at their interest rate floor. See Part I, Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk relating to the discontinuance of LIBOR and the expected conversion of our LIBOR based loans to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”)-based rates.

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Table of Contents

Asset Quality

Nonperforming Assets. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, loans that are 90 or more days past due and still accruing interest, troubled debt restructurings and nonaccrual loans held for sale. For nonaccrual loans, interest previously accrued but not collected is reversed and charged against income at the time a loan is placed on nonaccrual status (i.e., when a loan is 90 days past due or earlier if conditions warrant). Loans are returned to accrual status when all the principal and interest amounts contractually due are brought current and future payments are reasonably assured.

Troubled debt restructurings are modified loans in which a borrower demonstrated financial difficulties and for which a concession has been granted. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had troubled debt restructurings totaling $2.6 million and $18.4 million, respectively, a decrease which primarily reflects loans that were paid in full of $15.6 million. There were no troubled debt restructurings on nonaccrual status at September 30, 2022. We had troubled debt restructurings on nonaccrual status of $15.8 million at December 31, 2021 included in the nonaccrual loan categories in the following table. See Note 4—Loans—Troubled Debt Restructurings to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information about our troubled debt restructurings.

The following table sets forth information regarding our nonperforming assets at the dates indicated.

    

At September 30,

At December 31,

 

2022

    

2021

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Nonaccrual loans(1):

  

  

Residential real estate

$

35,843

    

$

45,675

Commercial real estate

 

 

4,441

Construction

 

 

12,499

Total nonaccrual loans(2)

 

35,843

 

62,615

Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest

 

36

 

39

Nonperforming Loans

35,879

62,654

Other troubled debt restructurings(3)

2,643

2,664

Nonaccrual loans held for sale

3,657

18,026

Total nonperforming assets

$

42,179

$

83,344

Total loans

$

1,681,628

$

2,012,814

Total assets

$

2,447,904

$

2,876,830

Total nonaccrual loans to total loans(2)

 

2.13

%  

 

3.11

%

Total nonperforming assets to total assets

 

1.72

%  

 

2.90

%

(1)Loans are classified as held for investment and are presented before the allowance for loan losses.
(2)Total nonaccrual loans exclude nonaccrual loans held for sale but include troubled debt restructurings on nonaccrual status. If nonaccrual loans held for sale were included, the ratio of total nonaccrual loans to total gross loans would have been 2.34% and 3.88% at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively.
(3)Other troubled debt restructurings exclude those loans presented above as nonaccrual or past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest.

As of September 30, 2022, nonperforming assets totaled $42.2 million, a decrease of $41.2 million at December 31, 2021. This decrease is primarily attributable to the decline in nonaccrual loans. Our ratio of nonaccrual loans to total loans decreased from 3.11% at December 31, 2021 to 2.13% at September 30, 2022. This decrease reflects both nonaccrual loans being paid in full and loans returning to accrual status and the sale of the commercial real estate loan portfolio held for sale during the first quarter of 2022. When including nonaccrual loans held for sale the ratio of nonaccrual loans to total gross loans decreased from 3.88% at December 31, 2021 to 2.34% at September 30, 2022.

Nonaccrual loans totaled $35.8 million at September 30, 2022, a decrease of $26.8 million from $62.6 million at December 31, 2021. The decrease in nonaccrual loans is primarily due to loan payoffs of $4.4 million of commercial real estate and $12.5 million of construction loans. Nonaccrual residential real estate loans totaled $35.8 million at September 30, 2022, a decrease of $9.8 million from $45.7 million at December 31, 2021. The remaining decline in nonaccrual loans is due to nonaccrual residential real estate loans totaling $8.7 million that were paid in full and loans totaling $10.4 million that returned to accrual status, which was partially offset by loans totaling $12.4 million that were added to nonaccrual status.

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Table of Contents

Nonaccrual loans held for sale totaled $3.7 million at September 30, 2022, a decrease of $14.4 million from December 31, 2021. The decrease in nonaccrual loans held for sale primarily is due to the sale of commercial real estate loans totaling $9.4 million and residential real estate loans totaling $3.9 million that were paid in full. The commercial real estate loans were sold as part of the larger sale of commercial real estate loans to a third-party purchaser in February 2022 for cash proceeds of $49.6 million. These loans were secured primarily by single-room occupancy (SRO) properties.

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

September 30, 2022

    

December 31, 2021

30 - 59

60 - 89

90 Days

30 - 59

60 - 89

90 Days

 Days

Days

or More

Days

Days

or More

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

    

Past Due

(In thousands)

Residential real estate

$

20,839

$

3,284

$

35,879

$

24,151

$

3,425

$

45,714

Commercial real estate

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,441

Construction

 

 

 

 

10,500

 

 

12,499

Total delinquent loans

$

20,839

$

3,284

$

35,879

$

34,651

$

3,425

$

62,654

Total loans 90 days or more past due, including nonaccrual loans, decreased $26.8 million, or 43%, from $62.7 million at December 31, 2021 to $35.9 million at September 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily attributable to loans that were paid in full totaling $25.6 million and loans reclassified from delinquent to current status totaling $10.4 million, which was partially offset by the addition of delinquent loans totaling $12.4 million during nine months ended September 30, 2022.

Classified Loans. We categorize loans into risk categories 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. The four risk categories utilized are Pass, Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful. Loans in the Pass category are considered to be of satisfactory quality, while the remaining three categories indicate varying levels of credit risk. See Note 4—Loans—Credit Quality to our condensed consolidated financial statements for additional information about our risk categories.

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Table of Contents

Loans classified as Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful were as follows at the dates indicated:

    

September 30, 2022

    

December 31, 2021

Loans Held for

Loans Held for

Loans Held for

Loans Held for

    

Investment

    

Sale

    

Total

    

Investment

    

Sale

    

Total

(In thousands)

Special Mention:

Commercial real estate

 

$

31,212

$

1,554

$

32,766

 

$

10,524

$

16,125

$

26,649

Construction

 

4,648

4,648

 

17,226

17,226

Commercial lines of credit

 

11

11

Total Special Mention

35,860

1,554

37,414

27,761

16,125

43,886

Substandard:

Residential real estate

35,879

3,657

39,536

45,485

8,671

54,156

Commercial real estate

1,548

1,548

21,393

33,230

54,623

Construction

8,055

8,055

16,348

16,348

Total Substandard

45,482

3,657

49,139

83,226

41,901

125,127

Doubtful:

Residential real estate

233

233

Construction

5,931

5,931

Total Doubtful

6,164

6,164

Total

$

81,342

$

5,211

$

86,553

$

117,151

$

58,026

$

175,177

Total Loans

$

1,681,628

$

8,833

$

1,690,461

$

2,012,814

$

64,987

$

2,077,801

Classified assets to total loans

5

%

59

%

5

%

6

%

89

%

8

%

Total Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful loans were $86.6 million, or 5% of total gross loans, at September 30, 2022, compared to $175.2 million, or 8% of total gross loans, at December 31, 2021. All of the three loan classifications, noted above, decreased from December 31, 2021.

The increase of $8.1 million in Special Mention loans held for investment was primarily attributable to loans that were downgraded totaling $30.6 million, loans that were upgraded from Substandard totaling $10.3 million, which was partially offset by the upgrade of loans totaling $12.6 million, loans that were paid in full totaling $11.8 million, and commercial real estate loans that were sold totaling $8.2 million. The decrease of $37.6 million in Substandard loans held for investment was primarily attributable to loans that were paid in full totaling $19.8 million, loans that were upgraded totaling $18.9 million, and commercial real estate loans that were sold totaling $10.1 million, which was partially offset by loans downgraded totaling $12.4 million. The decrease of $6.2 million in Doubtful loans was related to loans that were paid in full.

The large decrease in classified loans held for sale is primarily due to the sale of substantially all of our commercial real estate portfolio held for sale during the first quarter of 2022. The sale of this pool of loans contributed to the overall improvement of our credit metrics.

Impaired Loans. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. If a loan is impaired, a portion of the allowance for loan losses is allocated so that the loan is reported, net, at the present value of estimated future cash flows using the loan’s existing rate or at the fair value of collateral if repayment is expected solely from the collateral or operations of collateral. See Note 4—Loans to our condensed consolidated financial statements for tables presenting additional data regarding the allowance for loan losses and impaired loans.

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, we had impaired loans with a total recorded investment of $2.6 million and $19.9 million, respectively. Total impaired loans decreased $17.2 million, or 87%, from December 31, 2021 to September 30, 2022, primarily attributable to construction loans that were paid in full totaling $12.4 million and a commercial real estate loan that was paid in full totaling $4.4 million.

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Table of Contents

Allowance for Loan Losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at levels considered adequate by management to provide for probable loan losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the condensed consolidated balance sheet reporting dates. The allowance for loan losses is based on management’s assessment of various quantitative and qualitative factors affecting the loan portfolio, including portfolio composition, net charge offs, delinquent and nonaccrual loans, foreclosures, Bank-specific factors (e.g., staff experience, underwriting guidelines etc.), national and local business conditions, historical loss experience, an overall evaluation of the quality of the underlying collateral and other external factors. Certain qualitative components within our allowance for loan losses methodology took on increased significance in prior periods, and to a lesser extent in the most recent period, as a result of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. These qualitative components include unemployment, commercial property vacancy rates, uncertainty in property values and deterioration in the overall macro-economic environment.

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Table of Contents

The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated (dollars in thousands):

Commercial

 

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

 

$

29,982

 

$

15,035

 

$

6,708

 

$

36

 

$

5

 

$

51,766

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

(1,841)

(209)

(2,304)

2

(5)

(4,357)

Charge offs

(4,064)

(4,064)

Recoveries

46

5

1,966

2,017

Total ending balance

 

$

28,187

 

$

10,767

 

$

6,370

 

$

38

 

$

 

$

45,362

Average gross loans during period

 

$

1,449,854

 

$

212,803

 

$

52,843

 

$

1,404

 

$

23

 

$

1,716,927

Net charge offs (recoveries) to average gross loans during period

%  

1.91

%  

(3.72)

%  

%  

%  

0.12

%

    

    

    

    

Commercial

    

    

 

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

 

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

32,202

$

12,608

$

11,730

$

8

$

$

56,548

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

(4,594)

 

2,138

 

(7,329)

 

30

 

 

(9,755)

Charge offs

 

(197)

 

(4,064)

 

 

 

 

(4,261)

Recoveries

 

776

 

85

 

1,969

 

 

 

2,830

Total ending balance

$

28,187

$

10,767

$

6,370

$

38

$

$

45,362

Average gross loans during period

$

1,547,432

$

214,827

$

70,027

$

707

$

40

$

1,833,033

Net charge offs (recoveries) to average gross loans during period

 

(0.04)

%  

 

1.85

%  

 

(2.81)

%  

 

%  

 

%  

 

0.08

%

Commercial

 

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

    

Real Estate

    

Real Estate

    

Construction

    

Credit

    

Consumer

    

Total

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

 

$

33,064

 

$

22,491

 

$

15,056

 

$

58

 

$

 

$

70,669

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

109

1,486

(1,194)

(4)

397

Charge offs

(1,965)

(1,965)

Recoveries

530

605

2

1,137

Total ending balance

 

$

33,703

 

$

24,582

 

$

11,899

 

$

54

 

$

 

$

70,238

Average gross loans during period

 

$

1,885,269

 

$

285,050

 

$

135,292

 

$

1,947

 

$

33

 

$

2,307,591

Net charge offs (recoveries) to average gross loans during period

(0.03)

%  

(0.21)

%  

1.45

%  

%  

%  

0.04

%

    

    

    

    

Commercial

    

    

 

Residential

Commercial

Lines of

Other

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

Real Estate

Real Estate

Construction

Credit

Consumer

Total

 

Allowance for loan losses:

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Beginning balance

$

32,366

$

21,942

$

17,988

$

91

$

$

72,387

Provision (recovery) for loan losses

 

16

 

2,004

 

(4,129)

 

(37)

 

 

(2,146)

Charge offs

 

 

 

(1,965)

 

 

 

(1,965)

Recoveries

 

1,321

 

636

 

5

 

 

 

1,962

Total ending balance

$

33,703

$

24,582

$

11,899

$

54

$

$

70,238

Average gross loans during period

$

1,937,210

$

266,754

$

168,382

$

3,295

$

14

$

2,375,655

Net charge offs (recoveries) to average gross loans during period

 

(0.07)

%  

 

(0.24)

%  

 

1.16

%  

 

%  

 

%  

 

%

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Table of Contents

Our total allowance for loan losses decreased by $11.2 million, or 20%, from $56.5 million at December 31, 2021, primarily due to our overall reduction in our loan portfolio that has resulted from the decline in our loan production as a result of the discontinuation of the Advantage Loan Program and the absence of new loan products, as well as improvement in the credit quality of our loan portfolio during the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Net charge offs during the three months ended September 30, 2022 were $2.0 million compared to $0.8 million during the comparable period of 2021. Net charge offs during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were $1.4 million compared to $3 thousand during the comparable period in 2021. Net charge offs in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 included $4.1 million in write-downs of our recorded investment in higher risk commercial real estate loans held in the loan portfolio with an unpaid principal balance of $21.9 million, which we subsequently sold for net cash proceeds of $17.8 million during September 2022.

The following table sets forth the allowance for loan losses allocated by loan category at the dates indicated. The allowance for loan losses allocated to each category is not necessarily indicative of future losses in any particular category and does not restrict the use of the allowance for loan losses to absorb losses in other categories.

At September 30, 2022

    

At December 31, 2021

 

Percent of

Percent of

 

Loans in

Loans in

 

Each

Each

 

Allowance

Category to

Allowance

Category to

for Loan

Total

for Loan

Total

 

    

Losses

    

 Loans

    

Losses

    

 Loans

  

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Residential real estate

    

$

28,187

    

85

%  

$

32,202

    

85

%

Commercial real estate

 

10,767

 

12

%  

 

12,608

 

10

%

Construction

 

6,370

 

3

%  

 

11,730

 

5

%

Commercial lines of credit

 

38

 

%  

 

8

 

%

Other consumer

 

 

%  

 

 

%

Total

$

45,362

 

100

%  

$

56,548

 

100

%

Nonaccrual loans(1)

$

35,843

$

62,615

Nonperforming loans and troubled debt restructurings(2)

$

38,522

$

65,318

Total loans

$

1,681,628

$

2,012,814

Allowance for loan losses to nonaccrual loans(1)

127

%

90

%

Allowance for loan losses to total loans

2.70

%

2.81

%

(1)Nonaccrual loans exclude nonaccrual loans held for sale but include troubled debt restructurings on nonaccrual status.
(2)Nonperforming loans and troubled debt restructurings exclude nonaccrual loans and troubled debt restructurings in loans held for sale.

Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of our loan portfolio was 2.70% and 2.81% as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. In addition, our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonaccrual loans was 127% and 90% as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively. This increase is primarily attributable to our significant decline in nonaccrual loans. See “Results of Operations—Provision (Recovery) for Loan Losses” for additional information about our provision (recovery) for loan losses.

Although we believe that we use the best information available to establish the allowance for loan losses, future adjustments to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary and our results of operations could be adversely affected if circumstances differ substantially from the assumptions used in determining the allowance for loan losses. Furthermore, while we believe we have established our allowance for loan losses in conformity with U.S. GAAP, there can be no assurance that regulators, in reviewing our loan portfolio, will not require us to increase our allowance for loan losses. In addition, because future events affecting borrowers and collateral cannot be predicted with certainty, there can be no assurance that the existing allowance for loan losses is adequate or that increases will not be necessary should the quality of any loans deteriorate. Any material increase in the allowance for loan losses may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

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Table of Contents

Investment Securities Portfolio

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value of our available for sale debt securities portfolio at the dates indicated:

At September 30,

    

At December 31,

2022

2021

Amortized 

Fair 

Amortized 

Fair 

    

Cost

    

Value

    

Cost

    

Value

(In thousands)

U.S. Treasury and Agency securities

$

175,433

$

167,462

$

122,291

$

122,168

Mortgage-backed securities

 

43,183

 

37,626

 

49,739

 

49,437

Collateralized mortgage obligations

 

158,414

 

143,346

 

137,662

 

136,849

Collateralized debt obligations

 

158

 

153

 

211

 

203

Total

$

377,188

$

348,587

$

309,903

$

308,657

We increased the size of our available for sale debt securities portfolio (on an amortized-cost basis) by $67.3 million, or 22%, from December 31, 2021 to $377.2 million at September 30, 2022, which is attributable to purchases of additional investment securities of $147.5 million, primarily treasury securities, partially offset by maturing investments. The purchase of investment securities is consistent with the utilization of our excess liquidity.

We review the debt securities portfolio on a quarterly basis to determine the cause, magnitude and duration of declines in the fair value of each security. In estimating other-than-temporary impairment, we consider many factors including: (1) the length of time and extent that fair value has been less than cost, (2) the financial condition and near term prospects of the issuer, (3) whether the market decline was affected by macroeconomic conditions and (4) whether we have the intent to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before its anticipated recovery. If either of the criteria regarding intent or requirement to sell is met, the entire difference between amortized cost and fair value is recorded through income as an impairment. For debt securities that do not meet the aforementioned criteria, the amount of impairment is split into two components as follows: (1) other-than-temporary impairment related to credit loss, which must be recognized in the condensed consolidated statements of income and (2) other-than-temporary impairment related to other factors, which is recognized in other comprehensive loss. The credit loss is measured as the difference between the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected and the amortized cost basis. The assessment of whether any other-than-temporary decline exists may involve a high degree of subjectivity and judgment and is based on the information available to management at a point in time. We evaluate debt securities for other-than-temporary impairment at least on a quarterly basis and more frequently when economic or market conditions warrant such an evaluation.

At September 30, 2022, gross unrealized losses on debt securities totaled $28.7 million. We do not consider the debt securities to be other-than-temporarily impaired at September 30, 2022, since (i) the decline in fair value of the debt securities is attributable to changes in market value due to the current rising interest rate environment, not credit quality, (ii) we do not have the intent to sell the debt securities and (iii) it is likely that we will not be required to sell the debt securities before their anticipated recovery.

Our equity securities consist of an investment in a qualified community reinvestment act investment fund, which is a publicly-traded mutual fund, and an investment in the common equity of Pacific Coast Banker’s Bank, a thinly traded restricted stock. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, equity securities totaled $4.6 million and $5.2 million, respectively.

Deposits

Deposits are the primary source of funding for the Company. We regularly review the need to adjust our deposit offering rates on various deposit products in order to maintain a stable liquidity profile and a competitive cost of funds.

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Table of Contents

Total deposits were $2.0 billion as of September 30, 2022, a decrease of $310.7 million, or 14%, compared to $2.3 billion at December 31, 2021. Our time deposits decreased by $134.2 million, or 15%, due to our strategy to reduce time deposits by offering time deposits at less competitive rates. In June 2022, with increasing interest rates, our offerings on time deposits returned to more competitive rates, partially offsetting the decline experienced in the first half of 2022. Our money market, savings and NOW accounts decreased by $182.8 million, or 14%, and our noninterest-bearing demand deposits increased $6.3 million, or 10% from December 31, 2021. Time deposits included brokered deposits of $20.1 million at December 31, 2021. We had no brokered deposits at September 30, 2022. We continue to focus on core deposits, which we define as all deposits except for time deposits greater than $0.25 million and brokered deposits. Core deposits totaled $1.7 billion, or 89% of total deposits, at September 30, 2022 compared to $2.0 billion, or 88% of total deposits, at December 31, 2021.

Borrowings

In addition to deposits, we generally use short-term borrowings, such as FHLB advances and an FHLB overdraft credit line, as sources of funds to meet the daily liquidity needs of our customers. Any short-term FHLB advances would consist primarily of advances of funds for one- or two-week periods.

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, outstanding FHLB borrowings totaled $50.0 million and $150.0 million, respectively, and there were no amounts outstanding on lines of credit with other banks. In May 2022, we repaid $100 million in borrowings with the FHLB as a result of a call provision that allowed the Federal Home Loan Bank to require payment. In addition, $65.0 million in principal amount of our Subordinated Notes, due April 15, 2026, remained outstanding as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021.

At September 30, 2022, we had the ability to borrow an additional $374.5 million from the FHLB, which included an available line of credit of $20.0 million. In addition, we have standby letters of credit, totaling $2.0 million, which provide credit support for certain of our obligations related to our commitments to repurchase certain Advantage Loan Program loans. We also had available credit lines with other banks totaling $80.0 million.

Shareholders’ Equity

Total shareholders’ equity was $329.6 million at September 30, 2022, compared to $343.6 million at December 31, 2021. The decline in shareholders’ equity is primarily due to an increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss of $19.8 million due to increased unrealized losses on our investment securities portfolio. These unrealized losses on our investment portfolio are primarily attributable to changes in market value due to the current rising interest rate environment but will not necessarily impact our eventual realized returns since we have both the intent and ability to hold these investment securities until maturity or the price recovers. This decrease is partially offset by net income of $4.2 million. Shareholders’ equity also reflects the issuance of 160,978 common shares for $1.1 million to fund our matching contribution to the defined contribution retirement plan in the first quarter of 2022.

Results of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 and 2021

General. The Company had net income of $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $8.4 million compared to net income of $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Net income was $4.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $11.1 million compared to net income of $15.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

Average Balance Sheet and Related Yields and Rates. The following table presents average balance sheet information, interest income, interest expense and the corresponding average yields earned and rates paid for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021. The average balances are daily averages and, for loans, include both performing and nonperforming balances. Interest income on loans includes the effects of discount accretion and net deferred loan origination costs accounted for as yield adjustments.

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Table of Contents

As of and for the

As of and for the

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

Nine Months Ended September 30, 

 

 2022

 2021

2022

2021

 

Average

Average

Average

Average

 

Average

Yield/

Average

Yield/

Average

Yield/

Average

Yield/

 

     

Balance

     

Interest

     

Rate

     

Balance

     

Interest

     

Rate

     

Balance

     

Interest

     

Rate

     

Balance

     

Interest

    

Rate

 

(Dollars in thousands)

(Dollars in thousands)

Interest-earning assets

Loans(1)

Residential real estate and other consumer

$

1,457,171

$

17,310

4.75

%  

$

1,900,611

$

22,002

4.63

%

$

1,556,569

$

52,898

4.53

%

$

1,955,375

$

70,392

4.80

%

Commercial real estate

214,453

2,458

4.58

%  

285,055

3,422

4.80

%

227,524

8,441

4.95

%

266,763

10,049

5.02

%

Construction

52,843

1,190

9.01

%  

135,292

1,896

5.61

%

70,027

4,222

8.04

%

168,382

8,096

6.41

%

Commercial lines of credit

1,404

17

4.84

%  

1,947

28

5.75

%

707

28

5.28

%

3,295

179

7.24

%

Total loans

1,725,871

20,975

 

4.86

%  

2,322,905

27,348

4.71

%

1,854,827

65,589

4.71

%  

2,393,815

88,716

4.94

%

Securities, includes restricted stock(2)

 

394,503

 

1,945

 

1.97

%  

 

213,945

 

375

0.70

%

380,485

4,133

1.45

%  

265,545

1,150

0.58

%

Other interest-earning assets

 

328,177

 

1,925

 

2.35

%  

 

664,747

 

253

0.15

%

395,400

2,931

0.99

%  

838,223

743

0.12

%

Total interest-earning assets

 

2,448,551

 

24,845

4.06

%  

 

3,201,597

 

27,976

3.50

%

2,630,712

72,653

3.68

%  

3,497,583

90,609

3.45

%

Noninterest-earning assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and due from banks

 

4,083

 

 

 

7,376

 

3,848

7,472

Other assets

 

20,238

 

 

 

41,360

 

35,269

42,458

Total assets

$

2,472,872

 

 

$

3,250,333

 

$

2,669,829

$

3,547,513

Interest-bearing liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money Market, Savings and NOW

$

1,184,601

$

2,053

 

0.69

%  

$

1,329,832

$

771

 

0.23

%

$

1,260,953

$

3,516

0.37

%  

$

1,352,198

$

2,513

0.25

%

Time deposits(3)

 

711,184

 

1,671

 

0.93

%  

 

1,075,598

 

2,770

 

1.02

%

777,110

4,554

0.78

%  

1,350,172

12,966

1.28

%

Total interest-bearing deposits

 

1,895,785

 

3,724

 

0.78

%  

 

2,405,430

 

3,541

0.58

%

2,038,063

8,070

0.53

%  

2,702,370

15,479

0.77

%

FHLB borrowings

 

50,380

 

253

 

1.97

%  

 

307,733

 

826

1.06

%

103,242

919

1.19

%  

314,544

2,511

1.05

%

Subordinated notes, net

 

65,301

 

1,329

 

7.96

%  

 

65,372

 

972

5.95

%

65,319

3,383

6.83

%  

65,372

3,157

6.44

%

Total borrowings

 

115,681

 

1,582

 

5.35

%  

 

373,105

 

1,798

1.91

%

168,561

4,302

3.37

%  

379,916

5,668

1.96

%

Total interest-bearing liabilities

 

2,011,466

 

5,306

 

1.05

%  

 

2,778,535

 

5,339

0.76

%

2,206,624

12,372

0.75

%  

3,082,286

21,147

0.92

%

Noninterest-bearing liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Demand deposits

 

74,550

 

 

 

66,566

 

70,427

62,131

Other liabilities(3)

 

50,476

 

 

 

72,694

 

51,314

75,162

Shareholders’ equity

 

336,380

 

 

 

332,538

 

341,464

327,934

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

2,472,872

 

 

$

3,250,333

 

$

2,669,829

$

3,547,513

Net interest income and spread

 

$

19,539

 

3.01

%  

 

  

$

22,637

2.74

%

$

60,281

2.93

%  

$

69,462

2.53

%

Net interest margin

 

 

 

3.19

%  

 

  

 

  

 

2.83

%

3.06

%  

2.65

%

(1)Nonaccrual loans are included in the respective average loan balances. Income, if any, on such loans is recognized on a cash basis.
(2)Interest income does not include taxable equivalence adjustments.
(3)Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation. The Company has reclassified accrued interest on outstanding time deposits from accrued expenses and other liabilities to interest-bearing deposits in the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2021.

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The following table presents the dollar amount of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated. The table distinguishes between: (1) changes attributable to volume (changes in volume multiplied by the prior period’s rate), (2) changes attributable to rate (change in rate multiplied by the prior period’s volume) and (3) total increase (decrease) (the sum of the previous columns). Changes attributable to both volume and rate are allocated ratably between the volume and rate categories.

Three Months Ended 

 

Nine Months Ended 

September 30, 2022 vs. 2021

 

September 30, 2022 vs. 2021

Net

Net

Increase (Decrease)

Increase

 

Increase (Decrease)

Increase

 due to

(Decrease)

 

 due to

(Decrease)

     

Volume

     

Rate

     

     

Volume

     

Rate

     

 

(In thousands)

Change in interest income:

Loans

Residential real estate and other consumer

$

(5,249)

$

557

$

(4,692)

$

(13,712)

$

(3,782)

$

(17,494)

Commercial real estate

(813)

(151)

(964)

(1,469)

(139)

(1,608)

Construction

(1,507)

801

(706)

(5,567)

1,693

(3,874)

Commercial lines of credit

(7)

(4)

(11)

(113)

(38)

(151)

Total loans

(7,576)

1,203

(6,373)

(20,861)

(2,266)

(23,127)

Securities, includes restricted stock

 

499

 

1,071

 

1,570

668

2,315

2,983

Other interest-earning assets

 

(188)

 

1,860

 

1,672

(595)

2,783

2,188

Total change in interest income

 

(7,265)

 

4,134

 

(3,131)

(20,788)

2,832

(17,956)

Change in interest expense:

 

Money Markets, Savings and NOW

 

(92)

 

1,374

 

1,282

(176)

1,179

1,003

Time deposits

 

(872)

 

(227)

 

(1,099)

(4,380)

(4,032)

(8,412)

Total interest-bearing deposits

 

(964)

 

1,147

 

183

(4,556)

(2,853)

(7,409)

FHLB borrowings

 

(974)

 

401

 

(573)

(1,879)

287

(1,592)

Subordinated notes, net

 

(1)

 

358

 

357

(2)

228

226

Total change in interest expense

 

(1,939)

 

1,906

 

(33)

(6,437)

(2,338)

(8,775)

Change in net interest income

$

(5,326)

$

2,228

$

(3,098)

$

(14,351)

$

5,170

$

(9,181)

Net Interest Income. Net interest income represents the difference between income on interest-earning assets and expense on interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income depends primarily upon the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the corresponding interest rates earned or paid. Our net interest income is significantly impacted by changes in interest rates and market yield curves and their related impact on cash flows.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2022 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021

Net interest income was $19.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $3.1 million, or 14%, from $22.6 million for the same period in 2021.

Interest income was $24.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $3.1 million, or 11%, from the same period in 2021. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to a decline in the average balance of the loan portfolio of $597.0 million, or 26%, from $2.3 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2021 compared to $1.7 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2022. The decrease in our average balance of loans is primarily due to our loan repayments continuing to outpace our loan production in regard to residential real estate loans and our decision to stop actively originating construction loans. Our loan production continues to be adversely impacted by the termination of the Advantage Loan Program and the inability over the last several years to create and introduce new loan products. Interest income related to loans was positively impacted by our average yield on loans which increased 15 basis points to 4.86% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 from 4.71% compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021 due to the increase in market interest rates. The average yield on our residential real estate and other consumer loans increased 12 basis points from the three months ended September 30, 2021.

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The decrease in interest income on loans was partially offset by an increase in interest income on investment securities of $1.6 million and other interest-earning assets of $1.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. Although the average balance of our investment securities and other interest-earning assets, which generally are lower-yielding and more liquid than our loans, was $722.7 million for three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $878.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, the average yield was 2.14% for the three months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of 185 basis points from the three months ended September 30, 2021.

Interest expense was $5.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and remained relatively unchanged from the three months ended September 30, 2021. Interest on deposits increased $0.2 million which reflects an increase in the average rate paid on interest-bearing deposits of 20 basis points to 0.78% for the three months ended September 30, 2022 compared to 0.58% for the three months ended September 30, 2021. However, although market interest rates increased, the average balance of interest-bearing deposits decreased $509.6 million, or 21%, to $1.9 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2022 from $2.4 billion in the three months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease is primarily driven by a $364.4 million decrease in the average balance of time deposits, which generally have a higher cost. In June 2022, with increasing interest rates, our offerings on time deposits returned to more competitive rates, partially offsetting the decline experienced in the first half of 2022.

The higher interest rates in 2022 than 2021 resulted in an increase in the average interest rate paid on subordinated notes from 5.95% during the three months ended September 30, 2021 to 7.96% during the three months ended September 30, 2022. Additionally, the average balance of FHLB borrowings decreased $257.4 million from September 30, 2021. This decrease in borrowings is the result of the repayments of $157.0 million in borrowings during the fourth quarter of 2021 and $100.0 million in borrowings during the second quarter of 2022 which had the effect of decreasing interest expense by approximately $0.6 million.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2022 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021

Net interest income was $60.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $9.2 million, or 13%, from $69.5 million for the same period in 2021.

Interest income was $72.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $18.0 million, or 20%, from the same period in 2021. The decrease in interest income was primarily due to a decline in the average balance of the loan portfolio of $539.0 million, or 23%, to $2.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from $2.7 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease in our average balance of loans is primarily due to our loan repayments continuing to outpace our loan production in regard to residential real estate loans and our decision to stop actively originating construction loans and sell our higher risk commercial real estate loans. Our loan production also continues to be adversely impacted by the termination of the Advantage Loan Program and the inability over the last several years to create and introduce new loan products.

The decline in interest income also reflects a decline in the average yield on our loan portfolio in addition to the impact of the declining balance sheet. Our average yield on our loans decreased 23 basis points, to 4.71% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 from 4.94% for the same period of the prior year. The average yield on our residential real estate and other consumer loans decreased 27 basis points from the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Throughout 2021, market interest rates remained at historically low levels with it starting to rise in the first quarter of 2022 and continuing through the third quarter of 2022. The interest rates on our residential loan portfolio continued to reprice downward as a result, which included new production originating at much lower rates than the loans were paid in full. The decline of the average yield on our commercial real estate and construction loan portfolios during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 was mitigated by the collection of approximately $1.8 million of interest on nonperforming commercial real estate and construction loans during the nine months ended September 30, 2022.

The average balance of our investment securities and other interest-earning assets, which generally are lower-yielding and more liquid than our loans, was $775.9 million for nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $1.1 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. These assets had an average yield of 1.21% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, an increase of 98 basis points from the nine months ended September 30, 2021 resulting in interest income of $4.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to $1.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021.

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Table of Contents

Interest expense was $12.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, a decrease of $8.8 million, or 42%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2021. The decrease in interest expense was due in part to a decrease in the average balance of interest-bearing deposits which decreased $664.3 million, or 25%, in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021. This decrease is primarily driven by a decrease in the average balance of time deposits of $573.1 million. The reduction of these higher costing deposits contributed to the lower average cost of interest-bearing deposits. Additionally, the average balance of FHLB borrowings decreased $211.3 million from September 30, 2021 and is the result of the repayment of $157.0 million in borrowings during the fourth quarter of 2021 and $100.0 million during the second quarter of 2022.

Net Interest Margin and Interest Rate Spread. Net interest margin was 3.19% for the three months ended September 30, 2022, up 36 basis points from 2.83% for the same period in 2021. The interest rate spread was 3.01% for the three months ended September 30, 2022, up 27 basis points from 2.74% for the same period in 2021. Our net interest margin and interest rate spread for the three months ended September 30, 2022 were positively impacted by increasing market interest rates as the yield on average interest-earning assets increased 56 basis points while the cost of average interest-earning liabilities increased 29 basis points.

Net interest margin was 3.06% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, up 41 basis points from 2.65% for the same period in 2021. The interest rate spread was 2.93% for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, up 40 basis points from 2.53% for the same period in 2021. Our net interest margin and interest rate spread for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were positively impacted by a decrease in the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities as higher interest cost of average time deposits decreased and an increase in the yield on average interest-earning assets as the yield on average interest-earning other assets increased while their average balances decreased.

Provision (Recovery) for Loan Losses. Our recovery for loan losses was $(4.4) million for the three months ended September 30, 2022, compared to a provision for loan losses of $0.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Our recovery for loan losses for the three months ended September 30, 2022 is primarily attributable to improvements in our credit quality as well as a decrease in our total loan portfolio of $96.5 million during the quarter.

Our recovery for loan losses was $(9.8) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022, compared to a recovery for loan losses of $(2.1) million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021. Our recovery for loan losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 is primarily attributable to an improvement in the credit quality of our loan portfolio during the nine-month period, which includes the effects of a $35.8 million decrease of Special Mention, Substandard and Doubtful loans and the sale of higher risk commercial real estate in the third quarter of 2022, as well as a decrease in our total loan portfolio of $331.2 million from December 31, 2021, including construction loans of $56.4 million which carried a higher allocated allowance for loan loss. See “—Asset Quality” and “—Allowance for Loan Losses” for further discussion regarding our classified loans and the credit quality of our loan portfolio.

Our total allowance for loan losses decreased to $45.4 million, or 2.70% of total loans, at September 30, 2022 compared to $56.5 million, or 2.81% of total loans, at December 31, 2021.

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Table of Contents

Non-interest Income. Non-interest income information is as follows:

Three Months Ended

    

    

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30,

Change

September 30,

Change

 

    

2022

    

2021

    

Amount

    

Percent

    

2022

    

2021

    

Amount

    

Percent

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Service charges and fees

$

124

$

120

$

4

3

%  

$

351

$

423

$

(72)

(17)

%

Gain on sale of mortgage loans held for sale

 

 

151

 

(151)

 

(100)

%  

200

619

(419)

(68)

%

Unrealized losses on equity securities

 

(184)

 

(24)

 

(160)

 

N/M

(590)

(99)

(491)

N/M

Gain on sale of branch office

 

 

1,417

 

(1,417)

 

(100)

%

1,417

(1,417)

(100)

%

Net servicing loss

 

(384)

(31)

 

(353)

 

N/M

(118)

(1,369)

1,251

91

%

Income on cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance

 

87

 

325

 

(238)

 

(73)

%  

670

960

(290)

(30)

%

Other

 

 

100

 

(100)

 

(100)

%  

586

291

295

N/M

Total non-interest income

$

(357)

$

2,058

$

(2,415)

 

N/M

$

1,099

$

2,242

$

(1,143)

(51)

%

N/M - not meaningful

Non-interest income of $(0.4) million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 reflected a decrease of $2.4 million from the same period in 2021. Non-interest income of $1.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 reflected a decrease of $1.1 million from the same period in 2021. The decrease in non-interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 is primarily attributable to the $1.4 million gain on sale of the Bellevue, Washington branch office in the third quarter of 2021. Also, during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we repurchased a pool of Advantage Loan Program loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $35.2 million and $65.6 million compared to loans with a total outstanding principal balance of $6.1 million and $173.8 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. These repurchases result in higher net servicing losses in those periods which have higher repurchase volumes due to the disposition of related mortgage servicing rights. Unrealized losses on equity securities were also greater in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 due to the market interest rate environment.

Non-interest Expense. Non-interest expense information is as follows:

Three Months Ended

    

    

    

Nine Months Ended

 

September 30,

Change

September 30,

Change

 

    

2022

    

2021

    

Amount

    

Percent

    

2022

    

2021

    

Amount

    

Percent

 

(Dollars in thousands)

Salaries and employee benefits

$

9,336

$

2,774

$

6,562

N/M

$

24,522

$

19,300

$

5,222

27

%

Occupancy and equipment

 

2,112

 

2,395

 

(283)

(12)

%

6,441

6,840

(399)

(6)

%

Professional fees

 

5,756

 

4,024

 

1,732

43

%

17,979

18,500

(521)

(3)

%

FDIC assessments

 

316

 

417

 

(101)

(24)

%

1,031

1,636

(605)

(37)

%

Data processing

 

725

 

403

 

322

80

%

2,292

1,189

1,103

93

%

Net recovery of mortgage repurchase liability

(145)

(298)

153

51

%

(670)

(963)

293

30

%

Other

 

3,521

 

1,361

 

2,160

 

N/M

8,943

5,852

3,091

53

%

Total non-interest expense

$

21,621

$

11,076

$

10,545

 

95

%

$

60,538

$

52,354

$

8,184

16

%

Non-interest expense was $21.6 million and $11.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively, and $60.5 million and $52.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Salaries and employee benefits expense increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022 when compared to the same periods in the prior year. In the third quarter of 2021, the Company recorded $6.5 million in the ERC, which were available under the CARES Act and resulted in a net reduction of salaries and employee benefits expense. Absent recognizing the $6.5 million ERC, salaries and benefits expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 would have been substantially higher, and thus salaries and benefits expense for the three months ended September 30, 2022 would have shown only modest increases from the three months ended September 30, 2021.

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Table of Contents

Salaries and employee benefits expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 benefited from the cancellation of certain deferred compensation and split dollar life insurance agreements with its controlling shareholder which resulted in the reversal of the related liabilities of $4.5 million upon surrender of a large split-dollar life program and certain BOLI policies partially offset by $0.4 million in separation costs related to the reduction in our mortgage origination staff, all of which occurred during the second quarter of 2022. Due to this reduction in mortgage origination staff, the Company experienced reduced salaries and benefits expense of $0.9 million during the third quarter of 2022. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, we continued hiring employees in key positions, provided salary adjustments to employees to maintain compensation at competitive levels, and made enhancements to existing employee benefit plans, all of which had the impact of increasing salaries and benefits expense.

Professional fees for the three months ended September 30, 2022 increased $1.7 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2021, which included a $1.4 million insurance reimbursement received in the third quarter of 2021. Absent the reimbursement, professional fees for the three months ended September 30, 2022 would have reflected a slight increase from the prior year period. Professional fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 declined by $0.5 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2021, which decline would have been greater but for the insurance reimbursements received in 2021 of $3.8 million and is attributable to the elevated professional services received in 2021 related to the Internal Review, the government investigations and regulatory initiatives.

Other non-interest expense increased during the three month and nine months ended September 30, 2022 largely due to the $1.6 million and $2.3 million fair value discounts on $35.2 million and $65.6 million of Advantage Loan Program loans repurchased in the three and nine months ended September, 30 2022, respectively. The repurchases made in 2021 had no such fair value discount as the rise in market interest rates drove the losses on loans repurchased in 2022. Additionally, the nine months ended September 30, 2022 included additional tax of $1.3 million incurred during the second quarter of 2022 related to certain BOLI policies surrendered.

Income Tax Expense. We recorded an income tax expense of $0.7 million and $6.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2022, respectively, compared to an income tax expense of $3.7 million and $6.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, respectively. During the second quarter of 2022, we surrendered a large split-dollar life program and a few smaller BOLI policies related to former executives and a controlling shareholder with a cash surrender value of $24.9 million. The $13.1 million increase in value over the duration of the ownership of the policies moved from non-taxable income to taxable income, resulting in a $3.6 million increase in income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. Additionally, other than temporary differences originating in the nine months ended September 30, 2022 were the non-taxable cancellation of the split-dollar life insurance agreement and the non-deductible additional tax related to the surrender of the bank-owned life insurance policies, which together resulted in an income tax benefit of approximately $0.8 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations when they come due. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, loan repayments and FHLB borrowings. While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by general interest rates, economic conditions and competition. We have substantial cash requirements going forward, as discussed below, which we plan to fund through our total available liquidity, cash flows from operations and additional liquidity measures, if determined to be necessary.

We regularly review the need to adjust our investments in liquid assets based upon our assessment of: (1) expected loan demand, (2) expected deposit flows, (3) yields available on interest earning deposits and securities and (4) the objectives of our asset/liability management program. Excess liquid assets are generally invested in interest-earning deposits and short-term securities.

Our most liquid assets are cash and due from banks, interest-bearing time deposits with other banks and debt securities classified as available for sale. The levels of these assets are dependent on our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, cash and due from banks totaled $352.4 million and $411.7 million, respectively; interest-bearing time deposits with other banks totaled $1.2 million; debt securities available for sale, which provide additional sources of liquidity, totaled $348.6 million and $308.7 million, respectively.

At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, outstanding FHLB borrowings totaled $50.0 million and $150.0 million, respectively. In May 2022, we utilized our excess liquidity to repay $100.0 million in long-term fixed rate advances which the FHLB had called using the call provision. There were no amounts outstanding on lines of credit with other banks.

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At September 30, 2022, we had the ability to borrow an additional $374.5 million from the FHLB, which included an available line of credit of $20 million. In addition, we have obtained standby letters of credit totaling $2.0 million, which provides credit support for certain of our obligations related to our commitment to repurchase certain pools of Advantage Loan Program loans. We also had available credit lines with other banks totaling $80 million.

Although we reduced our excess liquidity during 2021 through 2022, we believe that our existing liquidity combined with our borrowing capacity with the FHLB and our bank lines of credit, as well as the ability to obtain additional funds through brokered deposits, would allow us to manage any unexpected increase in loan demand or any unforeseen financial demand or commitment.

To avoid the uncertainty of audits and inquiries by third-party investors in the Advantage Loan Program loans, beginning at the end of the second quarter of 2020, the Company commenced making offers to each of those investors to repurchase 100% of the previously sold Advantage Loan Program loans. Through September 30, 2022, the Company has repurchased pools of Advantage Loan Program loans previously sold with a total outstanding unpaid principal balance of $309.0 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, the Company repurchased $65.6 million of Advantage Loan Program loans. In addition, pursuant to existing agreements with such investors, the Company also agreed to repurchase an additional pool of Advantage Loan Program loans through July 2023. The aggregate unpaid principal balance of these loans was $21.4 million at September 30, 2022. At September 30, 2022, the unpaid principal balance of the previously sold Advantage Loan Program loans that would be subject to repurchase by us if 100% of our offers were accepted totaled $45.0 million, which includes loans that we have committed to repurchase. Should additional secondary market investors accept our offers to repurchase Advantage Loan Program loans with respect to a substantial portion of such outstanding loans, the cash required to fund these repurchases will reduce our liquidity.

We are a party to financial instruments in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of our customers. These financial instruments include commitments to make loans and standby letters of credit that are not reflected in our condensed consolidated balance sheets and involve elements of credit and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recorded in the condensed consolidated balance sheets. Our exposure to credit loss is represented by the contractual amount of the instruments. We use the same credit policies in making commitments as we do for on-balance sheet instruments. At September 30, 2022, we had $23.3 million in loan commitments and unused lines of credit outstanding and $24 thousand in standby letters of credit. At December 31, 2021, we had $69.4 million in loan commitments and unused lines of credit outstanding and $24 thousand in standby letters of credit.

As of September 30, 2022, time deposits due within one year were $457.4 million, or 23% of total deposits. Total time deposits at September 30, 2022 were $757.6 million, or 39% of total deposits. As of December 31, 2021, time deposits due within one year were $646.6 million, or 29% of total deposits. Total time deposits at December 31, 2021 were $891.8 million, or 39% of total deposits.

Our primary investing activities are the origination of loans and the purchase of investment securities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we originated $109.6 million of loans and purchased $147.5 million of investment securities. During the nine months ended September 30, 2021, we originated $143.5 million of loans and purchased investment securities of $23.2 million. Additionally, we paid $63.5 million to the purchaser of the Bellevue, Washington branch office, the sale of which included the transfer of all deposit accounts located at the branch and all branch premises and equipment. Cash flows provided by loan payoffs totaled $442.9 million and $596.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Financing activities consist primarily of activity in deposit accounts and, to a lesser extent, borrowings. We experienced a net decrease in total deposits of $310.7 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2022, from $2.3 billion at December 31, 2021. We generate deposits from local businesses and individuals through customer referrals and other relationships and through our retail presence. We utilize borrowings and brokered deposits to supplement funding needs and manage our liquidity position. During the nine months ended September 30, 2022, we repaid $135 million of borrowings with the FHLB and engaged in new borrowings with the FHLB of $35 million.

The Company is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Bank, and, on a parent company-only basis, the Company’s primary source of funding is dividends received from the Bank. Banking regulations limit the dividends that may be paid by the Bank. Approval by regulatory authorities is required if the total capital distributions for the applicable calendar year exceed the sum of the Bank’s net income for that year to date plus the Bank’s retained net income for the preceding two years, or the Bank would not be at least adequately capitalized following the distribution. Banking regulations also limit the ability of the Bank to pay dividends under other circumstances. The Company has the legal ability to access the debt and equity capital markets for funding, although the Company currently is required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB in order to issue debt.

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In recent years, the Company’s primary funding needs on a parent company-only basis have consisted of dividends to shareholders, interest expense on subordinated notes and stock repurchases. At September 30, 2022, the Company had $65.0 million in principal amount of subordinated notes outstanding that are due April 15, 2026 but may be redeemed by us, in whole or in part. There have been no redemptions on the subordinated notes. Interest expense on the subordinated notes was $3.4 million and $3.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The subordinated notes had an interest rate of 7% per annum, payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 in arrears, through April 2021, after which the subordinated notes converted to a variable interest rate of the three-month LIBOR rate plus a margin of 5.82% (8.33% at September 30, 2022). In 2017, the United Kingdom (“U.K.”) Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would no longer compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021, and the administrator of LIBOR has proposed to extend publication of the most commonly used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings to September 30, 2023. Pursuant to recent federal and New York State legislation, upon the cessation of the publication of the three-month LIBOR rate, the subordinated notes will bear interest at a rate based on the SOFR.

The Company’s ability to pay cash dividends is restricted by the terms of the subordinated notes as well as applicable provisions of Michigan law and the rules and regulations of the OCC and the FRB. Under the terms of the subordinated notes, as long as the subordinated notes are outstanding, the Company is permitted to pay dividends, if prior to such dividends, the Bank is considered well capitalized under applicable regulatory capital requirements. In addition, under Michigan law, the Company is prohibited from paying cash dividends if, after giving effect to the dividend, (i) it would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business or (ii) its total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders with preferential rights on dissolution that are superior to those receiving the dividend, and we are currently required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB in order to pay any dividends to our shareholders.

The Company and the Bank are required to meet several regulatory capital requirements administered by the Federal Reserve and the OCC, respectively. We manage our capital to comply with our internal planning targets and regulatory capital standards administered by the Federal Reserve and the OCC. We review capital levels on a quarterly basis including our needs for additional capital and ability to pay cash dividends.

These capital requirements are the result of a final rule implementing recommendations of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition to establishing the minimum regulatory capital requirements, the regulations have established a CCB consisting of 2.5% of common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets above the amount necessary to meet its minimum risk-based capital requirements. The CCB is designed to absorb losses during periods of economic stress. Banking institutions with a (i) CET1 to risk-weighted assets, (ii) Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets or (iii) total capital to risk-weighted assets above the respective minimum but below the minimum plus the CCB will face constraints on dividends, equity repurchases and discretionary bonus payments to executive officers based on the amount of the shortfall.

The Bank, after consultation with the OCC, determined that a risk-weighting of 100% should be applied to its Advantage Loan Program loans under the risk weighting requirements for first-lien residential mortgage exposures set forth under the Basel III capital rules. Previously, the Company and the Bank generally applied a 50% risk weight to the Advantage Loan Program loans. The table below presents the Company’s and the Bank’s regulatory capital amounts and ratios applying the 100% risk weight as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021 for the Company’s and Bank’s total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets, Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets and CET1 to risk weighted assets.

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At September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, the Company and the Bank had met all regulatory capital requirements to which they are subject and held capital in excess of the CCB, and the Bank’s regulatory capital ratios exceeded the requirements to be considered well capitalized for all regulatory purposes. The following tables present the Company’s consolidated and the Bank’s actual and minimum required capital amounts and ratios at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, applying the 100% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans:

    

    

For Capital

    

To be Well

 

Actual

Adequacy Purposes

Capitalized

 

Amount

    

Ratio

Amount

    

Ratio

Amount

    

Ratio

 

September 30, 2022

Total adjusted capital to risk‑weighted assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

$

409,170

 

26.21

%  

$

124,357

 

8.00

%  

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

413,262

 

26.60

 

124,275

 

8.00

$

155,344

 

10.00

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk‑weighted assets

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

350,162

 

22.43

 

93,268

 

6.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

 

25.33

 

93,206

 

6.00

 

124,275

 

8.00

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

350,162

 

22.43

 

69,951

 

4.50

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

 

25.33

 

69,905

 

4.50

 

100,974

 

6.50

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

350,162

 

14.09

 

99,151

 

4.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

393,524

 

15.88

 

99,103

 

4.00

 

123,879

 

5.00

    

    

For Capital

To be Well

 

Actual

Adequacy Purposes

Capitalized

Amount

    

Ratio

Amount

    

Ratio

    

Amount

    

Ratio

 

December 31, 2021

Total adjusted capital to risk‑weighted assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

  

 

  

Consolidated

$

421,732

 

21.24

%  

$

158,851

 

8.00

%  

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

407,699

 

20.55

 

158,707

 

8.00

$

198,384

 

10.00

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk‑weighted assets

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

344,247

 

17.34

 

119,138

 

6.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

 

19.28

 

119,030

 

6.00

 

158,707

 

8.00

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

344,247

 

17.34

 

89,354

 

4.50

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

 

19.28

 

89,273

 

4.50

 

128,950

 

6.50

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

 

  

Consolidated

 

344,247

 

11.47

 

120,039

 

4.00

 

N/A

 

N/A

Bank

 

382,509

 

12.77

 

119,859

 

4.00

 

149,824

 

5.00

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In order to provide a comparable trend analysis for the Bank’s and the Company’s risk based capital ratios applying the 100% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans, the tables below present the regulatory capital ratios applying the 100% risk weight at December 31 for each of the past five years. At each of the year-end dates reported, the Company and the Bank had met all minimum regulatory capital requirements and applicable capital cushions to which they are subject and held capital in excess of the CCB, and the Bank would have been considered well capitalized for all regulatory purposes. The CCB requirement was phased in beginning on January 1, 2016 at the 0.625% level and increased by 0.625% on each subsequent January 1, until the buffer was implemented in full at 2.5% on January 1, 2019. Accordingly, the CCB at December 31, 2018 and 2017 was 1.875% and 1.25%, respectively.

Company at December 31,

 

    

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

21.24

%  

16.51

%  

14.58

%  

14.82

%  

13.49

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

17.34

%  

12.65

%  

11.56

%  

11.77

%  

10.33

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

17.34

%  

12.65

%  

11.56

%  

11.77

%  

10.33

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

11.47

%  

8.08

%  

10.11

%  

10.42

%  

9.83

%

    

Bank at December 31,

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

20.55

%  

15.74

%  

12.08

%  

11.43

%  

10.06

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

19.28

%  

14.47

%  

11.32

%  

10.66

%  

9.12

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

19.28

%  

14.47

%  

11.32

%  

10.66

%  

9.12

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

12.77

%  

9.20

%  

9.90

%  

9.44

%  

8.68

%

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In comparison to the above tables, the tables below present the Bank’s and the Company’s regulatory capital ratios applying the 50% risk weight to Advantage Loan Program loans at December 31 for each of the past five years, as previously reported.

    

Company at December 31,

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

29.02

%  

22.58

%  

21.49

%  

21.98

%  

20.28

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

24.08

%  

17.68

%  

17.04

%  

17.45

%  

15.53

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

24.08

%  

17.68

%  

17.04

%  

17.45

%  

15.53

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

11.47

%  

8.08

%  

10.11

%  

10.42

%  

9.83

%

    

Bank at December 31,

 

2021

    

2020

    

2019

    

2018

    

2017

 

Total adjusted capital to risk-weighted assets

 

28.07

%  

21.56

%  

17.82

%  

16.94

%  

14.76

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to risk-weighted assets

 

26.79

%  

20.27

%  

16.70

%  

15.80

%  

13.71

%

Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1)

 

26.79

%  

20.27

%  

16.70

%  

15.80

%  

13.71

%

Tier 1 (core) capital to adjusted tangible assets (leverage ratio)

 

12.77

%  

9.20

%  

9.90

%  

9.44

%  

8.68

%

Recently Issued Accounting Guidance

See Note 2–Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in “Part I, Item 1. Financial Statements” for a discussion of recently issued accounting guidance and related impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

General. The principal objective of our asset and liability management function is to evaluate the interest rate risk within the balance sheet and pursue a controlled assumption of interest rate risk while maximizing net income and preserving adequate levels of liquidity and capital. The Asset Liability Committee of our board of directors (“ALCO”) has oversight of our asset and liability management function, which is implemented and managed by our Management Asset Liability Committee. Our Management Asset Liability Committee meets regularly to review, among other things, the sensitivity of our assets and liabilities to product offering rate changes, local and national market conditions and market interest rates. That group also reviews our liquidity, capital, deposit mix, loan mix and investment positions.

We manage our exposure to interest rates primarily by structuring our balance sheet in the ordinary course of business. Our management of interest rate risk is overseen by our board of directors ALCO, and implemented by our management ALCO based on a risk management infrastructure approved by our board of directors that outlines reporting and measurement requirements. In particular, this infrastructure sets limits, calculated quarterly, for various interest rate-related metrics, our economic value of equity (“EVE”) and net interest income simulations involving parallel shifts in interest rate curves. Steepening and flattening yield curves and various prepayment and deposit duration assumptions are prepared at least annually. Our interest rate management policies also require periodic review and documentation of all key assumptions used, such as identifying appropriate interest rate scenarios, setting loan prepayment rates and deposit durations based on historical analysis.

We do not typically enter into derivative contracts for the purpose of managing interest rate risk, but we may do so in the future. Based upon the nature of our operations, we are not subject to foreign exchange or commodity price risk. We do not own any trading assets.

Net Interest Income Simulation. We use an interest rate risk simulation model to test the interest rate sensitivity of net interest income and the balance sheet. Instantaneous parallel rate shift scenarios are modeled and utilized to evaluate risk and establish exposure limits for acceptable changes in net interest income. These scenarios, known as rate shocks, simulate an instantaneous change in interest rates and use various assumptions, including, but not limited to, prepayments on loans and securities, deposit decay rates, pricing decisions on loans and deposits, and reinvestment and replacement of asset and liability cash flows.

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The following table presents the estimated changes in net interest income of the Bank, calculated on a bank-only basis, which would result from changes in market interest rates over a 12-month period beginning on September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021. The table below demonstrates that we are asset sensitive at September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, with the asset sensitivity of our balance sheet slightly decreasing from December 31, 2021. Changes to the balance sheet mix are the primary driver of the changes to net interest income.

    

At September 30,

 

At December 31,

 

2022

 

2021

 

Estimated 

 

Estimated 

 

12-Months 

 

12-Months 

    

 

Net Interest 

 

Net Interest 

 

Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points)

    

Income

    

Change

    

Income

    

Change

   

 

(Dollars in thousands)

400

$

91,099

 

6

%

$

89,446

 

6

%

300

 

90,006

 

5

%

 

89,738

 

7

%

200

 

88,842

 

4

%

 

89,266

 

6

%

100

 

87,315

 

2

%

 

86,909

 

3

%

0

 

85,646

 

 

84,214

 

–100

 

82,337

 

(4)

%

 

79,552

 

(6)

%

Economic Value of Equity Simulation. We also analyze our sensitivity to changes in interest rates through an EVE model. EVE represents the present value of the expected cash flows from our assets less the present value of the expected cash flows arising from our liabilities. EVE attempts to quantify our economic value using a discounted cash flow methodology. We estimate what our EVE would be as of a specific date. We then calculate what EVE would be as of the same date throughout a series of interest rate scenarios representing immediate and permanent parallel shifts in the yield curve. We currently calculate EVE under the assumptions that interest rates increase 100, 200, 300 and 400 basis points from current market rates, and under the assumption that interest rates decrease 100 basis points from current market rates.

The following table presents, as of September 30, 2022 and December 31, 2021, respectively, the impacts of immediate and permanent parallel hypothetical changes in market interest rates on EVE of the Bank, calculated on a bank-only basis. The sensitivity of our balance sheet increased from December 31, 2021 in the up-rate scenarios primarily as a result of yield curve effects on our deposit liabilities’ fair value as well as overall changes in the balance sheet mix to longer-duration assets. Since EVE is a long-term measurement of value, the change in EVE is not indicative of the short term (12-months) effects on earnings

    

At September 30,

    

At December 31,

 

2022

2021

 

Economic 

Economic 

    

 

Value of 

Value of 

 

Change in Interest Rates (Basis Points)

    

Equity

    

Change

    

Equity

    

Change

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

400

$

474,636

 

(18)

%

$

490,721

 

0

%

300

 

507,126

 

(12)

%

 

500,308

 

2

%

200

 

539,431

 

(7)

%

 

506,761

 

3

%

100

 

563,908

 

(2)

%

 

505,676

 

3

%

0

 

576,986

 

490,567

 

–100

 

566,289

 

(2)

%

 

437,362

 

(11)

%

As with any method of measuring interest rate risk, certain shortcomings are inherent in the method of analysis presented in the foregoing tables. Many assumptions are used to calculate the impact of interest rate fluctuations. Actual results may be significantly different than our projections due to several factors, including the timing and frequency of rate changes, market conditions and the shape of the yield curve. The computations of interest rate risk shown above do not include actions that our management may undertake to manage the risks in response to anticipated changes in interest rates, and actual results may also differ due to any actions taken in response to the changing rates. Accordingly, the data presented in the tables in this section should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results in the event of changes in interest rates and the resulting EVE and net interest income estimates are not intended to represent and should not be construed to represent our estimate of the underlying EVE or forecast of net interest income. Furthermore, the EVE presented in the foregoing table is not intended to present the fair market value of the Company, nor does it represent amounts that would be available for distribution to shareholders in the event of the liquidation of the Company.

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In 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it would no longer compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. The administrator of LIBOR has proposed to extend publication of the most commonly used U.S. dollar LIBOR settings to September 30, 2023 and to cease publishing other LIBOR settings on December 31, 2021. We have significant exposure to financial instruments with attributes that are either directly or indirectly dependent on LIBOR to establish their interest rate and/or value, the majority of which mature after December 31, 2021. Based on our transition progress to date, we have ceased originating LIBOR-based products since March 8, 2021 and began originating U.S. Treasury rate based loans after March 8, 2021. Our adjustable-rate loan products have an index-based reset feature which will continue. Pursuant to recent federal and New York State legislation, we have determined that our LIBOR-based loans and outstanding subordinated notes will convert to SOFR-based rates.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the specified time periods in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Our management, with the participation of the CEO and the CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act) as of September 30, 2022. Based on these evaluations, the CEO and the CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2022.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Our management is required to evaluate, with the participation of our CEO and our CFO, any changes in internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that occurred during each fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2022 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Except as described below and as described in “Part II, Item 1A. Risk Factors,” we are not aware of any material developments to our pending legal proceedings as disclosed in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K and Forms 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022, nor are we involved in any pending legal proceedings other than routine legal proceedings occurring in the ordinary course of business. We believe that such routine legal proceedings, in the aggregate, are immaterial to our financial condition and results of operations.

OCC Agreement

On September 27, 2022, the Company entered into a Consent Order with the OCC, resolving the OCC Investigation. Pursuant to the Consent Order, the Bank paid a civil money penalty of $6 million, which has been applied against the Company’s previously accrued liability for contingent losses. The Consent Order represents a full and final settlement of the OCC Investigation with respect to the Bank. Concurrent with the Consent Order, the OCC notified the Bank that the OCC Agreement was terminated, which primarily related to certain aspects of the Bank’s BSA/AML compliance program and the Bank’s credit administration.

Cahnman v. Allen, et al.

On July 28, 2020, we received the Shareholder Demand brought by Raymond Cahnman, a purported shareholder, set forth in a demand letter that was later reflected in a shareholder derivative complaint that was filed against us and certain of our current and former directors, styled Cahnman v. Allen, et al., No. 2:22-cv-10124 (E.D. Mich.). On January 21, 2022, we entered into the Settlement, of which the court granted final approval on September 29, 2022. Pursuant to the Settlement, we agreed to adopt and implement the Corporate Governance Enhancements, many of which were already in progress and have now been completed, and pay attorneys’ fees and expenses in the amount of $650 thousand in exchange for the release of all defendants from all alleged claims therein. The Settlement provides customary releases of certain individuals and entities, including the current board of directors and certain former board members, and reserves for our board of directors the exclusive right to continue to evaluate and pursue claims against non-released individuals based on their conduct concerning, related to, or arising from the matters raised in the Shareholder Demand. Reimbursement of the $650 thousand due under the Settlement was paid by our insurance carriers under applicable insurance policies during the fourth quarter of 2022.

Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. and Sterling Bancorp, Inc. vs. Scott Seligman, et al.

On October 7, 2022, the Company and the Bank commenced an action against the Bank’s founder and controlling shareholder, and other nominal defendants, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan styled Sterling Bank and Trust, F.S.B. and Sterling Bancorp, Inc. vs. Scott Seligman, et al., No. 2:22-cv-12398-SFC-DRG (E.D. Mich.). The complaint alleges that Mr. Seligman breached his fiduciary duties to the Company and the Bank by, among other actions and inactions, using his controlling position to develop and direct the Bank’s now-discontinued Advantage Loan Program to advance his own interests and unjustly enrich himself at the expense of the Company, the Bank and the Company’s minority shareholders. The complaint seeks to recover compensatory and other damages, disgorgement of certain monies and injunctive relief. There is no assurance that we will be successful in any final adjudication of this case, that any remedy would be adequate in the event we are successful in the adjudication or that we would achieve an acceptable settlement.

Scott J. Seligman vs. Sterling Bancorp, Inc.

On November 3, 2022, Mr. Seligman commenced an action against the Company in the Oakland County Business Court styled Scott J. Seligman v. Sterling Bancorp, Inc., No. 2:22-cv-12660-MAG-DRG (E.D. Mich.). The complaint alleges that Mr. Seligman is entitled to the advancement and reimbursement of all attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the complaint filed against him by the Company and the Bank as well as the certain government investigations involving the Company and the Bank, including investigations by the DOJ and OCC related to the Advantage Loan Program. The Company and the Bank have filed a motion with the Oakland County Business Court to have the case removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The Company intends to vigorously defend this and any related actions.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Except as described herein, there are no material changes from the risk factors as disclosed in the Company’s 2021 Form 10-K and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2022 and June 30, 2022.

We expect to suspend the origination of residential loans as our third-party vendor for residential loan origination, Promontory MortgagePath, is ceasing to do business.

During the second quarter of 2022, we outsourced our residential loan origination function to Promontory MortgagePath, which provides community banks with an outsourced residential lending service for mortgage loan production. In November 2022, Promontory MortgagePath advised the Company of its intent to cease conducting business. Promontory MortgagePath and the Company will continue to accept loan applications through November 30, 2022, and will use commercially reasonable efforts to evaluate and originate pending loan applications by February 28, 2023. At that time, we will suspend the origination of residential loans pending further evaluation of our alternatives, which may include discontinuing the origination of residential loans. However, we may purchase residential loans from the secondary market in the future. As a result of the suspension of the origination of residential loans and our decision earlier this year to discontinue the origination of construction loans, we expect the size of our balance sheet to continue to decline as loan repayments are received.

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

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer

Withholding of Vested Restricted Stock Awards

During the three months ended September 30, 2022, the Company withheld shares of common stock representing a portion of the restricted stock awards that vested during the period under our employee stock benefit plans in order to pay employee tax liabilities associated with such vesting. These withheld shares are treated the same as repurchased shares for accounting purposes.

The following table provides certain information with respect to our purchases of shares of the Company’s common stock, as of the settlement date, during the three months ended September 30, 2022, all of which represent tax withholding of restricted stock awards:

    

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

 

 

Total Number of

 

Approximate Dollar

 

 

 

Shares Purchased as

 

Value of Shares that

 

Total Number

 

Average

 

Part of Publicly

 

May Yet Be Purchased

of Shares

Price Paid

 

Announced Plans or

 

Under the

Period

    

Purchased(1)

    

per Share

    

Programs

    

Plans or Programs(2)

July 1 - 31, 2022

 

268

$

5.89

 

$

19,568,117

August 1 - 31, 2022

 

 

 

 

19,568,117

September 1 - 30, 2022

 

1,031

 

5.95

 

 

19,568,117

Total

 

1,299

$

5.94

 

 

  

(1)These shares were acquired from employees to satisfy income tax withholding requirements in connection with vesting share awards during the three months ended September 30, 2022.
(2)In 2018, the Company announced a stock repurchase program for up to $50 million of its outstanding stock. At September 30, 2022, $19.6 million remains of the $50 million authorized repurchase amount. In March 2020, the Company suspended the stock repurchase program.

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

A list of exhibits to this Form 10-Q is set forth in the Exhibit Index below.

Incorporated by Reference

Exhibit
Number

    

Exhibit Description

    

Filed /Furnished
Herewith

    

Form

    

Period
Ending

    

Exhibit /
Appendix
Number

    

Filing Date

10.1

Consent Order, dated September 27, 2022

8-K

N/A

10.1

9/27/2022

31.1

Section 302 Certification — Chief Executive Officer

X

31.2

Section 302 Certification — Chief Financial Officer

X

32.1*

Section 906 Certification — Chief Executive Officer

X

32.2*

Section 906 Certification — Chief Financial Officer

X

101.INS**

Inline XBRL Instance Document

X

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

X

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

X

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

X

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

X

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

X

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

X

* This document is being furnished with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act, or the Exchange Act.

** The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

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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.

Date: November 14, 2022

STERLING BANCORP, INC.

(Registrant)

By:

/s/ THOMAS M. O’BRIEN

Thomas M. O’Brien
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

By:

/s/ KAREN KNOTT

Karen Knott
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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