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TFS Financial CORP - Annual Report: 2019 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
________________________________
FORM 10-K
________________________________

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019
or
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For transition period from              to             
Commission File Number 001-33390
___________________________________________ 
TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 ___________________________________________ 
United States of America
 
52-2054948
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
 
7007 Broadway Avenue
 
 
Cleveland,
Ohio
 
44105
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
(216) 441-6000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange in which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
TFSL
 
The NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
___________________________________________ 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes x    No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  o    No  x
Indicate by 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  x    No  o
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 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).    Yes  x    No o
Indicate by 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" Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:
 
Large accelerated filer
x
 
Accelerated filer  o
 
Non-accelerated filer  o

 
Smaller reporting company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
If an emerging company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.)    Yes      No x
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the Registrant, computed by reference to the last sale price on March 31, 2019, as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market, was approximately $850.8 million.
At November 22, 2019, there were 280,028,912 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding, of which 227,119,132 shares, or 81.11% of the Registrant’s common stock, were held by Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC, the Registrant’s mutual holding company.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof to the extent indicated therein.



TFS Financial Corporation
INDEX
 
Part I
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
Item 1A.
 
 
 
 
Item 1B.
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
 
 
 
 
Item 3.
 
 
 
 
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
Part II
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 5.
 
 
 
 
Item 6.
 
 
 
 
Item 7.
 
 
 
 
Item 7A.
 
 
 
 
Item 8.
 
 
 
 
Item 9.
 
 
 
 
Item 9A.
 
 
 
 
Item 9B.
 
 
 
 
Part III
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 10.
 
 
 
 
Item 11.
 
 
 
 
Item 12.
 
 
 
 
Item 13.
 
 
 
 
Item 14.
 
 
 
 
Part IV
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 15.
 
 
 
 
 
Item 16.
 


2


GLOSSARY OF TERMS
TFS Financial Corporation provides the following list of acronyms and other terms as a tool for the reader. The acronyms and other terms identified below are used throughout the document.
ACT:  Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Freddie Mac: Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association
AOCI:  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
FRS:  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
ARM: Adjustable Rate Mortgage
GAAP:  Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
ASC: Accounting Standards Codification
Ginnie Mae:  Government National Mortgage Association
ASU: Accounting Standards Update
GVA:  General Valuation Allowance
Association: Third Federal Savings and Loan
HARP:  Home Affordable Refinance Program
Association of Cleveland
HPI:  Home Price Index
BOLI:  Bank Owned Life Insurance
IRR:  Interest Rate Risk
CDs:  Certificates of Deposit
IRS:  Internal Revenue Service
CFPB:  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
IVA:  Individual Valuation Allowance
CLTV:  Combined Loan-to-Value
LIHTC: Low Income Housing Tax Credit
Company: TFS Financial Corporation and its
LIP:  Loans-in-Process
subsidiaries
LTV:  Loan-to-Value
DFA: Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer
MMK: Money Market Account
Protection Act of 2010
MGIC:  Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
EaR:  Earnings at Risk
OCC:  Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
EPS:  Earnings per Share
OCI:  Other Comprehensive Income
ESOP:  Third Federal Employee (Associate) Stock
OTS:  Office of Thrift Supervision
Ownership Plan
PMI:  Private Mortgage Insurance
EVE:  Economic Value of Equity
PMIC:  PMI Mortgage Insurance Co.
Fannie Mae:  Federal National Mortgage Association
QTL:  Qualified Thrift Lender
FASB:  Financial Accounting Standards Board
REMICs:  Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits
FDIC:  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
SEC:  United States Securities and Exchange
FHFA:  Federal Housing Finance Agency
Commission
FHLB:  Federal Home Loan Bank
TDR:  Troubled Debt Restructuring
FICO:  Financing Corporation
Third Federal Savings, MHC: Third Federal Savings
FRB-Cleveland: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC


3


PART I
Item 1.
Business
Forward Looking Statements
        This report contains forward-looking statements, which can be identified by the use of such words as estimate, project, believe, intend, anticipate, plan, seek, expect and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include, among other things:
statements of our goals, intentions and expectations;
statements regarding our business plans and prospects and growth and operating strategies;
statements concerning trends in our provision for loan losses and charge-offs;
statements regarding the trends in factors affecting our financial condition and results of operations, including asset quality of our loan and investment portfolios; and
estimates of our risks and future costs and benefits.
 
 
        These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following important factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events:
significantly increased competition among depository and other financial institutions;
inflation and changes in the interest rate environment that reduce our interest margins or reduce the fair value of financial instruments;
general economic conditions, either globally, nationally or in our market areas, including employment prospects, real estate values and conditions that are worse than expected;
the strength or weakness of the real estate markets and of the consumer and commercial credit sectors and its impact on the credit quality of our loans and other assets, and changes in estimates of the allowance for loan losses;
decreased demand for our products and services and lower revenue and earnings because of a recession or other events;
changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits;
adverse changes and volatility in the securities markets, credit markets or real estate markets;
our ability to manage market risk, credit risk and operational risk
our ability to access cost-effective funding
legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect our business, including changes in regulatory costs and capital requirements and changes related to our ability to pay dividends and the ability of Third Federal Savings, MHC to waive dividends;
changes in accounting policies and practices, as may be adopted by the bank regulatory agencies, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board;
the adoption of implementing regulations by a number of different regulatory bodies, and uncertainty in the exact nature, extent and timing of such regulations and the impact they will have on us;
our ability to enter new markets successfully and take advantage of growth opportunities, and the possible short-term dilutive effect of potential acquisitions or de novo branches, if any;
our ability to retain key employees
future adverse developments concerning Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac;
changes in monetary and fiscal policy of the U.S. Government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the FRS and changes in the level of government support of housing finance;
the continuing governmental efforts to restructure the U.S. financial and regulatory system;
the ability of the U.S. Government to remain open, function properly and manage federal debt limits;
changes in policy and/or assessment rates of taxing authorities that adversely affect us or our customers;
changes in accounting and tax estimates;
changes in our organization, or compensation and benefit plans and changes in expense trends (including, but not limited to trends affecting non-performing assets, charge-offs and provisions for loan losses);
the inability of third-party providers to perform their obligations to us;
a slowing or failure of the prevailing economic recovery; and
cyber attacks, computer viruses and other technological risks that may breach the security of our websites or other systems to obtain unauthorized access to confidential information, destroy data or disable our systems.
 
 
      Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from the results indicated by any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this report speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Please see Item 1A. Risk Factors for a discussion of certain risks related to our business.

4


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
TFS Financial Corporation (“we,” “us,” or “our”) was organized in 1997 as the mid-tier stock holding company for the Association. We completed our initial public stock offering in 2007 and issued 100,199,618 shares of common stock, or 30.16% of our post-offering outstanding common stock, to subscribers in the offering. Additionally, at the time of the public offering, 5,000,000 shares of our common stock, or 1.50% of our outstanding shares, were issued to the newly formed charitable foundation, Third Federal Foundation. Third Federal Savings, MHC, our mutual holding company parent, holds the remainder of our outstanding common stock (227,119,132 shares). Net proceeds from our initial public stock offering were approximately $886 million and reflected the costs we incurred in completing the offering as well as a $106.5 million loan to the ESOP related to its acquisition of shares in the initial public stock offering.
Our ownership of the Association remains our primary business activity.
We also operate Third Capital, Inc. as a wholly-owned subsidiary. See Third Capital, Inc. below.
As the holding company of the Association, we are authorized to pursue other business activities permitted by applicable laws and regulations for savings and loan holding companies, which include making equity investments and the acquisition of banking and financial services companies.
Our cash flow depends primarily on earnings from the investment of the portion of the net offering proceeds we retained, and any dividends we receive from the Association and Third Capital, Inc. All of our officers are also officers of the Association. In addition, we use the services of the support staff of the Association from time to time. We may hire additional employees, as needed, to the extent we expand our business in the future.
THIRD CAPITAL, INC.
Third Capital, Inc. is a Delaware corporation that was organized in 1998 as our wholly-owned subsidiary. At September 30, 2019, Third Capital, Inc. had consolidated assets of $85.2 million, and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, Third Capital, Inc. had consolidated net income of $1.7 million. Third Capital, Inc. has no separate operations other than as the holding company for its operating subsidiaries, and as a minority investor or partner in other entities. The following is a description of the entities in which Third Capital, Inc. is the owner, an investor or a partner.
Hazelmere Investment Group I, Ltd. This Ohio limited liability company engages in net lease transactions of commercial buildings in targeted markets. Third Capital, Inc. is a partner of this entity, receives a priority return on amounts contributed to acquire investment properties and has a 70% ownership interest in remaining earnings. Hazelmere Investment Group I, Ltd.recorded net income of $0.2 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
Third Cap Associates, Inc. This Ohio corporation owns 49% and 60% of two title agencies that provide escrow and settlement services in the States of Ohio and Florida, primarily to customers of the Association. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, Third Cap Associates, Inc. recorded net income of $0.8 million.
THIRD FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND
General
The Association is a federally chartered savings and loan association headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, that was organized in 1938. In 1997 the Association reorganized into its current two-tier mutual holding company structure. The Association’s principal business consists of originating and servicing residential real estate mortgage loans and attracting retail savings deposits.
The Association’s business strategy is to originate mortgage loans with interest rates that are competitive with those of similar products offered by other financial institutions in its markets. Similarly, the Association offers checking accounts, savings accounts and certificate of deposit accounts, each bearing interest rates that are competitive with similar products offered by other financial institutions in its markets. The Association expects to continue to pursue this business philosophy. While this strategy does not enable the Association to earn the highest rates of interest on loans that it offers or to pay the lowest rates on its deposit accounts, the Association believes that this strategy is the primary reason for its successful growth in the past and will continue to be a successful strategy in the future.
The Association attracts retail deposits from the general public in the areas surrounding its main office and its branch offices. It also utilizes its internet website, direct mail solicitation and its customer service call center to generate loan applications and attract retail deposits. Since 2013, brokered CDs and more extensive use of longer-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati as well as shorter-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, hedged to longer effective durations by

5


interest rate exchange contracts, have also been used as cost effective funding alternatives. In addition to residential real estate mortgage loans, the Association originates residential construction loans to individuals for the construction of their personal residences by a qualified builder. The Association also offers home equity loans and lines of credit subject to certain property and credit performance conditions. The Association retains in its portfolio a large portion of the loans that it originates. Loans that the Association sells consist primarily of long-term, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans. The Association retains the servicing rights on all loans that it sells. The Association’s revenues are derived primarily from interest on loans and, to a lesser extent, interest on interest-earning deposits in other financial institutions, deposits maintained at the FRS, federal funds sold, and investment securities, including mortgage-backed securities and dividends from FHLB of Cincinnati stock. The Association also generates revenues from fees and service charges. The Association’s primary sources of funds are deposits, borrowings, principal and interest payments on loans and securities and proceeds from loan sales.
The Association’s website address is www.thirdfederal.com. Filings of the Company made with the SEC are available, without charge, on the Association’s website. Information on that website is not and should not be considered a part of this document.
Market Area
The Association conducts its operations from its main office in Cleveland, Ohio, and from 37 additional, full-service branches and eight loan production offices located throughout the states of Ohio and Florida. In Ohio, the Association maintains 21 full-service offices located in the northeast Ohio counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit, four loan production offices located in the central Ohio counties of Franklin and Delaware (Columbus, Ohio) and four loan production offices located in the southern Ohio counties of Butler and Hamilton (Cincinnati, Ohio). In Florida, the Association maintains 16 full-service branches located in the counties of Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Sarasota, Lee, Collier, Palm Beach and Broward.
The Association also provides savings products in all 50 states and first mortgage refinance loans in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Home equity lines of credit are provided in 25 states and the District of Columbia. First mortgage loans and bridge loans to purchase homes are provided in 13 states while other equity loan products are provided in eight states. These products are provided through its branch network for customers in its core markets of Ohio, Florida, Kentucky and selected counties in Indiana as well as its customer service call center and its internet site for all customers not served by its branch network.
Competition
The Association faces intense competition in its market areas both in making loans and attracting deposits. Its market areas have a high concentration of financial institutions, including large money center and regional banks, community banks and credit unions, and it faces additional competition for deposits from money market funds, brokerage firms, mutual funds and insurance companies. Some of its competitors offer products and services that the Association currently does not offer, such as commercial business loans, trust services and private banking.
The majority of the Association’s deposits are held in its offices located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. As of June 30, 2019 (the latest date for which information is publicly available), the Association had $4.7 billion of deposits in Cuyahoga County, and ranked fifth among all financial institutions with offices in the county in terms of deposits, with a market share of 8.25%. As of that date, the Association had $6.1 billion of deposits in the State of Ohio, and ranked ninth among all financial institutions in the state in terms of deposits, with a market share of 1.65%. As of June 30, 2019, the Association had $2.7 billion of deposits in the State of Florida, and ranked 29th among all financial institutions in terms of deposits, with a market share of 0.45%. This market share data excludes deposits held by credit unions, whose deposits are not insured by the FDIC.
Many financial institutions, including institutions that compete in our markets, have targeted retail deposit gathering as a more attractive funding source than borrowings, and have become more active and more competitive in their deposit product pricing. The combination of reduced demand for borrowed funds, more competition with respect to rates paid to depositors, and low savings rates that lead to reduced appeal for investors that have traditionally allocated a portion of their portfolios to insured savings accounts, has created an increasingly difficult marketplace for attracting deposits, which could adversely affect future operating results.
From October 2018 through September 30, 2019, per data furnished by MarketTrac®, the Association had the largest market share of conventional purchase mortgage loans originated in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. For the same period, it also had the largest market share of conventional purchase mortgage loans originated in the seven northeast Ohio counties which comprise the Cleveland and Akron metropolitan statistical areas. In addition, based on the same statistics, the Association has consistently been one of the ten largest lenders in both Franklin County (Columbus, Ohio) and Hamilton County (Cincinnati, Ohio) since it entered those markets in 1999.

6


The Association’s primary strategy for increasing and retaining its customer base is to offer competitive deposit and loan rates and other product features, delivered with exceptional customer service, in each of the markets it serves.
We rely on the reputation that has been built during the Association’s over 80-year history of serving its customers and the communities in which it operates, the Association’s high capital levels, and the Association's extensive liquidity alternatives which, in combination, serve to maintain and nurture customer and marketplace confidence. The Company’s high capital ratio continues to reflect the beneficial impact of our 2007 initial public offering, which raised net proceeds of $886 million. At September 30, 2019, our ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets was 11.7%. Our liquidity alternatives include management and monitoring of the level of liquid assets held in our portfolio as well as the maintenance of alternative wholesale funding sources. For the year ended September 30, 2019, our liquidity ratio averaged 5.59% (which we compute as the sum of cash and cash equivalents plus unpledged investment securities for which ready markets exist, divided by total assets) and, through the Association, we had the ability to immediately borrow an additional $60.7 million from the FHLB of Cincinnati under existing credit arrangements along with $44.9 million from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. From the perspective of collateral value securing FHLB of Cincinnati advances, our capacity limit for additional borrowings beyond the immediately available limit at September 30, 2019 was $4.27 billion, subject to satisfaction of the FHLB of Cincinnati's common stock ownership requirement. To satisfy the common stock ownership requirement we would have to increase our ownership of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock by an additional $85.4 million. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
We continue to utilize a multi-faceted approach to support our efforts to instill customer and marketplace confidence. First, we provide thorough and timely information to all of our associates so as to prepare them for their day-to-day interactions with customers and other individuals who are not part of the Company. We believe that it is important that our customers and others sense the comfort level and confidence of our associates throughout their dealings. Second, we encourage our management team to maintain a presence and to be available in our branches and other areas of customer contact, so as to provide more opportunities for informal contact and interaction with our customers and community members. Third, our CEO remains accessible to both local and national media, as a spokesman for our institution as well as an observer and interpreter of financial marketplace situations and events. Fourth, we periodically include advertisements in local newspapers that display our strong capital levels and history of service. We also continue to emphasize our traditional tagline—“STRONG * STABLE * SAFE”—in our advertisements and branch displays. Finally, for customers who adhere to the old adage of trust but verify, we refer them to the safety/security rankings of a nationally recognized, independent rating organization that specializes in the evaluation of financial institutions, which has awarded the Association its highest rating for more than one hundred consecutive quarters.
Lending Activities
The Association’s principal lending activity is the origination of fixed-rate and adjustable-rate, first mortgage loans to purchase or refinance residential real estate. Adjustable-rate and 10-year fixed rate first mortgage loans to refinance real estate are offered in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Also, the Association offers adjustable-rate and 10-year fixed rate first mortgage loans to purchase real estate in 13 states. Further, the Association originates residential construction loans to individuals (for the construction of their personal residences by a qualified builder) in Ohio and Florida. The Association also offers home equity lines of credit in 25 states and the District of Columbia and home equity loans in eight states. Refer to Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Monitoring and Limiting Our Credit Risk for additional information regarding home equity loans and lines of credit. At September 30, 2019, residential real estate, fixed-rate and adjustable-rate, first mortgage loans totaled $10.99 billion, or 83.1% of our loan portfolio, home equity loans and lines of credit totaled $2.17 billion, or 16.5% of our loan portfolio, and residential construction loans totaled $52.3 million, or 0.4% of our loan portfolio. At September 30, 2019, adjustable-rate, residential real estate, first mortgage loans totaled $5.06 billion and comprised 38.3% of our loan portfolio.

7


Loan Portfolio Composition. The following table sets forth the composition of the portfolio of loans held for investment, by type of loan segregated by geographic location for the periods indicated, excluding loans held for sale. The majority of our construction loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Ohio and the balances of consumer loans are immaterial. Therefore, neither was segregated by geographic location.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
$
6,197,261

 
 
 
$
6,052,208

 
 
 
$
6,061,515

 
 
 
$
5,937,114

 
 
 
$
5,903,051

 
 
Florida
1,748,816

 
 
 
1,758,762

 
 
 
1,739,098

 
 
 
1,678,798

 
 
 
1,621,763

 
 
Other
2,956,947

 
 
 
3,119,841

 
 
 
2,945,591

 
 
 
2,453,740

 
 
 
1,938,125

 
 
Total
10,903,024

 
82.5
%
 
10,930,811

 
84.7
%
 
10,746,204

 
86.2
%
 
10,069,652

 
85.5
%
 
9,462,939

 
83.9
%
Residential Home
    Today (1)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
81,081

 
 
 
90,604

 
 
 
103,803

 
 
 
116,253

 
 
 
129,416

 
 
Florida
3,771

 
 
 
4,150

 
 
 
4,924

 
 
 
5,414

 
 
 
6,050

 
 
Other
90

 
 
 
179

 
 
 
237

 
 
 
271

 
 
 
280

 
 
Total
84,942

 
0.6

 
94,933

 
0.7

 
108,964

 
0.9

 
121,938

 
1.0

 
135,746

 
1.2

Home equity loans and
    lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
677,212

 
 
 
652,271

 
 
 
606,301

 
 
 
597,735

 
 
 
641,321

 
 
Florida
415,849

 
 
 
369,252

 
 
 
340,530

 
 
 
370,111

 
 
 
421,904

 
 
California
357,550

 
 
 
268,230

 
 
 
205,157

 
 
 
210,004

 
 
 
216,233

 
 
Other
724,350

 
 
 
529,165

 
 
 
400,327

 
 
 
353,432

 
 
 
345,781

 
 
Total
2,174,961

 
16.5

 
1,818,918

 
14.1

 
1,552,315

 
12.4

 
1,531,282

 
13.0

 
1,625,239

 
14.4

Construction
52,332

 
0.4

 
64,012

 
0.5

 
60,956

 
0.5

 
61,382

 
0.5

 
55,421

 
0.5

Other consumer loans
3,166

 

 
3,021

 

 
3,050

 

 
3,116

 

 
3,468

 

Total loans receivable
13,218,425

 
100.0
%
 
12,911,695

 
100.0
%
 
12,471,489

 
100.0
%
 
11,787,370

 
100.0
%
 
11,282,813

 
100.0
%
Deferred loan expenses
    (fees), net
41,976

 
 
 
38,566

 
 
 
30,865

 
 
 
19,384

 
 
 
10,112

 
 
Loans in process
(25,743
)
 
 
 
(36,549
)
 
 
 
(34,100
)
 
 
 
(36,155
)
 
 
 
(33,788
)
 
 
Allowance for loan
    losses
(38,913
)
 
 
 
(42,418
)
 
 
 
(48,948
)
 
 
 
(61,795
)
 
 
 
(71,554
)
 
 
Total loans receivable, net
$
13,195,745

 
 
 
$
12,871,294

 
 
 
$
12,419,306

 
 
 
$
11,708,804

 
 
 
$
11,187,583

 
 
 ______________________
(1)
Residential Core and Home Today loans are primarily one- to four-family residential mortgage loans. See the Residential Real Estate Mortgage Loans section which follows for a further description of Home Today and Core loans.






8


Loan Portfolio Maturities. The following table summarizes the scheduled repayments of the loan portfolio at September 30, 2019, according to each loan's final due date. Demand loans, loans having no stated repayment schedule or maturity, are reported as being due in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. Maturities are based on the final contractual payment date and do not reflect the impact of prepayments and scheduled principal amortization.
Due During the Years
Ending September 30,
Residential Real Estate
 
Home Equity
Loans
and Lines of
Credit
 
Construction
Loans
 
Other Consumer Loans
 
Total
Core
 
Home
Today
 
 
(In thousands)
2020
$
1,932

 
$
8

 
$
18,966

 
$

 
$
3,166

 
$
24,072

2021
6,646

 
8

 
8,887

 

 

 
15,541

2022
52,440

 
146

 
3,461

 

 

 
56,047

2023 to 2024
371,981

 
511

 
17,718

 

 

 
390,210

2025 to 2029
1,568,385

 
362

 
264,668

 

 

 
1,833,415

2030 to 2034
713,417

 
30,616

 
13,459

 
4,522

 

 
762,014

2035 and beyond
8,188,223

 
53,291

 
1,847,802

 
47,810

 

 
10,137,126

Total
$
10,903,024

 
$
84,942

 
$
2,174,961

 
$
52,332

 
$
3,166

 
$
13,218,425

The following table sets forth the scheduled repayments of fixed- and adjustable-rate loans at September 30, 2019 that are contractually due after September 30, 2020.
 
Due After September 30, 2020
 
Fixed
 
Adjustable
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
5,838,440

 
$
5,062,652

 
$
10,901,092

Residential Home Today
84,852

 
82

 
84,934

Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
133,064

 
2,022,931

 
2,155,995

Construction
52,332

 

 
52,332

Total
$
6,108,688

 
$
7,085,665

 
$
13,194,353

Residential Real Estate Mortgage Loans. The Association’s primary lending activity is the origination of residential real estate mortgage loans. A comparison of 2019 data to the corresponding 2018 data can be found in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.” The Association currently offers fixed-rate conventional mortgage loans with terms of 30 years or less that are fully amortizing with monthly loan payments, and adjustable-rate mortgage loans that amortize over a period of up to 30 years, provide an initial fixed interest rate for three or five years and then adjust annually, subject to rate reset options as discussed later in this section. At September 30, 2019, there were no “interest only” residential real estate mortgage loans held in the Association's portfolio.
The Association generally originates both fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgage loans in amounts up to the maximum conforming loan limits as established by the FHFA, which is currently $484,350 and $726,525, respectively, for single-family homes in most of our lending markets. The Association also originates loans in amounts that exceed the lending limit for conforming loans, which the Association refers to as “jumbo loans.” The Association generally underwrites jumbo loans in a manner similar to conforming loans. Jumbo loans are not uncommon in the Association’s market areas.
The Association offers “Smart Rate” adjustable-rate mortgage loan products secured by residential properties with interest rates that are fixed for an initial period of three or five years, after which the interest rate generally resets every year based upon a contractual spread or margin linked to the Prime Rate as published in the Wall Street Journal. As part of a loan retention program, these adjustable-rate loans provide the borrower with an attractive rate reset option, which allow the borrower to re-lock the rate an unlimited number of times at the Association’s then current lending rates, for another three or five years (which must be the same as the original lock period). Adjustable-rate mortgage loans generally present different credit risks than fixed-rate mortgage loans primarily because the underlying debt service payments of the borrowers increase as interest rates increase, thereby increasing the potential for default. All of the Association’s adjustable-rate mortgage loans are subject to periodic and lifetime limitations on interest rate changes.

9


All adjustable-rate mortgage loans have initial and periodic caps of two percentage points on interest rate changes, with a cap of five or six percentage points for the life of the loan. Many of the borrowers who select adjustable-rate mortgage loans have shorter-term credit needs than those who select long-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans. Prior to 2010, the Association’s adjustable-rate mortgage loan products secured by residential properties offered interest rates that generally reset every year based upon a contractual spread or margin above the average yield on U.S. Treasury securities, adjusted to a constant maturity of one year, as published weekly by the FRS (“Traditional ARM”). The Association will permit borrowers to convert Traditional ARMs into fixed-rate mortgage loans at no cost to the borrower. The Association has never offered “Option ARM” loans, where borrowers can pay less than the interest owed on their loan, resulting in an increased principal balance during the life of the loan. At September 30, 2019, "Smart Rate" adjustable-rate mortgage loans totaled $5.01 billion, or 98.9% of the adjustable-rate mortgage loan portfolio and Traditional ARMs totaled $56.4 million, or 1.1% of the adjustable-rate mortgage loan portfolio.
The Association has always considered the promotion of home ownership a primary goal. In that regard, it has historically offered affordable housing programs in all of its market areas. These programs are targeted toward low- and moderate-income home buyers. The Association’s philosophy has been to provide borrowers the opportunity for home ownership within their financial means. During the latter portion of fiscal 2016, the Association began to market its HomeReady mortgage loan product for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Third Federal’s HomeReady product is designed to be saleable to Fannie Mae under its HomeReady program. Previously, the Association’s primary affordable housing program was referred to as "Home Today". The vast majority of loans originated under the Home Today program had higher risk characteristics than our Core residential real estate mortgage loan, but the Association attempted to mitigate that higher risk through the use of private mortgage insurance and continued pre- and post-purchase counseling. As of September 30, 2019, the Association had $84.9 million of loans outstanding that were originated through its Home Today program, most of which were originated prior to March 2009. At September 30, 2019, of the loans that were originated under the Home Today program, 8.2% were delinquent 30 days or more compared to 0.2% for the portfolio of Core loans as of that date. At September 30, 2019, $2.6 million, or 3.1%, of loans originated under the Home Today program were delinquent 90 days and over and $12.4 million of Home Today loans were non-accruing loans, representing 17.5% of total non-accruing loans as of that date. See “Non-performing Assets and Restructured Loans—Delinquent Loans” for a discussion of the asset quality of this portion of the Association’s loan portfolio.
For loans with LTV ratios in excess of 85% but equal to or less than 95%, the Association requires private mortgage insurance. LTV ratios in excess of 80% are not available for refinance transactions except for adjustable-rate, first mortgage loans and HomeReady loans. The HomeReady product requires private mortgage insurance on purchase transactions between 80.01% and 97% LTV and refinance transactions between 80.01% and 95% LTV.
The Association currently retains the servicing rights on all loans sold in order to generate fee income and reinforce its commitment to customer service. One- to four-family residential mortgage real estate loans that have been sold were underwritten generally to Fannie Mae guidelines. At the time of the closing of these loans the Association owns the loans and subsequently sells them to Fannie Mae and others providing normal and customary representations and warranties, including representations and warranties related to compliance, generally with Fannie Mae underwriting standards. At the time of sale, the loans are free from encumbrances except for the mortgages filed by the Association which, with other underwriting documents, are subsequently assigned and delivered to Fannie Mae and others. During each of the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Association recognized servicing fees, net of amortization, related to these servicing rights of $4.2 million and $4.3 million. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the principal balance of loans serviced for others totaled $1.80 billion and $1.93 billion, respectively. At September 30, 2019, substantially all of the loans serviced for Fannie Mae and others were performing in accordance with their contractual terms and management believes that it has no material repurchase obligations associated with these loans. However, at September 30, 2019 an accrual for $0.6 million has been maintained for potential repurchase or loss reimbursement requests.
The Association actively monitors its interest rate risk position to determine its desired level of investment in fixed-rate mortgages. While the sales of first mortgage loans remain strategically important for us, since fiscal 2010, they have played a lesser role in our management of interest rate risk.
The Association requires title insurance on all of its residential real estate mortgage loans. The Association also requires that borrowers maintain fire and extended coverage casualty insurance (and, if appropriate, flood insurance up to $250 thousand) in an amount at least equal to the lesser of the loan balance or the replacement cost of the improvements. A majority of its residential real estate mortgage loans have a mortgage escrow account from which disbursements are made for real estate taxes and to a lesser extent for hazard insurance and flood insurance. The Association does not conduct environmental testing on residential real estate mortgage loans unless specific concerns for hazards are identified by the appraiser used in connection with the origination of the loan.
Prior to November 2008, the Association also originated loans under its high LTV program. These loans had initial LTV ratios as high as 95%. High LTV loans were originated with higher interest rates than the Association’s other residential real

10


estate loans. To qualify for this program, the loan applicant was required to satisfy more stringent underwriting criteria (credit score, income qualification, and other criteria). Borrowers did not obtain private mortgage insurance with respect to these loans, but the Association had negotiated with a private mortgage insurance carrier for pooled private mortgage insurance coverage. As of September 30, 2019, the Association had $37.2 million of loans outstanding that were originated through its High LTV program, $31.9 million of which the Association has insured through the private mortgage insurance carrier.
Home Equity Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit. The Association offers home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, which are primarily secured by a second mortgage on residences. The home equity product is now offered in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Home equity lines of credit originated since 2013 require amortizing loan payments during the draw period. These offers were, and are, subject to certain property and credit performance conditions which, among other items, related to CLTV, geography, borrower income verification, minimum credit scores and draw period duration. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, home equity loans totaled $421.8 million, or 3.2%, and $440.8 million, or 3.4%, respectively, of total loans receivable (which included $269.4 million and $305.1 million, respectively, of home equity lines of credit which were in the amortization period and no longer eligible to be drawn upon and $26.5 million and $27.8 million of bridge loans), and home equity lines of credit totaled $1.75 billion, or 13.3%, and $1.38 billion, or 10.7%, respectively, of total loans receivable. A bridge loan permits a borrower to utilize the existing equity in their current home to fund the purchase of a new home before the current home is sold. Bridge loans are originated for a one-year term, with no prepayment penalties. These loans have fixed interest rates, and are currently limited to a combined 80% LTV ratio (first and second mortgage liens). The Association charges a closing fee with respect to bridge loans. Additionally, at September 30, 2019 and 2018, the unadvanced amounts of home equity lines of credit totaled $2.21 billion and $1.77 billion, respectively. Home equity products offered by the Association prior to 2015 varied significantly as the product was slowly reintroduced at much lower volumes following the 2008 housing crisis. Prior to June 2010, the Association offered home equity loans and home equity lines of credit with underwriting standards that were less restrictive than current underwriting standards, which impacted acceptable LTV ratios, minimum credit scores, income and employment verification and line amounts. The vast majority of those pre-2010 products have been paid off, refinanced under current underwriting standards or are in the amortization period and no longer eligible to be drawn upon.
The Association originated its home equity loans and home equity lines of credit without application fees (except for bridge loans) or borrower-paid closing costs. Home equity loans were offered with fixed interest rates, were fully amortizing and had terms of up to 15 years. The Association’s home equity lines of credit were offered with adjustable rates of interest indexed to the Prime Rate, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.

The following table sets forth credit exposure, principal balance, percent delinquent 90 days or more, the mean CLTV percent at the time of origination and the current CLTV percent of our home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and bridge loan portfolio as of September 30, 2019. Home equity lines of credit in the draw period are reported according to geographical distribution.
 
Credit
Exposure
 
Principal
Balance
 
Percent
Delinquent
90 days or More
 
Mean CLTV
Percent at
Origination(2)
 
Current  Mean
CLTV
Percent(3)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines of credit in draw period (by
     state):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
$
1,362,281

 
$
526,142

 
0.05
%
 
60
%
 
51
%
Florida
616,399

 
302,459

 
0.07
%
 
58
%
 
52
%
California
619,201

 
282,901

 
%
 
62
%
 
58
%
Other (1)
1,366,890

 
641,629

 
0.02
%
 
65
%
 
60
%
Total home equity lines of credit in draw
     period
3,964,771

 
1,753,131

 
0.03
%
 
61
%
 
55
%
Home equity lines in repayment, home equity
     loans and bridge loans
421,830

 
421,830

 
1.23
%
 
66
%
 
46
%
Total
$
4,386,601

 
$
2,174,961

 
0.31
%
 
62
%
 
53
%
______________________
(1)
No individual other state has a committed or drawn balance greater than 10% of total loans and 5% of equity products.
(2)
Mean CLTV percent at origination for all home equity lines of credit is based on the committed amount.

11


(3)
Current Mean CLTV is based on best available first mortgage and property values as of September 30, 2019. Property values are estimated using HPI data published by the FHFA. Current Mean CLTV percent for home equity lines of credit in the draw period is calculated using the committed amount. Current Mean CLTV on home equity lines of credit in the repayment period is calculated using the principal balance.
At September 30, 2019, 35.7% of our home equity lending portfolio was either in first lien position (19.6%) or was in a subordinate (second) lien position behind a first lien that we held (13.1%) or behind a first lien that was held by a loan that we originated, sold and now service for others (3.0%). At September 30, 2019, 13.8% of our home equity line of credit portfolio in the draw period was making only the minimum payment on their outstanding line balance.

The following table sets forth by calendar origination year, the credit exposure, principal balance, percent delinquent 90 days or more, the mean CLTV percent at the time of origination and the current mean CLTV percent of our home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and bridge loan portfolio as of September 30, 2019. Home equity lines of credit in the draw period are included in the year originated: 
 
Credit
Exposure
 
Principal
Balance
 
Percent
Delinquent
90 Days or More
 
Mean CLTV
Percent at
Origination(1)
 
Current Mean
CLTV
Percent(2)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines of credit in draw period (3)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2009 and Prior
$
16,333

 
$
5,220

 
%
 
59
%
 
44
%
2010
10,445

 
3,006

 
%
 
59
%
 
41
%
2013
40

 
17

 
%
 
79
%
 
55
%
2014
107,622

 
33,723

 
%
 
59
%
 
41
%
2015
211,310

 
80,521

 
0.05
%
 
60
%
 
44
%
2016
394,449

 
160,324

 
0.19
%
 
61
%
 
49
%
2017
851,495

 
388,515

 
0.02
%
 
60
%
 
52
%
2018
1,177,822

 
569,101

 
0.03
%
 
61
%
 
57
%
2019
1,195,255

 
512,704

 
%
 
63
%
 
62
%
Total home equity lines of credit in
     draw period
3,964,771

 
1,753,131

 
0.03
%
 
61
%
 
55
%
Home equity lines in repayment, home equity
     loans and bridge loans
421,830

 
421,830

 
1.23
%
 
66
%
 
46
%
Total
$
4,386,601

 
$
2,174,961

 
0.31
%
 
62
%
 
53
%
______________________
(1)
Mean CLTV percent at origination for all home equity lines of credit is based on the committed amount.
(2)
Current Mean CLTV is based on best available first mortgage and property values as of September 30, 2019. Property values are estimated using HPI data published by the FHFA. Current Mean CLTV percent for home equity lines of credit in the draw period is calculated using the committed amount. Current Mean CLTV on home equity lines of credit in the repayment period is calculated using the principal balance.
(3)
There are no remaining principal balances of home equity lines of credit originated during 2011 and 2012. Those years are excluded from the table above.
In general, the home equity line of credit product originated prior to June 2010 was characterized by a ten year draw period followed by a ten year repayment period; however, there were two types of transactions that could result in a draw period that extended beyond ten years. The first transaction involved customer requests for increases in the amount of their home equity line of credit. When the customer’s credit performance and profile supported the increase, the draw period term was reset for the ten year period following the date of the increase in the home equity line of credit amount. A second transaction that impacted the draw period involved extensions. If the account and customer met certain pre-established criteria, an offer was made to extend the otherwise expiring draw period by ten years from the date of the offer. If the customer chose to accept the extension, the origination date of the account remained unchanged but the account would have a revised draw period that was extended by ten years. As a result of these two programs, the reported draw periods for certain home equity line of credit accounts exceed ten years.

12


The following table sets forth by fiscal year when the draw period expires, the principal balance of home equity lines of credit in the draw period as of September 30, 2019, segregated by the current combined LTV range.
 
Current CLTV Category
Home equity lines of credit in draw period (by End of Draw Fiscal Year):
< 80%
 
80 - 89.9%
 
90 - 100%
 
>100%
 
Unknown (2)
 
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
2020 (1)
$97,174
 
$444
 
$0
 
$13
 
$47
 
$97,678
2021
30,385

 

 

 

 

 
30,385

2022
29

 

 

 

 

 
29

2023
17

 

 

 

 

 
17

2024
19,203

 
71

 

 
4

 

 
19,278

2025
7,758

 

 

 

 
20

 
7,778

Post 2025
1,589,125

 
8,303

 
10

 

 
528

 
1,597,966

   Total
$1,743,691
 
$8,818
 
$10
 
$17
 
$595
 
$1,753,131
______________________
(1)
Home equity lines of credit whose draw period ends in fiscal year 2020 include $8.1 million of lines where the customer has an interest only payment during the draw period. All other home equity lines of credit have an amortizing payment during the draw period.
(2)
Market data necessary for stratification is not readily available.
Home equity lines of credit originated in 2009 or earlier had delinquency levels comparatively higher than the years following 2010. Home equity lines of credit originated during those years also saw higher loan amounts, higher permitted LTV ratios, and lower credit scores. Declining housing values after 2008 contributed to the higher delinquencies for those years. However, recent increases in home values have allowed customers to refinance their home equity lines of credit approaching the end of the draw period. Most of the remaining home equity lines of credit originated in 2009 or prior have come to the end of their draw period and are in repayment. The combination of the principal balance of all home equity products no longer in the draw period, plus those lines originated in 2009 and earlier, is $427.0 million, a reduction of $126.2 million during the current fiscal year. In addition, as shown in the table below, the principal balance of home equity lines of credit in the draw period that have a current mean CLTV over 80% or unknown is $9.4 million, or 0.5% at September 30, 2019.
While there have been recent improvements, the previous past weakness in the housing market causes us to continue to conduct an expanded loan level evaluation of our home equity lines of credit which are delinquent 90 days or more.
The following table sets forth the breakdown of current mean CLTV percentages for our home equity lines of credit in the draw period as of September 30, 2019.
 
Credit
Exposure
 
Principal
Balance
 
Percent
of Total Principal Balance
 
Percent
Delinquent
90 days or
More
 
Mean
CLTV
Percent at
Origination(2)
 
Current
Mean
CLTV
Percent(3)
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Home equity lines of credit in draw period (by current mean CLTV):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
< 80%
$
3,939,379

 
$
1,743,691

 
99.4
%
 
0.02
%
 
61
%
 
55
%
80 - 89.9%
24,066

 
8,818

 
0.5
%
 
2.45
%
 
79
%
 
81
%
90 - 100%
81

 
10

 
%
 
%
 
79
%
 
92
%
> 100%
113

 
17

 
%
 
%
 
39
%
 
116
%
Unknown (1)
1,132

 
595

 
0.1
%
 
%
 
34
%
 
(1 
) 
 
$
3,964,771

 
$
1,753,131

 
100.0
%
 
0.03
%
 
61
%
 
55
%
______________________
(1)
Market data necessary for stratification is not readily available.
(2)
Mean CLTV percent at origination for all home equity lines of credit is based on the committed amount.
(3)
Current Mean CLTV is based on best available first mortgage and property values as of September 30, 2019. Property values are estimated using HPI data published by the FHFA. Current Mean CLTV percent for home equity lines of credit in

13


the draw period is calculated using the committed amount. Current Mean CLTV on home equity lines of credit in the repayment period is calculated using the principal balance.
Construction Loans. The Association originates construction loans to individuals for the construction of their personal single-family residence by a qualified builder (construction/permanent loans). The Association’s construction/permanent loans generally provide for disbursements to the builder or sub-contractors during the construction phase as work progresses. During the construction phase, the borrower only pays interest on the drawn balance. Upon completion of construction, the loan converts to a permanent amortizing loan without the expense of a second closing. The Association offers construction/permanent loans with fixed or adjustable rates, and a current maximum loan-to-completed-appraised value ratio of 85%. At September 30, 2019, construction loans totaled $52.3 million, or 0.4% of total loans receivable. At September 30, 2019, the unadvanced portion of these construction loans totaled $25.7 million.
Construction financing generally involves greater credit risk than long-term financing on improved, owner-occupied real estate. Risk of loss on a construction loan depends largely upon the accuracy of the initial estimate of the value of the property at completion of construction compared to the estimated cost (including interest) of construction and other assumptions. If the estimate of construction cost proves to be inaccurate, the Association may be required to advance additional funds beyond the amount originally committed in order to protect the value of the property. Moreover, if the estimated value of the completed project proves to be inaccurate, the borrower may hold a property with a value that is insufficient to assure full repayment of the construction loan upon the sale of the property. This is more likely to occur when home prices are falling.
Loan Originations, Purchases, Sales, Participations and Servicing. Lending activities are conducted by the Association’s loan personnel (all of whom are non-commissioned associates) operating at our main and branch office locations and at our loan production offices. All loans that the Association originates are underwritten pursuant to its policies and procedures, which, for real estate loans, are consistent with the ability to repay guidance provided by the CFPB. A small number of loans originated with the intent to sell and certain other long-term, fixed-rate loans, as described below, are originated using Fannie Mae processing and underwriting guidelines. The majority of loans, however, are originated using guidelines that are similar, but not identical to Fannie Mae processing and underwriting guidelines. The Association originates both adjustable-rate and fixed-rate loans and advertises extensively throughout its market area. Its ability to originate fixed- or adjustable-rate loans is dependent upon the relative consumer demand for such loans, which is affected by current market interest rates as well as anticipated future market interest rates. The Association’s loan origination and sales activity may be adversely affected by a rising interest rate environment or economic recession, which typically results in decreased loan demand. The Association’s residential real estate mortgage loan originations are generated by its in-house loan representatives, by direct mail solicitations, by referrals from existing or past customers, by referrals from local builders and real estate brokers, from calls to its telephone call center and from the internet.
Except for loans originated in accordance with the guidelines of Fannie Mae's HomeReady program, which loans are originated with the intent to sell, the Association decides whether to retain, sell or securitize the loans that it originates, after evaluating current and projected market interest rates, its interest rate risk objectives, its liquidity needs and other factors. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Association sold to Fannie Mae, in either whole loan or security form, $98.4 million of long-term, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans, and to a private investor, $18.9 million of long-term, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans, all on a servicing retained basis. In addition to sales of long-term, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans, the Association has also previously sold to private parties, non-agency eligible, adjustable-rate loans on a servicing retained basis. Those sales evidenced the saleability of our loans that are not originated in accordance with agency specified procedures, including adjustable-rate loans. As described in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Controlling Our Interest Rate Risk Exposure, the Association implemented loan origination changes in fiscal 2014 with respect to a small portion of our loan originations, which allow that portion of our first mortgage loan originations that were processed using the revised procedures to be eligible for securitization and sale in Fannie Mae mortgage backed security form. The balance of loans held for sale was $3.7 million at September 30, 2019, which were originated pursuant to the guidelines of Fannie Mae's HomeReady program.
Historically, the Association has retained the servicing rights on all residential real estate mortgage loans that it has sold, and intends to continue this practice into the future. At September 30, 2019, the Association serviced loans owned by others with a principal balance of $1.80 billion. Loan servicing includes collecting and remitting loan payments, accounting for principal and interest, contacting delinquent borrowers, supervising foreclosures and property dispositions in the event of unremedied defaults, making certain insurance and tax payments on behalf of the borrowers and generally administering the loans. The Association retains a portion of the interest paid by the borrower on the loans it services as consideration for its servicing activities. The Association did not enter into any loan participations during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and does not expect to do so in the near future.

14


Loan Approval Procedures and Authority. The Association’s lending activities follow written underwriting standards and loan origination procedures established by its Board of Directors. The loan approval process is intended to assess the borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the value of the property that will secure the loan. To assess the borrower’s ability to repay, the Association reviews the borrower’s employment and credit history and information on the historical and projected income and expenses of the borrower.
The Association’s policies and loan approval limits are established by its Board of Directors. The Association’s Board of Directors has delegated authority to its Executive Committee (consisting of the Association’s Chief Executive Officer and two directors) to review and assign lending authorities to certain individuals of the Association to consider and approve loans within their designated authority. Residential real estate mortgage loans and construction loans require the approval of one individual with designated underwriting authority.
The Association requires independent third-party valuations of real property. Appraisals are performed by independent licensed appraisers.
Delinquent Loans. The following tables set forth the number and recorded investment in loan delinquencies by type, segregated by geographic location and severity of delinquency at the dates indicated. The majority of our construction loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Ohio; therefore, it is not segregated by geography. There were no delinquencies in the construction loan portfolio for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015.
 
 
Loans Delinquent For
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
8,519

 
$
5,503

 
$
14,022

Florida
 
930

 
1,305

 
2,235

Other
 
1,405

 
866

 
2,271

Total Residential Core
 
10,854

 
7,674

 
18,528

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
4,155

 
2,586

 
6,741

Florida
 
159

 
37

 
196

Total Residential Home Today
 
4,314

 
2,623

 
6,937

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
1,746

 
1,950

 
3,696

Florida
 
1,065

 
1,260

 
2,325

California
 
187

 
552

 
739

Other
 
1,189

 
2,035

 
3,224

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
4,187

 
5,797

 
9,984

Total
 
$
19,355

 
$
16,094

 
$
35,449



15


 
 
Loans Delinquent For
 
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
7,622

 
$
7,392

 
$
15,014

Florida
 
906

 
2,455

 
3,361

Other
 
1,346

 
960

 
2,306

Total Residential Core
 
9,874

 
10,807

 
20,681

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
4,483

 
3,756

 
8,239

Florida
 
69

 
58

 
127

Total Residential Home Today
 
4,552

 
3,814

 
8,366

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
2,117

 
2,286

 
4,403

Florida
 
2,011

 
2,085

 
4,096

California
 
302

 
255

 
557

Other
 
2,037

 
1,307

 
3,344

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
6,467

 
5,933

 
12,400

Total
 
$
20,893

 
$
20,554

 
$
41,447


 
 
Loans Delinquent For
 
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total
 
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
6,850

 
$
8,756

 
$
15,606

Florida
 
1,671

 
2,507

 
4,178

Other
 
149

 
712

 
861

Total Residential Core
 
8,670

 
11,975

 
20,645

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
5,244

 
6,678

 
11,922

Florida
 
319

 
173

 
492

Total Residential Home Today
 
5,563

 
6,851

 
12,414

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
3,037

 
2,134

 
5,171

Florida
 
1,884

 
2,345

 
4,229

California
 
590

 
354

 
944

Other
 
859

 
575

 
1,434

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
6,370

 
5,408

 
11,778

Total
 
$
20,603

 
$
24,234

 
$
44,837

 

16


 
 
Loans Delinquent For
 
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
September 30, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
8,901

 
$
10,957

 
$
19,858

Florida
 
790

 
4,055

 
4,845

Other
 
119

 
581

 
700

Total Residential Core
 
9,810

 
15,593

 
25,403

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
7,456

 
6,954

 
14,410

Florida
 
398

 
378

 
776

Other
 

 
24

 
24

Total Residential Home Today
 
7,854

 
7,356

 
15,210

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
2,507

 
2,216

 
4,723

Florida
 
2,134

 
2,257

 
4,391

California
 
562

 
130

 
692

Other
 
1,213

 
329

 
1,542

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
6,416

 
4,932

 
11,348

Total
 
$
24,080

 
$
27,881

 
$
51,961


 
 
Loans Delinquent For
 
 
 
 
30-89 Days
 
90 Days or More
 
Total
 
 
(Dollars in thousands
September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
10,622

 
$
14,746

 
$
25,368

Florida
 
1,634

 
7,509

 
9,143

Other
 
309

 
1,051

 
1,360

Total Residential Core
 
12,565

 
23,306

 
35,871

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
8,021

 
8,371

 
16,392

Florida
 
352

 
674

 
1,026

Other
 

 
23

 
23

Total Residential Home Today
 
8,373

 
9,068

 
17,441

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
2,633

 
2,772

 
5,405

Florida
 
1,894

 
1,608

 
3,502

California
 
680

 
49

 
729

Other
 
967

 
1,146

 
2,113

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
6,174

 
5,575

 
11,749

Construction
 

 
427

 
427

Total
 
$
27,112

 
$
38,376

 
$
65,488

Total loans seriously delinquent (i.e. delinquent 90 days or over) decreased four basis points to 0.12% of total net loans at September 30, 2019, from 0.16% at September 30, 2018. The percentage of seriously delinquent loans to total net loans decreased in the residential Core portfolio from 0.08% to 0.06%. Such loans in the residential Home Today portfolio decreased from 0.03% to 0.02%; and in the home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio decreased from 0.05% to 0.04%. Although regional employment levels have improved, we expect some borrowers who are current on their loans at September 30, 2019 to experience payment problems in the future.

17


Non-performing Assets and Restructured Loans: Collection Procedures. Within 15 days of a borrower’s delinquency, the Association attempts personal, direct contact with the borrower to determine the reason for the delinquency, to ensure that the borrower correctly understands the terms of the loan and to emphasize the importance of making payments on or before the due date. If necessary, subsequent late charges and delinquent notices are issued and the borrower’s account will be monitored on a regular basis thereafter. The Association also mails system-generated reminder notices on a monthly basis. When a loan is more than 30 days past due, the Association attempts to contact the borrower and develop a plan of repayment. By the 90th day of delinquency, the Association may recommend foreclosure. The loan will be evaluated for impairment prior to the 180th day of delinquency. For further discussion on evaluating loans for impairment, see Note 5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. A summary report of all loans 30 days or more past due is provided to the Association’s Board of Directors.
Loans are placed in non-accrual status when they are contractually 90 days or more past due or if collection of principal or interest in full is in doubt. Loans restructured in TDRs that were in non-accrual status prior to the restructurings remain in non-accrual status for a minimum of six months. Home equity loans and lines of credit which are subordinate to a first mortgage lien where the customer is seriously delinquent, are placed in non-accrual status. Loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status where all borrowers have been discharged from their mortgage obligation or where all borrowers had filed, and had not reaffirmed or been dismissed, are placed in non-accrual status. For discussion on interest recognition, see Note 5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

18


The table below sets forth the recorded investments and categories of our non-performing assets and TDRs at the dates indicated.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Non-accrual loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
37,052

 
$
41,628

 
$
43,797

 
$
51,304

 
$
62,293

Residential Home Today
12,442

 
14,641

 
18,109

 
19,451

 
22,556

Home equity loans and lines of credit(1)
21,771

 
21,483

 
17,185

 
19,206

 
21,514

Construction

 

 

 

 
427

Total non-accrual loans(2)(3)
71,265

 
77,752

 
79,091

 
89,961

 
106,790

Real estate owned
2,163

 
2,794

 
5,521

 
6,803

 
17,492

Total non-performing assets
$
73,428

 
$
80,546

 
$
84,612

 
$
96,764

 
$
124,282

Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total non-accrual loans to total loans
0.54
%
 
0.60
%
 
0.63
%
 
0.76
%
 
0.95
%
Total non-accrual loans to total assets
0.49
%
 
0.55
%
 
0.58
%
 
0.70
%
 
0.86
%
Total non-performing assets to total assets
0.50
%
 
0.57
%
 
0.62
%
 
0.75
%
 
1.00
%
TDRs (not included in non-accrual
loans above):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
47,829

 
$
50,351

 
$
53,511

 
$
57,942

 
$
60,175

Residential Home Today
24,651

 
26,861

 
28,751

 
32,401

 
35,674

Home equity loans and lines of credit
24,438

 
25,604

 
20,864

 
16,528

 
11,904

Total
$
96,918

 
$
102,816

 
$
103,126

 
$
106,871

 
$
107,753

______________________
(1)
The totals at September 30, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 include $0.6 million, $0.5 million, $0.5 million, $1.3 million and $1.8 million of performing home equity lines of credit, pursuant to regulatory guidance regarding senior lien delinquency issued in January 2012.
(2)
At September 30, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 the totals include $52.1 million, $52.1 million, $47.0 million, $51.4 million and $55.5 million, respectively, in TDRs: which are less than 90 days past due but included with non-accrual loans for a minimum period of six months from the restructuring date due to their non-accrual status prior to restructuring; because they have been partially charged off; or because all borrowers have filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and had not reaffirmed or been dismissed.
(3)
At September 30, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 the totals include $8.4 million, $10.5 million, $11.9 million, $12.4 million and $15.0 million in TDRs that are 90 days or more past due, respectively.
The gross interest income that would have been recorded during the year ended September 30, 2019 on non-accrual loans if they had been accruing during the entire period and TDRs if they had been current and performing in accordance with their original terms during the entire period was $8.9 million. The interest income recognized on those loans included in net income for the year ended September 30, 2019 was $5.4 million.
Impaired Loans. A loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Association will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. For discussion on impairment measurement, see Note 5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The recorded investment of impaired loans includes accruing TDRs and loans that are returned to accrual status when contractual payments are less than 90 days past due. Also, the recorded investment of non-accrual loans includes loans that are not included in the recorded investment of impaired loans because they are included in loans collectively evaluated for impairment. The table below sets forth a reconciliation of the recorded investments and categories between non-accrual loans and impaired loans at the dates indicated.

19


 
 
At or For the Years Ended September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Non-Accrual Loans
 
$
71,265

 
$
77,752

 
$
79,091

 
$
89,961

 
$
106,790

Accruing TDRs
 
96,917

 
102,816

 
103,126

 
106,871

 
107,753

Performing Impaired Loans
 
4,907

 
3,982

 
3,607

 
4,022

 
5,276

Less Loans Collectively Evaluated
 
(2,616
)
 
(3,756
)
 
(5,264
)
 
(6,004
)
 
(7,647
)
Total Impaired loans
 
$
170,473

 
$
180,794

 
$
180,560

 
$
194,850

 
$
212,172

In response to the economic challenges facing many borrowers, we continue to restructure loans. Loan restructuring is a method used to help families keep their homes and preserve our neighborhoods. This involves making changes to the borrowers’ loan terms through interest rate reductions, either for a specific period or for the remaining term of the loan; term extensions including those beyond that provided in the original agreement; principal forgiveness; capitalization of delinquent payments in special situations; or some combination of the above. Loans discharged through Chapter 7 bankruptcy are also reported as TDRs per OCC interpretive guidance. For discussion on impairment measurement, see Note 5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. We had $157.4 million of TDRs (accrual and non-accrual) recorded at September 30, 2019, of which $80.3 million are Residential Core, $36.3 million are Home Today and $40.8 million are Home equity loans and lines of credit. This is an $8.0 million decrease in the recorded investment of TDRs from September 30, 2018.
The following table sets forth the recorded investments of accrual and non-accrual TDRs, by the types of concessions granted as of September 30, 2019. 
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrual
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
26,916

 
$
14,309

 
$
6,604

 
$
47,829

Residential Home Today
14,262

 
9,303

 
1,086

 
24,651

Home equity loans and lines of credit
23,270

 
171

 
997

 
24,438

Total
$
64,448

 
$
23,783

 
$
8,687

 
$
96,918

Non-Accrual, Performing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
6,619

 
$
8,889

 
$
12,465

 
$
27,973

Residential Home Today
1,520

 
5,976

 
1,945

 
9,441

Home equity loans and lines of credit
10,067

 
2,665

 
1,909

 
14,641

Total
$
18,206

 
$
17,530

 
$
16,319

 
$
52,055

Non-Accrual, Non-Performing
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
2,294

 
$
1,753

 
$
425

 
$
4,472

Residential Home Today
451

 
1,589

 
203

 
2,243

Home equity loans and lines of credit
1,122

 
279

 
319

 
1,720

Total
$
3,867

 
$
3,621

 
$
947

 
$
8,435

Total TDRs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
35,829

 
$
24,951

 
$
19,494

 
$
80,274

Residential Home Today
16,233

 
16,868

 
3,234

 
36,335

Home equity loans and lines of credit
34,459

 
3,115

 
3,225

 
40,799

Total
$
86,521

 
$
44,934

 
$
25,953

 
$
157,408


TDRs in accrual status are loans accruing interest and performing according to the terms of the restructuring. To be performing, a loan must be less than 90 days past due as of the report date. Non-accrual, performing status indicates that a loan was not accruing interest at the time of restructuring, continues to not accrue interest and is performing according to the terms of the restructuring, but has not been current for at least six consecutive months since its restructuring, has a partial charge-off, or is being classified as non-accrual per the OCC guidance on loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status, where all borrowers have filed

20


and have not reaffirmed or been dismissed. Non-accrual, non-performing status includes loans that are not accruing interest because they are greater than 90 days past due and therefore not performing according to the terms of the restructuring.
Real Estate Owned. Real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure is classified as real estate owned until sold. When property is acquired, it is recorded at the estimated fair market value at the date of foreclosure less estimated costs to sell, establishing a new cost basis. Estimated fair value generally represents the sale price a buyer would be willing to pay on the basis of current market conditions. Subsequent to acquisition, real estate owned is carried at the lower of the cost basis or estimated fair market value less estimated costs to sell. Increases in the fair market value are recognized through income not exceeding the valuation allowance. Holding costs and declines in estimated fair market value result in charges to expense after acquisition. At September 30, 2019, we had $2.2 million in real estate owned.
Classification of Assets. Our policies, consistent with regulatory guidelines, provide for the classification of loans and other assets that are considered to be of lesser quality as substandard, doubtful, or loss assets. An asset is considered substandard if it is inadequately protected by the current payment capacity of the borrower or the collateral pledged has a defined weakness that jeopardizes the liquidation of the debt. Substandard assets include those assets characterized by the distinct possibility that we will sustain some loss if the deficiencies are not corrected. Assets classified as doubtful have all of the weaknesses inherent in those classified substandard with the added characteristic that the weaknesses present make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable or improbable. Assets (or portions of assets) classified as loss are those considered uncollectible and of such little value that their continuance as assets is not warranted. Assets that do not expose us to risk sufficient to warrant classification in one of the aforementioned categories, but which possess potential weaknesses that deserve management's attention and may result in further deterioration in their repayment prospects and/or the Association's credit position, are required to be designated as special mention.
When we classify assets as either substandard or doubtful, we allocate a portion of the related general loss allowances to such assets as we deem prudent. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to absorb credit losses incurred in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the balance sheet date. When we classify a problem asset as loss, we charge-off that portion of the asset that is uncollectible. Our determinations as to the classification of our assets and the amount of our loss allowances are subject to review by the Association's primary federal regulator, the OCC, which can require that we establish additional loss allowances. We regularly review our asset portfolio to determine whether any assets require classification in accordance with applicable regulations. On the basis of our review of assets at September 30, 2019, the recorded investment of classified assets consists of substandard assets of $85.0 million, including $2.2 million of real estate owned, and we also had $6.9 million of assets designated special mention. As of September 30, 2019, there were no individual assets with balances exceeding $1 million that were classified as substandard. Substandard assets at September 30, 2019 include $16.1 million of loans 90 or more days past due and $66.7 million of loans less than 90 days past due displaying a weakness sufficient to warrant an adverse classification, the majority of which are TDRs.
Allowance for Loan Losses. We provide for loan losses based on the allowance method. Accordingly, all loan losses are charged to, and all recoveries are credited to, the related allowance. Additions to the allowance for loan losses are provided by charges to income based on various factors which, in our judgment, deserve current recognition in estimating probable losses. We regularly review the loan portfolio and make provisions (or recapture credits) for loan losses in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Our allowance for loan losses consists of two components:
(1)
individual valuation allowances (IVAs) established for any impaired loans dependent on cash flows, such as performing TDRs, and IVAs related to a portion of the allowance on loans individually reviewed that represents further deterioration in the fair value of the collateral not yet identified as uncollectible; and
(2)
general valuation allowances (GVAs), which are comprised of quantitative GVAs, which are general allowances for loan losses for each loan type based on historical loan loss experience and qualitative GVAs, which are adjustments to the quantitative GVAs, maintained to cover uncertainties that affect our estimate of incurred probable losses for each loan type.
The qualitative GVAs expand our ability to identify and estimate probable losses and are based on our evaluation of the following factors, some of which are consistent with factors that impact the determination of quantitative GVAs. For example, delinquency statistics (both current and historical) are used in developing the quantitative GVAs while the trending of the delinquency statistics is considered and evaluated in the determination of the qualitative GVAs. Factors impacting the determination of qualitative GVAs include:
changes in lending policies and procedures including underwriting standards, collection, charge-off or recovery practices;

21


changes in national, regional, and local economic and business conditions and trends including treasury yields, housing market factors and trends, such as the status of loans in foreclosure, real estate in judgment and real estate owned, and unemployment statistics and trends;
changes in the nature and volume of the portfolios including home equity lines of credit nearing the end of the draw period and adjustable-rate mortgage loans nearing a rate reset;
changes in the experience, ability or depth of lending management;
changes in the volume or severity of past due loans, volume of nonaccrual loans, or the volume and severity of adversely classified loans including the trending of delinquency statistics (both current and historical), historical loan loss experience and trends, the frequency and magnitude of multiple restructurings of loans previously the subject of TDRs, and uncertainty surrounding borrowers’ ability to recover from temporary hardships for which short-term loan restructurings are granted;
changes in the quality of the loan review system;
changes in the value of the underlying collateral including asset disposition loss statistics (both current and historical) and the trending of those statistics, and additional charge-offs on individually reviewed loans;
existence of any concentrations of credit; and
effect of other external factors such as competition, market interest rate changes or legal and regulatory requirements including market conditions and regulatory directives that impact the entire financial services industry.
When loan restructurings qualify as TDRs and the loans are performing according to the terms of the restructuring, we record an IVA based on the present value of expected future cash flows, which includes a factor for potential subsequent defaults, discounted at the effective interest rate of the original loan contract. Potential defaults are distinguished from multiple restructurings as borrowers who default are generally not eligible for subsequent restructurings. At September 30, 2019, the balance of such individual valuation allowances was $13.5 million. In instances when loans require multiple restructurings, additional valuation allowances may be required. The new valuation allowance on a loan that has multiple restructurings is calculated based on the present value of the expected cash flows, discounted at the effective interest rate of the original loan contract, considering the new terms of the restructured agreement. Due to the immaterial amount of this exposure to date, we continue to capture this exposure as a component of our qualitative GVA evaluation. The significance of this exposure will be monitored and, if warranted, we will enhance our loan loss methodology to include a new default factor (developed to reflect the estimated impact to the balance of the allowance for loan losses that will occur as a result of subsequent future restructurings) that will be assessed against all loans reviewed collectively. If new default factors are implemented, the qualitative GVA methodology will be adjusted to preclude duplicative loss consideration.
Home equity loans and lines of credit generally have higher credit risk than traditional residential mortgage loans. These loans and lines are usually in a second lien position and when combined with the first mortgage, result in generally higher overall loan-to-value ratios. In a stressed housing market with high delinquencies and decreasing housing prices, these higher loan-to-value ratios represent a greater risk of loss to the Company. A borrower with more equity in the property has a vested interest in keeping the loan current when compared to a borrower with little or no equity in the property. In light of the past weakness in the housing market and uncertainty with respect to future employment levels and economic prospects, we conduct an expanded loan level evaluation of our home equity loans and lines of credit, including bridge loans, which are delinquent 90 days or more. This expanded evaluation is in addition to our traditional evaluation procedures. Considering the review process and our suspension program, no allowance is deemed necessary for our unfunded commitments on this portfolio. Our home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio continues to comprise a significant portion of our gross charge-offs. At September 30, 2019, we had a recorded investment of $2.20 billion in home equity loans and equity lines of credit outstanding, $5.8 million, or 0.3% of which were delinquent 90 days or more.
We evaluate the allowance for loan losses based upon the combined total of the quantitative and qualitative GVAs and IVAs. We periodically evaluate the carrying value of loans and the allowance is adjusted accordingly. While we use the best information available to make evaluations, future additions to the allowance may be necessary based on unforeseen changes in loan quality and economic conditions.
For more information regarding the allowance for loan losses, see Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”


22


The following table sets forth activity in our allowance for loan losses segregated by geographic location for the periods indicated. The majority of our construction loan portfolio is secured by properties located in Ohio and the balances of other consumer loans are immaterial; therefore neither was segregated.
 
At or For the Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Allowance balance (beginning of the year)
$
42,418

 
$
48,948

 
$
61,795

 
$
71,554

 
$
81,362

Charge-offs:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
883

 
874

 
1,728

 
3,214

 
4,522

Florida
282

 
58

 
1,272

 
981

 
1,703

Other
85

 
27

 
29

 
99

 
641

Total Residential Core
1,250

 
959

 
3,029

 
4,294

 
6,866

Residential Home Today
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
761

 
1,318

 
2,172

 
2,649

 
3,277

Florida

 
45

 
83

 
112

 
175

Other

 

 
21

 

 

Total Residential Home Today
761

 
1,363

 
2,276

 
2,761

 
3,452

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
1,246

 
2,751

 
2,707

 
3,095

 
5,241

Florida
696

 
2,381

 
2,560

 
2,885

 
4,017

California
39

 

 
199

 
76

 
498

Other
994

 
700

 
707

 
1,790

 
1,278

Total Home equity loans and lines of credit
2,975

 
5,832

 
6,173

 
7,846

 
11,034

Construction

 

 

 

 

Total charge-offs
4,986

 
8,154

 
11,478

 
14,901

 
21,352

Recoveries:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
2,314

 
2,601

 
5,458

 
3,708

 
5,369

Residential Home Today
1,910

 
1,957

 
1,311

 
1,433

 
1,533

Home equity loans and lines of credit
7,257

 
8,066

 
8,862

 
7,969

 
7,468

Construction

 

 

 
32

 
174

Total recoveries
11,481

 
12,624

 
15,631

 
13,142

 
14,544

Net recoveries (charge-offs)
6,495

 
4,470

 
4,153

 
(1,759
)
 
(6,808
)
Provision (Credit) for loan losses
(10,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(17,000
)
 
(8,000
)
 
(3,000
)
Allowance balance (end of the year)
$
38,913

 
$
42,418

 
$
48,948

 
$
61,795

 
$
71,554

Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans outstanding
0.05
%
 
0.04
%
 
0.03
%
 
(0.02
)%
 
(0.06
)%
Allowance for loan losses to non-accrual loans at end
     of the year
54.60
%
 
54.56
%
 
61.89
%
 
68.69
 %
 
67.00
 %
Allowance for loan losses to the total recorded investment
     in loans at end of the year
0.29
%
 
0.33
%
 
0.39
%
 
0.52
 %
 
0.64
 %
Charge-offs decreased during the year ended September 30, 2019 when compared to the year ended September 30, 2018, reflecting the improving market conditions. We continue to evaluate loans becoming delinquent for potential losses and record provisions for the estimate of those losses. We expect a moderate level of charge-offs to continue as delinquent loans are resolved in the future and uncollected balances are charged against the allowance.

23


Allocation of Allowance for Loan Losses. The following tables set forth the allowance for loan losses allocated by loan category, the percent of allowance in each category to the total allowance, and the percent of loans in each category to total loans 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 to absorb losses in other categories.
 
At September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans in
Category to
Total Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans in
Category to
Total Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans in
Category to
Total Loans
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
19,753

 
50.8
%
 
82.5
%
 
$
18,288

 
43.1
%
 
84.7
%
 
$
14,186

 
29.0
%
 
86.2
%
Residential Home
     Today
4,209

 
10.8

 
0.6

 
3,204

 
7.6

 
0.7

 
4,508

 
9.2

 
0.9

Home equity loans
  and lines of credit
14,946

 
38.4

 
16.5

 
20,921

 
49.3

 
14.1

 
30,249

 
61.8

 
12.4

Construction
5

 

 
0.4

 
5

 

 
0.5

 
5

 

 
0.5

Total allowance
$
38,913

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
42,418

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
48,948

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%

 
At September 30,
 
2016
 
2015
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans in
Category to
Total Loans
 
Amount
 
Percent of
Allowance
to Total
Allowance
 
Percent of
Loans in
Category to
Total Loans
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
15,068

 
24.4
%
 
85.5
%
 
$
22,596

 
31.6
%
 
83.9
%
Residential Home Today
7,416

 
12.0

 
1.0

 
9,997

 
14.0

 
1.2

Home equity loans and lines of credit
39,304

 
63.6

 
13.0

 
38,926

 
54.4

 
14.4

Construction
7

 

 
0.5

 
35

 

 
0.5

Total allowance
$
61,795

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
 
$
71,554

 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
During the year ended September 30, 2019, the total allowance for loan losses decreased $3.5 million, to $38.9 million from $42.4 million at September 30, 2018, as we recorded a $10.0 million credit for loan losses, while recoveries exceeded loan charge-offs by $6.5 million for the year. The allowance for loan losses related to loans evaluated collectively decreased by $4.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2019, and the allowance for loan losses related to loans evaluated individually increased by $1.4 million. Refer to the "Activity in the Allowance for Loan Losses" and "Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses" tables in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information. Other than the less significant construction and other consumer loans segments, changes during the year ended September 30, 2019 in the balances of the GVAs, excluding changes in IVAs, related to the significant loan segments are described as follows:

Residential Core The recorded investment of this segment of the loan portfolio decreased 0.3% or $28.3 million, while the total allowance for loan losses increased 8.0% or $1.5 million. The portion of this loan segment’s allowance for loan losses that was determined by evaluating groups of loans collectively (i.e. those loans that were not individually evaluated), increased $1.3 million, or 11.6%, from $11.4 million at September 30, 2018 to $12.7 million at September 30, 2019. The ratio of this portion of the allowance for loan losses to the total balance of loans in this loan segment that were evaluated collectively, increased 0.02% to 0.12% at September 30, 2019 from 0.10% at September 30, 2018. The increases in the balance and ratio of the allowance for loan losses reflected the Association's concern around the recent 2-year/10-year Treasury yield curve inversion. History has shown that yield curve inversion is often a leading indicator of a recession, which has been historically followed by increased delinquencies and losses. Helping to temper the increase in the allowance were the relatively low levels of loan delinquencies during the current year when compared to prior periods. Total delinquencies decreased 10.4% to $18.5 million at September 30, 2019 from $20.7 million at September 30, 2018. Loans 90 or more days delinquent decreased 29.0% to $7.7 million at September 30, 2019 from $10.8 million at September 30, 2018. Net recoveries during the current year were less at

24


$1.1 million as compared to $1.6 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The credit profile of this portfolio segment remained strong during the fiscal year due to the addition of high credit quality, residential first mortgage loans.
Residential Home Today – The recorded investment of this segment of the loan portfolio decreased 10.7% or $10.1 million, as we are no longer originating loans under the Home Today program. The total allowance for loan losses for this segment increased by $1.0 million or 31.4%, which was determined by evaluating groups of loans collectively (i.e. those loans that were not individually evaluated), increased by 67.8% from $1.1 million at September 30, 2018 to $1.8 million at September 30, 2019. Similarly, the ratio of the allowance to the total balance of loans in this loan segment that were evaluated collectively, increased 1.8% to 3.8% at September 30, 2019 from 2.0% at September 30, 2018. Total delinquencies decreased from $8.4 million at September 30, 2018 to $6.9 million at September 30, 2019. Delinquencies greater than 90 days decreased from $3.8 million to $2.6 million during the same period. Net recoveries during the current quarter were greater at $1.1 million compared to $0.6 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. This allowance fluctuates based on not only the generally declining portfolio balance, but also on the credit profile trends in this portfolio. This allowance increased this year based on the risk that remains based on the generally less stringent credit requirements that were in place at the time that these borrowers qualified for their loans, the Association's concern around the recent 2-year/10-year Treasury yield curve inversion historically followed by increased delinquencies and losses and the continued depressed home values that remain in this portfolio.
Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit – The recorded investment of this segment of the loan portfolio increased 19.6% or $360.2 million from $1.84 billion at September 30, 2018 to $2.20 billion at September 30, 2019. The total allowance for loan losses for this segment decreased 28.6% to $14.9 million from $20.9 million at September 30, 2018. The portion of this loan segment's allowance for loan losses that was determined by evaluating groups of loans collectively (i.e. those loans that were not individually evaluated) decreased by $7.0 million, or 38.9%, from $17.9 million to $10.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2019. The ratio of this portion of the allowance to the total balance of loans in this loan segment that were evaluated collectively also decreased to 0.5% at September 30, 2019 from 1.0% at September 30, 2018. Net recoveries for this loan segment during the current year were greater at $4.3 million for the current year as compared to $2.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2018. Total delinquencies for this portfolio segment decreased 19.5% to $10.0 million at September 30, 2019 as compared to $12.4 million at September 30, 2018. Delinquencies greater than 90 days decreased 2.3% to $5.8 million at September 30, 2019 from $5.9 million at September 30, 2018. The reduction in the allowance is mainly supported by a reduction of the principal balance of home equity lines of credit coming to the end of the draw period. In recent years, a large portion of the overall allowance has been allocated to the home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio to address exposure from customers whose lines of credit were originated without amortizing payments during the draw period and who could face potential increased payment shock at the end of the draw period. In general, home equity lines of credit originated prior to June 2010 were characterized by a ten-year draw period, with interest only payments, followed by a ten-year repayment period. However, a large number of those lines of credit approaching the end of draw period have been paid off or refinanced without significant loss. The principal balance of home equity lines of credit originated without amortizing payments during the draw period that are coming to the end of its draw period through fiscal 2020 is $8.1 million at September 30, 2019, compared to $116.9 million at September 30, 2018. As this exposure decreases without incurring significant loss, the portion of the overall allowance allocated to the home equity loans and lines of credit category can be decreased. Originations after February 2013 require an amortizing payment during the draw period and do not face the same end-of-draw increased payment shock risk.
While the portfolio performance has improved, loan losses on home equity loans and lines of credit continued to comprise a large component of our gross charge-offs for 2019 and are expected to continue to represent a large portion of our charge-offs for the foreseeable future based on the relatively higher risk of this product when compared to a first mortgage loan.
Our analysis for evaluating the adequacy of and the appropriateness of our loan loss provision and allowance for loan losses is continually refined as new information becomes available and actual loss experience is acquired. During the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 no material changes were made to the allowance methodology.
Investments
The Association’s Board of Directors is responsible for establishing and overseeing the Association’s investment policy. The investment policy is reviewed at least annually by management and any changes to the policy are recommended to the Board of Directors, or a committee thereof, and are subject to its approval. This policy dictates that investment decisions be made based on the safety of the investment, liquidity requirements, potential returns, the ability to provide collateral for pledging requirements, and consistency with our interest rate risk management strategy. The Association’s Investment Committee, which consists of its chief operating officer, chief financial officer and other members of management, oversees its investing activities and strategies. The portfolio manager is responsible for making securities portfolio decisions in accordance

25


with established policies. The portfolio manager has the authority to purchase and sell securities within specific guidelines established in the investment policy, but historically the portfolio manager has executed purchases only after extensive discussions with other Investment Committee members. All transactions are formally reviewed by the Investment Committee at least quarterly. Any investment which, subsequent to its purchase, fails to meet the guidelines of the policy is reported to the Investment Committee, who decides whether to hold or sell the investment.
The Association’s investment policy requires that it invest primarily in debt securities issued by the U.S. Government, agencies of the U.S. Government, and government-sponsored entities, which include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The policy also permits investments in mortgage-backed securities, including pass-through securities issued and guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae as well as collateralized mortgage obligations and real estate mortgage investment conduits issued or backed by securities issued by these governmental agencies and government-sponsored entities. The investment policy also permits investments in asset-backed securities, banker’s acceptances, money market funds, term federal funds, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements.
The Association’s investment policy does not permit investment in municipal bonds, corporate debt obligations, preferred or common stock of government agencies or equity securities other than its required investment in the common stock of the FHLB of Cincinnati. As of September 30, 2019, we held no asset-backed securities or securities with sub-prime credit risk exposure, nor did we hold any banker’s acceptances, term federal funds, repurchase agreements or reverse repurchase agreements. As a federal savings association, the Association is not permitted to invest in equity securities. This general restriction does not apply to the Company. The Association’s investment policy permits the use of interest rate agreements (caps, floors and collars) and interest rate exchange contracts (swaps) in managing our interest rate risk exposure. The use of financial futures, however, is prohibited without specific approval from its Board of Directors.
FASB ASC 320, “Investments-Debt and Equity Securities,” requires that, at the time of purchase, we designate a security as held to maturity, available-for-sale, or trading, depending on our ability and intent. Securities designated as available-for-sale are reported at fair value, while securities designated as held to maturity are reported at amortized cost. As a result of previous guidance from the Company's primary regulator that indicated that the Company's reported balance of liquid assets could not include any investment security not classified as available for sale, all investment securities held by the Company are classified as available for sale. We do not have a trading portfolio.
The fair value of our investment portfolio at September 30, 2019 consisted of $6.8 million in primarily fixed-rate securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, and $541.0 million of REMICs collateralized only by securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae.
U.S. Government and Federal Agency Obligations. While U.S. Government and federal agency securities generally provide lower yields than other investment options authorized in the Association's and Company's investment policies, we maintain these investments, to the extent appropriate, for liquidity purposes, as collateral for borrowings and as an interest rate risk hedge in the event of significant mortgage loan prepayments.
Mortgage-Backed Securities. We purchase mortgage-backed securities insured or guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or Ginnie Mae. We invest in mortgage-backed securities to achieve positive interest rate spreads with minimal administrative expense, and to lower our credit risk as a result of the guarantees provided by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or Ginnie Mae. The U.S. Treasury Department has established financing agreements to ensure that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac meet their obligations to holders of mortgage-backed securities that they have issued or guaranteed.
Mortgage-backed securities are created by the pooling of mortgages and the issuance of a security with an interest rate that is less than the interest rate on the underlying mortgages. Mortgage-backed securities typically represent a participation interest in a pool of single-family or multi-family mortgages, although we invest primarily in mortgage-backed securities backed by one- to four-family mortgages. The issuers of such securities (generally Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) pool and resell the participation interests in the form of securities to investors such as the Association, and guarantee the payment of principal and interest to investors. Mortgage-backed securities generally yield less than the loans that underlie such securities because of the cost of payment guarantees and credit enhancements. However, mortgage-backed securities are more liquid than individual mortgage loans since there is an active trading market for such securities. While there has been significant disruption in the demand for private issuer mortgage-backed securities, the U.S. Treasury support for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantees has maintained an orderly market for the mortgage-backed securities the Company typically purchases. In addition, mortgage-backed securities may be used to collateralize our specific liabilities and obligations. Investments in mortgage-backed securities involve a risk that the timing of actual payments will be earlier or later than the timing estimated when the mortgage-backed security was purchased, which may require adjustments to the amortization of any premium or accretion of any discount relating to such interests, thereby affecting the net yield on our securities. We periodically

26


review current prepayment speeds to determine whether prepayment estimates require modifications that could cause amortization or accretion adjustments.
REMICs are types of debt securities issued by a special-purpose entity that aggregates pools of mortgages and mortgage-backed securities and creates different classes of securities with varying maturities and amortization schedules, as well as a residual interest, with each class possessing different risk characteristics. The cash flows from the underlying collateral are generally divided into “tranches” or classes that have descending priorities with respect to the distribution of principal and interest cash flows, while cash flows on pass-through mortgage-backed securities are distributed pro rata to all security holders.
The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of our securities portfolio (excluding FHLB of Cincinnati common stock) at the dates indicated.
 
At September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Investments available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Government and agency obligations

 

 
$
3,975

 
$
3,968

 
$

 
$

REMICs
544,042

 
541,042

 
537,330

 
519,999

 
533,427

 
528,536

Fannie Mae certificates
6,563

 
6,822

 
7,906

 
7,998

 
8,537

 
8,943

Total investment securities available for sale
$
550,605

 
$
547,864

 
$
549,211

 
$
531,965

 
$
541,964

 
$
537,479


Portfolio Maturities and Yields. The composition and maturities of our securities portfolio at September 30, 2019 are summarized in the following table. Maturities are based on the final contractual payment dates, and do not reflect the impact of prepayments or early redemptions that may occur. There were no securities with a maturity of one year or less. All of our securities at September 30, 2019 were taxable securities.
 
 
More than
One Year Through
Five years
 
More than
Five Years Through
Ten Years
 
More than Ten
Years
 
Total Securities
 
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Weighted
Average
Yield
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
Investments
available-for-sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMICs
 
3,324

 
2.16
%
 
82,188

 
2.03
%
 
458,530

 
2.23
%
 
544,042

 
541,042

 
2.20
%
Fannie Mae certificates
 
4,347

 
1.71
%
 
2,216

 
6.46
%
 

 
%
 
6,563

 
6,822

 
3.31
%
Total investment securities available-for-sale
 
$
7,671

 
1.90
%
 
$
84,404

 
2.15
%
 
$
458,530

 
2.23
%
 
$
550,605

 
$
547,864

 
2.22
%
Sources of Funds
General. Deposits traditionally have been the primary source of funds for the Association’s lending and investment activities. The Association also borrows, primarily from the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window, to supplement cash flow, to lengthen the maturities of liabilities for interest rate risk management purposes and to manage its cost of funds. Additional sources of funds are scheduled loan payments, maturing investments, loan prepayments, collateralized wholesale borrowings, income on other earning assets, the proceeds from loan sales, and brokered CDs.
Deposits. The Association obtains deposits primarily from the areas in which its branch offices are located, as well as from its customer service call center, its internet website, and from brokered CDs. It relies on its competitive pricing, convenient locations, and customer service to attract and retain its non-brokered deposits. It offers a variety of retail deposit accounts with a range of interest rates and terms. Its retail deposit accounts consist of savings accounts, money market accounts, checking accounts, CDs, individual retirement accounts, and other qualified plan accounts.

27


Interest rates paid, maturity terms, service fees, and withdrawal penalties are established on a periodic basis. Deposit rates and terms are based primarily on current operating strategies and market interest rates, liquidity requirements, interest rates paid by competitors, and our deposit growth goals.
At September 30, 2019, deposits totaled $8.77 billion. Checking accounts totaled $862.6 million (including $787.8 million of interest-bearing checking accounts) and savings accounts totaled $1.48 billion (including $1.39 billion of higher yield savings accounts and MMK). At September 30, 2019, the Association had a total of $6.42 billion in CDs (including $507.8 million of brokered CDs), of which $3.31 billion had remaining maturities of one year or less. Based on historical experience and its current pricing strategy, management believes the Association will retain a large portion of these accounts upon maturity.
The following table sets forth the distribution of the Association’s average total deposit accounts, by account type, for the fiscal years indicated.
 
For the Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
Average
Balance
 
Percent
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Deposit type:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Checking
$
881,233

 
10.2
%
 
0.36
%
 
$
947,728

 
11.4
%
 
0.15
%
 
$
992,042

 
12.1
%
 
0.09
%
Savings
1,381,646

 
16.0
%
 
0.85
%
 
1,364,410

 
16.5
%
 
0.25
%
 
1,514,275

 
18.5
%
 
0.14
%
Certificates of deposit
6,388,905

 
73.8
%
 
2.01
%
 
5,989,453

 
72.1
%
 
1.63
%
 
5,672,212

 
69.4
%
 
1.49
%
Total deposits
$
8,651,784

 
100.0
%
 
1.66
%
 
$
8,301,591

 
100.0
%
 
1.23
%
 
$
8,178,529

 
100.0
%
 
1.07
%
The following table sets forth the distribution of the Association’s total deposit accounts, by account type, at September 30, 2019.
 
At September 30, 2019
 
Balance
 
Percent
 
Weighted Average Cost of Funds
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Deposit type
 
 
 
 
 
Interest Bearing:
 
 
 
 
 
Checking
$
862,647

 
9.9
%
 
0.24
%
Savings accounts, excluding Money market accounts
1,042,357

 
11.9
%
 
0.47
%
Money market accounts
441,843

 
5.0
%
 
1.73
%
Certificates of deposit, including accrued interest
6,419,537

 
73.2
%
 
2.15
%
Total Deposits
$
8,766,384

 
100.0
%
 
1.74
%
As of September 30, 2019, the aggregate amount of the Association’s outstanding CDs in amounts greater than or equal to $100,000 was approximately $3.17 billion. The following table sets forth the maturity of those CDs as of September 30, 2019.
 
At September 30, 2019
 
(In thousands)
Three months or less
$
649,246

Over three months through six months
411,325

Over six months through one year
483,186

Over one year to three years
1,149,698

Over three years
476,106

Total
$
3,169,561



28


Borrowings. At September 30, 2019, the Association had $3.90 billion of borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Association’s only third-party borrowings consisted of loans, commonly referred to as “advances,” from the FHLB of Cincinnati. Borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati are secured by the Association’s investment in the common stock of the FHLB of Cincinnati as well as by a blanket pledge of its mortgage portfolio not otherwise pledged. Our current, immediate additional borrowing capacity with the FHLB of Cincinnati is $60.7 million as limited by the amount of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock that we own. Based on the amount of collateral that is subject to the blanket pledge that secures advances, in addition to the existing available capacity, our capacity limit for additional borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati at September 30, 2019 was $4.27 billion, subject to satisfaction of the FHLB of Cincinnati common stock ownership requirement. To satisfy the common stock ownership requirement, we would have to increase our ownership of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock by an additional $85.4 million. The ability to borrow from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window is also available to the Association and is secured by a pledge of specific loans in the Association’s mortgage portfolio. At September 30, 2019, the Association had the capacity to borrow up to $44.9 million from the FRB-Cleveland and had no amount outstanding as of that date.
The following table sets forth information concerning balances and interest rates, excluding the impact of interest rate swap contracts, on the Association’s borrowings at and for the periods shown:
 
At or For The Fiscal Years
Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Balance at end of year
$
3,902,981

 
$
3,721,699

 
$
3,671,377

Average balance during year
$
3,651,273

 
$
3,632,255

 
$
3,231,709

Maximum outstanding at any month end
$
3,903,524

 
$
3,818,490

 
$
3,679,225

Weighted average interest rate at end of year
2.10
%
 
2.12
%
 
1.36
%
Average interest rate during year
2.01
%
 
1.65
%
 
1.32
%
The Association has utilized borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati to manage its on-balance sheet liquidity, to replace maturing, high rate CDs at a lower cost and to lengthen the maturity of our funding through the use of interest rate swaps discussed in Note 17. Derivative Instruments of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
The following tables sets forth information relating to a category of short-term borrowings for which the average balance outstanding during the period was at least 30% of shareholders' equity at the end of each period shown.
 
At or For the Fiscal Years Ended
 September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
FHLB borrowings (30 days and under):
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at end of year
$
500,000

 
$
1,206,000

 
$
1,110,000

Maximum outstanding at any month-end
$
1,149,000

 
$
1,268,000

 
$
1,234,000

Average balance during year
$
724,396

 
$
1,069,826

 
$
970,733

Average interest rate during the fiscal year
2.39
%
 
1.64
%
 
0.81
%
Weighted average interest rate at end of year
2.24
%
 
2.10
%
 
1.17
%
 
At or For the Fiscal Years Ended
 September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(Dollars in thousands)
FHLB borrowings (90 days):
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at end of year
$
2,750,000

 
$
1,725,000

 
$
1,500,000

Maximum outstanding at any month-end
$
3,180,000

 
$
1,750,000

 
$
1,500,000

Average balance during year
$
2,277,910

 
$
1,637,740

 
$
1,005,548

Average interest rate during the fiscal year
2.44
%
 
1.76
%
 
0.96
%
Weighted average interest rate at end of year
2.22
%
 
2.15
%
 
1.25
%

29



A maturity schedule, according to GAAP, for FHLB borrowings is shown in Note 10. Borrowed Funds of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The following table sets forth the effective maturity of FHLB borrowings, ignoring the impact of deferred penalties and reflecting the impact of interest rate swaps discussed in Note 17. Derivative Instruments of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. When taking into consideration the blended balance of both the FHLB borrowings and the associated swap transactions hedging those borrowings, the weighted average cost of funds as of September 30, 2019 was 1.92%.
 
At September 30, 2019
 
Balance
 
Percent
 
Weighted Average Cost of Funds
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Borrowings
 
 
 
 
 
Maturing in:
 
 
 
 
 
12 months or less
$
880,294

 
22.6
%
 
1.95
%
13 to 36 months
1,425,709

 
36.6
%
 
1.64
%
37 months or more
1,589,721

 
40.8
%
 
2.16
%
Total Borrowings
$
3,895,724

 
100.0
%
 
1.92
%

Federal Taxation
General. The Company and the Association are subject to federal income taxation in the same general manner as other corporations, with certain exceptions. Prior to the completion of our initial public stock offering on April 20, 2007, the Company and the Association were included as part of Third Federal Savings, MHC’s consolidated tax group. However, upon completion of the offering, the Company and the Association were no longer a part of Third Federal Savings, MHC’s consolidated tax group because Third Federal Savings, MHC no longer owned at least 80% of the common stock of the Company. As a result of the Company's stock repurchase program over the past few years, which reduced the number of outstanding shares of the Company, at September 30, 2019, Third Federal Savings, MHC, owned 81.12% of the common stock of the Company and the Company and the Association can, again, be a part of Third Federal Savings, MHC’s consolidated tax group. Beginning on September 30, 2007 and for each subsequent fiscal year thereafter, the Company has filed consolidated tax returns with the Association and Third Capital Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries.
The following discussion of federal taxation is intended only to summarize certain pertinent federal income tax matters and is not a comprehensive description of the tax rules applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries.
Bad Debt Reserves. Historically, the Third Federal Savings, MHC consolidated group used the specific charge-off method to account for bad debt deductions for income tax purposes, and the Company has used and intends to use the specific charge-off method to account for tax bad debt deductions in the future.
Taxable Distributions and Recapture. Prior to 1996, bad debt reserves created prior to 1988 were subject to recapture into taxable income if the Association failed to meet certain thrift asset and definitional tests or made certain distributions. Tax law changes in 1996 eliminated thrift-related recapture rules. However, under current law, pre-1988 tax bad debt reserves remain subject to recapture if the Association makes certain non-dividend distributions, repurchases any of its common stock, pays dividends in excess of earnings and profits, or fails to qualify as a bank for tax purposes.
At September 30, 2019, the total federal pre-base year bad debt reserve of the Association was approximately $105.0 million.
State Taxation
Following its initial public stock offering in 2007, the Company converted from a qualified passive investment company domiciled in the State of Delaware to a qualified holding company in Ohio. The Third Federal Savings, MHC consolidated group is subject to the Ohio Financial Institutions Tax. The Financial Institutions Tax is based on total equity capital apportioned to Ohio using a single gross receipts factor. Ohio equity capital is taxed at a three-tiered rate of 0.8% on the first $200 million, 0.4% on amounts greater than $200 million and less than or equal to $1.3 billion, and 0.25% on amounts greater than $1.3 billion.


30


SUPERVISION AND REGULATION
General
The Company is a savings and loan holding company, and is required to file certain reports with, is subject to examination by, and otherwise must comply with the rules and regulations of, the FRS. The Company is also subject to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the federal securities laws.
The Association is a federal savings association that is currently examined and supervised by the OCC and the CFPB, and is subject to examination by the FDIC under certain circumstances. This regulation and supervision establishes a comprehensive framework of activities in which an institution may engage and is intended primarily for the protection of the FDIC’s deposit insurance fund and depositors. Under this system of federal regulation, financial institutions are periodically examined to ensure that they satisfy applicable standards with respect to their capital adequacy, assets, management, earnings, liquidity and sensitivity to market risk. Following completion of its examination, the federal agency critiques the institution’s operations and assigns its rating (known as an institution’s CAMELS rating). Under federal law, an institution may not disclose its CAMELS rating to the public. The Association also is a member of and owns stock in the FHLB of Cincinnati, which is one of the eleven regional banks in the FHLB System. The Association is also regulated to a lesser extent by the FRS, governing reserves to be maintained against deposits and other matters. The OCC will examine the Association and prepare reports for the consideration of the Association’s Board of Directors on any operating deficiencies. The CFPB, which is discussed further in the Dodd-Frank Act section that follows, has examination and enforcement authority over the Association. The Association’s relationship with its depositors and borrowers also is regulated to a great extent by federal law and, to a much lesser extent, state law, especially in matters concerning the ownership of deposit accounts and the form and content of the Association’s mortgage documents.
Any change in these laws or regulations, whether by the FDIC, OCC, FRS, CFPB or Congress, could have a material impact on the Company, the Association, and their operations.
Certain statutes and regulations of the regulatory requirements that are applicable to the Association and the Company are described below. This description of statutes and regulations is not intended to be a complete explanation of such statutes and regulations and their effects on the Association and the Company, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual statutes and regulations.
Federal Banking Regulation
Business Activities. A federal savings association derives its lending and investment powers from the Home Owners’ Loan Act, as amended, and federal regulations. Under these laws and regulations, the Association may invest in mortgage loans secured by residential real estate without limitations as a percentage of assets, and may invest in non-residential real estate loans up to 400% of capital in the aggregate. The Association may also invest in commercial business loans up to 20% of assets in the aggregate and consumer loans up to 35% of assets in the aggregate, and in certain types of debt securities and certain other assets. An association may also establish subsidiaries that may engage in certain activities not otherwise permissible for an association, including real estate investment and securities and insurance brokerage.
Capital Requirements. Federal regulations require FDIC insured depository institutions to meet several minimum capital standards: a common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio, a Tier 1 capital to risk-based assets ratio, a total capital to risk-based assets ratio, and a Tier 1 capital to total assets leverage ratio. The existing capital requirements were effective January 1, 2015 and are the result of a final rule implementing regulatory amendments based on recommendations of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and certain requirements of the DFA.
The capital standards require the maintenance of common equity Tier 1 capital, Tier 1 capital and total capital to risk-weighted assets of at least 4.5%, 6% and 8%, respectively, and a leverage ratio of at least 4% Tier 1 capital. Common equity Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common stockholders’ equity and retained earnings. Tier 1 capital is generally defined as common equity Tier 1 and additional Tier 1 capital. Additional Tier 1 capital includes certain noncumulative perpetual preferred stock and related surplus and minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries. Total capital includes Tier 1 capital (common equity Tier 1 capital plus additional Tier 1 capital) and Tier 2 capital. Tier 2 capital is comprised of capital instruments and related surplus, meeting specified requirements, and may include cumulative preferred stock and long-term perpetual preferred stock, mandatory convertible securities, intermediate preferred stock and subordinated debt. Also included in Tier 2 capital is the allowance for loan and lease losses limited to a maximum of 1.25% of risk-weighted assets and, for institutions that have exercised an opt-out election regarding the treatment of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), up to 45% of net unrealized gains on available-for-sale equity securities with readily determinable fair market values. Institutions that have not exercised the AOCI opt-out have AOCI incorporated into common equity Tier 1 capital (including unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale-securities). The Association exercised its opt-out election during

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the first quarter of calendar 2015. Calculation of all types of regulatory capital is subject to deductions and adjustments specified in the regulations.
In determining the amount of risk-weighted assets for purposes of calculating risk-based capital ratios, all assets, including certain off-balance sheet assets (e.g., recourse obligations, direct credit substitutes, residual interests) are multiplied by a risk weight factor assigned by the regulations based on the risks believed inherent in the type of asset. Higher levels of capital are required for asset categories believed to present greater risk. For example, a risk weight of 0% is assigned to cash and U.S. government securities, a risk weight of 50% is generally assigned to prudently underwritten first lien one to four- family residential mortgages, a risk weight of 100% is assigned to commercial and consumer loans, a risk weight of 150% is assigned to certain past due loans and a risk weight of between 0% to 600% is assigned to permissible equity interests, depending on certain specified factors.
Federal savings associations must also meet a statutory “tangible capital” standard of 1.5% of total adjusted assets. Tangible capital is generally defined as Tier 1 capital less intangible assets other than certain mortgage servicing rights.
In addition to establishing the minimum regulatory capital requirements, the regulations limit capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management if the institution does not hold a “capital conservation buffer” consisting of 2.5% in addition to the minimum capital requirements. The capital conservation buffer requirement was phased in beginning January 1, 2016 at 0.625% of risk-weighted assets and increasing each year until fully implemented at 2.5% on January 1, 2019. At September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded the fully phased in regulatory requirement for the "capital conservation buffer". In assessing an institution’s capital adequacy, the OCC takes into consideration, not only these numeric factors, but qualitative factors as well, and has the authority to establish higher capital requirements for individual institutions where deemed necessary. As presented in Note 3. Regulatory Matters, at September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded all regulatory capital requirements to be considered “Well Capitalized”.
Loans-to-One Borrower. Generally, a federal savings association may not make a loan or extend credit to a single or related group of borrowers in excess of 15% of unimpaired capital and surplus. An additional amount may be loaned, equal to 10% of unimpaired capital and surplus, if the loan is secured by readily marketable collateral, which generally does not include real estate. As of September 30, 2019, the Association was in compliance with the loans-to-one borrower limitations.
Qualified Thrift Lender Test. As a federal savings association, the Association must satisfy the qualified thrift lender test. Under the QTL test, the Association must maintain at least 65% of its “portfolio assets” in “qualified thrift investments” (primarily residential mortgages and related investments, including mortgage-backed securities) in at least nine months of the most recent 12-month period. “Portfolio assets” generally means total assets of a savings institution, less the sum of specified liquid assets up to 20% of total assets, goodwill and other intangible assets, and the value of property used in the conduct of the savings association’s business.
The Association also may satisfy the QTL test by qualifying as a “domestic building and loan association” as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.
A savings association that fails the qualified thrift lender test must operate under specified restrictions. Under the DFA, non-compliance with the QTL test may subject the Association to agency enforcement action for a violation of law. At September 30, 2019, the Association satisfied the QTL test.
Capital Distributions. Federal regulations govern capital distributions by a federal savings association, which include cash dividends, stock repurchases and other transactions charged to the capital account. A federal savings association must file an application with the OCC and the FRS for approval of a capital distribution if:
the total capital distributions for the applicable calendar year exceed the sum of the savings association’s net income for that year to date plus the savings association’s retained net income for the preceding two years;
the savings association would not be at least adequately capitalized following the distribution;
the distribution would violate any applicable statute, regulation, agreement or condition imposed by a regulator; or
the savings association is not eligible for expedited treatment of its filings.
Even if an application is not otherwise required, every savings association that is a subsidiary of a holding company must still file a notice with the FRS at least 30 days before the board of directors declares a dividend or approves a capital distribution.

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The OCC and the FRS have established similar criteria for approving an application or notice, and may disapprove an application or notice if:
the savings association would be undercapitalized following the distribution;
the proposed capital distribution raises safety and soundness concerns; or
the capital distribution would violate a prohibition contained in any statute, regulation or agreement.
In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act provides that an insured depository institution may not make any capital distribution, if the institution would be undercapitalized after the distribution.
The Association, in compliance with the preceding requirements, paid an $85 million cash dividend to the Company during the fiscal years ending September 30, 2019 and 2018 and an $81 million cash dividend to the Company during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. There were no dividends paid to the Company by Third Capital during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 or 2017.
The Company's sixth stock repurchase program, for the repurchase of 10,000,000 shares of its equity stock, was announced on September 9, 2014 and completed August 3, 2015. The seventh stock repurchase program, for 10,000,000 shares, was announced on July 30, 2015 and completed January 6, 2017. The eighth stock repurchase program, also for 10,000,000 shares, was announced on October 27, 2016 and began on January 6, 2017.
Under current FRS regulations, Third Federal Savings, MHC is required to obtain the approval of its members (depositors and certain loan customers of the Association) every 12 months to enable Third Federal Savings, MHC to waive its right to receive dividends on the Company’s common stock that Third Federal Savings, MHC owns. Third Federal Savings, MHC has received this approval of its members at meetings held July 16, 2019, July 11, 2018, July 19, 2017, July 26, 2016 and August 5, 2015. Third Federal Savings, MHC has the approval to waive the receipt of up to a total of $1.10 per share of dividends from the Company over the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2020. Third Federal Savings, MHC waived its right to receive a $0.27 per share dividend payment on September 17, 2019. As a result of the 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 approvals, Third Federal Savings, MHC previously waived its right to receive four separate $0.25 per share dividend payments during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2019, four separate $0.17 per share dividend payments during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2018, four separate $0.125 per share dividend payments during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2017 and four separate $0.10 per share dividend payments during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2016.
Liquidity. A federal savings association is required to maintain a sufficient amount of liquid assets to ensure its safe and sound operation. The Association maintains a liquid asset portfolio comprised of agency securities that are collateralized by mortgages, in addition to cash and cash equivalents, to maintain sufficient liquidity to fund business operations.
Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Laws. All savings associations have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act and federal regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a federal savings association, the OCC is required to assess the savings association’s record of compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. In addition, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act prohibit lenders from discriminating in their lending practices on the basis of characteristics specified in those statutes. A savings association’s failure to comply with the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act could, at a minimum, result in denial of certain corporate applications such as branches, mergers, minority stock offerings or second-step conversion, or in restrictions on its activities. The failure to comply with the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and the Fair Housing Act could result in enforcement actions by the OCC, as well as other federal regulatory agencies and the Department of Justice.
The Association received a "Needs to Improve" Community Reinvestment Act rating in its most recent federal examination that covered home mortgage lending data for the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014.
Transactions with Related Parties. A federal savings association’s authority to engage in transactions with its affiliates is limited by FRS regulations and by Sections 23A and 23B of the FRS Act and its implementing Regulation W. An affiliate is a company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an insured depository institution such as the Association. Third Federal Savings, MHC and the Company are affiliates of the Association. In general, loan transactions between an insured depository institution and its affiliates are subject to certain quantitative and collateral requirements. In this regard, transactions between an insured depository institution and its affiliates are limited to 10% of the institution’s unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus for transactions with any one affiliate and 20% of unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus for transactions in the aggregate with all affiliates. Collateral in specified amounts ranging from 100% to 130% of the amount of the transaction must be provided by affiliates in order to receive loans from the savings association. In addition, federal regulations prohibit a savings association from lending to any of its affiliates that are engaged in activities that

33


are not permissible for bank holding companies and from purchasing the securities of any affiliate, other than a subsidiary. Finally, transactions with affiliates must be consistent with safe and sound banking practices, not involve low-quality assets and be on terms that are as favorable to the institution as comparable transactions with non-affiliates. Savings associations are required to maintain detailed records of all transactions with affiliates.
The Association’s authority to extend credit to its directors, executive officers and 10% shareholders, as well as to entities controlled by such persons, is currently governed by the requirements of Sections 22(g) and 22(h) of the FRS Act and Regulation O of the FRS. Among other things, these provisions require that extensions of credit to insiders:
(i)
subject to certain exceptions for loan programs made available to all employees, be made on terms that are substantially the same as, and follow credit underwriting procedures that are not less stringent than, those prevailing for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and that do not involve more than the normal risk of repayment or present other unfavorable features; and
(ii)
do not exceed certain limitations on the amount of credit extended to such persons, individually and in the aggregate, which limits are based, in part, on the amount of the Association’s capital.
In addition, extensions of credit in excess of certain limits must be approved by the Association’s Board of Directors.
Enforcement. The OCC has primary enforcement responsibility over federal savings institutions and has the authority to bring enforcement action against all “institution-affiliated parties,” including shareholders, attorneys, appraisers and accountants who knowingly or recklessly participate in wrongful action likely to have an adverse effect on an insured institution. Formal enforcement action by the OCC may range from the issuance of a capital directive or cease and desist order, to removal of officers and/or directors of the institution and the appointment of a receiver or conservator. Civil penalties cover a wide range of violations and actions, and range up to $25,000 per day, unless a finding of reckless disregard is made, in which case penalties may be as high as $1 million per day. The FDIC also has the authority to terminate deposit insurance or to recommend to the OCC that enforcement action be taken with respect to a particular savings institution. If action is not taken by the OCC, the FDIC has authority to take action under specified circumstances.
Standards for Safety and Soundness. Federal law requires each federal banking agency to prescribe certain standards for all insured depository institutions. These standards relate to, among other things, internal controls, information systems, audit systems, loan documentation, credit underwriting, interest rate risk exposure, asset growth, compensation, and other operational and managerial standards as the agency deems appropriate. The federal banking agencies adopted Interagency Guidelines Prescribing Standards for Safety and Soundness to implement the safety and soundness standards required under federal law. The guidelines set forth the safety and soundness standards that the federal banking agencies use to identify and address problems at insured depository institutions before capital becomes impaired. If the appropriate federal banking agency determines that an institution fails to meet any standard prescribed by the guidelines, the agency may require the institution to submit to the agency an acceptable plan to achieve compliance with the standard. If an institution fails to meet these standards, the appropriate federal banking agency may require the institution to submit a compliance plan.
Prompt Corrective Action Regulations. Under the prompt corrective action regulations, the OCC is required and authorized to take supervisory actions against undercapitalized savings associations. For this purpose, a savings association is placed in one of the following five categories based on the savings association’s capital:
well capitalized (at least 5% leverage capital, 8% Tier 1 risk-based capital, 10% total risk-based capital, and 6.5% common equity Tier 1 ratios, and is not subject to any written agreement, order, capital directive or prompt corrective action directive issued under certain statutes and regulations, to maintain a specific capital level for any capital measure);
adequately capitalized (at least 4% leverage capital, 6% Tier 1 risk-based capital, 8% total risk-based capital and 4.5% common equity Tier 1 ratios);
undercapitalized (less than 4% leverage capital, 6% Tier 1 risk-based capital, 8% total risk-based capital, or 4.5% common equity Tier 1 ratios);
significantly undercapitalized (less than 3% leverage capital, 4% Tier 1 risk-based capital, 6% total risk-based capital or 3% common equity Tier 1 ratios); and
critically undercapitalized (less than or equal to 2% tangible capital to total assets).
The final rule that strengthened regulatory capital requirements adjusted the prompt corrective actions categories to incorporate the new standards, as reflected above.
Generally, the banking regulator is required to appoint a receiver or conservator for a savings association that is “critically undercapitalized” within specific time frames. The regulations also provide that a capital restoration plan must be filed with the

34


OCC within 45 days of the date a savings association receives notice that it is “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized” or “critically undercapitalized.” The criteria for an acceptable capital restoration plan include, among other things, the establishment of the methodology and assumptions for attaining adequately capitalized status on an annual basis, procedures for ensuring compliance with restrictions imposed by applicable federal regulations, the identification of the types and levels of activities the savings association will engage in while the capital restoration plan is in effect, and assurances that the capital restoration plan will not appreciably increase the current risk profile of the savings association. Any holding company for a savings association required to submit a capital restoration plan must guarantee the lesser of an amount equal to 5% of the savings association’s assets at the time it was notified or deemed to be undercapitalized by the OCC, or the amount necessary to restore the savings association to adequately capitalized status. This guarantee remains in place until the OCC notifies the savings association that it has maintained adequately capitalized status for each of four consecutive calendar quarters, and the OCC has the authority to require payment and collect payment under the guarantee. Failure by a holding company to provide the required guarantee will result in certain operating restrictions on the savings association, such as restrictions on the ability to declare and pay dividends, pay executive compensation and management fees, and increase assets or expand operations. The OCC may also take any one of a number of discretionary supervisory actions against undercapitalized associations, including the issuance of a capital directive and the replacement of senior executive officers and directors.
As of September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded all regulatory requirements to be considered “Well Capitalized” as presented in the table below (dollar amounts in thousands).
 
Actual
 
Required 
(Well Capitalized)
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount    
 
Ratio    
Total Capital to Risk Weighted Assets
$
1,557,868

 
19.56
%
 
$
796,329

 
10.00
%
Tier 1 (Leverage) Capital to Net Average Assets
1,518,952

 
10.54
%
 
720,442

 
5.00
%
Tier I Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets
1,518,952

 
19.07
%
 
637,063

 
8.00
%
Common Equity Tier I to Risk-Weighted Assets

1,518,938

 
19.07
%
 
517,614

 
6.50
%

Insurance of Deposit Accounts. The DFA permanently increased the maximum amount of deposit insurance for banks, savings institutions, and credit unions to $250,000 per depositor, retroactive to January 1, 2008.
The FDIC, as a requirement of the DFA, bases its assessments on each institution’s total assets less Tier 1 capital, with an assessment schedule that ranges from 2.5 basis points for the least risky institutions to 45 basis points for the riskiest. Institutions with over $10 billion of total assets, such as the Association, are classified for assessment purposes as "Large Institutions", and unless otherwise classified, are subjected to a large institution pricing system that includes a separate “scorecard” methodology. In conjunction with the FDIC Deposit Insurance Fund’s reserve ratio reaching 1.15%, the assessment range was lowered to 1.5 to 40 basis points, effective July 1, 2016. In addition, “Large Institutions” (those with assets of $10 billion or more) were assessed a surcharge required by the DFA until the earlier of the Deposit Insurance Fund reaching 1.35% or December 31, 2018. The surcharge was 4.5 basis points of the Large Institution’s “surcharge base,” which is generally its regular assessment base reduced by $10 billion. The FDIC announced that the 1.35% ratio was reached as of September 30, 2018 and the surcharge ended with payment of the December 31, 2018 invoice.
Insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a finding that an institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC. The Association does not believe that it is taking, or is subject to, any action, condition or violation that could lead to termination of its deposit insurance.
All FDIC-insured institutions have been required to pay a pro rata portion of the interest due on obligations issued by the FICO for anticipated payments, issuance costs and custodial fees on bonds issued by the FICO in the 1980s to recapitalize the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation. The last of the remaining FICO bonds matured in September 2019. The quarterly FICO assessments ended with the payment of the March 2019 invoice.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, the Association paid $81.4 thousand related to the FICO bonds and $8.3 million applicable to deposit insurance assessments. The deposit insurance payments are assessed on an arrears basis. At September 30, 2019, the balance of the Association's accrued deposit insurance assessment was $2.1 million.
Prohibitions Against Tying Arrangements. Federal savings associations are prohibited, subject to some exceptions, from extending credit to or offering any other service, or fixing or varying the consideration for such extension of credit or service,

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on the condition that the customer obtain some additional service from the institution or its affiliates or not obtain services of a competitor of the institution.
Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Association is a member of the FHLB System, which consists of 11 regional FHLBs. The FHLB System provides a central credit facility primarily for member institutions. As a member of the FHLB of Cincinnati, the Association is required to acquire and hold shares of capital stock in the FHLB.
As of September 30, 2019, outstanding borrowings (including accrued interest) from the FHLB of Cincinnati were $3.90 billion and the Association was in compliance with the stock investment requirement.
Proposed Federal Regulation
On September 10, 2018, the OCC issued a proposed rule implementing a section of the Economic Growth, Relief and Consumer Protection Act that permits an eligible federal savings association with total consolidated assets of $20 billion or less as of December 31, 2017, to elect to operate with national bank powers without converting to a national bank charter. The proposed rule was finalized in May 2019. No such election had been made by the Association as of September 30, 2019.
Other Regulations
Interest and other charges collected or contracted for by the Association are subject to state usury laws and federal laws concerning interest rates. The Association’s operations are also subject to federal laws applicable to credit transactions, such as the:
Truth-In-Lending Act, governing disclosures of credit terms to consumer borrowers;
Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, requiring financial institutions to provide information to enable the public and public officials to determine whether a financial institution is fulfilling its obligation to help meet the housing needs of the community it serves;
Equal Credit Opportunity Act, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, creed or other prohibited factors in extending credit;
Fair Credit Reporting Act, governing the use and provision of information to credit reporting agencies;
Fair Debt Collection Act, governing the manner in which consumer debts may be collected by collection agencies; and
rules and regulations of the various federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing such federal laws.
The operations of the Association also are subject to:
The Right to Financial Privacy Act, which imposes a duty to maintain confidentiality of consumer financial records and prescribes procedures for complying with administrative subpoenas of financial records;
The Electronic Funds Transfer Act and Regulation E promulgated thereunder, which govern automatic deposits to and withdrawals from deposit accounts and customers’ rights and liabilities arising from the use of automated teller machines and other electronic banking services;
The Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (also known as “Check 21”), which gives “substitute checks,” such as digital check images and copies made from those images, the same legal standing as the original paper check;
Title III of The Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (referred to as the “USA PATRIOT Act”), which significantly expanded the responsibilities of financial institutions, including savings associations, in preventing the use of the U.S. financial system to fund terrorist activities. Among other provisions, the USA PATRIOT Act and the related regulations of the OCC require savings associations operating in the United States to develop new anti-money laundering compliance programs, due diligence policies and controls to ensure the detection and reporting of money laundering. Such compliance programs are intended to supplement existing compliance requirements, also applicable to financial institutions, under the Bank Secrecy Act and the Office of Foreign Assets Control Regulations; and
The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which placed limitations on the sharing of consumer financial information by financial institutions with unaffiliated third parties. Specifically, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires all financial institutions offering financial products or services to retail customers to provide such customers with the financial institution’s privacy policy and provide such customers the opportunity to “opt out” of the sharing of certain personal financial information with unaffiliated third parties.

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Holding Company Regulation
General. Third Federal Savings, MHC, and the Company are non-diversified savings and loan holding companies within the meaning of the Home Owners’ Loan Act. As such, Third Federal Savings, MHC and the Company are registered with the FRS and subject to FRS regulations, examinations, supervision and reporting requirements. In addition, the FRS has enforcement authority over Third Federal Savings, MHC, the Company and the Association. Among other things, this authority permits the FRS to restrict or prohibit activities that are determined to be a serious risk to the Association. As federal corporations, Third Federal Savings, MHC and the Company are generally not subject to state business organization laws.
Permitted Activities. Pursuant to Section 10(o) of the Home Owners’ Loan Act and FRS regulations, a mutual holding company, such as Third Federal Savings, MHC and its mid-tier companies, such as the Company, may, with appropriate regulatory approval, engage in the following activities:
(i)
investing in the stock of a savings association;
(ii)
acquiring a mutual association through the merger of such association into a savings association subsidiary of such holding company or an interim savings association subsidiary of such holding company;
(iii)
merging with or acquiring another holding company, one of whose subsidiaries is a savings association;
(iv)
investing in a corporation, the capital stock of which is available for purchase by a savings association under federal law or under the law of any state where the subsidiary savings association has its home offices;
(v)
furnishing or performing management services for a savings association subsidiary of such company;
(vi)
holding, managing or liquidating assets owned or acquired from a savings association subsidiary of such company;
(vii)
holding or managing properties used or occupied by a savings association subsidiary of such company;
(viii)
acting as trustee under deeds of trust;
(ix)
any other activity:
(A) that the FRS, by regulation, has determined to be permissible for bank holding companies under Section 4(c) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, unless the FRS, by regulation, prohibits or limits any such activity for savings and loan holding companies; or
(B) in which multiple savings and loan holding companies were authorized (by regulation) to directly engage on March 5, 1987;
(x) if the savings and loan holding company meets the criteria to qualify as a financial holding company, any activity permissible for financial holding companies under Section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act, including securities and insurance underwriting; and
(xi) purchasing, holding, or disposing of stock acquired in connection with a qualified stock issuance if the purchase of such stock by such savings and loan holding company is approved by the FRS. If a mutual holding company acquires or merges with another holding company, the holding company acquired or the holding company resulting from such merger or acquisition may only invest in assets and engage in activities listed in (i) through (x) above, and has a period of two years to cease any nonconforming activities and divest any nonconforming investments.
The Home Owners’ Loan Act prohibits a savings and loan holding company, including the Company, directly or indirectly, or through one or more subsidiaries, from acquiring more than 5% of another savings institution or holding company thereof, without prior written approval of the FRS. It also prohibits the acquisition or retention of, with certain exceptions, more than 5% of a non-subsidiary company engaged in activities other than those permitted by the Home Owners’ Loan Act or acquiring or retaining control of an institution that is not federally insured. In evaluating applications by holding companies to acquire savings institutions, the FRS must consider the financial and managerial resources, future prospects of the company and institution involved, the effect of the acquisition on the risk to the federal deposit insurance fund, the convenience and needs of the community and competitive factors.
The FRS is prohibited from approving any acquisition that would result in a multiple savings and loan holding company controlling savings institutions in more than one state, subject to two exceptions:
(i)
the approval of interstate supervisory acquisitions by savings and loan holding companies; and
(ii)
the acquisition of a savings institution in another state if the laws of the state of the target savings institution specifically permit such acquisition.
The states vary in the extent to which they permit interstate savings and loan holding company acquisitions.

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Capital. Savings and loan holding companies were historically not subject to specific regulatory capital requirements. The DFA, however, required the FRS to promulgate consolidated capital requirements for all depository institution holding companies that are no less stringent, both quantitatively and in terms of components of capital, than those applicable to depository institutions themselves. Instruments such as cumulative preferred stock and trust preferred securities could no longer be included as Tier 1 capital, as was previously permitted for bank holding companies.

The previously discussed final rule regarding regulatory capital requirements implemented the DFA’s directive as to savings and loan holding companies. Consolidated regulatory capital requirements identical to those applicable to the subsidiary depository institutions generally applied to savings and loan holding companies as of January 1, 2015. As is the case with institutions themselves, the capital conservation buffer was phased in between 2016 and 2019.
Dividends and Repurchases. The FRS has issued a policy statement regarding the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares of common stock by bank holding companies that it has made applicable to savings and loan holding companies as well. In general, the policy provides that dividends should be paid only out of current earnings and only if the prospective rate of earnings retention by the holding company appears consistent with the organization's capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. Regulatory guidance provides for prior regulatory review of capital distributions in certain circumstances such as where the company's net income for the past four quarters, net of dividends previously paid over that period, is insufficient to fully fund the dividend or the company's overall rate of earnings retention is inconsistent with the company's capital needs and overall financial condition. The ability of a holding company to pay dividends may be restricted if a subsidiary bank becomes undercapitalized. The policy statement also provides for regulatory review prior to a holding company redeeming or repurchasing regulatory capital instruments when the holding company is experiencing financial weaknesses or redeeming or repurchasing common stock or perpetual preferred stock that would result in a net reduction as of the end of a quarter in the amount of such equity instruments outstanding compared with the beginning of the quarter in which the redemption or repurchase occurred. These regulatory policies could affect the ability of the Company to pay dividends, repurchase shares of common stock or otherwise engage in capital distributions.
Source of Strength. The DFA extended the “source of strength” doctrine, which has traditionally been applicable to bank holding companies, to savings and loan holding companies as well. The FRS has issued regulations requiring that all savings and loan holding companies serve as a source of strength to their subsidiary depository institutions by providing capital, liquidity and other support in times of financial stress.
Waivers of Dividends by Third Federal Savings, MHC. Federal regulations require Third Federal Savings, MHC to notify the FRS of any proposed waiver of its receipt of dividends from the Company. The OTS, the previous regulator for Third Federal Savings, MHC, allowed dividend waivers provided the mutual holding company’s Board of Directors determined that the waiver was consistent with its fiduciary duties and the waiver would not be detrimental to the safety and soundness of its subsidiary institution. In February 2008, the Company declared its first quarterly dividend and Third Federal Savings, MHC waived its right to receive each dividend paid by the Company. Section 625(a) of DFA preserved, for mutual holding companies, including Third Federal Savings, MHC, that had reorganized into mutual holding company form, issued minority stock and waived dividends prior to December 1, 2009, the right to waive dividends if the waiver was not detrimental to the safe and sound operation of the savings association and the board of directors expressly determines that the waiver is consistent with the fiduciary duties of the board to the mutual members of the mutual holding company. However, on August 12, 2011, the FRS issued an interim final rule that added a requirement that a majority of the mutual holding company’s members eligible to vote must approve a dividend waiver by a mutual holding company within 12 months prior to the declaration of the dividend being waived. The FRS is reviewing comments on the interim final rule, which were required to be submitted by November 1, 2011, as part of its rulemaking process, and there can be no assurance that the final rule will not require such a member vote. On July 16, 2019, Third Federal Savings, MHC received the approval of its members (depositors and certain loan customers of the Association) with respect to the waiver of dividends, and subsequently received the non-objection of the FRB-Cleveland, to waive receipt of dividends on the Company’s common stock the MHC owns up to a total of $1.10 per share during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2020. Third Federal Savings, MHC previously received the approval of its members at: (1) a July 11, 2018 meeting to waive receipt of dividends up to a total of $1.00 per share during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2019, (2) a July 19, 2017 meeting to waive receipt of dividends up to a total of $0.68 per share during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2018; (3) a July 26, 2016 meeting to waive receipt of dividends up to $0.50 per share during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2017; and (4) an August 5, 2015 meeting to waive receipt of dividends up to $0.40 per share during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2016.
Conversion of Third Federal Savings, MHC to Stock Form. Federal regulations permit Third Federal Savings, MHC to convert from the mutual form of organization to the capital stock form of organization (a “Conversion Transaction”). There can be no assurance when, if ever, a Conversion Transaction will occur, and the Board of Directors has no current intention or plan to undertake a Conversion Transaction. In a Conversion Transaction, a new stock holding company would be formed as the successor to the Company, Third Federal Savings, MHC’s corporate existence would end, and certain depositors of the

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Association would receive the right to subscribe for additional shares of common stock of the new holding company. In a Conversion Transaction, each share of common stock held by stockholders other than Third Federal Savings, MHC (“Minority Stockholders”) would be automatically converted into a number of shares of common stock of the new holding company determined pursuant to an exchange ratio that ensures that Minority Stockholders own the same percentage of common stock in the new holding company as they owned in the Company immediately prior to the Conversion Transaction. Under a provision of the DFA applicable to Third Federal Savings, MHC, Minority Stockholders should not be diluted because of any dividends waived by Third Federal Savings, MHC (and waived dividends should not be considered in determining an appropriate exchange ratio), in the event Third Federal Savings, MHC converts to stock form. Any such Conversion Transaction would require various member and stockholder approvals, as well as regulatory approval.
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related regulations address, among other issues, corporate governance, auditing and accounting, executive compensation, and enhanced and timely disclosure of corporate information. We have prepared policies, procedures and systems designed to ensure compliance with these regulations.

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Item 1A.
Risk Factors
Future changes in interest rates could reduce our net income.
Our net income largely depends on our net interest income, which could be negatively affected by changes in interest rates. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income we earn on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and the interest we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings.
The vast majority of our assets and liabilities are financial in nature, and as a result, changes in market and competitive interest rates can impact our customers’ actions as well as the types and amount of business opportunities that are available to us. In general, when changes occur in interest rates that prompt our existing customers to pursue strategies that are beneficial to them, the results are generally unfavorable for us.
Generally, in a period of rising interest rates, the interest income earned on our assets may not increase as rapidly as the interest paid on our liabilities because, like many savings institutions, our liabilities generally have shorter contractual maturities than our assets. An example of this occurs when, interest rates paid on certificates of deposit experience a significant increase. In this circumstance, a CD customer may determine that it is in his/her best interest to incur the existing penalty for early withdrawal, tender the certificate for cash and either reinvest the proceeds in a new CD with us, or withdraw the funds and leave us. As a result, we either establish a new, higher rate certificate (if the customer stays with us) or we must fund the customer’s withdrawal by: (1) reducing our cash reserves; (2) selling assets to generate cash to fund the withdrawal; (3) attracting deposits from another customer at the then-higher interest rate; or (4) borrowing from a wholesale lender like the FHLB of Cincinnati, again at the then-higher interest rate. Each of these alternatives can have an unfavorable impact on us.
As another example of changes in interest rates that can have an unfavorable impact on our net interest income, if mortgage interest rates decline, our customers may seek to refinance, without penalty, their mortgage loans with us or repay their mortgage loans with us and borrow from another lender. When that happens, either the yield that we earn on the customer’s loan is reduced (if the customer refinances with us) or the mortgage is paid off and we are faced with the challenge of reinvesting the cash received to repay the mortgage in a lower interest rate environment. This is frequently referred to as reinvestment risk, which is the risk that we may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of loan prepayments at rates that are comparable to the rates we earned on the loans prior to receipt of the repayment. Reinvestment risk also exists with the securities in our investment portfolio that are backed by mortgage loans.
Our net interest income can also be negatively impacted when assets and funding sources with seemingly similar, but not identical re-pricing characteristics react differently to changing interest rates. An example is our home equity lines of credit loan portfolio and our interest-bearing checking and savings deposit products. Interest rates charged on our home equity lines of credit loans are linked to the prime rate of interest, which generally adjusts in a direct relationship to changes in the FRS’s Federal Funds target rate. Similarly, our interest-bearing checking and savings deposit products are generally expected to adjust when changes are made to the Federal Funds target rate. However, to the extent that increases or decreases are made to the Federal Funds target rate, and those increases or decreases translate into increases or decreases of the prime rate and the rate charged on our home equity lines of credit loans, but do not extend to equivalent adjustments to our interest-bearing checking and savings deposit products, we can experience a reduction in our net interest income. At September 30, 2019, we held $2.02 billion of home equity lines of credit loans and $2.18 billion of interest-bearing checking and savings deposits.
Our net income can also be reduced by the impact that changes in interest rates can have on the value of our capitalized mortgage servicing rights. As of September 30, 2019, we serviced $1.80 billion of loans sold to third parties, and the mortgage servicing rights associated with such loans had an amortized cost of $8.1 million and an estimated fair value, at that date, of $13.5 million. Because the estimated life and estimated income to be derived from servicing the underlying mortgage loans generally increase with rising interest rates and decrease with falling interest rates, the value of mortgage servicing rights generally increases as interest rates rise and decreases as interest rates fall. If interest rates fall and the value of our capitalized servicing rights decrease, we may be required to recognize an additional impairment charge against income for the amount by which amortized cost exceeds estimated fair market value.
Our securities portfolio may be impacted by fluctuations in market value, potentially reducing accumulated other comprehensive income and/or earnings. Fluctuations in market value may be caused by changes in market interest rates, lower market prices for securities and limited investor demand. Changes in interest rates can also have an adverse effect on our financial condition, as our available-for-sale securities are reported at their estimated fair value, and therefore are impacted by fluctuations in interest rates. We increase or decrease our stockholders’ equity by the amount of change in the estimated fair value of the available-for-sale securities, net of taxes. The declines in market value could result in other-than-temporary

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impairments of these assets, which would lead to accounting charges that could have a material adverse effect on our net income and capital levels.
In general, changes in market and competitive interest rates result from events that we do not control and over which we generally have little or no influence. As a result, mitigation of the adverse affects of changing interest rates is generally limited to controlling the composition of the assets and liabilities that we hold. To monitor our positions, we maintain an interest rate risk modeling system which is designed to measure our interest rate risk sensitivity. Using customized modeling software, the Association prepares periodic estimates of the amounts by which the net present value of its cash flows from assets, liabilities and off balance sheet items (the institution’s economic value of equity) would change in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. The simulation model uses a discounted cash flow analysis and an option-based pricing approach in measuring the interest rate sensitivity of EVE. At September 30, 2019, in the event of an immediate 200 basis point increase in all interest rates, our model projects that we would experience a $354.3 million, or 15.78%, decrease in EVE. Our calculations further project that, at September 30, 2019, in the event that market interest rates used in the simulation were adjusted in equal monthly amounts (termed a "ramped" format) during the twelve month measurement period to an aggregate increase in 200 basis points, we would expect our projected net interest income for the twelve months ended September 30, 2020 to increase by 1.53%. See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”
A worsening of economic conditions could reduce demand for our products and services and/or result in increases in our level of non-performing loans, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our performance is significantly impacted by the general economic conditions in our primary markets in the states of Ohio and Florida, and surrounding areas. We also originate loans in other states which will be impacted by national or regional economic conditions. A deterioration in economic conditions is likely to result in high levels of unemployment, which would weaken local economies and could result in additional defaults of mortgage loans. Most of the loans in our loan portfolio are secured by real estate located in our primary market areas. Negative conditions, such as layoffs, in the markets where collateral for a mortgage loan is located could adversely affect a borrower’s ability to repay the loan and the value of the collateral securing the loan. Declines in the U.S. housing market, falling home prices and increasing foreclosures, as well as unemployment and under-employment, all negatively impact the credit performance of mortgage loans and can result in significant write-downs of asset values by financial institutions.
In response to a significant decline in general economic conditions, many lenders and institutional investors may reduce or cease providing funding to borrowers, including other financial institutions. This market turmoil and tightening of credit could lead to an increased level of commercial and consumer delinquencies, lack of consumer confidence, increased market volatility and widespread reduction of general business activity. The resulting economic pressure on consumers and lack of confidence in the financial markets could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In response, we would expect to face the following risks in connection with these events:
Increased regulation of our industry, heightened supervisory scrutiny related to the USA Patriot Act, Bank Secrecy Act, Fair Lending and other laws and regulations, along with enhanced monitoring of compliance with such regulation. Each aspect of amplified supervision and regulation will in all likelihood increase our costs, may be accompanied by the risk of unexpected fines, sanctions, penalties, litigation and corresponding management diversion and may limit our ability to pursue business opportunities and return capital to our shareholders.
Our ability to assess the creditworthiness of our customers may be impaired if the models and approaches we use to select, manage, and underwrite our customers become less predictive of future behaviors.
The processes we use to estimate losses inherent in our credit exposure require difficult, subjective, and complex judgments, including forecasts of economic conditions and how these economic predictions might impair the ability of our borrowers to repay their loans, which may no longer be capable of viable estimation and which may, in turn, impact the reliability of our evaluation processes, the comfort of our regulators with respect to the adequacy of our allowance for loan losses and who may require adjustments thereto, and ultimately could result in increased provisions for loan losses and reduced levels of earnings and capital.
Our ability to engage in sales of mortgage loans to third parties (including mortgage loan securitization transactions with governmental entities) on favorable terms or at all could be adversely affected by further disruptions in the capital markets or other events, including deteriorating investor expectations.
Competition in our industry could intensify as a result of increasing consolidation of financial services companies in connection with current market conditions.

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Changes in laws and regulations and the cost of compliance with new laws and regulations may adversely affect our operations and our income.
We are subject to extensive regulation, supervision and examination by the FRS, the OCC, the CFPB and the FDIC. These regulatory authorities have extensive discretion in connection with their supervisory and enforcement activities, including the ability to impose restrictions on a bank’s operations, reclassify assets, determine the adequacy of a bank’s allowance for loan losses and determine the level of deposit insurance premiums assessed. Because our business is highly regulated, the laws and applicable regulations are subject to frequent change. Any change in these regulations and oversight, whether in the form of regulatory policy, new regulations or legislation or additional deposit insurance premiums could have a material impact on our operations.
The potential exists for additional federal or state laws and regulations, or changes in policy, affecting lending and funding practices and liquidity standards. Moreover, bank regulatory agencies have been active in responding to concerns and trends identified in examinations, and have issued many formal enforcement orders requiring capital ratios in excess of regulatory requirements. Bank regulatory agencies, such as the FRS, the OCC, the CFPB and the FDIC, govern the activities in which we may engage, primarily for the protection of depositors, and not for the protection or benefit of potential investors. In addition, new laws and regulations may increase our costs of regulatory compliance and of doing business, and otherwise affect our operations. New laws and regulations may significantly affect the markets in which we do business, the markets for and value of our loans and investments, the fees we can charge and our ongoing operations, costs and profitability.
We received a “Needs to Improve” Community Reinvestment Act rating in our most recent federal examination. This could, at a minimum, result in denial of certain corporate applications such as those related to branches, mergers, minority stock offerings or a second-step conversion.
All savings associations have a responsibility under the Community Reinvestment Act and federal regulations to help meet the credit needs of their communities, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. In connection with its examination of a federal savings association, the OCC is required to assess the savings association’s record of compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act. The Association received a “Needs to Improve” Community Reinvestment Act rating in its most recent federal examination that covered home mortgage lending data for the period January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014. A savings association’s failure to comply with the provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act could, at a minimum, result in denial of certain corporate applications such as those related to branches, mergers, minority stock offerings or a second-step conversion, or in restrictions on its activities.
Strong competition within our market areas may limit our growth and profitability.
Competition in the banking and financial services industry is intense. In our market areas, we compete with commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage brokerage firms, credit unions, finance companies, mutual funds, money market funds, insurance companies, and brokerage and investment banking firms operating locally and elsewhere. Some of our competitors have greater name recognition and market presence that benefit them in attracting business, and offer certain services that we do not or cannot provide. In addition, larger competitors may be able to price loans and deposits more aggressively than we do. Troubled financial institutions may significantly increase the interest rates paid to depositors in pursuit of retail deposits when wholesale funding sources are not available to them. Furthermore, the wide acceptance of Internet-based commerce has resulted in a number of alternative payment processing systems and lending platforms in which banks play only minor roles. Customers can now maintain funds in prepaid debit cards or digital currencies, and pay bills and transfer funds directly without the direct assistance of banks. Our profitability depends upon our continued ability to successfully compete in our market areas. For additional information see PART 1 Item 1. Business-THIRD FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND-Competition.
We continually encounter technological change, and may have fewer resources than many of our larger competitors to continue to invest in technological improvements.
The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes, with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services. The effective use of technology increases efficiency and enables financial institutions to better serve customers and to reduce costs. Our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to address the needs of our customers by using technology to provide products and services that will satisfy customer demands for convenience, as well as to create additional efficiencies in our operations. Many of our competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We also may not be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers.

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Certain aspects of our corporate structure related to dividend payment ability and governance could adversely affect the value of our common stock.
The value of the Company’s common stock is significantly affected by our ability to pay dividends to our public stockholders. The Company’s ability to pay dividends to our stockholders is subject to the availability of cash at the holding company and, in the event earnings are not sufficient to fund the dividends, eventually, the ability of the Association to make capital distributions to the Company. Moreover, our ability to pay dividends and the amount of such dividends is affected by the ability of Third Federal Savings, MHC, our mutual holding company, to waive the receipt of dividends declared by the Company.
Federal regulations require Third Federal Savings, MHC to notify the FRS of any proposed waiver of its receipt of dividends from the Company. In August 2011, the FRS issued an interim final rule pursuant to the DFA, providing that the FRS “may not” object to dividend waivers by grandfathered mutual holding companies, such as Third Federal Savings, MHC, under standards substantially similar to those previously required by the OTS. However, the interim final rule added a requirement that a majority of the mutual holding company’s members eligible to vote must approve a dividend waiver by a mutual holding company within twelve months prior to the declaration of the dividend being waived. As part of its rulemaking process, the FRS is reviewing comments on the interim final rule and there can be no assurance that the final rule will not require such a member vote. Third Federal Savings, MHC has received the approval of its members in five separate meetings (in August 2015, July 2016, July 2017, July 2018 and July 2019) to waive the receipt of dividends for a twelve-month period, and the FRS has “non-objected” to Third Federal Savings, MHC’s waiver each time However, future approvals of members and non-objections from the FRS are not assured and if not obtained, the discontinuance of dividend payments would adversely affect the value of our common stock.
Third Federal Savings, MHC, as our majority shareholder, is able to control the outcome of virtually all matters presented to our shareholders for their approval, including any proposal to acquire us. The same directors and officers who manage the Association also manage the Company and Third Federal Savings, MHC. The board of directors of Third Federal Savings, MHC must ensure that the interests of depositors of the Association (as members of Third Federal Savings, MHC) are represented and considered in matters put to a vote of stockholders of the Company. Therefore, Third Federal Savings, MHC may take action that the public stockholders believe to be contrary to their interests. For example, Third Federal Savings, MHC may exercise its voting control to defeat a stockholder nominee for election to the board of directors of the Company. Additionally, Third Federal Savings, MHC may prevent the sale of control or merger of the Company or its subsidiaries, or a second-step conversion of Third Federal Savings, MHC, even if such a transaction were favored by a majority of the public shareholders of the Company.
Cyber-attacks, other security breaches or failure or interruption of information systems could adversely affect our operations, net income or reputation.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. We regularly collect, process, transmit and store significant amounts of data and confidential information regarding our customers, employees and others and concerning our own business, operations, plans and strategies. In some cases, this confidential or proprietary information is collected, compiled, processed, transmitted or stored by third parties on our behalf.
Information security risks have generally increased in recent years because of the proliferation of new technologies, the use of the Internet and telecommunications technologies to conduct financial and other transactions and the increased sophistication and activities of perpetrators of cyber-attacks and mobile phishing. Mobile phishing, a means for identity thieves to obtain sensitive personal information through fraudulent e-mail, text or voice mail, is an on-going threat targeting the customers of popular financial entities. A failure in or breach of our operational or information security systems, or those of our third-party service providers, as a result of cyber-attacks or information security breaches or due to employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions could adversely affect our business, result in the disclosure or misuse of confidential or proprietary information, damage our reputation, increase our costs and/or cause losses.
If this confidential or proprietary information were to be mishandled, misused or lost, we could be exposed to significant regulatory consequences, reputational damage, civil litigation and financial loss.
Although we employ a variety of physical, procedural and technological safeguards to protect this confidential and proprietary information from mishandling, misuse or loss, these safeguards do not provide absolute assurance that mishandling, misuse or loss of the information will not occur. If mishandling, misuse or loss of the information did occur, the Company would make all commercially reasonable efforts to detect and address any such event. Similarly, when confidential or proprietary information is collected, compiled, processed, transmitted or stored by third parties on our behalf, our policies and procedures require that the third party agree to maintain the confidentiality of the information, establish and maintain policies

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and procedures designed to preserve the confidentiality of the information, and permit us to confirm the third party’s compliance with the terms of the agreement. As information security risks and cyber threats continue to evolve, we may be required to expend additional resources to continue to enhance our information security measures and/or to investigate and remediate any information security vulnerabilities.
We believe that we have not experienced any material breaches.
Customer or employee fraud subjects us to additional operational risks.
Employee errors and employee and customer misconduct could subject us to financial losses or regulatory sanctions and seriously harm our reputation. Our loans to individuals and our deposit relationships and related transactions are also subject to exposure to the risk of loss due to fraud and other financial crimes. Misconduct by our employees could include hiding unauthorized activities from us, improper or unauthorized activities on behalf of our customers or improper use of confidential information. It is not always possible to prevent employee errors and misconduct, and the precautions we take to prevent and detect this activity may not be effective in all cases. Employee errors could also subject us to financial claims for negligence. We have not experienced any material financial losses from employee errors, misconduct or fraud. However, if our internal controls fail to prevent or promptly detect an occurrence, or if any resulting loss is not insured or exceeds applicable insurance limits, it could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

If our enterprise risk management framework is not effective at mitigating risk and loss to us, we could suffer unexpected losses and our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
Our enterprise risk management framework seeks to achieve an appropriate balance between risk and return, which is critical to optimizing stockholder value. We have established processes and procedures intended to identify, measure, monitor, report and analyze the types of risk to which we are subject, including credit, liquidity, operational, regulatory compliance and reputational. However, as with any risk management framework, there are inherent limitations to our risk management strategies as there may exist, or develop in the future, risks that we have not appropriately anticipated or identified. If our risk management framework proves ineffective, we could suffer unexpected losses and our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

Our operations rely on numerous external vendors.
We rely on numerous external vendors to provide us with products and services necessary to maintain our day-to-day operations. Accordingly, our operations are exposed to risk that these vendors will not perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements. The failure of an external vendor to perform in accordance with the contracted arrangements under service level agreements because of changes in the vendor's organizational structure, financial condition, support for existing products and services or strategic focus or for any other reason, could be disruptive to our operations, which in turn could have a material negative impact on our financial condition and results of operations. We also could be adversely affected to the extent such an agreement is not renewed by the third-party vendor or is renewed on terms less favorable to us. Our Vendor Management program helps mitigate risks and is structured to minimize the cost and time required to replace a vendor in the event of a failure or the vendor's inability to meet service level agreements.
Hurricanes or other adverse weather events could negatively affect the economy in our Florida market area or cause disruptions to our branch office locations, which could have an adverse effect on our business or results of operations.
A significant portion of our branch operations are conducted in Florida, a geographic region with coastal areas that are susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms. Such weather events can disrupt our operations, result in damage to our branch office locations and negatively affect the local economy in which we operate. We cannot predict whether or to what extent damage caused by future hurricanes or tropical storms will affect our operations or the economy in our market area, but such weather events could result in fewer loan originations and greater delinquencies, foreclosures or loan losses. These and other negative effects of future hurricanes or tropical storms may adversely affect our business or results of operations.
A new accounting standard may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has adopted a new accounting standard that will be effective for the Company for our fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020. This standard, referred to as Current Expected Credit Loss, or CECL, will require financial institutions to determine periodic estimates of lifetime expected credit losses on loans, and recognize the expected credit losses as allowances for loan losses. This will change the current method of providing allowances for loan losses that are probable, which may require us to increase our allowance for loan losses, and to greatly increase the types of

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data we would need to collect and review to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses. Any increase in our allowance for loan losses or expenses incurred to determine the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Secondary mortgage market conditions could have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
 
Loan sales provide a significant portion of our non-interest income. In addition to being affected by interest rates, the secondary mortgage markets are also subject to investor demand for residential real estate loans and increased investor yield requirements for these loans.  These conditions may fluctuate or worsen in the future.  A prolonged period of secondary market illiquidity could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
If we are required to repurchase mortgage loans that we have previously sold, it would negatively affect our earnings.
We sell mortgage loans in the secondary market under agreements that contain representations and warranties related to, among other things, the origination, characteristics of the mortgage loans and subsequent servicing. We may be required to repurchase mortgage loans that we have sold in cases of borrower default or breaches of these representations and warranties, and we would be subject to increased risk of disputes and repurchase demands as our volume of loan sales increases. If we are required to repurchase mortgage loans or provide indemnification or other recourse, this could significantly increase our costs and thereby affect our future earnings.
Final regulations could restrict our ability to originate and sell loans.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a rule designed to clarify for lenders how they can avoid legal liability under the Dodd-Frank Act, which holds lenders accountable for ensuring a borrower’s ability to repay a mortgage. Loans that meet this “qualified mortgage” definition will be presumed to have complied with the new ability-to-repay standard. Under the rule, a “qualified mortgage” loan must not contain certain specified features, including:
excessive upfront points and fees (those exceeding 3% of the total loan amount, less “bona fide discount points” for prime loans);
interest-only payments;
negative amortization; and
terms of longer than 30 years.
Also, to qualify as a “qualified mortgage,” a loan must be made to a borrower whose total monthly debt-to-income ratio does not exceed 43%. Lenders must also verify and document the income and financial resources relied upon to qualify the borrower on the loan and underwrite the loan based on a fully amortizing payment schedule and maximum interest rate during the first five years, taking into account all applicable taxes, insurance and assessments.
 In addition, the Dodd-Frank Act requires the regulatory agencies to issue regulations that require securitizers of loans to retain “not less than 5% of the credit risk for any asset that is not a qualified residential mortgage.” The regulatory agencies have issued a final rule to implement this requirement. The final rule provides that the definition of “qualified residential mortgage” includes loans that meet the definition of qualified mortgage issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
 The final rule could have a significant effect on the secondary market for loans and the types of loans we originate, and restrict our ability to make loans. Similarly, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rule on qualified mortgages could limit our ability or desire to make certain types of loans or loans to certain borrowers, which could limit our growth or profitability.
We may be required to transition from the use of the LIBOR interest rate index in the future. 
We have certain interest rate swap contracts indexed to LIBOR to calculate the interest rate. The continued availability of the LIBOR index is not guaranteed after 2021. We cannot predict whether and to what extent banks will continue to provide LIBOR submissions to the administrator of LIBOR or whether any additional reforms to LIBOR may be enacted. At this time, a general consensus exists that in the U.S. the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) index will be an acceptable alternative to LIBOR. The language in our LIBOR-based contracts and financial instruments has been developed by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and may have various events that trigger when a successor rate to the designated rate would be selected. If a trigger is satisfied, contracts and financial instruments may give the calculation agent discretion over the substitute index or indices for the calculation of interest rates to be selected. The implementation of a substitute index or indices for the calculation of interest rates under our swap contracts may result in our incurring significant expenses in effecting

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the transition and may result in disputes or litigation with over the appropriateness or comparability to LIBOR of the substitute index or indices, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may be adversely affected by recent changes in U.S. tax laws.
Changes in tax laws contained in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted in December 2017, include a number of provisions that will have an impact on the banking industry, borrowers and the market for single-family residential real estate. Changes include (i) a lower limit on the deductibility of mortgage interest on single-family residential mortgage loans, (ii) the elimination of interest deductions for home equity loans, (iii) a limitation on the deductibility of business interest expense and (iv) a limitation on the deductibility of property taxes and state and local income taxes.
The recent changes in the tax laws may have an adverse effect on the market for, and valuation of, residential properties, and on the demand for such loans in the future, and could make it harder for borrowers to make their loan payments. In addition, these recent changes may also have a disproportionate effect on taxpayers in states with high residential home prices and high state and local taxes. If home ownership becomes less attractive, demand for mortgage loans could decrease. The value of the properties securing loans in our loan portfolio may be adversely impacted as a result of the changing economics of home ownership, which could require an increase in our provision for loan losses, which would reduce our profitability and could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our sources of funds are limited because of our holding company structure.
The Company is a separate legal entity from its subsidiaries and does not have significant operations of its own. Dividends from the Association provide a significant source of cash for the Company. The availability of dividends from the Association is limited by various statutes and regulations. Under these statutes and regulations, the Association is not permitted to pay dividends on its capital stock to the Company, its sole stockholder, if the dividend would reduce the stockholders' equity of the Association below the amount of the liquidation account established in connection with the mutual-to-stock conversion. Federal savings associations may pay dividends without the approval of its primary federal regulator only if they meet applicable regulatory capital requirements before and after the payment of the dividends and total dividends do not exceed net income to date over the calendar year plus its retained net income over the preceding two years. If in the future, the Company utilizes its available cash and the Bank is unable to pay dividends to the Company, the Company may not have sufficient funds to pay dividends or fund stock repurchases.
The FRS may require the Company to commit capital resources to support the Association, and we may not have sufficient access to such capital resources.

Federal law requires that a holding company act as a source of financial and managerial strength to its subsidiary bank and to commit resources to support such subsidiary bank. Under the “source of strength” doctrine, the FRS may require a holding company to make capital injections into a troubled subsidiary bank and may charge the holding company with engaging in unsafe and unsound practices for failure to commit resources to a subsidiary bank. A capital injection may be required at times when the holding company may not have the resources to provide it and therefore may be required to attempt to borrow the funds or raise capital. Any loans by a holding company to its subsidiary bank are subordinate in right of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary bank. In the event of a holding company’s bankruptcy, the bankruptcy trustee will assume any commitment by the holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the capital of a subsidiary bank. Moreover, bankruptcy law provides that claims based on any such commitment will be entitled to a priority of payment over the claims of the institution’s general unsecured creditors, including the holders of its note obligations. Thus, any borrowing that must be done by the Company to make a required capital injection becomes more difficult and expensive and could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, it is possible that we will be unable to borrow funds when we need to do so.
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2.
Properties
We operate from our main office in Cleveland, Ohio, our 37 full-service branch offices located in Ohio and Florida and our eight loan production offices located in Ohio. Our branch offices are located in the Ohio counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina and Summit and in the Florida counties of Broward, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota. Our loan production offices are located in the Ohio counties of Franklin, Butler, Delaware and Hamilton. The Company owns the building in which its home office and executive offices are located, and six other office locations. The net

46


book value of our land, premises, equipment and software was $61.6 million at September 30, 2019. Included in the net book value are two commercial buildings located in Canton, Massachusetts, valued at $17.7 million, which are owned by our Hazelmere entity and leased to third parties in net lease transactions.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal actions arising in the normal course of business.  In the opinion of management, the resolution of these legal actions is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operation, or statements of cash flows.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock is listed and traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “TFSL”. As of November 22, 2019, we had 6,752 shareholders of record, which does not include persons or entities holding shares in “nominee” or “street” name through brokerage firms.
Through September 30, 2010, Third Federal Savings, MHC, waived its right to receive dividends. The waivers complied with regulatory authorizations (in the form of non-objection) obtained by Third Federal Savings, MHC. Any requests for future regulatory authorizations to waive receipts of dividends will be submitted to the FRS. Please refer to the preceding discussion of dividend waivers presented in Part I, Item 1. Business, SUPERVISION AND REGULATION, Holding Company RegulationDividends and Waivers of Dividends by Third Federal Savings, MHC. Regulatory non-objection is subject to periodic regulatory review and no assurances can be given regarding future regulatory non-objection. In addition, interim final rules issued by the FRS in 2011 require that a majority of the mutual holding company's members eligible to vote must approve a dividend waiver by a mutual holding company within twelve months prior to the declaration of the dividend being waived. There can be no assurance that a final rule will not require such a member vote.
On July 16, 2019, at a special meeting of members of Third Federal Savings, MHC, the members (depositors and certain loan customers of the Association) of Third Federal Savings, MHC voted to approve Third Federal Savings, MHC's proposed waiver of dividends, aggregating up to $1.10 per share, to be declared on the Company’s common stock during the four quarterly periods ending June 30, 2020. The members approved the waiver by casting 62% of the eligible votes in favor of the waiver. Of the votes cast, 97% were in favor of the proposal. Third Federal Savings, MHC is the 81% majority shareholder of the Company.
Following the receipt of the members’ approval at the July 16, 2019 special meeting, Third Federal Savings, MHC filed a notice with, and subsequently received the non-objection of, the FRB-Cleveland for the proposed dividend waivers.

47


In the table and graph that follow, we have provided summary information regarding the performance of the cumulative total return of our common stock from September 30, 2014 through September 30, 2019, relative to the cumulative total return on stocks included in the SNL Bank and Thrift Index, SNL Thrift Index and NASDAQ Composite, in each case for the same period. The cumulative return data is presented in dollars, based on starting investments of $100 and assuming the reinvestment of dividends.
chart-1672f06dcbf6515d931.jpg
 
Measurement Date
Index (with base price at 9/30/2014)
9/30/2014
 
9/30/2015
 
9/30/2016
 
9/30/2017
 
9/30/2018
 
9/30/2019
TFS Financial Corporation
100.00

 
122.92

 
129.95

 
121.71

 
118.98

 
151.67

SNL Bank and Thrift Index
100.00

 
102.09

 
105.56

 
148.46

 
159.59

 
157.62

SNL Thrift Index
100.00

 
119.43

 
124.90

 
145.22

 
143.05

 
143.45

NASDAQ Composite
100.00

 
104.00

 
121.08

 
149.75

 
187.44

 
188.43

Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence
 ______________________
We did not sell any securities during the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

48


The following table summarizes our stock repurchase activity during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and the stock repurchase plans approved by our Board of Directors.
 
 
 
Average
 
Total Number of
 
Maximum Number
 
Total Number
 
Price
 
Shares Purchased
 
of Shares that May
 
of Shares
 
Paid per
 
as Part of Publicly
 
Yet be Purchased
Period
Purchased
 
Share
 
Announced Plans (1)
 
Under the Plans
July 1, 2019 through July 31, 2019
22,000

 
$
18.17

 
22,000

 
5,953,579

August 1, 2019 through August 31, 2019
22,000

 
17.72

 
22,000

 
5,931,579

September 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019
20,000

 
17.97

 
20,000

 
5,911,579

 
64,000

 
17.95

 
64,000

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(1)
On October 27, 2016, the Company announced that the Board of Directors approved the Company's eighth stock repurchase program, which authorizes the repurchase of up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, which commenced upon the completion of the Company's seventh stock repurchase program on January 7, 2017. Purchases under the program will be on an ongoing basis and subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses of capital, and our financial performance. Repurchased shares will be held as treasury stock and be available for general corporate use. The program has 5,911,579 shares yet to be purchased as of September 30, 2019. The program has no expiration date.
Item 6.
Selected Financial Data
 
At September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(In thousands)
Selected Financial Condition Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
14,542,356

 
$
14,137,331

 
$
13,692,563

 
$
12,906,062

 
$
12,368,886

Cash and cash equivalents
275,143

 
269,775

 
268,218

 
231,239

 
155,369

Investment securities - available for sale
547,864

 
531,965

 
537,479

 
517,866

 
585,053

Loans held for sale
3,666

 
659

 
351

 
4,686

 
116

Loans, net
13,195,745

 
12,871,294

 
12,419,306

 
11,708,804

 
11,187,583

Bank owned life insurance
217,481

 
212,021

 
205,883

 
200,144

 
195,861

Prepaid expenses and other assets
87,957

 
44,344

 
61,086

 
63,994

 
58,277

Deposits
8,766,384

 
8,491,583

 
8,151,625

 
8,331,368

 
8,285,858

Borrowed funds
3,902,981

 
3,721,699

 
3,671,377

 
2,718,795

 
2,168,627

Shareholders’ equity
1,696,754

 
1,758,404

 
1,689,959

 
1,660,458

 
1,729,370



49


 
For the Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Selected Operating Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
$
482,087

 
$
443,045

 
$
408,995

 
$
388,441

 
$
383,477

Interest expense
216,666

 
162,104

 
130,099

 
118,026

 
113,350

Net interest income
265,421

 
280,941

 
278,896

 
270,415

 
270,127

Provision (credit) for loan losses
(10,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(17,000
)
 
(8,000
)
 
(3,000
)
Net interest income after provision (credit) for loan losses
275,421

 
291,941

 
295,896

 
278,415

 
273,127

Non-interest income
20,464

 
21,536

 
19,849

 
24,952

 
24,260

Non-interest expenses
193,673

 
192,313

 
182,404

 
181,004

 
187,992

Earnings before income tax
102,212

 
121,164

 
133,341

 
122,363

 
109,395

Income tax expense
21,975

 
35,757

 
44,464

 
41,810

 
36,804

Net earnings after income tax expense
$
80,237

 
$
85,407

 
$
88,877

 
$
80,553

 
$
72,591

Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.29

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.32

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.25

Diluted
$
0.28

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.32

 
$
0.28

 
$
0.25

Cash dividends declared per share
$
1.02

 
$
0.76

 
$
0.545

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.07



50


 
At or For The Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
2016
 
2015
Selected Financial Ratios and Other Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Performance Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Return on average assets
0.56
%
 
0.62
%
 
0.67
%
 
0.65
%
 
0.57
%
  Return on average equity
4.58
%
 
4.91
%
 
5.28
%
 
4.73
%
 
4.04
%
  Interest rate spread(1)
1.73
%
 
1.93
%
 
2.02
%
 
2.09
%
 
2.03
%
  Net interest margin(2)
1.92
%
 
2.08
%
 
2.16
%
 
2.23
%
 
2.17
%
  Efficiency ratio(3)
67.75
%
 
63.58
%
 
61.06
%
 
61.28
%
 
63.86
%
  Non-interest expense to average total assets
1.36
%
 
1.39
%
 
1.37
%
 
1.45
%
 
1.47
%
  Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing
  liabilities
112.28
%
 
112.96
%
 
113.29
%
 
114.67
%
 
115.43
%
  Dividend payout ratio(4)
364.29
%
 
253.33
%
 
170.31
%
 
151.79
%
 
124.00
%
Asset Quality Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Non-performing assets as a percent of total assets
0.50
%
 
0.57
%
 
0.62
%
 
0.75
%
 
1.00
%
  Non-accruing loans as a percent of total loans
0.54
%
 
0.60
%
 
0.63
%
 
0.76
%
 
0.95
%
  Allowance for loan losses as a percent of non-accruing loans
54.60
%
 
54.56
%
 
61.89
%
 
68.69
%
 
67.00
%
  Allowance for loan losses as a percent of total loans
0.29
%
 
0.33
%
 
0.39
%
 
0.52
%
 
0.64
%
Capital Ratios:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Association
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
19.56
%
 
20.47
%
 
21.37
%
 
22.24
%
 
22.92
%
Tier 1 (leverage) capital to net average assets
10.54
%
 
10.87
%
 
11.16
%
 
11.73
%
 
12.78
%
       Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
19.07
%
 
19.91
%
 
20.69
%
 
21.36
%
 
21.95
%
       Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
19.07
%
 
19.91
%
 
20.69
%
 
21.36
%
 
21.95
%
TFS Financial Corporation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
22.22
%
 
22.94
%
 
23.63
%
 
24.62
%
 
24.54
%
Tier 1 (leverage) capital to net average assets
12.05
%
 
12.25
%
 
12.41
%
 
13.07
%
 
13.76
%
       Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
21.73
%
 
22.39
%
 
22.96
%
 
23.74
%
 
23.57
%
       Common equity tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
21.73
%
 
22.39
%
 
22.96
%
 
23.74
%
 
23.57
%
Average equity to average total assets
12.30
%
 
12.56
%
 
12.67
%
 
13.64
%
 
14.09
%
Other Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Association:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of full service offices
37

 
38

 
38

 
38

 
38

Loan production offices
8

 
8

 
8

 
8

 
8

______________________
(1)
Represents the difference between the weighted-average yield on interest-earning assets and the weighted-average cost of interest-bearing liabilities for the year.
(2)
The net interest margin represents net interest income as a percent of average interest-earning assets for the year.
(3)
The efficiency ratio represents non-interest expense divided by the sum of net interest income and non-interest income.
(4)
Represents dividends paid per share divided by diluted earnings per share. Receipt of dividends on shares owned by Third Federal Savings, MHC has been waived and dividends paid on unallocated shares of the ESOP are used to pay down the loan to the ESOP.


51


Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Our business strategy is to operate as a well capitalized and profitable financial institution dedicated to providing exceptional personal service to our customers.
Since being organized in 1938, we grew to become, at the time of our initial public offering of stock in April 2007, and continue to be, the nation’s largest mutually-owned savings and loan association based on total assets. We credit our success to our continued emphasis on our primary values: “Love, Trust, Respect, and a Commitment to Excellence, along with Having Fun.” Our values are reflected in the design and pricing of our loan and deposit products, as described below. Our values are further reflected in a long-term revitalization program encompassing the three-mile corridor of the Broadway-Slavic Village neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio where our main office was established and continues to be located and where the educational programs we have established and/or supported are located. We intend to continue to adhere to our primary values and to support our customers and the communities in which we operate.
Management believes that the following matters are those most critical to our success: (1) controlling our interest rate risk exposure; (2) monitoring and limiting our credit risk; (3) maintaining access to adequate liquidity and diverse funding sources, (4) monitoring and controlling our operating expenses; and (5) measured growth.
Controlling Our Interest Rate Risk Exposure. Historically, our greatest risk has been our exposure to changes in interest rates. When we hold longer-term, fixed-rate assets, funded by liabilities with shorter re-pricing characteristics, we are exposed to potentially adverse impacts from changing interest rates, and most notably rising interest rates. Generally, and particularly over extended periods of time that encompass full economic cycles, interest rates associated with longer-term assets, like fixed-rate mortgages, have been higher than interest rates associated with shorter-term funding sources, like deposits. This difference has been an important component of our net interest income and is fundamental to our operations. We manage the risk of holding longer-term, fixed-rate mortgage assets primarily by maintaining regulatory capital in excess of levels required to be well capitalized, by promoting adjustable-rate loans and shorter-term, fixed-rate loans, by marketing home equity lines of credit, which carry an adjustable rate of interest indexed to the prime rate and by opportunistically extending the duration of our funding sources.
Levels of Regulatory Capital
At September 30, 2019, the Company’s Tier 1 (leverage) capital totaled $1.74 billion, or 12.05% of net average assets and 21.73% of risk-weighted assets, while the Association’s Tier 1 (leverage) capital totaled $1.52 billion, or 10.54% of net average assets and 19.07% of risk-weighted assets. Each of these measures was more than twice the requirements currently in effect for the Association for designation as “well capitalized” under regulatory prompt corrective action provisions, which set minimum levels of 5.00% of net average assets and 8.00% of risk-weighted assets. Refer to the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this Item 7 for additional discussion regarding regulatory capital requirements.
Promotion of Adjustable-Rate Loans and Shorter-Term, Fixed-Rate Loans
We market an adjustable-rate mortgage loan that provides us with improved interest rate risk characteristics when compared to a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage loan. Our “Smart Rate” adjustable-rate mortgage offers borrowers an interest rate lower than that of a 30-year, fixed-rate loan. The interest rate of the Smart Rate mortgage is locked for three or five years then resets annually. The Smart Rate mortgage contains a feature to re-lock the rate an unlimited number of times at our then-current interest rate and fee schedule, for another three or five years (which must be the same as the original lock period) without having to complete a full refinance transaction. Re-lock eligibility is subject to a satisfactory payment performance history by the borrower (current at the time of re-lock, and no foreclosures or bankruptcies since the Smart Rate application was taken). In addition to a satisfactory payment history, re-lock eligibility requires that the property continues to be the borrower’s primary residence. The loan term cannot be extended in connection with a re-lock nor can new funds be advanced. All interest rate caps and floors remain as originated.
We also offer a ten-year, fully amortizing fixed-rate, first mortgage loan. The ten-year, fixed-rate loan has a more desirable interest rate risk profile when compared to loans with fixed-rate terms of 15 to 30 years and can help to more effectively manage interest rate risk exposure, yet provides our borrowers with the certainty of a fixed interest rate throughout the life of the obligation.
  

52


The following tables set forth our first mortgage loan production and balances segregated by loan structure at origination.
 
For the Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Residential Mortgage Loan Originations:
(Dollars in thousands)
ARM (all Smart Rate) production
$
739,337

 
40.8
%
 
$
1,125,523

 
48.8
%
Fixed-rate production:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Terms less than or equal to 10 years
93,839

 
5.2

 
226,409

 
9.8

    Terms greater than 10 years
978,378

 
54.0

 
956,153

 
41.4

        Total fixed-rate production
1,072,217

 
59.2

 
1,182,562

 
51.2

Total Residential Mortgage Loan Originations:
$
1,811,554

 
100.0
%
 
$
2,308,085

 
100.0
%
 
September 30, 2019
 
September 30, 2018
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Balances of Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Investment:
(Dollars in thousands)
ARM (primarily Smart Rate) Loans
$
5,063,010

 
46.1
%
 
$
5,166,282

 
46.9
%
Fixed-rate Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    Terms less than or equal to 10 years
1,484,403

 
13.5

 
1,822,918

 
16.5

    Terms greater than 10 years
4,440,553

 
40.4

 
4,036,544

 
36.6

        Total fixed-rate loans
5,924,956

 
53.9

 
5,859,462

 
53.1

Total Residential Mortgage Loans Held For Investment:
$
10,987,966

 
100.0
%
 
$
11,025,744

 
100.0
%
The following table sets forth the balances as of September 30, 2019 for all ARM loans segregated by the next scheduled interest rate reset date.
 
Current Balance of ARM Loans Scheduled for Interest Rate Reset
During the Fiscal Years Ending September 30,
(in thousands)
2020
$424,560
2021
1,179,258

2022
1,505,803

2023
1,037,423

2024
618,223

2025
297,743

     Total
$5,063,010
At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, mortgage loans held for sale, all of which were long-term, fixed-rate first mortgage loans and all of which were held for sale to Fannie Mae, totaled $3.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

53


Loan Portfolio Yield
The following tables set forth the balance and interest yield as of September 30, 2019 for the portfolio of loans held for investment, by type of loan, structure and geographic location.
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
 
Balance
 
Percent
 
Yield
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Real Estate Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed Rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
      Terms less than or equal to 10 years
 
$
1,484,403

 
11.2
%
 
2.95
%
      Terms greater than 10 years
 
4,440,553

 
33.6
%
 
4.05
%
Total Fixed-Rate loans
 
5,924,956

 
44.8
%
 
3.77
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARMs
 
5,063,010

 
38.3
%
 
3.17
%
Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
 
2,174,961

 
16.5
%
 
4.23
%
Construction and Consumer
 
55,498

 
0.4
%
 
4.11
%
Total Loans Receivable, net
 
$
13,218,425

 
100.0
%
 
3.62
%
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
 
Balance
 
Fixed Rate Balance
 
Percent
 
Yield
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Residential Mortgage Loans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
$
6,278,342

 
$
4,398,228

 
47.5
%
 
3.69
%
Florida
 
1,752,587

 
708,775

 
13.3
%
 
3.48
%
Other
 
2,957,037

 
817,953

 
22.4
%
 
3.10
%
     Total Residential Mortgage Loans
 
10,987,966

 
5,924,956

 
83.1
%
 
3.50
%
Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ohio
 
677,212

 
60,017

 
5.1
%
 
4.25
%
Florida
 
415,849

 
35,324

 
3.1
%
 
4.14
%
California
 
357,550

 
22,752

 
2.7
%
 
4.28
%
Other
 
724,350

 
17,674

 
5.5
%
 
4.23
%
     Total Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit
 
2,174,961

 
135,767

 
16.5
%
 
4.23
%
Construction and Consumer
 
55,498

 
55,498

 
0.4
%
 
4.11
%
Total Loans Receivable, net
 
$
13,218,425

 
$
6,116,221

 
100.0
%
 
3.62
%

Marketing Home Equity Lines of Credit
We actively market home equity lines of credit, which carry an adjustable rate of interest indexed to the prime rate which provides interest rate sensitivity to that portion of our assets and is a meaningful strategy to manage our interest rate risk profile. At September 30, 2019, the principal balance of home equity lines of credit totaled $1.75 billion. Our home equity lending is discussed in the preceding Lending Activities section of Item 1. Business in Part I.THIRD FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OF CLEVELAND.





54


Extending the Duration of Funding Sources
As a complement to our strategies to shorten the duration of our interest earning assets, as described above, we also seek to lengthen the duration of our interest bearing funding sources. These efforts include monitoring the relative costs of alternative funding sources such as retail deposits, brokered certificates of deposit, longer-term (e.g. four to six years) fixed rate advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, and shorter-term (e.g. three months) advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, the durations of which are extended by correlated interest rate exchange contracts. Each funding alternative is monitored and evaluated based on its effective interest payment rate, options exercisable by the creditor (early withdrawal, right to call, etc.), and collateral requirements. The interest payment rate is a function of market influences that are specific to the nuances and market competitiveness/breadth of each funding source. Generally, early withdrawal options are available to our retail CD customers but not to holders of brokered CDs; issuer call options are not provided on our advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati; and we are not subject to early termination options with respect to our interest rate exchange contracts. Additionally, collateral pledges are not provided with respect to our retail CDs or our brokered CDs; but are required for our advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati as well as for our interest rate exchange contracts.
During the year ended September 30, 2019, the balance of deposits increased $274.8 million, which was comprised of a $436.6 million increase in the balance of customer retail deposits, partially offset by a $161.8 million decrease in the balance of brokered CDs (which is inclusive of acquisition costs and subsequent amortization). Additionally, during the year ended September 30, 2019, we decreased the balance of our short-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati by $700 million; we added $275.0 million of new, four- to six-year advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati; and we added $1.03 billion of new, shorter-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati that were matched/correlated to interest rate exchange contracts that extended the effective durations of those shorter-term advances to approximately five to eight years at inception.
During the year ended September 30, 2019, these funding source modifications facilitated asset growth of $405.0 million, the repayment of $420.7 million of maturing long-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, and funded stock repurchases of $9.1 million and stock dividends of $50.5 million.
Other Interest Rate Risk Management Tools
We also manage interest rate risk by selectively selling a small portion of our long-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans in the secondary market. Prior to fiscal 2010, this strategy was used to a greater extent to manage our interest rate risk. At September 30, 2019, we serviced $1.80 billion of loans for others, of which $905 million were sold in the secondary market prior to fiscal 2010. While the sales of first mortgage loans remain strategically important for us, since fiscal 2010, they have played only a minor role in our management of interest rate risk. We can also manage interest rate risk by selling non-Fannie Mae compliant mortgage loans to private investors, although those transactions are dependent upon favorable market conditions, including motivated private investors, and involve more complicated negotiations and longer settlement timelines. Loan sales are discussed later in this Part II, Item 7. under the heading Liquidity and Capital Resources, and in Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Notwithstanding our efforts to manage interest rate risk, should a rapid and substantial increase occur in general market interest rates, or an extended period of a flat or inverted yield curve market persists, it is expected that, prospectively and particularly over a multi-year time horizon, the level of our net interest income would be adversely impacted.
Monitoring and Limiting Our Credit Risk. While, historically, we had been successful in limiting our credit risk exposure by generally imposing high credit standards with respect to lending, the memory of the 2008 housing market collapse and financial crisis is a constant reminder to focus on credit risk. In response to the evolving economic landscape, we continuously revise and update our quarterly analysis and evaluation procedures, as needed, for each category of our lending with the objective of identifying and recognizing all appropriate credit impairments. At September 30, 2019, 91% of our assets consisted of residential real estate loans (both “held for sale” and “held for investment”) and home equity loans and lines of credit, which were originated predominantly to borrowers in Ohio and Florida. Our analytic procedures and evaluations include specific reviews of all home equity loans and lines of credit that become 90 or more days past due, as well as specific reviews of all first mortgage loans that become 180 or more days past due. We transfer performing home equity lines of credit subordinate to first mortgages delinquent greater than 90 days to non-accrual status. We also charge-off performing loans to collateral value and classify those loans as non-accrual within 60 days of notification of all borrowers filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy, that have not reaffirmed or been dismissed, regardless of how long the loans have been performing. Loans where at least one borrower has been discharged of their obligation in Chapter 7 bankruptcy are classified as TDRs. At September 30, 2019, $22.7 million of loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status with no other modification to terms were included in total TDRs. At September 30, 2019, the recorded investment in non-accrual status loans included $25.9 million of performing loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status, of which $25.3 million were also reported as TDRs.

55


In an effort to limit our credit risk exposure and improve the credit performance of new customers, since 2009, we have tightened our credit eligibility criteria in evaluating a borrower’s ability to successfully fulfill its repayment obligation, revised the design of many of our loan products to require higher borrower down-payments, limited the products available for condominiums and eliminated certain product features (such as interest-only adjustable-rate loans and loans above certain LTV ratios). The delinquency level related to loan originations prior to 2009, compared to originations in 2009 and after, reflect the higher credit standards to which we have subjected all new originations. As of September 30, 2019, loans originated prior to 2009 had a balance of $816.8 million, of which $24.8 million, or 3.0%, were delinquent, while loans originated in 2009 and after had a balance of $12.42 billion, of which $10.7 million, or 0.1%, were delinquent.
One aspect of our credit risk concern relates to high concentrations of our loans that are secured by residential real estate in specific states, particularly Ohio and Florida, in light of the difficulties that arose in connection with the 2008 housing crisis with respect to the real estate markets in those two states. At September 30, 2019, approximately 57.0% and 16.0% of the combined total of our residential Core and construction loans held for investment and approximately 31.1% and 19.1% of our home equity loans and lines of credit were secured by properties in Ohio and Florida, respectively. In an effort to moderate the concentration of our credit risk exposure in individual states, particularly Ohio and Florida, we have utilized direct mail marketing, our internet site and our customer service call center to extend our lending activities to other attractive geographic locations. Currently, in addition to Ohio and Florida, we are actively lending in 23 other states and the District of Columbia, and as a result of that activity, the concentration ratios of the combined total of our residential, Core and construction loans held for investment in Ohio and Florida have trended downward from their September 30, 2010 levels when the concentrations were 79.1% in Ohio and 19.0% in Florida. Of the total mortgage and home equity loan originations for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019, 19.3% are secured by properties in states other than Ohio or Florida.
Our residential Home Today loans are another area of credit risk concern as the majority of these loans were originated under less stringent underwriting and credit standards than our Residential Core portfolio. Although we no longer originate loans under this program and the principal balance in these loans had declined to $84.9 million at September 30, 2019, and constituted only 0.6% of our total “held for investment” loan portfolio balance, they comprised 16.3% and 19.6% of our 90 days or greater delinquencies and our total delinquencies, respectively, at that date. At September 30, 2019, approximately 95.5% and 4.4% of our residential Home Today loans were secured by properties in Ohio and Florida, respectively. At September 30, 2019, the percentages of those loans delinquent 30 days or more in Ohio and Florida were 8.3% and 5.3%, respectively. We attempted to manage our Home Today credit risk by requiring private mortgage insurance for some loans. At September 30, 2019, 13.7% of Home Today loans included private mortgage insurance coverage. From a peak recorded investment of $306.6 million at December 31, 2007, the total recorded investment of the Home Today portfolio has declined to $84.6 million at September 30, 2019. Since the vast majority of Home Today loans were originated prior to March 2009 and we are no longer originating loans under our Home Today program, the Home Today portfolio will continue to decline in balance, primarily due to contractual amortization. To supplant the Home Today product and to continue to meet the credit needs of our customers and the communities that we serve, we have offered Fannie Mae eligible, Home Ready loans since fiscal 2016. These loans are originated in accordance with Fannie Mae's underwriting standards. While we retain the servicing rights related to these loans, the loans, along with the credit risk associated therewith, are securitized and/or sold to Fannie Mae.
Maintaining Access to Adequate Liquidity and Diverse Funding Sources. For most insured depositories, customer and community confidence are critical to their ability to maintain access to adequate liquidity and to conduct business in an orderly manner. We believe that a well capitalized institution is one of the most important factors in nurturing customer and community confidence. Accordingly, we have managed the pace of our growth in a manner that reflects our emphasis on high capital levels. At September 30, 2019, the Association’s ratio of Tier 1 (leverage) capital to net average assets (a basic industry measure that deems 5.00% or above to represent a “well capitalized” status) was 10.54%. The Association's Tier 1 (leverage) capital ratio is lower at September 30, 2019 than its ratio at September 30, 2018, which was 10.87%, due primarily to an $85 million cash dividend payment that the Association made to the Company, its sole shareholder, in December 2018 that reduced the Association's Tier 1 (leverage) capital ratio by an estimated 60 basis points. Because of its intercompany nature, this dividend payment did not impact the Company's consolidated capital ratios which are reported in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of this Item 2. We expect to continue to remain a well capitalized institution.
In managing its level of liquidity, the Company monitors available funding sources, which include attracting new deposits (including brokered CDs), borrowing from others, the conversion of assets to cash and the generation of funds through profitable operations. The Company has traditionally relied on retail deposits as its primary means in meeting its funding needs. At September 30, 2019, deposits totaled $8.77 billion (including $507.8 million of brokered CDs), while borrowings totaled $3.90 billion and borrowers’ advances and servicing escrows totaled $136.2 million, combined. In evaluating funding sources, we consider many factors, including cost, collateral, duration and optionality, current availability, expected sustainability, impact on operations and capital levels.

56


To attract deposits, we offer our customers attractive rates of return on our deposit products. Our deposit products typically offer rates that are highly competitive with the rates on similar products offered by other financial institutions. We intend to continue this practice, subject to market conditions.
We preserve the availability of alternative funding sources through various mechanisms. First, by maintaining high capital levels, we retain the flexibility to increase our balance sheet size without jeopardizing our capital adequacy. Effectively, this permits us to increase the rates that we offer on our deposit products thereby attracting more potential customers. Second, we pledge available real estate mortgage loans and investment securities with the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB-Cleveland. At September 30, 2019, these collateral pledge support arrangements provide the Association with the ability to immediately borrow an additional $60.7 million from the FHLB of Cincinnati and $44.9 million from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window. From the perspective of collateral value securing FHLB of Cincinnati advances, our capacity limit for additional borrowings beyond the outstanding balance at September 30, 2019 was $4.27 billion, subject to satisfaction of the FHLB of Cincinnati common stock ownership requirement. To satisfy the common stock ownership requirement for the maximum limit of borrowing we would need to increase our ownership of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock by an additional $85.4 million. Third, we invest in high quality marketable securities that exhibit limited market price variability, and to the extent that they are not needed as collateral for borrowings, can be sold in the institutional market and converted to cash. At September 30, 2019, our investment securities portfolio totaled $547.9 million. Finally, cash flows from operating activities have been a regular source of funds. During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018, cash flows from operations totaled $103.0 million and $92.1 million, respectively.
First mortgage loans (primarily fixed-rate, mortgage refinances with terms of 15 years or more, HARP II (prior to December 31, 2018) and Home Ready) are originated under Fannie Mae procedures and are eligible for sale to Fannie Mae either as whole loans or within mortgage-backed securities. The HARP II program expired on December 31, 2018. We expect that certain loan types (i.e. our Smart Rate adjustable-rate loans, home purchase fixed-rate loans and 10-year fixed-rate loans) will continue to be originated under our legacy procedures, which are not eligible for sale to Fannie Mae. For loans that are not originated under Fannie Mae procedures, the Association’s ability to reduce interest rate risk via loan sales is limited to those loans that have established payment histories, strong borrower credit profiles and are supported by adequate collateral values that meet the requirements of the FHLB's Mortgage Purchase Program or of private third-party investors. At September 30, 2019, $3.7 million of agency eligible, long-term, fixed-rate first mortgage loans were classified as “held for sale.” During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, $47.9 million of agency-compliant HARP II and Home Ready loans and $50.5 million of long-term, fixed-rate, agency-compliant, non-HARP II, non-Home Ready first mortgage loans were sold to Fannie Mae. Additionally, $18.9 million of fixed-rate loans were sold in a single bulk sale to a private investor.
Overall, while customer and community confidence can never be assured, the Company believes that our liquidity is adequate and that we have adequate access to alternative funding sources.
Monitoring and Controlling Operating Expenses. We continue to focus on managing operating expenses. Our ratio of non-interest expense to average assets was 1.36% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 and 1.39% for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018. As of September 30, 2019, our average assets per full-time employee and our average deposits per full-time employee were $13.6 million and $8.2 million, respectively. We believe that each of these measures compares favorably with industry averages. Our relatively high average deposits (exclusive of brokered CDs) held at our branch offices ($223.2 million per branch office as of September 30, 2019) contributes to our expense management efforts by limiting the overhead costs of serving our customers. We will continue our efforts to control operating expenses as we grow our business.
Critical Accounting Policies
Critical accounting policies are defined as those that involve significant judgments and uncertainties, and could potentially give rise to materially different results under different assumptions and conditions. We believe that the most critical accounting policies upon which our financial condition and results of operations depend, and which involve the most complex subjective decisions or assessments, are our policies with respect to our allowance for loan losses, income taxes and pension benefits.
Allowance for Loan Losses. The allowance for loan losses is the amount estimated by management as necessary to absorb credit losses incurred in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the balance sheet date. The amount of the allowance is based on significant estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or conditions change. The methodology for determining the allowance for loan losses is considered a critical accounting policy by management due to the high degree of judgment involved, the subjectivity of the assumptions used and the potential for changes in the economic environment that could result in changes to the amount of the recorded allowance for loan losses. At September 30, 2019, the allowance for loan losses was $38.9 million or 0.29% of total

57


loans. An increase or decrease of 10% in the allowance at September 30, 2019 would result in a $3.9 million charge or credit, respectively, to income before income taxes.
As a substantial percentage of our loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate, appraisals of the underlying value of property securing loans are critical in determining the charge-offs for specific loans. Assumptions are instrumental in determining the value of properties. Overly optimistic assumptions or negative changes to assumptions could significantly affect the valuation of a property securing a loan and the related allowance determined. Management carefully reviews the assumptions supporting such appraisals to determine that the resulting values reasonably reflect amounts realizable on the related loans.
Management performs a quarterly evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. We consider a variety of factors in establishing this estimate including, but not limited to, current economic conditions, delinquency statistics, geographic concentrations, the adequacy of the underlying collateral, the financial strength of the borrower, results of internal loan reviews and other relevant factors. This evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates by management that may be susceptible to significant change based on changes in economic and real estate market conditions.
The evaluation is comprised of a specific component and a general component. The specific component relates to loans that are delinquent or otherwise identified as a problem loan through the application of our loan review process and our loan grading system. All such loans are evaluated individually, with principal consideration given to the value of the collateral securing the loan or cash flow analysis. The general component of the evaluation is determined by segregating the remaining loans by type of loan, risk weighting (if applicable) and payment history. We also analyze historical loss experience, delinquency trends, general economic conditions and geographic concentrations. Quantitative loss factors used in determining an appropriate allowance level are supplemented by more qualitative factors that impact potential losses. Qualitative factors include various market conditions, such as collateral values and unemployment rates. This analysis establishes factors that are applied to the loan groups to determine the amount of the general component of the allowance for loan losses.
Actual loan losses may be significantly more than the allowances we have established, which would have a materially adverse effect on our financial results.
Income Taxes. We consider accounting for income taxes a critical accounting policy due to the subjective nature of certain estimates that are involved in the calculation. We use the asset/liability method of accounting for income taxes in which deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of our assets and liabilities. We must assess the realization of the deferred tax asset and, to the extent that we believe that recovery is not likely, a valuation allowance is established. Adjustments to increase or decrease existing valuation allowances, if any, are charged or credited, respectively, to income tax expense. At September 30, 2019, no valuation allowances were outstanding. Even though we have determined a valuation allowance is not required for deferred tax assets at September 30, 2019, there is no guarantee that those assets will be recognizable in the future.
Pension Benefits. The determination of our obligations and expense for pension benefits is dependent upon certain assumptions used in calculating such amounts. Key assumptions used in the actuarial valuations include the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Actual results could differ from the assumptions and market driven rates may fluctuate. Significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in the assumptions could materially affect future pension obligations and expense.
Comparison of Financial Condition at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018
Total assets increased $405.0 million, or 3%, to $14.54 billion at September 30, 2019 from $14.14 billion at September 30, 2018. This increase was primarily the result of growth in our home equity line of credit portfolio during the fiscal year and, to a lesser extent, increases in investment securities available for sale and prepaid expenses and other assets.
Cash and cash equivalents increased $5.3 million, or 2%, to $275.1 million at September 30, 2019 from $269.8 million at September 30, 2018. We manage cash to maintain the level of liquidity described later in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of the Overview.
Investment securities, all of which are classified as available for sale, increased $15.9 million, or 3%, to $547.9 million at September 30, 2019 from $532.0 million at September 30, 2018. Investment securities increased as $158.0 million in purchases and a $14.6 million reduction of unrealized losses exceeded the combined effect of $152.6 million in principal paydowns and $4.1 million of net acquisition premium amortization that occurred in the mortgage-backed securities portfolio during the year ended September 30, 2019. There were no sales of investment securities during the year ended September 30, 2019.

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Loans held for investment, net, increased $324.5 million, or 3%, to $13.20 billion at September 30, 2019 from $12.87 billion at September 30, 2018. The increase was caused by a $356.0 million increase in the balance of home equity loans and lines of credit during the year ended September 30, 2019, as new originations and additional draws on existing accounts exceeded repayments. Residential mortgage loans decreased $37.8 million, or less than 1%, to $10.99 billion at September 30, 2019. During the year ended September 30, 2019, $739.3 million of three- and five-year “SmartRate” loans were originated while $1.07 billion of 10-, 15-, and 30-year fixed-rate first mortgage loans were originated. These originations were offset by paydowns and fixed-rate loan sales. Between September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2019, the total fixed-rate portion of the first mortgage loan portfolio increased $65.5 million and was comprised of an increase of $404.0 million in the balance of fixed-rate loans with original terms greater than 10 years, offset by a decrease of $338.5 million in the balance of fixed-rate loans with original terms of 10 years or less. During the year ended September 30, 2019, we completed $117.3 million in loan sales, which included a $18.9 million sale to a private investor, $47.9 million of agency-compliant HARP II and Home Ready loans and $50.5 million of long-term, fixed-rate, agency-compliant, non-HARP II and non-Home Ready first mortgage loans that were sold to Fannie Mae. Also, during the year ended September 30, 2019, we purchased long-term, fixed-rate first mortgage loans that have a remaining balance of $4.3 million at September 30, 2019.
Commitments originated for home equity lines of credit and equity and bridge loans were $1.70 billion for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $1.51 billion for the year ended September 30, 2018. At September 30, 2019, pending commitments to originate new home equity lines of credit were $90.7 million and equity and bridge loans were $43.7 million. Refer to the Controlling Our Interest Rate Risk Exposure section of the Overview for additional information.
The total allowance for loan losses decreased $3.5 million, or 8%, to $38.9 million at September 30, 2019 from $42.4 million at September 30, 2018, primarily reflecting improved credit metrics, including continued recoveries of loan amounts previously charged off, low levels of current loan charge-offs and reduced exposure from home equity lines of credit coming to the end of the draw period. Refer to Note 5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses for additional discussion.
Prepaid expenses and other assets increased $43.7 million to $88.0 million at September 30, 2019 from $44.3 million at September 30, 2018. This increase related primarily to a $29.8 million increase in initial margin requirements posted on interest rate swap contracts and an $8.9 million increase in the net deferred tax asset, mainly the result of fluctuations in unrealized gains and losses recognized through AOCI, during the current fiscal year.
Deposits increased $274.8 million, or 3%, to $8.77 billion at September 30, 2019 from $8.49 billion at September 30, 2018. The increase in deposits resulted primarily from a $236.7 million increase in our savings accounts (which included a $386.0 million increase in money market accounts in the state of Florida partially offset by a $149.3 million decrease in our higher yield savings accounts), and a $97.5 million increase in CDs, partially offset by a $54.4 million decrease in our interest-bearing checking accounts. We believe that our savings and checking accounts provide a stable source of funds. In addition, our savings accounts are expected to reprice in a manner similar to our home equity lending products, and, therefore, assist us in managing interest rate risk. The balance of brokered CDs at September 30, 2019 was $507.8 million, which was a decrease of $162.3 million during the year ended September 30, 2019.
Borrowed funds, all from the FHLB of Cincinnati, increased $181.3 million, or 5%, to $3.90 billion at September 30, 2019 from $3.72 billion at September 30, 2018. Activity included $1.03 billion of new 90-day advances that are hedged by equal notional amounts of new interest rate swaps with initial fixed-pay terms of five to eight years and $275.0 million of new long-term advances with terms of four to five years, offset by scheduled principal repayments of long-term advances and a $700.0 million decrease in the balance of short-term advances. The total balance of borrowed funds of $3.90 billion at September 30, 2019 consisted of overnight and short-term advances of $500.0 million, long-term advances of $645.7 million with a remaining weighted average maturity of approximately 2.3 years and short-term advances of $2.75 billion aligned with interest rate swap contracts with a remaining weighted average effective maturity of approximately 3.7 years. Interest rate swaps have been used to extend the duration of short-term borrowings to approximately five to eight years at inception, by paying a fixed rate of interest and receiving the variable rate. Refer to the Extending the Duration of Funding Sources section of the Overview and Part II, Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for additional discussion regarding short-term borrowings and interest-rate swaps.
Total shareholders’ equity decreased $61.7 million, or 4%, to $1.70 billion at September 30, 2019 from $1.76 billion at September 30, 2018. This net decrease primarily reflected the positive effect of $80.2 million of net income reduced by $9.1 million of repurchases of outstanding common stock, $50.5 million of cash dividend payments and a $92.6 million unrealized loss recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, mainly the result of changes in market interest rates related to our interest rate swaps. Adjustments of $11.8 million related to our stock compensation plan and ESOP helped offset the decrease. As a result of the July 16, 2019 and July 11, 2018 mutual member votes, Third Federal Savings, MHC, the mutual holding company that owns approximately 81% of the outstanding stock of the Company, waived the receipt of its share of the

59


dividends paid. Refer to Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities for additional details regarding the repurchase of shares of common stock and the payment of dividends.

Analysis of Net Interest Income
Net interest income represents the difference between the income we earn on our interest-earning assets and the expense we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities. Net interest income depends on the volume of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the rates earned on such assets and the rates paid on such liabilities.

Average balances and yields. The following table sets forth average balances, average yields and costs, and certain other information at and for the fiscal years indicated. No tax-equivalent yield adjustments were made, as the effect thereof was not material. Average balances are derived from daily average balances. Non-accrual loans are included in the computation of average balances, but are reflected in the table as loans carrying a zero yield. The yields set forth below include the effect of deferred fees, discounts and premiums that are amortized or accreted to interest income or interest expense. 
 
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
Income/
Expense
 
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
Income/
Expense
 
Yield/
Cost
 
Average
Balance
 
Interest
Income/
Expense
 
Yield/
Cost
 
(Dollars in thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Interest-earning cash equivalents
$
220,458

 
$
4,998

 
2.27
%
 
$
228,041

 
$
3,704

 
1.62
%
 
$
214,465

 
$
1,961

 
0.91
%
  Investment securities
3,308

 
79

 
2.39
%
 
1,125

 
27

 
2.40
%
 

 

 
%
  Mortgage-backed securities
555,076

 
13,021

 
2.35
%
 
539,564

 
11,107

 
2.06
%
 
526,610

 
9,041

 
1.72
%
  Loans(1)
12,938,824

 
458,779

 
3.55
%
 
12,619,496

 
422,953

 
3.35
%
 
12,104,277

 
394,447

 
3.26
%
  Federal Home Loan Bank stock
96,712

 
5,210

 
5.39
%
 
92,533

 
5,254

 
5.68
%
 
81,105

 
3,546

 
4.37
%
Total interest-earning assets
13,814,378

 
482,087

 
3.49
%
 
13,480,759

 
443,045

 
3.29
%
 
12,926,457

 
408,995

 
3.16
%
Non-interest-earning assets
422,738

 
 
 
 
 
370,570

 
 
 
 
 
358,213

 
 
 
 
Total assets
$
14,237,116

 
 
 
 
 
$
13,851,329

 
 
 
 
 
$
13,284,670

 
 
 
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Checking accounts
$
881,233

 
3,188

 
0.36
%
 
$
947,728

 
1,406

 
0.15
%
 
$
992,042

 
918

 
0.09
%
  Savings accounts
1,381,646

 
11,676

 
0.85
%
 
1,364,410

 
3,466

 
0.25
%
 
1,514,275

 
2,093

 
0.14
%
  Certificates of deposit
6,388,905

 
128,489

 
2.01
%
 
5,989,453

 
97,383

 
1.63
%
 
5,672,212

 
84,410

 
1.49
%
  Borrowed funds
3,651,273

 
73,313

 
2.01
%
 
3,632,255

 
59,849

 
1.65
%
 
3,231,709

 
42,678

 
1.32
%
Total interest-bearing liabilities
12,303,057

 
216,666

 
1.76
%
 
11,933,846

 
162,104

 
1.36
%
 
11,410,238

 
130,099

 
1.14
%
Non-interest-bearing liabilities
182,598

 
 
 
 
 
178,373

 
 
 
 
 
190,873

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities
12,485,655

 
 
 
 
 
12,112,219

 
 
 
 
 
11,601,111

 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity
1,751,461

 
 
 
 
 
1,739,110

 
 
 
 
 
1,683,559

 
 
 
 
Total liabilities and
     shareholders’ equity
$
14,237,116

 
 
 
 
 
$
13,851,329

 
 
 
 
 
$
13,284,670

 
 
 
 
Net interest income
 
 
$
265,421

 
 
 
 
 
$
280,941

 
 
 
 
 
$
278,896

 
  
Interest rate spread(2)
 
 
 
 
1.73
%
 
 
 
 
 
1.93
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.02
%
Net interest-earning assets(3)
$
1,511,321

 
 
 
 
 
$
1,546,913

 
 
 
 
 
$
1,516,219

 
 
 
 
Net interest margin(4)
 
 
1.92
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.08
%
 
 
 
 
 
2.16
%
 
 
Average interest-earning assets to
     average interest-bearing liabilities
112.28
%
 
 
 
 
 
112.96
%
 
 
 
 
 
113.29
%
 
 
 
 

(1) Loans include both mortgage loans held for sale and loans held for investment.
(2)
Interest rate spread represents the difference between the yield on average interest-earning assets and the cost of average interest-bearing liabilities.
(3)
Net interest-earning assets represent total interest-earning assets less total interest-bearing liabilities.
(4)
Net interest margin represents net interest income divided by total interest-earning assets.


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Rate/Volume Analysis. The following table presents the effects of changing rates (yields) and volumes (average balances) on our net interest income for the fiscal years indicated. The rate column shows the effects attributable to changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by prior volume). The volume column shows the effects attributable to changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by prior rate). The net column represents the sum of the prior columns. For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately, based on the changes due to rate and the changes due to volume.
 
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2019 vs. 2018
 
For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2018 vs. 2017
 
Increase (Decrease)
Due to
 
 
 
Increase (Decrease)
Due to
 
 
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
 
Volume
 
Rate
 
Net
 
(In thousands)
Interest-earning assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Interest-earning cash equivalents
$
(119
)
 
$
1,413

 
$
1,294

 
$
132

 
$
1,611

 
$
1,743

  Investment securities
52

 

 
52

 
27

 

 
27

  Mortgage-backed securities
327

 
1,587

 
1,914

 
227

 
1,839

 
2,066

  Loans
10,891

 
24,935

 
35,826

 
17,076

 
11,430

 
28,506

  Federal Home Loan Bank stock
328

 
(372
)
 
(44
)
 
548

 
1,160

 
1,708

Total interest-earning assets
11,479

 
27,563

 
39,042

 
18,010

 
16,040

 
34,050

Interest-bearing liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Checking accounts
(91
)
 
1,873

 
1,782

 
(43
)
 
531

 
488

  Savings accounts
44

 
8,167

 
8,211

 
(225
)
 
1,598

 
1,373

  Certificates of deposit
6,833

 
24,273

 
31,106

 
4,885

 
8,088

 
12,973

  Borrowed funds
315

 
13,149

 
13,464

 
5,727

 
11,444

 
17,171

Total interest-bearing liabilities
7,101

 
47,462

 
54,563

 
10,344

 
21,661

 
32,005

Net change in net interest income
$
4,378

 
$
(19,899
)
 
$
(15,521
)
 
$
7,666

 
$
(5,621
)
 
$
2,045

Comparison of Operating Results for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2019 and 2018
General. Net income decreased $5.2 million to $80.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $85.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2018. The decrease was largely attributable to a $15.5 million decrease in net interest income, partially offset by a $13.8 million reduction in income tax expenses due to a lower effective tax rate. Additionally, less significant activity included a $1.0 million decrease in the credit to the loan loss provision, a $1.1 million decrease in non-interest income and a $1.4 million increase in non-interest expenses.
Interest and Dividend Income. Interest and dividend income increased $39.1 million, or 9%, to $482.1 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $443.0 million during the prior year. The increase in interest and dividend income resulted primarily from an increase in interest income from loans, and to a lesser extent, interest income on mortgage-backed securities and interest earning cash equivalents.
Interest income on loans increased $35.8 million, or 8%, to $458.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $423.0 million for the year ended September 30, 2018. This increase was attributed partly to a $319.3 million increase in the average balance of loans to $12.94 billion for the current year compared to $12.62 billion during the prior year as new loan production exceeded repayments and loan sales. The impact from the increase in the average balance of loans was combined with a 20 basis point increase in the average yield on loans to 3.55% for the year ended September 30, 2019 from 3.35% for the prior year. Overall, market rate fluctuations during the year have positively impacted our loan yields, particularly home equity lending products that feature interest rates that reset based on the prime rate.
Interest income on mortgage-backed securities increased $1.9 million, or 17%, to $13.0 million during the current year compared to $11.1 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. This increase was attributed to a 29 basis point increase in the average yield on mortgage-backed securities, combined with a $15.5 million increase in the average balance of mortgage-backed securities to $555.1 million for the current year compared to $539.6 million during the prior year.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $54.6 million, or 34%, to $216.7 million during the current year compared to $162.1 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The increase resulted from an increase in interest expense on both deposits and borrowed funds.

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Interest expense on CDs increased $31.1 million, or 32%, to $128.5 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $97.4 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The increase was attributed primarily to a 38 basis point increase in the average rate we paid on CDs to 2.01% during the current year from 1.63% during the prior year. In addition, there was a $399.5 million, or 7%, increase in the average balance of CDs to $6.39 billion from $5.99 billion during the prior year. Interest expense on savings and checking accounts increased $8.2 million and $1.8 million, respectively, to $11.7 million and $3.2 million during the year ended September 30, 2019, compared to the prior year due to an increase in the average rates we paid on the deposits, mainly the money market accounts. Rates were adjusted on deposits in response to changes in general market rates as well as to changes in the rates paid by our competition. The increase in deposits was used, in combination with an increase in borrowings, to fund our balance sheet growth and our capital management activities, including share repurchases and dividend payments.
Interest expense on borrowed funds, all from the FHLB of Cincinnati, as impacted by related interest rate swap contracts, increased $13.5 million, or 23%, to $73.3 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 from $59.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The increase was attributed to a 36 basis point increase in the average rate paid for these funds to 2.01% during the year ended September 30, 2019 from 1.65% for the year ended September 30, 2018, as market rates, particularly on shorter term borrowings, increased between the two periods and longer duration funding sources were utilized that carried higher interest rates. Supplementing the increase in the average rate paid on borrowed funds was a $19.0 million, or 1%, increase in the average balance of borrowed funds to $3.65 billion during the current year from $3.63 billion during the prior year. Refer to the Extending the Duration of Funding Sources section of the Overview and Comparison of Financial Condition for further discussion.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income decreased $15.5 million, or 6%, to $265.4 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 from $280.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. Average interest-earning assets increased during the current year by $333.6 million, or 2%, when compared to the year ended September 30, 2018. The increase in average assets was attributed primarily to the growth of our loan portfolio and to a lesser extent mortgage-backed securities and FHLB stock, partially offset by a decline in other interest earning cash equivalents. In addition to the increase in average interest earning assets was a 20 basis point increase in the average yield on those assets to 3.49% from 3.29%. However, average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $369.3 million and experienced a 40 basis point increase in cost, as our interest rate spread decreased 20 basis points to 1.73% compared to 1.93% during the prior year reflecting the flattening yield curve and general interest rate environment. Our net interest margin was 1.92% for the current year and 2.08% for the prior year. Our interest rate spread and net interest margin narrowed as our overall funding costs increased more than our asset yields increased.
Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded a credit for loan losses of $10.0 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 and an $11.0 million credit for loan losses during the year ended September 30, 2018. Continued strong recoveries of loan amounts previously charged off, low levels of current loan charge-offs and delinquent loans, and reduced exposure from home equity lines of credit coming to the end of the draw period resulted in the loan provision credit during the current period. Nevertheless, we continue our awareness of the relative values of residential properties in comparison to their cyclical peaks. As delinquencies in the portfolio have been resolved through pay-off, short sale or foreclosure, or management determines the collateral is not sufficient to satisfy the loan, uncollected balances have been charged against the allowance for loan losses previously provided. In the current year, we recorded net recoveries of $6.5 million, as compared to net recoveries of $4.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2018. The credit for loan losses recorded for the current year, as partially offset by net recoveries, resulted in a decrease in the balance of the allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses was $38.9 million, or 0.29% of the total recorded investment in loans receivable, at September 30, 2019, compared to $42.4 million, or 0.33% of the total recorded investment in loans receivable, at September 30, 2018. Balances of recorded investments are net of deferred fees, expenses and any applicable loans-in-process.
At September 30, 2019 and 2018, we believe we had recorded an allowance for loan losses that provides for all losses that are both probable and reasonable to estimate at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
Refer to the Lending Activities section of the Overview and Note 5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses for further discussion.
Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income decreased $1.0 million, or 5%, to $20.5 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $21.5 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in non-interest income was primarily due to a decrease in the net gain on sale of loans, which was $1.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $3.4 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The prior year benefited from a bulk sale of $277.4 million of fixed-rate loans to a private investor. There were loan sales of $117.3 million during the year ended September 30, 2019, compared to loan sales of $400.1 million during the year ended September 30, 2018.

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Non-Interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $1.4 million, or 1%, to $193.7 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $192.3 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. This increase resulted primarily from increases in salaries and employee benefits partially offset by a reduction in real estate owned expenses included in other expenses and federal insurance premium and assessments. There was a $2.7 million increase in salaries and employee benefits during the current year compared to the year ended September 30, 2018, primarily related to both the timing and amount of health insurance for our employees, which can fluctuate based on the timing of claims. The $1.1 million decrease in real estate owned expenses (which includes associated legal and maintenance expenses as well as gains (losses) on the disposal of properties) was driven in part by the decrease in real estate owned assets since September 30, 2018. The $0.8 million decrease in federal insurance premium and assessments was due to the final payment of a quarterly surcharge required by the DFA made in December 2018 as well as a final payment of the quarterly FICO assessment in March 2019.
Income Tax Expense. The provision for income taxes was $22.0 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to $35.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. The decrease in expense was caused mainly by the combination of a decrease in income before income taxes and by the impact of the Act, which further lowered our effective federal tax rate in the more recent fiscal year and required additional tax expense for the re-measurement of the deferred tax asset during the year ended September 30, 2018. The provision for the current year included $20.4 million of federal income tax provision and $1.6 million of state income tax provision. The provision for the year ended September 30, 2018 included $33.9 million of federal income tax provision and $1.9 million of state income tax provision. Our effective federal tax rate was 20.3% during the year ended September 30, 2019 and 28.4% during the year ended September 30, 2018. Our expected effective federal income tax rate in the current year is lower than the federal statutory rate because of our ownership of bank-owned life insurance.
Comparison of Operating Results for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017
General. Net income decreased $3.5 million, or 4%, to $85.4 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $88.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. This change was attributed to a $6.0 million decrease in the credit for loan losses and an increase of $9.9 million in non-interest expenses, partially offset by a lower effective tax rate, a $2.0 million increase in net interest income, and a $1.7 million increase in non-interest income.
Interest and Dividend Income. Total interest and dividend income increased $34.0 million, or 8%, to $443.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $409.0 million for the 2017 fiscal year. The increase in interest and dividend income resulted primarily from an increase in interest income from loans combined with increases in interest income from investment securities available for sale, other interest-earning cash equivalents and FHLB stock.
Interest income on loans increased $28.6 million, or 7%, to $423.0 million compared to $394.4 million for the 2017 fiscal year. This increase was attributed to a combination of a $515.2 million increase in the average balance of loans to $12.62 billion in the 2018 fiscal year compared to $12.10 billion during the 2017 fiscal year, as new loan production exceeded repayments and loan sales, and a nine basis point increase in the average yield on loans to 3.35% from 3.26%. Recent market interest rate increases have positively impacted our loan yields, particularly home equity lending products that feature interest rates that reset based on the prime rate. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018, loan sales totaled $400.1 million while during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, loan sales totaled $249.4 million.
Interest income on other interest-earning assets also benefited from market interest rate increases. Interest income on interest-earning cash equivalents increased $1.7 million, or 85%, to $3.7 million compared to $2.0 million for the 2017 fiscal year. Interest income on investment securities increased $2.1 million, or 23%, to $11.1 million compared to $9.0 million for the 2017 fiscal year. As a result of the additional required investment in FHLB stock and an increase in the dividend yield, dividend income on FHLB stock increased $1.8 million, or 51%, to $5.3 million compared to $3.5 million during the 2017 fiscal year.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased $32.0 million, or 25%, to $162.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 from $130.1 million for the 2017 fiscal year. The change was attributed to a $17.1 million increase in interest expense on borrowed funds as well as a $14.9 million increase in interest expense on deposits.
Interest expense on borrowed funds increased $17.1 million, or 40%, to $59.8 million compared to $42.7 million for fiscal 2017. The increase was attributed to a 33 basis point increase in the average rate paid for these funds, to 1.65% from 1.32% during fiscal 2017, combined with the impact of a $400.5 million, or 12%, increase in the average balance of borrowed funds to $3.63 billion during the 2018 fiscal year from $3.23 billion during fiscal 2017. The increase in the average balance of borrowed funds was used, along with an increase in deposits, to fund our balance sheet growth and our capital management activities, including share repurchases and dividend payments. The increases in borrowed funds were in overnight and short-term advances with initial effective durations of approximately five years as a result of interest rate swaps. Refer to the

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Extending the Duration of Funding Sources section of the Overview and Comparison of Financial Condition for further discussion.
Interest expense on CDs increased $13.0 million, or 15%, to $97.4 million compared to $84.4 million for fiscal 2017. The change was attributed to a $317.2 million, or 6%, increase in the average balance of CDs to $5.99 billion from $5.67 billion, as well as an increase in the average rate paid for CDs to 1.63% during fiscal 2018 from 1.49% during fiscal 2017. Rates were adjusted on deposits in response to changes in general market rates as well as to changes in the rates paid by our competition.
Net Interest Income. Net interest income increased $2.0 million, or 1%, to $280.9 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $278.9 million for the 2017 fiscal year. Average interest-earning assets increased during the 2018 fiscal year by $554.3 million, or 4%, when compared to the 2017 fiscal year. The increase in average assets was attributed primarily to the growth of our loan portfolio and, to a lesser extent, an increase in other interest-earning cash equivalents, FHLB stock and mortgage-backed securities. There was a 13 basis point increase in the yield on interest-earning assets to 3.29% from 3.16%. There was a 22 basis point increase in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities to 1.36% from 1.14%. Our interest rate spread decreased nine basis points to 1.93% compared to 2.02% for the 2017 fiscal year. Our net interest margin was 2.08% for the 2018 fiscal year and 2.16% for the 2017 fiscal year. Our interest rate spread and net interest margin narrowed as our asset yields did not increase at the same pace as our overall funding costs, as we extended the effective duration of funding sources.
Provision for Loan Losses. We establish provisions for loan losses, which are charged to operations, in order to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level we consider necessary to absorb credit losses incurred in the loan portfolio that are both probable and reasonably estimable at the balance sheet date. In determining the level of the allowance for loan losses, we consider past and current loss experience, evaluations of real estate collateral, current economic conditions, volume and type of lending, adverse situations that may affect a borrower’s ability to repay a loan and the levels of non-performing and other classified loans. The amount of the allowance is based on estimates and the ultimate losses may vary from such estimates as more information becomes available or conditions change. We assess the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses on a quarterly basis and make provisions for loan losses in order to maintain the adequacy of the allowance as described in the next paragraph. Recently, improving regional employment levels, stabilization in residential real estate values in many markets, recovering capital and credit markets, and upturns in consumer confidence have resulted in better credit metrics for us. Refer to Critical Accounting Policies - Allowance for Loan Losses section of the Overview for further discussion.
Based on our evaluation, we recorded a credit for loan losses of $11.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 and a credit of $17.0 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The credit for loan losses reflects reduced levels of loan delinquencies and charge-offs, but we continue to assess the relative values of residential properties in comparison to their cyclical peaks as well as the uncertainty that persists in the current economic environment, which continues to challenge many of our loan customers. As delinquencies in the portfolio have been resolved through pay-off, short sale or foreclosure, or management determines the collateral is not sufficient to satisfy the loan, uncollected balances have been charged against the allowance for loan losses previously provided. We recorded net recoveries of $4.5 million during fiscal year 2018 as compared to net recoveries of $4.2 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Net recoveries combined with the $11.0 million credit for loan losses recorded for the 2018 fiscal year was the basis for the decrease in the balance of the allowance for loan losses. The allowance for loan losses was $42.4 million, or 0.33% of the total recorded investment in loans receivable, at September 30, 2018, compared to $48.9 million, or 0.39% of the total recorded investment in loans receivable, at September 30, 2017. Balances of recorded investments are net of deferred fees/expenses and any applicable loans-in-process.
The total recorded investment in non-accrual loans decreased $1.3 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to a $10.9 million decrease during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.
The recorded investment in non-accrual loans in our residential Core portfolio decreased $2.2 million, or 5%, during the 2018 fiscal year, to $41.6 million at September 30, 2018, compared to a $7.5 million decrease during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. At September 30, 2018, the recorded investment in our Core portfolio was $10.95 billion, compared to $10.76 billion at September 30, 2017. During the 2018 fiscal year, Core portfolio net recoveries were $1.6 million, as compared to net recoveries of $2.4 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The $41.6 million balance in Core portfolio non-accrual loans at September 30, 2018 includes $28.2 million in TDRs which are current but included with non-accrual loans for a minimum period of six months from their restructuring date.
The recorded investment in non-accrual loans in our residential Home Today portfolio decreased $3.5 million, or 19% during the 2018 fiscal year, to $14.6 million at September 30, 2018 compared to a $1.3 million decrease during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. At September 30, 2018, the recorded investment in our Home Today portfolio was $94.7 million, compared to $107.7 million at September 30, 2017. During the 2018 fiscal year, Home Today net recoveries were $0.6 million as compared to net charge-offs of $1.0 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The $14.6 million balance in

64


Home Today non-accrual loans at September 30, 2018 includes $10.1 million in TDRs which are current but included with non-accrual loans for a minimum period of six months from their restructuring date.
The recorded investment in non-accrual home equity loans and lines of credit increased $4.3 million, or 25%, during the 2018 fiscal year, to $21.5 million at September 30, 2018 compared to a $2.0 million decrease during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The recorded investment in our home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio at September 30, 2018 was $1.84 billion, compared to $1.57 billion at September 30, 2017. During the 2018 fiscal year, home equity loans and lines of credit net recoveries were $2.2 million as compared to net recoveries of $2.7 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. We believe that non-performing home equity loans and lines of credit, on a relative basis, represent a higher level of credit risk than Core loans as these home equity loans and lines of credit generally hold subordinated lien positions. The seriously delinquent balances of home equity loans and lines of credit were $5.9 million, or less than 1%, of the home equity loans and lines of credit portfolio at September 30, 2018 compared to $5.4 million, or less than 1%, at September 30, 2017.
At September 30, 2018 and 2017, we believe we had recorded an allowance for loan losses that provides for all losses that are both probable and reasonable to estimate at September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Refer to Lending Activities in Item 1. Business for additional discussion and disclosure related to our provisions for loan losses.
Non-Interest Income. Non-interest income increased $1.7 million, or 9%, to $21.5 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $19.8 million for the 2017 fiscal year, mainly as a result of an increase in the gain on sale of loans during the 2018 fiscal year. Gains on the sales of loans in the 2018 fiscal year increased $1.2 million, primarily due to a higher level of loan sales during the 2018 fiscal year. Loan sales of $400.1 million were completed during the 2018 fiscal year as compared to $249.4 million during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017. The 2018 fiscal year included a bulk sale of $277.4 million of fixed-rate loans to a private investor.
Non-Interest Expense. Non-interest expense increased $9.9 million, or 5%, to $192.3 million during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $182.4 million for fiscal 2017. The net increase resulted primarily from a combination of increases in compensation expense, office property and equipment and other operating expenses, partially offset by lower real estate owned expenses. The majority of the $6.7 million increase in compensation expense was a result of the celebration of our 80th anniversary in May, 2018, which included events in Ohio and Florida, as well as an after-tax bonus of $2,080 to all associates. The bonus also included a portion attributable to the sharing of the Company's savings from the December 2017 corporate tax reform. The $2.4 million increase in office property and equipment is mainly due to the continued improvement and investment of technology throughout the Company. Other operating expenses increased $1.4 million, which consisted of expenses related to the 80th anniversary event as well as further investment in community development, partially offset by a decline in legal and professional services. The $0.8 million decrease in real estate owned expenses (which includes associated legal and maintenance expenses as well as gains (losses) on the disposal of properties) was driven in part by the decrease in real estate owned assets since September 30, 2017.
Income Tax Expense. The provision for income taxes was $35.8 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018 compared to $44.5 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. The provision for fiscal year 2018 included $33.9 million of federal income tax provision and $1.9 million of state income tax provision. The provision for fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 included $43.4 million of federal income tax provision and $1.1 million of state income tax provision. The increase in state income tax between the 2018 and 2017 fiscal years reflected the growth in our expansion states. Our federal effective tax rate decreased to 28.4% during fiscal 2018 from 32.8% during fiscal year 2017. As a result of the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on December 22, 2017, the federal income tax rate and structure changed. The Act includes a number of changes in existing law impacting businesses including a permanent reduction in the maximum corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. The rate reduction took effect on January 1, 2018, however, as a September 30 fiscal year end entity, the Company was required to use a blended maximum rate of approximately 24.5% for the entire 2018 fiscal year. In addition, due to the tax rate reduction, net deferred tax assets were revalued, resulting in a reduction in the value of the net deferred tax asset and the recording of approximately $6.6 million of additional income tax expense during the fiscal year September 30, 2018. Our federal effective income tax rate in the 2018 fiscal year was higher than the federal statutory rate because of the additional income tax expense from revalued deferred tax assets due to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act discussed above, and partially offset by our ownership of bank-owned life insurance contracts. Non-taxable income on bank owned insurance contracts was $6.2 million during fiscal 2018 and $6.4 million during fiscal 2017.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations of a short-term nature. Our primary sources of funds consist of deposit inflows, loan repayments, advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati, borrowings from the FRB-Cleveland

65


Discount Window, proceeds from brokered CDs transactions, principal repayments and maturities of securities, and sales of loans.
In addition to the primary sources of funds described above, we have the ability to obtain funds through the use of collateralized borrowings in the wholesale markets, and from sales of securities. Also, debt issuance by the Company and access to the equity capital markets via a supplemental minority stock offering or a full conversion (second-step) transaction remain as other potential sources of liquidity, although these channels generally require up to nine months of lead time.
While maturities and scheduled amortization of loans and securities are predictable sources of funds, deposit flows and mortgage prepayments are greatly influenced by interest rates, economic conditions and competition. The Association’s Asset/Liability Management Committee is responsible for establishing and monitoring our liquidity targets and strategies in order to ensure that sufficient liquidity exists for meeting the borrowing needs and deposit withdrawals of our customers as well as unanticipated contingencies. We generally seek to maintain a minimum liquidity ratio of 5% (which we compute as the sum of cash and cash equivalents plus unencumbered investment securities for which ready markets exist, divided by total assets). For the year ended September 30, 2019, our liquidity ratio averaged 5.59%. We believe that we had sufficient sources of liquidity to satisfy our short- and long-term liquidity needs as of September 30, 2019.
We regularly adjust our investments in liquid assets based upon our assessment of expected loan demand, expected deposit flows, yields available on interest-earning deposits and securities and the objectives of our asset/liability management program. Excess liquid assets are generally invested in interest-earning deposits and short- and intermediate-term securities.
Our most liquid assets are cash and cash equivalents. The levels of these assets are dependent on our operating, financing, lending and investing activities during any given period. At September 30, 2019, cash and cash equivalents totaled $275.1 million which represented an increase of 2% from September 30, 2018.
Investment securities classified as available-for-sale, which provide additional sources of liquidity, totaled $547.9 million at September 30, 2019.
During the year ended September 30, 2019, loan sales totaled $117.3 million, which included a $18.9 million sale to a private investor and sales to Fannie Mae, consisting of $50.5 million of long-term, fixed-rate, agency-compliant, non-HARP II and non-Home Ready first mortgage loans, $0.1 million of loans that qualified under Fannie Mae's HARP II initiative and $47.8 million of loans that qualified under Fannie Mae's Home Ready initiative. Loans originated under the HARP II and Home Ready initiatives are classified as “held for sale” at origination, though the HARP II program ended December 31, 2018. Loans originated under non-HARP II or non-Home Ready, Fannie Mae compliant procedures are classified as “held for investment” until they are specifically identified for sale.
At September 30, 2019, $3.7 million of long-term, fixed-rate residential first mortgage loans were classified as “held for sale,” all of which qualified under Fannie Mae's Home Ready initiative. There were no loan sale commitments outstanding at September 30, 2019.
Our cash flows are derived from operating activities, investing activities and financing activities as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows included in the Consolidated Financial Statements.
At September 30, 2019, we had $655.0 million in outstanding commitments to originate loans. In addition to commitments to originate loans, we had $2.21 billion in unfunded home equity lines of credit to borrowers. CDs due within one year of September 30, 2019 totaled $3.31 billion, or 37.8% of total deposits. If these deposits do not remain with us, we will be required to seek other sources of funds, including loan sales, sales of investment securities, other deposit products, including new CDs, brokered CDs, FHLB advances, borrowings from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window or other collateralized borrowings. Depending on market conditions, we may be required to pay higher rates on such deposits or other borrowings than we currently pay on the CDs due on or before September 30, 2020. We believe, however, based on past experience, that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us. Generally, we have the ability to attract and retain deposits by adjusting the interest rates offered.
Our primary investing activities are originating residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit and purchasing investments. During the year ended September 30, 2019, we originated $1.81 billion of residential mortgage loans, and $1.69 billion of commitments for home equity loans and lines of credit, while during the year ended September 30, 2018, we originated $2.31 billion of residential mortgage loans and $1.51 billion of commitments for home equity loans and lines of credit. We purchased $158.0 million of securities during the year ended September 30, 2019, and $151.6 million during the year ended September 30, 2018.

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Financing activities consist primarily of changes in deposit accounts, changes in the balances of principal and interest owed on loans serviced for others, FHLB advances, including any collateral requirements related to interest rate swap agreements and borrowings from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window. We experienced a net increase in total deposits of $274.8 million during the year ended September 30, 2019, which reflected the active management of the offered rates on maturing CDs and the growth of our money market accounts, compared to a net increase of $340.0 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. Deposit flows are affected by the overall level of interest rates, the interest rates and products offered by us and our local competitors, and by other factors. During the year ended September 30, 2019, there was a $162.3 million decrease in the balance of brokered CDs (exclusive of acquisition costs and subsequent amortization), which had a balance of $507.8 million at September 30, 2019. At September 30, 2018 the balance of brokered CDs was $670.1 million. Principal and interest owed on loans serviced for others experienced a net increase of $1.4 million to $32.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to a net decrease of $4.3 million to $31.5 million during the year ended September 30, 2018. During the year ended September 30, 2019 we increased our advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati by $181.3 million to manage the funding of new loan originations and our capital initiatives, and actively manage our liquidity ratio. During the year ended September 30, 2018, our advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati increased by $50.3 million.
Liquidity management is both a daily and long-term function of business management. If we require funds beyond our ability to generate them internally, borrowing agreements exist with the FHLB of Cincinnati and the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window, each of which provides an additional source of funds. Also, in evaluating funding alternatives, we may participate in the brokered CD market. At September 30, 2019 we had $3.90 billion of FHLB of Cincinnati advances and no outstanding borrowings from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window. Additionally, at September 30, 2019, we had $507.8 million of brokered CDs. During the year ended September 30, 2019, we had average outstanding advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati of $3.65 billion as compared to average outstanding advances of $3.63 billion during the year ended September 30, 2018. The slight increase in net average balance in the current year reflects an increase in the use of deposits to fund balance sheet growth and our capital initiatives, and to manage our on-balance sheet liquidity. Refer to the Extending the Duration of Funding Sources section of the Overview and the General section of Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for further discussion. At September 30, 2019, we had the ability to immediately borrow an additional $60.7 million from the FHLB of Cincinnati and $44.9 million from the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window. From the perspective of collateral value securing FHLB of Cincinnati advances, our capacity limit for additional borrowings beyond the outstanding balance at September 30, 2019 was $4.27 billion, subject to satisfaction of the FHLB of Cincinnati common stock ownership requirement. To satisfy the common stock ownership requirement for the maximum limit of borrowing, we would have to increase our ownership of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock by an additional $85.4 million.
The Association and the Company are subject to various regulatory capital requirements, including a risk-based capital measure. The Basel III capital framework for U.S. banking organizations ("Basel III Rules") includes both a revised definition of capital and guidelines for calculating risk-weighted assets by assigning balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet items to broad risk categories.
The Association is subject to the "capital conservation buffer" requirement level of 2.5%. The requirement limits capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments to management if the institution does not hold a "capital conservation buffer" in addition to the minimum capital requirements. At September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded the regulatory requirement for the "capital conservation buffer".
As of September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded all regulatory capital requirements to be considered "Well Capitalized".
In addition to the operational liquidity considerations described above, which are primarily those of the Association, the Company, as a separate legal entity, also monitors and manages its own, parent company-only liquidity, which provides the source of funds necessary to support all of the parent company's stand-alone operations, including its capital distribution strategies which encompass its share repurchase and dividend payment programs. The Company's primary source of liquidity is dividends received from the Association. The amount of dividends that the Association may declare and pay to the Company in any calendar year, without the receipt of prior approval from the OCC but with prior notice to the FRB-Cleveland, cannot exceed net income for the current calendar year-to-date period plus retained net income (as defined) for the preceding two calendar years, reduced by prior dividend payments made during those periods. In December 2018, the Company received an $85.0 million cash dividend from the Association. Because of its intercompany nature, this dividend payment had no impact on the Company's capital ratios or its consolidated statement of condition but reduced the Association's reported capital ratios. At September 30, 2019, the Company had, in the form of cash and a demand loan from the Association, $146.3 million of funds readily available to support its stand-alone operations.
The Company’s eighth stock repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock was approved by the Board of Directors on October 27, 2016 and repurchases began on

67


January 6, 2017. There were 4,088,421 shares repurchased under that program between its start date and September 30, 2019. During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company repurchased $9.1 million of its common stock.
On July 16, 2019, Third Federal Savings, MHC received the approval of its members with respect to the waiver of dividends, and subsequently received the non-objection of the FRB-Cleveland, to waive receipt of dividends on the Company’s common stock the MHC owns up to a total of $1.10 per share, to be declared on the Company’s common stock during the twelve months subsequent to the members’ approval (i.e., through July 16, 2020). The members approved the waiver by casting 62% of the eligible votes in favor of the waiver. Of the votes cast, 97% were in favor of the proposal. Third Federal Savings, MHC waived its right to receive a $0.27 per share dividend payment on September 17, 2019.
On July 11, 2018, Third Federal Savings, MHC received the approval of its members with respect to the waiver of dividends, and subsequently received the non-objection of the FRB-Cleveland, to waive receipt of dividends on the Company’s common stock the MHC owns up to a total of $1.00 per share, to be declared on the Company’s common stock during the twelve months subsequent to the members’ approval (i.e., through July 11, 2019). The members approved the waiver by casting 63% of the eligible votes in favor of the waiver. Of the votes cast, 97% were in favor of the proposal. Third Federal Savings, MHC waived its right to receive a $0.25 per share dividend payment on September 24, 2018, December 12, 2018, March 19, 2019 and June 25, 2019.
The payment of dividends, support of asset growth and stock repurchases are planned to continue in the future as the focus for future capital deployment activities.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations
Commitments. As a financial services provider, we routinely are a party to various financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risks, such as commitments to extend credit and unused lines of credit. While these contractual obligations represent our future cash requirements, a significant portion of commitments to extend credit may expire without being drawn upon. Such commitments are subject to the same credit policies and approval process accorded to loans we make. In addition, we routinely enter into commitments to securitize and sell mortgage loans. For additional information, see Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Contractual Obligations. In the ordinary course of our operations, we enter into certain contractual obligations. Such obligations include operating leases for premises and equipment, agreements with respect to borrowed funds and deposit liabilities and agreements with respect to investments.
The following table summarizes our significant fixed and determinable contractual obligations and other funding needs by payment date at September 30, 2019. The payment amounts represent those amounts due to the recipient and do not include any unamortized premiums or discounts or other similar carrying amount adjustments.
 
 
Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations
 
Less than
One year
 
 
One to
Three years
 
More than Three to
Five years
 
More than
Five years
 
Total
 
 
(In thousands)
FHLB advances(1)(2)
 
$
3,587,616

  
 
$
644

 
$
292,219

 
$
22,502

 
$
3,902,981

Operating leases
 
4,881

  
 
7,316

 
3,979

 
4,209

 
20,385

Certificates of deposit(1)
 
3,313,326

  
 
2,153,607

 
872,087

 
80,517

 
6,419,537

Limited partner investments
 
11,541

  
 

 

 

 
11,541

Total
 
$
6,917,364

  
 
$
2,161,567

 
$
1,168,285

 
$
107,228

 
$
10,354,444

Commitments to extend credit
 
$
2,903,289

(3) 
 
$

 
$

 
$

 
$
2,903,289

______________________
(1)
Includes accrued interest payable, computed on an actual days outstanding basis, at September 30, 2019.
(2)
Reflect the net impact of deferred penalties discussed in Note 10. Borrowed Funds. 
(3)
Includes the unused portion (including commitments for accounts suspended as a result of material default or a decline in equity) of home equity lines of credit of $2.22 billion at September 30, 2019.

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Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices
Our consolidated financial statements and related notes have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. GAAP generally requires the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars without consideration for changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation. The impact of inflation is reflected in the increased cost of our operations. Unlike industrial companies, our assets and liabilities are primarily monetary in nature. As a result, changes in market interest rates have a greater impact on performance than the effects of inflation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 21. Recent Accounting Pronouncements of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for pending and adopted accounting guidance.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
General. The majority of our assets and liabilities are monetary in nature. Consequently, our most significant form of market risk has historically been interest rate risk. In general, our assets, consisting primarily of mortgage loans, have longer maturities than our liabilities, consisting primarily of deposits and advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati. As a result, a fundamental component of our business strategy is to manage interest rate risk and limit the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates. Accordingly, our Board of Directors has established risk parameter limits deemed appropriate given our business strategy, operating environment, capital, liquidity and performance objectives. Additionally, our Board of Directors has authorized the formation of an Asset/Liability Management Committee comprised of key operating personnel, which is responsible for managing this risk in a matter that is consistent with the guidelines and risk limits approved by the Board of Directors. Further, the Board has established the Directors Risk Committee, which, among other responsibilities, conducts regular oversight and review of the guidelines, policies and deliberations of the Asset/Liability Management Committee. We have sought to manage our interest rate risk in order to control the exposure of our earnings and capital to changes in interest rates. As part of our ongoing asset-liability management, we use the following strategies to manage our interest rate risk:
(i)
marketing adjustable-rate and shorter-maturity (10-year, fixed-rate mortgage) loan products;
(ii)
lengthening the weighted average remaining term of major funding sources, primarily by offering attractive interest rates on deposit products, particularly longer-term certificates of deposit, and through the use of longer-term advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati (or shorter-term advances converted to longer-term durations via the use of interest rate exchange contracts that qualify as cash flow hedges) and longer-term brokered certificates of deposit;
(iii)
investing in shorter- to medium-term investments and mortgage-backed securities;
(iv)
maintaining the levels of capital in excess of what is required for "well capitalized" designation; and
(v)
securitizing and/or selling long-term, fixed-rate residential real estate mortgage loans.
During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, $98.4 million of agency-compliant, long-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans were sold to Fannie Mae on a servicing retained basis. Additionally, during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019 $18.9 million of fixed-rate loans were sold, on a servicing retained basis, in a single bulk sale to a private investor. At September 30, 2019, $3.7 million of agency-compliant, long-term, fixed-rate residential first mortgage loans that qualified under Fannie Mae's HomeReady program, were classified as "held for sale". Of the agency compliant loan sales during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019: $0.1 million was comprised of long-term, (15 to 30 years), fixed-rate first mortgage loans which were sold under Fannie Mae's HARP II; $47.8 million was comprised of long-term, (15 to 30 years), fixed-rate first mortgage loans which were sold under Fannie Mae's HomeReady program; and $50.5 million was comprised of long-term (15 to 30 years), fixed-rate first mortgage loans which had been originated under our revised procedures and were sold to Fannie Mae, as described in the next paragraph. At September 30, 2019, we had no outstanding loan sales commitments.
First mortgage loans (primarily fixed-rate, mortgage refinances with terms of 15 years or more, HARP II (prior to December 31, 2018) and Home Ready) are originated under Fannie Mae procedures and are eligible for sale to Fannie Mae either as whole loans or within mortgage-backed securities. The HARP II program expired on December 31, 2018. We expect that certain loan types (i.e. our Smart Rate adjustable-rate loans, home purchase fixed-rate loans and 10-year fixed-rate loans) will continue to be originated under our legacy procedures, which are not eligible for sale to Fannie Mae. For loans that are not originated under Fannie Mae procedures, the Association’s ability to reduce interest rate risk via loan sales is limited to those loans that have established payment histories, strong borrower credit profiles and are supported by adequate collateral values that meet the requirements of the FHLB's Mortgage Purchase Program or of private third-party investors.

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The Association actively markets an adjustable-rate mortgage loan product and a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage loan product. Each of these products provides us with improved interest rate risk characteristics when compared to longer-term, fixed-rate mortgage loans. Shortening the average maturity of our interest-earning assets by increasing our investments in shorter-term loans and investments, as well as loans and investments with variable rates of interest, helps to better match the maturities and interest rates of our assets and liabilities, thereby reducing the exposure of our net interest income to changes in market interest rates.
The Association evaluates funding source alternatives as it seeks to extend its liability duration. Extended duration funding sources that are currently considered include: retail certificates of deposit (which, subject to a fee, generally provide depositors with an early withdrawal option, but do not require pledged collateral); brokered certificates of deposit (which generally do not provide an early withdrawal option and do not require collateral pledges); collateralized borrowings which are not subject to creditor call options (generally advances from the FHLB of Cincinnati); and interest rate exchange contracts ("swaps") which are subject to collateral pledges and which require specific structural features to qualify for hedge accounting treatment (hedge accounting treatment directs that periodic mark-to-market adjustments be recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) in the equity section of the balance sheet rather than being included in operating results of the income statement). The Association's intent is that any swap to which it may be a party will qualify for hedge accounting treatment. The Association attempts to be opportunistic in the timing of its funding duration deliberations and when evaluating alternative funding sources, compares effective interest rates, early withdrawal/call options and collateral requirements.
The Association is a party to interest rate swap agreements. Each of the Association's swap agreements is registered on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and involves the exchange of interest payment amounts based on a notional principal balance. No exchange of principal amounts occurs and the notional principal amount does not appear on our balance sheet. The Association uses swaps to extend the duration of its funding sources. In each of the Association's agreements, interest paid is based on a fixed rate of interest throughout the term of each agreement while interest received is based on an interest rate that resets at a specified interval (generally three months) throughout the term of each agreement. On the initiation date of the swap, the agreed upon exchange interest rates reflect market conditions at that point in time. Swaps generally require counterparty collateral pledges that ensure the counterparties' ability to comply with the conditions of the agreement. The notional amount of the Association's swap portfolio at September 30, 2019 was $2.75 billion. The swap portfolio's weighted average fixed pay rate was 1.92% and the weighted average remaining term was 3.7 years. Concurrent with the execution of each swap, the Association entered into a short-term borrowing from the FHLB of Cincinnati in an amount equal to the notional amount of the swap and with interest rate resets aligned with the reset interval of the swap. Each individual swap agreement has been designated as a cash flow hedge of interest rate risk associated with the Company's variable rate borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati.
Economic Value of Equity. Using customized modeling software, the Association prepares periodic estimates of the amounts by which the net present value of its cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet items (the institution’s economic value of equity or EVE) would change in the event of a range of assumed changes in market interest rates. The simulation model uses a discounted cash flow analysis and an option-based pricing approach in measuring the interest rate sensitivity of EVE. The model estimates the economic value of each type of asset, liability and off-balance sheet contract under the assumption that instantaneous changes (measured in basis points) occur at all maturities along the United States Treasury yield curve and other relevant market interest rates. A basis point equals one, one-hundredth of one percent, and 100 basis points equals one percent. An increase in interest rates from 2% to 3% would mean, for example, a 100 basis point increase in the “Change in Interest Rates” column below. The model is tailored specifically to our organization, which, we believe, improves its predictive accuracy. The following table presents the estimated changes in the Association’s EVE at September 30, 2019 that would result from the indicated instantaneous changes in the United States Treasury yield curve and other relevant market interest rates. Computations of prospective effects of hypothetical interest rate changes are based on numerous assumptions, including relative levels of market interest rates, loan prepayments and deposit decay, and should not be relied upon as indicative of actual results.

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Change in
Interest Rates
(basis points) (1)
 
Estimated 
EVE (2)
 
Estimated Increase
(Decrease) in EVE
 
EVE as a Percentage
of Present Value of
Assets (3)
EVE
Ratio (4)
 
Increase
(Decrease)
(basis points)
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
 
(Dollars in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
+300
 
$
1,623,624

 
$
(622,100
)
 
(27.70
)%
 
11.77
%
 
(316
)
+200
 
1,891,435

 
(354,289
)
 
(15.78
)%
 
13.26
%
 
(167
)
+100
 
2,195,709

 
(50,015
)
 
(2.23
)%
 
14.94
%
 
1

0
 
2,245,724

 

 
 %
 
14.93
%
 

-100
 
2,197,168

 
(48,556
)
 
(2.16
)%
 
14.36
%
 
(57
)
_________________
(1)
Assumes an instantaneous uniform change in interest rates at all maturities.
(2)
EVE is the discounted present value of expected cash flows from assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet contracts.
(3)
Present value of assets represents the discounted present value of incoming cash flows on interest-earning assets.
(4)
EVE Ratio represents EVE divided by the present value of assets.
The table above indicates that at September 30, 2019, in the event of an increase of 200 basis points in all interest rates, the Association would experience a 15.78% decrease in EVE. In the event of a 100 basis point decrease in interest rates, the Association would experience a 2.16% decrease in EVE.
The following table is based on the calculations contained in the previous table, and sets forth the change in the EVE at a +200 basis point rate of shock at September 30, 2019, with comparative information as of September 30, 2018. By regulation, the Association must measure and manage its interest rate risk for interest rate shocks relative to established risk tolerances in EVE.
 
At September 30,
Risk Measure (+200 bp Rate Shock)
2019
 
2018
     Pre-Shock EVE Ratio
14.93
 %
 
15.54
 %
     Post-Shock EVE Ratio
13.26
 %
 
13.35
 %
     Sensitivity Measure in basis points
(167
)
 
(219
)
     Percentage Change in EVE Ratio
(15.78
)%
 
(19.65
)%
Certain shortcomings are inherent in the methodologies used in measuring interest rate risk through changes in EVE. Modeling changes in EVE require making certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. In this regard, the EVE tables presented above assume:
no new growth or business volumes;
that the composition of our interest-sensitive assets and liabilities existing at the beginning of a period remains constant over the period being measured, except for reductions to reflect mortgage loan principal repayments along with modeled prepayments and defaults; and
that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration or repricing of specific assets and liabilities.
Accordingly, although the EVE tables provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure as of the indicated dates, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our EVE and will differ from actual results. In addition to our core business activities, which primarily sought to originate Smart Rate (adjustable), home equity lines of credit (adjustable) and 10-year fixed-rate loans funded by borrowings from the FHLB and intermediate term CDs (including brokered CDs) and which are intended to have a favorable impact on our IRR profile, the net impact of several other items resulted in the 3.87% improvement in the Percentage Change in EVE measure at September 30, 2019, when compared to the measure at September 30, 2018. The most significant factor contributing to the overall improvement was the change in market interest rates, which included a decrease of 116 basis points for the two-year term, a decrease of 135 basis points for the five-year term and a decrease of 133 basis points for the ten-year term, and which resulted in an improvement of 5.78% in the Percentage Change in EVE. Partially offsetting this improvement was the impact of an $85.0 million cash dividend that the Association paid to the Company. Because of its intercompany nature, this payment had no impact on the Company's capital position, or the Company's overall IRR profile, but reduced the Association's regulatory capital and regulatory capital ratios and negatively impacted the Association's Percentage Change in EVE by approximately

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0.78%. Additionally, numerous modifications and enhancements to our modeling assumptions and methodologies, which are continually challenged and evaluated, on a net basis, negatively impacted the Association's Percentage Change in EVE by 5.25%. Partially offsetting the unfavorable impact of the two preceding factors, our core business activities, as described at the beginning of this paragraph, are generally intended to have a positive impact on our IRR profile, the actual impact is determined by a number of factors, including the pace of mortgage asset additions to our balance sheet (including consideration of outstanding commitments to originate those assets), in comparison to the pace of the addition of duration extending funding sources. During the current fiscal year, the net affect of mortgage asset accumulation and funding source extension resulted in 4.12% of improvement to our Percentage Change in EVE. The IRR simulation results presented above were in line with management's expectations and were within the risk limits established by our Board of Directors.
Our simulation model possesses random patterning capabilities and accommodates extensive regression analytics applicable to the prepayment and decay profiles of our borrower and depositor portfolios. The model facilitates the generation of alternative modeling scenarios and provides us with timely decision making data that is integral to our IRR management processes. Modeling our IRR profile and measuring our IRR exposure are processes that are subject to continuous revision, refinement, modification, enhancement, back testing and validation. We continually evaluate, challenge and update the methodology and assumptions used in our IRR model, including behavioral equations that have been derived based on third-party studies of our customer historical performance patterns. Changes to the methodology and/or assumptions used in the model will result in reported IRR profiles and reported IRR exposures that will be different, and perhaps significantly, from the results reported above.
Earnings at Risk. In addition to EVE calculations, we use our simulation model to analyze the sensitivity of our net interest income to changes in interest rates (the institution’s EaR). Net interest income is the difference between the interest income that we earn on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and the interest that we pay on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. In our model, we estimate what our net interest income would be for prospective 12 and 24 month periods using customized (based on our portfolio characteristics) assumptions with respect to loan prepayment rates, default rates and deposit decay rates, and the implied forward yield curve as of the market date for assumptions as to projected interest rates. We then calculate what the estimated net interest income would be for the same period under numerous interest rate scenarios. The simulation process is subject to continual enhancement, modification, refinement and adaptation in order that it might most accurately reflect our current circumstances, factors and expectations. As of September 30, 2019, we estimated that our EaR for the 12 months ending September 30, 2020 would increase by 1.53% in the event that market interest rates used in the simulation were adjusted in equal monthly amounts (termed a "ramped" format) during the 12 month measurement period to an aggregate increase in 200 basis points. This assumption differs from the assumption used to report our EaR estimates in reporting periods prior to March 31, 2017, when our EaR disclosures were determined under assumed instantaneous changes in market interest rates. During the March 31, 2017 quarter, based on a survey of the predominate practices disclosed by other similarly profiled financial institutions, the Association adopted the "ramped" assumption in preparing the EaR simulation estimates for use in its public disclosures. In addition to conforming to predominate industry practice, the Association also believes that the ramped assumption provides a more probable/plausible scenario for net interest income simulations than instantaneous shocks which provide a theoretical analysis but a much less credible economic scenario. The Association continues to calculate instantaneous scenarios, and as of September 30, 2019, we estimated that our EaR for the 12 months ending September 30, 2020, would decrease by 0.70% in the event of an instantaneous 200 basis point increase in market interest rates.
Certain shortcomings are also inherent in the methodologies used in determining interest rate risk through changes in EaR. Modeling changes in EaR require making certain assumptions that may or may not reflect the manner in which actual yields and costs respond to changes in market interest rates. In this regard, the interest rate risk information presented above assumes that a particular change in interest rates is reflected uniformly across the yield curve regardless of the duration or repricing of specific assets and liabilities. Accordingly, although interest rate risk calculations provide an indication of our interest rate risk exposure at a particular point in time, such measurements are not intended to and do not provide a precise forecast of the effect of changes in market interest rates on our net interest income and will differ from actual results. In addition to the preparation of computations as described above, we also formulate simulations based on a variety of non-linear changes in interest rates and a variety of non-constant balance sheet composition scenarios.
Other Considerations. The EVE and EaR analyses are similar in that they both start with the same month end balance sheet amounts, weighted average coupon and maturity. The underlying prepayment, decay and default assumptions are also the same and they both start with the same month end "markets" (Treasury and Libor yield curves, etc.). From that similar starting point, the models follow divergent paths. EVE is a stochastic model using 100 different interest rate paths to compute market value at the cohorted transaction level for each of the categories on the balance sheet whereas EaR uses the implied forward curve to compute interest income/expense at the cohorted transaction level for each of the categories on the balance sheet.

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EVE is considered as a point in time calculation with a "liquidation" view of the Association where all the cash flows (including interest, principal and prepayments) are modeled and discounted using discount factors derived from the current market yield curves. It provides a long term view and helps to define changes in equity and duration as a result of changes in interest rates. On the other hand, EaR is based on balance sheet projections going one year and two years forward and assumes new business volume and pricing to calculate net interest income under different interest rate environments. EaR is calculated to determine the sensitivity of net interest income under different interest rate scenarios. With each of these models, specific policy limits have been established that are compared with the actual month end results. These limits have been approved by the Association's Board of Directors and are used as benchmarks to evaluate and moderate interest rate risk. In the event that there is a breach of policy limits that extends beyond two consecutive quarter end measurement periods, management is responsible for taking such action, similar to those described under the preceding heading of General, as may be necessary in order to return the Association's interest rate risk profile to a position that is in compliance with the policy. At September 30, 2019 the IRR profile as disclosed above was within our internal limits.
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The Financial Statements are included in Part IV, Item 15 of this Form 10-K.
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Not applicable.
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision of and with the participation of the Company’s management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
No change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report Regarding Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such terms are defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act of 1934. Our system of internal controls is designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements that we provide to the public are fairly presented.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurances that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Accordingly, absolute assurance cannot be provided that the effectiveness of the internal control systems may not

73


become inadequate in future periods because of changes in conditions, or because the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019. In making this assessment, the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) was utilized. Management concluded that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2019, based on those criteria.
The effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears therein.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 302 Certifications have been filed as Exhibit 31.1 and Exhibit 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.


74


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of
TFS Financial Corporation
Cleveland, Ohio
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of TFS Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2019, of the Company and our report dated November 26, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report Regarding Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
November 26, 2019





75


Item 9B.
Other Information
Not applicable.

PART III

Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Incorporated by reference from the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Proxy Statement”) sections entitled “Proposal One: Election of Directors,” “Executive Compensation,” “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” and “Corporate Governance.” Such information will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
The table below sets forth information, as of September 30, 2019, regarding our executive officers other than Mr. Stefanski and Ms. Weil.
Name
Title
Age
Judith Z. Adam
Chief Risk Officer
64
Paul J. Huml
Chief Financial Officer
60
Anna Maria P. Motta
Chief Information Officer, the Association
60
Cathy W. Zbanek
Chief Marketing and Human Resources Officer, the Association
46
The executive officers of the Company and the Association are elected annually and hold office until their respective successors are elected or until death, resignation, retirement or removal by the Board of Directors.
The Business Background of Our Executive Officers
The business experience for the past five years of each of our executive officers other than Mr. Stefanski and Ms. Weil is set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, executive officers have held their positions for the past five years.
Judith Z. Adam joined the Association in 2000 and was named Chief Risk Officer in 2015. During her time with the Association, Ms. Adam has managed the Accounting, Internet Services and Loan Production teams. Ms. Adam’s more than 30 years in the banking industry have included serving in various accounting roles at TransOhio Savings Bank and Metropolitan Bank & Trust.
Paul J. Huml joined the Association as a Vice President in 1998 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Company in 2002, Chief Accounting Officer in June 2009 and Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Prior to joining the Association, Mr. Huml spent 10 years in the hotel industry, focusing on the areas of finance, real estate development and risk management. Mr. Huml is a certified public accountant in the state of Ohio.
Anna Maria P. Motta joined the Association in 1989 and was named Chief Information Officer in 2014.  During her time with the Association, Ms. Motta has managed a number of different operational areas including Northeast Ohio Retail Operations, Customer Service, Internet Services, Loan Servicing, Default Servicing, Deposit Operations, and Information Services. Ms. Motta’s more than 30 years in the banking industry also included serving as Treasurer of ParkView Federal Savings and Loan, in Cleveland, Ohio, from 1987 to 1989.
Cathy W. Zbanek joined the Association in 2001 and was named the Chief Marketing Officer in January 2013 and also serves as the Human Resources Officer for the Association. Prior to her current role, she directed several key strategic business projects as well as systems design and development. She also managed several departments, including Customer Service. Before joining the Association, Ms. Zbanek served as a senior consultant with Waterstone Consulting, working in their Management Consulting Group. Her experience also includes working with the consulting group, Price Waterhouse Coopers.
The Company has adopted a policy statement entitled CODE OF ETHICS FOR SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS that applies to our chief executive officer and our senior financial officers. A copy of the CODE OF ETHICS FOR SENIOR FINANCIAL OFFICERS is available on our website, www.thirdfederal.com.


76


Item 11.
Executive Compensation
Incorporated by reference from the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled “Executive Compensation,” “Report of the Compensation Committee,” and “Director Compensation.” Such information will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Incorporated by reference from the section of the Proxy Statement entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.” Such information will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.
The Company’s only equity compensation program that was not approved by shareholders is its employee stock ownership plan, which was established in conjunction with our initial stock offering completed in April 2007.
The following table provides information as of September 30, 2019 regarding our Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan that was approved by shareholders on February 22, 2018. The original plan was was approved by shareholders on May 29, 2008.
Plan Category
 
Number of Shares to be
Issued Upon Exercise of
Outstanding Options,
Rights and Warrants
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
Rights and Warrants
 
Number of Shares
Remaining Available
for Future Issuance
Under the Plan
Equity Compensation Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Approved by Stockholders
 
 
5,769,739

 
 
 
$
10.48

(1)
 
 
8,203,100

 
Equity Compensation Plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Not Approved by Stockholders
 
 
N/A

 
 
 
N/A

 
 
 
N/A

 
Total
 
 
5,769,739

 
 
 
$
10.48

(1)
 
 
8,203,100

 
 ______________________
(1)
Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Rights and Warrants is calculated using 1,394,139 shares of restricted stock awards and performance share units at $0.00 and 4,375,600 shares of stock option awards at $13.82.

Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Incorporated by reference from the sections of the Proxy Statement entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance.” Such information will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
Incorporated by reference from the section of the Proxy Statement entitled “Fees Paid to Deloitte & Touche LLP.” Such information will be filed with the SEC no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.


PART IV

Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) Financial Statements
The following documents are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
a.
The consolidated financial statements of TFS Financial Corporation and subsidiaries contained in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Consolidated Statements of Condition as of September 30, 2019 and 2018;
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017;

77


Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017;
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017;
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017; and
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
b. The exhibits listed in the Exhibits Index beginning on Page 129 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary

Not applicable.

78


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the shareholders and Board of Directors of
TFS Financial Corporation
Cleveland, Ohio

Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of condition of TFS Financial Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 26, 2019, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Allowance for Loan Losses - Qualitative Reserve for Smart Rate Loan Portfolio - Refer to Notes 1 and 5 to the financial statements.
Critical Audit Matter Description
The allowance for loan losses as of September 30, 2019 was $38.9 million. The allowance for loans losses (comprised of general, individually reviewed, and qualitative reserve components) is assessed on a quarterly basis and provisions for loans losses are made in order to maintain the allowance at a level sufficient to absorb credit losses in the portfolio. Impairment evaluations are performed on loans segregated into homogenous pools based on similarities in credit profile, product and property types. Through the evaluation, general allowances for loan losses are assessed based on historical loss experience for each homogenous pool. General allowances are adjusted to address other factors that affect estimated probable losses including the size of the portion of the portfolio that is not subjected to individual review; current delinquency statistics; the status of loans in foreclosure, real estate in judgment and real estate owned; national, regional and local economic factors and trends;

79


asset disposition loss statistics (both current and historical); and the relative level of individually allocated valuation allowances to the balances of loans individually reviewed.
The Company offers “Smart Rate” adjustable-rate mortgage loan products (“Smart Rate loan portfolio”) secured by residential properties with interest rates that are fixed for an initial period of three or five years, after which the interest rate generally resets every year based upon a contractual spread or margin linked to the Prime Rate. Adjustable-rate mortgage loans generally present different credit risks than fixed-rate mortgage loans primarily because the underlying debt service payments of the borrowers increase as interest rates increase, thereby increasing the potential for default.  The total value of loans in the Smart Rate loan portfolio at September 30, 2019 is approximately $5.0 billion. Allocated to the Smart Rate loan portfolio is an allowance for loan losses, including general, individually reviewed, and qualitative components.
The Smart Rate loan portfolio is a relatively new product and therefore lacks the historical loss experience compared to other types of loans in the overall portfolio. Due to this lack of historical loss experience, judgment is required by management in assessing the probability of default, specifically when interest rates rise. This required a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased extent of audit effort to evaluate the reasonableness of management’s estimates and assumptions related to the allowance for loan losses for the Smart Rate loan portfolio.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the allowance for loans losses for the Smart Rate loan portfolio included the following, among others:
·      We evaluated management’s written policies and procedures for estimating the allowance for loan losses for the Smart Rate loan portfolio, focusing on changes in the estimation process from prior year.
·      We tested the effectiveness of controls over the Company’s development, review and approval of the allowance for loan losses for the Smart Rate loan portfolio, including effectiveness of controls over the data used in the calculation of the allowance.
·      We tested the accuracy of information used in the allowance for loan losses process, through examining supporting documentation, testing the recording of charge-offs, and evaluating external economic information as compared to external sources.
·      We tested the underlying support for management’s historical loss and probability of default assumptions, including testing the reasonableness of the subjective factors based on relevant changes in industry and economic data.
.      We conducted peer analyses of the overall allowance to assess for reasonableness.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Cleveland, Ohio
November 26, 2019
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2000.




80


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
As of September 30, 2019 and 2018
(In thousands, except share data)
 
 
2019
 
2018
ASSETS
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
31,728

 
$
29,056

Other interest-earning cash equivalents
243,415

 
240,719

Cash and cash equivalents
275,143

 
269,775

Investment securities available for sale (amortized cost $550,605 and $549,211, respectively)
547,864

 
531,965

Mortgage loans held for sale, at lower of cost or market (none measured at fair value)
3,666

 
659

Loans held for investment, net:
 
 
 
Mortgage loans
13,189,516

 
12,872,125

Other loans
3,166

 
3,021

Deferred loan expenses, net
41,976

 
38,566

Allowance for loan losses
(38,913
)
 
(42,418
)
Loans, net
13,195,745

 
12,871,294

Mortgage loan servicing assets, net
8,080

 
8,840

Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost
101,858

 
93,544

Real estate owned, net
2,163

 
2,794

Premises, equipment, and software, net
61,577

 
63,399

Accrued interest receivable
40,822

 
38,696

Bank owned life insurance contracts
217,481

 
212,021

Other assets
87,957

 
44,344

TOTAL ASSETS
$
14,542,356

 
$
14,137,331

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Deposits
$
8,766,384

 
$
8,491,583

Borrowed funds
3,902,981

 
3,721,699

Borrowers’ advances for insurance and taxes
103,328

 
103,005

Principal, interest, and related escrow owed on loans serviced
32,909

 
31,490

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
40,000

 
31,150

Total liabilities
12,845,602

 
12,378,927

Commitments and contingent liabilities

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 700,000,000 shares authorized; 332,318,750 shares issued; 279,962,777 and 280,311,070 outstanding at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively
3,323

 
3,323

Paid-in capital
1,734,154

 
1,726,992

Treasury stock, at cost; 52,355,973 and 52,007,680 shares at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively
(764,589
)
 
(754,272
)
Unallocated ESOP shares
(44,417
)
 
(48,751
)
Retained earnings—substantially restricted
837,662

 
807,890

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(69,379
)
 
23,222

Total shareholders’ equity
1,696,754

 
1,758,404

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
14,542,356

 
$
14,137,331

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

81


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
INTEREST AND DIVIDEND INCOME:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans, including fees
$
458,779

 
$
422,953

 
$
394,447

Investment securities available for sale
13,100

 
11,134

 
9,041

Other interest and dividend earning assets
10,208

 
8,958

 
5,507

Total interest and dividend income
482,087

 
443,045

 
408,995

INTEREST EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
Deposits
143,353

 
102,255

 
87,421

Borrowed funds
73,313

 
59,849

 
42,678

Total interest expense
216,666

 
162,104

 
130,099

NET INTEREST INCOME
265,421

 
280,941

 
278,896

PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN LOSSES
(10,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(17,000
)
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION (CREDIT) FOR LOAN LOSSES
275,421

 
291,941

 
295,896

NON-INTEREST INCOME:
 
 
 
 
 
Fees and service charges, net of amortization
7,318

 
7,493

 
6,896

Net gain on the sale of loans
1,869

 
3,383

 
2,183

Increase in and death benefits from bank owned life insurance contracts
6,695

 
6,158

 
6,449

Other
4,582

 
4,502

 
4,321

Total non-interest income
20,464

 
21,536

 
19,849

NON-INTEREST EXPENSE:
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
103,991

 
101,316

 
94,622

Marketing services
19,364

 
19,252

 
19,713

Office property, equipment, and software
26,432

 
26,897

 
24,531

Federal insurance premium and assessments
10,432

 
11,189

 
10,055

State franchise tax
5,040

 
4,775

 
5,235

Other expenses
28,414

 
28,884

 
28,248

Total non-interest expense
193,673

 
192,313

 
182,404

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
102,212

 
121,164

 
133,341

INCOME TAX EXPENSE
21,975

 
35,757

 
44,464

NET INCOME
$
80,237

 
$
85,407

 
$
88,877

Earnings per share
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.29

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.32

Diluted
$
0.28

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.32

Weighted average shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
275,395,529

 
275,590,053

 
277,213,258

Diluted
277,374,426

 
277,298,425

 
279,268,768

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


82


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands)



 
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
 
$
80,237

 
$
85,407

 
$
88,877

Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale
 
11,459

 
(9,436
)
 
(3,331
)
Net change in cash flow hedges
 
(96,829
)
 
37,340

 
11,620

Net change in defined benefit plan obligation
 
(7,231
)
 
2,852

 
3,845

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
 
(92,601
)
 
30,756

 
12,134

Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(12,364
)
 
$
116,163

 
$
101,011

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


83


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Common
stock
 
Paid-in
capital
 
Treasury
stock
 
Unallocated
common stock
held by ESOP
 
Retained
earnings
 
Accumulated other
comprehensive 
income (loss)
 
Total
shareholders’
equity
Balance at September 30, 2016
$
3,323

 
$
1,716,818

 
$
(681,569
)
 
$
(57,418
)
 
$
698,930

 
$
(19,626
)
 
$
1,660,458

Comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 

 

 

 
88,877

 

 
88,877

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 
12,134

 
12,134

ESOP shares allocated or committed to be released

 
3,009

 

 
4,334

 

 

 
7,343

Compensation costs for equity incentive plans

 
3,937

 

 

 
(28
)
 

 
3,909

Purchase of treasury stock (3,148,610 shares)

 

 
(52,549
)
 

 

 

 
(52,549
)
Treasury stock allocated to (from) equity incentive plan

 
(1,092
)
 
(1,412
)
 

 

 

 
(2,504
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders ($0.545 per common share)

 

 

 

 
(27,709
)
 

 
(27,709
)
Balance at September 30, 2017
3,323

 
1,722,672

 
(735,530
)
 
(53,084
)
 
760,070

 
(7,492
)
 
1,689,959

Comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 

 

 

 
85,407

 

 
85,407

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 

 
42

 
30,714

 
30,756

ESOP shares allocated or committed to be released

 
2,305

 

 
4,333

 

 

 
6,638

Compensation costs for equity incentive plans

 
4,718

 

 

 

 

 
4,718

Purchase of treasury stock (1,283,911 shares)

 

 
(19,673
)
 

 

 

 
(19,673
)
Treasury stock allocated to (from) equity incentive plan

 
(2,703
)
 
931

 

 

 

 
(1,772
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders ($0.76 per common share)

 

 

 

 
(37,629
)
 

 
(37,629
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
3,323

 
1,726,992

 
(754,272
)
 
(48,751
)
 
807,890

 
23,222

 
1,758,404

Comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income

 

 

 

 
80,237

 

 
80,237

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

 

 

 

 
(92,601
)
 
(92,601
)
ESOP shares allocated or committed to be released

 
2,935

 

 
4,334

 

 

 
7,269

Compensation costs for equity incentive plans

 
4,511

 

 

 

 

 
4,511

Purchase of treasury stock (555,400 shares)

 

 
(9,063
)
 

 

 

 
(9,063
)
Treasury stock allocated to (from) equity incentive plan

 
(284
)
 
(1,254
)
 

 

 

 
(1,538
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders ($1.02 per common share)

 

 

 

 
(50,465
)
 

 
(50,465
)
Balance at September 30, 2019
$
3,323

 
$
1,734,154

 
$
(764,589
)
 
$
(44,417
)
 
$
837,662

 
$
(69,379
)
 
$
1,696,754

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

84


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2019
(In thousands)
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
80,237

 
$
85,407

 
$
88,877

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
ESOP and stock-based compensation expense
11,780

 
11,356

 
11,252

Depreciation and amortization
22,950

 
25,187

 
20,885

Deferred income taxes
21,936

 
3,949

 
3,548

Provision (credit) for loan losses
(10,000
)
 
(11,000
)
 
(17,000
)
Net gain on the sale of loans
(1,869
)
 
(3,383
)
 
(2,183
)
Other net losses
116

 
1,127

 
562

Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
48,517

 
25,585

 
29,172

Loans originated and principal repayments on loans for sale
(50,992
)
 
(25,964
)
 
(24,947
)
Increase in and death benefits for bank owned life insurance contracts
(6,192
)
 
(6,138
)
 
(6,320
)
Net increase in interest receivable and other assets
(13,202
)
 
(6,812
)
 
(1,383
)
Net decrease in accrued expenses and other liabilities
(280
)
 
(7,199
)
 
(1,295
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
103,001

 
92,115

 
101,168

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans originated
(3,028,188
)
 
(3,338,773
)
 
(3,422,896
)
Principal repayments on loans
2,629,397

 
2,508,822

 
2,494,866

Proceeds from sales, principal repayments and maturities of:
 
 
 
 
 
Securities available for sale
152,560

 
139,846

 
153,315

Proceeds from sale of:
 
 
 
 
 
Loans
69,620

 
372,497

 
218,158

Real estate owned
3,997

 
6,280

 
8,761

Purchases of:
 
 
 
 
 
FHLB Stock
(8,314
)
 
(3,554
)
 
(20,137
)
Securities available for sale
(158,012
)
 
(151,600
)
 
(183,518
)
Premises and equipment
(3,778
)
 
(8,373
)
 
(4,150
)
Other
736

 

 
792

Net cash used in investing activities
(341,982
)
 
(474,855
)
 
(754,809
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in deposits
274,801

 
339,958

 
(179,743
)
Net increase in borrowers' advances for insurance and taxes
323

 
2,559

 
8,133

Net increase (decrease) in principal and interest owed on loans serviced
1,419

 
(4,276
)
 
(13,635
)
Net increase in short-term borrowed funds
326,991

 
317,043

 
1,160,682

Proceeds from long-term borrowed funds
275,000

 
15,088

 

Repayment of long-term borrowed funds
(420,709
)
 
(281,809
)
 
(208,100
)
Cash collateral/settlements received from (provided to) derivative counterparties (1)
(152,386
)
 
54,876

 
7,525

Purchase of treasury shares
(9,087
)
 
(19,741
)
 
(54,029
)
Acquisition of treasury shares through net settlement

(1,538
)
 
(1,772
)
 
(2,504
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders
(50,465
)
 
(37,629
)
 
(27,709
)
Net cash provided by financing activities
244,349

 
384,297

 
690,620

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
5,368

 
1,557

 
36,979

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—Beginning of year
269,775

 
268,218

 
231,239

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS—End of year
$
275,143

 
$
269,775

 
$
268,218

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest on deposits
$
143,363

 
$
100,505

 
$
87,373

Cash paid for interest on borrowed funds
81,743

 
61,055

 
36,216

Cash paid for income taxes
9,689

 
32,525

 
38,208

SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
 
 
 
 
 
Transfer of loans to real estate owned
3,473

 
4,238

 
7,989

Transfer of loans from held for investment to held for sale
69,069

 
372,563

 
218,720

Transfer of loans from held for sale to held for investment

 
149

 

Treasury stock issued for stock benefit plans

322

 
2,740

 
1,135

(1) In accordance with ASC 230-10-45-27, cash flows from derivative instruments may be classified in the same category as items hedged. For the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, $54,876 and $7,525, respectively, of cash collateral and settlement payments received from derivative counterparties were reclassified from Operating to Financing Activities to conform to this presentation.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

85


TFS FINANCIAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As of and for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017
(Dollars in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Business—TFS Financial Corporation, a federally chartered stock holding company, conducts its principal activities through its wholly owned subsidiaries. The principal line of business of the Company is retail consumer banking, including mortgage lending, deposit gathering, and other insignificant financial services. Third Federal Savings and Loan Association of Cleveland, MHC, its federally chartered mutual holding company parent, owned 81.12% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company at September 30, 2019.
The Company’s primary operating subsidiaries include the Association and Third Capital, Inc. The Association is a federal savings association, which provides retail loan and savings products to its customers in Ohio and Florida, through its 37 full-service branches, eight loan production offices, customer service call center and internet site. The Association also provides savings products, purchase mortgages, first mortgage refinance loans, home equity lines of credit, and home equity loans in states outside of its branch footprint. Third Capital, Inc. was formed to hold non-thrift investments and subsidiaries, which include a limited liability company that acquires and manages commercial real estate. On October 31, 2019, the limited liability company sold the remaining two commercial office buildings it owned, which had a net book value of $19,324 at September 30, 2019, which was included in premises, equipment and software, net and other assets. Pending the outcome of various sale escrow reserves and credits, which will not be resolved until 2020, the Company estimates recording pre-tax income between $4,000 and $5,000 in 2020, representing its share of the gain on sale.
The accounting and reporting policies of TFS Financial Corporation and its subsidiaries conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practices within the thrift industry.
Other than as described above and in Note 7, no material subsequent events have occurred requiring recognition in the consolidated financial statements or disclosure in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
The following is a description of the significant accounting and reporting policies, which the Company follows in preparing and presenting its consolidated financial statements.
Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements of the Company include the accounts of TFS Financial Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents consist of working cash on hand, and demand and interest bearing deposits at other financial institutions with maturities of three months or less. For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents also includes federal funds sold. The Company has acknowledged informal agreements with banks where it maintains deposits. Under these agreements, service fees charged to the Company are waived provided certain average compensating balances are maintained throughout each month.
Investment Securities—Securities are all classified as available for sale. Securities held as available for sale are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, reported as a component of AOCI. Management determines the appropriate classification of securities based on the intent and ability at the time of purchase.
Gains and losses on the sale of investment and mortgage-backed securities available for sale are computed on a specific identification basis. Purchases and sales of securities are accounted for on a trade-date or settlement-date basis, depending on the settlement terms.
A decline in the fair value of any available for sale security, below cost, that is deemed to be other than temporary, results in a reduction in the carrying amount to fair value. The impairment loss is bifurcated between that related to credit loss which is recognized in non-interest income and that related to all other factors which is recognized in other comprehensive income. To determine whether an impairment is other than temporary, the Company considers, among other things, the duration and extent to which the fair value of an investment is less than its cost, changes in value subsequent to year end, forecast performance of the issuer, and whether the Company has the intent to hold the investment until market price recovery, or, for debt securities, whether the Company has the intent to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery.
Premiums and discounts are amortized using the level-yield method.

86


Mortgage Banking Activity—Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value in the aggregate. Mortgage loans included in pending agency contracts to sell and securitize loans are carried at fair value. Fair value is based on quoted secondary market pricing for loan portfolios with similar characteristics and includes consideration of deferred fees (costs). Net unrealized gains or losses on loans carried at fair value, are recognized in a valuation allowance by charges to income.
The Company retains servicing on loans that are sold and initially recognizes an asset for mortgage loan servicing rights based on the fair value of the servicing rights. Residential mortgage loans represent the single class of servicing rights and are measured at the lower of cost or fair value on a recurring basis. Mortgage loan servicing rights are reported net of accumulated amortization, which is recorded in proportion to, and over the period of, estimated net servicing revenues. The Company monitors prepayments and changes amortization of mortgage servicing rights accordingly. Fair values are estimated using discounted cash flows based on current interest rates and prepayment assumptions, and impairment is monitored each quarterly reporting period. The impairment analysis is based on predominant risk characteristics of the loans serviced, such as type, fixed and adjustable rate loans, original terms and interest rates. The amount of impairment recognized is the amount by which the mortgage loan servicing assets exceed their fair value.
Servicing fee income net of amortization and other loan fees collected on loans serviced for others are included in Fees and service charges, net of amortization on the consolidated financial statements.
Derivative Instruments—Derivative instruments are carried at fair value in the Company's financial statements. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of other comprehensive income, net of tax, and reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The earnings effect of the hedging instrument will be presented in the same income statement line item as the earnings effect of the hedged item. Accumulated other comprehensive income will be adjusted to a balance that reflects the cumulative change in the fair value of the hedging instrument. At the inception of a hedge, the Company documents certain items, including the relationship between the hedging instrument and the hedged item, the risk management objective and the nature of the risk being hedged, a description of how effectiveness will be measured, an evaluation of hedge transaction effectiveness and the benchmark interest rate or contractually specified interest rate being hedged.
Hedge accounting is discontinued prospectively when (1) a derivative is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the fair value or cash flow of a hedged item, (2) a derivative expires or is sold, (3) a derivative is de-designated as a hedge, because it is unlikely that a forecasted transaction will occur, or (4) it is determined that designation of a derivative as a hedge is no longer appropriate. When hedge accounting is discontinued, the Company would continue to carry the derivative on the statement of condition at its fair value; however, changes in its fair value would be recorded in earnings instead of through OCI.
For derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, the Company recognizes gains and losses on the derivative instrument in current earnings during the period of change.
Loans and Related Deferred Loan Expenses, net—Loans originated with the intent to hold into the foreseeable future are carried at unpaid principal balances adjusted for partial charge-offs, the allowance for loan losses and net deferred loan expenses. Interest on loans is accrued and credited to income as earned. Interest on loans is not recognized in income when collectability is uncertain.
Loan fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and recognized as an adjustment to interest income using the level-yield method over the contractual lives of related loans, if the loans are held for investment. If the loans are held for sale, net deferred fees (costs) are not amortized, but rather are recognized when the related loans are sold.
Loans are classified as TDRs when the original contractual terms are restructured to provide a concession to a borrower experiencing financial difficulty under terms that would not otherwise be available and the restructuring is the result of an agreement between the Company and the borrower or is imposed by a court or law. Concessions granted in TDRs may include a reduction of the stated interest rate, a reduction or forbearance of principal, an extension of the maturity date, a significant delay in payments, the removal of one or more borrowers from the obligation, or any combination of these.
Allowance for Loan Losses—The allowance for loan losses is assessed on a quarterly basis and provisions (credits) for loan losses are made in order to maintain the allowance at a level sufficient to absorb credit losses in the portfolio. Impairment evaluations are performed on loans segregated into homogeneous pools based on similarities in credit profile, product and property types. Through the evaluation, general allowances for loan losses are assessed based on historical loan loss experience for each homogeneous pool. General allowances are adjusted to address other factors that affect estimated probable losses including the size of the portion of the portfolio that is not subjected to individual review; current delinquency statistics; the status of loans in foreclosure, real estate in judgment and real estate owned; national, regional and local economic factors and

87


trends; asset disposition loss statistics (both current and historical); and the relative level of individually allocated valuation allowances to the balances of loans individually reviewed. The allowance for loan losses is increased by recoveries and decreased by charge-offs. Management believes the allowance is adequate.
For further discussion on the allowance for loan losses, non-accrual, impairment, and TDRs, see Note 5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses.
Real Estate Owned, net—Real estate owned, net represents real estate acquired through foreclosure or deed in lieu of foreclosure and is initially recorded at fair value less estimated costs to sell. Subsequent to acquisition, real estate owned is carried at the lower of cost or fair value less estimated selling costs. Management performs periodic valuations and a valuation allowance is established by a charge to income for any excess of the carrying value over the fair value less estimated costs to sell the property. Recoveries in fair value during the holding period are recognized until the valuation allowance is reduced to zero. Costs related to holding and maintaining the property are charged to expense.
Premises, Equipment, and Software, net—Depreciation and amortization of premises, equipment and software is computed on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated lives are 31.5 years for office facilities and three to 10 years for equipment and software. Amortization of leasehold or building improvements is computed on a straight-line basis over the lesser of the economic useful life of the improvement or term of the lease, typically 10 years.
Bank Owned Life Insurance Contracts—Life insurance is provided under both whole and split dollar life insurance agreements. Policy premiums were prepaid and the Company will recover the premiums paid from the proceeds of the policies. The Company recognizes death benefits and growth in the cash surrender value of the policies in other non-interest income.
Goodwill—The excess of purchase price over the fair value of net assets of acquired companies is classified as goodwill and reported in Other Assets. Goodwill was $9,732 at September 30, 2019 and 2018. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis as of September 30. No impairment was identified as of September 30, 2019 or 2018.
Taxes on Income—Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Additional information about policies related to income taxes is included in Note 12. Income Taxes.
Deposits—Interest on deposits is accrued and charged to expense monthly and is paid or credited in accordance with the terms of the accounts.
Treasury Stock—Acquisitions of treasury stock are recorded at cost using the cost method of accounting. Repurchases may be made through open market purchases, block trades and in negotiated private transactions, subject to the availability of stock, general market conditions, the trading price of the stock, alternative uses for capital, and the Company’s financial performance. Repurchased shares will be available for general corporate purposes.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consists of changes in pension obligations and changes in unrealized gains (losses) on securities available for sale and cash flow hedges, each of which is net of the related income tax effects. The Company's policy is to release income tax effects from accumulated other comprehensive income only when then entire portfolio to which the underlying transactions relate to is liquidated, sold or extinguished.
Pension Benefits—The determination of our obligations and expense for pension benefits is dependent upon certain assumptions used in calculating such amounts. Key assumptions used in the actuarial valuations include the discount rate and expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. Actual results could differ from the assumptions and market driven rates may fluctuate. Significant differences in actual experience or significant changes in the assumptions could materially affect future pension obligations and expense.
Share-Based Compensation—Compensation expense for awards of equity instruments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period based on the grant date fair value estimated in accordance with the provisions of FASB ASC 718 “Compensation—Stock Compensation”. Forfeitures are recognized as they occur. Share-based compensation expense is included in Salaries and employee benefits in the consolidated statements of income. Tax benefits or deficiencies recognized for the difference between realized deductions and cumulative book compensation cost on share-based compensation awards are included in operating cash flows on the consolidated statements of cash flows.

88


The grant date fair value of stock options is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using assumptions for the expected option term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividend yield. Due to limited historical data on exercise of share options, the simplified method is used to estimate expected option term.
Marketing Costs—Marketing costs are expensed as incurred.
Earnings per Share—Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Outstanding shares include shares sold to subscribers, shares held by the Third Federal Foundation, shares of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan which have been allocated or committed to be released for allocation to participants, and shares held by Third Federal Savings, MHC. Unvested shares awarded in the Company's share-based compensation plan are treated as participating securities for purposes of the two-class method when they contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends, but are not included in the number of shares in the computation of basic EPS. The two-class method is an earnings allocation that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security.
Diluted earnings per share is computed using the same method as basic earnings per share, but the weighted-average number of shares reflects the potential dilution, if any, of unexercised stock options, unvested shares of performance share units and unvested shares of restricted stock units that could occur if stock options were exercised and performance share units and restricted stock units were issued and converted into common stock. These potentially dilutive shares would then be included in the number of weighted-average shares outstanding for the period using the treasury stock method. At September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, potentially dilutive shares include stock options, restricted stock units and performance share units issued through share-based compensation plans.
Use of Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
2. STOCK TRANSACTIONS
TFS Financial Corporation completed its initial public stock offering on April 20, 2007 and sold 100,199,618 shares, or 30.16% of its post-offering outstanding common stock, to subscribers in the offering. Third Federal Savings, MHC, the Company’s mutual holding company parent, holds 227,119,132 shares of TFS Financial Corporation’s outstanding common stock. TFS Financial Corporation issued 5,000,000 shares of common stock, or 1.50% of its post-offering outstanding common stock, to Third Federal Foundation.
Pursuant to the eighth repurchase program for the repurchase of 10,000,000 shares authorized by the Board of Directors in October, 2016, a total of 555,400 shares were repurchased during the year ended September 30, 2019, 1,283,911 shares were repurchased during the year ended September 30, 2018 and 3,148,640 shares were repurchased during the year ended September 30, 2017. At September 30, 2019, there were 5,911,579 shares remaining to be purchased under the eighth repurchase program. The Company previously repurchased 51,300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock as part of the previous seven Board of Directors-approved share repurchase programs. In total, the Company has repurchased 55,388,421 shares of the Company's common stock as of September 30, 2019.
3. REGULATORY MATTERS
The Association is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the financial statements of the Association. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Association must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of its assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.
Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Association to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in table below) of common equity Tier 1, Tier 1, and Total capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets (as defined) and Tier 1 capital (as defined) to net average assets (as defined). The risk-based capital guidelines include both a definition of capital and a framework for calculating risk-weighted assets by assigning balance sheet assets and off-balance sheet assets to broad risk categories. At September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded all regulatory capital requirements and is considered “well capitalized” under regulatory guidelines.
The Association operates under the capital requirements for the standardized approach of the Basel III capital framework for U.S. banking organizations (“Basel III Rules”), which limits capital distributions and certain discretionary bonus payments

89


to management if the institution does not hold a "capital conservation buffer" consisting of 2.5% in addition to the minimum capital requirements. At September 30, 2019, the Association exceeded the fully phased-in regulatory requirement for the "capital conservation buffer".
The following table summarizes the actual capital amounts and ratios of the Association as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, compared to the minimum capital adequacy requirements and the requirements for classification as a well capitalized institution.
 
 
 
 
 
Minimum Requirements
 
Actual
 
For Capital
Adequacy Purposes
 
To be “Well Capitalized”
Under Prompt Corrective
Action Provision
 
Amount
 
Ratio
 
Amount  
 
Ratio  
 
Amount    
 
Ratio    
September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets
$
1,557,868

 
19.56
%
 
$
637,063

 
8.00
%
 
$
796,329

 
10.00
%
Tier 1 (Leverage) Capital to Net Average Assets
1,518,952

 
10.54
%
 
576,354

 
4.00
%
 
720,442

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets
1,518,952

 
19.07
%
 
477,797

 
6.00
%
 
637,063

 
8.00
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets

1,518,938

 
19.07
%
 
358,348

 
4.50
%
 
517,614

 
6.50
%
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets
$
1,559,180

 
20.47
%
 
$
609,414

 
8.00
%
 
$
761,767

 
10.00
%
Tier 1 (Leverage) Capital to Net Average Assets
1,516,758

 
10.87
%
 
557,963

 
4.00
%
 
697,453

 
5.00
%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets
1,516,758

 
19.91
%
 
457,060

 
6.00
%
 
609,414

 
8.00
%
Common Equity Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets

1,516,744

 
19.91
%
 
342,795

 
4.50
%
 
494,149

 
6.50
%

The Association paid dividends of $85,000 to the Company during each of the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.

On July 16, 2019, as dictated under interim final rules issued by the FRS on August 12, 2011, a majority of Third Federal Savings, MHC's members eligible to vote, approved Third Federal Savings, MHC waiving its right to receive dividends on the Company's stock that Third Federal Savings, MHC owns, up to $1.10 per share during the four quarters ending June 30, 2020. Unless the FRS amends its interim rule, a member vote will be required for Third Federal Savings, MHC to waive its right to receive dividends beyond June 30, 2020.
4. INVESTMENT SECURITIES
Investments available for sale are summarized as follows:
 
September 30, 2019
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
 
Fair
Value
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
REMICs
$
544,042

 
$
1,384

 
$
(4,384
)
 
$
541,042

Fannie Mae certificates
6,563

 
259

 

 
6,822

Total
$
550,605

 
$
1,643

 
$
(4,384
)
 
$
547,864

 
September 30, 2018
 
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
 
Fair
Value
 
Gains
 
Losses
 
REMICs
$
537,330

 
$
7

 
$
(17,338
)
 
$
519,999

Fannie Mae certificates
7,906

 
237

 
(145
)
 
7,998

U.S. Government obligations
3,975

 

 
(7
)
 
3,968

Total
$
549,211

 
$
244

 
$
(17,490
)
 
$
531,965


 

90


Gross unrealized losses on available for sale securities and the estimated fair value of the related securities, aggregated by the length of time the securities have been in a continuous loss position, at September 30, 2019 and 2018, were as follows: 
 
September 30, 2019
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
Available for sale—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMICs
$
95,751

 
$
488

 
$
292,643

 
$
3,896

 
$
388,394

 
$
4,384

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30, 2018
 
Less Than 12 Months
 
12 Months or More
 
Total
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
 
Estimated
Fair Value
 
Unrealized
Loss
Available for sale—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  REMICs
$
113,111

 
$
1,799

 
$
400,558

 
$
15,539

 
$
513,669

 
$
17,338

  Fannie Mae certificates

 

 
4,337

 
145

 
4,337

 
145

U.S. Government and agency obligations
3,968

 
7

 

 

 
3,968

 
7

Total
$
117,079

 
$
1,806

 
$
404,895

 
$
15,684

 
$
521,974

 
$
17,490

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The unrealized losses on investment securities were attributable to interest rate increases. The contractual cash flows of mortgage-backed securities are guaranteed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. REMICs are issued by or backed by securities issued by these governmental agencies. It is expected that the securities would not be settled at a price substantially less than the amortized cost of the investment. The U.S. Treasury Department established financing agreements in 2008 to ensure Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac meet their obligations to holders of mortgage-backed securities that they have issued or guaranteed.
Since the decline in value is attributable to changes in interest rates and not credit quality and because the Company has neither the intent to sell the securities nor is it more likely than not the Company will be required to sell the securities for the time periods necessary to recover the amortized cost, these investments are not considered other-than-temporarily impaired.
5. LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES
Loans held for investment consist of the following:
 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
10,903,024

 
$
10,930,811

Residential Home Today
84,942

 
94,933

Home equity loans and lines of credit
2,174,961

 
1,818,918

Construction
52,332

 
64,012

Real estate loans
13,215,259

 
12,908,674

Other consumer loans
3,166

 
3,021

Add (deduct):
 
 
 
Deferred loan expenses, net
41,976

 
38,566

Loans-in-process (“LIP”)
(25,743
)
 
(36,549
)
Allowance for loan losses
(38,913
)
 
(42,418
)
Loans held for investment, net
$
13,195,745

 
$
12,871,294



At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, $3,666 and $659 of loans were classified as mortgage loans held for sale.
A large concentration of the Company’s lending is in Ohio and Florida. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the percentage of aggregate Residential Core, Home Today and Construction loans held in Ohio were 57% and 56%, respectively, and the

91


percentages held in Florida were 16% as of both dates. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, home equity loans and lines of credit were concentrated in the states of Ohio (31% and 36%), Florida (19% and 20%) and California (16% and 15%).
Home Today was an affordable housing program targeted to benefit low- and moderate-income home buyers and most loans under the program were originated prior to 2009. No new loans were originated under the Home Today program after September 30, 2016. Through this program the Association provided the majority of loans to borrowers who would not otherwise qualify for the Association’s loan products, generally because of low credit scores. Because the Association applied less stringent underwriting and credit standards to the majority of Home Today loans, loans originated under the program have greater credit risk than its traditional residential real estate mortgage loans in the Residential Core portfolio. Since loans are no longer originated under the Home Today program, the Home Today portfolio will continue to decline in balance, primarily due to contractual amortization. To supplant the Home Today product and to continue to meet the credit needs of customers and the communities served, since fiscal 2016 the Association has offered Fannie Mae eligible, HomeReady loans. These loans are originated in accordance with Fannie Mae's underwriting standards. While the Association retains the servicing to these loans, the loans, along with the credit risk associated therewith, are securitized/sold to Fannie Mae. The Association does not offer, and has not offered, loan products frequently considered to be designed to target sub-prime borrowers containing features such as higher fees or higher rates, negative amortization, an LTV ratio greater than 100%, or pay-option adjustable-rate mortgages.
The Association currently offers home equity lines of credit that include monthly principal and interest payments throughout the entire term. Home equity lines of credit originated prior to June 2010 require interest only payments for 10 years, with an option to extend the interest only and draw period another 10 years. Once the draw period has expired they are included in the home equity loan balance. The recorded investment in interest only loans is comprised solely of equity lines of credit with balances of $8,231 and $117,204 at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
An age analysis of the recorded investment in loan receivables that are past due at September 30, 2019 and 2018 is summarized in the following tables. When a loan is more than one month past due on its scheduled payments, the loan is considered 30 days or more past due. Balances are adjusted for deferred loan fees, expenses and any applicable loans-in-process. 
 
30-59 Days
Past Due
 
60-89 Days
Past Due
 
90 Days
or More
Past Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total
September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
6,824

 
$
4,030

 
$
7,674

 
$
18,528

 
$
10,900,173

 
$
10,918,701

Residential Home Today
2,629

 
1,685

 
2,623

 
6,937

 
77,677

 
84,614

Home equity loans and lines of credit
3,029

 
1,158

 
5,797

 
9,984

 
2,191,998

 
2,201,982

Construction

 

 

 

 
26,195

 
26,195

Total real estate loans
12,482

 
6,873

 
16,094

 
35,449

 
13,196,043

 
13,231,492

Other consumer loans

 

 

 

 
3,166

 
3,166

Total
$
12,482

 
$
6,873

 
$
16,094

 
$
35,449

 
$
13,199,209

 
$
13,234,658

 
 
30-59
Days
Past Due
 
60-89
Days
Past Due
 
90 Days
or More
Past Due
 
Total Past
Due
 
Current
 
Total
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
7,539

 
$
2,335

 
$
10,807

 
$
20,681

 
$
10,926,294

 
$
10,946,975

Residential Home Today
2,787

 
1,765

 
3,814

 
8,366

 
86,383

 
94,749

Home equity loans and lines of credit
4,152

 
2,315

 
5,933

 
12,400

 
1,829,427

 
1,841,827

Construction

 

 

 

 
27,140

 
27,140

Total real estate loans
14,478

 
6,415

 
20,554

 
41,447

 
12,869,244

 
12,910,691

Other consumer loans

 

 

 

 
3,021

 
3,021

Total
$
14,478

 
$
6,415

 
$
20,554

 
$
41,447

 
$
12,872,265

 
$
12,913,712


At September 30, 2019 and 2018, real estate loans include $7,543 and $8,501, respectively, of loans that were in the process of foreclosure.

92


Loans are placed in non-accrual status when they are contractually 90 days or more past due. The number of days past due is determined by the number of scheduled payments that remain unpaid, assuming a period of 30 days between each scheduled payment. Loans with a partial charge-off are placed in non-accrual and will remain in non-accrual status until, at a minimum, the impairment is recovered. Loans restructured in TDRs that were in non-accrual status prior to the restructurings remain in non-accrual status for a minimum of six months after restructuring. Loans restructured in TDRs with a high debt-to-income ratio at the time of modification are placed in non-accrual status for a minimum of 12 months. Additionally, home equity loans and lines of credit where the customer has a severely delinquent first mortgage loan and loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status where all borrowers have filed, and not reaffirmed or been dismissed, are placed in non-accrual status.
The recorded investment of loan receivables in non-accrual status is summarized in the following table. Balances are adjusted for deferred loan fees and expenses.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
37,052

 
$
41,628

Residential Home Today
12,442

 
14,641

Home equity loans and lines of credit
21,771

 
21,483

Total non-accrual loans
$
71,265

 
$
77,752

At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the recorded investment in non-accrual loans includes $55,171 and $57,197 which are performing according to the terms of their agreement, of which $25,895 and $29,439 are loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status, primarily where all borrowers have filed, and have not reaffirmed or been dismissed.
Interest on loans in accrual status, including certain loans individually reviewed for impairment, is recognized in interest income as it accrues, on a daily basis. Accrued interest on loans in non-accrual status is reversed by a charge to interest income and income is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash payments are received. Cash payments on loans in non-accrual status are applied to the oldest scheduled, unpaid payment first. Cash payments on loans with a partial charge-off are applied fully to principal, then to recovery of the charged off amount prior to interest income being recognized, except cash payments may be applied to interest capitalized in a restructuring when collection of remaining amounts due is considered probable. A non-accrual loan is generally returned to accrual status when contractual payments are less than 90 days past due. However, a loan may remain in non-accrual status when collectability is uncertain, such as a TDR that has not met minimum payment requirements, a loan with a partial charge-off, an equity loan or line of credit with a delinquent first mortgage greater than 90 days past due, or a loan in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status where all borrowers have filed, and have not reaffirmed or been dismissed.
The recorded investment in loan receivables at September 30, 2019 and 2018 is summarized in the following table. The table provides details of the recorded balances according to the method of evaluation used for determining the allowance for loan losses, distinguishing between determinations made by evaluating individual loans and determinations made by evaluating groups of loans not individually evaluated. Balances of recorded investments are adjusted for deferred loan fees, expenses and any applicable loans-in-process.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Individually
 
Collectively
 
Total
 
Individually
 
Collectively
 
Total
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
87,069

 
$
10,831,632

 
$
10,918,701

 
$
91,360

 
$
10,855,615

 
$
10,946,975

Residential Home Today
36,959

 
47,655

 
84,614

 
41,523

 
53,226

 
94,749

Home equity loans and lines of credit
46,445

 
2,155,537

 
2,201,982

 
47,911

 
1,793,916

 
1,841,827

Construction

 
26,195

 
26,195

 

 
27,140

 
27,140

Total real estate loans
170,473

 
13,061,019

 
13,231,492

 
180,794

 
12,729,897

 
12,910,691

Other consumer loans

 
3,166

 
3,166

 

 
3,021

 
3,021

Total
$
170,473

 
$
13,064,185

 
$
13,234,658

 
$
180,794

 
$
12,732,918

 
$
12,913,712


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An analysis of the allowance for loan losses at September 30, 2019 and 2018 is summarized in the following table. The analysis provides details of the allowance for loan losses according to the method of evaluation, distinguishing between allowances for loan losses determined by evaluating individual loans and allowances for loan losses determined by evaluating groups of loans collectively.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Individually
 
Collectively
 
Total
 
Individually
 
Collectively
 
Total
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
7,080

 
$
12,673

 
$
19,753

 
$
6,934

 
$
11,354

 
$
18,288

Residential Home Today
2,422

 
1,787

 
4,209

 
2,139

 
1,065

 
3,204

Home equity loans and lines of credit
4,003

 
10,943

 
14,946

 
3,014

 
17,907

 
20,921

Construction

 
5

 
5

 

 
5

 
5

Total real estate loans
$
13,505

 
$
25,408

 
$
38,913

 
$
12,087

 
$
30,331

 
$
42,418


At September 30, 2019 and 2018, individually evaluated loans that required an allowance were comprised only of loans evaluated for impairment based on the present value of cash flows, such as performing TDRs, and loans with an indication of further deterioration in the fair value of the property not yet supported by a full review and collateral evaluation. All other individually evaluated loans received a charge-off if applicable.
Because many variables are considered in determining the appropriate level of general valuation allowances, directional changes in individual considerations do not always align with the directional change in the balance of a particular component of the general valuation allowance. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, allowances on individually reviewed loans evaluated for impairment (IVAs) included those based on the present value of cash flows, such as performing TDRs were $13,399 and $12,002, and allowances on loans with further deteriorations in the fair value of the property not yet supported by a full review were $106 and $85.
Residential Core mortgage loans represent the largest portion of the residential real estate portfolio. The Company believes overall credit risk is low based on the nature, composition, collateral, products, lien position and performance of the portfolio. The portfolio does not include loan types or structures that have experienced severe performance problems at other financial institutions (sub-prime, no documentation or pay-option adjustable-rate mortgages). The portfolio contains adjustable-rate mortgage loans whereby the interest rate is locked initially for mainly three or five years then resets annually, subject to various re-lock options available to the borrower. Although the borrower is qualified for its loan at a higher rate than the initial one, the adjustable-rate feature may impact a borrower's ability to afford the higher payments upon rate reset during periods of rising interest rates. With limited historical loss experience compared to other types of loans in the portfolio, judgment is required by management in assessing the allowance required. The principal amount of loans in the portfolio that are adjustable-rate mortgage loans was $5,063,010 and $5,166,282 at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
As described earlier in this footnote, Home Today loans have greater credit risk than traditional residential real estate mortgage loans. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, approximately 14% and 18% of Home Today loans include private mortgage insurance coverage. The majority of the coverage on these loans was provided by PMI Mortgage Insurance Co., which was seized by the Arizona Department of Insurance in 2011 and currently pays all claim payments at 74.5%. Appropriate adjustments have been made to the Association’s affected valuation allowances and charge-offs, and estimated loss severity factors were adjusted accordingly for loans evaluated collectively. The amount of loans in the Association's total owned residential portfolio covered by mortgage insurance provided by PMIC as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was $26,191 and $39,367, of which $24,198 and $36,075 was current. The amount of loans in the Association's total owned residential portfolio covered by mortgage insurance provided by Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was $17,345 and $20,912 of which $17,232 and $20,792 was current. As of September 30, 2019, MGIC's long-term debt rating, as published by the major credit rating agencies, did not meet the requirements to qualify as "high credit quality" however, MGIC continues to make claim payments in accordance with its contractual obligations and the Association has not increased its estimated loss severity factors related to MGIC's claim paying ability. No other loans were covered by mortgage insurers that were deferring claim payments or which were assessed as being non-investment grade.
Home equity loans and lines of credit, which are comprised primarily of home equity lines of credit, represent a significant portion of the residential real estate portfolio. On home equity lines of credit originated prior to 2012, subsequent deterioration in economic and housing market conditions may impact a borrower's ability to afford the higher payments required during the end of draw repayment period that follows the period of interest only payments, or the ability to secure alternative financing. Beginning in

94


February 2013, the terms on new home equity lines of credit included monthly principal and interest payments throughout the entire term to minimize the potential payment differential between the draw and after draw periods.
The Association originates construction loans to individuals for the construction of their personal single-family residence by a qualified builder (construction/permanent loans). The Association’s construction/permanent loans generally provide for disbursements to the builder or sub-contractors during the construction phase as work progresses. During the construction phase, the borrower only pays interest on the drawn balance. Upon completion of construction, the loan converts to a permanent amortizing loan without the expense of a second closing. The Association offers construction/permanent loans with fixed or adjustable rates, and a current maximum loan-to-completed-appraised value ratio of 85%.
Other consumer loans are comprised of loans secured by certificate of deposit accounts, which are fully recoverable in the event of non-payment, and forgivable down payment assistance loans, which are unsecured loans used as down payment assistance to borrowers qualified through partner housing agencies. The Company expenses a liability for the loans which are forgiven in equal increments over a pre-determined term, subject to residency requirements.
For all classes of loans, a loan is considered impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Association will be unable to collect the scheduled payments of principal and interest according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. Factors considered in determining that a loan is impaired may include the deteriorating financial condition of the borrower indicated by missed or delinquent payments, a pending legal action, such as bankruptcy or foreclosure, or the absence of adequate security for the loan.
The recorded investment and the unpaid principal balance of impaired loans, including those reported as TDRs, as of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, are summarized as follows. Balances of recorded investments are adjusted for deferred loan fees and expenses.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Unpaid
Principal
Balance
 
Related
Allowance
With no related IVA recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
44,122

 
$
59,538

 
$

 
$
53,656

 
$
69,516

 
$

Residential Home Today
12,764

 
31,958

 

 
16,006

 
35,532

 

Home equity loans and lines of credit
18,528

 
23,935

 

 
22,423

 
28,504

 

Total
$
75,414

 
$
115,431

 
$

 
$
92,085

 
$
133,552

 
$

With an IVA recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
42,947

 
$
43,042

 
$
7,080

 
$
37,704

 
$
37,774

 
$
6,934

Residential Home Today
24,195

 
24,178

 
2,422

 
25,517

 
25,492

 
2,139

Home equity loans and lines of credit
27,917

 
27,924

 
4,003

 
25,488

 
25,519

 
3,014

Total
$
95,059

 
$
95,144

 
$
13,505

 
$
88,709

 
$
88,785

 
$
12,087

Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
87,069

 
$
102,580

 
$
7,080

 
$
91,360

 
$
107,290

 
$
6,934

Residential Home Today
36,959

 
56,136

 
2,422

 
41,523

 
61,024

 
2,139

Home equity loans and lines of credit
46,445

 
51,859

 
4,003

 
47,911

 
54,023

 
3,014

Total
$
170,473

 
$
210,575

 
$
13,505

 
$
180,794

 
$
222,337

 
$
12,087


At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively, the recorded investment in impaired loans includes $157,408 and $165,391 of loans restructured in TDRs of which $8,435 and $10,468 are 90 days or more past due.

95


The average recorded investment in impaired loans and the amount of interest income recognized during period that the loans were impaired are summarized below.
 
For the Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
 
Average
Recorded
Investment
 
Interest
Income
Recognized
With no related IVA recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
48,889

 
$
1,582

 
$
50,582

 
$
2,968

 
$
50,534

 
$
1,411

Residential Home Today
14,385

 
230

 
17,393

 
1,150

 
19,444

 
337

Home equity loans and lines of credit
20,476

 
442

 
20,608

 
402

 
19,671

 
293

Total
$
83,750

 
$
2,254

 
$
88,583

 
$
4,520

 
$
89,649

 
$
2,041

With an IVA recorded:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
40,326

 
$
1,371

 
$
42,472

 
$
1,571

 
$
50,611

 
$
1,891

Residential Home Today
24,856

 
1,173

 
26,689

 
1,590

 
29,584

 
1,445

Home equity loans and lines of credit
26,703

 
666

 
22,934

 
586

 
17,862

 
849

Total
$
91,885

 
$
3,210

 
$
92,095

 
$
3,747

 
$
98,057

 
$
4,185

Total impaired loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
89,215

 
$
2,953

 
$
93,054

 
$
4,539

 
$
101,145

 
$
3,302

Residential Home Today
39,241

 
1,403

 
44,082

 
2,740

 
49,028

 
1,782

Home equity loans and lines of credit
47,179

 
1,108

 
43,542

 
988

 
37,533

 
1,142

Total
$
175,635

 
$
5,464

 
$
180,678

 
$
8,267

 
$
187,706

 
$
6,226



Interest on loans in non-accrual status is recognized on a cash basis. The amount of interest income on impaired loans recognized using a cash-basis method is $1,425, $2,245 and $1,443 for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Cash payments on loans with a partial charge-off are applied fully to principal, then to recovery of the charged off amount prior to interest income being recognized, except cash payments may be applied to interest capitalized in a restructuring when collection of remaining amounts due is considered probable. Interest income on the remaining impaired loans is recognized on an accrual basis.

Charge-offs on residential mortgage loans, home equity loans and lines of credit, and construction loans are recognized when triggering events, such as foreclosure actions, short sales, or deeds accepted in lieu of repayment, result in less than full repayment of the recorded investment in the loans.

Partial or full charge-offs are also recognized for the amount of impairment on loans considered collateral dependent that meet the conditions described below.
For residential mortgage loans, payments are greater than 180 days delinquent;
For home equity lines of credit, equity loans, and residential loans restructured in a TDR, payments are greater than 90 days delinquent;
For all classes of loans restructured in a TDR with a high debt-to-income ratio at time of modification;
For all classes of loans, a sheriff sale is scheduled within 60 days to sell the collateral securing the loan;
For all classes of loans, all borrowers have been discharged of their obligation through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy;
For all classes of loans, within 60 days of notification, all borrowers obligated on the loan have filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy and have not reaffirmed or been dismissed;
For all classes of loans, a borrower obligated on a loan has filed bankruptcy and the loan is greater than 30 days delinquent; and
For all classes of loans, it becomes evident that a loss is probable.

Collateral dependent residential mortgage loans and construction loans are charged off to the extent the recorded investment in the loan, net of anticipated mortgage insurance claims, exceeds the fair value, less costs to dispose of the underlying property. Management can determine if the loan is uncollectible for reasons such as foreclosures exceeding a reasonable time frame and recommend a full charge-off. Home equity loans or lines of credit are charged off to the extent the recorded investment in the loan plus the balance of any senior liens exceeds the fair value, less costs to dispose of the underlying property, or management determines the collateral is not sufficient to satisfy the loan. A loan in any portfolio identified as collateral dependent will continue

96


to be reported as impaired until it is no longer considered collateral dependent, is less than 30 days past due and does not have a prior charge-off. A loan in any portfolio that has a partial charge-off consequent to impairment evaluation will continue to be individually evaluated for impairment until, at a minimum, the impairment has been recovered.
Loans restructured in TDRs that are not evaluated based on collateral are separately evaluated for impairment on a loan by loan basis at the time of restructuring and at each subsequent reporting date for as long as they are reported as TDRs. The impairment evaluation is based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate of the original loan. Expected future cash flows include a discount factor representing a potential for default. Valuation allowances are recorded for the excess of the recorded investments over the result of the cash flow analysis. Loans discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy are reported as TDRs and also evaluated based on the present value of expected future cash flows unless evaluated based on collateral. We evaluate these loans using the expected future cash flows because we expect the borrower, not liquidation of the collateral, to be the source of repayment for the loan. Other consumer loans are not considered for restructuring. A loan restructured in a TDR is classified as an impaired loan for a minimum of one year. After one year, that loan may be reclassified out of the balance of impaired loans if the loan was restructured to yield a market rate for loans of similar credit risk at the time of restructuring and the loan is not impaired based on the terms of the restructuring agreement. No loans whose terms were restructured in TDRs were reclassified from impaired loans during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
Initial concessions granted by loans restructured as TDRs can include reduction of interest rate, extension of amortization period, forbearance or other actions. Some TDRs have experienced a combination of concessions. TDRs also can occur as a result of bankruptcy proceedings. Loans discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy are classified as multiple restructurings if the loan's original terms had also been restructured by the Association. The recorded investment in TDRs by category as of September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 is shown in the tables below.
September 30, 2019
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple
Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
Residential Core
 
$
35,829

 
$
24,951

 
$
19,494

 
$
80,274

Residential Home Today
 
16,233

 
16,868

 
3,234

 
36,335

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
34,459

 
3,115

 
3,225

 
40,799

Total
 
$
86,521

 
$
44,934

 
$
25,953

 
$
157,408

September 30, 2018
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple
Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
Residential Core
 
$
39,265

 
$
23,116

 
$
21,832

 
$
84,213

Residential Home Today
 
18,243

 
18,483

 
3,683

 
40,409

Home equity loans and lines of credit
 
33,768

 
2,563

 
4,438

 
40,769

Total
 
$
91,276

 
$
44,162

 
$
29,953

 
$
165,391


TDRs may be restructured more than once. Among other requirements, a subsequent restructuring may be available for a borrower upon the expiration of temporary restructuring terms if the borrower cannot return to regular loan payments. If the borrower is experiencing an income curtailment that temporarily has reduced their capacity to repay, such as loss of employment, reduction of hours, non-paid leave or short term disability, a temporary restructuring is considered. If the borrower lacks the capacity to repay the loan at the current terms due to a permanent condition, a permanent restructuring is considered. In evaluating the need for a subsequent restructuring, the borrower’s ability to repay is generally assessed utilizing a debt to income and cash flow analysis.
For all loans restructured during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 (set forth in the tables below), the pre-restructured outstanding recorded investment was not materially different from the post-restructured outstanding recorded investment.

97


The following tables set forth the recorded investment in TDRs restructured during the periods presented. 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2019
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple
Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
Residential Core
$
6,395

 
$
6,301

 
$
2,063

 
$
14,759

Residential Home Today
716

 
2,910

 
397

 
4,023

Home equity loans and lines of credit
6,814

 
1,205

 
403

 
8,422

Total
$
13,925

 
$
10,416

 
$
2,863

 
$
27,204


 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2018
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple
Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
Residential Core
$
6,334

 
$
5,863

 
$
3,085

 
$
15,282

Residential Home Today
857

 
3,776

 
635

 
5,268

Home equity loans and lines of credit
15,185

 
1,240

 
370

 
16,795

Total
$
22,376

 
$
10,879

 
$
4,090

 
$
37,345


 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2017
 
Initial Restructuring
 
Multiple
Restructurings
 
Bankruptcy
 
Total
Residential Core
$
3,812

 
$
2,176

 
$
2,621

 
$
8,609

Residential Home Today
1,061

 
2,734

 
469

 
4,264

Home equity loans and lines of credit
9,148

 
694

 
1,042

 
10,884

Total
$
14,021

 
$
5,604

 
$
4,132

 
$
23,757


Below summarizes the TDRs restructured within 12 months of the period presented for which there was a subsequent payment default, at least 30 days past due on one scheduled payment, during the period presented. 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2019
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2018
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2017
TDRs That Subsequently Defaulted
Number of
Contracts
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Number of
Contracts
 
Recorded
Investment
 
Number of
Contracts
 
Recorded
Investment
Residential Core
15

 
$
2,232

 
16

 
$
2,474

 
17

 
$
1,462

Residential Home Today
22

 
722

 
17

 
540

 
25

 
1,126

Home equity loans and lines of credit
13

 
1,039

 
8

 
331

 
16

 
667

Total
50

 
$
3,993

 
41

 
$
3,345

 
58

 
$
3,255


Residential loans are internally assigned a grade that complies with the guidelines outlined in the OCC’s Handbook for Rating Credit Risk. Pass loans are assets well protected by the current paying capacity of the borrower. Special Mention loans have a potential weakness, as evaluated based on delinquency status or nature of the product, that the Association feels deserve management’s attention and may result in further deterioration in their repayment prospects and/or the Association’s credit position. Substandard loans are inadequately protected by the current payment capacity of the borrower or the collateral pledged with a defined weakness that jeopardizes the liquidation of the debt. Also included in Substandard are performing home equity loans and lines of credit where the customer has a severely delinquent first mortgage to which the performing home equity loan or line of credit is subordinate and loans in Chapter 7 bankruptcy status where all borrowers have filed, and have not reaffirmed or been dismissed. Loss loans are considered uncollectible and are charged off when identified. Loss loans are of such little value that their continuance as bankable assets is not warranted even though partial recovery may be effected in the future.


98


The following tables provide information about the credit quality of residential loan receivables by an internally assigned grade. Balances are adjusted for deferred loan fees, expenses and any applicable loans-in-process.
 
Pass
 
Special
Mention
 
Substandard
 
Loss
 
Total
September 30, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
10,869,597

 
$
4,348

 
$
44,756

 
$

 
$
10,918,701

Residential Home Today
70,631

 

 
13,983

 

 
84,614

Home equity loans and lines of credit
2,175,341

 
2,588

 
24,053

 

 
2,201,982

Construction
26,195

 

 

 

 
26,195

Total real estate loans
$
13,141,764

 
$
6,936

 
$
82,792

 
$

 
$
13,231,492

 
 
Pass
 
Special
Mention
 
Substandard
 
Loss
 
Total
September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real Estate Loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
10,898,725

 
$

 
$
48,250

 
$

 
$
10,946,975

Residential Home Today
78,180

 

 
16,569

 

 
94,749

Home equity loans and lines of credit
1,813,502

 
4,216

 
24,109

 

 
1,841,827

Construction
27,140

 

 

 

 
27,140

Total real estate loans
$
12,817,547

 
$
4,216

 
$
88,928

 
$

 
$
12,910,691


At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the recorded investment of impaired loans includes $90,295 and $95,916 of TDRs that are individually evaluated for impairment that have adequately performed under the terms of the restructuring and are classified as Pass loans. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, there were $2,614 and $4,051 of loans classified Substandard and $6,936 and $4,216 of loans designated Special Mention that are not included in the recorded investment of impaired loans; rather, they are included in loans collectively evaluated for impairment. Of the $6,936 of loans designated Special Mention at September 30, 2019, $4,348 are residential mortgage loans purchased during the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The purchased loans were current and performing at the time of purchase, but are designated Special Mention due to the absence of mortgage insurance coverage and potentially weaker repayment prospects when compared with the Company's originated residential Core Portfolio.
Other consumer loans are internally assigned a grade of non-performing when they become 90 days or more past due. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, no other consumer loans were graded as non-performing.
Activity in the allowance for loan losses is summarized as follows: 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2019
 
Beginning
Balance
 
Provisions
 
Charge-offs
 
Recoveries
 
Ending
Balance
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
18,288

 
$
401

 
$
(1,250
)
 
$
2,314

 
$
19,753

Residential Home Today
3,204

 
(144
)
 
(761
)
 
1,910

 
4,209

Home equity loans and lines of credit
20,921

 
(10,257
)
 
(2,975
)
 
7,257

 
14,946

Construction
5

 

 

 

 
5

Total real estate loans

$
42,418

 
$
(10,000
)
 
$
(4,986
)
 
$
11,481

 
$
38,913



99


 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2018
 
Beginning
Balance
 
Provisions
 
Charge-offs
 
Recoveries
 
Ending
Balance
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
14,186

 
$
2,460

 
$
(959
)
 
$
2,601

 
$
18,288

Residential Home Today
4,508

 
(1,898
)
 
(1,363
)
 
1,957

 
3,204

Home equity loans and lines of credit
30,249

 
(11,562
)
 
(5,832
)
 
8,066

 
20,921

Construction
5

 

 

 

 
5

Total real estate loans
$
48,948

 
$
(11,000
)
 
$
(8,154
)
 
$
12,624

 
$
42,418

 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2017
 
Beginning
Balance
 
Provisions
 
Charge-offs
 
Recoveries
 
Ending
Balance
Real estate loans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Residential Core
$
15,068

 
$
(3,311
)
 
$
(3,029
)
 
$
5,458

 
$
14,186

Residential Home Today
7,416

 
(1,943
)
 
(2,276
)
 
1,311

 
4,508

Home equity loans and lines of credit
39,304

 
(11,744
)
 
(6,173
)
 
8,862

 
30,249

Construction
7

 
(2
)
 

 

 
5

Total real estate loans
$
61,795

 
$
(17,000
)
 
$
(11,478
)
 
$
15,631

 
$
48,948


6. MORTGAGE LOAN SERVICING RIGHTS
The Company sells certain types of loans through whole loan sales and through securitizations. In each case, the Company retains a servicing interest in the loans or securitized loans. Certain assumptions and estimates are used to determine the fair value allocated to these retained interests at the date of transfer and at subsequent measurement dates. These assumptions and estimates include loan repayment rates and discount rates.
Changes in interest rates can affect the average life of loans and mortgage-backed securities and the related servicing rights. A reduction in interest rates normally results in increased prepayments, as borrowers refinance their debt in order to reduce their borrowing costs. This creates reinvestment risk, which is the risk that the Company may not be able to reinvest the proceeds of loan and securities prepayments at rates that are comparable to the rates earned on the loans or securities prior to receipt of the repayment.
During 2019, 2018 and 2017, $117,346, $400,136 and $249,426, respectively, of mortgage loans were securitized and/or sold including accrued interest thereon. In these transactions, the Company retained residual interests in the form of mortgage loan servicing rights. Primary economic assumptions used to measure the value of the Company’s retained interests at the date of sale resulting from the completed transactions were as follows (per annum):
 
2019
 
2018
Primary prepayment speed assumptions (weighted average annual rate)
22.7
%
 
12.8
%
Weighted average life (years)
24.3

 
23.9

Amortized cost to service loans (weighted average)
0.12
%
 
0.12
%
Weighted average discount rate
12
%
 
12
%

Key economic assumptions and the sensitivity of the current fair value of mortgage loan servicing rights to immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in those assumptions are as presented in the following table. The three key economic assumptions that impact the valuation of the mortgage loan servicing rights are: (1) the prepayment speed, or how long the mortgage servicing right will be outstanding; (2) the estimate of servicing costs that will be incurred in fulfilling the mortgage servicing right responsibilities; and (3) the discount factor applied to future net cash flows to convert them to present value. The Company established these factors based on independent analysis of our portfolio and reviews these assumptions periodically to ensure that they reasonably reflect current market conditions and our loan portfolio experience.

100


 
September 30, 2019
Fair value of mortgage loan servicing rights
$
13,484

Prepayment speed assumptions (weighted average annual rate)
12.7
%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
$
(464
)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
$
(889
)
Estimated prospective annual cost to service loans (weighted average)
0.12
%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
$
(1,218
)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
$
(2,436
)
Discount rate
12.0
%
Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change
$
(483
)
Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change
$
(930
)

These sensitivities are hypothetical and should be used with caution. As indicated in the table above, changes in fair value based on a 10% variation in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship in the change in assumption to the change in fair value may not be linear. Also, the effect of a variation in a particular assumption on the fair value of the retained interest is calculated without changing any other assumption. In reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another (for example, increases in market interest rates may result in lower prepayments), which could magnify or counteract the sensitivities.
Servicing rights are evaluated periodically for impairment based on the fair value of those rights. Twenty-two risk tranches are used in evaluating servicing rights for impairment, segregated primarily by interest rate stratum within original term to maturity categories with additional strata for less uniform account types.
Activity in mortgage servicing rights is summarized as follows: 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Balance—beginning of year
$
8,840

 
$
8,375

 
$
8,852

   Additions from loan securitizations/sales
497

 
1,909

 
1,347

   Amortization (1)
(1,257
)
 
(1,444
)
 
(1,824
)
   Net change in valuation allowance

 

 

Balance—end of year
$
8,080

 
$
8,840

 
$
8,375

Fair value of capitalized amounts
$
13,484

 
$
15,580

 
$
16,102


(1) Year ended September 30, 2018 amount includes $48 related to the repurchase of loans previously sold and serviced by the Association.
The Company receives annual servicing fees ranging from 0.02% to 0.98% of the outstanding loan balances. Servicing income, net of amortization of capitalized servicing rights, included in Non-interest income, amounted to $4,225 in 2019, $4,288 in 2018 and $4,257 in 2017. The unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans serviced for others was approximately $1,796,519, $1,927,886 and $1,849,653 at September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The ratio of capitalized servicing rights to the unpaid principal balance of mortgage loans serviced for others was 0.45%, 0.46%, and 0.45% at September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

101


7. PREMISES, EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE, NET
Premises, equipment and software at cost are summarized as follows: 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Land
$
12,223

 
$
12,183

Office buildings
78,755

 
78,470

Furniture, fixtures and equipment
37,571

 
35,495

Software
18,251

 
17,395

Leasehold improvements
15,570

 
15,370

 
162,370

 
158,913

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization
(100,793
)
 
(95,514
)
Total
$
61,577

 
$
63,399


During the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, depreciation and amortization expense on premises, equipment, and software was $5,885, $5,722 and $5,633, respectively.
The Company leases certain of its branches under renewable operating lease agreements. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms of one year or more consisted of the following at September 30, 2019: 
Years Ending September 30,
 
2020
$
4,881

2021
4,145

2022
3,171

2023
2,366

2024
1,613

Thereafter
4,209



During the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, rental expense was $6,696, $7,069 and $6,929, respectively, and appears in non-interest expense for office property, equipment, and software in the accompanying statements.

The Company, as lessor, leases certain commercial office buildings. The Company anticipates receiving future minimum payments of the following as of September 30, 2019: 
Years Ending September 30,
 
2020
$
2,365

2021
2,442

2022
2,262

2023
2,248

2024
2,319


During the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, rental income was $2,180, $2,148 and $1,857 respectively, and appears in other non-interest income in the accompanying statements. On October 31, 2019, the commercial office buildings and land, which had a net book value of $17,680 at September 30, 2019, were sold. Depreciation expense on the buildings during fiscal 2019 was $577.

102


8. ACCRUED INTEREST RECEIVABLE
Accrued interest receivable is summarized as follows: 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Investment securities
$
1,445

 
$
1,352

Loans
39,377

 
37,344

     Total
$
40,822

 
$
38,696


9. DEPOSITS
Deposit account balances are summarized by interest rate as follows: 
 
Stated
Interest
Rate
 
September 30,
 
 
2019
 
2018
 
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
Amount
 
Percent
Checking accounts
 
0.00–0.30%
 
$
862,647

 
9.9
%
 
$
913,525

 
10.8
%
Savings accounts, excluding money market accounts
 
0.00–0.80
 
1,042,357

 
11.9

 
1,196,746

 
14.1

Money market accounts
 
0.00–1.90
 
441,843

 
5.0

 
59,308

 
0.7

Subtotal
 
 
 
2,346,847

 
26.8

 
2,169,579

 
25.6

Certificates of deposit
 
0.00–0.99
 
342,509

 
3.9

 
658,767

 
7.7

 
 
1.00–1.99
 
2,643,011

 
30.2

 
3,745,576

 
44.1

 
 
2.00–2.99
 
3,078,055

 
35.1

 
1,845,618

 
21.7

 
3.00 and above
 
352,249

 
4.0

 
68,320

 
0.9

 
 
 
 
6,415,824

 
73.2

 
6,318,281

 
74.4

Subtotal
 
 
 
8,762,671

 
100.0

 
8,487,860

 
100.0

Accrued interest
 
 
 
3,713

 

 
3,723

 

Total deposits
 
 
 
$
8,766,384

 
100.0
%
 
$
8,491,583

 
100.0
%

At September 30, 2019 and 2018, the weighted average interest rate was 0.24% and 0.22% on checking accounts; 0.47% and 0.43% on savings accounts, excluding money market accounts; 1.73% and 0.72% on money market accounts; 2.15% and 1.83% on certificates of deposit, respectively; and 1.74% and 1.45% on total deposits, respectively.
The aggregate amount of certificates of deposit in denominations of $100 or more totaled approximately $3,169,561 and $3,155,664 at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In accordance with the DFA, the maximum amount of deposit insurance is $250 per depositor.
Brokered certificates of deposit, which are used as a cost effective funding alternative, totaled $507,800 and $670,081 at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The FDIC places restrictions on banks with regard to issuing brokered deposits based on the bank's capital classification. A well capitalized institution may accept brokered deposits without FDIC restrictions. An adequately capitalized institution must obtain a waiver from the FDIC in order to accept brokered deposits, while an undercapitalized institution is prohibited by the FDIC from accepting brokered deposits.
The scheduled maturity of certificates of deposit is as follows:
 
September 30, 2019
 
Amount
 
Percent
12 months or less
$
3,309,613

 
51.6
%
13 to 24 months
1,136,635

 
17.7
%
25 to 36 months
1,016,972

 
15.8
%
37 to 48 months
444,676

 
6.9
%
49 to 60 months
427,411

 
6.7
%
Over 60 months
80,517

 
1.3
%
     Total
$
6,415,824

 
100.0
%


103


Interest expense on deposits is summarized as follows: 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Certificates of deposit
$
128,489

 
$
97,383

 
$
84,410

Checking accounts
3,188

 
1,406

 
918

Savings accounts
11,676

 
3,466

 
2,093

     Total
$
143,353

 
$
102,255


$
87,421


10. BORROWED FUNDS
Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings at September 30, 2019 are summarized in the table below. The amount and weighted average rates of certain FHLB Advances reflect the net impact of deferred penalties discussed below: 
 
Amount
 
Weighted
Average
Rate
Maturing in:
 
 
 
12 months or less
$
3,579,816

 
2.13
%
13 to 24 months
644

 
1.58
%
25 to 36 months

 
%
37 to 48 months
67,219

 
2.04
%
49 to 60 months
225,000

 
1.70
%
over 60 months
22,502

 
1.66
%
Total FHLB Advances
3,895,181

 
2.10
%
Accrued interest
7,800

 
 
     Total
$
3,902,981

 
 

For the years ended September 30, 2019 , 2018 and 2017, net interest expense related to Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowings was $61,757, $42,841 and $22,126, respectively.
Through the use of interest rate swaps discussed in Note 17. Derivative Instruments, $2,750,000 of FHLB advances included in the table above as maturing in 12 months or less, have effective maturities, assuming no early terminations of the swap contracts, as shown below:
Effective Maturity:
Amount
 
Swap Adjusted Weighted
Average
Rate
12 months or less
$
50,000

 
1.23
%
13 to 24 months
525,000

 
1.19
%
25 to 36 months
900,000

 
1.90
%
37 to 48 months
250,000

 
2.49
%
49 to 60 months
275,000

 
1.69
%
Over 60 months
750,000

 
2.39
%
     Total FHLB Advances under swap contracts
$
2,750,000

 
1.92
%

During fiscal year 2016, $150,000 fixed-rate FHLB advances with remaining terms of approximately four years were prepaid with penalties incurred and replaced with new four- and five-year interest rate swap arrangements. The unamortized repayment penalties of $543 related to the $150,000 of restructuring will be recognized in interest expense over the remaining term of the swap contracts.

104


The following table sets forth certain information relating to Federal Home Loan Bank short-term borrowings at or for the periods indicated.
 
At or For the Fiscal Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Balance at end of year
$
3,250,000

 
$
2,925,000

 
$
2,610,000

Maximum outstanding at any month-end
$
3,425,000

 
$
2,925,000

 
$
2,610,000

Average balance during year
$
3,002,307

 
$
2,707,566

 
$
1,976,281

Average interest rate during the fiscal year
2.43
%
 
1.71
%
 
0.89
%
Weighted average interest rate at end of year
2.23
%
 
2.13
%
 
1.22
%
Interest expense
$
74,742

 
$
46,612

 
$
17,826


The Association’s maximum borrowing capacity at the FHLB, under the most restrictive measure, was an additional $60,717 at September 30, 2019. Pursuant to collateral agreements with FHLB of Cincinnati, advances are secured by a blanket lien on qualifying first mortgage loans. In addition to the existing available capacity, the Association’s capacity limit for additional borrowings from the FHLB of Cincinnati was $4,267,529 at September 30, 2019, subject to satisfaction of the FHLB of Cincinnati common stock ownership requirement. To satisfy the common stock ownership requirement, the Association would have to increase its ownership of FHLB of Cincinnati common stock by an additional $85,351. The terms of the advances include various restrictive covenants including limitations on the acquisition of additional debt in excess of specified levels. As of September 30, 2019, the Association was in compliance with all such covenants. The Association’s borrowing capacity at the FRB-Cleveland Discount Window was $44,854 at September 30, 2019.
11. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
The change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component is as follows:
 
Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Securities Available for Sale
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Defined Benefit Plan
 
Total
Fiscal year 2017 activity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at September 30, 2016
$
416

 
$
(1,371
)
 
$
(18,671
)
 
$
(19,626
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax expense (benefit) of $4,479
(3,331
)
 
9,186

 
2,463

 
8,318

Amounts reclassified, net of tax expense (benefit) of $2,055

 
2,434

 
1,382

 
3,816

Other comprehensive income (loss)
(3,331
)
 
11,620

 
3,845

 
12,134

Balance at September 30, 2017
$
(2,915
)
 
$
10,249

 
$
(14,826
)
 
$
(7,492
)
Fiscal year 2018 activity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax expense (benefit) of $10,638
(9,436
)
 
40,187

 
1,625

 
32,376

Amounts reclassified, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(472)

 
(2,847
)
 
1,227

 
(1,620
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
(9,436
)
 
37,340

 
2,852

 
30,756

     Adoption of ASU 2018-02
(1,273
)
 
4,325

 
(3,094
)
 
(42
)
Balance at September 30, 2018
$
(13,624
)
 
$
51,914

 
$
(15,068
)
 
$
23,222

Fiscal year 2019 activity
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(22,171)
11,459

 
(86,570
)
 
(8,287
)
 
(83,398
)
Amounts reclassified, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(2,446)

 
(10,259
)
 
1,056

 
(9,203
)
Other comprehensive income (loss)
11,459

 
(96,829
)
 
(7,231
)
 
(92,601
)
Balance at September 30, 2019
$
(2,165
)
 
$
(44,915
)
 
$
(22,299
)
 
$
(69,379
)


105


The following table presents the reclassification adjustment out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included in net income and the corresponding line item on the consolidated statements of income for the periods indicated:
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Components
 
For the Years Ended September 30,
 
Line Item in the Statement of Income
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
Cash flow hedges:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest (income) expense
 
$
(12,985
)
 
$
(3,771
)
 
$
3,745

 
 Interest expense
Net income tax effect
 
2,726

 
924

 
(1,311
)
 
 Income tax expense
Net of income tax expense (benefit)
 
$
(10,259
)
 
$
(2,847
)
 
$
2,434

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of defined benefit plan:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial loss
 
$
1,336

 
$
1,679

 
$
2,126

 
(a)
Net income tax effect
 
(280
)
 
(452
)
 
(744
)
 
 Income tax expense
Net of income tax expense (benefit)
 
1,056

 
1,227

 
1,382

 
 
Adoption of ASU 2018-02
 

 
(42
)
 

 
(b)
Total reclassifications for the period
 
$
(9,203
)
 
$
(1,662
)
 
$
3,816

 
 
(a) These items are included in the computation of net period pension cost. See Note 13. Employee Benefit Plans for additional disclosure.
(b) This item is a reclassification between AOCI and Retained Earnings due to the adoption of ASU 2018-02.
12. INCOME TAXES
The components of the income tax provision are as follows: 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Current tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
184

 
$
30,044

 
$
39,794

State
(145
)
 
1,805

 
1,121

Deferred tax expense (benefit):
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
20,252

 
3,836

 
3,634

State
1,684

 
72

 
(85
)
Income tax provision
$
21,975

 
$
35,757

 
$
44,464


Reconciliation from tax at the statutory rate to the income tax provision is as follows: 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Tax at statutory rate
21.0
 %
 
24.5
 %
 
35.0
 %
State tax, net
1.2

 
1.2

 
0.5

Non-taxable income from bank owned life insurance contracts
(1.4
)
 
(1.2
)
 
(1.7
)
Non-deductible compensation
1.6

 
0.4

 
0.5

Remeasurement of deferred tax assets

 
5.4

 

Other, net
(0.9
)
 
(0.8
)
 
(1.0
)
     Income tax provision
21.5
 %
 
29.5
 %
 
33.3
 %



106


Temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax basis of assets and liabilities that gave rise to significant portions of net deferred taxes relate to the following: 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Loan loss reserve
$
14,758

 
$
15,450

Net operating loss carryforward
4,417

 

Deferred compensation
5,091

 
5,598

Pension
896

 

Property, equipment and software basis difference
413

 
759

Other
2,878

 
2,012

Total deferred tax assets
28,453

 
23,819

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
FHLB stock basis difference
5,080

 
5,048

Mortgage servicing rights
1,262

 
1,263

Pension

 
16

Goodwill
2,145

 
2,138

Deferred loan costs, net of fees
12,078

 
11,190

Other
3,334

 
2,288

Total deferred tax liabilities
23,899

 
21,943

Net deferred tax asset
$
4,554

 
$
1,876


In the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Condition the net deferred tax asset is included in Other assets.
A valuation allowance is established to reduce deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that the related tax benefits will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. The net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2019 includes $4,417 related to net operating loss carryforwards, effected by mark-to-market accounting on our swap positions, that can be used to offset taxable income in future periods, subject to certain annual limitations. There was no valuation allowance required at September 30, 2019 or 2018.
Retained earnings at September 30, 2019 and 2018 included approximately $104,861 for which no provision for federal or state income tax has been made. This amount represents allocations of income during years prior to 1988 to bad debt deductions for tax purposes only. These qualifying and nonqualifying base year reserves and supplemental reserves will be recaptured into income in the event of certain distributions and redemptions. Such recapture would create income for tax purposes only, which would be subject to the then current corporate income tax rate. However, recapture would not occur upon the reorganization, merger, or acquisition of the Association, nor if the Association is merged or liquidated tax-free into a bank or undergoes a charter change. If the Association fails to qualify as a bank or merges into a nonbank entity, these reserves will be recaptured into income.
The provisions of Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, codified within FASB ASC 740 “Income Taxes,” prescribe a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement for a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FASB ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. Tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold in order for the related tax benefit to be recognized or continue to be recognized. As of September 30, 2019 and 2018, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits. The Company does not anticipate the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change within the next 12 months.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties on income tax assessments or income tax refunds, where applicable, in the financial statements as a component of its provision for income taxes. The Company recognized no interest expense or penalties on income tax assessments during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017. There was no interest accrued at September 30, 2019 or 2018.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”). Among its numerous changes to the Internal Revenue Code, the Act reduced the federal corporate tax

107


rate to 21% from 35% effective January 1, 2018. Because of the Company's September 30 fiscal year end, a blended federal tax rate of 24.53% was applied to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2018. The federal statutory rate of 21% is effective for the Company beginning with the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. During the years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018 the Company recorded $44 and $6,610 of income tax expense to recognize the impact of changes in federal income tax rates and other provisions of the Act on the net deferred tax asset.
The Company’s effective income tax rate was 21.5%, 29.5% and 33.3% for the years ending September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in the effective rate for the year ended September 30, 2019 compared to the same periods during fiscal 2018 and 2017 is primarily due to the impact of the Act as discussed above.
During the year ended September 30, 2019, the Company generated for tax purposes, a net operating loss of $20,038.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state and city jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to income tax examinations in its major jurisdictions for tax years prior to 2016.
The Company makes certain investments in limited partnerships which invest in affordable housing projects that qualify for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. The Company acts as a limited partner in these investments and does not exert control
over the operating or financial policies of the partnership. The Company accounts for its interests in LIHTCs using the
proportional amortization method. The impact of the Company's investments in tax credit entities on the provision for income
taxes was not material for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017.
13. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Defined Benefit PlanThe Third Federal Savings Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is a defined benefit pension plan. Effective December 31, 2002, the Plan was amended to limit participation to employees who met the Plan’s eligibility requirements on that date. Effective December 31, 2011, the Plan was amended to freeze future benefit accruals for participants in the Plan. After December 31, 2002, employees not participating in the Plan, upon meeting the applicable eligibility requirements, and those eligible participants who no longer receive service credits under the Plan, participate in a separate tier of the Company’s defined contribution 401(k) Savings Plan. Benefits under the Plan are based on years of service and the employee’s average annual compensation (as defined in the Plan) through December 31, 2011. The funding policy of the Plan is consistent with the funding requirements of U.S. federal and other governmental laws and regulations.
The following table sets forth the change in projected benefit obligation for the defined benefit plan: 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of year
$
80,609

 
$
82,218

Interest cost
3,229

 
3,095

Actuarial loss and other
10,095

 
(1,165
)
Benefits paid
(3,864
)
 
(3,539
)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year
$
90,069

 
$
80,609


The following table reconciles the beginning and ending balances of the fair value of Plan assets and presents the funded status of the Plan recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Condition at the September 30 measurement dates:  
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
$
79,302

 
$
72,806

Actual return on plan assets
4,189

 
5,035

Employer contributions
2,000

 
5,000

Benefits paid
(3,864
)
 
(3,539
)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
$
81,627

 
$
79,302

Funded status of the plan—asset (liability)
$
(8,442
)
 
$
(1,307
)


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The components of net periodic cost recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income are as follows: 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Interest Cost
$
3,229

 
$
3,095

 
$
3,068

Expected return on plan assets
(4,584
)
 
(4,142
)
 
(4,134
)
Amortization of net loss and other
1,336

 
1,679

 
2,126

     Net periodic benefit (income) cost
$
(19
)
 
$
632

 
$
1,060


There were no required minimum employer contributions during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019. The Company made a voluntary contribution of $2,000 during the current fiscal year.
Plan assets consist of investments in pooled separate accounts that invest in mutual funds, equity securities, debt securities, or real estate investments. Pooled separate accounts are valued at net asset value per share at the reporting date. The fair values of the underlying investments used to determine net asset value of the pooled separate accounts are primarily publicly quoted prices or quoted prices for similar assets in active or non-active markets. In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments measured at fair value using the net asset value per share practical expedient are not classified in the fair value hierarchy described in Note 16. Fair Value.
The following table presents the fair value of Plan assets.
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
Fair Value
(in thousands)
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Redemption Frequency
(if currently eligible)
 
Redemption Notice Period
 
Fair Value
(in thousands)
 
Unfunded Commitments
 
Redemption Frequency
(if currently eligible)
 
Redemption Notice Period
Pooled Separate Accounts
$
81,627

 
N/A
 
Daily
 
7 Days
 
$
79,302

 
N/A
 
Daily
 
7 Days

There are no redemption restrictions on Plan assets at September 30, 2019. Redemptions may be deferred for a longer period if conditions do not permit an orderly transfer or for certain investments of an illiquid nature.
The following additional information is provided with respect to the Plan: 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Assumptions and dates used to determine benefit obligations:
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
3.20
%
 
4.15
%
 
3.90
%
Rate of compensation increase
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a

 
 
 
 
 
 
Assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost:
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.15
%
 
3.90
%
 
3.75
%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets
6.25
%
 
6.25
%
 
7.00
%
Rate of compensation increase (graded scale)
n/a

 
n/a

 
n/a



The expected long-term return on plan assets assumption was developed as a weighted average rate based on the target asset allocation of the plan and the Long-Term Capital Market Assumptions for the corresponding fiscal year end. Management evaluates the historical performance of the various asset categories, as well as current expectations in determining the adequacy of the assumed rates of return in meeting Plan obligations. If warranted, the assumption is modified.

109


The following table provides estimates of expected future benefit payments during each of the next five fiscal years, as well as in the aggregate for years six through ten. Additionally, the table includes the minimum employer contributions expected during the next fiscal year. 
Expected Benefit Payments During the Fiscal Years Ending September 30:
 
2020
$
5,310

2021
4,490

2022
4,280

2023
4,470

2024
4,740

Aggregate expected benefit payments during the five fiscal year period beginning October 1, 2024, and ending September 30, 2029
23,740

Minimum employer contributions expected to be paid during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020


For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017, AOCI includes pretax net actuarial losses of $28,227, $19,073, and $22,809, respectively, which have not been recognized as components of net periodic benefit costs as of the measurement date. The Company expects that $2,288 of net actuarial losses will be recognized as AOCI components of net periodic benefit cost during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2020.
401(k) Savings PlanThe Company maintains a 401(k) savings plan that is comprised of three tiers. The first tier allows eligible employees to contribute up to 75% of their compensation to the plan, subject to limitations established by the Internal Revenue Service, with the Company matching 100% of up to 4% on funds contributed. The second tier permits the Company to make a profit-sharing contribution at its discretion. The first and second tiers cover substantially all employees who have reached age 21 and have worked 1,000 hours in one year of service. The third tier permits the Company to make discretionary contributions allocable to eligible employees including those eligible employees who are participants, but no longer receiving service credits, under the Company’s defined benefit pension plan. Voluntary contributions made by employees are vested at all times whereas Company contributions and Company matching contributions are subject to various vesting periods which range from immediately vested to fully vesting upon five years of service.
The total of the Company’s matching and discretionary contributions related to the 401(k) savings plan for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $3,827, $3,703 and $3,456, respectively.
Employee (Associate) Stock Ownership PlanThe Company established an ESOP for its employees effective January 1, 2006. The ESOP is a tax-qualified plan designed to invest primarily in the Company’s common stock and provides employees with an opportunity to receive a funded retirement benefit, based primarily on the value of the Company’s common stock. The ESOP covers all eligible employees of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Employees are eligible to participate in the ESOP after attainment of age 18, completion of 1,000 hours of service, and employment on the last day of the plan’s calendar year. Company contributions to the plan are at the discretion of the Board of Directors. The ESOP is accounted for in accordance with the provisions for stock compensation in FASB ASC 718. Compensation expense for the ESOP is based on the market price of the Company’s stock and is recognized as shares are committed to be released to participants. The total compensation expense related to this plan in the 2019, 2018 and 2017 fiscal years was $7,268, $6,639 and $7,342, respectively.
The ESOP was authorized to purchase, and did purchase, 11,605,824 shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $10 per share with a 2006 plan year cash contribution and the proceeds of a loan from the Company to the ESOP. The outstanding loan principal balance as of September 30, 2019 and 2018 was $54,236 and $57,986, respectively. Shares of the Company’s common stock pledged as collateral for the loan are released from the pledge for allocation to participants as loan payments are made. At September 30, 2019, 6,839,089 shares have been allocated to participants and 325,004 shares were committed to be released. Shares that are committed to be released will be allocated to participants at the end of the plan year (December 31). ESOP shares that are unallocated or not yet committed to be released totaled 4,441,731 at September 30, 2019, and had a fair market value of $80,040. Participants have the option to receive dividends on allocated shares in cash or leave the dividend in the ESOP. Dividends are reinvested in Company stock for those participants who choose to leave their dividends in the ESOP or who do not make an election. The purchase of Company stock for reinvestment of dividends is made in the open market on or about the date of the cash disbursement to the participants who opt to take dividends in cash. Dividends on unallocated shares held in the Employer Stock fund were paid to the trustee to be used to make payments on the outstanding loan obligation.

110


14. EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
At the annual meeting of shareholders held on February 22, 2018, shareholders of the Company approved the TFS Financial Corporation Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan. The Amended and Restated 2008 Equity Incentive Plan and the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan, approved by shareholders in May 2008, are collectively referred to as the "Equity Plan”. The amended and restated plan is substantially similar to the previous plan, except that the number of future shares eligible to be granted has been reduced to 8,450,000 shares, of which 8,203,100 shares remain available for future award, and the term to grant shares has been extended to February 21, 2028.
The Company recorded excess tax benefits of $296, $125, and $1,058 related to share-based compensation awards for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The following table presents share-based compensation expense and the related tax benefit recognized during the periods presented.
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Restricted stock units expense
$
3,260

 
$
3,468

 
$
2,391

Performance share units expense
413

 

 

Stock option expense
838

 
1,251

 
1,502

Total stock-based compensation expense
$
4,511

 
$
4,719

 
$
3,893

Tax benefit related to share-based compensation expense
$
792

 
$
1,024

 
$
1,195


Restricted stock units vest over a one to ten year service period. The product of the number of units granted and the grant date market price of the Company’s common stock determines the fair value of restricted stock units under the Equity Plan. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the fair value of restricted stock units on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.
The following is a summary of the status of the Company’s restricted stock units as of September 30, 2019 and changes therein during the year then ended: 

Number of
Shares
Awarded

Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2018
1,335,425


$
13.19

     Granted
138,400


$
15.54

     Released
(137,386
)

$
14.93

     Forfeited
(6,800
)

$
14.74

Outstanding at September 30, 2019 (1)
1,329,639


$
13.24


(1) Includes 765,748 shares with a weighted average grant date fair value of $11.87 that have vested but will not be issued until the recipients are no longer employed by the Company.
The weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock units granted during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $15.54, $14.81 and $19.26 per share, respectively. The total fair value of restricted stock units vested during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017 was $1,465, $6,996, and $2,655, respectively. Expected future compensation expense relating to the non-vested restricted stock units at September 30, 2019 is $3,416 over a weighted average period of 1.78 years.
Performance share units vest in the form of Company common stock issued at the end of a three-year period, based on the pro-rata achievement of performance based metrics over a two-year period. The range of payout is zero to 150% of the number of share units granted. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the fair value of performance share units on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, based on the performance condition that is probable of achievement. Probability of achievement is reassessed at each reporting period and the cumulative effect of a change in estimate, if any, is recognized in the period of change. Cash dividend equivalents are accrued and paid only if and when the underlying units become vested and payable.

111


The following is a summary of the status of the Company’s performance share units as of September 30, 2019 and changes therein during the year then ended: 

Number of
Shares
Awarded
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2018

 
$

     Granted
64,500

 
$
15.54

     Released

 
$

Outstanding at September 30, 2019
64,500

 
$
15.54


The weighted average grant date fair value of performance share units granted during the year ended September 30, 2019 was $15.54. No performance share units were granted during the years ended 2018 and 2017. No performance share units vested during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017. Expected future compensation expense relating to the non-vested performance share units at September 30, 2019 is $589 over a weighted average period of 1.83 years.
Stock options have a contractual term of 10 years and vest over a one to seven year service period. The Company recognizes compensation expense for the fair values of these awards, which have installment vesting, on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the awards.
The following is a summary of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the Equity Plan for the year ended September 30, 2019: 
 
Number of
Stock Options
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life (years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2018
4,987,962

 
$
13.71

 
5.84
 
$
9,417

     Granted

 
$

 
 
 
 
     Exercised
(605,562
)
 
$
12.87

 
 
 
$
2,775

     Forfeited
(6,800
)
 
$
14.74

 
 
 
$
15

Outstanding at September 30, 2019
4,375,600

 
$
13.82

 
4.93
 
$
19,156

Vested and exercisable, at September 30, 2019
3,520,586

 
$
13.49

 
4.20
 
$
16,629

Vested or expected to vest, at September 30, 2019
4,375,600

 
$
13.82

 
4.93
 
$
19,156



The fair values of the stock options were estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions. There were no stock options granted during 2019.
 
Year ended
 
2018
 
2017
Expected dividend yield
4.60
%
 
2.59
%
Expected volatility
16.56
%
 
21.97
%
Risk-free interest rate
2.33
%
 
1.86
%
Expected option term (in years)
6.00

 
6.00


The expected dividend yields for 2018 and 2017 were estimated based on the then-current annualized dividend payouts of $0.68 and $0.50 per share, respectively, which were not expected to change. The historical volatility rate of the company’s stock was used in the estimation of fair value. Management estimated the expected term of the options using the simplified method allowed under SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 110, which expresses the views of the SEC regarding the use of a “simplified” method, as discussed in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107. The five and seven year Treasury yield in effect at the time of the grant provides the risk-free rate of return for periods within the expected term of the options.
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the years ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 was $1.22, and $3.22 per share, respectively. Expected future compensation expense relating to the non-vested options outstanding as of September 30, 2019 is $605 over a weighted average period of 1.00 years. Upon exercise of vested options, management expects to draw on treasury stock as the source of the shares.

112


15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
In the normal course of business, the Company enters into commitments with off-balance-sheet risk to meet the financing needs of its customers. Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments to originate loans generally have fixed expiration dates of 60 to 360 days or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Unfunded commitments related to home equity lines of credit generally expire from five to 10 years following the date that the line of credit was established, subject to various conditions including compliance with payment obligation, adequacy of collateral securing the line and maintenance of a satisfactory credit profile by the borrower. Since some of the commitments may expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.
Off-balance sheet commitments to extend credit involve elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated statements of condition. The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the commitment is represented by the contractual amount of the commitment. The Company generally uses the same credit policies in making commitments as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments. Interest rate risk on commitments to extend credit results from the possibility that interest rates may have moved unfavorably from the position of the Company since the time the commitment was made.
At September 30, 2019, the Company had commitments to originate loans as follows: 
Fixed-rate mortgage loans
$
306,729

Adjustable-rate mortgage loans
213,936

Equity loans and lines of credit including bridge loans
134,363

Total
$
655,028



At September 30, 2019, the Company had unfunded commitments outstanding as follows: 
Equity lines of credit
$
2,211,640

Construction loans
25,743

Limited partner investments
11,541

Total
$
2,248,924


At September 30, 2019, the unfunded commitment on home equity lines of credit, including commitments for accounts suspended as a result of material default or a decline in equity, is $2,222,518.
The above commitments are expected to be funded through normal operations.
The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to various legal actions arising in the normal course of business.  In the opinion of management, the resolution of these legal actions is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operation, or statements of cash flows.
16. FAIR VALUE
Under U.S. GAAP, fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date under current market conditions. A fair value framework is established whereby assets and liabilities measured at fair value are grouped into three levels of a fair value hierarchy, based on the transparency of inputs and the reliability of assumptions used to estimate fair value. The Company’s policy is to recognize transfers between levels of the hierarchy as of the end of the reporting period in which the transfer occurs. The three levels of inputs are defined as follows:
Level 1 –
 
quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.
Level 2 –
 
quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets with few transactions, or model-based valuation techniques using assumptions that are observable in the market.
Level 3 –
 
a company’s own assumptions about how market participants would price an asset or liability.



113


As permitted under the fair value guidance in U.S. GAAP, the Company elects to measure at fair value, mortgage loans classified as held for sale that are subject to pending agency contracts to securitize and sell loans. This election is expected to reduce volatility in earnings related to market fluctuations between the contract trade and settlement dates. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, there were no loans held for sale, subject to pending agency contracts for which the fair value option was elected.
Presented below is a discussion of the methods and significant assumptions used by the Company to estimate fair value.
Investment Securities Available for SaleInvestment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, this includes $547,864 and $531,965 of investments in U.S. government and agency obligations including U.S. Treasury notes and investments in highly liquid collateralized mortgage obligations issued by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. Values at both dates are measured using the market approach. The fair values of collateralized mortgage obligations represent unadjusted price estimates obtained from third party independent nationally recognized pricing services using pricing models or quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics and are included in Level 2 of the hierarchy. Third party pricing is reviewed on a monthly basis for reasonableness based on the market knowledge and experience of company personnel that interact daily with the markets for these types of securities.
Mortgage Loans Held for SaleThe fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is estimated on an aggregate basis using a market approach based on quoted secondary market pricing for loan portfolios with similar characteristics. Loans held for sale are carried at the lower of cost or fair value except, as described above, the Company elects the fair value measurement option for mortgage loans held for sale subject to pending agency contracts to securitize and sell loans. Loans held for sale are included in Level 2 of the hierarchy. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, there were $3,666 and $659 of loans held for sale carried at cost.
Impaired LoansImpaired loans represent certain loans held for investment that are subject to a fair value measurement under U.S. GAAP because they are individually evaluated for impairment and that impairment is measured using a fair value measurement, such as the fair value of the underlying collateral. Impairment is measured using a market approach based on the fair value of the collateral less estimated costs to dispose for loans the Company considers to be collateral-dependent due to a delinquency status or other adverse condition severe enough to indicate that the borrower can no longer be relied upon as the continued source of repayment. These conditions are described more fully in Note 5. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses. To calculate impairment of collateral-dependent loans, the fair market values of the collateral, estimated using exterior appraisals in the majority of instances, are reduced by calculated costs to dispose, derived from historical experience and recent market conditions. Any indicated impairment is recognized by a charge to the allowance for loan losses. Subsequent increases in collateral values or principal pay downs on loans with recognized impairment could result in an impaired loan being carried below its fair value. When no impairment loss is indicated, the carrying amount is considered to approximate the fair value of that loan to the Company because contractually that is the maximum recovery the Company can expect. The recorded investment of loans individually evaluated for impairment based on the fair value of the collateral are included in Level 3 of the hierarchy with assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. The range and weighted average impact of costs to dispose on fair values is determined at the time of impairment or when additional impairment is recognized and is included in quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs later in this note.
Loans held for investment that have been restructured in TDRs and are performing according to the restructured terms of the loan agreement are individually evaluated for impairment using the present value of future cash flows based on the loan’s effective interest rate, which is not a fair value measurement. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, this included $98,875 and $98,459 in recorded investment of TDRs with related allowances for loss of $13,399 and $12,002.
Real Estate OwnedReal estate owned includes real estate acquired as a result of foreclosure or by deed in lieu of foreclosure and is carried at the lower of the cost basis or fair value less estimated costs to dispose. The carrying amounts of real estate owned at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018 were $2,163 and $2,794, respectively. Fair value is estimated under the market approach using independent third party appraisals. As these properties are actively marketed, estimated fair values may be adjusted by management to reflect current economic and market conditions. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, these adjustments were not significant to reported fair values. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, $987 and $1,238 of real estate owned is included in Level 3 of the hierarchy with assets measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis where the cost basis equals or exceeds the estimate of fair values less costs to dispose of these properties. Real estate owned, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Condition, includes estimated costs to dispose of $146 and $132 related to properties measured at fair value and $1,322 and $1,688 of properties carried at their original or adjusted cost basis at September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively.

114


DerivativesDerivative instruments include interest rate locks on commitments to originate loans for the held for sale portfolio, forward commitments on contracts to deliver mortgage loans, and interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges. Derivatives not designated as cash flow hedges are reported at fair value in other assets or other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Condition with changes in value recorded in current earnings. Derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, when highly effective, are reported at fair value in other assets or other liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Condition with changes in value recorded in OCI. See Note 17. Derivative Instruments for additional details. Fair value of forward commitments is estimated using a market approach based on quoted secondary market pricing for loan portfolios with characteristics similar to loans underlying the derivative contracts. The fair value of interest rate swaps is estimated using a discounted cash flow method that incorporates current market interest rates and other market parameters. The fair value of interest rate lock commitments is adjusted by a closure rate based on the estimated percentage of commitments that will result in closed loans. The range and weighted average impact of the closure rate is included in quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs later in this note. A significant change in the closure rate may result in a significant change in the ending fair value measurement of these derivatives relative to their total fair value. Because the closure rate is a significantly unobservable assumption, interest rate lock commitments are included in Level 3 of the hierarchy. Forward commitments on contracts to deliver mortgage loans and interest rate swaps are included in Level 2 of the hierarchy.

Assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the Consolidated Statements of Condition at September 30, 2019 and 2018 are summarized below. There were no liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2019.
 
 
 
Recurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
September 30,
2019
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMIC’s
$
541,042

 
$

 
$
541,042

 
$

Fannie Mae certificates
6,822

 

 
6,822

 

Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
44

 

 

 
44

Total
$
547,908

 
$

 
$
547,864

 
$
44

 
 
 
 
Recurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
September 30,
2018
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investment securities available for sale:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. government and agency obligations
$
3,968

 
$

 
$
3,968

 
$

REMIC’s
519,999

 

 
519,999

 

Fannie Mae certificates
7,998

 

 
7,998

 

Total
$
531,965

 
$

 
$
531,965

 
$

Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$
2

Total
$
2

 
$

 
$

 
$
2



115


The table below presents a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances and the location within the Consolidated Statements of Income where gains (losses) due to changes in fair value are recognized on interest rate lock commitments which are measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).
 
Interest Rate Lock Commitments
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Beginning balance
$
(2
)
 
$
58

 
$
99

Gain (loss) during the period due to changes in fair value:
 
 
 
 
 
Included in other non-interest income
46

 
(60
)
 
(41
)
Ending balance
$
44

 
$
(2
)
 
$
58

Change in unrealized gains for the period included in earnings for
  assets held at end of the reporting date
$
44

 
$
(2
)
 
$
58


Summarized in the tables below are those assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. 
 
 
 
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
September 30,
2019
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Impaired loans, net of allowance
$
71,492

 
$

 
$

 
$
71,492

Real estate owned(1)
987

 

 

 
987

Total
$
72,479

 
$

 
$

 
$
72,479

______________________
(1) Amounts represent fair value measurements of properties before deducting estimated costs to dispose.

 
 
 
Nonrecurring Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
September 30,
2018
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
 
Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)
Impaired loans, net of allowance
$
82,250

 
$

 
$

 
$
82,250

Real estate owned(1)
1,238

 

 

 
1,238

Total
$
83,488

 
$

 
$

 
$
83,488

 ______________________
(1)    Amounts represent fair value measurements of properties before deducting estimated costs to dispose. 
The following provides quantitative information about significant unobservable inputs categorized within Level 3 of the Fair Value Hierarchy. The interest rate lock commitments at September 30, 2019 include both mortgage origination applications and preapprovals. Preapprovals have a much lower closure rate than origination applications as reflected in the weighted average closure rate.
 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
9/30/2019
 
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range
 
Average
Impaired loans, net of allowance
 
$71,492
 
Market comparables of collateral discounted to estimated net proceeds
 
Discount appraised value to estimated net proceeds based on historical experience:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Residential Properties
 
0
-
30%
 
6.1%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
$44
 
Quoted Secondary Market pricing
 
Closure rate
 
0
-
100%
 
65.6%



116


 
 
Fair Value
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted
 
 
9/30/2018
 
Valuation Technique(s)
 
Unobservable Input
 
Range
 
Average
Impaired loans, net of allowance
 
$82,250
 
Market comparables of collateral discounted to estimated net proceeds
 
Discount appraised value to estimated net proceeds based on historical experience:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
• Residential Properties
 
0
-
28%
 
6.4%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
($2)
 
Quoted Secondary Market pricing
 
Closure rate
 
0
-
100%
 
50.0%


The following tables present the carrying amount and estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments. 
 
September 30, 2019
 
Carrying
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Cash and due from banks
$
31,728

 
$
31,728

 
$
31,728

 
$

 
$

  Interest earning cash equivalents
243,415

 
243,415

 
243,415

 

 

  Investment securities available for sale
547,864

 
547,864

 

 
547,864

 

  Mortgage loans held for sale
3,666

 
3,706

 

 
3,706

 

  Loans-net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans held for investment
13,192,579

 
13,716,398

 

 

 
13,716,398

Other loans
3,166

 
3,328

 

 

 
3,328

  Federal Home Loan Bank stock
101,858

 
101,858

 
N/A

 

 

  Accrued interest receivable
40,822

 
40,822

 

 
40,822

 

  Cash collateral held by counterparty
44,261

 
44,261

 
44,261

 

 

Derivatives
44

 
44

 

 

 
44

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Checking and passbook accounts
$
2,346,847

 
$
2,346,847

 
$

 
$
2,346,847

 
$

  Certificates of deposit
6,419,537

 
6,541,791

 

 
6,541,791

 

  Borrowed funds
3,902,981

 
3,903,032

 

 
3,903,032

 

  Borrowers’ advances for taxes and insurance
103,328

 
103,328

 

 
103,328

 

Principal, interest and escrow owed on loans serviced
32,909

 
32,909

 

 
32,909

 


117


 
September 30, 2018
 
Carrying
 
Estimated Fair Value
 
Amount
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Level 3
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Cash and due from banks
$
29,056

 
$
29,056

 
$
29,056

 
$

 
$

  Interest earning cash equivalents
240,719

 
240,719

 
240,719

 

 

  Investment securities available for sale

531,965

 
531,965

 

 
531,965

 

  Mortgage loans held for sale
659

 
661

 

 
661

 

  Loans-net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mortgage loans held for investment
12,868,273

 
12,908,729

 

 

 
12,908,729

Other loans
3,021

 
3,045

 

 

 
3,045

  Federal Home Loan Bank stock
93,544

 
93,544

 
N/A

 

 

  Accrued interest receivable
38,696

 
38,696

 

 
38,696

 

  Cash collateral held by counterparty
13,794

 
13,794

 
13,794

 

 

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Checking and passbook accounts
$
2,169,579

 
$
2,169,579

 
$

 
$
2,169,579

 
$

  Certificates of deposit
6,322,004

 
6,006,951

 

 
6,006,951

 

  Borrowed funds
3,721,699

 
3,724,020

 

 
3,724,020

 

  Borrowers’ advances for taxes and insurance
103,005

 
103,005

 

 
103,005

 

Principal, interest and escrow owed on loans serviced
31,490

 
31,490

 

 
31,490

 

  Derivatives
2

 
2

 

 

 
2


Presented below is a discussion of the valuation techniques and inputs used by the Company to estimate fair value.
Cash and Due from Banks, Interest Earning Cash Equivalents, Cash Collateral Received from or Held by CounterpartyThe carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Investment and Mortgage-Backed SecuritiesEstimated fair value for investment and mortgage-backed securities is based on quoted market prices, when available. If quoted prices are not available, management will use as part of their estimation process fair values which are obtained from third party independent nationally recognized pricing services using pricing models, quoted prices of securities with similar characteristics, or discounted cash flows.
Mortgage Loans Held for SaleFair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on quoted secondary market pricing for loan portfolios with similar characteristics.
LoansFor mortgage loans held for investment and other loans, fair value is estimated by discounting contractual cash flows adjusted for prepayment estimates using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining term. The use of current rates to discount cash flows reflects current market expectations with respect to credit exposure. Impaired loans are measured at the lower of cost or fair value as described earlier in this footnote.
Federal Home Loan Bank StockIt is not practical to estimate the fair value of FHLB stock due to restrictions on its transferability. The fair value is estimated to be the carrying value, which is par. All transactions in capital stock of the FHLB Cincinnati are executed at par.
DepositsThe fair value of demand deposit accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date. The fair value of fixed-maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using discounted cash flows and rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.
Borrowed FundsFair value for borrowed funds is estimated using discounted cash flows and rates currently charged for borrowings of similar remaining maturities.
Accrued Interest Receivable, Borrowers’ Advances for Insurance and Taxes, and Principal, Interest and Related Escrow Owed on Loans ServicedThe carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.

118


DerivativesFair value is estimated based on the valuation techniques and inputs described earlier in this footnote.
17. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The Company enters into interest rate swaps to add stability to interest expense and manage exposure to interest rate movements as part of an overall risk management strategy. For hedges of the Company's borrowing program, interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed payments. These derivatives are used to hedge the forecasted cash outflows associated with the Company's FHLB borrowings. At September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, the interest rate swaps used in the Company's asset/liability management strategy have weighted average terms of 3.7 years and 3.3 years and weighted average fixed-rate interest payments of 1.92% and 1.75%, respectively.
Cash flow hedges are assessed for effectiveness using regression analysis. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in OCI and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. Quarterly, a qualitative analysis is preformed to monitor the ongoing effectiveness of the hedging instrument. All derivative positions were initially and continue to be highly effective at September 30, 2019.
The Company enters into forward commitments for the sale of mortgage loans principally to protect against the risk of adverse interest rate movements on net income. The Company recognizes the fair value of such contracts when the characteristics of those contracts meet the definition of a derivative. These derivatives are not designated in a hedging relationship; therefore, gains and losses are recognized immediately in the statement of income. There were no forward commitments for the sale of mortgage loans at September 30, 2019 or September 30, 2018.
In addition, the Company is party to derivative instruments when it enters into commitments to originate a portion of its loans, which when funded, are classified as held for sale. Such commitments are not designated in a hedging relationship; therefore, gains and losses are recognized immediately in the statement of income.
The following tables provide the locations within the Consolidated Statements of Condition, notional values and fair values, at the reporting dates, for all derivative instruments.
 
 
September 30, 2019
 
September 30, 2018
 
 
Notional Value
 
Fair Value
 
Notional Value
 
Fair Value
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flow hedges: Interest rate swaps
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Assets
 
$
825,000

 
$

 
$
1,725,000

 
$

Other Liabilities
 
1,925,000

 

 

 

Total cash flow hedges: Interest rate swaps
 
$
2,750,000

 
$

 
$
1,725,000

 
$

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Assets
 
$
10,358

 
$
44

 
$

 
$

Other Liabilities
 

 

 
4,248

 
2

Total interest rate lock commitments
 
$
10,358

 
$
44

 
$
4,248

 
$
(2
)

The following tables present the net gains and losses recorded within the Consolidated Statements of Income and the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income relating to derivative instruments.

119


 
Location of Gain or (Loss) 
Recognized in Income
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Cash flow hedges
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amount of gain/(loss) recognized
Other comprehensive income
 
$
(109,583
)
 
$
53,717

 
$
14,131

Amount of gain/(loss) reclassified from AOCI
Interest expense: Borrowed funds
 
12,985

 
3,771

 
(3,745
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest rate lock commitments
Other non-interest income
 
$
46

 
$
(60
)
 
$
(41
)

The Company estimates that $3,240 of the amounts reported in AOCI will be reclassified as a debit to interest expense during the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020.
Derivatives contain an element of credit risk which arises from the possibility that the Company will incur a loss because a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Company's exposure is limited to the replacement value of the contracts rather than the notional or principal amounts. Credit risk is minimized through counterparty margin payments, transaction limits and monitoring procedures.  All of the Company's swap transactions are cleared through a registered clearing broker to a central clearing organization. The clearing organization establishes daily cash and upfront cash or securities margin requirements to cover potential exposure in the event of default. This process shifts the risk away from the counterparty, since the clearing organization acts as the middleman on each cleared transaction. For derivative transactions cleared through certain clearing parties, variation margin payments are recognized as settlements. The fair value of derivative instruments are presented on a gross basis, even when the derivative instruments are subject to master netting arrangements.

120


18. PARENT COMPANY ONLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following condensed financial statements for TFS Financial Corporation (parent company only) reflect the investments in, and transactions with, its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany activity is eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. 
 
September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
Statements of Condition
 
 
 
Assets:
 
 
 
Cash and due from banks
$
5,313

 
$
1,215

Investment securities - available for sale

 
3,968

Other loans:
 
 
 
Demand loan due from Third Federal Savings and Loan
140,955

 
120,237

ESOP loan receivable
54,236

 
57,986

Investments in:
 
 
 
Third Federal Savings and Loan
1,455,221

 
1,545,491

Non-thrift subsidiaries
83,968

 
82,301

Prepaid federal and state taxes
8,266

 
213

Deferred income taxes
2,603

 
864

Accrued receivables and other assets
11,042

 
10,123

Total assets
$
1,761,604

 
$
1,822,398

Liabilities and shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Line of credit due non-thrift subsidiary
$
62,546

 
$
61,066

Accrued expenses and other liabilities
2,304

 
2,928

Total liabilities
64,850

 
63,994

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 700,000,000 shares authorized; 332,318,750 shares issued; 279,962,777 and 280,311,070 outstanding at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively
3,323

 
3,323

Paid-in capital
1,734,154

 
1,726,992

Treasury stock, at cost; 52,355,973 and 52,007,680 shares at September 30, 2019 and September 30, 2018, respectively
(764,589
)
 
(754,272
)
Unallocated ESOP shares
(44,417
)
 
(48,751
)
Retained earnings—substantially restricted
837,662

 
807,890

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
(69,379
)
 
23,222

Total shareholders’ equity
1,696,754

 
1,758,404

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
1,761,604

 
$
1,822,398



121


 
Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Statements of Comprehensive Income
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Demand loan due from Third Federal Savings and Loan
$
3,784

 
$
2,147

 
$
914

ESOP loan
2,889

 
2,536

 
2,308

Other interest income
33

 
51

 
21

Investment securities - available for sale
79

 
27

 

Total interest income
6,785

 
4,761

 
3,243

Interest expense:
 
 
 
 
 
Borrowed funds from non-thrift subsidiaries
1,476

 
1,179

 
612

Total interest expense
1,476

 
1,179

 
612

Net interest income
5,309

 
3,582

 
2,631

Non-interest income:
 
 
 
 
 
Intercompany service charges
36

 
42

 
68

Dividend from Third Federal Savings and Loan
85,000

 
85,000

 
81,000

Total other income
85,036

 
85,042

 
81,068

Non-interest expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
4,921

 
5,666

 
5,134

Professional services
879

 
1,381

 
982

Office property and equipment

 

 
3

Other operating expenses
247

 
248

 
193

Total non-interest expenses
6,047

 
7,295

 
6,312

Income before income taxes
84,298

 
81,329

 
77,387

Income tax benefit
(2,047
)
 
(1,071
)
 
(3,747
)
Income before undistributed earnings of subsidiaries
86,345

 
82,400

 
81,134

Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries (dividend in excess of earnings):
 
 
 
 
 
Third Federal Savings and Loan
(7,775
)
 
1,126

 
6,709

Non-thrift subsidiaries
1,667

 
1,881

 
1,034

Net income
80,237

 
85,407

 
88,877

Change in net unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale
11,459

 
(9,436
)
 
(3,331
)
Change in cash flow hedges
(96,829
)
 
37,340

 
11,620

Change in pension obligation
(7,231
)
 
2,852

 
3,845

Total other comprehensive (loss) income
(92,601
)
 
30,756

 
12,134

Total comprehensive (loss) income
$
(12,364
)
 
$
116,163

 
$
101,011



122


 
Years Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Statements of Cash Flows
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
80,237

 
$
85,407

 
$
88,877

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
(Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries) dividend in excess of earnings:
 
 
 
 
 
Third Federal Savings and Loan
7,775

 
(1,126
)
 
(6,709
)
Non-thrift subsidiaries
(1,667
)
 
(1,881
)
 
(1,034
)
Deferred income taxes
(1,739
)
 
1,766

 
74

ESOP and Stock-based compensation expense
1,668

 
1,585

 
1,439

Net increase in interest receivable and other assets
(8,997
)
 
(910
)
 
(2,300
)
Net (decrease) increase in accrued expenses and other liabilities
(600
)
 
307

 
144

Net cash provided by operating activities
76,677

 
85,148

 
80,491

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from maturity of securities available for sale
4,000

 

 

Purchase of securities available for sale

 
(4,000
)
 

Increase in balances lent to Third Federal Savings and Loan
(20,718
)
 
(30,938
)
 
(856
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(16,718
)
 
(34,938
)
 
(856
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Principal reduction of ESOP loan
3,750

 
3,773

 
3,703

Purchase of treasury shares
(9,087
)
 
(19,741
)
 
(54,029
)
Dividends paid to common shareholders
(50,465
)
 
(37,629
)
 
(27,709
)
Acquisition of treasury shares through net settlement for taxes

(1,538
)
 
(1,772
)
 
(2,504
)
Net increase in borrowings from non-thrift subsidiaries
1,479

 
1,251

 
925

Net cash used in financing activities
(55,861
)
 
(54,118
)
 
(79,614
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
4,098

 
(3,908
)
 
21

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year
1,215

 
5,123

 
5,102

Cash and cash equivalents—end of year
$
5,313

 
$
1,215

 
$
5,123


19. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is the amount of earnings available to each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period. Diluted earnings per share is the amount of earnings available to each share of common stock outstanding during the reporting period adjusted to include the effect of potentially dilutive common shares. For purposes of computing earnings per share amounts, outstanding shares include shares held by the public, shares held by the ESOP that have been allocated to participants or committed to be released for allocation to participants, the 227,119,132 shares held by Third Federal Savings, MHC, and, for purposes of computing dilutive earnings per share, stock options and restricted stock and performance share units with a dilutive impact. Unvested shares awarded pursuant to the Company's restricted stock plans are treated as participating securities in the computation of EPS pursuant to the two-class method as they contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends. The two-class method is an earnings allocation that determines EPS for each class of common stock and participating security. At September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, the ESOP held 4,441,731 and 4,875,071 shares that were neither allocated to participants nor committed to be released to participants.


123


The following is a summary of the Company’s earnings per share calculations. 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2019
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per share
 amount
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income
$
80,237

 
 
 
 
Less: income allocated to restricted stock units
1,522

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to common shareholders
78,715

 
275,395,529

 
$
0.29

Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares
 
 
1,978,897

 
 
Income available to common shareholders
$
78,715

 
277,374,426

 
$
0.28

 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2018
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per share
 amount
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income
$
85,407

 
 
 
 
Less: income allocated to restricted stock units
1,211

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to common shareholders
84,196

 
275,590,053

 
$
0.31

Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares
 
 
1,708,372

 
 
Income available to common shareholders
$
84,196

 
277,298,425

 
$
0.30

 
 
For the Year Ended September 30, 2017
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per share
 amount
 
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Net income
$
88,877

 
 
 
 
Less: income allocated to restricted stock units
901

 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Income available to common shareholders
87,976

 
277,213,258

 
$
0.32

Diluted earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of dilutive potential common shares
 
 
2,055,510

 
 
Income available to common shareholders
$
87,976

 
279,268,768

 
$
0.32


The following is a summary of outstanding stock options and restricted and performance share units that are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
 
For the Year Ended September 30,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
Options to purchase shares
710,100

 
1,885,600

 
779,740

Restricted and performance share units

 
17,000

 


20. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Adopted in fiscal year ended September 30, 2019
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The core principle of the guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that

124


reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The amendments include a five step process for consideration of the core principle, guidance on the accounting treatment for costs associated with a contract, and disclosure requirements related to the revenue process. The FASB issued several additional ASU's to clarify guidance and provide implementation support for ASU 2014-09. Topic 606 does not apply to revenue within the scope of other standards, such as revenue associated with financial instruments.
Effective October 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2014-09 and all subsequent amendments related to the ASU (collectively, “Topic 606”). We elected to adopt this guidance utilizing the modified retrospective approach. The adoption did not have a significant impact to the Company's consolidated financial statements, as such, a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings was not necessary. Neither the new standard, nor any of the related amendments, resulted in a material change from our current accounting for revenue because a significant amount of the Company’s revenue streams such as interest income, are not within the scope of Topic 606. Our services that fall within the scope of Topic 606 are recognized as revenue as we satisfy our performance obligation to the customer. The disaggregation of our revenue from contracts with customers in scope of Topic 606 is provided below:
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Twelve Months Ended September 30,
 
 
Location of Revenue
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
Net Gain/(Loss) from Sales of REO
 
Non-Interest Expense (1)
 
$
253

 
$
(445
)
 
$
(106
)
 
$
(690
)
Deposit Account and Other Banking Income
 
Non-Interest Income
 
231

 
227

 
909

 
904

Total
 
 
 
$
484

 
$
(218
)
 
$
803

 
$
214

____________________________
(1) Net gain/(loss) from sales of real estate owned (REO) is located in non-interest expense in the consolidated statements of income because the gains and losses from the sales of REO assets are netted together with real estate owned expenses (which includes associated legal and maintenance expenses).

Sales of REO: The Company derecognizes the REO asset and fully recognizes a gain or loss from the REO sale when control of the property transfers to the buyer, which generally occurs at closing. Topic 606 does not significantly change the pattern of revenue recognition unless the Company finances the sale. When the Company finances the REO sale, the Company assesses whether the buyer is committed to perform their obligations under the contract and whether the Company will collect substantially all of the consideration to which it is entitled in exchange for the property. Once these criteria are met, the REO asset is derecognized and the Company fully recognizes the gain or loss upon transfer of control of the property to the buyer. There are no instances of the Company financing the sale of one of its REO properties during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019.
Deposit Account and Other Banking Income: The Company charges depositors transaction-based service fees, which includes services such as stop-payments, wire transfers, check and checking account charges. The performance obligation of the transaction-based fees is satisfied, and related revenue is recognized, at the point in time we perform the requested service.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This ASU changes the accounting for certain equity investments, financial liabilities under the fair value option, and presentation and disclosure requirements for financial instruments. Equity investments not accounted for under the equity method of accounting will be measured at fair value with changes recognized in net income. If there are no readily determinable fair values, the guidance allows entities to measure investments at cost less impairment, whereby impairment is based on a qualitative assessment. The guidance eliminates the requirement to disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost. The guidance also requires financial assets and financial liabilities to be presented separately in the footnotes, grouped by measurement category (fair value, amortized cost) and form of financial assets. If an entity has elected the fair value option to measure liabilities, the new accounting guidance requires the portion of the change in fair value of a liability resulting from credit risk to be presented in OCI. ASU 2018-03 was issued in February 2018 as technical guidance to ASU 2016-01 to aid in clarification and presentation requirements. Both accounting and disclosure guidance are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years on a prospective basis, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet at the beginning of the fiscal year adopted. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company adopted this guidance effective October 1, 2018 utilizing the modified-retrospective transition method. The Company did not recognize a cumulative adjustment to equity upon implementation of the standard. The guidance solely impacted the Company's disclosures, and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The amendments in this Update address eight specific cash flow issues with the objective of reducing the existing diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, and Other Topics. Current guidance is either unclear or does not include specific guidance on these issues. Additionally, in November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) Restricted Cash, which requires restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents be included in beginning-of-period and end-of-period cash totals and changes in this classification be explained separately. The amendments in both these Updates are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years and should be applied using a retrospective transition method. Early adoption is permitted, provided that all of the amendments are adopted in the same period. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2018. Adoption of this accounting guidance did not have a material impact on the presentation of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718), Scope of Modification Accounting. This Update clarifies when to account for a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required only if the fair value (or calculated intrinsic value, if those amounts are being used to measure the award under ASC 718), the vesting conditions, or the classification of the award (as equity or liability) change as a result of the change in terms or conditions. The guidance is effective prospectively for annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the guidance effective October 1, 2018. The Update did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. This Update is intended to more closely align financial reporting of hedging relationships with risk management activities. This amendment expands hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components, modifies the presentation of certain hedging relationships in the financial statements and eases hedge effectiveness testing requirements. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permissible in any interim period after the issuance of this Update. The Company early adopted the amendments effective October 1, 2018 and revised the disclosures included in the Derivative Instruments footnote, accordingly. In October 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-16, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Inclusion of the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) Overnight Index SWAP (OIS) Rate as a Benchmark Interest Rate for Hedge Accounting Purposes. The amendments in this Update permit use of the Overnight Index Swap Rate (OIS) rate based on Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815 in addition to the UST, the LIBOR swap rate, the OIS rate based on the Fed Funds Effective Rate, and the SIFMA Municipal Swap Rate. Third Federal adopted ASU 2018-16 concurrently with ASU 2017-12. The Updates did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses, Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and Topic 825, Financial Instruments. The amendments related to Topic 326 address the scope of financial instrument recognition and measurement guidance, the requirement for re-measurement under ASC 820 when using the measurement alternative and certain disclosure requirements. The amendments related to Topic 815 address partial-term fair value hedges, fair value hedge basis adjustments and certain transition requirements. The Company early adopted the amendments related to hedging and financial instruments effective July 1, 2019. The Update did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition, results of operation, or disclosures. The Company intends to adopt the credit loss amendments concurrently with Topic 825 on October 1, 2020.

Issued but not yet adopted as of September 30, 2019
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). This guidance changes the accounting treatment of leases by requiring lessees to recognize operating leases on the balance sheet as lease assets (a right-to-use asset) and lease liabilities (a liability to make lease payments), measured on a discounted basis and will require both quantitative and qualitative disclosure regarding key information about the leasing arrangements. The Company occupies certain banking branches under operating lease agreements, which were historically not recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition.
An accounting policy election to not recognize operating leases with terms of 12 months or less as assets and liabilities is permitted. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2016-02 required entities to adopt the new lease standard using a modified retrospective approach. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842) Targeted Improvements, which provides entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new lease standard. Under this new method, an entity initially applies the new leases standard at the adoption date and recognizes a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of

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adoption. The Company will adopt this guidance effective October 1, 2019 utilizing the transition method described in ASU 2018-11.
In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842) Land Easement Practical Expedient, which allows entities to elect an optional transition practical expedient to not evaluate under Topic 842 land easements that existed or expired before the entity's adoption of Topic 842. In December 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842) Narrow-Scope Improvements, which addresses lessor stakeholder questions regarding sales tax, certain lessor costs and the recognition of variable payments for contracts with lease and non-lease components. In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Leases Codification Improvements, which addresses stakeholder questions regarding presentation of cash flows for sales type and direct financing leases, determining the fair value of the underlying asset by lessors that are not manufacturers or dealers, and transition disclosures related to Topic 250. The Company will adopt ASU 2018-01, ASU 2018-20 and ASU 2019-01 effective October 1, 2019.
All leases have been identified and the Company selected a third-party vendor to assist in the implementation and subsequent accounting for leases under the ASUs. The Company expects to recognize a right-to-use asset and a lease liability for its operating lease commitments on the Consolidated Statements of Condition. Based on the Company’s analysis of its current portfolio, the adoption of the guidance will impact total assets and total liabilities in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition by approximately 0.1% each. The Company anticipates additional disclosures to be provided at adoption. The Company also elected the package of practical expedients that do not require reassessment of whether any expired or existing contracts are or contain leases, the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company elected the practical expedient to combine both lease and nonlease components as a single component. The Company did not elect the hindsight practical expedient.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. The amendments in this Update replace the existing incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects the expected credit losses for the remaining life of the asset. This will require consideration of a broader range of information, including reasonably supportable forecasts, in the measurement of expected credit losses. The amendments expand disclosures of credit quality indicators, requiring disaggregation by year of origination (vintage). Additionally, credit losses on available for sale debt securities will be recognized as an allowance rather than a write-down, with reversals permitted as credit loss estimates decline. An entity will apply the amendments in this Update through a modified-retrospective approach, resulting in a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. For public business entities that are SEC filers, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company intends to adopt this guidance effective October 1, 2020. In May 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326) Targeted Transition Relief, which addresses stakeholders' concerns by providing an option to irrevocably elect the fair value option for certain financial assets previously measured at amortized cost basis. Management has formed a working group comprised of associates from across the Company including accounting, risk management, and finance. This group has begun assessing the required changes to our credit loss estimation methodologies and systems, as well as additional data and resources that may be required to comply with this standard. Although the Company is still evaluating CECL, adoption of the standard is expected to increase the overall allowance for loan losses given the change from accounting for losses inherent in the loan portfolio to accounting for losses over the remaining life of the loans. The actual effect on our allowance for loan losses at the adoption date will be dependent upon the nature of the characteristics of the portfolio as well as the macroeconomic conditions and forecasts at that date.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. The amendments in this Update add, remove and modify the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements in Topic 820. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted upon issuance of this Update. The Company intends to adopt the amendments effective October 1, 2020. The Update is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, or disclosures.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40) - Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract. Current GAAP does not specifically address the accounting for implementation costs of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract. Accordingly, the amendments in this Update improve current GAAP because they clarify that accounting and align the accounting for implementation costs for hosting arrangements, regardless of whether they convey a license to the hosted software. The amendments in this Update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption of the amendments in this Update is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for all entities. The Company intends to adopt the amendments effective October 1, 2020. Management is currently assessing the impact the Update will have on the Company's disclosures.

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In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Updates 2016-01, 2016-13 and 2017-12. The Company early adopted the amendments related to Updates 2016-01 and 2017-12 effective July 1, 2019. The amendments related to Update 2016-13 clarify the scope of the credit losses standard and address issues related to accrued interest and recoveries. The amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operation, or disclosure. The Company intends to adopt the credit loss standard amendments concurrently with Update 2016-13 on October 1, 2020.
The Company has determined that all other recently issued accounting pronouncements will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements or do not apply to its operations.
21. SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA (UNAUDITED)
The following tables are a summary of certain quarterly financial data for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2019 and 2018.
 
Fiscal 2019 Quarter Ended
 
December 31
 
March 31
 
June 30
 
September 30
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Interest income
$
118,288

 
$
120,443

 
$
121,043

 
$
122,313

Interest expense
50,476

 
52,682

 
55,525

 
57,983

Net interest income
67,812

 
67,761

 
65,518

 
64,330

Provision (credit) for loan losses
(2,000
)
 
(4,000
)
 
(2,000
)
 
(2,000
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
69,812

 
71,761

 
67,518

 
66,330

Non-interest income
4,676

 
4,906

 
5,083

 
5,799

Non-interest expense
47,980

 
50,727

 
49,868

 
45,098

Income before income tax
26,508

 
25,940

 
22,733

 
27,031

Income tax expense
6,175

 
5,810

 
4,476

 
5,514

Net income
$
20,333

 
$
20,130

 
$
18,257

 
$
21,517

Earnings per share—basic and diluted
$
0.07

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.06

 
$
0.08

 
 
Fiscal 2018 Quarter Ended
 
December 31
 
March 31
 
June 30
 
September 30
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Interest income
$
107,229

 
$
110,180

 
$
111,118

 
$
114,518

Interest expense
37,241

 
38,482

 
40,845

 
45,536

Net interest income
69,988

 
71,698

 
70,273

 
68,982

Provision (credit) for loan losses
(3,000
)
 
(4,000
)
 
(2,000
)
 
(2,000
)
Net interest income after provision for loan losses
72,988

 
75,698

 
72,273

 
70,982

Non-interest income
4,844

 
4,616

 
7,191

 
4,885

Non-interest expense
45,776

 
49,688

 
51,429

 
45,420

Income before income tax
32,056

 
30,626

 
28,035

 
30,447

Income tax expense
12,443

 
7,312

 
7,160

 
8,842

Net income
$
19,613

 
$
23,314

 
$
20,875

 
$
21,605

Earnings per share—basic and diluted
$
0.07

 
$
0.08

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.08


Per share amounts for the full fiscal year, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income may differ from the totals of the four fiscal quarters as presented above, due to rounding.

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FORM 10-K EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
 
If Incorporated by Reference, Documents with
Which Exhibit was Previous Filed with SEC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on February 9, 2006; Exhibit 3.2 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Report on Form 8-K No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on April 28, 2008; Exhibit 3.2 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Report on Form 8-K No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on October 29, 2018; Exhibit 3 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 4 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
[Intentionally omitted]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.2 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.3 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.4 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.5 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.6 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.7 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 10.8 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
10.9
 
[Intentionally omitted]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on January 9, 2018)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on January 9, 2018)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Report on Form 8-K No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012; Exhibit 10.1 therein)

129


Exhibit
Number
 
Description of Exhibit
 
If Incorporated by Reference, Documents with
Which Exhibit was Previous Filed with SEC
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Report on Form 8K No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012; Exhibit 10.2 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current Report on Form 8K No. 001-33390 (filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012; Exhibit 10.3 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
14
 
Code of Ethics
 
Available on our website, www.thirdfederal.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Registration Statement on Form S-1 No. 333-139295 (filed with the SEC on December 13, 2006; Exhibit 21 therein)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed herewith
 
 
 
 
 
100
 
XBRL related documents
 
The following financial statements from TFS Financial Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2019 filed on November 26, 2019 formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) Consolidated Statements of Condition, (ii) Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS  
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
Interactive datafile
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

130


SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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.
TFS Financial Corporation
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     MARC A. STEFANSKI        
 
 
 
 
 
Marc A. Stefanski
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     MARC A. STEFANSKI        
 
 
 
 
 
Marc A. Stefanski
Chairman of the Board, President
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     PAUL J. HUML        
 
 
 
 
 
Paul J. Huml
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial & Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     ANTHONY J. ASHER        
 
 
 
 
 
Anthony J. Asher, Director
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     MARTIN J. COHEN        
 
 
 
 
 
Martin J. Cohen, Director
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     ROBERT A. FIALA        
 
 
 
 
 
Robert A. Fiala, Director
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     WILLIAM C. MULLIGAN        
 
 
 
 
 
William C. Mulligan, Director
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     TERRENCE R. OZAN        
 
 
 
 
 
Terrence R. Ozan, Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     JOHN P. RINGENBACH       
 
 
 
 
 
John P. Ringenbach, Director
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     BEN S. STEFANSKI III        
 
 
 
 
 
Ben S. Stefanski III, Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     MEREDITH S. WEIL
 
 
 
 
 
Meredith S. Weil, Director
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dated:
November 26, 2019
 
 
 
/S/     ASHLEY H. WILLIAMS
 
 
 
 
 
Ashley H. Williams, Director


131