Village Bank & Trust Financial Corp. - Annual Report: 2007 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-KSB

ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

 

Commission file number 0-50765

 

VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.

(Name of small business issuer in its charter)

 

 

1231 Alverser Drive, P.O. Box 330, Midlothian, Virginia 23113

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Issuer’s telephone number 804-897-3900

 

Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:

 

 

Securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act:

None

 

Check whether the issuer is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. o

 

Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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

 

Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-B contained in this form, and no disclosure will be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-KSB or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o No x

 

State issuer’s revenues for its most recent fiscal year. $28,332,000.

 

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 14, 2008 was approximately $25,708,000.

 

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of March 14, 2008 was 2,575,985.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement to be used in conjunction with the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-KSB.

 

 

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Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp.

Form 10-KSB

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

General

 

Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. (the “Company”) was incorporated in January 2003 and was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia as a bank holding company whose activities consist of investment in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Village Bank (the “Bank”). The Bank opened to the public on December 13, 1999 as a traditional community bank offering deposit and loan services to individuals and businesses in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. During 2003, the Company acquired or formed three wholly owned subsidiaries of the Bank, Village Bank Mortgage Corporation (“Village Bank Mortgage”), a full service mortgage banking company, Village Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Village Insurance”), a full service property and casualty insurance agency, and Village Financial Services Corporation (“Village Financial Services”), a financial services company.

 

The Company is the holding company of and successor to the Bank. Effective April 30, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of the Bank in a statutory share exchange transaction. In the transaction, the shares of the Bank’s common stock were exchanged for shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $4.00 per share (“Common Stock”), on a one-for-one basis. As a result, the Bank became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, the Company became the holding company for the Bank and the shareholders of the Bank became shareholders of the Company. All references to the Company in this annual report for dates or periods prior to April 30, 2004 are references to the Bank.

 

We offer a wide range of banking and related financial services, including checking, savings, certificates of deposit and other depository services, and commercial, real estate and consumer loans. We are a community-oriented and locally managed financial institution focusing on providing a high level of responsive and personalized services to our customers, delivered in the context of a strong direct relationship with our customers. We conduct our operations from our main office/corporate headquarters location in Chesterfield County, and we have ten branch offices.

 

On March 9, 2008, Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and Village Bank entered into a definitive merger agreement with River City Bank (“River City”) whereby River City will merge with and into Village Bank in a transaction valued at approximately $20.2 million payable in cash and common stock. Under terms of the merger agreement, which was approved by the Board of Directors of both companies, shareholders of River City will be entitled to receive for each share of River City common stock owned, $11.00 in cash or 1 share of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. common stock, subject to proration of 20% cash and 80% common stock if either cash or common stock is oversubscribed. It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2008, pending regulatory approval and approval of the shareholders of both companies. With the addition of River City’s three branches, Village Bank will have thirteen branch locations.

 

Business Strategy

 

Our strategies include the following:

 

 

 

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years of operation, we have established a diverse product line, including commercial, mortgage and consumer loans as well as a full array of deposit products and services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our officers, employees and the directors live and work in our market area. We believe that the existing and future banking market in our community represents an opportunity for locally owned and locally managed community banks. In view of the continuing trend in the financial services industry toward consolidation into larger, sometimes impersonal, statewide, regional and national institutions, the market exists for the personal and customized financial services that an independent, locally owned bank with local decision making can offer. With the flexibility of our smaller size and through an emphasis on relationship banking, including personal attention and service, we can be more responsive to the individual needs of our customers than our larger competitors. As a community oriented and locally managed institution, we make most of our loans in our community and can tailor our services to meet the banking and financial needs of our customers who live and do business in our market.

 

We provide customers with high quality, responsive and technologically advanced banking services. These services include loans that are priced on a deposit-based relationship, easy access to our decision makers, and quick and innovative action necessary to meet a customer’s banking needs.

 

Location and Market Area

 

Our strategy is to become the premier financial institution serving the Richmond metropolitan area. We recognized early on that to be successful with this strategy, we needed to grow aggressively, expanding our branch network to reach the most people possible. Initially, we focused our operations in Chesterfield County, Virginia, which, despite its potential for business development and population growth, has been underserved by community banks. Chesterfield’s resources are very

 

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favorable for businesses seeking a profitable and stable environment. The county offers superb commercial and industrial sites, an educated work force, well-designed and developed infrastructure and a competitive tax structure. Chesterfield has been awarded the U.S. Senate Gold Medallion for Productivity and Quality. The county has the highest bond rating from three rating agencies - Standard and Poors, Moody’s and Fitch.

 

Once we established a strong banking presence in the lucrative Chesterfield County market with seven branches, we continued the implementation of our strategy by expanding our franchise into other counties in the Richmond Metropolitan area. In addition to Chesterfield County, we have now opened two branches in Henrico County and one in Powhatan County, both of which along with Chesterfield have seen strong population growth in recent years. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2000 population of Chesterfield County was 259,903, compared to 209,274 in 1990. The number of households in Chesterfield County climbed from 73,441 in 1990 to 93,772 in 2000. The projected figures for 2010 are a population of 319,000 in 117,500 households. The 2000 population of Henrico County was 262,300 compared to 217,849 in 1990. The number of households in 2000 was 108,121 compared to 89,138 in 1990. The projected figures for Henrico County for 2010 are a population of 291,000 in 122,900 households. These population figures place Henrico and Chesterfield, respectively, as the largest two counties in central Virginia and the third and fourth largest counties in the state. Powhatan County, though not as populous as Henrico and Chesterfield, had a population of 22,377 and household units of 7,509 in 2000, and an estimated population of 27,649 in 2006. As Chesterfield County has grown and matured, Powhatan has become the county for growth moving west.

 

Residential growth in Chesterfield, Henrico and Powhatan Counties remains strong. For the four quarters ended September 30, 2007, Chesterfield County issued 4,169 permits for new single-family homes, Henrico County issued 3,563 and Powhatan County issued 668. Unemployment percentages for Chesterfield, Henrico and Powhatan for the third quarter of 2007 were 2.6%, 2.7% and 2.3%, respectively, well below the national average of 4.7%. Developers continue to locate their planned communities in western Chesterfield County. The Winterpock area of Chesterfield County is expected to see substantial growth over the next six years, with the Deer Run development nearing completion and subdivisions such as Birkdale, Ashbrook, and Bayhill Point continuing their impressive growth. The primary road serving these growing subdivisions is Route 360, and all of these communities are within two miles of our Clover Hill branch. Henrico County has long been a strong bedroom community to Richmond. Many of the metropolitan Richmond area’s older upscale housing communities call Henrico home and the western part of Henrico has seen substantial growth in both new business as well as residential communities. The western section of Route 288, the circumferential highway around the Richmond Metropolitan area, was completed in 2004 and significantly improved access to and from Chesterfield County and Henrico County by the surrounding counties.

 

At December 31, 2007, we had ten full service banking offices, which were staffed by 41 full-time employees. Our senior staff averages more than 25 years of professional or banking experience. Our principal office, which houses our executive officers and loan department, was opened in November 2003 and is located at 1231 Alverser Drive, Midlothian, Virginia 23113. Our main telephone number is (804) 897-3900. Seven of our branch offices are located in Chesterfield County, with two branch offices in Henrico County and one in Powhatan County. Each branch office has been strategically located to be convenient to business and retail customers in the growth sectors of Chesterfield County.

 

In 2008 we will complete the construction of a new 80,000 square foot headquarters building located in Chesterfield County at the intersection of Route 60 (Midlothian Turnpike) and Route 288. We will occupy approximately half of this space, which will include a retail branch facility, and lease the remainder. We are currently scheduled to move into this facility in July 2008. We have a contract to sell our current principal office located at 1231 Alverser Drive, with closing on this sale to coincide with our move to the new building.

 

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Other than the branch to be located in the new headquarters building, we have no plans to open more branches in 2008.

 

Prominent local newspapers, one regional newspaper, and a number of radio and television stations provide diverse media outlets. The broad exposure of television, print media and radio offers several opportunities to explore effective advertising and public relations avenues for the Company.

 

Banking Services

 

We receive deposits, make consumer and commercial loans, and provide other services customarily offered by a commercial banking institution, such as business and personal checking and savings accounts, drive-up windows, and 24-hour automated teller machines. We have not applied for permission to establish a trust department and offer trust services. We are not a member of the Federal Reserve System. Our deposits are insured under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to the limits provided thereunder.

 

We offer a full range of short-to-medium term commercial and personal loans. Commercial loans include both secured and unsecured loans for working capital (including inventory and receivables), business expansion (including acquisition of real estate and improvements) and purchase of equipment and machinery. Consumer loans include secured and unsecured loans for financing automobiles, home improvements, education and personal investments. We also originate fixed and variable rate mortgage loans and real estate construction and acquisition loans. Residential loans originated by our mortgage company are usually sold in the secondary mortgage market.

 

Our lending activities are subject to a variety of lending limits imposed by federal and state law. While differing limits apply in certain circumstances based on the type of loan or the nature of the borrower (including the borrower’s relationship to the bank), in general, for loans that are not secured by readily marketable or other permissible collateral, we are subject to a loans-to-one borrower limit of an amount equal to 15% of our capital and surplus. We may voluntarily choose to impose a policy limit on loans to a single borrower that is less than the legal lending limit. We are a member of the Community Bankers’ Bank and may participate out portions of loans when loan amounts exceed our legal lending limits or internal lending policies.

 

Lending Activities

 

Our primary focus is on making loans to small businesses and consumers in our local market area. In addition, we also provide a wide range of real estate finance services. Our primary lending activities are principally directed to our market area.

 

Loan Portfolio. The net loan portfolio was $323,874,000 at December 31, 2007, which compares to $238,498,000 at December 31, 2006. The Company has enjoyed strong loan growth the last several years reflecting the strong economy in the market we serve. Loans grew by 27% in 2005, 40% in 2006, and 36% in 2007. Our loan customers are generally located in the Richmond metropolitan area. We do not have any subprime loans in our loan portfolio.

 

Commercial Business Lending. Our commercial business lending consists of lines of credit, revolving credit facilities, term loans, equipment loans, stand-by letters of credit and unsecured loans. Commercial loans are written for any business purpose including the financing of plant and equipment, carrying accounts receivable, general working capital, contract administration and acquisition activities. Our client base is diverse, and we do not have a concentration of loans in any specific industry segment. Commercial business loans are generally secured by accounts receivable, equipment, inventory and other collateral such as marketable securities, cash value of life insurance, and time deposits. Commercial business loans have a higher degree of risk than residential mortgage loans, but have higher yields. To manage these risks, we generally obtain appropriate collateral and personal guarantees from the borrower’s principal owners and monitor the financial condition of business borrowers. The availability of funds for the repayment of commercial

 

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business loans may substantially depend on the success of the business itself. Further, the collateral for commercial business loans may depreciate over time and cannot be appraised with as much precision as residential real estate. All commercial loans we make have recourse under the terms of a promissory note. At December 31, 2007, commercial loans totaled $23,152,000, or 7.1% of the total loan portfolio.

 

Commercial Real Estate Lending. We finance commercial real estate for our clients and commercial real estate loans represent the largest segment of our loan portfolio. This segment of our loan portfolio has been the largest segment since 2004 due to the significant real estate opportunities in our market area. We generally will finance owner-occupied commercial real estate at an 80% loan-to-value ratio or less. In many cases our loan-to-value ratio is less than 80%, which provides us with a higher level of collateral security. Our underwriting policies and procedures focus on the borrower’s ability to repay the loan as well as assessment of the underlying real estate. Risks inherent in managing a commercial real estate loan portfolio relate to sudden or gradual drops in property values as well as changes in the economic climate. We attempt to mitigate those risks by carefully underwriting loans of this type as well as following appropriate loan-to-value standards. Commercial real estate loans (generally owner occupied) at December 31, 2007 were $140,176,000, or 42.8% of the total loan portfolio.

 

Real Estate Construction Lending. This segment of our loan portfolio is predominately residential in nature and comprised of loans with short duration, meaning maturities of twelve months or less. Residential houses under construction and the underlying land for which the loan was obtained secure the construction loans. Construction lending entails significant risks compared with residential mortgage lending. These risks involve larger loan balances concentrated with single borrowers with funds advanced upon the security of the land and home under construction, which is estimated prior to the completion of the home. Thus it is more difficult to evaluate accurately the total loan funds required to complete a project and related loan-to-value ratios. To mitigate these risks we generally limit loan amounts to 80% of appraised values on pre-sold homes and 75% on speculative homes, and obtain first lien positions on the property taken as security. Additionally, we offer real estate construction financing to individuals who have demonstrated the ability to obtain a permanent loan. At December 31, 2007, construction loans totaled $106,556,000, or 32.5% of the total loan portfolio.

 

Residential Mortgage Lending. We make permanent residential mortgage loans for inclusion in the loan portfolio. We seek to retain in our portfolio variable rate loans secured by one-to-four-family residences. However, the majority of permanent residential loans are made by the Bank’s subsidiary, Village Bank Mortgage, which sells them to investors in the secondary mortgage market on a pre-sold basis. Given the low fixed rate residential loan market in recent years, this allows us to offer this service to our customers without retaining a significant low rate residential loan portfolio which would be detrimental to earnings as interest rates increase. We originate both conforming and non-conforming single-family loans.

 

Before we make a loan we evaluate both the borrower’s ability to make principal and interest payments and the value of the property that will secure the loan. We make first mortgage loans in amounts up to 95% of the appraised value of the underlying real estate. We retain some second mortgage loans secured by property in our market area, as long as the loan-to-value ratio combined with the first mortgage does not exceed 90%. For conventional loans in excess of 80% loan-to-value, private mortgage insurance is required.

 

Our current one-to-four-family residential adjustable rate mortgage loans have interest rates that adjust every 1, 3 and 5 years, generally in accordance with the rates on comparable U.S. Treasury bills. Our adjustable rate mortgage loans generally limit interest rate increases to 2% each rate adjustment period and have an established ceiling rate at the time the loans are made of up to 6% over the original interest rate. There are risks resulting from increased costs to a borrower as a result of the periodic repricing mechanisms of these loans. Despite the benefits of adjustable rate mortgage loans to our asset/liability management, they pose additional risks, primarily because as

 

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interest rates rise, the underlying payments by the borrowers rise, increasing the potential for default. At the same time, the marketability of the underlying property may be adversely affected by higher interest rates. At December 31, 2007, $51,281,000, or 15.6% of our loan portfolio, consisted of residential mortgage loans.

 

Consumer Installment Lending. We offer various types of secured and unsecured consumer loans. We make consumer loans primarily for personal, family or household purposes as a convenience to our customer base since these loans are not the primary focus of our lending activities. Our general guideline is that a consumer’s total debt service should not exceed 40% of the consumer’s gross income. Our underwriting standards for consumer loans include making a determination of the applicant’s payment history on other debts and an assessment of his or her ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan. The stability of an applicant’s monthly income may be determined by verification of gross monthly income from primary employment and additionally from any verifiable secondary income. Consumer loans totaled $6,611,000 at December 31, 2007, which was 2.0% of the total loan portfolio.

 

Loan Commitments and Contingent Liabilities. In the normal course of business, the Company makes various commitments and incurs certain contingent liabilities which are disclosed in the footnotes of our annual financial statements, including commitments to extend credit. At December 31, 2007, undisbursed credit lines, standby letters of credit and commitments to extend credit totaled $115,648,000.

 

Credit Policies and Administration. We have adopted a comprehensive lending policy, which includes stringent underwriting standards for all types of loans. Our lending staff follows pricing guidelines established periodically by our management team. In an effort to manage risk, all credit decisions in excess of the officers’ lending authority must be approved prior to funding by a management loan committee and/or a board of directors-level loan committee. Any loans above $2,000,000 require full board of directors’ approval. Management believes that it employs experienced lending officers, secures appropriate collateral and carefully monitors the financial conditions of our borrowers and the concentration of such loans in the portfolio.

 

In addition to the normal repayment risks, all loans in our portfolio are subject to the state of the economy and the related effects on the borrower and/or the real estate market. Generally, longer-term loans have periodic interest rate adjustments and/or call provisions. Our senior management monitors the loan portfolio closely to ensure that past due loans are minimized and that potential problem loans are swiftly dealt with. In addition to the internal business processes employed in the credit administration area, the Company utilizes an outside consulting firm to review the loan portfolio. A detailed annual review is performed, with an interim update occurring at least once a year. Results of the report are used to validate our internal loan ratings and to provide independent commentary on specific loans and loan administration activities.

 

Lending Limit. As of December 31, 2007, our legal lending limit for loans to one borrower was approximately $4,900,000. As part of our risk management strategy, we attempt to participate a portion of our larger loans to other financial institutions. This allows us to maintain customer relationships yet reduce credit exposure and stay within our legal lending limit.

 

Investments and Funding

 

We balance our liquidity needs based on loan and deposit growth via the investment portfolio, purchased federal funds, and Federal Home Loan Bank advances. It is our goal to provide adequate liquidity to support our loan growth. Should we have excess liquidity, investments are used to generate positive earnings. In the event deposit growth does not fully support our loan growth, a combination of investment sales, federal funds and Federal Home Loan Bank advances will be used to augment our funding position.

 

Our investment portfolio is actively monitored and is classified as “available for sale.” Under such a

 

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classification, investment instruments may be sold as deemed appropriate by management. On a monthly basis, the investment portfolio is marked to market via equity as required by SFAS 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Additionally, we use the investment portfolio to balance our asset and liability position. We will invest in fixed rate or floating rate instruments as necessary to reduce our interest rate risk exposure.

 

For securities classified as available-for-sale securities, we will evaluate whether a decline in fair value below the amortized cost basis is other than temporary. If the decline in fair value is judged to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the individual security is written down to fair value as a new cost basis and the amount of the write-down is included in earnings. There were no securities at December 31, 2007 where a decline in market value was considered other than temporary.

 

Competition

 

We encounter strong competition from other local commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage banking firms, consumer finance companies, securities brokerage firms, insurance companies, money market mutual funds and other financial institutions. A number of these competitors are well-established. Competition for loans is keen, and pricing is important. Most of our competitors have substantially greater resources and higher lending limits than ours and offer certain services, such as extensive and established branch networks and trust services, which we do not provide at the present time. Deposit competition also is strong, and we may have to pay higher interest rates to attract deposits. Nationwide banking institutions and their branches have increased competition in our markets, and federal legislation adopted in 1999 allows non-banking companies, such as insurance and investment firms, to establish or acquire banks.

 

The greater Richmond metropolitan market has experienced several significant mergers or acquisitions involving all four regional banks formerly headquartered in central Virginia over the past fifteen years. Additionally, other larger banks from outside Virginia have acquired local banks. We believe that the Company can capitalize on the recent merger activity and attract customers from those who are dissatisfied with the recently acquired banks.

 

At June 30, 2007, the latest date such information is available from the FDIC, the Bank’s deposit market share in Chesterfield County was 7.17%.

 

Effect of Adverse Economic Conditions

 

Our business may be adversely affected by periods of economic slowdown or recession which may be accompanied by decreased demand for consumer credit and declining real estate values. Any material decline in real estate values could have a significant adverse effect on the operations of the Company as 90.9% of our loan portfolio is collateralized by real estate. Declines in real estate values can reduce projected cash flows from commercial properties and the ability of borrowers to use home equity to support borrowings and increase the loan-to-value ratios of loans previously made by us, thereby weakening collateral coverage and increasing the possibility of a loss in the event of default. In addition, delinquencies, foreclosures and losses generally increase during economic slowdowns or recessions.

 

We anticipate the majority of our depositors will be located in and doing business in the local market and we will lend a substantial portion of our capital and deposits to individuals and businesses in this market area. Any factors adversely affecting the economy of this market could, in turn, adversely affect our performance.

 

Regulation

 

We are subject to regulations of certain federal and state agencies and receive periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities. As a consequence of the extensive regulation of

 

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commercial banking activities, our business is susceptible to being affected by state and federal legislation and regulations.

 

General. The discussion below is only a summary of the principal laws and regulations that comprise the regulatory framework applicable to us. The descriptions of these laws and regulations, as well as descriptions of laws and regulations contained elsewhere herein, do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to applicable laws and regulations. In recent years, regulatory compliance by financial institutions such as ours has placed a significant burden on us both in costs and employee time commitment.

 

Bank Holding Company. The Company is a bank holding company under the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and is subject to supervision and regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) and Virginia State Corporation Commission (“SCC”). As a bank holding company, the Company is required to furnish to the Federal Reserve Board an annual report of its operations at the end of each fiscal year and to furnish such additional information as the Federal Reserve Board may require pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act. The Federal Reserve Board, FDIC and SCC also may conduct examinations of the Company and/or its subsidiary bank.

 

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the ”Act”) draws new lines between the types of activities that are financial in nature and permitted for banking organizations, and those activities that are commercial in nature and not permitted. The Act imposes Community Reinvestment requirements on financial service organizations that seek to qualify for the expanded powers to engage in broader financial activities and affiliations with financial companies that are permitted.

 

The Act allows a financial holding company to own banks, insurance companies and securities firms. A financial holding company is authorized to engage in any activity that is financial in nature, incidental to an activity that is financial in nature, or is a complimentary activity. These activities may include insurance, securities transactions, and traditional banking activities. The Act establishes a consultative and cooperative procedure between the Federal Reserve and the Secretary of the Treasury for purposes of determination as to the scope of activities permitted by the Act.

 

A bank holding company must satisfy special criteria to qualify for the expanded powers authorized by the Act, including the maintenance of a well-capitalized and well-managed status for all affiliate banks and a satisfactory community reinvestment rating.

 

Bank Regulation. As a Virginia state-chartered FDIC bank that is not a member of the Federal Reserve System, the Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the SCC’s Bureau of Financial Institutions (“BFI”). The Bank is also subject to regulation, supervision and examination by the FDIC. Federal law also governs the activities in which we may engage, the investments we may make and the aggregate amount of loans that may be granted to one borrower. Various consumer and compliance laws and regulations also affect our operations. Earnings are affected by general economic conditions, management policies and the legislative and governmental actions of various regulatory authorities, including those referred to above. The following description summarizes some of the laws to which we are subject. The BFI and the FDIC will conduct regular examinations, reviewing such matters as the overall safety and soundness of the institution, the adequacy of loan loss reserves, quality of loans and investments, management practices, compliance with laws, and other aspects of their operations. In addition to these regular examinations, we must furnish the FDIC with periodic reports containing a full and accurate statement of our affairs. Supervision, regulation and examination of banks by these agencies are intended primarily for the protection of depositors rather than shareholders.

 

Insurance of Accounts, Assessments and Regulation by the FDIC. Our deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the limits set forth under applicable law, currently $100,000. Deposits are subject to the deposit insurance assessments of the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”) of the FDIC. The FDIC is authorized to prohibit any BIF-insured institution from engaging in any activity that the FDIC

 

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determines by regulation or order to pose a serious threat to the respective insurance fund. Also, the FDIC may initiate enforcement actions against banks, after first giving the institution’s primary regulatory authority an opportunity to take such action. The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any depository institution if it determines, after a hearing, that the institution has engaged or is engaging in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations, or has violated any applicable law, regulation, order or any condition imposed in writing by the FDIC. It also may suspend deposit insurance temporarily during the hearing process for the permanent termination of insurance if the institution has no tangible capital. If deposit insurance is terminated, the deposits at the institution at the time of termination, less subsequent withdrawals, shall continue to be insured for a period from six months to two years, as determined by the FDIC. We are aware of no existing circumstances that could result in termination of our deposit insurance.

 

Capital. The FDIC has issued risk-based and leverage capital guidelines applicable to banking organizations they supervise. Under the risk-based capital requirements, we are generally required to maintain a minimum ratio of total capital to risk-weighted assets (including certain off-balance sheet activities, such as standby letters of credit), of 8%. At least half of the total capital is to be composed of common equity, retained earnings and qualifying perpetual preferred stock, less certain intangibles (“Tier 1 capital”). The remainder may consist of certain subordinated debt, certain hybrid capital instruments and other qualifying preferred stock and a limited amount of the loan loss allowance (“Tier 2 capital” and, together with Tier 1 capital, “total capital”). In addition, each of the Federal bank regulatory agencies has established minimum leverage capital ratio requirements for banking organizations. These requirements provide for a minimum leverage ratio of Tier 1 capital to adjusted average quarterly assets equal to 4% for banks and bank holding companies that meet certain specified criteria. All other banks and bank holding companies will generally be required to maintain a leverage ratio of at least 100 to 200 basis points above the stated minimum. The risk-based capital standards of the FDIC explicitly identify concentrations of credit risk and the risk arising from non-traditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage these risks, as important factors to be taken into account by the agency in assessing an institution’s overall capital adequacy. The capital guidelines also provide that an institution’s exposure to a decline in the economic value of its capital due to changes in interest rates be considered by the agency as a factor in evaluating a bank’s capital adequacy.

 

Other Safety and Soundness Regulations. There are a number of obligations and restrictions imposed on depository institutions by federal law and regulatory policy that are designed to reduce potential loss exposure to the depositors of such depository institutions and to the FDIC insurance funds in the event the depository institution becomes in danger of default or is in default. The Federal banking agencies also have broad powers under current Federal law to take prompt corrective action to resolve problems of insured depository institutions. The extent of these powers depends upon whether the institution in question is well-capitalized, adequately capitalized, undercapitalized, significantly undercapitalized or critically undercapitalized, as defined by the law. Federal regulatory authorities also have broad enforcement powers over us, including the power to impose fines and other civil and criminal penalties, and to appoint a receiver in order to conserve the assets of any such institution for the benefit of depositors and other creditors. Village Bank is currently classified as an adequately capitalized financial institution.

 

Loans-to-One Borrower. Under applicable laws and regulations the amount of loans and extensions of credit which may be extended by a bank to any one borrower, including related entities, generally may not exceed 15% of the unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus of the institution. Loans in an amount equal to an additional 10% of unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus also may be made to a borrower if the loans are fully secured by readily marketable securities. An institution’s “unimpaired capital and unimpaired surplus” includes, among other things, the amount of its core capital and supplementary capital included in its total capital under Federal regulations.

 

Community Reinvestment. The requirements of the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) are

 

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applicable to the Company. The CRA imposes on financial institutions an affirmative and ongoing obligation to meet the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of those institutions. A financial institution’s efforts in meeting community credit needs currently are evaluated as part of the examination process pursuant to 12 assessment factors. These factors also are considered in evaluating mergers, acquisitions and applications to open a branch or facility.

 

Economic and Monetary Policies. Our operations are affected not only by general economic conditions, but also by the economic and monetary policies of various regulatory authorities. In particular, the Federal Reserve regulates money, credit and interest rates in order to influence general economic conditions. These policies have a significant influence on overall growth and distribution of loans, investments and deposits and affect interest rates charged on loans or paid for time and savings deposits. Federal Reserve monetary policies have had a significant effect on the operating results of commercial banks in the past and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2007, the Company and its subsidiaries had a total of 123 full-time employees and 7 part-time employees. None of the Company’s employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. The Company considers its relations with its employees to be good.

 

Dependence on Key Personnel

 

Our growth and development to date have been largely dependent upon the services of Thomas W. Winfree, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jack M. Robeson, Senior Vice President/Lending, Raymond E. Sanders, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, Dennis J. Falk, Senior Vice President/Lending and Administration and C. Harril Whitehurst, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The loss of the services of Messrs. Winfree, Robeson, Sanders, Falk or Whitehurst for any reason could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

 

Control by Certain Shareholders

 

The Company has one shareholder who owns 9.64% of its outstanding Common Stock. As a group, the Board of Directors and the Company’s Executive Officers control 20.91% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company as of March 1, 2008. Accordingly, such persons, if they were to act in concert, would not have majority control of the Bank and would not have the ability to approve certain fundamental corporate transactions or the election of the Board of Directors.

 

 

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ITEM 2 – DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

 

Our executive and administrative offices are located at 1231 Alverser Drive in Chesterfield County. We opened this office in November 2003. This office also houses our loan department. The two-story 8,000 square foot building, which has been substantially renovated, is owned by the bank. The cost of this building, including renovations and land, amounted to $1,205,000.

 

Our largest deposit branch office is located at 13531 Midlothian Turnpike in Chesterfield County. This was our initial office location and also housed our executive and administrative offices until the opening of the operations center on Alverser Drive. The building, which has been substantially renovated, is a two-story brick structure with a basement, consisting of approximately 3,500 square feet. It has five teller stations, three drive-up lanes and a drive-up ATM and night depository. Prior to December 31, 2002, this building was leased. It was purchased from our landlord on December 31, 2002 for $1,713,000.

 

We opened our second branch office at 6736 Southshore Drive at Route 360 (Hull Street Road) in Chesterfield County, in July 2002. The building is a one-story brick structure consisting of approximately 2,400 square feet. The branch location was purchased in June 2002 for $1,384,000. It has four teller stations, two drive-up lanes and a drive-up ATM and night depository.

 

We opened a third branch location at 4221 West Hundred Road in Chesterfield County, in April 2003. The building is a one-story brick structure with a basement consisting of approximately 1,800 square feet. It has four teller stations, one drive-up lane and a drive-up ATM and night depository. Initially this branch was leased for a term of five years commencing April 1, 2003 and ending March 31, 2008 for total lease payments of approximately $186,000 over the life of the lease. In December 2007, we purchased this branch for $450,000 and plan on spending another $100,000 in renovations in 2008.

 

We opened our fourth branch at 13521 Waterford Place in Chesterfield County, in October 2004 utilizing a mobile manufactured building which we purchased in April 2004 for $46,000. The permanent branch building, a one-story brick structure consisting of approximately 2,400 square feet, was completed in June 2005 and cost $955,000. It has three teller stations, two drive-up lanes and a drive-up ATM and night depository.

 

Our fifth branch, located at 6551 Centralia Road in Chesterfield County, opened in November 2005. The building is a one-story brick structure consisting of approximately 2,900 square feet. The branch is being leased for a term of eight years commencing November 19, 2005 and ending November 30, 2013 for total lease payments of approximately $672,000 over the life of the lease. It has five teller stations, two drive-up lanes and a drive-up ATM and night depository.

 

In March 2006 we opened our sixth office at 11450 Robious Road in Chesterfield County. We initially opened this branch with our mobile manufactured building and subsequently constructed a 2,400 square foot building that cost $1,860,000 and is owned by the Bank. This branch has three teller stations, two drive-up lanes, and a drive-up ATM and night depository.

 

Our seventh branch, located at 1650 Willow Lawn Drive in Henrico County, opened in May 2006. This was our first retail branch location outside Chesterfield County. The building is a three story brick structure. We lease the first floor consisting of approximately 3,000 square feet. The term of the lease is nine years commencing March 1, 2006 and ending February 28, 2016 with total lease payments of $842,000 over the life of the lease. It has four teller stations, three drive thru lanes, a drive-up ATM and night depository.

 

 

 

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Our eighth branch, located at 1793 South Creek One in Powhatan County, opened in December 2006. This was our first branch located in Powhatan County. This 2,400 square foot structure cost $1,452,000 and has three teller stations, two drive-up lanes, a drive-up ATM and night depository. In addition to three teller stations, the building has offices to support retail, commercial and mortgage company staff.

 

Our ninth branch, located at 1120 Huguenot Road, opened in June 2007. This branch was a relocation of the retail branch facility that was located in the administrative offices on Alverser Drive. The two story structure consists of 3,514 square feet with offices on both the first and second floors. Village Bank purchased the land and improvements for $786,300 and spent $175,000 remodeling the interior and exterior of the building. There is also a land lease on .56 acres used for additional parking. The annual lease expense on the land lease is $33,275.

 

Our tenth branch, located at 1401 Santa Rosa Road, opened in August 2007 and is our second branch located in Henrico County. This 2,400 square foot structure cost $1,370,000 and has three teller stations, two drive-up lanes, a drive-up ATM and night depository. In addition to three teller stations, the building has offices to support retail, commercial and mortgage company staff.

 

In 2008 we will complete the construction of a new 80,000 square foot headquarters building located in Chesterfield County at the intersection of Route 60 (Midlothian Turnpike) and Route 288. We will occupy approximately half of this space, which will include a retail branch facility, and lease the remainder. We are currently scheduled to move into this facility in July 2008. The cost of this building, including land, will be approximately $13.5 million. Through December 31, 2007, we have acquired the land for $1.7 million and made progress payments on the construction of the building of $5 million. We are currently negotiating a contract to sell our current principal office located at 1231 Alverser Drive, with closing on this sale to coincide with our move to the new building.

 

Our properties are maintained in good operating condition and are suitable and adequate for our operational needs.

 

 

ITEM 3 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

In the course of its operations, the Company may become a party to legal proceedings. There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which the property of the Company is subject.

 

 

ITEM 4 – SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report.

 

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5 – MARKET FOR COMMON EQUITY

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Market Price of and Cash Dividends on the Company’s Common Equity

 

Shares of the Company’s Common Stock trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “VBFC”. The high and low closing prices of shares of the Company’s Common Stock for the periods indicated were as follows:

 

 

 

At March 21, 2008, there were approximately 962 holders of record of Common Stock.

 

The Company has not paid any dividends on its Common Stock. We intend to retain all of our earnings to finance the Company’s operations and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Any decision made by the Board of Directors to declare dividends in the future will depend on the Company’s future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors deemed relevant by the Board. Banking regulations limit the amount of cash dividends that may be paid without prior approval of the Bank’s regulatory agencies. Such dividends are limited to the lesser of the Bank’s retained earnings or the net income of the previous two years combined with the current year net income.

 

The Company did not repurchase any of its Common Stock during the fourth quarter of 2007.

 

 

 

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ITEM 6 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OR PLAN OF OPERATION

 

Forward-looking statements

 

Certain information contained in this discussion may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by phrases such as “we expect,” “we believe” or words of similar import. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks including, but not limited to, the following factors:

 

 

Although we believe that our expectations with respect to the forward-looking statements are based upon reliable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no assurance that actual results, performance or achievements of the Company will not differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

 

General

 

The Company was organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia to engage in commercial and retail banking. The Bank opened to the public on December 13, 1999 as a traditional community bank offering deposit and loan services to individuals and businesses in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. During 2003, the Company acquired or formed three wholly owned subsidiaries of the Bank, Village Bank Mortgage Corporation (“Village Bank Mortgage”), a full service mortgage banking company, Village Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Village Insurance”), a full service property and casualty insurance agency, and Village Financial Services Corporation (“Village Financial Services”), a financial services company.

 

We offer a wide range of banking and related financial services, including checking, savings, certificates of deposit and other depository services, and commercial, real estate and consumer loans. We are a community-oriented and locally managed financial institution focusing on providing a high level of responsive and personalized services to our customers, delivered in the context of a strong direct relationship with our customers. We conduct our operations from our main office/corporate headquarters location and eight branch offices.

 

 

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The Company had earnings of $1,001,000 in 2007 as compared to earnings of $1,399,000 in 2006 and $1,231,000 in 2005. Pretax income for 2007 amounted to $1,517,000 compared to $2,102,000 in 2006 and $1,699,000 in 2005, representing a decrease of 28% in 2007 and an increase of 24% in 2006.

 

2007 was a challenging year for the banking industry and the economy as a whole. During the first half of the year, the cost of bank liabilities was increasing as long-term deposits were repricing at higher interest rates thus reducing net interest margins. Then in the latter half of 2007, the financial markets experienced significant turmoil due to the crash of the subprime mortgage loan market, with many banks recording significant write-downs of subprime mortgage loan related assets. As the mortgage market collapsed, home values, which had provided the fuel for consumer spending in recent years, declined and the potential for an economic recession became real. In reaction first to the mortgage market collapse and most recently to the real possibility of a recession, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve reduced short-term interest rates significantly in the last three months of 2007 and has continued to decrease rates in 2008.

 

These events have had an impact on our operations. On the positive side, it is important to note that we have never owned nor have we ever originated subprime mortgage loan product. We have no exposure to the collapse of this market, and, in fact, are confident that our asset quality continues to be strong. On the negative side, the decline in short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve negatively impacted our earnings in the fourth quarter of 2007 and will likely continue to depress our earnings in 2008. This negative impact on our earnings is a result of a significant portion of our loan portfolio, the primary source of revenue to Village Bank, having interest rates that adjust according to the direction of short-term interest rates. Accordingly, as short-term rates are reduced by the Federal Reserve, the income from our loan portfolio is reduced. While the reduction of short-term interest rates will also reduce the rates we pay on deposits, our largest expense, the reduction in interest rates paid on deposits will be slower than the reduction of interest rates on our loan portfolio as deposits generally do not reprice as quickly as loans. Consequently, our net interest income, the primary source of our earnings, will be negatively impacted as long as short-term interest rates continue to be reduced by the Federal Reserve.

 

Total assets increased to $393,264,000 at December 31, 2007 from $291,218,000 at December 31, 2006 and $214,975,000 at December 31, 2005. This represents a three year growth rate in total assets of 35%. This growth in total assets during the last three years resulted from the growth of our business and customer base and has been responsible for our continued earnings. However, this growth has been driven primarily by lending on real estate. Any material decline in real estate values could have a significant adverse effect on the future growth and profitability of the Company as 90.9% of our loan portfolio at December 31, 2007 is collateralized by real estate. Declines in real estate values can reduce projected cash flows from commercial properties and the ability of borrowers to use home equity to support borrowings and increase the loan-to-value ratios of loans previously made by us, thereby weakening collateral coverage and increasing the possibility of a loss in the event of default. In addition, delinquencies, foreclosures and losses generally increase during economic slowdowns or recessions.

 

The following presents management’s discussion and analysis of the financial condition of the Company at December 31, 2007 and 2006, and results of operations for the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited Financial Statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this report.

 

Asset/liability management

 

Management strives to manage the maturity or repricing match between assets and liabilities. The degree to which the Company is “mismatched” in its maturities is a primary measure of interest rate risk. In periods of stable interest rates, net interest income can be increased by financing higher yielding long-term mortgage loan assets with lower cost short-term deposits and borrowings. Although such a strategy may increase profits in the short run, it increases the risk of exposure to

 

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rising interest rates and can result in funding costs rising faster than asset yields. We expect to limit our interest rate risk by selling a majority of the fixed rate mortgage loans that we originate and retaining for the most part loans with adjustable rate features.

 

Contractual principal repayments of loans do not necessarily reflect the actual term of our loan portfolio. The average lives of mortgage loans are substantially less than their contractual terms because of loan prepayments and because of enforcement of due-on-sale clauses, which gives us the right to declare a loan immediately due and payable in the event, among other things, the borrower sells the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid. In addition, certain borrowers increase their equity in the security property by making payments in excess of those required under the terms of the mortgage.

 

Results of operations

 

We recorded net income of $1,001,000, or $0.37 per fully diluted share, in 2007, compared to net income of $1,399,000, or $0.59 per fully diluted share, in 2006, and $1,231,000, or $0.61 per fully diluted share, in 2005.

 

The continued success in our results of operations over the last three years is primarily attributable to the Company’s strong growth. Loans and deposits, the primary sources of income and expense for the Company, have grown as follows:

 

 

This growth in loans and deposits resulted in net interest income increasing from $7,048,000 in 2005, to $10,233,000 in 2006 and to $11,859,000 in 2007. As we continue to grow, we expect this trend of increasing net interest income to continue. However, as noted previously, our growth in net interest income was slowed in 2007 due to rising funding costs and declining asset yields in the latter part of the year. We expect this trend of a slowing increase in net interest income to continue in 2008 as asset yields decline faster than funding costs as the Federal Reserve continues to decrease short-term interest rates.

 

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Noninterest income increased to $2,667,000 in 2007 from $2,483,000 in 2006, an increase of $184,000, or 7%. This increase was attributable to increased service charges and fees on transactional deposit accounts as such deposits grew by $6,063,000, or 12%, in 2007. The growth in deposits is a result of the maturing of our branch network. Noninterest income declined to $2,483,000 in 2006 from $2,890,000 in 2005, a decline of $407,000, or 14%. This decline was primarily attributable to a decline in the profitability of Village Bank Mortgage. Gain on sale of loans, which is attributable Village Bank Mortgage’s operations, declined from $1,967,000 in 2005 to $1,519,000 in 2006, a decline of $448,000, or 23%. This decline occurred because rising interest rates as well as higher real estate values slowed the sale of homes and originations of loans to be sold.

 

Noninterest expense increased from $7,778,000 in 2005, to $9,817,000 in 2006 and to $11,821,000 in 2007. These increases in noninterest expense resulted primarily from the addition of new branches and the growth in the Company overall. The primary increase in noninterest expense over the last three years has come in salaries and benefits, which increased from $4,345,000 in 2005 to $5,728,000 in 2006, and to $6,843,000 in 2007. Other growth related increases were increases in occupancy of $219,000 and equipment of $143,000. Also contributing to the increase in 2007 were increases in the FDIC insurance premium of $109,000 and the franchise tax of $90,000.

 

Interest rate risk

 

Profitability may be directly affected by the levels of and fluctuations in interest rates, which affect our ability to earn a spread between interest received on loans and investments and the costs of deposits and borrowings. Our profitability is likely to be adversely affected during any period of unexpected or rapid changes in interest rates. For example, a substantial or sustained increase in interest rates could adversely affect our ability to originate loans and would reduce the value of loans held for sale.

 

The sale of fixed rate product is intended to protect the Company from precipitous changes in the general level of interest rates. The valuation of adjustable rate mortgage loans is not as directly dependent on the level of interest rates as is the value of fixed rate loans. Decisions to hold or sell adjustable rate mortgage loans are based on the need for such loans in our portfolio, which is influenced by the level of market interest rates and our asset/liability management strategy. As with our other investments, we regularly monitor the appropriateness of the level of adjustable rate mortgage loans in our portfolio and may decide from time to time to sell such loans and reinvest the proceeds in other adjustable rate investments.

 

Net interest income

 

Net interest income is our primary source of earnings and represents the difference between interest and fees earned on interest-earning assets and the interest paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The level of net interest income is affected primarily by variations in the volume and mix of those assets and liabilities, as well as changes in interest rates when compared to previous periods of operation.

 

Net interest income for 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $11,859,000, $10,233,000, and $7,048,000, respectively. The increases in net interest income of $1,626,000, or 16%, in 2007 and $3,185,000, or 45%, in 2006 are a direct result of increases in loans, from $238,498,000 at December 31, 2006 to $323,874,000 at December 31, 2007, an increase of $85,376,000, or 36%, and from $170,447,000 at December 31, 2005 to $238,498,000 at December 31, 2006, an increase of $68,051,000, or 40%. These increases in loans were funded primarily by increases in deposits. Net interest income in 2006 was also positively affected by an increase in our net interest margin from 4.15% in 2005 to 4.48% in 2006. However, our net interest margin declined to 3.80% in 2007 which had a negative impact on net interest income in 2007.

 

 

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Average interest-earning assets increased by $83,744,000, or 37%, in 2007 and by $58,753,000, or 35%, in 2006. These increases in interest-earning assets were due primarily to the growth of our loan portfolio. The average yield on interest-earning assets decreased to 8.22% in 2007 from 8.33% in 2006, but was still higher than the 7.03% in 2005. Many of our loans are indexed to short-term rates affected by the Federal Reserve's decisions about short-term interest rates, and, accordingly, as the Federal Reserve increases or decreases short-term rates, our interest margin is affected. As the Federal Reserve decreased interest rates in the latter half of 2007 the average yield on our interest-earning assets decreased. However, during 2005 and 2006 the Federal Reserve was increasing short-term interest rates which resulted in increased yields on our interest-earning assets.

 

Our average interest-bearing liabilities increased by $81,978,000, or 40%, in 2007 and by $50,976,000, or 34%, in 2006. These increases in interest-bearing liabilities were due primarily to strong growth in deposits of $75,640,000 in 2007 and $53,023,000 in 2006. The average cost of interest-bearing liabilities increased to 4.84% in 2007 from 4.33% in 2006 and 3.21% in 2005. This significant increase in our cost of funds over the last two years has had a detrimental affect on our profitability and is a result of increases of short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve in 2005 and 2006. As with our interest-earning assets, the recent declines in the short-term interest rates by the Federal Reserve will also reduce the interest rates we pay on interest-bearing liabilities, however, the reduction in interest rates on our interest-bearing liabilities will be slower than the reduction of interest rates on our interest-earning assets as the liabilities generally do not reprice as quickly as the assets. Consequently, our net interest income, the primary source of our earnings, will be negatively impacted as long as short-term interest rates continue to be reduced by the Federal Reserve. See “Interest rate sensitivity” on page 31 for further discussion of the repricing of assets and liabilities.

 

The following table illustrates average balances of total interest-earning assets and total interest-bearing liabilities for the periods indicated, showing the average distribution of assets, liabilities, shareholders' equity and related income, expense and corresponding weighted-average yields and rates. The average balances used in these tables and other statistical data were calculated using daily average balances. We have no tax exempt assets for the periods presented.

 

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Interest income and interest expense are affected by changes in both average interest rates and average volumes of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. The following table analyzes changes in net interest income attributable to changes in the volume of interest-sensitive assets and liabilities compared to changes in interest rates. Nonaccrual loans are included in average loans outstanding. The changes in interest due to both rate and volume have been allocated to changes due to volume and changes due to rate in proportion to the relationship of the absolute dollar amounts of the changes in each.

 

 

Provision for loan losses

 

The provision for loan losses for 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $1,187,000, $796,000, and $461,000, respectively. The increases of 49% in 2007 and 73% in 2006 are a result of a continued increase in gross loans outstanding. Gross loans increased by $86,386,000 in 2007 and $68,645,000 in 2006. The amount of the loan loss provision is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, the level of non-performing loans, historical loan loss experience, delinquency trends, the amount of actual losses charged to the reserve in a given period and assessment of present and anticipated economic conditions.

 

Noninterest income

 

Noninterest income includes service charges and fees on deposit accounts, fee income related to

 

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loan origination, and gains and losses on sale of mortgage loans and securities held for sale. Over the last three years the most significant noninterest income item has been gain on loan sales generated by Village Bank Mortgage, representing 68%, 61% and 57% of total noninterest income in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Noninterest income amounted to $2,890,000 in 2005, $2,483,000 in 2006 and $2,667,000 in 2007. The decrease in noninterest income in 2006 of $407,000 was primarily attributable to the ability of Village Bank Mortgage to generate gains on loan sales. Gains on loan sales decreased from $1,967,000 in 2005 to $1,519,000. In 2006, as interest rates continued to increase and real estate values escalated, the residential real estate market slowed down resulting in lower mortgage loan production by Village Bank Mortgage. The mortgage banking business tends to be cyclical and its profitability is dependent on the strength of the residential real estate market.

 

The increase in noninterest income in 2007 of $184,000 was attributable to increased service charges and fees on transactional deposit accounts as such deposits grew by $6,063,000, or 12%, in 2007. The growth in transactional deposits is a result of the maturing of our branch network.

 

Noninterest expense

 

Noninterest expense includes all expenses of the Company with the exception of interest expense on deposits and borrowings, provision for loan losses and income taxes. Some of the primary components of noninterest expense are salaries and benefits, and occupancy and equipment costs. Noninterest expense increased from $7,778,000 in 2005, to $9,817,000 in 2006 and to $11,821,000 in 2007. These increases in noninterest expense resulted from the addition of new branches and the growth in the Company overall. The primary increase in noninterest expense over the last three years has come in salaries and benefits, which increased from $4,345,000 in 2005 to $5,728,000 in 2006, and to $6,843,000 in 2007. Other growth related increases were increases in occupancy of $219,000 and equipment of $143,000. Also contributing to the increase in 2007 were increases in the FDIC insurance premium of $109,000 and the franchise tax of $90,000.

 

Income taxes

 

Tax expense amounted to $516,000, $703,000 and $468,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The $187,000 decline in income tax expense in 2007 was attributable to the lower taxable income in 2007. The $235,000 increase in 2006 was a result of higher taxable income in 2006 as well as a $118,000 reduction of tax expense in 2005 related to net operating loss carryforwards from prior years. The Company utilized all its net operating loss carryforwards at December 31, 2005.

 

Commercial banking organizations conducting business in Virginia are not subject to Virginia income taxes. Instead, they are subject to a franchise tax based on bank capital. The Bank recorded a franchise tax expense of $210,000, $122,000 and $120,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Loans

 

The following tables present the composition of our loan portfolio at the dates indicated and maturities of selected loans at December 31, 2007.

 

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Allowance for loan losses

 

The allowance for loan losses was $3,469,000, $2,553,000 and $1,931,000 at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The ratio of the allowance for loan losses to gross loans was 1.06% at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and 1.12% at December 31, 2005. The amount of the loan loss provision is determined by an evaluation of the level of loans outstanding, the level of non-performing loans, historical loan loss experience, delinquency trends, the amount of actual losses charged to the reserve in a given period and assessment of present and anticipated economic conditions. We believe the amount of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2007 is adequate to absorb the losses that can reasonably be anticipated from the loan portfolio at that date.

 

The following table presents an analysis of the changes in the allowance for loan losses for the periods indicated.

 

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We have allocated the allowance for loan losses according to the amount deemed to be reasonably necessary to provide for the possibility of losses being incurred within each of the categories of loans. The allocation of the allowance as shown in the table below should not be interpreted as an indication that losses in future years will occur in the same proportions or that the allocation indicates future loss trends. Furthermore, the portion allocated to each loan category is not the total amount available for future losses that might occur within such categories since the total allowance is a general allowance applicable to the entire portfolio.

 

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Asset quality

 

The following table summarizes asset quality information at the dates indicated:

 

 

Interest is accrued on outstanding loan principal balances, unless the Company considers collection to be doubtful. Commercial and unsecured consumer loans are designated as non-accrual when payment is delinquent 90 days or at the point which the Company considers collection doubtful, if earlier. Mortgage loans and most other types of consumer loans past due 90 days or more may remain on accrual status if management determines that concern over our ability to collect principal and interest is not significant. When loans are placed in non-accrual status, previously accrued and unpaid interest is reversed against interest income in the current period and interest is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash is received. Interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.

 

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At December 31, 2007, the Company had eleven loans totaling $959,000 which were considered impaired and have specific allowances for loan losses totaling $200,000. The gross interest income that would have been earned in 2007 if the loans classified as nonaccrual had been current in accordance with the original terms was $93,000. Sixteen loans totaling $1,219,000 at December 31, 2007 were past due 90 days or more and interest was still being accrued as such amounts were considered collectible.

 

Investment portfolio

 

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, all of our securities were classified as available-for-sale. The following table presents the composition of our investment portfolio at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

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Deposits

 

The following table gives the composition of our deposits at the dates indicated.

 

 

 

Total deposits increased by 34%, 36% and 33% in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

The variety of deposit accounts offered by the Company has allowed us to be competitive in obtaining funds and has allowed us to respond with flexibility to, although not to eliminate, the threat of disintermediation (the flow of funds away from depository institutions such as banking institutions into direct investment vehicles such as government and corporate securities). Our ability to attract and retain deposits, and our cost of funds, has been, and will continue to be, significantly affected by money market conditions.

 

The following table is a schedule of average balances and average rates paid for each deposit category for the periods presented:

 

 

 

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The following table is a schedule of maturities for time deposits of $100,000 or more at December 31, 2007.

 

 

 

Borrowings

 

We utilize borrowings to supplement deposits when they are available at a lower overall cost to us or they can be invested at a positive rate of return.

 

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (“FHLB”), the Bank is required to own capital stock in the FHLB and is authorized to apply for borrowings from the FHLB. Each FHLB credit program has its own interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, and range of maturities. The FHLB may prescribe the acceptable uses to which the advances may be put, as well as on the size of the advances and repayment provisions. Borrowings from the FHLB were $12,000,000 and $4,000,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006 respectively. The FHLB advances are secured by the pledge of residential mortgage loans and our FHLB stock. Available borrowings at December 31, 2007 were approximately $25 million.

 

Federal funds purchased represent unsecured borrowings from other banks and generally mature daily. We did not have any purchased federal funds at December 31, 2007 or 2006.

 

Contractual obligations and other commitments

 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financing needs of its customers and to reduce its own exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve elements of credit risk and interest rate risk in excess of the amount recognized in the consolidated balance sheets. The contractual amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of the Company’s involvement in particular classes of financial instruments.

 

The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the other party to the financial instruments for commitments to extend credit and letters of credit written is represented by the contractual amount of these instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for on-balance sheet instruments. Unless noted otherwise, the Company does not require collateral or other security to support financial instruments with credit risk.

 

Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a fee. Since many of the commitments may expire without being completely drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not necessarily represent future cash requirements.

 

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Capital resources

 

Stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2007 was $26,893,000, compared to $25,644,000 at December 31, 2006 and $17,152,000 at December 31, 2005. The $1,249,000 increase in equity during 2007 was due primarily to net income of $1,001,000 for 2007 and $192,000 in increase in the market value of investments. The $8,492,000 increase in equity during 2006 was due to net income of $1,399,000 for 2006 and proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $7,227,000. The proceeds from the issuance of stock was attributable to the exercise of stock warrants and related issuance of common stock discussed in Note 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and, to a much lesser extent, the exercise of stock options.

 

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company issued $5.2 million in Trust Preferred Capital Notes to increase its regulatory capital and to help fund its expected growth in 2005. During the third quarter of 2007, the Company issued $3.6 million in Trust Preferred Capital Notes to partially fund the construction of an 80,000 square foot headquarters building scheduled for completion in January 2008. The Trust Preferred Capital Notes may be included in Tier 1 capital for regulatory capital adequacy determination purposes up to 25% of Tier 1 capital after its inclusion. See Note 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of the Trust Preferred Capital Notes.

 

The following table presents the composition of regulatory capital and the capital ratios at the dates indicated.

 

 

Federal regulatory agencies are required by law to adopt regulations defining five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, under capitalized, significantly under capitalized, and critically

 

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under capitalized. The Bank meets the criteria to be categorized as an “adequately capitalized” institution as of December 31, 2007. Prior to June 30, 2007, the Bank met the criteria to be classified as a “well capitalized” institution. When capital falls below the “well capitalized” requirement, consequences can include: new branch approval could be withheld; more frequent examinations by the FDIC; brokered deposits cannot be renewed without a waiver from the FDIC; and other potential limitations as described in FDIC Rules and Regulations sections 337.6 and 303, and FDIC Act section 29. In addition, the FDIC insurance assessment increases when an institution falls below the “well capitalized” classification.

 

Liquidity

 

Liquidity provides us with the ability to meet normal deposit withdrawals, while also providing for the credit needs of customers. We are committed to maintaining liquidity at a level sufficient to protect depositors, provide for reasonable growth, and fully comply with all regulatory requirements.

 

At December 31, 2007, cash, cash equivalents and investment securities available-for-sale totaled $35,826,000, or 9.1% of total assets.

 

At December 31, 2007, we had commitments to originate $115,648,000 of loans. Fixed commitments to incur capital expenditures were $6,737,000 at December 31, 2007 and related to the completion of our 80,000 square foot headquarters building scheduled for completion in January 2008. Certificates of deposit scheduled to mature in the 12-month period ending December 31, 2008 total $195,856,000. We believe that a significant portion of such deposits will remain with us. We further believe that deposit growth, loan repayments and other sources of funds will be adequate to meet our foreseeable short-term and long-term liquidity needs.

 

Interest rate sensitivity

 

An important element of asset/liability management is the monitoring of our sensitivity to interest rate movements. In order to measure the effects of interest rates on our net interest income, management takes into consideration the expected cash flows from the securities and loan portfolios and the expected magnitude of the repricing of specific asset and liability categories. We evaluate interest sensitivity risk and then formulate guidelines to manage this risk based on management’s outlook regarding the economy, forecasted interest rate movements and other business factors. Our goal is to maximize and stabilize the net interest margin by limiting exposure to interest rate changes.

 

Contractual principal repayments of loans do not necessarily reflect the actual term of our loan portfolio. The average lives of mortgage loans are substantially less than their contractual terms because of loan prepayments and because of enforcement of due-on-sale clauses, which gives us the right to declare a loan immediately due and payable in the event, among other things, the borrower sells the real property subject to the mortgage and the loan is not repaid. In addition, certain borrowers increase their equity in the security property by making payments in excess of those required under the terms of the mortgage.

 

The sale of fixed rate loans is intended to protect us from precipitous changes in the general level of interest rates. The valuation of adjustable rate mortgage loans is not as directly dependent on the level of interest rates as is the value of fixed rate loans. As with other investments, we regularly monitor the appropriateness of the level of adjustable rate mortgage loans in our portfolio and may decide from time to time to sell such loans and reinvest the proceeds in other adjustable rate investments.

 

The data in the following table reflects repricing or expected maturities of various assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007. The gap analysis represents the difference between interest-sensitive assets and liabilities in a specific time interval. Interest sensitivity gap analysis presents a

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position that existed at one particular point in time, and assumes that assets and liabilities with similar repricing characteristics will reprice at the same time and to the same degree.

 

 

 

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At December 31, 2007, our liabilities that reprice within one year exceeded assets that reprice within one year by $10,462,000 and therefore we were in a liability-sensitive position. A negative gap can adversely affect earnings in periods of increasing interest rates. This negative position is due primarily to the short maturity of certificates of deposit.

 

Critical accounting policies

 

The financial condition and results of operations presented in the financial statements, accompanying notes to the financial statements and management's discussion and analysis are, to a large degree, dependent upon the Company's accounting policies. The selection and application of these accounting policies involve judgments, estimates, and uncertainties that are susceptible to change.

 

Presented below is discussion of those accounting policies that management believes are the most important accounting policies to the portrayal and understanding of our financial condition and results of operations. These critical accounting policies require management's most difficult, subjective and complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain. In the event that different assumptions or conditions were to prevail, and depending upon the severity of such changes, the possibility of materially different financial condition or results of operations is a reasonable likelihood. See also Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

We monitor and maintain an allowance for loan losses to absorb an estimate of probable losses inherent in our loan portfolio. We maintain policies and procedures that address the systems of controls over the following areas of maintenance of the allowance: the systematic methodology used to determine the appropriate level of the allowance to provide assurance they are maintained in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; the accounting policies for loan charge-offs and recoveries; the assessment and measurement of impairment in the loan and lease portfolio; and the loan grading system.

 

We evaluate various loans individually for impairment as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 114, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan, and SFAS 118, Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosures. Loans evaluated individually for impairment include non-performing loans, such as loans on non-accrual, loans past due by 90 days or more, restructured loans and other loans selected by management. The evaluations are based upon discounted expected cash flows or collateral valuations. If the evaluation shows that a loan is individually impaired, then a specific reserve is established for the amount of impairment. If a loan evaluated individually is not impaired, then the loan is assessed for impairment under SFAS 5, Accounting for Contingencies, with a group of loans that have similar characteristics.

 

For loans without individual measures of impairment, we make estimates of losses for groups of loans as required by SFAS 5. Loans are grouped by similar characteristics, including the type of loan, the assigned loan classification and the general collateral type. A loss rate reflecting the expected loss inherent in a group of loans is derived based upon estimates of default rates for a given loan grade, the predominant collateral type for the group and the terms of the loan. The resulting estimate of losses for groups of loans is adjusted for relevant environmental factors and other conditions of the portfolio of loans and leases, including: borrower and industry concentrations; levels and trends in delinquencies, charge-offs and recoveries; changes in underwriting standards and risk selection; level of experience, ability and depth of lending management; and national and local economic conditions.

 

The amount of estimated impairment for individually evaluated loans and groups of loans is added together for a total estimate of loan losses. This estimate of losses is compared to our allowance for loan losses as of the evaluation date and, if the estimate of losses is greater than the allowance, an additional provision to the allowance would be made. If the estimate of losses is less than the

 

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allowance, the degree to which the allowance exceeds the estimate is evaluated to determine whether the allowance falls outside a range of estimates. If the estimate of losses is below the range of reasonable estimates, the allowance would be reduced by way of a credit to the provision for loan losses. We recognize the inherent imprecision in estimates of losses due to various uncertainties and variability related to the factors used, and therefore a reasonable range around the estimate of losses is derived and used to ascertain whether the allowance is too high. If different assumptions or conditions were to prevail and it is determined that the allowance is not adequate to absorb the new estimate of probable losses, an additional provision for loan losses would be made, which amount may be material to the Financial Statements.

 

New accounting standards

 

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141(R), Business Combinations, to further enhance the accounting and financial reporting related to business combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination (1) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, (2) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (3) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Therefore, the effects of the Corporation’s adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will depend upon the extent and magnitude of acquisitions after December 31, 2008.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. The Statement does not require any new fair value measurements and was initially effective for the Corporation beginning January 1, 2008. In February 2008, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2. FSP FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 until January 1, 2009 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities except those items recognized or disclosed at fair value on an annual or more frequently recurring basis. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This Statement permits entities to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. For items for which the fair value option has been elected, unrealized gains and losses are to be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs, may be applied instrument by instrument, with a few exceptions, and applies only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. SFAS No. 159 provides an opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the Corporation beginning January 1, 2008. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51, to create accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require (1) the ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent to be clearly identified and presented in the

 

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consolidated balance sheet within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity, (2) the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest to be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income, (3) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary to be accounted for consistently, (4) when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary to be initially measured at fair value, and (5) entities to provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 applies to fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and prohibits early adoption. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

 

Impact of inflation and changing prices

 

The financial statements in this document have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, which require the measurement of financial position and operating results in terms of historical dollars, without consideration of changes in the relative purchasing power of money over time due to inflation.

 

Unlike industrial companies, most of the assets and liabilities of a financial institution are monetary in nature. As a result, interest rates have a more significant impact on a financial institution’s performance than the effects of general levels of inflation. Interest rates do not necessarily move in the same direction or in the same magnitude as the price of goods and services, since such prices are affected by inflation.

 

 

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ITEM 7 – FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Audited Financial Statements

 

The following 2007 Financial Statements of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. are included after the signature pages:

 

 

 

 

ITEM 8 – CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 8A – CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Based upon that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Company’s management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the evaluation of it that occurred during the Company’s last fiscal quarter that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL

CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Internal control is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Management regularly monitors its internal control over financial reporting and takes appropriate action to correct any deficiencies that may be identified.

Management assessed the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. This assessment was based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Further, because of changes in conditions, internal control effectiveness may vary over time.

This annual report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this annual report.

 

 

 

 

ITEM 8B – OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 9 – DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, PROMOTERS, CONTROL PERSONS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E(3) of Form 10-KSB, the information required to be disclosed in this Item 9 is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 10 – EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E(3) of Form 10-KSB, the information required to be disclosed in this Item 10 is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

ITEM 11 – SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E(3) of Form 10-KSB, the information required to be disclosed in this Item 11 is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

ITEM 12 – CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E(3) of Form 10-KSB, the information required to be disclosed in this Item 12 is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

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ITEM 13 – EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit

 

_____________________________

* Management contracts and compensatory plans and arrangements.

 

 

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ITEM 14 – PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Pursuant to General Instruction E(3) of Form 10-KSB, the information required to be disclosed in this Item 14 is contained in the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINANCIAL CORP.

 

 

Thomas W. Winfree

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

Board of Directors

Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp.

Midlothian, Virginia

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and Subsidiary as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

 

 

 

 

Richmond, Virginia

March 17, 2008

 

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Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and Subsidiary

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

 

 

The accounting and reporting policies of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and subsidiary (the “Company”) conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and to general practice within the banking industry. The following is a description of the more significant of those policies:

 

Business

The Company is the holding company of and successor to the Village Bank (the ”Bank”). Effective April 30, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of the Bank in a statutory share exchange transaction. In the transaction, the shares of the Bank’s common stock were exchanged for shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $4.00 per share (“Common Stock”), on a one-for-one basis. As a result, the Bank became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, the Company became the holding company for the Bank and the shareholders of the Bank became shareholders of the Company. All references to the Company in this annual report for dates or periods prior to April 30, 2004 are references to the Bank.

 

The Bank opened to the public on December 13, 1999 as a traditional community bank offering deposit and loan services to individuals and businesses in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. During 2003, the Bank acquired or formed three wholly owned subsidiaries, Village Bank Mortgage Corporation (“Village Mortgage”), a full service mortgage banking company, Village Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Village Insurance”), a full service property and casualty insurance agency, and Village Financial Services Corporation (“Village Financial Services”), a financial services company. Through these subsidiaries, the Bank provides a broad array of financial services to its customers.

 

The Company is subject to intense competition from existing bank holding companies, commercial banks and savings banks which have been in business for many years and have established customer bases. Competition also comes from a variety of other non-bank businesses that offer financial services. Many of these competitors operate in the same geographic market where the Company operates, are well-known with long-standing relationships with businesses and individuals in the communities, and are substantially larger with greater resources than the Company.

 

The Bank is also subject to regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergoes periodic examinations by those regulatory authorities. As a consequence of the extensive regulation of commercial banking activities, the Bank’s business is susceptible to being affected by state and federal legislation and regulations.

 

The majority of the Company’s real estate loans are collateralized by properties in markets in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Accordingly, the ultimate collectibility of those loans collateralized by real estate is particularly susceptible to changes in market conditions in the Richmond area.

 

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, the Bank and the Bank’s subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Use of estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent

 

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assets and liabilities as of the dates of the statements of financial condition and revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates. A material estimate that is particularly susceptible to significant change in the near term relates to the determination of the allowance for loan losses.

 

Investment securities

At the time of purchase, debt securities are classified into the following categories: held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading. Debt securities that the Company has both the positive intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held-to-maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on purchase using a method that approximates the effective interest method. Investments classified as trading or available-for-sale are stated at fair market value. Changes in fair value of trading investments are included in current earnings while changes in fair value of available-for-sale investments are excluded from current earnings and reported, net of taxes, as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Presently, the Company does not maintain a portfolio of trading securities.

 

A decline in the market value of any available-for-sale or held-to-maturity security below cost that is deemed other than temporary results in a charge to earnings and the corresponding establishment of a new cost basis for the security. No such declines have occurred.

 

Interest income is recognized when earned. Realized gains and losses for securities classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity are included in earnings and are derived using the specific identification method for determining the cost of securities sold.

 

Loans held for sale

The Company, through the Bank’s mortgage banking subsidiary, Village Bank Mortgage, originates residential mortgage loans for sale in the secondary market. Mortgage loans originated and intended for sale in the secondary market are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value on an individual loan basis as determined by outstanding commitments from investors or current investor yield requirements for loans of similar quality and type. The Company requires a firm purchase commitment from a permanent investor before a loan can be closed, thus limiting interest rate risk. Net unrealized losses, if any, are recognized through a valuation allowance by charges to income.

 

Residential mortgage loans held for sale are sold to the permanent investor with the mortgage servicing rights released. Gains or losses on sales of mortgage loans are recognized based on the difference between the selling price and the carrying value of the related mortgage loans sold. This difference arises primarily as a result of the value of the mortgage servicing rights.

 

Once a residential mortgage loan is sold to a permanent investor, the Company has no further involvement or retained interest in the loan. There are limited circumstances in which the permanent investor can contractually require the Company to repurchase the loan. The Company makes no provision for any such recourse related to loans sold as history has shown repurchase of loans under these circumstances has been remote.

 

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Rate lock commitments

The Company, through the Bank’s mortgage banking subsidiary, Village Bank Mortgage, enters into commitments to originate residential mortgage loans in which the interest rate on the loan is determined prior to funding, termed rate lock commitments. Such rate lock commitments on mortgage loans to be sold in the secondary market are considered to be derivatives and must be accounted for as such. The period of time between issuance of a loan commitment and closing and sale of the loan generally ranges from 30 to 120 days. The Company protects itself from changes in interest rates during this period by requiring a firm purchase agreement from a permanent investor before a loan can be closed. As a result, the Company is not exposed to losses nor will it realize gains or losses related to its rate lock commitments due to changes in interest rates.

 

Loans

Loans are stated at the principal amount outstanding, net of unearned income. Loan origination fees and certain direct loan origination costs are deferred and amortized to interest income over the life of the loan as an adjustment to the loan’s yield over the term of the loan.

 

Interest is accrued on outstanding principal balances, unless the Company considers collection to be doubtful. Commercial and unsecured consumer loans are designated as non-accrual when payment is delinquent 90 days or at the point which the Company considers collection doubtful, if earlier. Mortgage loans and most other types of consumer loans past due 90 days or more may remain on accrual status if management determines that concern over our ability to collect principal and interest is not significant. When loans are placed in non-accrual status, previously accrued and unpaid interest is reversed against interest income in the current period and interest is subsequently recognized only to the extent cash is received. Interest accruals are resumed on such loans only when in the judgment of management, the loans are estimated to be fully collectible as to both principal and interest.

 

Allowance for loan losses

The allowance for loan losses is maintained at a level considered adequate to provide for losses that can reasonably be anticipated. The allowance is increased by provisions charged to operations and reduced by net charge-offs. Loan performance is reviewed regularly by loan officers and senior management. Management believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate to absorb losses in the loan portfolio.

 

The allowance for loan losses is established by charges to operations based on management’s evaluation of loans, economic conditions and other factors considered necessary to maintain the allowance at a level adequate to absorb possible losses. When collateral is considered in determining potential losses, fair value is based upon recent appraisals and evaluations of other factors. The allowance for loan losses is based on estimates and ultimate losses may vary from the current estimates. These estimates are reviewed periodically and adjusted as necessary. In addition, the Bank’s regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance for possible loan losses. Such agencies may require the Bank to recognize additions to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

 

In addition, the Company evaluates its loans for impairment. A loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all principal and interest amounts according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. The entire loan portfolio is regularly reviewed by management to identify impaired loans. Such review includes the maintenance of a current classified and criticized loan list and the regular reporting of delinquent loans to management.

 

The allowance for loan losses related to loans identified as impaired is primarily based on the excess of the loan’s current outstanding principal balance over the estimated fair market value of the related collateral. For impaired loans that are not collateral dependent, the allowance for loan losses is recorded at the amount by which the outstanding recorded principal balance exceeds the current

 

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best estimate of the future cash flows on the loan, discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate.

 

Premises and equipment

Land is carried at cost. Premises and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation of buildings and improvements is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets of 39 years. Depreciation of equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from 3 to 7 years. Amortization of premises (leasehold improvements) is computed using the straight-line method over the term of the lease or estimated lives of the improvements, whichever is shorter.

 

Goodwill

Goodwill, which represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired, is evaluated at least annually for impairment by comparing its fair value with its recorded amount and is written down when appropriate. Projected net operating cash flows are compared to the carrying amount of the goodwill recorded and if the estimated net operating cash flows are less than the carrying amount, a loss is recognized to reduce the carrying amount to fair value.

 

Income taxes

Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of “temporary differences” by applying enacted tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. The effect on recorded deferred income taxes of a change in tax laws or rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. To the extent that available evidence about the future raises doubt about the realization of a deferred income tax asset, a valuation allowance is established. The primary temporary differences are the allowance for loan losses and depreciation and amortization.

 

Consolidated statements of cash flows

For purposes of reporting cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, due from banks (including cash items in process of collection), interest-bearing deposits with banks and federal funds sold. Generally, federal funds are purchased and sold for one-day periods. Cash flows from loans originated by the Bank and deposits are reported net. The Company paid interest of $13,649,000, $8,578,000 and $4,831,000 in 2007, 2006, and 2005, respectively. The Company paid income taxes of $800,400, $986,000 and $482,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Comprehensive income

SFAS 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, established standards for reporting and display of comprehensive income, its components and accumulated balances. Comprehensive income is defined to include all changes in equity except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Among other disclosures, SFAS 130 requires that all items that are required to be recognized under current accounting standards as components of comprehensive income be reported in a financial statement that is displayed with the same prominence as other financial statements.

 

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Earnings per common share

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing the net earnings by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period, which totaled 2,569,529, 2,269,092 and 1,800,061 during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could share in the net earnings of the Company. Outstanding options and warrants to purchase Common Stock (see Notes 12 and 13) were considered in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the years presented. For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the weighted average number of common shares on a fully diluted basis totaled 2,695,010, 2,368,686 and 2,010,152, respectively.

 

Stock warrant and incentive plans

On March 21, 2000, the Company approved the Organizational Investors Warrant Plan which made available 140,000 warrants for grant to the Company’s initial (organizational) investors for certain risks associated with the establishment of the Bank. The warrants have an exercise price of $10 per share (which approximated the fair value per share of common stock at issuance date) and expire in April 2008. At December 31, 2007, 140,000 warrants had been issued and 2,500 had been exercised.

 

In September and October 2002, the Company completed an offering of units, each of which consisted of one share of its common stock and one warrant to purchase one share of its common stock, through the sale of 817,200 units at a price of $8.50 per unit. Proceeds to the Company from the offering (net of offering expenses of $624,000) were $6,322,000. The share of common stock and warrant that comprised each unit traded together for 45 days after the offering, but subsequently traded separately. The Company also issued 40,860 warrants to the underwriter of the offering. Each warrant entitled the holder to purchase one share of common stock, at a price of $10.20 per share, at any time through September 27, 2007, unless the warrants were cancelled. The warrants could be cancelled after December 31, 2003 by the Company in whole or in part upon 30 days’ written notice if for 20 or more trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days, including the last day of the period, the bid price of the stock exceeds $12.75 per share. On April 26, 2006, the Company announced that it would be canceling these warrants effective June 13, 2006 under this provision of the agreement covering the warrants and, on June 13, 2006, the warrants that were not exercised following this announcement were canceled. The exercise of warrants subject to cancellation resulted in the issuance of 672,638 shares of common stock and the addition of $6,860,908 in capital in the second quarter of 2006.

 

The Company has a stock incentive plan which authorizes the issuance of up to 455,000 shares of common stock (increased from 255,000 shares by amendment to the Incentive Plan approved by the Company’s shareholders at its 2006 annual meeting on May 23, 2006) to assist the Company in recruiting and retaining key personnel. See Note 13 for more information on the stock incentive plan.

 

Fair values of financial instruments

The Bank uses the following methods and assumptions in estimating fair values of financial instruments (see Note 16):

 

Cash and cash equivalents – The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.

 

Investment securities – The fair value of investment securities held-to-maturity and available-for-sale is estimated based on bid quotations received from independent pricing services. The carrying amount of other investments approximates fair value.

 

Loans – For variable rate loans that reprice frequently and have no significant change in credit risk, fair values are based on carrying values. For all other loans, fair values are calculated by discounting the contractual cash flows using estimated market discount rates which reflect the credit and interest rate risk inherent in the loans, or by using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.

 

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Deposits – The fair value of deposits with no stated maturity, such as demand, interest checking and money market, and savings accounts, is equal to the amount payable on demand at year-end. The fair value of certificates of deposit is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows using the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.

 

Borrowings – The fair value of FHLB borrowings is based on the discounted value of contractual cash flows using the rates currently offered for borrowings of similar remaining maturities. The carrying amounts of federal funds purchased approximate their fair values. Other borrowings are short-term in nature and the carrying amounts approximate fair value.

 

Accrued interest – The carrying amounts of accrued interest receivable and payable approximate fair value.

 

Off-balance-sheet instruments – The fair value of off-balance-sheet lending commitments is equal to the amount of commitments outstanding at December 31, 2007. This is based on the fact that the Bank generally does not offer lending commitments or standby letters of credit to its customers for long periods, and therefore, the underlying rates of the commitments approximate market rates.

 

New accounting pronouncements

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141(R), Business Combinations, to further enhance the accounting and financial reporting related to business combinations. SFAS No. 141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer in a business combination (1) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, (2) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase, and (3) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) applies prospectively to business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2008. Therefore, the effects of the Corporation’s adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) will depend upon the extent and magnitude of acquisitions after December 31, 2008.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements. This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies to other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, the Board having previously concluded in those accounting pronouncements that fair value is the relevant measurement attribute. The Statement does not require any new fair value measurements and was initially effective for the Corporation beginning January 1, 2008. In February 2008, the FASB approved the issuance of FASB Staff Position (FSP) FAS 157-2. FSP FAS 157-2 defers the effective date of SFAS No. 157 until January 1, 2009 for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities except those items recognized or disclosed at fair value on an annual or more frequently recurring basis. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. This Statement permits entities to choose to measure eligible items at fair value at specified election dates. For items for which the fair value option has been elected, unrealized gains and losses are to be reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. The fair value option is irrevocable unless a new election date occurs, may be applied instrument by instrument, with a few exceptions, and applies only to entire instruments and not to portions of instruments. SFAS No. 159 provides an opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting. SFAS No. 159 is effective for the Corporation beginning January 1, 2008. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial

 

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position.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51, to create accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. SFAS No. 160 establishes accounting and reporting standards that require (1) the ownership interest in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent to be clearly identified and presented in the consolidated balance sheet within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity, (2) the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest to be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of income, (3) changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains its controlling financial interest in its subsidiary to be accounted for consistently, (4) when a subsidiary is deconsolidated, any retained noncontrolling equity investment in the former subsidiary to be initially measured at fair value, and (5) entities to provide sufficient disclosures that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the noncontrolling owners. SFAS No. 160 applies to fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and prohibits early adoption. Management has not completed its review of the new guidance; however, the effect of the Statement’s implementation is not expected to be material to the Corporation’s results of operations or financial position.

 

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Note 2.        Investment securities available-for-sale

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

 

 

 

Investment securities with book values of $1,989,011 and $1,597,316 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, were pledged to secure municipal deposits.

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair value of investment securities available-for-sale as of December 31, 2007, by contractual maturity, are as follows:

 

 

 

During 2007 and 2006, investment securities available-for-sale totaling $22,641,000 and $15,631,000 respectively, were called or matured with no net losses.

 

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Note 3.        Loans

 

Loans classified by type as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

 

 

Gross gains on the sale of loans totaling approximately $1,513,000, $1,519,000 and $1,967,000 were realized during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Sixteen loans totaling $1,219,000 at December 31, 2007 were past due 90 days or more yet interest was still being accrued.

 

The following is a summary of loans directly or indirectly with executive officers or directors of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

Executive officers and directors also had unused credit lines totaling $4,012,000 and $4,982,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. All loans and credit lines to executive officers and directors were made in the ordinary course of business at the Company’s normal credit terms, including interest rate and collateralization prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with other persons.

 

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Note 4.        Allowance for loan losses

 

Activity in the allowance for loan losses in 2007, 2006 and 2005 was as follows:

 

 

As of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company had impaired loans of $959,000, $1,242,000 and $731,000, respectively, which were on nonaccrual status. These loans had valuation allowances of $200,000, $160,000 and $223,000 as of December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company does not record interest income on impaired loans. Interest income that would have been recorded had impaired loans been performing would have been $93,000, $77,000 and $91,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

 

The following is a summary of premises and equipment as of December 31, 2007 and 2006:

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of premises and equipment for 2007, 2006 and 2005 amounted to $673,000, $478,000 and $333,000 respectively.

 

Fixed commitments to incur capital expenditures were $6,737,000 at December 31, 2007 and related to the completion of our 80,000 square foot headquarters building scheduled for completion in July 2008.

 

 

The Bank is owner and designated beneficiary on life insurance policies in the face amount of $16,498,000 covering certain of its directors and executive officers. The earnings from these policies are used to offset expenses related to retirement plans. The cash surrender value of these policies at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $3,991,000 and $2,608,000, respectively, and was included in other assets.

 

 

Deposits as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

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The following are the scheduled maturities of time deposits as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

Deposits held at the Company by related parties, which include officers, directors, greater than 5% shareholders and companies in which directors of the Board have a significant ownership interest, approximated $2,437,000 and $2,138,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

 

The Company uses both short-term and long-term borrowings to supplement deposits when they are available at a lower overall cost to the Company or they can be invested at a positive rate of return.

 

On September 12, 2007, the Company entered into a promissory note payable to Community Bankers’ Bank for $11,000,000 bearing interest at thirty day LIBOR plus 2.375% and maturing September 12, 2009. Interest on any outstanding balance is paid monthly with principal due at maturity. Proceeds advanced under the promissory note will be used to finance the construction of the Company’s new principal administrative offices in Chesterfield County to be completed in July 2008. Until the building is placed in service, interest paid on amounts outstanding under the promissory note will be capitalized as part of the cost of the building. At December 31, 2007, $2,836,090 was outstanding on the promissory note and interest paid and capitalized was $17,052.

 

As a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta, the Bank is required to own capital stock in the FHLB and is authorized to apply for advances from the FHLB. Each FHLB credit program has its own interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, and range of maturities. The FHLB may prescribe the acceptable uses to which the advances may be put, as well as on the size of the advances and repayment provisions. The FHLB borrowings are secured by the pledge of U.S. Government agency securities, FHLB stock and qualified single family first mortgage loans. The FHLB advances held at December 31, 2007 mature $2,000,000 on March 11, 2008 and $10,000,000 on June 28, 2008.

 

The Company uses federal funds purchased for short-term borrowing needs. Federal funds purchased represent unsecured borrowings from other banks and generally mature daily.

 

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Information related to borrowings is as follows:

 

 

 

 

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Note 9.        Income taxes

 

The following summarizes the tax effects of temporary differences which compose net deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

The income tax expense (benefit) charged to operations for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 consists of the following:

 

 

 

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A reconciliation of income taxes computed at the federal statutory income tax rate to total income taxes is as follows for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005:

 

 

 

Commercial banking organizations conducting business in Virginia are not subject to Virginia income taxes. Instead, they are subject to a franchise tax based on bank capital. The Company recorded franchise tax expense of $122,000, $120,000 and $116,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

 

Certain premises and equipment are leased under various operating leases. Total rent expense charged to operations was $406,000, $348,000 and $235,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. At December 31, 2007, the minimum total rental commitment under such non-cancelable operating leases was as follows:

 

 

 

 

The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course of business to meet the financial needs of its customers. These financial instruments include commitments to extend credit and standby letters of credit. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit and interest-rate risk in excess of the amounts recognized in the financial statements. The contract amounts of these instruments reflect the extent of involvement that the Company has in particular classes of instruments.

 

The Company’s exposure to credit loss in the event of non-performance by the other party to the financial instrument for commitments to extend credit, and to potential credit loss associated with letters of credit issued, is represented by the contractual amount of those instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and conditional obligations as it does for loans and other such on-balance sheet instruments.

 

At December 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding the following approximate off-balance-sheet financial instruments whose contract amounts represent credit risk:

 

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Commitments to extend credit are agreements to lend to a customer as long as there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates or other termination clauses and may require the payment of a fee. Historically, many commitments expire without being drawn upon; therefore, the total commitment amounts shown in the above table are not necessarily indicative of future cash requirements. The Company evaluates each customer’s creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis. The amount of collateral obtained, as deemed necessary by the Company upon extension of credit, is based on management’s credit evaluation of the customer. Collateral held varies but may include personal or income-producing commercial real estate, accounts receivable, inventory and equipment.

 

Concentrations of credit risk – All of the Company’s loans, commitments to extend credit, and standby letters of credit have been granted to customers in the Company’s market area. Although the Company is building a diversified loan portfolio, a substantial portion of its clients’ ability to honor contracts is reliant upon the economic stability of the Richmond, Virginia area, including the real estate markets in the area. The concentrations of credit by type of loan are set forth in Note 3. The distribution of commitments to extend credit approximates the distribution of loans outstanding.

 

 

In September and October 2002, the Company completed an offering of its common stock through the sale of 817,200 shares at a price of $8.50 per share. Proceeds to the Company from the offering (net of offering expenses of $624,000) were $6,322,000. Attached to each share was a warrant to purchase one share of common stock, at a price of $10.20 per share, at any time through September 27, 2007, unless the warrants are cancelled. The warrants may be cancelled after December 31, 2003 by the Company in whole or in part upon 30 days’ written notice if for 20 or more trading days within any period of 30 consecutive trading days, including the last day of the period, the bid price of the stock exceeds $12.75 per share. The Company also issued 40,860 warrants to the underwriter of the offering. On April 26, 2006, the Company announced that it would be cancelling these warrants effective June 13, 2006 under this provision of the agreement covering the warrants and, on June 13, 2006, the warrants that were not exercised following this announcement were canceled. The cancellation of the common stock warrants resulted in the issuance of 672,638 shares of common stock and the addition of $6,860,908 in capital in the second quarter of 2006.

 

The Organizational Investors Warrant Plan made available 140,000 warrants for grant to the Company’s initial (organizational) investors for certain risks associated with the establishment of the Bank. The warrants have an exercise price of $10 per share (which approximates the fair value per share of common stock at issuance date) and expire in April 2008. At December 31, 2007, 140,000 warrants had been issued and 2,500 had been exercised.

 

The Bank is subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal and state banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory, and possible additional discretionary, actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on the Bank’s financial statements. Under the capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, the Bank must meet specific capital guidelines

 

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that involve quantitative measures of the Bank’s assets, liabilities, and certain off-balance-sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. The Bank’s capital amounts and classification are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings, and other factors.

 

Quantitative measures are established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require the Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios (set forth in the table below) of total and Tier 1 Capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 Capital to average assets (the Leverage ratio). Management believes that as of December 31, 2007, the Bank meets all capital adequacy requirements to which it is subject.

 

Federal regulatory agencies are required by law to adopt regulations defining five capital tiers: well capitalized, adequately capitalized, under capitalized, significantly under capitalized, and critically under capitalized. The Bank meets the criteria to be categorized as an “adequately capitalized” institution as of December 31, 2007. Prior to June 30, 2007, the Bank met the criteria to be classified as a “well capitalized” institution. When capital falls below the “well capitalized” requirement, consequences can include: new branch approval could be withheld; more frequent examinations by the FDIC; brokered deposits cannot be renewed without a waiver from the FDIC; and other potential limitations as described in FDIC Rules and Regulations sections 337.6 and 303, and FDIC Act section 29. In addition, the FDIC insurance assessment increases when an institution falls below the “well capitalized” classification.

 

The capital amounts and ratios at December 31, 2007 and 2006 for the Company and the Bank are presented in the table below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In addition, banking regulations limit the amount of cash dividends that may be paid without prior approval of the Bank’s regulatory agencies. Such dividends are limited to the lesser of the Bank’s retained earnings or the net income of the previous two years combined with the current year net income.

 

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Note 13.      Stock incentive plan

 

Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company applied Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), in accounting for stock options granted to employees and directors pursuant to the Incentive Plan. Under APB 25, compensation expense was determined based upon the fair value of the awards at the grant date consistent with the method under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS 123”), and the impact of this expense on net income and earnings per share was disclosed in the notes to financial statements. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (Revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” issued in December 2004, a revision of SFAS 123, and superseding APB 25, and its related implementation guidance. SFAS 123 (Revised 2004) requires an entity to measure the cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the award (with limited exceptions). That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award rather than disclosed in the financial statements. During the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company granted 1,000 and 16,500 stock options, respectively, the expense of which was not material to the results of operations for the periods then ended.

 

The following table summarizes options outstanding under the stock incentive plan at the indicated dates:

 

 

 

The fair value of each option granted is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Sholes option pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants for the years indicated:

 

 

 

 

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The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2007:

 

 

During the first quarter of 2007, the Company granted to certain officers 5,725 restricted shares of common stock and 5,725 performance shares of common stock with a weighted average fair market value of $15.95 at the date of grant. During the second quarter an additional 175 restricted shares of common stock and 175 performance shares of common stock were granted with a weighted average fair market value of $16.75 at the date of grant. These restricted stock awards have three-year graded vesting and the performance shares cliff vest at the end of three years. The number of performance shares that ultimately vest is dependent upon achieving specific performance targets. Prior to vesting, these shares are subject to forfeiture to us without consideration upon termination of employment under certain circumstances. The total number of shares underlying non-vested restricted stock and performance share awards was 11,800 at December 31, 2007.

 

Stock-based compensation expense was $59,735 and $23,007 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Unamortized stock-based compensation related to nonvested share based compensation arrangements granted under the Incentive Plan as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $228,527 and $92,133, respectively. Of the $228,527 of unamortized compensation at December 31, 2007, $94,245 relates to performance based restricted stock awards. The time based unamortized compensation of $134,282 is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.8 years. The total fair value of shares vested during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $59,735, $23,007 and $202,834, respectively. There were no stock option forfeitures in 2007 or 2006.

 

 

During the first quarter of 2005, Southern Community Financial Capital Trust I, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, was formed for the purpose of issuing redeemable securities. On February 24, 2005, $5.2 million of Trust Preferred Capital Notes were issued through a pooled underwriting. The securities have a LIBOR-indexed floating rate of interest (three-month LIBOR plus 2.15%) which adjusts, and is payable, quarterly. The interest rate was 7.14% and 7.51% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The securities may be redeemed at par beginning on March 15, 2010 and each quarter after such date until the securities mature on March 15, 2035. The principal asset of the Trust is $5.2 million of the Company’s junior subordinated debt securities with like maturities and like interest rates to the Trust Preferred Capital Notes.

 

During the third quarter of 2007, Village Financial Statutory Trust II, a wholly –owned subsidiary of the Company, was formed for the purpose of issuing redeemable securities. On September 20, 2007, $3.6 million of Trust Preferred Capital Notes were issued through a pooled underwriting. The securities have a five year fixed interest rate of 6.29% payable quarterly, converting after five years to a LIBOR-indexed floating rate of interest (three-month LIBOR plus 1.4%) which adjusts and is also payable quarterly. The securities may be redeemed at par at any time commencing in December 2012 until the securities mature in 2037. The principal asset of the Trust is $3.6 million of the Company’s junior subordinated securities with like maturities and like interest rates to the Trust Preferred Capital Notes.

 

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The Trust Preferred Capital Notes may be included in Tier 1 capital for regulatory capital adequacy determination purposes up to 25% of Tier 1 capital after its inclusion. The portion of the Trust Preferred Capital Notes not considered as Tier 1 capital may be included in Tier 2 capital.

 

The obligations of the Company with respect to the issuance of the Trust Preferred Capital Notes constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the Trust’s obligations with respect to the Trust Preferred Capital Notes. Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Company may elect from time to time to defer interest payments on the junior subordinated debt securities, which would result in a deferral of distribution payments on the related Trust Preferred Capital Notes and require a deferral of common dividends.

 

 

401K Plan: The Bank provides a qualified 401K plan to all eligible employees which is administered through the Virginia Bankers Association Benefits Corporation. Employees are eligible to participate in the plan after three months of employment. Eligible employees may, subject to statutory limitations, contribute a portion of their salary to the plan through payroll deduction. The Bank provides a matching contribution of $.50 for every $1.00 the participant contributes up to the first 4% of their salary. Participants are fully vested in their own contributions and vest equally over three years of service in the Bank’s matching contributions. Total contributions to the plan for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 were $98,705, $76,591 and $48,228, respectively.

 

Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan: The Bank established the Village Bank Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP”) on January 1, 2005 to provide supplemental retirement income to certain executive officers as designated by the Personnel Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The SERP is an unfunded employee pension plan under the provisions of ERISA. An eligible employee, once designated by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors in writing to participate in the SERP, becomes a participant in the SERP 60 days following such approval (unless an earlier participation date is approved). There are currently four executive officers who participate in the SERP. The retirement benefit to be received by a participant is determined by the Committee and approved by the Board of Directors and is payable in equal monthly installments over a 15 year period, commencing on the first day of the month following a participant’s retirement or termination of employment, provided the participant has been employed by the Bank for a minimum of 10 years (6 years in the case of one participant). The Personnel Committee, in its sole discretion, may choose to treat a participant who has experienced a termination of employment on or after attaining age 65 but prior to completing his service requirement as having completed his service requirement. The costs associated with this plan are offset by earnings attributable to the Bank’s purchase of Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) on the lives of the participants. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Bank’s liability under the SERP was $216,421 and $49,925, respectively, and expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was to $166,495, $30,263 and $14,920, respectively. The increase in cash surrender value of the BOLI related to the participants was $62,410, $35,909 and $32,240 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Directors’ Deferral Plan: The Bank established the Village Bank Outside Directors Deferral Plan (the “Directors Deferral Plan”) on January 1, 2005 under which non-employee Directors of Village Bank have the opportunity to defer receipt of all or a portion of certain compensation until retirement or departure from the Board of Directors. Deferral of compensation under the Directors Deferral Plan is voluntary by non-employee Directors and to participate in the plan a director must file a deferral election as provided in the plan. A Director shall become an active participant with respect to a plan year (as defined in the plan) only if he is expected to have compensation during the plan year and he timely files a deferral election. A separate account is established for each participant in the plan and each account shall, in addition to compensation deferred at the election of the participant, be credited with interest on the balance of the account, the rate of such interest to be established by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion at the beginning of each plan year. The costs associated with this plan are partially offset by earnings attributable to the Bank’s purchase of

 

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Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”) on the lives of the participants. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Bank’s liability under the Directors Deferral Plan was $180,913 and $106,361, respectively, and expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $74,607, $53,946 and $57,268, respectively. The increase in cash surrender value of the BOLI related to the participants was $20,378, $16,554 and $18,054 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

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Note 16.      Fair values of financial instruments

 

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 are as follows:

 

 

 

 

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Note 17.      Parent corporation only financial statements

 

 

 

 

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Condensed quarterly financial data is shown as follows:

 

 

 

On March 9, 2008, Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. and Village Bank entered into a definitive merger agreement with River City Bank (“River City”) whereby River City will merge with and into Village Bank in a transaction valued at approximately $20.2 million payable in cash and common stock. Under terms of the merger agreement, which was approved by the Board of Directors of both companies, shareholders of River City will be entitled to receive for each share of River City common stock owned, $11.00 in cash or 1 share of Village Bank and Trust Financial Corp. common stock, subject to proration of 20% cash and 80% common stock if either cash or common stock is oversubscribed. It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed in the third quarter of 2008, pending regulatory approval and approval of the shareholders of both companies.

 

 

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