WAFD INC - Quarter Report: 2008 December (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2008

or

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 0-25454

WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

425 Pike Street Seattle, Washington 98101

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

(206) 624-7930

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer  x            Accelerated filer  ¨             Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

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

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

(UNAUDITED)

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

SEE NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(UNAUDITED)

NOTE A – Basis of Presentation

The consolidated unaudited interim financial statements included in this report have been prepared by Washington Federal, Inc. (“Company”). The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation are reflected in the interim financial statements. The September 30, 2008 Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition was derived from audited financial statements.

The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K (“2008 Form 10-K”) as filed with the SEC. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

References to Net Income in this document refer to Net Income Available to Common Shareholders.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the financial statements to conform prior periods to current classifications.

NOTE B – Preferred Stock Issuance

On November 14, 2008, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement with the United States Department of the Treasury (“Treasury”) to participate in the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company issued and sold to the Treasury (i) 200,000 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, and (ii) a warrant to purchase 1,707,456 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $1.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price for both the preferred stock and warrants of $200 million in cash. The Preferred Stock qualifies as Tier 1 capital and will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years, and 9% per annum thereafter.

NOTE C – Dividends

On January 16, 2009 the Company paid its 104^th consecutive quarterly cash dividend on common stock. Dividends per share were $.05 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared to $.21 for the same period one year ago.

NOTE D – Comprehensive Income

The Company’s comprehensive income includes all items which comprise net income plus the unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities. Total comprehensive income for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 totaled $52,973,000 and $41,313,000, respectively. The difference between the Company’s net income and total comprehensive income for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 was $32,804,000, which equals the change in the net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities of $51,865,000, less tax of $19,061,000.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(UNAUDITED)

NOTE E – Allowance for Losses on Loans

The following table summarizes the activity in the allowance for loan losses for the quarters ended December 31, 2008 and 2007:

Provision for Loan Losses: The Company recorded a $35,000,000 provision for loan losses during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, while a $1,000,000 provision was recorded for the same quarter one year ago. Non-performing assets amounted to $305,066,000 or 2.44% of total assets at December 31, 2008 compared to $39,741,000 or .38% of total assets one year ago. The Company had net charge-offs of $15,223,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with $150,000 of net charge-offs for the same quarter one year ago. This significant increase in the provision for loan losses is in response to three primary factors: first, the overall deterioration in the housing market in general in the Company’s eight western state territory, second, the significant increase in the combined balance of non-performing assets in our land A&D and speculative construction portfolios, and finally, the material increase in net charge-offs for the quarter. Management expects the provision to remain at elevated levels until non-performing assets and charge-offs improve.

NOTE F – New Accounting Pronouncement

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”). This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement establishes a fair value hierarchy for the assumptions used to measure fair value and clarifies assumptions about risk and the effect of a restriction on the sale or use of an asset. No additional fair value measurements are required under this statement. The Company adopted this statement effective October 1, 2008. See Note G for disclosures related to the adoption of this statement.

NOTE G – Fair Value Measurements

As discussed in Note F, SFAS 157 defines fair value as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

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

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

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(UNAUDITED)

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

The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used to measure and report fair value of financial assets and liabilities on a recurring or nonrecurring basis:

Measured on a Recurring Basis

Securities

Securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value is determined with quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active and other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data (Level 2).

The following table presents the balance of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2008:

Measured on a Nonrecurring Basis

Impaired Loans

From time to time, and on a nonrecurring basis, fair value adjustments to collateral dependent loans are recorded to reflect write-downs of principal balances based on the current appraised or estimated value of the collateral. This new estimated fair value is net of anticipated selling costs.

REO

Real estate owned consists principally of properties acquired through foreclosure and are carried at the lower of cost or estimated fair value less anticipated selling costs.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

QUARTERS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

(UNAUDITED)

The following table presents the balance of assets measured at estimated fair value on a nonrecurring basis during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, and the total losses resulting from these fair value adjustments for the quarter ended December 31, 2008:

There were no material liabilities carried at fair value, measured on a recurring or nonrecurring basis, at December 31, 2008.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

In addition to historical information, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes certain “forward-looking statements,” as defined in the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, based on current management expectations. Actual results could differ materially from those management expectations. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s intentions, beliefs or current expectations as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Stockholders and potential stockholders are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause future results to vary from current management expectations include, but are not limited to: general economic conditions; legislative and regulatory changes; monetary fiscal policies of the federal government; changes in tax policies; rates and regulations of federal, state and local tax authorities; changes in interest rates; deposit flows; cost of funds; demand for loan products; demand for financial services; competition; changes in the quality or composition of the Company’s loan and investment portfolios; changes in accounting principles; policies or guidelines and other economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and fees. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time.

GENERAL

Washington Federal, Inc. (“Company”) is a savings and loan holding company. The Company’s primary operating subsidiary is Washington Federal Savings.

INTEREST RATE RISK

The Company assumes a high level of interest rate risk as a result of its policy to originate and hold for investment fixed-rate single-family home loans, which are longer-term in nature than the short-term characteristics of its liabilities of customer accounts and borrowed money. At December 31, 2008, the Company had a negative one-year maturity gap of approximately 37% of total assets, an increase from the 34% negative one-year gap as of September 30, 2008. This increase was primarily due to two factors: first, $300,000,000 of borrowings are now within one year of maturity; as of September 30, 2008, these same borrowings had maturities of over one year, and second, there was an increase in short-term borrowings as the Company took advantage of reduced short-term borrowing rates.

The interest rate spread increased to 2.91% at December 31, 2008 from 2.85% at September 30, 2008. The spread increased primarily because of a general decrease in rates on customer deposits. Since the Federal Reserve began decreasing short-term rates in September 2007, market rates for short-term deposits have fallen. As a result, deposits are repricing to lower rates, which contributes to an increasing spread.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

As of December 31, 2008, the weighted average rates on earning assets decreased by 15 basis points since September 30, 2008, while the weighted average rates on customer accounts and borrowings decreased by 21 basis points over the same period. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had grown total assets by $725,458,000, or 6.1%, from $11,796,425,000 at September 30, 2008, by deploying funds obtained through lower cost short-term deposits and borrowings, as well as the $200,000,000 of CPP funds (see Note B above). For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, cash and cash equivalents increased $70,445,000, or 85.3%, loans increased $133,814,000, or 1.41%, and investment securities increased $501,861,000, or 31.4%. Cash and cash equivalents of $153,045,000 and stockholders’ equity of $1,581,707,000 provides management with flexibility in managing interest rate risk.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

The Company’s net worth at December 31, 2008 was $1,581,707,000, or 12.63% of total assets. This was an increase of $249,033,000 from September 30, 2008 when net worth was $1,332,674,000, or 11.30% of total assets. The increase in the Company’s net worth included $200,000,000 from the issuance of preferred stock and a related warrant to purchase common stock to the U.S. Treasury (see Note B for further discussion). The increase also included $20,169,000 from net income and a $32,804,000 increase in accumulated other comprehensive income as a result of a net increase in market value of the Company’s available-for-sale investments. The vast majority of the Company’s available for sale investments are fixed rate. As a result of market interest rates decreasing, the value of fixed rate investments generally increased. Net worth was reduced by $4,553,000 of cash dividend payments.

Management believes this strong net worth position will help the Company manage its interest rate risk and enable it to compete more effectively for controlled growth through acquisitions, de novo expansion and increased customer deposits. To be categorized as well capitalized, Washington Federal Savings must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. During the quarter the Company reduced its quarterly cash dividend on common stock from $.21 to $.05 to conserve capital due to deterioration in the housing market and general economic conditions.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

CHANGES IN FINANCIAL CONDITION

Available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities: Available-for-sale securities increased $504,663,000, or 34.2%, during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, which included the purchase of $489,454,000 of available-for-sale investment securities. During the same period there were no sales of available-for-sale securities, nor were there any purchases or sales of held-to-maturity securities. As of December 31, 2008, the Company had net unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities of $35,276,000, net of tax, which were recorded as part of stockholders’ equity. The Company increased its investment portfolio to protect against a potential refinancing surge resulting from historically low mortgage rates, which were influenced by US government participation in the mortgage-backed securities market.

Loans receivable: During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the balance of loans receivable increased 1.4% to $9,635,434,000 compared to $9,501,620,000 at September 30, 2008. This growth is consistent with management’s strategy to grow the loan portfolio to mitigate the decreasing weighted average rates on earning assets. If the current low rates on 30 year fixed-rate mortgages persists, management will consider shrinking its loan portfolio. The following table shows the loan portfolio by category for the last three quarters.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

Loan Portfolio by Category

(In thousands)

Non-performing assets: Non-performing assets increased significantly during the quarter ended December 31, 2008 to $305,006,000 from $164,191,000 at September 30, 2008, an 85.8% increase. A disproportionate share of our non-performing assets come from the land A&D and speculative construction portfolios. These assets have seen the largest declines in value in our loan portfolio. The overall increase in our non-performing assets is attributable to the weakening economy and housing market throughout our eight state branch network. Non-performing assets as a percentage of total assets was 2.44% at December 31, 2008 compared to 1.39% at September 30, 2008. During the last ten and twenty years the Company’s average ratio of non-performing assets to total assets was .40% and .49%, respectfully. While our non-performing assets have increased significantly over the last 3 months based on current conditions in the real estate marketplace, the Company anticipates non-performing assets will continue to increase in the future until the residential real estate market stabilizes and values recover.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

The following table sets forth information regarding restructured and nonaccrual loans and REO held by the Company at the dates indicated.

In addition to the nonaccrual loans reflected in the above table, at December 31, 2008, the Company had $173,666,000 of loans that were less than 90 days delinquent but which it had classified as substandard for one or more reasons. If these loans were deemed non-performing, the Company’s ratio of total non-performing assets and restructured loans as a percent of total assets would have increased to 3.92% at December 31, 2008.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

Allocation of the allowance for loan losses: The following table shows the allocation of the Company’s allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

Customer accounts: Customer accounts increased $115,204,000, or 1.6%, to $7,284,743,000 at December 31, 2008 compared with $7,169,539,000 at September 30, 2008. The following table shows the composition of our customer accounts as of the dates shown:

Deposits by Type

(In thousands)

FHLB advances and other borrowings: Total borrowings increased $367,718,000, or 11.6%, to $3,543,626,000 at December 31, 2008 compared with $3,175,908,000 at September 30, 2008. Total short-term borrowings (due within 30 days) at December 31, 2008 were $650,000,000 compared with $377,000,000 at September 30, 2008. See Interest Rate Risk on page 10.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net Income: The quarter ended December 31, 2008, produced net income of $20,169,000 compared to $33,048,000 for the same quarter one year ago, a 39.0% decrease. The decrease for the quarter resulted primarily from the significant increase in the provision for loan losses.

Net Interest Income: The largest component of the Company’s earnings is net interest income, which is the difference between the interest and dividends earned on loans and other investments and the interest paid on customer deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is impacted primarily by two factors; first, the volume of earning assets and liabilities and second, the rate earned on those assets or the rate paid on those liabilities.

The following table sets forth certain information explaining changes in interest income and interest expense for the periods indicated compared to the same periods one year ago. For each category of interest-earning asset and interest-bearing liability, information is provided on changes attributable to (1) changes in volume (changes in volume multiplied by old rate) and (2) changes in rate (changes in rate multiplied by old volume). The change in interest income and interest expense attributable to changes in both volume and rate has been allocated proportionately to the change due to volume and the change due to rate.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

Rate / Volume Analysis:

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

Provision for Loan Losses: The Company recorded a $35,000,000 provision for loan losses during the quarter ended December 31, 2008, while a $1,000,000 provision was recorded for the same quarter one year ago. Non-performing assets amounted to $305,066,000 or 2.44% of total assets at December 31, 2008 compared to $39,741,000 or .38% of total assets one year ago. The Company had net charge-offs of $15,223,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2008 compared with $150,000 of net charge-offs for the same quarter one year ago. This significant increase in the provision for loan losses is in response to three primary factors: first, the overall deterioration in the housing market in general in the Company’s eight western state territory, second, the significant increase in the combined balance of non-performing assets in our land A&D and speculative construction portfolios, and finally, the material increase in net charge-offs for the quarter. Management expects the provision to remain at elevated levels until non-performing assets and charge-offs improve.

The Company’s believes that higher non-performing assets and charge-offs may continue going forward until the housing market and general economic conditions begin to recover.

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WASHINGTON FEDERAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I – Financial Information

The following table analyzes the Company’s allowance for loan losses at the dates indicated.