WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION - Annual Report: 2020 (Form 10-K)

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements about Westamerica Bancorporation for which it claims the protection of the safe harbor provisions contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) projections of revenues, expenses, future credit quality and performance, the appropriateness of the allowance for credit losses, loan growth or reduction, mitigation of risk in the Company’s loan and investment securities portfolios, income or loss, earnings or loss per share, the payment or nonpayment of dividends, capital structure and other financial items; (ii) statements of plans, objectives and expectations of the Company or its management or board of directors, including those relating to products or services; (iii) statements of future economic performance; and (iv) statements of assumptions underlying such statements.  Words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", “estimates”, "intends", "targeted", "projected", “forecast”, "continue", "remain", "will", "should", "may" and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on Management’s current knowledge and belief and include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future financial condition and results of operations. A number of factors, some of which are beyond the Company’s ability to predict or control, could cause future results to differ materially from those contemplated. These factors include but are not limited to (1) the length and severity of any difficulties in the global, national and California economies and the effects of government efforts to address those difficulties; (2) liquidity levels in capital markets; (3) fluctuations in asset prices including, but not limited to stocks, bonds, real estate, and commodities; (4) the effect of acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses; (5) economic uncertainty created by riots, terrorist threats and attacks on the United States, the actions taken in response, and the uncertain effect of these events on the local, regional and national economies; (6) changes in the interest rate environment; (7) changes in the regulatory environment; (8) competitive pressure in the banking industry; (9) operational risks including a failure or breach in data processing or security systems or those of third party vendors and other service providers, including as a result of cyber attacks or fraud; (10) volatility of interest rate sensitive loans, deposits and investments; (11) asset/liability management risks and liquidity risks; (12) the effect of natural disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, fire, flood, drought, and other disasters, on the uninsured value of the Company’s assets and of loan collateral, the financial condition of debtors and issuers of investment securities, the economic conditions affecting the Company’s market place, and commodities and asset values; (13) changes in the securities markets; (14) the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and governmental responses to the pandemic; and (15) the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings. However, the reader should not consider the above-mentioned factors to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this report to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date forward looking statements are made, except as may be required by law. The reader is directed to Part II – Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this report and other risk factors discussed elsewhere in this report, for further discussion of factors which could affect the Company's business and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made in this report.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS 

Westamerica Bancorporation (the “Company”) is a bank holding company registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (“BHCA”). Its legal headquarters are located at 1108 Fifth Avenue, San Rafael, California 94901. Its principal administrative offices are located at 4550 Mangels Boulevard, Fairfield, California 94534 and its telephone number is (707) 863-6000. The Company provides a full range of banking services to individual and commercial customers in Northern and Central California through its subsidiary bank, Westamerica Bank (“WAB” or the “Bank”). The principal communities served are located in Northern and Central California, from Mendocino, Lake and Nevada Counties in the north to Kern County in the south. The Company’s strategic focus is on the banking needs of small businesses. In addition, the Bank owns 100% of the capital stock of Community Banker Services Corporation (“CBSC”), a company engaged in providing the Company and its subsidiaries with data processing services and other support functions.

The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of California in 1972 as “Independent Bankshares Corporation” pursuant to a plan of reorganization among three previously unaffiliated Northern California banks. The Company operated as a multi-bank holding company until mid-1983, at which time the then six subsidiary banks were merged into a single bank named Westamerica Bank and the name of the holding company was changed to Westamerica Bancorporation.

The Company acquired five banks within its immediate market area during the early to mid 1990’s. In April 1997, the Company acquired ValliCorp Holdings, Inc., parent company of ValliWide Bank, the largest independent bank holding company headquartered in Central California. Under the terms of all of the merger agreements, the Company issued shares of its common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of the acquired institutions. The subsidiary banks acquired were merged with and into WAB. These six  aforementioned business combinations were accounted for as poolings-of-interests.

During the period 2000 through 2005, the Company acquired three additional banks. These acquisitions were accounted for using the purchase accounting method.

On February 6, 2009, Westamerica Bank acquired the banking operations of County Bank (“County”) from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). On August 20, 2010, Westamerica Bank acquired assets and assumed liabilities of the former Sonoma Valley Bank (“Sonoma”) from the FDIC. The County and Sonoma acquired assets and assumed liabilities were measured at estimated fair values, as required by FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations.

At December 31, 2020, the Company had consolidated assets of approximately $6.7 billion, deposits of approximately $5.7 billion and shareholders’ equity of approximately $845 million.

The Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports as well as beneficial ownership reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5 are available through the SEC’s website (https://www.sec.gov). Such documents as well as the Company’s director, officer and employee Code of Conduct and Ethics are also available free of charge from the Company by request to:

Westamerica Bancorporation

Corporate Secretary A-2M

Post Office Box 1200

Suisun City, California 94585-1200

Human Capital Resources

The Company and its subsidiaries employed 712 full-time equivalent staff (or 578 full-time employees and 189 part-term and on-call employees) as of December 31, 2020. The employees are not represented by a collective bargaining unit, and the Company believes its relationship with its employees is good.

The Company’s ability to attract and retain employees is a key to its success. Employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, sick time, company contributions of up to 6% to qualified retirement plans, discretionary profit-sharing retirement plan contributions, and other health and wellness benefits including participation in Company paid or subsidized medical, dental, term-life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), long-term disability, and employee assistance programs.  Certain employees participate in one of the Company’s performance-based incentive programs, which may include additional bonus and incentive compensation, company contributions to supplemental retirement plans, and equity-based awards. Certain benefits are subject to eligibility, vesting, and performance requirements.  Employee performance is measured at least quarterly and formal performance evaluations are conducted at least annually.

The Company’s code of ethics prohibits discrimination or harassment.  The Company requires all employees to agree to the code of ethics and participate in harassment prevention training annually. 

Supervision and Regulation

The following is not intended to be an exhaustive description of the statutes and regulations applicable to the Company’s or the Bank’s business. The description of statutory and regulatory provisions is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory or regulatory provisions. Moreover, major new legislation and other regulatory changes affecting the Company, the Bank, and the financial services industry in general have occurred in the last several years and can be expected to occur in the future. The nature, timing and impact of new and amended laws and regulations cannot be accurately predicted.

Regulation and Supervision of Bank Holding Companies 

The Company is a bank holding company subject to the BHCA. The Company reports to, is registered with, and may be examined by, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”). The FRB also has the authority to examine the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company is a bank holding company within the meaning of Section 3700 of the California Financial Code. As such, the Company and the Bank are subject to examination by, and may be required to file reports with, the Commissioner of the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (the “Commissioner”).

The FRB has significant supervisory and regulatory authority over the Company and its affiliates. The FRB requires the Company to maintain certain levels of capital. See “Capital Standards.” The FRB also has the authority to take enforcement action against any bank holding company that commits any unsafe or unsound practice, or violates certain laws, regulations or conditions imposed in writing by the FRB. Under the BHCA, the Company is required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB before it acquires, merges or consolidates with any bank or bank holding company. Any company seeking to acquire, merge or consolidate with the Company also would be required to obtain the prior approval of the FRB.

The Company is generally prohibited under the BHCA from acquiring ownership or control of more than 5% of any class of voting shares of any company that is not a bank or bank holding company and from engaging directly or indirectly in activities other than banking, managing banks, or providing services to affiliates of the holding company. However, a bank holding company, with the approval of the FRB, may engage, or acquire the voting shares of companies engaged, in activities that the FRB has determined to be closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks. A bank holding company must demonstrate that the benefits to the public of the proposed activity will outweigh the possible adverse effects associated with such activity.

The FRB generally prohibits a bank holding company from declaring or paying a cash dividend that would impose undue pressure on the capital of subsidiary banks or would be funded only through borrowing or other arrangements which might adversely affect a bank holding company’s financial position. Under the FRB policy, a bank holding company should not continue its existing rate of cash dividends on its common stock unless its net income is sufficient to fully fund each dividend and its prospective rate of earnings retention appears consistent with its capital needs, asset quality and overall financial condition. See the section entitled “Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions” for additional restrictions on the ability of the Company and the Bank to pay dividends.

Transactions between the Company and the Bank are restricted under Regulation W. The regulation codifies prior interpretations of the FRB and its staff under Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act. In general, subject to certain specified exemptions, a bank or its subsidiaries are limited in their ability to engage in “covered transactions” with affiliates: (a) to an amount equal to 10% of the bank’s capital and surplus, in the case of covered transactions with any one affiliate; and (b) to an amount equal to 20% of the bank’s capital and surplus, in the case of covered transactions with all affiliates. The Company is considered to be an affiliate of the Bank. A “covered transaction” includes, among other things, a loan or extension of credit to an affiliate; a purchase of securities issued by an affiliate; a purchase of assets from an affiliate, with some exceptions; and the issuance of a guarantee, acceptance or letter of credit on behalf of an affiliate.

Federal regulations governing bank holding companies and change in bank control (Regulation Y) provide for a streamlined and expedited review process for bank acquisition proposals submitted by well-run bank holding companies. These provisions of Regulation Y are subject to numerous qualifications, limitations and restrictions. In order for a bank holding company to qualify as “well-run,” both it and the insured depository institutions which it controls must meet the “well capitalized” and “well managed” criteria set forth in Regulation Y.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the “GLBA”), or the Financial Services Act of 1999, repealed provisions of the Glass-Steagall Act, which had prohibited commercial banks and securities firms from affiliating with each other and engaging in each other’s businesses. Thus, many of the barriers prohibiting affiliations between commercial banks and securities firms have been eliminated.

The BHCA was also amended by the GLBA to allow new “financial holding companies” (“FHCs”) to offer banking, insurance, securities and other financial products to consumers. Specifically, the GLBA amended section 4 of the BHCA in order to provide for a framework for the engagement in new financial activities. A bank holding company (“BHC”) may elect to become an FHC if all its subsidiary depository institutions are well capitalized and well managed. If these requirements are met, a BHC may file a certification to that effect with the FRB and declare that it elects to become an FHC. After the certification and declaration is filed, the FHC may engage either de novo or through an acquisition in any activity that has been determined by the FRB to be financial in nature or incidental to such financial activity. BHCs may engage in financial activities without prior notice to the FRB if those activities qualify under the list of permissible activities in section 4(k) of the BHCA. However, notice must be given to the FRB within 30 days after an FHC has commenced one or more of the financial activities. The Company has not elected to become an FHC.

Regulation and Supervision of Banks

The Bank is a California state-chartered Federal Reserve member bank and its deposits are insured by the FDIC. The Bank is subject to regulation, supervision and regular examination by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and the FRB. The regulations of these agencies affect most aspects of the Bank’s business and prescribe permissible types of loans and investments, the amount of required reserves, requirements for branch offices, the permissible scope of its activities and various other requirements.

In addition to federal banking law, the Bank is also subject to applicable provisions of California law. Under California law, the Bank is subject to various restrictions on, and requirements regarding, its operations and administration including the maintenance of branch offices and automated teller machines, capital requirements, deposits and borrowings, shareholder rights and duties, and investment and lending activities.

In addition, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act (“FDICIA”) imposes limitations on the activities and equity investments of state chartered, federally insured banks. FDICIA also prohibits a state bank from making an investment or engaging in any activity as a principal that is not permissible for a national bank, unless the Bank is adequately capitalized and the FDIC approves the investment or activity after determining that such investment or activity does not pose a significant risk to the deposit insurance fund.

On July 21, 2010, financial regulatory reform legislation entitled the "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act" (the "Dodd-Frank Act") was signed into law. The Dodd-Frank Act implemented far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things:

Provisions in the legislation that affect the payment of interest on demand deposits and interchange fees may increase the costs associated with deposits as well as place limitations on certain revenues those deposits may generate.

Capital Standards 

The federal banking agencies have risk-based capital adequacy guidelines intended to provide a measure of capital adequacy that reflects the degree of risk associated with a banking organization’s operations for both transactions resulting in assets being recognized on the balance sheet as assets, and the extension of credit facilities such as letters of credit and recourse arrangements, which are recorded as off balance sheet items. Under these guidelines, nominal dollar amounts of assets and credit equivalent amounts of off balance sheet items are multiplied by one of several risk adjustment percentages, which range from 0% for assets with low credit risk, such as certain U.S. government securities, to 1250% for assets with relatively higher credit risk, such as certain securitizations. A banking organization’s risk-based capital ratios are obtained by dividing its qualifying capital by its total risk-adjusted assets and off balance sheet items.

The federal banking agencies take into consideration concentrations of credit risk and risks from nontraditional activities, as well as an institution’s ability to manage those risks, when determining the adequacy of an institution’s capital. This evaluation is made as a part of the institution’s regular safety and soundness examination. The federal banking agencies also consider interest rate risk (related to the interest rate sensitivity of an institution’s assets and liabilities, and its off balance sheet financial instruments) in the evaluation of a bank’s capital adequacy.

On July 2, 2013, the Federal Reserve Board approved a final rule that implements changes to the regulatory capital framework for all banking organizations over a transitional period 2015 through 2018. As of December 31, 2020, the Company’s and the Bank’s respective ratios exceeded applicable regulatory requirements. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements included in this Report for capital ratios of the Company and the Bank, compared to minimum capital requirements and for the Bank the standards for well capitalized depository institutions.

In November 2019, the federal banking regulators published final rules implementing a simplified measure of capital adequacy for certain banking organizations that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets. Under the final rules, which went into effect on January 1, 2020, depository institutions and depository institution holding companies that have less than $10 billion in total consolidated assets and meet other qualifying criteria, including a leverage ratio of greater than 9%, off-balance-sheet exposures of 25% or less of total consolidated assets and trading assets plus trading liabilities of 5% or less of total consolidated assets, are deemed “qualifying community banking organizations” and are eligible to opt into the “community bank leverage ratio framework.” A qualifying community banking organization that elects to use the community bank leverage ratio framework and that maintains a leverage ratio of greater than 9% is considered to have satisfied the generally applicable risk-based and leverage capital requirements under the Basel III rules and, if applicable, is considered to have met the “well capitalized” ratio requirements for purposes of its primary federal regulator’s prompt corrective action rules, discussed below. The Company does not have any immediate plans to elect to use the community bank leverage ratio framework but may make such an election in the future.

See the sections entitled “Capital Resources and Capital to Risk-Adjusted Assets” in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for additional information.

Prompt Corrective Action and Other Enforcement Mechanisms 

FDICIA requires each federal banking agency to take prompt corrective action to resolve the problems of insured depository institutions, including but not limited to those that fall below one or more prescribed minimum capital ratios.

An institution that, based upon its capital levels, is classified as “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized” or “undercapitalized” may be treated as though it were in the next lower capital category if the appropriate federal banking agency, after notice and opportunity for hearing, determines that an unsafe or unsound condition or an unsafe or unsound practice warrants such treatment. At each successive lower capital category, an insured depository institution is subject to more restrictions. In addition to measures taken under the prompt corrective action provisions, commercial banking organizations may be subject to potential enforcement actions by the federal banking agencies for unsafe or unsound practices in conducting their businesses or for violations of any law, rule, regulation or any condition imposed in writing by the agency or any written agreement with the agency.

Safety and Soundness Standards 

FDICIA has implemented certain specific restrictions on transactions and required federal banking regulators to adopt overall safety and soundness standards for depository institutions related to internal control, loan underwriting and documentation, and asset growth. Among other things, FDICIA limits the interest rates paid on deposits by undercapitalized institutions, restricts the use of brokered deposits, limits the aggregate extensions of credit by a depository institution to an executive officer, director, principal shareholder or related interest, and reduces deposit insurance coverage for deposits offered by undercapitalized institutions for deposits by certain employee benefits accounts. The federal banking agencies may require an institution to submit an acceptable compliance plan as well as have the flexibility to pursue other more appropriate or effective courses of action given the specific circumstances and severity of an institution’s noncompliance with one or more standards.

Federal banking agencies require banks to maintain adequate valuation allowances for potential credit losses. The Company has an internal staff that continually reviews loan quality and reports to the Board of Directors. This analysis includes a detailed review of the classification and categorization of problem loans, assessment of the overall quality and collectability of the loan portfolio, consideration of loan loss experience, trends in problem loans, concentration of credit risk, and current economic conditions, particularly in the Bank’s market areas. Based on this analysis, Management, with the review and approval of the Board, determines the adequate level of allowance required. The allowance is allocated to different segments of the loan portfolio, but the entire allowance is available for the loan portfolio in its entirety.

Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions

The Company’s ability to pay dividends to its shareholders is subject to the restrictions set forth in the California General Corporation Law (“CGCL”). The CGCL provides that a corporation may make a distribution to its shareholders if (i) the corporation’s retained earnings equal or exceed the amount of the proposed distribution plus unpaid accrued dividends (if any) on securities with a dividend preference, or (ii) immediately after the dividend, the corporation’s total assets equal or exceed total liabilities plus unpaid accrued dividends (if any) on securities with a dividend preference.

The Company’s ability to pay dividends depends in part on the Bank’s ability to pay cash dividends to the Company. The power of the board of directors of an insured depository institution to declare a cash dividend or other distribution with respect to capital is subject to statutory and regulatory restrictions which limit the amount available for such distribution depending upon the earnings, financial condition and cash needs of the institution, as well as general business conditions. FDICIA prohibits insured depository institutions from paying management fees to any controlling persons or, with certain limited exceptions, making capital distributions, including dividends, if, after such transaction, the institution would be undercapitalized.

In addition to the restrictions imposed under federal law, banks chartered under California law generally may only pay cash dividends to the extent such payments do not exceed the lesser of retained earnings of the bank or the bank’s net income for its last three fiscal years (less any distributions to shareholders during this period). In the event a bank desires to pay cash dividends in excess of such amount, the bank may pay a cash dividend with the prior approval of the Commissioner in an amount not exceeding the greatest of the bank’s retained earnings, the bank’s net income for its last fiscal year or the bank’s net income for its current fiscal year.

The federal banking agencies also have the authority to prohibit a depository institution or its holding company from engaging in business practices which are considered to be unsafe or unsound, possibly including payment of dividends or other payments under certain circumstances even if such payments are not expressly prohibited by statute. The Federal Reserve Board has issued guidance indicating its expectations that a bank holding company will inform and consult with Federal Reserve supervisory staff sufficiently in advance of (i) declaring and paying a dividend that could raise safety and soundness concerns (e.g., declaring and paying a dividend that exceeds earnings for the period for which the dividend is being paid); (ii) redeeming or repurchasing regulatory capital instruments when the bank holding company is experiencing financial weaknesses; or (iii) redeeming or repurchasing common stock or perpetual preferred stock that would result in a net reduction as of the end of the quarter in the amount of such equity instruments outstanding compared with the beginning of the quarter in which the redemption or repurchase occurred.

Premiums for Deposit Insurance

Substantially all of the deposits of the Bank are insured up to applicable limits by the DIF of the FDIC and are subject to deposit insurance assessments to maintain the DIF. The FDIC utilizes a risk-based assessment system that imposes insurance premiums based upon a risk matrix that takes into account a bank's capital level, asset quality and supervisory rating.

In July 2010, Congress in the Dodd-Frank Act increased the minimum for the DIF reserve ratio, the ratio of the amount in the fund to insured deposits, from 1.15% to 1.35% and required that the ratio reach that level by September 30, 2020.  Further, the Dodd-Frank Act made banks with $10 billion or more in assets responsible for the increase from 1.15% to 1.35%, among other provisions.

In August, 2016, the FDIC announced the DIF reserve ratio surpassed the 1.15% reserve ratio target, triggering three major changes:

In September 2018, the DIF reached 1.36%, exceeding the statutorily required minimum reserve ratio of 1.35% ahead of the September 30, 2020, deadline required under the Dodd-Frank Act. FDIC regulations provide for two changes to deposit insurance assessments upon reaching the minimum: (1) surcharges on insured depository institutions with total consolidated assets of $10 billion or more (large banks) will cease; and (2) small banks will receive assessment credits for the portion of their assessments that contributed to the growth in the reserve ratio from between 1.15% and 1.35%, to be applied when the reserve ratio is at or above 1.38%. In January 2019, the Bank, which meets the definition of a “small bank”, was advised by the FDIC its assessment credit to be applied when the reserve ratio is at or above 1.38% was $1.4 million. The Bank received notification from the FDIC during the third quarter 2019 that the reserve ratio exceeded 1.38%, and the FDIC applied the Bank’s assessment credits against the Bank’s second and third quarter 2019 deposit insurance premiums. The Company applied FDIC assessment credits against the Bank’s fourth quarter 2019 deposit insurance premiums and the remaining assessment credits against the Bank’s first quarter 2020 deposit insurance premiums. The Company cannot provide any assurance as to the effect of any future changes in its deposit insurance premium rates.

Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act

On May 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the first major financial services reform bill since the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act. The Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (the “Regulatory Relief Act”) modifies or eliminates certain requirements on community and regional banks and nonbank financial institutions.  For instance, under the Reform Act and related rule making:

Community Reinvestment Act and Fair Lending Developments

The Bank is subject to certain fair lending requirements and reporting obligations involving home mortgage lending operations and Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) activities. The CRA generally requires the federal banking agencies to evaluate the record of financial institutions in meeting the credit needs of their local communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods. In addition to substantive penalties and corrective measures that may be required for a violation of certain fair lending laws, the federal banking agencies may take compliance with such laws and CRA into account when regulating and supervising other activities including merger applications.

In December 2019, the OCC and the FDIC proposed changes to the regulations implementing the CRA, which, if adopted will result in changes to the current CRA framework. The FRB did not join the proposal.

Financial Privacy Legislation and Customer Information Security 

The GLBA, in addition to the previously described changes in permissible nonbanking activities permitted to banks, BHCs and FHCs, also required the federal banking agencies, among other federal regulatory agencies, to adopt regulations governing the privacy of consumer financial information. The Bank is subject to the FRB’s regulations in this area. The federal bank regulatory agencies have established standards for safeguarding nonpublic personal information about customers that implement provisions of the GLBA (the “Guidelines”). Among other things, the Guidelines require each financial institution, under the supervision and ongoing oversight of its Board of Directors or an appropriate committee thereof, to develop, implement and maintain a comprehensive written information security program designed to ensure the security and confidentiality of customer information, to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such information, and to protect against unauthorized access to or use of such information that could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.

Anti-Money Laundering Laws

The Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, gives the federal government powers to address money laundering and terrorist threats through enhanced domestic security measures, expanded surveillance powers and mandatory transaction reporting obligations. The Bank Secrecy Act and related regulations require financial institutions to report currency transactions that exceed certain thresholds and transactions determined to be suspicious, establish due diligence requirements for accounts and take certain steps to verify customer identification when accounts are opened. The Bank Secrecy Act also requires financial institutions to develop and maintain a program reasonably designed to ensure and monitor compliance with its requirements, to train employees to comply with and to test the effectiveness of the program. Any failure to meet the requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act can result in the imposition of substantial penalties and in adverse regulatory action against the offending bank.

The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”), which amends the Bank Secrecy Act, was enacted in January 2021. The AMLA is a comprehensive reform and modernization to U.S. bank secrecy and anti-money laundering laws. Among other things, it codifies a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering compliance for financial institutions; requires the development of standards for evaluating technology and internal processes for Bank Secrecy Act compliance; expands enforcement and investigative authority, including increasing available sanctions for certain Bank Secrecy Act violations and instituting Bank Secrecy Act whistleblower incentives and protections.

Programs To Mitigate Identity Theft

In November 2007, federal banking agencies together with the National Credit Union Administration and Federal Trade Commission adopted regulations under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 to require financial institutions and other creditors to develop and implement a written identity theft prevention program to detect, prevent and mitigate identity theft in connection with certain new and existing accounts. Covered accounts generally include consumer accounts and other accounts that present a reasonably foreseeable risk of identity theft. Each institution’s program must include policies and procedures designed to: (i) identify indicators, or “red flags,” of possible risk of identity theft; (ii) detect the occurrence of red flags; (iii) respond appropriately to red flags that are detected; and (iv) ensure that the program is updated periodically as appropriate to address changing circumstances. The regulations include guidelines that each institution must consider and, to the extent appropriate, include in its program.

Pending Legislation 

Changes to state laws and regulations (including changes in interpretation or enforcement) can affect the operating environment of BHCs and their subsidiaries in substantial and unpredictable ways. From time to time, various legislative and regulatory proposals are introduced. These proposals, if codified, may change banking statutes and regulations and the Company’s operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways. If codified, these proposals could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance among banks, savings associations, credit unions and other financial institutions. The Company cannot accurately predict whether those changes in laws and regulations will occur, and, if those changes occur, the ultimate effect they would have upon our financial condition or results of operations. It is likely, however, that the current level of enforcement and compliance-related activities of federal and state authorities will continue and potentially increase.

Competition 

The Bank’s principal competitors for deposits and loans are major banks and smaller community banks, savings and loan associations and credit unions. To a lesser extent, competitors include thrift and loans, mortgage brokerage companies and insurance companies. Other institutions, such as brokerage houses, mutual fund companies, credit card companies, and certain retail establishments offer investment vehicles that also compete with banks for deposit business. Federal legislation in recent years has encouraged competition between different types of financial institutions and fostered new entrants into the financial services market.

Legislative changes, as well as technological and economic factors, can be expected to have an ongoing impact on competitive conditions within the financial services industry. While the future impact of regulatory and legislative changes cannot be predicted with certainty, the business of banking will remain highly competitive.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS 

Readers and prospective investors in the Company’s securities should carefully consider the following risk factors as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this Report.

The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties that Management is not aware of or focused on or that Management currently deems immaterial may also impair the Company’s business operations. This Report is qualified in its entirety by these risk factors.

If any of the following risks actually occur, the Company’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. If this were to happen, the value of the company’s securities could decline significantly, and investors could lose all or part of their investment in the Company’s common stock.

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Will Have an Uncertain Impact on the Company's Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic caused escalating infections in the United States beginning in the first quarter of 2020 that continued through the fourth quarter of 2020 and may continue for some time. The spread of the outbreak has disrupted the United States economy including banking and other financial activity in the market areas in which the Company and the Bank operate.  Regions and states of the United States of America have implemented varying degrees of "stay at home" directives in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. On March 19, 2020, the Governor of the State of California ordered all individuals living in the State of California to stay within their residence to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and many businesses have suspended or reduced business activities. The California "stay at home" directive excludes essential businesses, including banks, and the Bank remains open and fully operational. These "stay at home" directives have, however, significantly reduced economic activity in the United States and the State of California. In the second and third quarters of 2020 the “stay at home” directives were gradually lifted in varying stages in counties of the State of California. Counties with high infection rates delayed reopening and restrictions on certain economic activity remained. When infections increased in the fourth quarter 2020 restrictions were re-imposed to some degree. California-based claims for unemployment rose and remained elevated during 2020.   

The Bank's deposits are exclusively sourced within California and its loans are primarily to borrowers domiciled within California. Demand for the Bank's products and services, such as loans and deposits, could be affected as a result of the decline in economic activity within the state. 

The Bank's investment portfolio contains bonds for which the source of repayment is domestic mortgage repayments, domestic municipalities throughout the United States, and domestic and global corporations. The value of the Bank's investment portfolio may decline if, for example, the general economy deteriorates, inflation increases, credit ratings decline, the issuers’ financial condition deteriorates or the liquidity for debt securities declines.

In response to the pandemic, the Federal Reserve has engaged significant levels of monetary policy to provide liquidity and credit facilities to the financial markets. On March 15, 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee ("FOMC") reduced the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to 0.25 percent; relatedly, the FOMC reduced the interest rate paid on deposit balances to 0.10 percent effective March 16, 2020, all of which may negatively impact net interest income. The Bank maintains deposit balances at the Federal Reserve Bank; the amount that earns interest is identified in the Company's financial statements as "interest-bearing cash".

In response to the pandemic, the United States federal government enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") on March 27, 2020, providing an estimated $2 trillion fiscal stimulus to the United States economy.  The CARES Act established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with $350 billion to provide businesses with federally guaranteed loans to support payroll and certain operating expenses. The loans were guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration (“SBA”) and funded through banks.  In April 2020, the PPP program was expanded with an additional $310 billion. During 2020, the Bank funded $249 million in government guaranteed PPP loans which meaningfully increased interest-earning assets and related interest and fee income. PPP loans, net of deferred fees and costs, were $187 million at December 31, 2020.

On April 7, 2020, the U.S. banking agencies issued an Interagency Statement on Loan Modifications and Reporting for Financial Institutions Working with Customers Affected by the Coronavirus (Revised). The statement describes accounting for COVID-19-related loan modifications, including clarifying the interaction between current accounting rules and the temporary relief provided by the CARES Act. The Bank continues to work with loan customers requesting deferral of loan payments due to economic weakness caused by the pandemic. At December 31, 2020, consumer loans granted loan deferrals totaled $2.5 million, commercial real estate loans with deferred payments totaled $7.8 million, primarily for hospitality and retail properties, and commercial loans with deferred payments totaled $33 thousand.

On December 27, 2020, the United States federal government enacted the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (CAA), which provided $900 billion in additional federal stimulus. Among other provisions, the CAA provided $284 billion for the PPP program and allowed businesses to apply for a second PPP loan.

The extent of the spread of the coronavirus, its ultimate containment and its continuing effects on the economy and the Company are uncertain at this time. The effectiveness of the Federal Reserve Board's monetary policies and the federal government's fiscal policies in stimulating the United States economy is uncertain at this time.

Management expects the Company's net interest margin and non-interest income to decline and credit-related losses to increase for an uncertain period given the decline in economic activity occurring due to the coronavirus. The amount of impact on the Company's financial results is uncertain.

In addition, the Company's future success and profitability substantially depends upon the skills and experience of its executive officers and directors, many of whom have held positions with the Company for many years. The unanticipated loss or unavailability of key employees due to the outbreak could adversely affect the Company's ability to operate its business or execute its business strategy.

There are no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic may have, and, as a result, the Company cannot accurately predict the full extent of the impacts on the Company’s business, operations or the economy as a whole. However, the effects could have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations and heighten many of the other risks factors described in this Report. Any one or a combination of the factors identified above, or other factors, could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects.

Declines in Oil Prices Could Have an Impact on the Company's Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Declines in oil prices could negatively affect the financial results of industrial sector-based and energy sector-based corporate issuers of corporate bonds owned by the Company. The Company’s corporate debt securities include 14 issuers in industrial and energy sectors with aggregate amortized cost of $275.1 million and fair value of $291.9 million at December 31, 2020. These securities continue to be investment grade rated by a major rating agency.

The Company’s participation in the SBA PPP loan program exposes it to risks of noncompliance with the PPP and litigation, which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company is a participating lender in the PPP. The SBA guarantees 100% of loans funded under the PPP. Loan proceeds used for eligible payroll and certain other operating costs are forgiven with repayment of loan principal and accrued interest made by the SBA. There is some ambiguity in the laws, rules and guidance regarding the operation of the PPP, which exposes the Company to potential risks relating to noncompliance with the PPP. Any financial liability, litigation costs or reputational damage related to the PPP or related litigation or regulatory enforcement actions could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company may be exposed to credit risk on PPP loans if the SBA determines that there is a deficiency in the manner in which the loan was originated, funded, or serviced. If the SBA identifies a deficiency, it could deny its liability under the guaranty, reduce the amount of the guaranty, or, if it has already paid under the guaranty, seek recovery of any loss related to the deficiency from the Company.

Market and Interest Rate Risk 

Changes in interest rates could reduce income and cash flow. 

The Company’s income and cash flow depend to a great extent on the difference between the interest earned on loans and investment securities and the interest paid on deposits and other borrowings, and the Company’s success in competing for loans and deposits. The Company cannot control or prevent changes in the level of interest rates which fluctuate in response to general economic conditions, the policies of various governmental and regulatory agencies, in particular, the FRB’s FOMC, and pricing practices of the Company’s competitors. Changes in monetary policy, including changes in interest rates, will influence the origination of loans, the purchase of investments, the generation of deposits and other borrowings, and the rates received on loans and investment securities and paid on deposits and other liabilities. The discussion in this Report under “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Asset, Liability and Market Risk Management” and “- Liquidity and Funding” and “Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” is incorporated by reference in this paragraph.

Changes in capital market conditions could reduce asset valuations.

Capital market conditions, including interest rates, liquidity, investor confidence, bond issuer credit worthiness, perceived counter-party risk, the supply of and demand for financial instruments, the financial strength of market participants, and other factors can materially impact the value of the Company’s assets. An impairment in the value of the Company’s assets could result in asset write-downs, reducing the Company’s asset values, earnings, and equity.

The value of securities in the Company’s investment securities portfolio may be negatively affected by disruptions in securities markets.

The market for some of the investment securities held in the Company’s portfolio can be extremely volatile. Volatile market conditions may detrimentally affect the value of these securities, such as through reduced valuations due to the perception of heightened credit and liquidity risks. There can be no assurance that the declines in market value will not result in other than temporary impairments of these assets, which would lead to loss recognition that could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s net income and capital levels.

The weakness of other financial institutions could adversely affect the Company.

Financial services institutions are interrelated as a result of trading, clearing, counterparty, or other relationships.  The Company routinely executes transactions with counterparties in the financial services industry, including brokers and dealers, commercial banks, investment banks, and other institutional clients. Many of these transactions expose the Company to credit risk in the event of default of the Company’s counterparty or client. In addition, the Company’s credit risk may be increased when the collateral the Company holds cannot be realized or is liquidated at prices not sufficient to recover the full amount of the secured obligation. There is no assurance that any such losses would not materially and adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or earnings.

Shares of Company common stock eligible for future sale or grant of stock options and other equity awards could have a dilutive effect on the market for Company common stock and could adversely affect the market price.

The Articles of Incorporation of the Company authorize the issuance of 150 million shares of common stock (and two additional classes of 1 million shares each, denominated “Class B Common Stock” and “Preferred Stock”, respectively) of which approximately 26.8 million shares of common stock were outstanding at December 31, 2020. Pursuant to its stock option plans, at December 31, 2020, the Company had outstanding options for 693 thousand shares of common stock, of which 320 thousand were currently exercisable. As of December 31, 2020, 1,131 thousand shares of Company common stock remained available for grants under the Company’s equity incentive plans. Sales of substantial amounts of Company common stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price of its common stock.

The Company’s payment of dividends on common stock could be eliminated or reduced.

Holders of the Company’s common stock are entitled to receive dividends only when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company’s ability to pay dividends is limited by banking and corporate laws, and depends, among other things, on the Company’s regulatory capital levels and earnings prospectus, as well as the Bank’s ability to pay cash dividends to the Company. Although the Company has historically paid cash dividends on the Company’s common stock, the Company is not required to do so and the Company’s Board of Directors could reduce or eliminate the Company’s common stock dividend in the future.

The Company could repurchase shares of its common stock at price levels considered excessive.

The Company repurchases and retires its common stock in accordance with Board of Directors-approved share repurchase programs. At December 31, 2020, approximately 1.6 million shares remained available to repurchase under such plans. The Company has been active in repurchasing and retiring shares of its common stock when alternative uses of excess capital, such as acquisitions, have been limited. The Company could repurchase shares of its common stock at price levels considered excessive, thereby spending more cash on such repurchases as deemed reasonable and effectively retiring fewer shares than would be retired if repurchases were effected at lower prices.

Risks Related to the Nature and Geographical Location of the Company’s Business

The Company invests in loans that contain inherent credit risks that may cause the Company to incur losses.

The risk that borrowers may not pay interest or repay their loans as agreed is an inherent risk of the banking business. The company mitigates this risk by adhering to sound and proven underwriting practices, managed by experienced and knowledgeable credit professionals. Nonetheless, the Company may incur losses on loans that meet its underwriting criteria, and these losses may exceed the amounts set aside as reserves. The Company can provide no assurance that the credit quality of the loan portfolio will not deteriorate in the future and that such deterioration will not adversely affect the Company or its results of operations.

The Company’s operations are concentrated geographically in California, and poor economic conditions may cause the Company to incur losses.

Substantially all of the Company’s business is located in California. A portion of the loan portfolio of the Company is dependent on real estate. At December 31, 2020, real estate served as the principal source of collateral with respect to approximately 48% of the Company’s loan portfolio. The Company’s financial condition and operating results will be subject to changes in economic conditions in California. The California economy was severely affected by the recessionary period of 2008 to 2009. Much of the California real estate market experienced a decline in values of varying degrees. This decline had an adverse impact on the business of some of the Company’s borrowers and on the value of the collateral for many of the Company’s loans. Generally, the counties surrounding and near San Francisco Bay have recovered more soundly from the recent recession than counties in the California “Central Valley,” from Sacramento in the north to Bakersfield in the south. Approximately 17% of the Company’s loans are to borrowers in the California “Central Valley.” Economic conditions in California’s diverse geographic markets can be vastly different and are subject to various uncertainties, including the condition of the construction and real estate sectors, the effect of drought on the agricultural sector and its infrastructure, and the California state and municipal governments’ budgetary and fiscal conditions. The Company can provide no assurance that conditions in any sector or geographic market of the California economy will not deteriorate in the future and that such deterioration will not adversely affect the Company.

The markets in which the Company operates are subject to the risk of earthquakes, fires, storms and other natural disasters.

All of the properties of the Company are located in California. Also, most of the real and personal properties which currently secure a majority of the Company’s loans are located in California. Further, the Company invests in securities issued by companies and municipalities operating throughout the United States, and in mortgage-backed securities collateralized by real property located throughout the United States. California and other regions of the United States are prone to earthquakes, brush and wildfires, flooding, drought and other natural disasters. In addition to possibly sustaining uninsured damage to its own properties, if there is a major earthquake, flood, drought, fire or other natural disaster, the Company faces the risk that many of its debtors may experience uninsured property losses, or sustained business or employment interruption and/or loss which may materially impair their ability to meet the terms of their debt obligations. A major earthquake, flood, prolonged drought, fire or other natural disaster in California or other regions of the United States could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Adverse changes in general business or economic conditions could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

A sustained or continuing weakness or weakening in business and economic conditions generally or specifically in the principal markets in which the Company does business could have one or more of the following adverse impacts on the Company’s business:

The 2008 - 2009 financial crisis led to the failure or merger of a number of financial institutions. Financial institution failures can result in further losses as a consequence of defaults on securities issued by them and defaults under contracts entered into with such entities as counterparties. The failure of institutions with FDIC insured deposits can cause the DIF reserve ratio to decline, resulting in increased deposit insurance assessments on surviving FDIC insured institutions. Weak economic conditions can significantly weaken the strength and liquidity of financial institutions.

The Company’s financial performance generally, and in particular the ability of borrowers to pay interest on and repay principal of outstanding loans and the value of collateral securing those loans, are highly dependent upon the business environment in the markets where the Company operates, in the State of California and in the United States as a whole. A favorable business environment is generally characterized by, among other factors, economic growth, healthy labor markets, efficient capital markets, low inflation, high business and investor confidence, and strong business earnings. Unfavorable or uncertain economic and market conditions can be caused by: declines in economic growth, high rates of unemployment, deflation, pandemics, declines in business activity or consumer, investor or business confidence; limitations on the availability of or increases in the cost of credit and capital; increases in inflation; natural disasters; or a combination of these or other factors.

Such business conditions could adversely affect the credit quality of the Company’s loans, the demand for loans, loan volumes and related revenue, securities valuations, amounts of deposits, availability of funding, results of operations and financial condition.

Regulatory Risks

Restrictions on dividends and other distributions could limit amounts payable to the Company.

As a holding company, a substantial portion of the Company’s cash flow typically comes from dividends paid by the Bank. Various statutory provisions restrict the amount of dividends the Company’s subsidiaries can pay to the Company without regulatory approval. A reduction in subsidiary dividends paid to the Company could limit the capacity of the Company to pay dividends. In addition, if any of the Company’s subsidiaries were to liquidate, that subsidiary’s creditors will be entitled to receive distributions from the assets of that subsidiary to satisfy their claims against it before the Company, as a holder of an equity interest in the subsidiary, will be entitled to receive any of the assets of the subsidiary.

Adverse effects of changes in banking or other laws and regulations or governmental fiscal or monetary policies could adversely affect the Company.

The Company is subject to significant federal and state regulation and supervision, which is primarily for the benefit and protection of the Company’s customers and not for the benefit of investors. In the past, the Company’s business has been materially affected by these regulations.

Laws, regulations or policies, including accounting standards and interpretations currently affecting the Company and the Company’s subsidiaries, may change at any time. Regulatory authorities may also change their interpretation of these statutes and regulations. Therefore, the Company’s business may be adversely affected by any future changes in laws, regulations, policies or interpretations or regulatory approaches to compliance and enforcement including future acts of terrorism, major U.S. corporate bankruptcies and reports of accounting irregularities at U.S. public companies.

Additionally, the Company’s business is affected significantly by the fiscal and monetary policies of the federal government and its agencies. The Company is particularly affected by the policies of the FRB, which regulates the supply of money and credit in the United States of America. Among the instruments of monetary policy available to the FRB are (a) conducting open market operations in U.S. government securities, (b) changing the discount rates of borrowings by depository institutions, (c) changing interest rates paid on balances financial institutions deposit with the FRB, and (d) imposing or changing reserve requirements against certain borrowings by banks and their affiliates. These methods are used in varying degrees and combinations to directly affect the availability of bank loans and deposits, as well as the interest rates charged on loans and paid on deposits. The policies of the FRB may have a material effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. Under long- standing policy of the FRB, a BHC is expected to act as a source of financial strength for its subsidiary banks. As a result of that policy, the Company may be required to commit financial and other resources to its subsidiary bank in circumstances where the Company might not otherwise do so.

Federal and state governments could pass legislation detrimental to the Company’s performance.

As an example, the Company could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that reduces the amount the Bank's borrowers are otherwise contractually required to pay under existing loan contracts. Also, the Company could experience higher credit losses because of federal or state legislation or regulatory action that limits or delays the Bank's ability to foreclose on property or other collateral or makes foreclosure less economically feasible. Federal, state and local governments could pass tax legislation causing the Company to pay higher levels of taxes.

The FDIC insures deposits at insured financial institutions up to certain limits. The FDIC charges insured financial institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund. The FDIC may increase premium assessments to maintain adequate funding of the Deposit Insurance Fund.

The behavior of depositors in regard to the level of FDIC insurance could cause our existing customers to reduce the amount of deposits held at the Bank, and could cause new customers to open deposit accounts at the Bank. The level and composition of the Bank's deposit portfolio directly impacts the Bank's funding cost and net interest margin.

Systems, Accounting and Internal Control Risks 

The accuracy of the Company’s judgments and estimates about financial and accounting matters will impact operating results and financial condition.

The discussion under “Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Critical Accounting Policies” in this Report and the information referred to in that discussion is incorporated by reference in this paragraph. The Company makes certain estimates and judgments in preparing its financial statements. For example, the Company maintains a reserve for potential loan defaults and non-performance. There is no precise method of predicting loans losses and determining the adequacy of the reserve requires the Company’s management to make a number of estimates and judgments.  If the estimates or judgments prove to be incorrect, the Company could be required to increase its provisions for credit losses, which could reduce its income or could cause it to incur operating losses in the future. Therefore, the quality and accuracy of management’s estimates and judgments will have an impact on the Company’s operating results and financial condition.

The Company’s information systems may experience an interruption or breach in security.

The Company relies heavily on communications and information systems, including those of third party vendors and other service providers, to conduct its business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in the Company’s data processing, accounting, customer relationship management and other systems. Communication and information systems failures can result from a variety of risks including, but not limited to, events that are wholly or partially out of the Company’s control, such as telecommunication line integrity, weather, terrorist acts, natural disasters, accidental disasters, unauthorized breaches of security systems, energy delivery systems, cyber attacks, and other events. Although the Company devotes significant resources to maintain and regularly upgrade its systems and processes that are designed to protect the security of the Company’s computer systems, software, networks and other technology assets and the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information belonging to the Company and its customers, there is no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately corrected by the Company or its vendors. The occurrence of any such failures, interruptions or security breaches could damage the Company’s reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject the Company to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose the Company to litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.

Management regularly reviews and updates the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. The Company maintains controls and procedures to mitigate against risks such as processing system failures and errors, and customer or employee fraud, and maintains insurance coverage for certain of these risks. Any system of controls and procedures, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Events could occur which are not prevented or detected by the Company’s internal controls or are not insured against or are in excess of the Company’s insurance limits or insurance underwriters’ financial capacity. Any failure or circumvention of the Company’s controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 

None

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 

Branch Offices and Facilities 

Westamerica Bank is engaged in the banking business through 79branch offices in 21 counties in Northern and Central California. WAB believes all of its offices are constructed and equipped to meet prescribed security requirements.

The Company owns 29 banking office locations and one centralized administrative service center facility and leases 56 facilities. Most of the leases contain renewal options and provisions for rental increases, principally for changes in the cost of living index, and for changes in other operating costs such as property taxes and maintenance.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 

Due to the nature of its business, the Company is subject to various threatened or filed legal cases. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any material pending legal proceeding, nor is their property the subject of any material pending legal proceeding, other than ordinary routine legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. Based on the advice of legal counsel, the Company does not expect such cases will have a material, adverse effect on its business, financial position or results of operations. Legal liabilities are accrued when obligations become probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 

Not applicable

PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “WABC”. As of January 31, 2021, there were approximately 5,100 shareholders of record of the Company’s common stock.

The Company has paid cash dividends on its common stock in every quarter since its formation in 1972. See Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements for recent quarterly dividend information. It is currently the intention of the Board of Directors of the Company to continue payment of cash dividends on a quarterly basis. There is no assurance, however, that any dividends will be paid since they are dependent upon earnings, cash balances, financial condition and capital requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries as well as policies of the FRB pursuant to the BHCA. See Item 1, “Business - Supervision and Regulation.”

The notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Report contain additional information regarding the Company’s capital levels, capital structure, regulations affecting subsidiary bank dividends paid to the Company, the Company’s earnings, financial condition and cash flows, and cash dividends declared and paid on common stock.

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Stock performance

The following chart compares the cumulative return on the Company’s stock during the ten years ended December 31, 2020 with the cumulative return on the S&P 500 composite stock index and NASDAQ’S Bank Index. The comparison assumes $100 invested in each on December 31, 2010 and reinvestment of all dividends.

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The following chart compares the cumulative return on the Company’s stock during the five years ended December 31, 2020 with the cumulative return on the S&P 500 composite stock index and NASDAQ’S Bank Index. The comparison assumes $100 invested in each on December 31, 2015 and reinvestment of all dividends.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The table below sets forth the information with respect to purchases made by or on behalf of Westamerica Bancorporation or any “affiliated purchaser”, as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of common stock during the quarter ended December 31, 2020 (in thousands, except per share data).

The Company repurchases shares of its common stock in the open market to optimize the Company’s use of equity capital and enhance shareholder value and with the intention of lessening the dilutive impact of issuing new shares under stock option plans, and other ongoing requirements. Shares repurchased during the period from October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 were pursuant to a program approved by the Board of Directors on July 23, 2020 authorizes the purchase of up to 1,750 thousand shares of the Company’s common stock from time to time prior to September 1, 2021.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA        

The following financial information for the five years ended December 31, 2020 has been derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. This information should be read in conjunction with those statements, notes and other information included elsewhere herein.

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion addresses information pertaining to the financial condition and results of operations of Westamerica Bancorporation and subsidiaries (the “Company”) that may not be otherwise apparent from a review of the consolidated financial statements and related footnotes. It should be read in conjunction with those statements and notes found on pages 50 through 92, as well as with the other information presented throughout this Report.

Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and follow general practices within the banking industry. Application of these principles requires the Company to make certain estimates, assumptions, and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. These estimates, assumptions, and judgments are based on information available as of the date of the financial statements; accordingly, as this information changes, the financial statements could reflect different estimates, assumptions, and judgments. Certain accounting policies inherently have a greater reliance on the use of estimates, assumptions and judgments and as such have a greater possibility of producing results that could be materially different than originally reported. Estimates, assumptions and judgments are necessary when assets and liabilities are required to be recorded at fair value, when a decline in the value of an asset not carried on the financial statements at fair value warrants an impairment writedown or valuation reserve to be established, or when an asset or liability needs to be recorded contingent upon a future event. Carrying assets and liabilities at fair value inherently results in more financial statement volatility. The fair values and the information used to record valuation adjustments for certain assets and liabilities are based either on quoted market prices or are provided by other third-party sources, when available.

The most significant accounting policies followed by the Company are presented in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. These policies, along with the disclosures presented in the other financial statement notes and in this discussion, provide information on how significant assets and liabilities are valued in the financial statements and how those values are determined. Based on the valuation techniques used and the sensitivity of financial statement amounts to the methods, assumptions, and estimates underlying those amounts, Management has identified the allowance for credit losses accounting to be the accounting area requiring the most subjective or complex judgments, and as such could be most subject to revision as new information becomes available. A discussion of the factors affecting accounting for the allowance for credit losses and purchased loans is included in the “Loan Portfolio Credit Risk” discussion below.

Financial Overview 

Westamerica Bancorporation and subsidiaries’ (collectively, the “Company”) reported net income of $80.4 million or $2.98 diluted earnings per common share in 2020. The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic began in the United States and California in the first quarter 2020 and continued to cause escalating infections in the United States through the fourth quarter 2020. In response to the pandemic, the Company’s primary and wholly-owned subsidiary bank, Westamerica Bank (the “Bank”), funded $249 million Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loans for the Bank’s customers during the second quarter 2020. PPP loans meaningfully increased interest-earning assets and related interest and fee income. The Bank continues to work with loan customers requesting deferral of loan payments due to economic weakness caused by the pandemic. At December 31, 2020, consumer loans granted loan deferrals totaled $2.5 million, commercial real estate loans with deferred payments totaled $7.8 million, primarily for hospitality and retail properties, and commercial loans with deferred payments totaled $33 thousand. The results for 2020 included a provision for credit losses of $4.3 million, which reduced EPS $0.11, representing Management’s estimate of additional reserves needed over the remaining life of its loans due to increased credit-risk from deteriorating economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results for 2020 include a $3.5 million gain on sales of a closed branch building which increased EPS $0.13. These results compare to net income of $80.4 million or $2.98 diluted earnings per common share for 2019. Results for 2019 include a tax-exempt life insurance gain of $433 thousand and $553 thousand in loss contingencies. The loss contingencies include a $301 thousand increase in estimated customer refunds of revenue recognized prior to 2018 and a $252 thousand settlement to dismiss a lawsuit. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company paid $4,410 thousand of obligations accrued in prior years to customers eligible for refunds. The remaining obligations at December 31, 2020 was $1,433 thousand, included in other liabilities. The tax-exempt life insurance gain and loss contingencies did not have a significant impact on the EPS for 2019.

Regions and states of the United States of America, including California implemented varying degrees of “stay at home” directives in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus in the first quarter of 2020. These directives have significantly reduced economic activity in the United States and the State of California. In the second and third quarters 2020 the “stay at home” directives were gradually lifted in varying stages in counties of the State of California. Counties with high infection rates delayed reopening and restrictions on certain economic activity remained. When infections increased in the fourth quarter restrictions were re-imposed to some degree. California-based claims for unemployment rose and remained elevated during 2020. The California “stay at home” directive excludes essential businesses including banks. The Bank remains open and fully operational.

In response to the pandemic, the Federal Reserve has engaged significant levels of monetary policy to provide liquidity and credit facilities to the financial markets. On March 15, 2020, the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”) reduced the target range for the federal funds rate to 0 to 0.25 percent; relatedly, the FOMC reduced the interest rate paid on deposit balances to 0.10 percent effective March 16, 2020. The Bank maintains deposit balances at the Federal Reserve Bank; the amount that earns interest is identified in the Company’s financial statements as “interest-bearing cash”.

The extent of the spread of the coronavirus and its ultimate containment are uncertain at this time. The effectiveness of the Federal Reserve Bank’s monetary policies and the federal government’s fiscal policies in stimulating the United States economy is uncertain at this time. Management expects the Company’s net interest margin and non-interest income to decline and credit-related losses to increase for an uncertain period given the decline in economic activity occurring due to the coronavirus. The amount of impact on the Company’s financial results is uncertain. Please refer to Part II, Item 1A “Risk factors” in this report on Form 10-K.

The Company presents its net interest margin and net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent (“FTE”) basis using the current statutory federal tax rate. Management believes the FTE basis is valuable to the reader because the Company’s loan and investment securities portfolios contain a relatively large portion of municipal loans and securities that are federally tax exempt. The Company’s tax exempt loans and securities composition may not be similar to that of other banks, therefore in order to reflect the impact of the federally tax exempt loans and securities on the net interest margin and net interest income for comparability with other banks, the Company presents its net interest margin and net interest income on an FTE basis.

The Company’s significant accounting policies (see Note 1 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” to the Consolidated Financial Statements below) are fundamental to understanding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The Company adopted the following new accounting guidance:

FASB ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, was issued on June 16, 2016. The ASU significantly changed estimates for credit losses related to financial assets measured at amortized cost and certain other contracts. For estimating credit losses, the FASB replaced the incurred loss model with the current expected credit loss (CECL) model, which accelerated recognition of credit losses.  Additionally, credit losses relating to debt securities available-for-sale are recorded through an allowance for credit losses under the new standard. The Company is also required to provide additional disclosures related to the financial assets within the scope of the new standard.

The Company adopted the ASU provisions on January 1, 2020. Management evaluated available data, defined portfolio segments of loans with similar attributes, and selected loss estimate models for each identified loan portfolio segment. Management measured historical loss rates for each portfolio segment. Management also segmented debt securities held to maturity, selected methods to estimate losses for each segment, and measured a loss estimate. Agency mortgage-backed securities were assigned no credit loss allowance due to the perceived backing of government sponsored entities. Municipal securities were evaluated for risk of default based on credit rating and remaining term to maturity using Moody’s risk of default factors; Moody’s loss upon default factors were applied to the assumed defaulted principal amounts to estimate the amount for credit loss allowance. The adjustment to the allowance for credit losses was recorded through an offsetting after-tax adjustment to shareholders’ equity. The implementing entry increased allowance for credit losses on loans by $2,017 thousand, reduced allowance for unfunded credit commitments by $2,107 thousand and increased retained earnings by $52 thousand.                                               

FASB ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurements (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, was issued August 2018.  The ASU is part of the disclosure framework project, where the primary focus is to improve the effectiveness of disclosures in the financial statements. The ASU removes, modifies and adds disclosure requirements related to Fair Value Measurements.

The provisions of the ASU were effective January 1, 2020 with the option to early adopt any removed or modified disclosures upon issuance of the ASU. The Company early adopted the provisions to remove and/or modify relevant disclosures in the “Fair Value Measurements” note to the unaudited consolidated financial statements. The requirement to include additional disclosures was adopted by the Company January 1, 2020.  The additional disclosures did not affect the financial results upon adoption.

Net Income

Following is a summary of the components of net income for the periods indicated:

Net income remained at the same level in 2020 and 2019. Net interest and loan fee (FTE) income increased $6.3 million due to higher average balances of investments and average balances of $151 million of PPP loans, partially offset by lower yield on interest-bearing earning assets and lower average balances of other loans.

Results for 2020 include a provision of credit losses of $4.3 million, representing Management estimate of additional reserves needed over the remaining life of its loans due to credit-risk from economic weakness caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Noninterest income decreased $1.8 million compared with 2019 due to lower income from activity based fees due to reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the results for 2019 included a life insurance gain of $433 thousand. The decrease in noninterest income from 2019 to 2020 was partially offset by $3.5 million in gains on sales of a closed branch building in 2020. In 2020 noninterest expense decreased $420 thousand compared with lower salaries, occupancy and equipment expenses, and lower amortization of intangible assets, and because the results for 2019 included $553 thousand of loss contingency. The decrease was partially offset by higher FDIC assessments (included in “other noninterest expense”) in 2020 because FDIC assessments in 2019 were reduced by application of the Bank’s FDIC assessment credit described in Part 1, Item 1, “Premiums for Deposit Insurance”. The effective tax rates (FTE) was 27.2% for 2020 compared with 26.8% for 2019.

Comparing 2019 with 2018, net income increased $8.8 million. Net interest and loan fee (FTE) income increased $6.0 million due to a higher net yield on earning assets and higher average balances of investments, partially offset by lower average balances of interest-bearing cash and loans. The provision for loan losses remained zero, reflecting Management's evaluation of losses inherent in the loan portfolio. In 2019, noninterest income decreased $741 thousand compared with 2018 due to lower income from service charges on deposit accounts, other service charges and debit card fees, offset in part by an increase in merchant processing services and securities gains in 2019. In 2019 noninterest expense decreased $7.9 million compared with 2018 primarily due to decreases in loss contingencies, salaries and related benefits, FDIC insurance assessments, and intangible amortization. The effective tax rates (FTE) was 26.8% for 2019 compared with 26.0% for 2018.

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Net Interest and Loan Fee Income (FTE)

The Company's primary source of revenue is net interest income, or the difference between interest income earned on loans and investment securities and interest expense paid on interest-bearing deposits and other borrowings.

Components of Net Interest and Loan Fee Income (FTE)

Net interest and loan fee income (FTE) increased $6.3 million in 2020 compared with 2019 due to higher average balances of investments (up $445 million) and average balances of $151 million of PPP loans, partially offset by lower yield on interest-bearing earning assets (down 0.20%) and lower average balances of other loans (down $74 million).

Comparing 2019 with 2018, net interest and loan fee income (FTE) increased $6.0 million due to a higher net yield on earning assets (up 0.12%) and higher average balances of investments (up $127 million), partially offset by lower average balances of interest-bearing cash (down $101 million) and loans (down $47 million).

The net interest margin (FTE) was 2.91% in 2020, 3.11% in 2019 and 2.98% in 2018. The yield on earning assets (FTE) was 2.94% in 2020, 3.14% in 2019 and 3.02% in 2018. Market interest rates declined in 2020 compared with 2019. Additionally, investments, which generally carry lower yield than loans, made up a higher percentage of total earning assets in 2020 than in prior periods. (72.0% in 2020 compared with 71.4% in 2019 and 68.6% in 2018).

The Company’s funding costs were 0.03% in 2020 and 2019 compared with 0.04% in 2018. Average balances of time deposits in 2020 declined $18 million from 2019. Average balances of lower-cost checking and savings deposits grew 11% from 2019 to 2020. Average balances of checking and saving deposits accounted for 96.9% of average total deposits in 2020 compared with 96.2% in 2019 and 95.6% in 2018.

Net Interest Margin (FTE)

The following summarizes the components of the Company's net interest margin (FTE) for the periods indicated.

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Summary of Average Balances, Yields/Rates and Interest Differential

The following tables present information regarding the consolidated average assets, liabilities and shareholders’ equity, the amounts of interest income earned from average interest earning assets and the resulting yields, and the amounts of interest expense incurred on average interest-bearing liabilities and the resulting rates. Average loan balances include nonperforming loans. Interest income includes reversal of previously accrued interest on loans placed on non-accrual status during the period and proceeds from loans on nonaccrual status only to the extent cash payments have been received and applied as interest income and accretion of purchased loan discounts. Yields on tax-exempt securities and loans have been adjusted upward to reflect the effect of income exempt from federal income taxation at the federal statutory tax rate of 21 percent.

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin

Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin

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Distribution of Assets, Liabilities & Shareholders’ Equity and Yields, Rates & Interest Margin

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Summary of Changes in Interest Income and Expense due to Changes in Average Asset & Liability Balances and Yields Earned & Rates Paid

The following tables set forth a summary of the changes in interest income and interest expense due to changes in average assets and liability balances (volume) and changes in average interest yields/rates for the periods indicated. Changes not solely attributable to volume or yields/rates have been allocated in proportion to the respective volume and yield/rate components.

Summary of Changes in Interest Income and Expense 

⁽¹⁾ Amounts calculated on an FTE basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.

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Summary of Changes in Interest Income and Expense 

⁽¹⁾ Amounts calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current statutory federal tax rate.

Provision for Credit Losses

The Company manages credit costs by consistently enforcing conservative underwriting and administration procedures and aggressively pursuing collection efforts with debtors experiencing financial difficulties. The provision for credit losses reflects Management's assessment of credit risk in the loan portfolio and debt securities held to maturity during each of the periods presented.

The Company’s provided a provision of credit losses of $4.3 million recorded in 2020. The provision represents Management’s estimate of additional reserves needed over the remaining life of its loans due to credit-risk from weakened economic conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company provided no provision for loan losses in 2019 and 2018. Classified loans declined $3.8 million in 2019. Nonaccrual loans were $4 million at December 31, 2019 compared with $5 million at December 31, 2018. These factors were reflected in Management’s evaluation of credit quality, the level of the provision for loan losses in 2019, and the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses at December 31, 2019. For further information regarding credit risk, net credit losses and the allowance for credit losses, see the “Loan Portfolio Credit Risk” and “Allowance for Credit Losses” sections of this Report.

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Noninterest Income

Components of Noninterest Income

In 2020, noninterest income decreased $1.8 million compared with 2019 due to lower income from activity based fees due to reduced economic activity related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the results for 2019 included a life insurance gain of $433 thousand. The decrease was partially offset by $3.5 million in gains on sale of a closed branch building in 2020.

In 2019, noninterest income decreased $741 thousand compared with 2018. Income from service charges on deposit accounts decreased due to lower overdraft fees in 2019. Other service charges decreased due to lower income from internet banking. Debit card fees and financial services commissions decreased in 2019. Merchant processing services increased due to successful sales efforts and higher transaction volumes and partially offset the decrease in noninterest income in 2019 compared with 2018.

Noninterest Expense

Components of Noninterest Expense

In 2020, noninterest expense decreased $420 thousand compared with 2019 due to lower salaries, occupancy and equipment expenses, and lower amortization of intangible assets, and because the results for 2019 included $553 thousand of loss contingency. The decrease was partially offset by higher FDIC assessments (included in “other noninterest expense”) in 2020 because FDIC assessments in 2019 were reduced by application of the Bank’s FDIC assessment credit described in Part 1, Item 1, “Premiums for Deposit Insurance”.

In 2019, noninterest expense decreased $7.9 million compared with 2018 primarily due to decreases in loss contingencies, salaries and related benefits, FDIC insurance assessments, and intangible amortization. The 2019 loss contingencies include a $301 thousand increase in estimated customer refunds of revenue recognized prior to 2018 and a $252 thousand settlement to dismiss a lawsuit. Although loss contingencies represent estimated liabilities, which are subject to revision, the Company does not anticipate additional losses for either of these matters. Salaries and related benefits decreased $1.9 million primarily due to employee attrition and lower incentives and employee benefit costs. Amortization of intangibles decreased $1.4 million as assets are amortized on a declining balance method. FDIC insurance assessments (included in “other noninterest expense”) decreased primarily due to application of the Bank’s assessment credit described in Part 1, Item 1, “Premiums for Deposit Insurance”.

Provision for Income Tax

The Company’s income tax provision (FTE) was $30.0 million in 2020 compared with $29.4 million in 2019 and $25.1 million in 2018. The effective tax rates (FTE) were 27.2% in 2020 compared with 26.8% in 2019 and 26.0% in 2018.

The higher effective tax rate (FTE) in 2020 compared with 2019 and 2018 is due to lower levels of tax-exempt interest income and stock compensation tax deductions in 2020. The tax provisions (FTE) for 2020, 2019 and 2018 include tax benefits of $87 thousand, $435 thousand and $737 thousand, respectively, for tax deductions from the exercise of employee stock options which exceed related compensation expenses recognized in the financial statements. In 2019, the Company decreased unrecognized tax benefits by $909 thousand related to settlements with taxing authorities. The settlements incorporated amended tax returns for which the Company had recognized a deferred tax asset in the amount of $1,003 thousand.

Investment Securities Portfolio

The Company maintains an investment securities portfolio consisting of securities issued by U.S. Government sponsored entities, agency and non-agency mortgage backed securities, state and political subdivisions, corporations, collateralized loan obligations, commercial paper and other securities.

Management managed the investment securities portfolio in response to changes in deposit and loan volumes. The carrying value of the Company’s investment securities portfolio was $4.6 billion at December 31, 2020 and $3.8 billion at December 31, 2019. The following table indicates the carrying values of investment securities in the Company’s portfolio by type as of the indicated dates. The Company adopted ASU 2016-13 effective January 1, 2020. Debt securities held to maturity of $515,598 thousand at December 31, 2020, is amortized cost before related reserve for expected credit losses of $9 thousand.

Management continually evaluates the Company’s investment securities portfolio in response to established asset/liability management objectives, changing market conditions that could affect profitability, liquidity, and the level of interest rate risk to which the Company is exposed. These evaluations may cause Management to change the level of funds the Company deploys into investment securities and change the composition of the Company’s investment securities portfolio.

At December 31, 2020, substantially all of the Company’s investment securities continue to be investment grade rated by one or more major rating agencies. In addition to monitoring credit rating agency evaluations, Management performs its own evaluations regarding the credit worthiness of the issuer or the securitized assets underlying asset-backed securities. The Company’s procedures for evaluating investments in securities are in accordance with guidance issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, “Investing in Securities without Reliance on Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Agencies” (SR 12-15) and other regulatory guidance. There have been no significant differences in the Company’s internal analyses compared with the ratings assigned by the third party credit rating agencies.

The Company had no marketable equity securities at December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. All of the marketable equity securities were sold with no gains or losses from the sale during the third quarter 2019. The market value of the marketable equity securities was $1,747 thousand at December 31, 2018. The Company recognized gross unrealized holding gains of $50 thousand in earnings in 2019.

The following table shows the fair value carrying amount of the Company’s equity securities and debt securities available for sale as of the dates indicated:

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The following table sets forth the relative maturities and contractual yields of the Company’s debt securities available for sale (stated at fair value) at December 31, 2020. Yields on state and political subdivision securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current federal statutory rate. Mortgage-backed securities are shown separately because they are typically paid in monthly installments over a number of years.

Debt Securities Available for Sale Maturity Distribution 

The following table shows the amortized cost carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s debt securities held to maturity as of the dates indicated:

The following table sets forth the relative maturities and contractual yields of the Company’s debt securities held to maturity at December 31, 2020. Yields on state and political subdivision securities have been calculated on a fully taxable equivalent basis using the current federal statutory rate. Mortgage-backed securities are shown separately because they are typically paid in monthly installments over a number of years.              

Debt Securities Held to Maturity Maturity Distribution 

The following table summarizes total corporate securities by credit rating: