UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2018

Commission File Number 0-18082

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC.
          
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
 
43-1524856
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation
or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
 
 
1451 E. Battlefield, Springfield, Missouri
 
65804
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
 
 
(417) 887-4400
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  
Yes /X/     No /  /
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data file required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes/X/   No /  /
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer /  /
Accelerated filer /X/
Non-accelerated filer /  /
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company) 
 
Smaller reporting company /  /
 
Emerging growth company /  /

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. / /

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 
Yes /  /   No /X/
 
The number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant's classes of common stock: 14,120,117 shares of common stock, par value $.01, outstanding at May 3, 2018.
 
 
1


 
 
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
(In thousands, except number of shares)

   
MARCH 31,
   
DECEMBER 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
ASSETS
           
Cash
 
$
99,443
   
$
115,600
 
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions
   
120,539
     
126,653
 
Cash and cash equivalents
   
219,982
     
242,253
 
Available-for-sale securities
   
171,621
     
179,179
 
Held-to-maturity securities (fair value $130  – March 2018; $131 - December 2017)
   
130
     
130
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
   
5,058
     
8,203
 
Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $36,310 – March 2018; $36,492 -  
    December 2017
   
3,761,714
     
3,726,302
 
Interest receivable
   
12,144
     
12,338
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
38,691
     
47,122
 
Other real estate owned and repossessions, net
   
22,982
     
22,002
 
Premises and equipment, net
   
140,035
     
138,018
 
Goodwill and other intangible assets
   
10,438
     
10,850
 
Investment in Federal Home Loan Bank stock
   
10,678
     
11,182
 
Current and deferred income taxes
   
17,966
     
16,942
 
          Total Assets
 
$
4,411,439
   
$
4,414,521
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Liabilities:
               
Deposits
 
$
3,562,177
   
$
3,597,144
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
134,000
     
127,500
 
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers
   
110,082
     
80,531
 
Short-term borrowings
   
1,392
     
16,604
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
   
25,774
     
25,774
 
Subordinated notes
   
73,728
     
73,688
 
Accrued interest payable
   
2,000
     
2,904
 
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
   
7,055
     
5,319
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
15,231
     
13,395
 
          Total Liabilities
   
3,931,439
     
3,942,859
 
Stockholders' Equity:
               
Capital stock
               
Serial preferred stock – $.01 par value; authorized 1,000,000 shares; issued
and outstanding March 2018 and December 2017 - -0- shares
   
     
 
Common stock, $.01 par value; authorized 20,000,000 shares;
issued and outstanding March 2018  –14,111,142 shares;
December 2017 - 14,087,533 shares
   
141
     
141
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
28,624
     
28,203
 
Retained earnings
   
451,603
     
442,077
 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
   
(368
)
   
1,241
 
          Total Stockholders' Equity
   
480,000
     
471,662
 
          Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
 
$
4,411,439
   
$
4,414,521
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
2


 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
INTEREST INCOME
           
Loans
 
$
45,165
   
$
43,744
 
Investment securities and other
   
1,717
     
1,669
 
TOTAL INTEREST INCOME
   
46,882
     
45,413
 
                 
INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Deposits
   
5,584
     
4,964
 
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
605
     
255
 
Short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements
   
28
     
226
 
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts
   
202
     
242
 
Subordinated notes
   
1,025
     
1,025
 
TOTAL INTEREST EXPENSE
   
7,444
     
6,712
 
NET INTEREST INCOME
   
39,438
     
38,701
 
Provision for Loan Losses
   
1,950
     
2,250
 
NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR LOAN LOSSES
   
37,488
     
36,451
 
                 
NON-INTEREST INCOME
               
Commissions
   
248
     
266
 
Service charges and ATM fees
   
5,244
     
5,268
 
Net realized gains on sales of loans
   
462
     
872
 
Late charges and fees on loans
   
389
     
878
 
Gain on derivative interest rate products
   
37
     
7
 
Amortization of income/(expense) related to business acquisitions
   
     
(489
)
Other income
   
555
     
896
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME
   
6,935
     
7,698
 
                 
NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
               
Salaries and employee benefits
   
14,623
     
15,333
 
Net occupancy and equipment expense
   
6,384
     
6,316
 
Postage
   
866
     
933
 
Insurance
   
670
     
798
 
Advertising
   
671
     
413
 
Office supplies and printing
   
233
     
697
 
Telephone
   
719
     
810
 
Legal, audit and other professional fees
   
809
     
320
 
Expense on other real estate owned and repossessions
   
1,141
     
575
 
Partnership tax credit investment amortization
   
302
     
278
 
Acquired deposit intangible asset amortization
   
412
     
412
 
Other operating expenses
   
1,482
     
1,688
 
TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE
   
28,312
     
28,573
 
                 
Income Before Income Taxes
   
16,111
     
15,576
 
Provision for Income Taxes
   
2,645
     
4,058
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
13,466
   
$
11,518
 
                 
Basic Earnings Per Common Share
 
$
0.95
   
$
0.82
 
Diluted Earnings Per Common Share
 
$
0.95
   
$
0.81
 
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
 
$
0.28
   
$
0.22
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
3


 
 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)

   
THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
Net Income
 
$
13,466
   
$
11,518
 
                 
Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on available-for-sale securities,
   net of taxes (credit) of $(541) and $238, for 2018 and 2017, respectively
   
(1,881
)
   
417
 
                 
Change in fair value of cash flow hedge, net of taxes of $-0- and $29,
   for 2018 and 2017, respectively
   
     
51
 
                 
Comprehensive Income
 
$
11,585
   
$
11,986
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
4





GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)

   
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net income
 
$
13,466
   
$
11,518
 
Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale
   
22,807
     
23,848
 
Originations of loans held for sale
   
(18,926
)
   
(27,567
)
Items not requiring (providing) cash:
               
Depreciation
   
2,226
     
2,352
 
Amortization
   
754
     
728
 
Compensation expense for stock option grants
   
177
     
137
 
Provision for loan losses
   
1,950
     
2,250
 
Net gains on loan sales
   
(462
)
   
(872
)
Net losses on sale of premises and equipment
   
38
     
8
 
Net (gain) loss on sale/write-down of other real estate owned
   
389
     
(242
)
Accretion of deferred income, premiums, discounts and other
   
(707
)
   
(647
)
Gain on derivative interest rate products
   
(37
)
   
(7
)
Deferred income taxes
   
(6,355
)
   
(1,487
)
Changes in:
               
Interest receivable
   
194
     
843
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
8,195
     
(919
)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
   
333
     
(809
)
Income taxes refundable/payable
   
5,873
     
3,866
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
   
29,915
     
13,000
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Net change in loans
   
(29,488
)
   
79,740
 
Purchase of loans
   
(13,000
)
   
(41,035
)
Cash received from FDIC loss sharing reimbursements
   
     
1,315
 
Purchase of premises and equipment
   
(4,292
)
   
(1,710
)
Proceeds from sale of premises and equipment
   
11
     
67
 
Proceeds from sale of other real estate owned and repossessions
   
4,320
     
9,230
 
Capitalized costs on other real estate owned
   
     
(117
)
Proceeds from maturities and calls of available-for-sale securities
   
2,030
     
5,345
 
Principal reductions on mortgage-backed securities
   
4,810
     
5,257
 
Purchase of available-for-sale securities
   
(1,859
)
   
 
Redemption of Federal Home Loan Bank stock
   
504
     
6,294
 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(36,964
)
   
64,386
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Net decrease in certificates of deposit
   
(70,680
)
   
(19,265
)
Net increase in checking and savings deposits
   
35,737
     
30,758
 
Proceeds from Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
604,500
     
 
Repayments of Federal Home Loan Bank advances
   
(598,000
)
   
(19
)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
   
14,339
     
(140,280
)
Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance
   
1,736
     
1,788
 
Dividends paid
   
(3,381
)
   
(3,073
)
Stock options exercised
   
527
     
1,005
 
Net cash used in financing activities
   
(15,222
)
   
(129,086
)
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
   
(22,271
)
   
(51,700
)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
   
242,253
     
279,769
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
 
$
219,982
   
$
228,069
 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
 
5

 

 

GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1: BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company" or "Great Southern") have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. The financial statements presented herein reflect all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to fairly present the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented. Those adjustments consist only of normal recurring adjustments. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. The consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of December 31, 2017, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial condition of the Company as of that date.  Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.  These reclassifications had no effect on net income.

Certain information and note disclosures normally included in the Company's annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTE 2: NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND OPERATING SEGMENTS

The Company operates as a one-bank holding company.  The Company's business primarily consists of the operations of Great Southern Bank (the "Bank"), which provides a full range of financial services to customers primarily located in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Arkansas.  In addition, the Company operates commercial loan production offices in Dallas, Texas, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Chicago, Illinois.  The Company and the Bank are subject to the regulations of certain federal and state agencies and undergo periodic examinations by those regulatory agencies.

The Company's banking operation is its only reportable segment.  The banking operation is principally engaged in the business of originating residential and commercial real estate loans, construction loans, commercial business loans and consumer loans and funding these loans through attracting deposits from the general public, accepting brokered deposits and borrowing from the Federal Home Loan Bank and others.  The operating results of this segment are regularly reviewed by management to make decisions about resource allocations and to assess performance.  Selected information is not presented separately for the Company's reportable segment, as there is no material difference between that information and the corresponding information in the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 3: RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606):  Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09.  In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Summary and Amendments that Create Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Other Assets and Deferred Costs--Contracts with Customers (Subtopic 340-40). The guidance in this Update supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance throughout the industry topics of the codification. These Updates were effective beginning January 1, 2018.  Our revenue is comprised of net interest income on financial assets and financial liabilities, which is explicitly excluded from the scope of ASU 2014-09, and non-interest income. We have completed our evaluation of the impact of ASU 2014-09 on components of our non-interest income and have determined that certain components contain revenue streams which are included in the scope of these updates, such as deposit-related fees, service charges, debit card interchange fees and other charges and fees, and revenue from the sale of other real estate owned; however the adoption of these updates did not materially impact the Company's
 
6

 
 
 
consolidated statements of income. We adopted the guidance using the modified retrospective adoption method, and no cumulative effect adjustment to opening retained earnings was required as a result of the adoption.

Under ASU 2014-09, for revenue not associated with financial instruments, we apply the following steps when recognizing revenue from contracts with customers: (i) identify the contract, (ii) identify the performance obligations, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations and (v) recognize revenue when performance obligation is satisfied. Our contracts with customers are generally short term in nature, typically due within one year or less or cancellable by us or our customer upon a short notice period. Performance obligations for our customer contracts are generally satisfied at a single point in time, typically when the transaction is complete, or over time. For performance obligations satisfied over time, we primarily use the output method, directly measuring the value of the products/services transferred to the customer, to determine when performance obligations have been satisfied. We typically receive payment from customers and recognize revenue concurrent with the satisfaction of our performance obligations. In most cases, this occurs within a single financial reporting period. For payments received in advance of the satisfaction of performance obligations, revenue recognition is deferred until such time the performance obligations have been satisfied. In cases where we have not received payment despite satisfaction of our performance obligations, we accrue an estimate of the amount due in the period our performance obligations have been satisfied. For contracts with variable components, only amounts for which collection is probable are accrued. We generally act in a principal capacity, on our own behalf, in most of our contracts with customers. In such transactions, we recognize revenue and the related costs to provide our services on a gross basis in our financial statements. In some cases, we act in an agent capacity, deriving revenue through assisting other entities in transactions with our customers. In such transactions, we recognize revenue and the related costs to provide our services on a net basis in our financial statements. These transactions primarily relate to fees derived from our customers' use of various interchange and ATM/debit card networks.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments – Overall (Topic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.  The Update requires investments in equity securities, except for those under the equity method of accounting, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized through net income.  The update enhances the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information by updating certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. Among other changes, the update requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes.  The Update also clarified guidance related to the valuation allowance assessment when recognizing deferred tax assets resulting from unrealized losses on available-for-sale debt securities.  The Update was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated statements of financial condition or our consolidated statements of income.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842).  The amendments in this Update revise the accounting related to lessee accounting.  Under the new guidance, lessees will be required to recognize a lease liability and a right-of-use asset for all leases.  The Update is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of 2019, with early adoption permitted.  Adoption of the standard requires the use of a modified retrospective transition approach for all periods presented at the time of adoption.  Based on the Company's leases outstanding at March 31, 2018, which total less than 20 leased properties, we do not expect the new standard to have a material impact on our consolidated statements of financial condition or our consolidated statements of income, although an increase to assets and liabilities will occur at the time of adoption.  The Company's new leases and lease modifications and renewals prior to the implementation date could impact the level of materiality.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326).  The Update amends guidance on reporting credit losses for assets held at amortized cost basis and available for sale debt securities. For assets held at amortized cost basis, Topic 326 eliminates the probable initial recognition threshold in current GAAP and, instead, requires an entity to reflect its current estimate of all expected credit losses. This Update affects entities holding financial assets and net investment in leases that are not accounted for at fair value through net income. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables, and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash.  For public companies, the update is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption will be permitted beginning after December 15, 2018. An entity will apply the amendments in this update on a modified retrospective
 
7

 
 
 
 
basis, through a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is effective. The Company has formed a cross functional committee to oversee the system, data, reporting and other considerations for the purposes of meeting the requirements of this standard.  We have assessed our data and system needs and are in the process of uploading the necessary historical loan data to the software that will be used in meeting certain requirements of this standard.  The Company is evaluating the impact of adopting the new guidance, including the implementation of new data systems to capture the information needed to comply with the new standard.  We expect to recognize a one-time cumulative effect adjustment to the allowance for loan losses as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the new standard is effective, but cannot yet determine the magnitude of any such one-time adjustment, or the overall impact of the new guidance on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230).  The Update provides guidance on how certain cash receipts and payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows.  These items include: cash payments for debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs; cash outflows for the settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant; contingent consideration payments made after a business combination; proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims; proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, including bank-owned life insurance policies; and beneficial interests acquired in securitization transactions.  The amendments in the Update are to be applied retrospectively.  The Update was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018 and did not result in a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, including the statement of cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740).  The Update provides guidance on the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory.  Under this guidance, companies will be required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity asset transfer when the transfer occurs.  The Update was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.  The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations - Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 805). The amendments in this Update provide a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. The amendments provide more consistency in applying the guidance, reduce the costs of application, and make the definition of a business more operable. The amendments in this Update were effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. The adoption of this new guidance must be applied on a prospective basis and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles: Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment (Topic 350). To simplify the subsequent measurement of goodwill, the amendments eliminate Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. The annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test should be performed by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount and an impairment charge should be recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value.  An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the qualitative impairment test is necessary.  The nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle should be disclosed upon transition. The amendments in this update should be adopted for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted on testing dates after January 1, 2017.  We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting the new guidance, including consideration of early adoption, on the consolidated financial statements, but it is not expected to have a material impact.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation --Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting. The amendment provides guidance on determining which changes to the terms and conditions of share-based payment awards require an entity to apply modification accounting under Topic 7l8. The amendments clarify that modification accounting only applies to an entity if the fair value, vesting conditions, or classification of the award changes as a result of changes in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award. The ASU should be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after the adoption date.  The guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018.  The adoption of the ASU did not impact the Company's consolidated financial statements.
 
8

 
 
 
 

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The objective of ASU 2017-12 is to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships by better aligning an entity's risk management activity with the economic objectives in undertaking those activities. In addition, the amendments in this update simplify the application of hedge accounting for preparers of financial statements, as well as improve the understandability of an entity's risk management activities being conveyed to financial statement users. The new guidance becomes effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the new guidance and timing of adoption to determine the impact this standard may have on its financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Topic 220). The amendment allows an entity to elect to reclassify the stranded tax effects resulting from the change in income tax rate from H.R.1, originally known as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings.  The amendments in this update are effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2018.  Early adoption is permitted.  The Company chose to early adopt ASU 2018-02 effective January 1, 2018.  The stranded tax amount related to unrealized gains and losses on available for sale securities, which was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings at the time of adoption, was $272,000.  There were no other income tax effects related to the application of the Act to be reclassified from AOCI to retained earnings.

NOTE 4: EARNINGS PER SHARE

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
 
             
Basic:
           
Average shares outstanding
   
14,101
     
13,994
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
13,466
   
$
11,518
 
Per common share amount
 
$
0.95
   
$
0.82
 
                 
Diluted:
               
Average shares outstanding
   
14,101
     
13,994
 
Net effect of dilutive stock options – based on the treasury
               
stock method using average market price
   
131
     
171
 
Diluted shares
   
14,232
     
14,165
 
Net income available to common stockholders
 
$
13,466
   
$
11,518
 
Per common share amount
 
$
0.95
   
$
0.81
 

Options outstanding at March 31, 2018 and 2017, to purchase 252,911 and 120,250 shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share for each of the three month periods because the exercise prices of such options were greater than the average market prices of the common stock for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

NOTE 5: INVESTMENT SECURITIES

   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                             
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
120,163
   
$
769
   
$
3,134
   
$
117,798
     
2.30
%
States and political subdivisions
   
51,932
     
1,898
     
7
     
53,823
     
4.81
 
   
$
172,095
   
$
2,667
   
$
3,141
   
$
171,621
     
3.06
%
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                       
States and political subdivisions
 
$
130
   
$
   
$
   
$
130
     
6.14
%
 
9

 

 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Gross
   
Gross
         
Tax
 
   
Amortized
   
Unrealized
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Equivalent
 
   
Cost
   
Gains
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Yield
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES:
                             
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
123,300
   
$
871
   
$
1,638
   
$
122,533
     
2.19
%
States and political subdivisions
   
53,930
     
2,716
     
     
56,646
     
4.72
 
   
$
177,230
   
$
3,587
   
$
1,638
   
$
179,179
     
2.96
%
                                         
HELD-TO-MATURITY SECURITIES:
                                       
States and political subdivisions
 
$
130
   
$
1
   
$
   
$
131
     
6.14
%

The amortized cost and fair value of available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2018, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  Expected maturities may differ from contractual maturities because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One year or less
 
$
   
$
 
After one through five years
   
822
     
896
 
After five through ten years
   
9,052
     
9,266
 
After ten years
   
42,058
     
43,661
 
Securities not due on a single maturity date
   
120,163
     
117,798
 
                 
   
$
172,095
   
$
171,621
 

The held-to-maturity securities at March 31, 2018, by contractual maturity, are shown below.  

   
Amortized
   
Fair
 
   
Cost
   
Value
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One year or less
 
$
130
   
$
130
 

Certain investments in debt securities are reported in the financial statements at an amount less than their historical cost. Total fair value of these investments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was approximately $87.6 million and $89.7 million, respectively, which is approximately 51.0% and 50.0% of the Company's available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investment portfolio, respectively.

Based on an evaluation of available evidence, including recent changes in market interest rates, credit rating information and information obtained from regulatory filings, management believes the declines in fair value for these debt securities are temporary.
 
10

 

 

The following table shows the Company's gross unrealized losses and fair value, aggregated by investment category and length of time that individual securities have been in a continuous unrealized loss position at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

   
March 31, 2018
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
32,040
   
$
(894
)
 
$
53,238
   
$
(2,240
)
 
$
85,278
   
$
(3,134
)
State and political
                                               
subdivisions
   
2,284
     
(7
)
   
     
     
2,284
     
(7
)
   
$
34,324
   
$
(901
)
 
$
53,238
   
$
(2,240
)
 
$
87,562
   
$
(3,141
)

   
December 31, 2017
 
   
Less than 12 Months
   
12 Months or More
   
Total
 
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
   
Fair
   
Unrealized
 
Description of Securities
 
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
   
Value
   
Losses
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
33,862
   
$
(384
)
 
$
55,845
   
$
(1,254
)
 
$
89,707
   
$
(1,638
)
State and political
                                               
subdivisions
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
   
$
33,862
   
$
(384
)
 
$
55,845
   
$
(1,254
)
 
$
89,707
   
$
(1,638
)


There were no sales of available-for-sale securities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively.  Gains and losses on sales of securities are determined on the specific-identification method.

Other-than-temporary Impairment.  Upon acquisition of a security, the Company decides whether it is within the scope of the accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets or will be evaluated for impairment under the accounting guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.

The accounting guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets provides incremental impairment guidance for a subset of the debt securities within the scope of the guidance for investments in debt and equity securities.  For securities where the security is a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the beneficial interests in securitized financial asset impairment model.  For securities where the security is not a beneficial interest in securitized financial assets, the Company uses the debt and equity securities impairment model.  The Company does not currently have securities within the scope of this guidance for beneficial interests in securitized financial assets.

The Company routinely conducts periodic reviews to identify and evaluate each investment security to determine whether an other-than-temporary impairment has occurred.  The Company considers the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position, the relative amount of the unrealized loss compared to the carrying value of the security, the type of security and other factors.  If certain criteria are met, the Company performs additional review and evaluation using observable market values or various inputs in economic models to determine if an unrealized loss is other-than-temporary.  The Company uses quoted market prices for marketable equity securities and uses broker pricing quotes based on observable inputs for equity investments that are not traded on a stock exchange.  For non-agency collateralized mortgage obligations, to determine if the unrealized loss is other than temporary, the Company projects total estimated defaults of the underlying assets (mortgages) and multiplies that calculated amount by an estimate of realizable value upon sale in the marketplace (severity) in order to determine the projected collateral loss.  The Company also evaluates any current credit enhancement underlying these securities to determine the impact on cash flows.  If the Company determines that a given security position will be subject to a write-down or loss, the Company records the expected credit loss as a charge to earnings.
 
11

 
 
 

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, no securities were determined to have impairment that had become other-than-temporary.

Credit Losses Recognized on Investments.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, there were nodebt securities that experienced fair value deterioration due to credit losses, or due to other market factors, that are not otherwise other-than-temporarily impaired.

Amounts Reclassified Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income.


NOTE 6: LOANS AND ALLOWANCE FOR LOAN LOSSES

Classes of loans at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were as follows:

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
 
$
24,621
   
$
20,793
 
Subdivision construction
   
16,067
     
18,062
 
Land development
   
45,940
     
43,971
 
Commercial construction
   
1,126,007
     
1,068,352
 
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
   
202,075
     
190,515
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
   
117,574
     
119,468
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,293,126
     
1,235,329
 
Other residential
   
736,679
     
745,645
 
Commercial business
   
351,889
     
353,351
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
21,031
     
21,859
 
Consumer auto
   
323,152
     
357,142
 
Consumer other
   
60,561
     
63,368
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
114,842
     
115,439
 
Loans acquired and accounted for under ASC 310-30, net of discounts
   
197,506
     
209,669
 
     
4,631,070
     
4,562,963
 
Undisbursed portion of loans in process
   
(826,307
)
   
(793,669
)
Allowance for loan losses
   
(36,310
)
   
(36,492
)
Deferred loan fees and gains, net
   
(6,739
)
   
(6,500
)
   
$
3,761,714
   
$
3,726,302
 
                 
Weighted average interest rate
   
4.86
%
   
4.74
%
 
12

 

 

Classes of loans by aging were as follows:

   
March 31, 2018
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
                                 
Total
   
> 90 Days
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Over
   
Total
         
Loans
   
Past Due and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
90 Days
   
Past Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                           
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
 
$
684
   
$
   
$
   
$
684
   
$
23,937
   
$
24,621
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
146
     
     
96
     
242
     
15,825
     
16,067
     
 
Land development
   
19
     
113
     
     
132
     
45,808
     
45,940
     
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
1,126,007
     
1,126,007
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
   
2,052
     
12
     
804
     
2,868
     
199,207
     
202,075
     
 
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
   
298
     
2,110
     
1,980
     
4,388
     
113,186
     
117,574
     
 
Commercial real estate
   
3,460
     
567
     
360
     
4,387
     
1,288,739
     
1,293,126
     
 
Other residential
   
412
     
     
     
412
     
736,267
     
736,679
     
 
Commercial business
   
800
     
612
     
3,260
     
4,672
     
347,217
     
351,889
     
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
     
     
     
21,031
     
21,031
     
 
Consumer auto
   
2,674
     
535
     
1,950
     
5,159
     
317,993
     
323,152
     
 
Consumer other
   
619
     
131
     
541
     
1,291
     
59,270
     
60,561
     
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
145
     
76
     
345
     
566
     
114,276
     
114,842
     
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under
                                                       
ASC 310-30, net of
                                                       
discounts
   
3,514
     
612
     
8,859
     
12,985
     
184,521
     
197,506
     
 
     
14,823
     
4,768
     
18,195
     
37,786
     
4,593,284
     
4,631,070
     
 
Less loans acquired and accounted for under
                                                       
ASC 310-30, net
   
3,514
     
612
     
8,859
     
12,985
     
184,521
     
197,506
     
 
                                                         
Total
 
$
11,309
   
$
4,156
   
$
9,336
   
$
24,801
   
$
4,408,763
   
$
4,433,564
   
$
 
 
 
 
 
 
13

 

 

   
December 31, 2017
 
                                       
Total Loans
 
                                 
Total
   
> 90 Days
 
   
30-59 Days
   
60-89 Days
   
Over
   
Total
         
Loans
   
Past Due and
 
   
Past Due
   
Past Due
   
90 Days
   
Past Due
   
Current
   
Receivable
   
Still Accruing
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                           
One- to four-family
                                         
residential construction
 
$
250
   
$
   
$
   
$
250
   
$
20,543
   
$
20,793
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
     
     
98
     
98
     
17,964
     
18,062
     
 
Land development
   
54
     
37
     
     
91
     
43,880
     
43,971
     
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
1,068,352
     
1,068,352
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                                       
family residential
   
1,927
     
71
     
904
     
2,902
     
187,613
     
190,515
     
 
Non-owner occupied one- to
                                                       
four-family residential
   
947
     
190
     
1,816
     
2,953
     
116,515
     
119,468
     
58
 
Commercial real estate
   
8,346
     
993
     
1,226
     
10,565
     
1,224,764
     
1,235,329
     
 
Other residential
   
540
     
353
     
1,877
     
2,770
     
742,875
     
745,645
     
 
Commercial business
   
2,623
     
1,282
     
2,063
     
5,968
     
347,383
     
353,351
     
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
     
     
     
21,859
     
21,859
     
 
Consumer auto
   
5,196
     
1,230
     
2,284
     
8,710
     
348,432
     
357,142
     
12
 
Consumer other
   
464
     
64
     
557
     
1,085
     
62,283
     
63,368
     
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
58
     
     
430
     
488
     
114,951
     
115,439
     
26
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under
ASC 310-30, net of
                                                       
discounts
   
4,449
     
1,951
     
10,675
     
17,075
     
192,594
     
209,669
     
272
 
     
24,854
     
6,171
     
21,930
     
52,955
     
4,510,008
     
4,562,963
     
368
 
Less loans acquired and accounted for under ASC 310-30, net
   
4,449
     
1,951
     
10,675
     
17,075
     
192,594
     
209,669
     
272
 
                                                         
Total
 
$
20,405
   
$
4,220
   
$
11,255
   
$
35,880
   
$
4,317,414
   
$
4,353,294
   
$
96
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14


 

Nonaccruing loans (excluding FDIC-assisted acquired loans, net of discount) are summarized as follows:

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
One- to four-family residential construction
 
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
96
     
98
 
Land development
   
     
 
Commercial construction
   
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-family residential
   
804
     
904
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential
   
1,980
     
1,758
 
Commercial real estate
   
360
     
1,226
 
Other residential
   
     
1,877
 
Commercial business
   
3,260
     
2,063
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
 
Consumer auto
   
1,950
     
2,272
 
Consumer other
   
541
     
557
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
345
     
404
 
                 
Total
 
$
9,336
   
$
11,159
 

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Also presented are the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of March 31, 2018:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                           
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Balance January 1, 2018
 
$
2,108
   
$
2,839
   
$
18,639
   
$
1,767
   
$
3,581
   
$
7,558
   
$
36,492
 
Provision (benefit) charged to
      expense
   
424
     
605
     
(486
)
   
362
     
482
     
563
     
1,950
 
Losses charged off
   
(14
)
   
(256
)
   
(102
)
   
(37
)
   
(409
)
   
(2,822
)
   
(3,640
)
Recoveries
   
84
     
24
     
11
     
96
     
41
     
1,252
     
1,508
 
Balance March 31, 2018
 
$
2,602
   
$
3,212
   
$
18,062
   
$
2,188
   
$
3,695
   
$
6,551
   
$
36,310
 
                                                         
Ending balance:
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
775
   
$
   
$
224
   
$
   
$
2,176
   
$
666
   
$
3,841
 
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
1,795
   
$
3,186
   
$
17,681
   
$
2,098
   
$
1,498
   
$
5,839
   
$
32,097
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under ASC
                                                       
310-30
 
$
32
   
$
26
   
$
157
   
$
90
   
$
21
   
$
46
   
$
372
 
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
7,024
   
$
1,025
   
$
6,987
   
$
15
   
$
4,187
   
$
3,928
   
$
23,166
 
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
353,313
   
$
735,654
   
$
1,286,139
   
$
1,171,932
   
$
368,733
   
$
494,627
   
$
4,410,398
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under ASC
                                                       
310-30
 
$
113,045
   
$
14,320
   
$
37,654
   
$
3,740
   
$
4,472
   
$
24,275
   
$
197,506
 
 
 
15


 

The following table presents the activity in the allowance for loan losses by portfolio segment for the three months ended March 31, 2017:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                           
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Balance January 1, 2017
 
$
2,322
   
$
5,486
   
$
15,938
   
$
2,284
   
$
3,015
   
$
8,355
   
$
37,400
 
Provision (benefit) charged to
      expense
   
549
     
(1,751
)
   
(476
)
   
501
     
1,885
     
1,542
     
2,250
 
Losses charged off
   
(35
)
   
     
(1
)
   
(295
)
   
(275
)
   
(3,403
)
   
(4,009
)
Recoveries
   
21
     
55
     
26
     
7
     
46
     
1,197
     
1,352
 
Balance March 31, 2017
 
$
2,857
   
$
3,790
   
$
15,487
   
$
2,497
   
$
4,671
   
$
7,691
   
$
36,993
 

The following table presents the balance in the allowance for loan losses and the recorded investment in loans based on portfolio segment and impairment method as of December 31, 2017:

   
One- to Four-
                                     
   
Family
                                     
   
Residential and
   
Other
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
   
Commercial
             
   
Construction
   
Residential
   
Real Estate
   
Construction
   
Business
   
Consumer
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                           
Allowance for loan losses
                                         
Individually evaluated for
                                         
impairment
 
$
513
   
$
   
$
599
   
$
   
$
2,140
   
$
699
   
$
3,951
 
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
1,564
   
$
2,813
   
$
17,843
   
$
1,690
   
$
1,369
   
$
6,802
   
$
32,081
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under ASC
                                                       
310-30
 
$
31
   
$
26
   
$
197
   
$
77
   
$
72
   
$
57
   
$
460
 
                                                         
Loans
                                                       
Individually evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
6,950
   
$
2,907
   
$
8,315
   
$
15
   
$
3,018
   
$
4,129
   
$
25,334
 
Collectively evaluated for
                                                       
impairment
 
$
341,888
   
$
742,738
   
$
1,227,014
   
$
1,112,308
   
$
372,192
   
$
531,820
   
$
4,327,960
 
Loans acquired and
                                                       
accounted for under ASC
                                                       
310-30
 
$
120,295
   
$
14,877
   
$
39,210
   
$
3,806
   
$
5,275
   
$
26,206
   
$
209,669
 

The portfolio segments used in the preceding three tables correspond to the loan classes used in all other tables in Note 6 as follows:
 
·
The one-to four-family residential and construction segment includes the one- to four-family residential construction, subdivision construction, owner occupied one- to four-family residential and non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential classes
·
The other residential segment corresponds to the other residential class
·
The commercial real estate segment includes the commercial real estate and industrial revenue bonds classes
·
The commercial construction segment includes the land development and commercial construction classes
·
The commercial business segment corresponds to the commercial business class
·
The consumer segment includes the consumer auto, consumer other and home equity lines of credit classes
 
16

 
 

 
A loan is considered impaired, in accordance with the impairment accounting guidance (FASB ASC 310-10-35-16), when based on current information and events, it is probable the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due from the borrower in accordance with the contractual terms of the loan. Impaired loans include not only nonperforming loans but also include loans modified in troubled debt restructurings where concessions have been granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.

Impaired loans (excluding FDIC-assisted loans, net of discount), are summarized as follows:

   
At or for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
                     
Average
       
         
Unpaid
         
Investment in
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
   
Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
One- to four-family residential
  construction
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
343
     
363
     
112
     
370
     
6
 
Land development
   
15
     
18
     
     
15
     
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
  family residential
   
3,293
     
3,608
     
295
     
3,293
     
45
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
  family residential
   
3,389
     
3,680
     
368
     
3,438
     
54
 
Commercial real estate
   
6,987
     
7,137
     
224
     
7,266
     
78
 
Other residential
   
1,025
     
1,025
     
     
2,411
     
10
 
Commercial business
   
4,187
     
4,840
     
2,176
     
3,691
     
31
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
     
     
     
 
Consumer auto
   
2,463
     
2,655
     
444
     
2,461
     
41
 
Consumer other
   
904
     
1,011
     
136
     
868
     
19
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
560
     
601
     
86
     
567
     
19
 
                                         
Total
 
$
23,166
   
$
24,938
   
$
3,841
   
$
24,380
   
$
303
 

   
At or for the Year Ended December 31, 2017
 
                     
Average
       
         
Unpaid
         
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
One- to four-family residential
  construction
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
193
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
349
     
367
     
114
     
584
     
22
 
Land development
   
15
     
18
     
     
1,793
     
24
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                       
  family residential
   
3,405
     
3,723
     
331
     
3,405
     
166
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
                                       
  family residential
   
3,196
     
3,465
     
68
     
2,419
     
165
 
Commercial real estate
   
8,315
     
8,490
     
599
     
9,075
     
567
 
Other residential
   
2,907
     
2,907
     
     
3,553
     
147
 
Commercial business
   
3,018
     
4,222
     
2,140
     
5,384
     
173
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
     
     
     
 
Consumer auto
   
2,713
     
2,898
     
484
     
2,383
     
222
 
Consumer other
   
825
     
917
     
124
     
906
     
69
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
591
     
648
     
91
     
498
     
33
 
                                         
Total
 
$
25,334
   
$
27,655
   
$
3,951
   
$
30,193
   
$
1,588
 
 
17

 

 

   
At or for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
                     
Average
       
         
Unpaid
         
Investment
   
Interest
 
   
Recorded
   
Principal
   
Specific
   
in Impaired
   
Income
 
   
Balance
   
Balance
   
Allowance
   
Loans
   
Recognized
 
   
(In Thousands)
             
                               
One- to four-family residential
  construction
 
$
381
   
$
381
   
$
1
   
$
391
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
807
     
820
     
128
     
811
     
7
 
Land development
   
4,379
     
4,478
     
1,292
     
3,465
     
16
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
  family residential
   
3,331
     
3,623
     
384
     
3,410
     
37
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
  family residential
   
2,010
     
2,277
     
55
     
1,933
     
22
 
Commercial real estate
   
8,676
     
9,803
     
523
     
11,329
     
58
 
Other residential
   
3,797
     
3,813
     
2
     
3,804
     
38
 
Commercial business
   
6,993
     
7,643
     
3,342
     
5,885
     
86
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
     
     
     
     
 
Consumer auto
   
2,086
     
2,175
     
377
     
2,393
     
29
 
Consumer other
   
782
     
845
     
117
     
796
     
15
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
359
     
379
     
58
     
395
     
10
 
                                         
Total
 
$
33,601
   
$
36,237
   
$
6,279
   
$
34,612
   
$
318
 

At March 31, 2018, $11.6 million of impaired loans had specific valuation allowances totaling $3.8 million.  At December 31, 2017, $12.7 million of impaired loans had specific valuation allowances totaling $4.0 million.

Included in certain loan categories in the impaired loans are troubled debt restructurings that were classified as impaired. Troubled debt restructurings are loans that are modified by granting concessions to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties.  These concessions could include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  The types of concessions made are factored into the estimation of the allowance for loan losses for troubled debt restructurings primarily using a discounted cash flow or collateral adequacy approach.

The following tables present newly restructured loans during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, by type of modification:

   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
 
                     
Total
 
   
Interest Only
   
Term
   
Combination
   
Modification
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
Mortgage loans on real estate:
                       
One- to four-family residential
 
$
1,348
   
$
   
$
   
$
1,348
 
Consumer
   
     
152
     
     
152
 
                                 
   
$
1,348
   
$
152
   
$
   
$
1,500
 

   
Three Months Ended March 31, 2017
 
                     
Total
 
   
Interest Only
   
Term
   
Combination
   
Modification
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Commercial business
 
$
   
$
   
$
274
   
$
274
 
                                 
   
$
   
$
   
$
274
   
$
274
 
 
18

 

 
At March 31, 2018, the Company had $13.9 million of loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired, as follows:  $262,000 of construction and land development loans, $5.5 million of single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans, $6.5 million of commercial real estate loans, $851,000 of commercial business loans and $704,000 of consumer loans.  Of the total troubled debt restructurings at March 31, 2018, $12.1 million were accruing interest and $7.8 million were classified as substandard using the Company's internal grading system, which is described below.  The Company had no troubled debt restructurings which were modified in the previous 12 months and subsequently defaulted during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  When loans modified as troubled debt restructurings have subsequent payment defaults, the defaults are factored into the determination of the allowance for loan losses to ensure specific valuation allowances reflect amounts considered uncollectible.  At December 31, 2017, the Company had $15.0 million of loans that were modified in troubled debt restructurings and impaired, as follows:  $266,000 of construction and land development loans, $6.2 million of single family and multi-family residential mortgage loans, $7.1 million of commercial real estate loans, $867,000 of commercial business loans and $617,000 of consumer loans.  Of the total troubled debt restructurings at December 31, 2017, $12.3 million were accruing interest and $8.8 million were classified as substandard using the Company's internal grading system.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, loans designated as troubled debt restructurings totaling $23,000, all of which were consumer loans, met the criteria for placement back on accrual status.  The criteria is generally a minimum of six months of consistent and timely payment performance under original or modified terms.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, $234,000 of loans, all of which consisted of one- to four- family residential loans, designated as troubled debt restructurings met the criteria for placement back on accrual status.

The Company reviews the credit quality of its loan portfolio using an internal grading system that classifies loans as "Satisfactory," "Watch," "Special Mention," "Substandard" and "Doubtful."  Loans classified as watch are being monitored because of indications of potential weaknesses or deficiencies that may require future classification as special mention or substandard.  Special mention loans possess potential weaknesses that deserve management's close attention but do not expose the Bank to a degree of risk that warrants substandard classification.  Substandard loans are characterized by the distinct possibility that the Bank will sustain some loss if certain deficiencies are not corrected.  Doubtful loans are those having all the weaknesses inherent to those classified Substandard with the added characteristics that the weaknesses make collection or liquidation in full, on the basis of currently existing facts, conditions and values, highly questionable and improbable.  Loans not meeting any of the criteria previously described are considered satisfactory.  The FDIC-assisted acquired loans are also evaluated using this internal grading system and are accounted for in pools.  Minimal adverse classification in these acquired loan pools was identified as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  See Note 7 for further discussion of the acquired loan pools and the termination of the loss sharing agreements.

The Company evaluates the loan risk internal grading system definitions and allowance for loan loss methodology on an ongoing basis.  The general component of the allowance for loan losses is affected by several factors, including, but not limited to, average historical losses, average life of the loans, the current composition of the loan portfolio, current and expected economic conditions, collateral values and internal risk ratings.  Management considers all these factors in determining the adequacy of the Company's allowance for loan losses.  In the three months ended March 31, 2018, we expanded our loan risk rating system to allow for further segregation of satisfactory credits.  No significant changes were made to the allowance for loan loss methodology during the past year.
 
19

 

 

The loan grading system is presented by loan class below:

   
March 31, 2018
 
               
Special
                   
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
One- to four-family residential
                                   
construction
 
$
24,104
   
$
517
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
24,621
 
Subdivision construction
   
13,665
     
2,306
     
     
96
     
     
16,067
 
Land development
   
41,240
     
4,700
     
     
     
     
45,940
 
Commercial construction
   
1,126,007
     
     
     
     
     
1,126,007
 
Owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
family residential
   
200,368
     
     
     
1,707
     
     
202,075
 
Non-owner occupied one- to four-
                                               
family residential
   
113,916
     
1,432
     
     
2,226
     
     
117,574
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,279,403
     
8,056
     
     
5,667
     
     
1,293,126
 
Other residential
   
735,153
     
1,526
     
     
     
     
736,679
 
Commercial business
   
343,087
     
5,056
     
     
3,746
     
     
351,889
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
21,031
     
     
     
     
     
21,031
 
Consumer auto
   
320,840
     
     
     
2,312
     
     
323,152
 
Consumer other
   
59,785
     
13
     
     
763
     
     
60,561
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
114,293
     
     
     
549
     
     
114,842
 
Loans acquired and accounted
                                               
for under ASC 310-30,
                                               
net of discounts
   
197,473
     
     
     
33
     
     
197,506
 
                                                 
Total
 
$
4,590,365
   
$
23,606
   
$
   
$
17,099
   
$
   
$
4,631,070
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
               
Special
                   
   
Satisfactory
   
Watch
   
Mention
   
Substandard
   
Doubtful
   
Total
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
One- to four-family residential
                                   
construction
 
$
20,275
   
$
518
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
20,793
 
Subdivision construction
   
15,602
     
2,362
     
     
98
     
     
18,062
 
Land development
   
39,171
     
4,800
     
     
     
     
43,971
 
Commercial construction
   
1,068,352
     
     
     
     
     
1,068,352
 
Owner occupied one- to-four-
                                               
family residential
   
188,706
     
     
     
1,809
     
     
190,515
 
Non-owner occupied one- to-
                                               
four-family residential
   
117,103
     
389
     
     
1,976
     
     
119,468
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,218,431
     
9,909
     
     
6,989
     
     
1,235,329
 
Other residential
   
742,237
     
1,532
     
     
1,876
     
     
745,645
 
Commercial business
   
344,479
     
6,306
     
     
2,066
     
500
     
353,351
 
Industrial revenue bonds
   
21,859
     
     
     
     
     
21,859
 
Consumer auto
   
354,588
     
     
     
2,554
     
     
357,142
 
Consumer other
   
62,682
     
     
     
686
     
     
63,368
 
Home equity lines of credit
   
114,860
     
     
     
579
     
     
115,439
 
Loans acquired and accounted
                                               
for under ASC 310-30,
                                               
net of discounts
   
209,657
     
     
     
12
     
     
209,669
 
                                                 
Total
 
$
4,518,002
   
$
25,816
   
$
   
$
18,645
   
$
500
   
$
4,562,963
 
 
 
20


 


NOTE 7: FDIC-ACQUIRED LOANS

On March 20, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to assume all of the deposits (excluding brokered deposits) and acquire certain assets of TeamBank, N.A., a full service commercial bank headquartered in Paola, Kansas.

The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the TeamBank transaction were covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  This agreement originally was to extend for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. The five-year period ended March 31, 2014 and the ten-year period was terminated early, effective April 26, 2016, by mutual agreement of Great Southern Bank and the FDIC.  See "Loss Sharing Agreements" below.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.

On September 4, 2009, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Vantus Bank, a full service thrift headquartered in Sioux City, Iowa.

The loans, commitments and foreclosed assets purchased in the Vantus Bank transaction were covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  This agreement originally was to extend for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans. The five year period ended September 30, 2014 and the ten-year period was terminated early, effective April 26, 2016, by mutual agreement of Great Southern Bank and the FDIC.  See "Loss Sharing Agreements" below.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.

On October 7, 2011, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Sun Security Bank, a full service bank headquartered in Ellington, Missouri.

The loans and foreclosed assets purchased in the Sun Security Bank transaction were covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  This agreement originally was to extend for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans but was terminated early, effective April 26, 2016, by mutual agreement of Great Southern Bank and the FDIC.  See "Loss Sharing Agreements" below.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.

On April 27, 2012, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with loss share with the FDIC to assume all of the deposits and acquire certain assets of Inter Savings Bank, FSB ("InterBank"), a full service bank headquartered in Maple Grove, Minnesota.

The loans and foreclosed assets purchased in the InterBank transaction were covered by a loss sharing agreement between the FDIC and Great Southern Bank.  This agreement originally was to extend for ten years for 1-4 family real estate loans and for five years for other loans but was terminated early, effective June 9, 2017, by mutual agreement of Great Southern Bank and the FDIC.  See "Loss Sharing Agreements" below.  Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded.  A premium was recorded at the time of acquisition in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount amortized to yield during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $53,000 and $76,000, respectively.

On June 20, 2014, Great Southern Bank entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with the FDIC to purchase a substantial portion of the loans and investment securities, as well as certain other assets, and assume all of the deposits, as well as certain other liabilities, of Valley Bank, a full-service bank headquartered in Moline, Illinois, with significant operations in Iowa.  This transaction did not include a loss sharing agreement.

Based upon the acquisition date fair values of the net assets acquired, no goodwill was recorded. A premium was recorded in conjunction with the fair value of the acquired loans and the amount amortized to yield during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $11,000 and $80,000, respectively.
 
21

 
 
 

Loss Sharing Agreements.  On April 26, 2016, Great Southern Bank executed an agreement with the FDIC to terminate the loss sharing agreements for Team Bank, Vantus Bank and Sun Security Bank, effective immediately.  The agreement required the FDIC to pay $4.4 million to settle all outstanding items related to the terminated loss sharing agreements.  As a result of entering into the termination agreement, assets that were covered by the terminated loss sharing agreements were reclassified as non-covered assets effective April 26, 2016.  All rights and obligations of the Bank and the FDIC under the terminated loss sharing agreements, including the settlement of all existing loss sharing and expense reimbursement claims, have been resolved and terminated.

On June 9, 2017, Great Southern Bank executed an agreement with the FDIC to terminate the loss sharing agreements for InterBank, effective immediately.  Pursuant to the termination agreement, the FDIC paid $15.0 million to the Bank to settle all outstanding items related to the terminated loss sharing agreements.  The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the termination of $7.7 million.  As a result of entering into the termination agreement, assets that were covered by the terminated loss sharing arrangements were reclassified as non-covered assets effective June 9, 2017.  All rights and obligations of the Bank and the FDIC under the terminated loss sharing agreements, including the settlement of all existing loss sharing and expense reimbursement claims, have been resolved and terminated.

The termination of the loss sharing agreements for the TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank transactions have no impact on the yields for the loans that were previously covered under these agreements. All post-termination recoveries, gains, losses and expenses related to these previously covered assets are recognized entirely by Great Southern Bank since the FDIC no longer shares in such gains or losses. Accordingly, the Company's earnings are positively impacted to the extent the Company recognizes gains on any sales or recoveries in excess of the carrying value of such assets. Similarly, the Company's future earnings will be negatively impacted to the extent the Company recognizes expenses, losses or charge-offs related to such assets.

Fair Value and Expected Cash Flows.  At the time of these acquisitions, the Company determined the fair value of the loan portfolios based on several assumptions. Factors considered in the valuations were projected cash flows for the loans, type of loan and related collateral, classification status, fixed or variable interest rate, term of loan, current discount rates and whether or not the loan was amortizing. Loans were grouped together according to similar characteristics and were treated in the aggregate when applying various valuation techniques. Management also estimated the amount of credit losses that were expected to be realized for the loan portfolios. The discounted cash flow approach was used to value each pool of loans. For non-performing loans, fair value was estimated by calculating the present value of the recoverable cash flows using a discount rate based on comparable corporate bond rates. This valuation of the acquired loans is a significant component leading to the valuation of the loss sharing assets recorded.

The amount of the estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools in excess of the fair values recorded for the loan pools is referred to as the accretable yield.  The accretable yield is recognized as interest income over the estimated lives of the loans.  The Company continues to evaluate the fair value of the loans including cash flows expected to be collected.  Increases in the Company's cash flow expectations are recognized as increases to the accretable yield while decreases are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, improvements in expected cash flows related to the acquired loan portfolios resulted in adjustments of $1.8 million to the accretable yield to be spread over the estimated remaining lives of the loans on a level-yield basis. During the three months ended March 31, 2017, similar such adjustments totaling $155,000 were made to the accretable yield.  The increases in expected cash flows also reduced the amount of expected reimbursements under the loss sharing agreements, when applicable, until they were terminated or expired.
 
22

 

 

Because these adjustments to accretable yield will be recognized generally over the remaining lives of the loan pools, they will impact future periods as well.  The remaining accretable yield adjustment that will affect interest income is $3.2 million.  Of the remaining adjustments affecting interest income, we expect to recognize $2.0 million of interest income during the remainder of 2018.  Additional adjustments to accretable yield may be recorded in future periods from the FDIC-assisted transactions, as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools.

The impact of adjustments on the Company's financial results is shown below:

   
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
   
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
   
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data
   
and Basis Points Data)
                     
Impact on net interest income/
                  
net interest margin (in basis points)
 
$
1,157
 
12 bps
 
$
1,980
 
19 bps
Non-interest income
   
       
(634
)
 
Net impact to pre-tax income
 
$
1,157
     
$
1,346
   
Net impact net of taxes
 
$
898
     
$
857
   
Impact to diluted earnings per common share
 
$
0.06
     
$
0.06
   

TeamBank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following tables present the balances of the acquired loans and foreclosed assets related to the TeamBank transaction at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Through March 31, 2018, gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $423.6 million since the transaction date because of $289.9 million of repayments from borrowers, $61.7 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $72.0 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed at the time of the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.


   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
12,525
   
$
35
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(533
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(11,861
)
   
(35
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
131
   
$
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
13,668
   
$
35
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(589
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(12,948
)
   
(35
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
131
   
$
 
 
 
23

 

 

Vantus Bank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following tables present the balances of the acquired loans and foreclosed assets related to the Vantus Bank transaction at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Through March 31, 2018, gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $313.9 million since the transaction date because of $268.2 million of repayments from borrowers, $16.7 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $29.0 million in charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed at the time of the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.


   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
17,668
   
$
15
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(110
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(17,329
)
   
(15
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
229
   
$
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
18,965
   
$
15
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(131
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(18,605
)
   
(15
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
229
   
$
 

 
 
 
24


 

Sun Security Bank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following tables present the balances of the acquired loans and foreclosed assets related to the Sun Security Bank transaction at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.  Through March 31, 2018, gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $210.3 million since the transaction date because of $151.0 million of repayments from borrowers, $28.5 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $30.8 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed at the time of the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.


   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
24,189
   
$
306
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
   due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(394
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(22,850
)
   
(299
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
945
   
$
7
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
26,787
   
$
306
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
   due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(494
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(25,348
)
   
(299
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
945
   
$
7
 

 
 
 
25


 


InterBank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following table presents the balances of the acquired loans and foreclosed assets related to the InterBank transaction at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.  Through March 31, 2018, gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $287.6 million since the transaction date because of $245.5 million of repayments by the borrower, $19.7 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $22.4 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed at the time of the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations.  As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.


   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
105,695
   
$
1,570
 
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
   
221
     
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(1,644
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(92,233
)
   
(1,353
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
12,039
   
$
217
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
112,399
   
$
2,012
 
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
   
274
     
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(972
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(98,321
)
   
(1,785
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
13,380
   
$
227
 

 
26

 

 

Valley Bank Loans and Foreclosed Assets.  The following tables present the balances of the acquired loans and foreclosed assets related to the Valley Bank transaction at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.  Through March 31, 2018, gross loan balances (due from the borrower) were reduced approximately $134.9 million since the transaction date because of $123.1 million of repayments by the borrower, $4.0 million in transfers to foreclosed assets and $7.8 million of charge-offs to customer loan balances.  Based upon the collectability analyses performed at the time of the acquisition, we expected certain levels of foreclosures and charge-offs and actual results have been better than our expectations. As a result, cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools have increased, resulting in adjustments that were made to the related accretable yield as described above.


   
March 31, 2018
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
58,326
   
$
1,637
 
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
   
     
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(528
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(53,227
)
   
(1,631
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
4,571
   
$
6
 

   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Foreclosed
 
   
Loans
   
Assets
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Initial basis, net of activity since acquisition date
 
$
59,997
   
$
1,673
 
Non-credit premium/(discount), net of activity since acquisition date
   
11
     
 
Reclassification from nonaccretable discount to accretable discount
               
due to change in expected losses (net of accretion to date)
   
(411
)
   
 
Original estimated fair value of assets, net of activity since
               
acquisition date
   
(54,442
)
   
(1,667
)
                 
Expected loss remaining
 
$
5,155
   
$
6
 

 
 
27

 

 

Changes in the accretable yield for acquired loan pools were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

               
Sun Security
             
   
TeamBank
   
Vantus Bank
   
Bank
   
InterBank
   
Valley Bank
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                               
Balance, January 1, 2017
 
$
2,477
   
$
2,547
   
$
4,277
   
$
8,512
   
$
4,797
 
Accretion
   
(655
)
   
(356
)
   
(622
)
   
(2,278
)
   
(1,925
)
Change in expected
                                       
accretable yield(1)
   
674
     
163
     
140
     
676
     
1,528
 
                                         
Balance, March 31, 2017
 
$
2,496
   
$
2,354
   
$
3,795
   
$
6,910
   
$
4,400
 
                                         
Balance, January 1, 2018
 
$
2,071
   
$
1,850
   
$
2,901
   
$
5,074
   
$
2,695
 
Accretion
   
(227
)
   
(278
)
   
(430
)
   
(1,823
)
   
(1,130
)
Change in expected
                                       
accretable yield(1)
   
(17
)
   
183
     
(402
)
   
3,653
     
1,851
 
                                         
Balance, March 31, 2018
 
$
1,827
   
$
1,755
   
$
2,069
   
$
6,904
   
$
3,416
 

(1)
Represents increases in estimated cash flows expected to be received from the acquired loan pools, partially due to lower estimated credit losses.  The amounts also include changes in expected accretion of the loan pools for TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank, InterBank and Valley Bank for the three months ended March 31, 2018, totaling $(17,000), $183,000, $(402,000), $2.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively, and for the three months ended March 31, 2017, totaling $674,000, $158,000, $140,000, $676,000 and $1.4 million, respectively.


NOTE 8: OTHER REAL ESTATE OWNED AND REPOSSESSIONS

Major classifications of other real estate owned were as follows:

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Foreclosed assets held for sale and repossessions
           
One- to four-family construction
 
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
4,836
     
5,413
 
Land development
   
7,684
     
7,229
 
Commercial construction
   
     
 
One- to four-family residential
   
91
     
112
 
Other residential
   
1,601
     
140
 
Commercial real estate
   
2,088
     
1,694
 
Commercial business
   
     
 
Consumer
   
1,722
     
1,987
 
     
18,022
     
16,575
 
Foreclosed assets acquired through FDIC-assisted
               
transactions, net of discounts
   
3,332
     
3,799
 
                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale and repossessions, net
   
21,354
     
20,374
 
                 
Other real estate owned not acquired through foreclosure
   
1,628
     
1,628
 
                 
Other real estate owned and repossessions
 
$
22,982
   
$
22,002
 
 
 
28


 

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, other real estate owned not acquired through foreclosure included 10 properties, nine of which were branch locations that were closed and are held for sale, and one of which is land acquired for a potential branch location.

At March 31, 2018, residential mortgage loans totaling $2.4 million were in the process of foreclosure, $2.2 million of which were acquired loans.

Expenses applicable to other real estate owned included the following:

   
Three Months Ended
 
   
March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Net (gain) loss on sales of other real estate and repossessions
 
$
(472
)
 
$
(311
)
Valuation write-downs
   
616
     
60
 
Operating expenses, net of rental income
   
997
     
826
 
                 
   
$
1,141
   
$
575
 

NOTE 9: DEPOSITS

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Time Deposits:
           
0.00% - 0.99%
 
$
218,889
   
$
254,502
 
1.00% - 1.99%
   
914,598
     
1,006,373
 
2.00% - 2.99%
   
163,309
     
106,888
 
3.00% - 3.99%
   
956
     
701
 
4.00% - 4.99%
   
1,115
     
1,108
 
5.00% and above
   
273
     
272
 
Total time deposits (1.35% - 1.24%)
   
1,299,140
     
1,369,844
 
Non-interest-bearing demand deposits
   
659,627
     
661,589
 
Interest-bearing demand and savings deposits (0.33% - 0.32%)
   
1,603,410
     
1,565,711
 
Total Deposits
 
$
3,562,177
   
$
3,597,144
 

NOTE 10: ADVANCES FROM FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK

Advances from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank advances) at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of the following:


   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
         
Weighted
         
Weighted
 
         
Average
         
Average
 
         
Interest
         
Interest
 
Due In
 
Amount
   
Rate
   
Amount
   
Rate
 
   
(In Thousands)
         
(In Thousands)
       
                         
2018
 
$
134,000
     
1.91
%
 
$
127,500
     
1.53
%
                                 
 
29

 

 
NOTE 11: SECURITIES SOLD UNDER REVERSE REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS

   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Notes payable – Community Development Equity Funds
 
$
1,392
   
$
1,604
 
Overnight borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank
   
     
15,000
 
Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements
   
110,082
     
80,531
 
                 
   
$
111,474
   
$
97,135
 

The Bank enters into sales of securities under agreements to repurchase (reverse repurchase agreements).  Reverse repurchase agreements are treated as financings, and the obligations to repurchase securities sold are reflected as a liability in the statements of financial condition.  The dollar amount of securities underlying the agreements remains in the asset accounts.  Securities underlying the agreements are held by the Bank during the agreement period.  All agreements are written on a term of one-month or less.

The following table represents the Company's securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements, by collateral type and remaining contractual maturity.

   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
   
Overnight and
   
Overnight and
 
   
Continuous
   
Continuous
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Mortgage-backed securities – GNMA, FNMA, FHLMC
 
$
110,082
   
$
80,531
 
                 

NOTE 12: SUBORDINATED NOTES

On August 8, 2016, the Company completed the public offering and sale of $75.0 million of its subordinated notes.  The notes are due August 15, 2026, and have a fixed interest rate of 5.25% until August 15, 2021, at which time the rate becomes floating at a rate equal to three-month LIBOR plus 4.087%.  The Company may call the notes at par beginning on August 15, 2021, and on any scheduled interest payment date thereafter.  The notes were sold at par, resulting in net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and commissions, legal, accounting and other professional fees, of approximately $73.5 million.  Total debt issuance costs, totaling approximately $1.5 million, were deferred and are being amortized over the expected life of the notes, which is 10 years.  Amortization of the debt issuance costs during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, totaled $40,000 and $38,000, respectively, and is included in interest expense on subordinated notes in the consolidated statements of income, resulting in an imputed interest rate of 5.47%.

At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, subordinated notes are summarized as follows:

   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Subordinated notes
 
$
75,000
   
$
75,000
 
Less: unamortized debt issuance costs
   
1,272
     
1,312
 
   
$
73,728
   
$
73,688
 
 
 
30


 

NOTE 13: INCOME TAXES

Reconciliations of the Company's effective tax rates to the statutory corporate tax rates were as follows:

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
             
Tax at statutory rate
   
21.0
%
   
35.0
%
Nontaxable interest and dividends
   
(1.1
)
   
(1.9
)
Tax credits
   
(4.5
)
   
(6.4
)
State taxes
   
1.2
     
1.1
 
Other
   
(0.2
)
   
(1.7
)
                 
     
16.4
%
   
26.1
%

H.R.1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act") was signed into law on December 22, 2017, making several changes to U. S. corporate income tax laws, including reducing the corporate Federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018.  U. S. GAAP requires that the impact of the provisions of the Tax Act be accounted for in the period of enactment and the Company recognized the income tax effects of the Tax Act in its 2017 financial statements.  The Tax Act is complex and requires significant detailed analysis.  During the preparation of the Company's 2017 income tax returns in 2018, additional adjustments related to enactment of the Tax Act may be identified.  We do not currently expect significant adjustments will be necessary, but any further adjustments identified will be recognized in accordance with guidance contained in Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 from the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have not been audited recently by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and, as such, tax years through December 31, 2005, have been closed without audit.  The Company, through one of its subsidiaries, is a partner in two partnerships which have been under Internal Revenue Service examination for 2006 and 2007.  As a result, the Company's 2006 and subsequent tax years remain open for examination.  The examinations of these partnerships advanced during 2016 and 2017.  One of the partnerships has advanced to Tax Court and has entered a Motion for Entry of Decision with an agreed upon settlement.  The other partnership examination was recently completed by the IRS with no change impacting the Company's tax positions.  The Company does not currently expect significant adjustments to its financial statements from the partnership matter at the Tax Court.

The Company is currently under State of Missouri income and franchise tax examinations for its 2014 through 2015 tax years.  The Company does not currently expect significant adjustments to its financial statements from this state examination.  During 2017, the Company settled an appeal with the Kansas Department of Revenue.  The settlement did not result in any significant adjustments to the Company's financial statements.

NOTE 14: DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements, defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Topic 820 also specifies a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  The standard describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

·
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1): Inputs that are quoted unadjusted prices in active markets for identical assets that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date. An active market for the asset is a market in which transactions for the asset or liability occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

·
Other observable inputs (Level 2): Inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity including quoted prices for similar assets, quoted prices for securities in inactive markets and inputs derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
 
 
31

 
 

 
·
Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3): Inputs that reflect assumptions of a source independent of the reporting entity or the reporting entity's own assumptions that are supported by little or no market activity or observable inputs.

Financial instruments are broken down as follows by recurring or nonrecurring measurement status. Recurring assets are initially measured at fair value and are required to be remeasured at fair value in the financial statements at each reporting date. Assets measured on a nonrecurring basis are assets that, due to an event or circumstance, were required to be remeasured at fair value after initial recognition in the financial statements at some time during the reporting period.

The Company considers transfers between the levels of the hierarchy to be recognized at the end of related reporting periods.  From December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018, no assets for which fair value is measured on a recurring basis transferred between any levels of the hierarchy.

Recurring Measurements

The following table presents the fair value measurements of assets recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fell at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

         
Fair value measurements using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
March 31, 2018
                       
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
117,798
   
$
   
$
117,798
   
$
 
States and political subdivisions
   
53,823
     
     
53,823
     
 
Interest rate derivative asset
   
1,047
     
     
1,047
     
 
Interest rate derivative liability
   
(1,058
)
   
     
(1,058
)
   
 
                                 
December 31, 2017
                               
Mortgage-backed securities
 
$
122,533
   
$
   
$
122,533
   
$
 
States and political subdivisions
   
56,646
     
     
56,646
     
 
Interest rate derivative asset
   
981
     
     
981
     
 
Interest rate derivative liability
   
(1,030
)
   
     
(1,030
)
   
 

The following is a description of inputs and valuation methodologies used for assets recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.  There have been no significant changes in the valuation techniques during the three-month period ended March 31, 2018.  For assets classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the process used to develop the reported fair value is described below.

Available-for-Sale Securities. Investment securities available for sale are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values used by the Company are obtained from an independent pricing service, which represent either quoted market prices for the identical asset or fair values determined by pricing models, or other model-based valuation techniques, that consider observable market data, such as interest rate volatilities, LIBOR yield curve, credit spreads and prices from market makers and live trading systems.  Recurring Level 2 securities include U.S. government agency securities, mortgage-backed securities, state and municipal bonds and certain other investments. Inputs used for valuing Level 2 securities include observable data that may include dealer quotes, benchmark yields,
 
32

 
 
 
 
market spreads, live trading levels and market consensus prepayment speeds, among other things. Additional inputs include indicative values derived from the independent pricing service's proprietary computerized models.  There were no recurring Level 3 securities at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

Interest Rate Derivatives. The fair value is estimated using forward-looking interest rate curves and is determined using observable market rates and, therefore, are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy.

Nonrecurring Measurements

The following tables present the fair value measurements of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

         
Fair Value Measurements Using
 
         
Quoted prices
             
         
in active
             
         
markets
   
Other
   
Significant
 
         
for identical
   
observable
   
unobservable
 
         
assets
   
inputs
   
inputs
 
   
Fair value
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                         
March 31, 2018
                       
Impaired loans
 
$
6,012
   
$
   
$
   
$
6,012
 
                                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale
 
$
574
   
$
   
$
   
$
574
 
                                 
December 31, 2017
                               
Impaired loans
 
$
1,590
   
$
   
$
   
$
1,590
 
                                 
Foreclosed assets held for sale
 
$
1,758
   
$
   
$
   
$
1,758
 

The following is a description of valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis and recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition, as well as the general classification of such assets pursuant to the valuation hierarchyFor assets classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, the process used to develop the reported fair value is described below.

Loans Held for Sale.  Mortgage loans held for sale are recorded at the lower of carrying value or fair value.  The fair value of mortgage loans held for sale is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics.  As such, the Company classifies mortgage loans held for sale as Nonrecurring Level 2.  Write-downs to fair value typically do not occur as the Company generally enters into commitments to sell individual mortgage loans at the time the loan is originated to reduce market risk.  The Company typically does not have commercial loans held for sale.  At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the aggregate fair value of mortgage loans held for sale exceeded their cost.  Accordingly, no mortgage loans held for sale were marked down and reported at fair value.

Impaired Loans.  A loan is considered to be impaired when it is probable that all of the principal and interest due may not be collected according to its contractual terms. Generally, when a loan is considered impaired, the amount of reserve required under FASB ASC 310, Receivables, is measured based on the fair value of the underlying collateral. The Company makes such measurements on all material loans deemed impaired using the fair value of the collateral for collateral dependent loans. The fair value of collateral used by the Company is determined by obtaining an observable market price or by obtaining an appraised value from an independent, licensed or certified appraiser, using observable market data. This data includes information such as selling prices of similar properties and capitalization rates of similar properties sold within the market, expected future cash flows or earnings of the subject property based on current market expectations, and other relevant factors. All appraised values are adjusted for market-related trends based on the Company's experience in sales and other appraisals of similar property types as well as estimated selling costs.  Each quarter management reviews all collateral dependent impaired loans on a
 
33

 
 
 
 
loan-by-loan basis to determine whether updated appraisals are necessary based on loan performance, collateral type and guarantor support.  At times, the Company measures the fair value of collateral dependent impaired loans using appraisals with dates prior to one year from the date of review.  These appraisals are discounted by applying current, observable market data about similar property types such as sales contracts, estimations of value by individuals familiar with the market, other appraisals, sales or collateral assessments based on current market activity until updated appraisals are obtained.  Depending on the length of time since an appraisal was performed and the data provided through our reviews, these appraisals are typically discounted 10-40%.  The policy described above is the same for all types of collateral dependent impaired loans.

The Company records impaired loans as Nonrecurring Level 3. If a loan's fair value as estimated by the Company is less than its carrying value, the Company either records a charge-off of the portion of the loan that exceeds the fair value or establishes a reserve within the allowance for loan losses specific to the loan.  Loans for which such charge-offs or reserves were recorded during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or the year ended December 31, 2017, are shown in the table above (net of reserves).

Foreclosed Assets Held for Sale.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are initially recorded at fair value less estimated cost to sell at the date of foreclosure.  Subsequent to foreclosure, valuations are periodically performed by management and the assets are carried at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less estimated cost to sell.  Foreclosed assets held for sale are classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.  The foreclosed assets represented in the table above have been re-measured during the three months ended March 31, 2018 or the year ended December 31, 2017, subsequent to their initial transfer to foreclosed assets.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods were used to estimate the fair value of all other financial instruments recognized in the accompanying statements of financial condition at amounts other than fair value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents and Federal Home Loan Bank Stock. The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Loans and Interest Receivable.  For March 31, 2018, the fair value of loans is estimated on an exit price basis incorporating contractual cash flow, prepayments discount spreads, credit loss and liquidity premiums.  For December 31, 2017, the fair value of loans was estimated by discounting the future cash flows using the current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar credit ratings and for the same remaining maturities.  Loans with similar characteristics were aggregated for purposes of the calculations.  The carrying amount of accrued interest receivable approximates its fair value.

Deposits and Accrued Interest Payable.  The fair value of demand deposits and savings accounts is the amount payable on demand at the reporting date, i.e., their carrying amounts.  For March 31, 2018, the fair value of fixed maturity certificates of deposit is estimated using a discounted cash flow calculation using the average advances yield curve from 11 districts of the FHLB for the as of date.  For December 31, 2017, the discounted cash flow calculation  applied the rates currently offered for deposits of similar remaining maturities.  The carrying amount of accrued interest payable approximates its fair value.

Federal Home Loan Bank Advances.  Rates currently available to the Company for debt with similar terms and remaining maturities are used to estimate the fair value of advances.

Short-Term Borrowings.  The carrying amount approximates fair value.

Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts.  The subordinated debentures have floating rates that reset quarterly.  The carrying amount of these debentures approximates their fair value.

Subordinated Notes.  The fair values used by the Company are obtained from independent sources and are derived from quoted market prices of the Company's subordinated notes and quoted market prices of other subordinated debt instruments with similar characteristics.
 
34

 

 
Commitments to Originate Loans, Letters of Credit and Lines of Credit.  The fair value of commitments is estimated using the fees currently charged to enter into similar agreements, taking into account the remaining terms of the agreements and the present creditworthiness of the counterparties.  For fixed rate loan commitments, fair value also considers the difference between current levels of interest rates and the committed rates.  The fair value of letters of credit is based on fees currently charged for similar agreements or on the estimated cost to terminate them or otherwise settle the obligations with the counterparties at the reporting date.

The following table presents estimated fair values of the Company's financial instruments not recorded at fair value on the statements of financial condition.  The fair values of certain of these instruments were calculated by discounting expected cash flows, which method involves significant judgments by management and uncertainties.  Fair value is the estimated amount at which financial assets or liabilities could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.  Because no market exists for certain of these financial instruments and because management does not intend to sell these financial instruments, the Company does not know whether the fair values shown below represent values at which the respective financial instruments could be sold individually or in the aggregate.

   
March 31, 2018
   
December 31, 2017
 
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Hierarchy
   
Carrying
   
Fair
   
Hierarchy
 
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Level
   
Amount
   
Value
   
Level
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
                                     
Financial assets
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
219,982
   
$
219,982
     
1
   
$
242,253
   
$
242,253
     
1
 
Held-to-maturity securities
   
130
     
130
     
2
     
130
     
131
     
2
 
Mortgage loans held for sale
   
5,058
     
5,058
     
2
     
8,203
     
8,203
     
2
 
Loans, net of allowance for loan losses
   
3,761,714
     
3,737,029
     
3
     
3,726,302
     
3,735,216
     
3
 
Accrued interest receivable
   
12,144
     
12,144
     
3
     
12,338
     
12,338
     
3
 
Investment in FHLBank stock
   
10,678
     
10,678
     
3
     
11,182
     
11,182
     
3
 
                                                 
Financial liabilities
                                               
Deposits
   
3,562,177
     
3,553,203
     
3
     
3,597,144
     
3,606,400
     
3
 
FHLBank advances
   
134,000
     
134,000
     
3
     
127,500
     
127,500
     
3
 
Short-term borrowings
   
111,474
     
111,474
     
3
     
97,135
     
97,135
     
3
 
Subordinated debentures
   
25,774
     
25,774
     
3
     
25,774
     
25,774
     
3
 
Subordinated notes
   
73,728
     
75,750
     
2
     
73,688
     
76,500
     
2
 
Accrued interest payable
   
2,000
     
2,000
     
3
     
2,904
     
2,904
     
3
 
                                                 
Unrecognized financial instruments (net of
                                               
contractual value)
                                               
Commitments to originate loans
   
     
     
3
     
     
     
3
 
Letters of credit
   
133
     
133
     
3
     
85
     
85
     
3
 
Lines of credit
   
     
     
3
     
     
     
3
 
 
 
35

 

 


NOTE 15:  DERIVATIVES AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities.  The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity and credit risk, primarily by managing the amount, sources and duration of its assets and liabilities.  In the normal course of business, the Company may use derivative financial instruments (primarily interest rate swaps) from time to time to assist in its interest rate risk management.  The Company has interest rate derivatives that result from a service provided to certain qualifying loan customers that are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Company's assets or liabilities and are not designated in a qualifying hedging relationship.  The Company manages a matched book with respect to its derivative instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  In addition, the Company has interest rate derivatives that are designated in a qualified hedging relationship.

Nondesignated Hedges

The Company has interest rate swaps that are not designated as qualifying hedging relationships.  Derivatives not designated as hedges are not speculative and result from a service the Company provides to certain loan customers, which the Company began offering during 2011.  The Company executes interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies.  Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Company executes with a third party, such that the Company minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  As the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings.

As part of the Valley Bank FDIC-assisted acquisition, the Company acquired seven loans with related interest rate swaps.  Valley's swap program differed from the Company's in that Valley did not have back to back swaps with the customer and a counterparty.  Three of the seven acquired loans with interest rate swaps have paid off.  The notional amount of the four remaining Valley swaps was $2.4 million at March 31, 2018.  As of March 31, 2018, excluding the Valley Bank swaps, the Company had 22 interest rate swaps totaling $91.1 million in notional amount with commercial customers, and 22 interest rate swaps with the same notional amount with third parties related to its program.  As of December 31, 2017, excluding the Valley Bank swaps, the Company had 22 interest rate swaps totaling $92.7 million in notional amount with commercial customers, and 22 interest rate swaps with the same notional amount with third parties related to its program.  In addition, the Company has two participation loans purchased totaling $21.8 million, in which the lead institution has an interest rate swap with their customer and the economics of the counterparty swap are passed along to us through the loan participation.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized net gains of $37,000 and $7,000, respectively, in noninterest income related to changes in the fair value of these swaps.

Cash Flow Hedges

As a strategy to maintain acceptable levels of exposure to the risk of changes in future cash flows due to interest rate fluctuations, the Company entered into interest rate cap agreements for a portion of its floating rate debt associated with its trust preferred securities.  One agreement terminated in 2015 and one agreement terminated in 2017.  The effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative was reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affected earnings.  No gains and losses related to changes in the fair value were recognized in current earnings during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company recognized $88,000 in interest expense related to the amortization of the cost of the interest rate caps.

 
36

 

 
The table below presents the fair value of the Company's derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition:

 
Location in
 
Fair Value
 
 
Consolidated Statements
 
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
 
of Financial Condition
 
2018
   
2017
 
      
(In Thousands)
 
Derivatives not designated
             
  as hedging instruments
             
               
Asset Derivatives
             
Interest rate products
Prepaid expenses and other assets
 
$
1,047
   
$
981
 
                   
Total derivatives not designated
                 
  as hedging instruments
   
$
1,047
   
$
981
 
                   
Liability Derivatives
                 
Interest rate products
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
 
$
1,058
   
$
1,030
 
                   
Total derivatives not designated
                 
as hedging instruments
   
$
1,058
   
$
1,030
 

The following table presents the effect of derivative instruments on the statements of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

   
Amount of Gain (Loss)
 
   
Recognized in AOCI
 
   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Cash Flow Hedges
 
2018
   
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Interest rate cap, net of income taxes
 
$
   
$
51
 
                 

Agreements with Derivative Counterparties

The Company has agreements with its derivative counterparties.  If the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.  If the Bank fails to maintain its status as a well-capitalized institution, then the counterparty could terminate the derivative positions and the Company would be required to settle its obligations under the agreements.  Similarly, the Company could be required to settle its obligations under certain of its agreements if certain regulatory events occurred, such as the issuance of a formal directive, or if the Company's credit rating is downgraded below a specified level.

As of March 31, 2018, the termination value of derivatives with our derivative dealer counterparties in a net asset position, which included accrued interest but excluded any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $782,000.  The Company has minimum collateral posting thresholds with its derivative dealer counterparties.  At March 31, 2018, the Company's activity with its derivative counterparties had not met the level at which the minimum collateral posting thresholds take effect.  As of December 31, 2017, the termination value of derivatives in a net liability position, which included accrued interest but excluded any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $336,000.  At December 31, 2017, the Company's activity with its derivative counterparties met the level at which the minimum collateral posting thresholds take effect and the Company posted $809,000 of collateral to satisfy the agreements.  If the Company had breached any of these provisions at March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017, it could have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at the termination value.
 
 
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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward-looking Statements

When used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in the Company's press releases or other public or stockholder communications, and in oral statements made with the approval of an authorized executive officer, the words or phrases "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," "intends" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including, among other things, (i) the possibility that the amounts of any pre-tax gain and the changes in non-interest income, non-interest expense and interest expense actually resulting from the Bank's pending transaction with West Gate Bank might be materially different from the estimated amounts set forth in this report; (ii) the possibility that the requisite regulatory approval for the Bank's pending transaction with West Gate Bank might not be obtained, or may take longer to obtain than expected; (iii) the possibility that the actual reduction in the Company's effective tax rate expected to result from H. R. 1, formerly known as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (the "Tax Reform Legislation") might be different from the reduction estimated by the Company; (iv) expected revenues, cost savings, earnings accretion, synergies and other benefits from the Company's  merger and acquisition activities  might not be realized within the anticipated time frames or at all, and costs or difficulties relating to integration matters, including but not limited to customer and employee retention, might be greater than expected; (v) changes in economic conditions, either nationally or in the Company's market areas; (vi) fluctuations in interest rates; (vii) the risks of lending and investing activities, including changes in the level and direction of loan delinquencies and write-offs and changes in estimates of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses; (viii) the possibility of other-than-temporary impairments of securities held in the Company's securities portfolio; (ix) the Company's ability to access cost-effective funding; (x) fluctuations in real estate values and both residential and commercial real estate market conditions; (xi) demand for loans and deposits in the Company's market areas; (xii) the ability to adapt successfully to technological changes to meet customers' needs and developments in the marketplace; (xiii) the possibility that security measures implemented might not be sufficient to mitigate the risk of a cyber attack or cyber theft, and that such security measures might not protect against systems failures or interruptions; (xiv) legislative or regulatory changes that adversely affect the Company's business, including, without limitation, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and its implementing regulations, the overdraft protection regulations and customers' responses thereto and the Tax Reform Legislation; (xv) changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; (xvi) monetary and fiscal policies of the Federal Reserve Board and the U.S. Government and other governmental initiatives affecting the financial services industry; (xvii) results of examinations of the Company and the Bank by their regulators, including the possibility that the regulators may, among other things, require the Company to limit its business activities, changes its business mix, increase its allowance for loan losses, write-down assets or increase its capital levels, or affect its ability to borrow funds or maintain or increase deposits, which could adversely affect its liquidity and earnings; (xviii) costs and effects of litigation, including settlements and judgments; and (xix) competition. The Company wishes to advise readers that the factors listed above and other risks described from time to time in documents filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC could affect the Company's financial performance and could cause the Company's actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements.

The Company does not undertake -and specifically declines any obligation- to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Critical Accounting Policies, Judgments and Estimates

The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and general practices within the financial services industry. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
38

 
 
 
 

Allowance for Loan Losses and Valuation of Foreclosed Assets

The Company believes that the determination of the allowance for loan losses involves a higher degree of judgment and complexity than its other significant accounting policies. The allowance for loan losses is calculated with the objective of maintaining an allowance level believed by management to be sufficient to absorb estimated loan losses. Management's determination of the adequacy of the allowance is based on periodic evaluations of the loan portfolio and other relevant factors. However, this evaluation is inherently subjective as it requires material estimates of, among other things, expected default probabilities, loss once loans default, expected commitment usage, the amounts and timing of expected future cash flows on impaired loans, value of collateral, estimated losses, and general amounts for historical loss experience.

The process also considers economic conditions, uncertainties in estimating losses and inherent risks in the loan portfolio. All of these factors may be susceptible to significant change. To the extent actual outcomes differ from management estimates, additional provisions for loan losses may be required which would adversely impact earnings in future periods. In addition, the Bank's regulators could require additional provisions for loan losses as part of their examination process.

See Note 6 "Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses" included in Item 1 for additional information regarding the allowance for loan losses. Inherent in this process is the evaluation of individual significant credit relationships. From time to time certain credit relationships may deteriorate due to payment performance, cash flow of the borrower, value of collateral, or other factors. In these instances, management may revise its loss estimates and assumptions for these specific credits due to changing circumstances. In some cases, additional losses may be realized; in other instances, the factors that led to the deterioration may improve or the credit may be refinanced elsewhere and allocated allowances may be released from the particular credit.  No significant changes were made to management's overall methodology for evaluating the allowance for loan losses during the periods presented in the financial statements of this report.

In addition, the Company considers that the determination of the valuations of foreclosed assets held for sale involves a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of foreclosed assets reflects management's best estimate of the amount to be realized from the sales of the assets.  While the estimate is generally based on a valuation by an independent appraiser or recent sales of similar properties, the amount that the Company realizes from the sales of the assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in the financial statements, resulting in losses that could adversely impact earnings in future periods.

Carrying Value of Loans Acquired in FDIC-assisted Transactions

The Company considers that the determination of the carrying value of loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions involves a high degree of judgment and complexity. The carrying value of the acquired loans reflect management's best ongoing estimates of the amounts to be realized on each of these assets. The Company has now terminated all loss sharing agreements with the FDIC and, accordingly, no longer has an indemnification asset.  The Company determined initial fair value accounting estimates of the acquired assets and assumed liabilities in accordance with FASB ASC 805, Business Combinations. However, the amount that the Company realizes on these assets could differ materially from the carrying value reflected in its financial statements, based upon the timing of collections on the acquired loans in future periods. Subsequent to the initial valuation, the Company continues to monitor identified loan pools for changes in estimated cash flows projected for the loan pools, anticipated credit losses and changes in the accretable yield.  Analysis of these variables requires significant estimates and a high degree of judgment.  See Note 7 "FDIC-Acquired Loans" included in Item 1 for additional information regarding the TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank, InterBank and Valley Bank FDIC-assisted transactions.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are subject to an impairment test at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested for impairment using a process that estimates the fair value of each of the Company's reporting units compared with its carrying value. The Company defines reporting units as a level below each of its operating segments for which there is discrete financial information that is regularly reviewed. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had one reporting unit
 
39

 
 
 
 
to which goodwill has been allocated – the Bank.  If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, then no impairment is recorded. If the carrying value amount exceeds the fair value of a reporting unit, further testing is completed comparing the implied fair value of the reporting unit's goodwill to its carrying value to measure the amount of impairment. Intangible assets that are not amortized will be tested for impairment at least annually by comparing the fair values of those assets to their carrying values. At March 31, 2018, goodwill consisted of $5.4 million at the Bank reporting unit, which included goodwill of $4.2 million that was recorded during 2016 related to the acquisition of 12 branches from Fifth Third Bank.  Other identifiable intangible assets that are subject to amortization are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of seven years. At March 31, 2018, the amortizable intangible assets consisted of core deposit intangibles of $5.0 million, which are described in the table below.  These amortizable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their value may not be recoverable based on a comparison of fair value.

While the Company believes no impairment existed at March 31, 2018, different conditions or assumptions used to measure fair value of reporting units, or changes in cash flows or profitability, if significantly negative or unfavorable, could have a material adverse effect on the outcome of the Company's impairment evaluation in the future.

A summary of goodwill and intangible assets is as follows:

   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
             
Goodwill – Branch acquisitions
 
$
5,396
   
$
5,396
 
Deposit intangibles
               
Sun Security Bank
   
175
     
263
 
InterBank
   
146
     
181
 
Boulevard Bank
   
366
     
397
 
Valley Bank
   
1,300
     
1,400
 
Fifth Third Bank
   
3,055
     
3,213
 
     
5,042
     
5,454
 
   
$
10,438
   
$
10,850
 

Current Economic Conditions

Changes in economic conditions could cause the values of assets and liabilities recorded in the financial statements to change rapidly, resulting in material future adjustments in asset values, the allowance for loan losses, or capital that could negatively impact the Company's ability to meet regulatory capital requirements and maintain sufficient liquidity.

Following the housing and mortgage crisis and correction beginning in mid-2007, the United States entered into a significant prolonged economic downturn.  Unemployment rose from 4.7% in November 2007 to peak at 10.0% in October 2009.  The elevated unemployment levels negatively impacted consumer confidence, which had a detrimental impact on industry-wide performance nationally as well as in the Company's Midwest market area.  Economic conditions have improved since as indicated by consumer confidence levels, increased economic activity and low unemployment levels.

The national unemployment rate at March 2018 remained at 4.1% for the sixth consecutive month.  Total non-farm payroll edged up by 103,000 in March with employment increases in manufacturing, health care and mining.  The U.S. labor force participation rate (the share of working-age Americans who are either employed or are actively looking for a job) changed little in March at 62.9%.  As of March 2018, the unemployment rate for the Midwest, where most of the Company's business is conducted, was at 3.8% which is in line with the National unemployment rate of 4.1%. Unemployment rates at March 31, 2018, were:  Missouri at 3.6%, Arkansas at 3.8%, Kansas at 3.4%, Iowa at 2.8%, Nebraska at 2.8%, Minnesota at 3.2%, Illinois at 4.6%, Oklahoma at 4.0% and Texas at 4.0%.  Of the metropolitan areas in which Great Southern Bank does business, the Chicago area had the highest unemployment level at 4.3% as of March 2018. The Tulsa market area unemployment rate at 3.9% was down significantly from the 5.0% rate estimated as of June 2017.  The unemployment rate at 3.2% for the Springfield market area was well
 
40

 
 
 
 
below the national average.  Metropolitan areas in Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota boasted unemployment levels among the lowest in the nation. 

Sales of newly built, single-family homes were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 694,000 units in March 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.  This represented an increase of 4.0% above the revised February rate of 667,000 and is 8.8% above the March 2017 estimate of 638,000.   The inventory of new homes for sale was 301,000 at the end of March, which is a 5.2 month supply at the current sales pace. In the Midwest, new home sales decreased 2.4% from March 2017 to March 2018.  Nationally, the median sales price of new houses sold in March 2018 was $337,200 down from $343,300 in December 2017 and up from $321,700 in March 2017. Average sales price was $369,900 down from $402,900 in December 2017 and $384,400 in March 2017.

In March 2018, existing home sales increased 1.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.6 million units from 5.54 million in February.  The national median existing home price for all housing types increased to $250,400 from $240,900 in February 2017, up 5.8% from a year ago.  This marks the 73rd consecutive month of year over year gains as prices reached an all-time high.  The Midwest region existing home median sale price was $192,200, representing an increase of 5.1% from a year ago.  Total housing inventory at the end of March climbed 5.7% to 1.67 million; 7.2% lower than a year ago.  Unsold inventory at the end of March is a 3.6 month supply at the current sales pace; down from a 3.8 month supply a year ago.

The multi-family sector rebounded in 2017, with demand approaching the highest level on record. National vacancy rates were 6.3% while our market areas reflected the following vacancy levels; Springfield, Mo. at 5.9%, St. Louis at 9.0%, Kansas City at 7.5%, Minneapolis at 4.7%, Tulsa, Okla. at 10.9%, Dallas-Fort Worth at 7.9% and Chicago at 6.7%.  Despite supply-side pressure, rent growth in 2017 had not slowed materially from the previous year's pace.  Sales transaction value continued to be strong, and cap rates appeared to have leveled off.  Supply is expected to outpace demand in 2018, putting possible upward pressure on vacancies and potentially slowing rent growth.

Nationally, approximately one-half of the suburban office markets are in an expansion market cycle -- characterized by decreasing vacancy rates, moderate/high new construction, high absorption, moderate/high employment growth and medium/high rental rate growth.  The Company's larger market areas in the suburban office expansion market cycle include Minneapolis, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and St. Louis.  Tulsa, Okla. and Kansas City are currently in the recovery market cycle -- typified by decreasing vacancy rates, low new construction, moderate absorption, low/moderate employment growth and negative/low rental rate growth. Chicago, IL is currently in a recession market cycle typified by increasing vacancies, low absorption and low new construction.

Approximately 70% of the retail sector is in the expansion phase of the market cycle, with the rest in recovery mode.  Included in the retail expansion market segment are the Company's larger market areas -- Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas-Ft. Worth, and St. Louis.

All of the Company's larger industrial market areas are categorized as in the expansion cycle with prospects of continuing good economic growth.

Occupancy, absorption and rental income levels of commercial real estate properties located throughout the Company's market areas remain stable according to information provided by real estate services firm CoStar Group.  There continues to be moderate real estate sales and financing activity.

While current economic indicators show stability nationally in employment, housing starts and prices, commercial real estate occupancy, absorption and rental rates, our management will continue to closely monitor regional, national and global economic conditions, as these could significantly impact our market areas.
 
 
41


 

Loss Sharing Agreements

On April 26, 2016, Great Southern Bank executed an agreement with the FDIC to terminate the loss sharing agreements for Team Bank, Vantus Bank and Sun Security Bank, effective immediately.  The agreement required the FDIC to pay $4.4 million to settle all outstanding items related to the terminated loss sharing agreements.

On June 9, 2017, Great Southern Bank executed an agreement with the FDIC to terminate the loss sharing agreements for InterBank, effective immediately.  Pursuant to the termination agreement, the FDIC paid $15.0 million to the Bank to settle all outstanding items related to the terminated loss sharing agreements.  The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the termination of $7.7 million.

The termination of the loss sharing agreements for the TeamBank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank and InterBank transactions have no impact on the yields for the loans that were previously covered under these agreements, as the remaining accretable yield adjustments that affect interest income have not been changed and will continue to be recognized for all FDIC-assisted transactions in the same manner as they have been previously. All post-termination recoveries, gains, losses and expenses related to these previously covered assets are recognized entirely by Great Southern Bank since the FDIC no longer shares in such gains or losses. Accordingly, the Company's earnings are positively impacted to the extent the Company recognizes gains on any sales or recoveries in excess of the carrying value of such assets. Similarly, the Company's future earnings will be negatively impacted to the extent the Company recognizes expenses, losses or charge-offs related to such assets.  There will be no future effects on non-interest income (expense) related to adjustments or amortization of the indemnification assets for Team Bank, Vantus Bank, Sun Security Bank or InterBank.  All rights and obligations of the Bank and the FDIC under the terminated loss sharing agreements, including the settlement of all existing loss sharing and expense reimbursement claims, have been resolved and terminated.

General

The profitability of the Company and, more specifically, the profitability of its principal subsidiary, the Bank, depends primarily on its net interest income, as well as provisions for loan losses and the level of non-interest income and non-interest expense. Net interest income is the difference between the interest income the Bank earns on its loan and investment portfolios, and the interest it pays on interest-bearing liabilities, which consists mainly of interest paid on deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the relative amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities and the interest rates earned or paid on these balances. When interest-earning assets approximate or exceed interest-bearing liabilities, any positive interest rate spread will generate net interest income.

Great Southern's total assets decreased $3.1 million, or 0.1%, from $4.41 billion at December 31, 2017, to $4.41 billion at March 31, 2018. Full details of the current period changes in total assets are provided in the "Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017" section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Loans.  Net loans increased $35.4 million, or 1.0%, from $3.73 billion at December 31, 2017, to $3.76 billion at March 31, 2018.  Included in the net increase in loans were reductions of $12.2 million in the FDIC-acquired loan portfolios.  In addition, there were higher than usual unscheduled significant paydowns on loans during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Loan paydowns in excess of $1.0 million totaled $138 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Excluding FDIC-assisted acquired loans and mortgage loans held for sale, total gross loans increased $80.3 million from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.  Increases primarily occurred in commercial construction and commercial real estate loans.  These increases were partially offset by decreases in consumer loans and one- to four-family residential loans.  The increases were primarily due to loan growth in our existing banking center network and our commercial loan production offices.  As loan demand is affected by a variety of factors, including general economic conditions, and because of the competition we face and our focus on pricing discipline and credit quality, no assurances can be made regarding our future loan growth.  The Company's strategy continues to be focused on maintaining credit risk and interest rate risk at appropriate levels.

Recent loan growth has occurred in several loan types, primarily construction loans and commercial real estate loans and in most of Great Southern's primary lending locations, including Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City, Des Moines and Minneapolis, as well as the loan production offices in Chicago, Dallas and Tulsa.  Certain minimum
 
42

 
 
 
 
underwriting standards and monitoring help assure the Company's portfolio quality. Great Southern's loan committee reviews and approves all new loan originations in excess of lender approval authorities.  Generally, the Company considers commercial construction, consumer, and commercial real estate loans to involve a higher degree of risk compared to some other types of loans, such as first mortgage loans on one- to four-family, owner-occupied residential properties.  For commercial real estate, commercial business and construction loans, the credits are subject to an analysis of the borrower's and guarantor's financial condition, credit history, verification of liquid assets, collateral, market analysis and repayment ability.  It has been, and continues to be, Great Southern's practice to verify information from potential borrowers regarding assets, income or payment ability and credit ratings as applicable and as required by the authority approving the loan.  To minimize construction risk, projects are monitored as construction draws are requested by comparison to budget and with progress verified through property inspections.  The geographic and product diversity of collateral, equity requirements and limitations on speculative construction projects help to mitigate overall risk in these loans. Underwriting standards for all loans also include loan-to-value ratio limitations which vary depending on collateral type, debt service coverage ratios or debt payment to income ratio guidelines, where applicable, credit histories, use of guaranties and other recommended terms relating to equity requirements, amortization, and maturity.  Consumer loans are primarily secured by new and used motor vehicles and these loans are also subject to certain minimum underwriting standards to assure portfolio quality.  Great Southern's consumer underwriting and pricing standards have been fairly consistent over the past several years through the first half of 2016.  In response to a more challenging consumer credit environment, the Company tightened its underwriting guidelines on automobile lending beginning in the latter part of 2016.  Management took this step in an effort to improve credit quality in the portfolio and lower delinquencies and charge-offs.  The underwriting standards employed by Great Southern for consumer loans include a determination of the applicant's payment history on other debts, credit scores, employment history and an assessment of ability to meet existing obligations and payments on the proposed loan.  See "Item 1. Business – Lending Activities – General, – Commercial Real Estate and Construction Lending, and – Consumer Lending" in the Company's December 31, 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

While our policy allows us to lend up to 95% of the appraised value on one-to four-family residential properties, originations of loans with loan-to-value ratios at that level are minimal.  Private mortgage insurance is typically required for loan amounts above the 80% level.  Few exceptions occur and would be based on analyses which determined minimal transactional risk to be involved.  We consider these lending practices to be consistent with or more conservative than what we believe to be the norm for banks our size.  At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, an estimated 0.1% and 0.1%, respectively, of total owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination.  At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, an estimated 1.4% and 1.5%, respectively, of total non-owner occupied one- to four-family residential loans had loan-to-value ratios above 100% at origination. 

At March 31, 2018, troubled debt restructurings totaled $13.9 million, or 0.4% of total loans, down $1.1 million from $15.0 million, or 0.4% of total loans, at December 31, 2017.  Concessions granted to borrowers experiencing financial difficulties may include a reduction in the interest rate on the loan, payment extensions, forgiveness of principal, forbearance or other actions intended to maximize collection.  For troubled debt restructurings occurring during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017, respectively, no loans were restructured into multiple new loans.  For further information on troubled debt restructurings, see Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

Loans that were acquired through FDIC-assisted transactions, which are accounted for in pools, are currently included in the analysis and estimation of the allowance for loan losses.  If cash flows expected to be received on any given pool of loans decreases from previous estimates, then a determination is made as to whether the loan pool should be charged down or the allowance for loan losses should be increased (through a provision for loan losses).  Acquired loans are described in detail in Note 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.  For acquired loan pools, the Company may allocate, and at March 31, 2018, has allocated, a portion of its allowance for loan losses related to these loan pools in a manner similar to how it allocates its allowance for loan losses to those loans which are collectively evaluated for impairment.

The level of non-performing loans and foreclosed assets affects our net interest income and net income. We generally do not accrue interest income on these loans and do not recognize interest income until the loans are repaid or interest payments have been made for a period of time sufficient to provide evidence of performance on the loans.  Generally, the higher the level of non-performing assets, the greater the negative impact on interest income and net income.  
 
 
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Deposits.  The Company attracts deposit accounts through its retail branch network, correspondent banking and corporate services areas, and brokered deposits. The Company then utilizes these deposit funds, along with FHLBank advances and other borrowings, to meet loan demand or otherwise fund its activities. In the three months ended March 31, 2018, total deposit balances decreased $35.0 million, or 1.0%.  Transaction account balances increased $35.7 million to $2.26 billion at March 31, 2018, while retail certificates of deposit decreased $6.4 million compared to December 31, 2017, to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2018.  The increases in transaction accounts were primarily a result of increases in NOW deposit accounts.  Retail certificates of deposit decreased due to a decrease in retail certificates generated through our banking centers and certificates opened through the Company's internet deposit acquisition channels.  Certificates of deposit opened through the Company's internet deposit acquisition channels decreased $2.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, as most maturing deposits were not renewed by the customer and fewer new such deposits were generated as a result of our rates not being in the top tier compared to our competitors in the internet channels.  In addition, at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, customer deposits totaling $33.3 million and $34.5 million, respectively, were part of the CDARS program, which allows customers to maintain balances in an insured manner that would otherwise exceed the FDIC deposit insurance limit. The FDIC counts these deposits as brokered, but these are deposit accounts that we generate with customers in our local markets.  Brokered deposits, including CDARS program purchased funds, were $162.4 million at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $63.1 million from $225.5 million at December 31, 2017.

Our deposit balances may fluctuate depending on customer preferences and our relative need for funding.  We do not consider our retail certificates of deposit to be guaranteed long-term funding because customers can withdraw their funds at any time with minimal interest penalty.  When loan demand trends upward, we can increase rates paid on deposits to increase deposit balances and utilize brokered deposits to provide additional funding.  The level of competition for deposits in our markets is high. It is our goal to gain deposit market share, particularly checking accounts, in our branch footprint.  To accomplish this goal, increasing rates to attract deposits may be necessary, which could negatively impact the Company's net interest margin.

Our ability to fund growth in future periods may also depend on our ability to continue to access brokered deposits and FHLBank advances. In times when our loan demand has outpaced our generation of new deposits, we have utilized brokered deposits and FHLBank advances to fund these loans. These funding sources have been attractive to us because we can create either fixed or variable rate funding, as desired, which more closely matches the interest rate nature of much of our loan portfolio. While we do not currently anticipate that our ability to access these sources will be reduced or eliminated in future periods, if this should happen, the limitation on our ability to fund additional loans could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Net Interest Income and Interest Rate Risk Management.  Our net interest income may be affected positively or negatively by changes in market interest rates. A large portion of our loan portfolio is tied to one-month LIBOR, three-month LIBOR or the "prime rate" and adjusts immediately or shortly after the index rate adjusts (subject to the effect of contractual interest rate floors on some of the loans). We monitor our sensitivity to interest rate changes on an ongoing basis (see "Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk").  In addition, our net interest income may be impacted by changes in the cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools.  As described in Note 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report, the Company's evaluation of cash flows expected to be received from acquired loan pools is on-going and increases in cash flow expectations are recognized as increases in accretable yield through interest income.  Decreases in cash flow expectations are recognized as impairments through the allowance for loan losses.

The current level and shape of the interest rate yield curve poses challenges for interest rate risk management. Prior to its increase of 0.25% on December 16, 2015, the Federal Reserve Board had last changed interest rates on December 16, 2008. This was the first rate increase since September 29, 2006.  The FRB has now also implemented rate increases of 0.25% on five different occasions beginning December 14, 2016, with the Federal Funds rate now at 1.75%.  Great Southern has a substantial portion of its loan portfolio ($1.33 billion at March 31, 2018) which is tied to the one-month or three-month LIBOR index and will adjust at least once within 90 days after March 31, 2018.  Of these loans, $999 million had interest rate floors.  Great Southern also has a significant portfolio of loans ($306 million at March 31, 2018) which are tied to a "prime rate" of interest and will adjust immediately with
 
44

 
 
 
 
changes to the "prime rate" of interest. But for the interest rate floors, a rate cut by the FRB generally would have an anticipated immediate negative impact on the Company's net interest income due to the large total balance of loans which generally adjust immediately as the Federal Funds rate adjusts. Loans at their floor rates are, however, subject to the risk that borrowers will seek to refinance elsewhere at the lower market rate.  Because the Federal Funds rate is generally low, there may also be a negative impact on the Company's net interest income due to the Company's inability to significantly lower its funding costs in the current competitive rate environment, although interest rates on assets may decline further. Conversely, interest rate increases would normally result in increased interest rates on our LIBOR-based and prime-based loans.  The interest rate floors in effect may limit the immediate increase in interest rates on certain of these loans, until such time as rates rise above the floors.  However, the Company may have to increase rates paid on deposits to maintain deposit balances and pay higher rates on borrowings, which could negatively impact net interest margin.  The impact of the low rate environment on our net interest margin in future periods is expected to be fairly neutral.  Any margin gained by rate increases on loans may be somewhat offset by reduced yields from our investment securities (to the extent investment securities are purchased) and our existing loan portfolio as payments are made and the proceeds are potentially reinvested at lower rates on new loans originated.  Interest rates on certain adjustable rate loans may reset lower according to their contractual terms and index rate to which they are tied and new loans may be originated at lower market rates than the overall portfolio rate.  For further discussion of the processes used to manage our exposure to interest rate risk, see "Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk – How We Measure the Risks to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes."

Non-Interest Income and Non-Interest (Operating) Expenses.  The Company's profitability is also affected by the level of its non-interest income and operating expenses. Non-interest income consists primarily of service charges and ATM fees, late charges and prepayment fees on loans, gains on sales of loans and available-for-sale investments and other general operating income.  The Company recorded a gain in non-interest income in June 2017 related to the termination of the InterBank loss sharing agreements.  Non-interest income may also be affected by the Company's interest rate derivative activities, if the Company chooses to implement derivatives.  See Note 15 "Derivatives and Hedging Activities" in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this report.

Operating expenses consist primarily of salaries and employee benefits, occupancy-related expenses, expenses related to foreclosed assets, postage, FDIC deposit insurance, advertising and public relations, telephone, professional fees, office expenses and other general operating expenses.  Details of the current period changes in non-interest income and non-interest expense are provided in the "Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017" section of this report.

Effect of Federal Laws and Regulations

General. Federal legislation and regulation significantly affect the operations of the Company and the Bank, and have increased competition among commercial banks, savings institutions, mortgage banking enterprises and other financial institutions. In particular, the capital requirements and operations of regulated banking organizations such as the Company and the Bank have been and will be subject to changes in applicable statutes and regulations from time to time, which changes could, under certain circumstances, adversely affect the Company or the Bank.

Significant Legislation Impacting the Financial Services Industry. On July 21, 2010, sweeping 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 implements far-reaching changes across the financial regulatory landscape, including provisions that, among other things, centralize responsibility for consumer financial protection by creating a new agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, with broad rulemaking authority for a wide range of consumer protection laws that apply to all banks, require new capital rules (discussed below), change the assessment base for federal deposit insurance, repeal the federal prohibitions on the payment of interest on demand deposits, amend the account balance limit for federal deposit insurance protection, and increase the authority of the Federal Reserve Board to examine the Company and its non-bank subsidiaries.

Certain aspects of the Dodd-Frank Act are subject to rulemaking and will take effect over a number of years. Provisions in the legislation that affect deposit insurance assessments and payment of interest on demand deposits could increase the costs associated with deposits. Provisions in the legislation that require revisions to the capital requirements of the Company and the Bank could require the Company and the Bank to seek additional sources of capital in the future.
 
45

 
 

 
A provision of the Dodd-Frank Act, commonly referred to as the "Durbin Amendment," directed the FRB to analyze the debit card payments system and fix the interchange rates based upon their estimate of actual costs. The FRB has established the interchange rate for all debit transactions for issuers with over $10 billion in assets at $0.21 per transaction. An additional five basis points of the transaction amount and an additional $0.01 may be collected by the issuer for fraud prevention and recovery, provided the issuer performs certain actions. The Bank is currently exempt from the rule on the basis of asset size.

Capital Rules. The federal banking agencies have adopted regulatory capital rules that substantially amend the risk-based capital rules applicable to the Bank and the Company. The new rules implement the "Basel III" regulatory capital reforms and changes required by the Dodd-Frank Act. "Basel III" refers to various documents released by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. For the Company and the Bank, the general effective date of the new rules was January 1, 2015, and, for certain provisions, various phase-in periods and later effective dates apply. The chief features of the new rules are summarized below.

The new rules refine the definitions of what constitutes regulatory capital and add a new regulatory capital element, common equity Tier 1 capital. The minimum capital ratios are (i) a common equity Tier 1 ("CET1") risk-based capital ratio of 4.5%; (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6%; (iii) a total risk-based capital ratio of 8%; and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4%. In addition to the minimum capital ratios, the new rules include a capital conservation buffer, under which a banking organization must have CET1 more than 2.5% above each of its minimum risk-based capital ratios in order to avoid restrictions on paying dividends, repurchasing shares, and paying certain discretionary bonuses.  The new capital conservation buffer requirement began phasing in on January 1, 2016 when a buffer greater than 0.625% of risk-weighted assets was required, which amount will increase an equal amount each year until the buffer requirement of greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets is fully implemented on January 1, 2019.

Effective January 1, 2015, the new rules also revised the prompt corrective action framework, which is designed to place restrictions on insured depository institutions if their capital levels show signs of weakness. Under the new prompt corrective action requirements, insured depository institutions are required to meet the following in order to qualify as "well capitalized:" (i) a common equity Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.5%, (ii) a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%, (iii) a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10% and (iv) a Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5%, and must not be subject to an order, agreement or directive mandating a specific capital level.

Business Initiatives

On March 20, 2018, the Company announced that it has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement to sell its deposit accounts and all four of its branches in the Omaha, Neb., metropolitan market to Lincoln, Neb.-based West Gate Bank. Great Southern plans to maintain a Commercial Loan Office in the Omaha market.

Pursuant to the purchase and assumption agreement, the Bank will sell branch deposits of approximately $58 million and sell substantially all branch-related real estate, fixed assets and ATMs. The transaction is expected to close in July 2018, pending regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions. Subject to deposit balances at the time of closing, the Company estimates that it will record a pre-tax gain of approximately $7.0–$7.3 million, or $0.38–$0.40 (after tax) per diluted share, based on the expected deposit premium and the sales price of the branch assets.   As a result of this transaction, the Company expects that non-interest income will decrease $300,000–$350,000 annually, non-interest expense will decrease by $1.1– $1.2 million annually, and interest expense will increase by $300,000-$350,000 annually (based on current interest rates for non-deposit funds).

In June 2018, the Company plans to consolidate operations of a banking center into a nearby office in Paola, Kan. The banking center, located at 1 S. Pearl Street, will close at the end of business on June 22, 2018, and all accounts will automatically transfer to the banking center at 1515 Baptiste Drive, less than a mile away. After the consolidation date, a deposit-taking ATM and interactive teller machine will remain available for customers at the S. Pearl Street building.
 
46

 
 
 

 
Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. will hold its 29th Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, at the Great Southern Operations Center, 218 S. Glenstone, Springfield, Mo.  Holders of Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. common stock at the close of business on the record date, February 28, 2018, can vote at the annual meeting, either in person or by proxy.

Comparison of Financial Condition at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company's total assets decreased by $3.1 million to $4.41 billion.  The decrease was attributable to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, available-for-sale investment securities, prepaid expenses and other assets, and mortgage loans held for sale, partially offset by an increase in loans receivable.

Cash and cash equivalents were $220.0 million at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $22.3 million, or 9.2%, from $242.3 million at December 31, 2017.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents decreased primarily due to a decrease in deposits and from use of cash and cash equivalents to fund loans, partially offset by a decrease in available for sale securities.

The Company's available-for-sale securities decreased $7.6 million, or 4.2%, compared to December 31, 2017.  The decrease was primarily due to calls of municipal securities, and normal monthly payments received related to the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.

Net loans increased $35.4 million from December 31, 2017, to $3.76 billion at March 31, 2018.  Increases primarily occurred in commercial construction and commercial real estate loans.  Partially offsetting the increases in loans were reductions of $37 million in consumer loans and $12 million in the FDIC-acquired loan portfolios.  Excluding FDIC-assisted acquired loans and mortgage loans held for sale, total gross loans (including the undisbursed portion of loans) increased $80.3 million from December 31, 2017 to March 31, 2018.

Total liabilities decreased $11.4 million from $3.94 billion at December 31, 2017 to $3.93 billion at March 31, 2018.  The decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in deposits and short-term borrowings, partially offset by an increase in securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers and FHLB advances.

Total deposits decreased $35.0 million from December 31, 2017.  Deposits decreased due to decreases in brokered deposits, retail customer certificates of deposit and internet-acquired deposits.  These decreases were partially offset by increases in transaction accounts.  Transaction account balances increased $35.7 million to $2.26 billion at March 31, 2018, while retail certificates of deposit decreased $6.4 million compared to December 31, 2017, to $1.1 billion at March 31, 2018.  Certificates of deposit opened through the Company's internet deposit acquisition channels decreased $2.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Brokered deposits, including CDARS program purchased funds, were $162.4 million at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $63.1 million from $225.5 million at December 31, 2017.

The Company's Federal Home Loan Bank Advances totaled $134.0 million at March 31, 2018, an increase of $6.5 million, or 5.1%, compared to $127.5 million at December 31, 2017.  The increase was due to repayment of overnight FHLB borrowings during the period which were replaced with short-term advances.

Short term borrowings decreased $15.2 million from $16.6 million at December 31, 2017 to $1.4 million at March 31, 2018.  The decrease was due to repayment of overnight FHLB borrowings during the period.

Securities sold under reverse repurchase agreements with customers increased $29.6 million from $80.5 million at December 31, 2017 to $110.1 million at March 31, 2018.  These balances fluctuate over time based on customer demand for this product. 

Total stockholders' equity increased $8.3 million from $471.7 million at December 31, 2017 to $480.0 million at March 31, 2018.  The Company recorded net income of $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, and dividends declared on common stock were $4.0 million.  Accumulated other comprehensive income decreased $1.6 million due to the changes in the fair value of available-for-sale investment securities.  In addition, total stockholders' equity increased $527,000 due to stock option exercises.
 
 
47

 

 
Results of Operations and Comparison for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

General

Net income and net income available to common shareholders was $13.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $11.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  This increase of $2.0 million, or 16.9%, was primarily due to a decrease in income tax expense of $1.4 million, or 34.8%, an increase in net interest income of $737,000, or 1.9%, a decrease in provision for loan losses of $300,000, or 13.3%, and a decrease in non-interest expense of $261,000, or 0.9%, which were partially offset by a decrease in non-interest income of $763,000, or 9.9%.

Total Interest Income

Total interest income increased $1.5 million, or 3.2%, during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.  The increase was due to a $1.4 million increase in interest income on loans and a $48,000 increase in interest income on investments and other interest-earning assets.  Interest income on loans increased for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, due to higher average rates of interest, partially offset by slightly lower average balances on loans.  Interest income from investment securities and other interest-earning assets increased during the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 due to higher average rates of interest, largely offset by lower average balances.

Interest Income – Loans

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, interest income on loans increased $1.5 million as a result of higher average interest rates on loans.  The average yield on loans increased from 4.68% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 4.84% during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  This increase was primarily due to increased yields in most loan categories, partially offset by a lower amount of accretion income in the current year period compared to the prior year period resulting from the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools as previously discussed in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  Interest income decreased $101,000 as the result of lower average loan balances, which decreased from $3.79 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $3.78 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The lower average balances were primarily due to decreases in consumer loans and one- to four-family residential loans, partially offset by organic loan growth in certain other loan categories.

On an on-going basis, the Company estimates the cash flows expected to be collected from the acquired loan pools. For each of the loan portfolios acquired, the cash flow estimates have increased, based on the payment histories and the collection of certain loans, thereby reducing loss expectations of certain loan pools, resulting in adjustments to be spread on a level-yield basis over the remaining expected lives of the loan pools.  For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the adjustments increased interest income by $1.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and decreased non-interest income by $-0- and $634,000, respectively.  The net impact to pre-tax income was $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017.

As of March 31, 2018, the remaining accretable yield adjustment that will affect interest income is $3.2 million.  Of the remaining adjustments affecting interest income, we expect to recognize $2.0 million of interest income during the remainder of 2018.  Additional adjustments may be recorded in future periods from the FDIC-assisted transactions, as the Company continues to estimate expected cash flows from the acquired loan pools. Apart from the yield accretion, the average yield on loans was 4.72% during the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 4.48% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, as a result of higher current market rates on adjustable rate loans and new loans originated during the year.
 
 
48


 

Interest Income – Investments and Other Interest-earning Assets

Interest income on investments decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Interest income decreased $227,000 as a result of a decrease in average balances from $220.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $187.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Average balances of securities decreased primarily due to certain municipal securities being called and the normal monthly payments received on the portfolio of mortgage-backed securities.  Interest income increased $121,000 due to an increase in average interest rates from 2.60% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 2.84% during the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to higher market rates of interest on investment securities.

Interest income on other interest-earning assets increased in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Interest income increased $245,000 due to an increase in average interest rates from 0.74% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 1.67% during the three months ended March 31, 2018, primarily due to higher market rates of interest on other interest-bearing deposits in financial institutions.  Interest income decreased $91,000 as a result of a decrease in average balances from $139.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $99.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Average balances of other interest-earning assets decreased primarily due to less excess funds being maintained on deposit at the Federal Reserve Bank.

Total Interest Expense

Total interest expense increased $732,000, or 10.9%, during the three months ended March 31, 2018, when compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017, due to an increase in interest expense on deposits of $620,000, or 12.5%, and an increase in interest expense on FHLBank advances of $350,000, or 137.3%, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense on short-term borrowing and repurchase agreements of $198,000, or 87.6%, and a decrease in interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trust of $40,000, or 16.5%.

Interest Expense – Deposits

Interest expense on demand deposits increased $208,000 due to average rates of interest that increased from 0.29% in the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 0.34% in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Interest expense on demand deposits increased $7,000 due to a small increase in average balances from $1.56 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $1.56 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Interest expense on time deposits increased $842,000 as a result of an increase in average rates of interest from 1.05% during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 1.30% during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  Interest expense on time deposits decreased $437,000 due to a decrease in average balances of time deposits from $1.49 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2017, to $1.33 billion during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The decrease in average balances of time deposits was primarily a result of decreases in brokered deposits and internet-acquired certificates of deposit.  A large portion of the Company's certificate of deposit portfolio matures within six to eighteen months and therefore reprices fairly quickly; this is consistent with the portfolio over the past several years.  Older certificates of deposit that renewed or were replaced with new deposits generally resulted in the Company paying a higher rate of interest due to market interest rate increases in 2017 and 2018.

Interest Expense – FHLBank Advances, Short-term Borrowings and Repurchase Agreements, Subordinated Debentures Issued to Capital Trusts and Subordinated Notes

During the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, interest expense on FHLBank advances increased due to higher average balances, partially offset by lower average rates of interest.  Interest expense on FHLBank advances increased $528,000 due to an increase in average balances from $31.4 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $145.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  This increase was primarily due to the replacement of overnight borrowings with short-term three week FHLBank advances due to their more favorable interest rate.  The $31.4 million of the Company's long-term higher fixed-rate FHLBank advances were repaid in June 2017.  Interest expense on FHLBank advances decreased $178,000 due to a decrease in average interest rates from 3.29% in the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 1.69% in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The decrease in the average rate was due to the repayment of the fixed-rate term FHLBank advances in June 2017 and the borrowing of shorter term FHLBank advances at a lower rate.
 
49

 
 

 
Interest expense on short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements decreased $108,000 due to a decrease in average rates from 0.39% in the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 0.11% in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The decrease was due to a change in the mix of funding during the period, with less short-term borrowings and a higher percentage of the total made up of repurchase agreements, which have a lower interest rate.  Interest expense on short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements decreased $90,000 due to a decrease in average balances from $237.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to $99.5 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018, which is primarily due to changes in the Company's funding needs and the mix of funding, which can fluctuate.  The Company had a much higher amount of overnight borrowings from the FHLBank in the 2017 period.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased $40,000 due to lower average interest rates.  The average interest rate was 3.81% in the three months ended March 31, 2017 compared to 3.18% in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  During the 2017 period, the amortization of the cost of the interest rate caps the Company purchased in 2013 to limit the interest rate risk from rising LIBOR rates related to the Company's subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts effectively increased the effective interest rate.  The average interest rate was affected until the third quarter of 2017, when the interest rate cap terminated based on its contractual terms.  There was no change in the average balance of the subordinated debentures between the 2018 and the 2017 periods.  The subordinated debentures are variable-rate debentures which bear interest at an average rate of three-month LIBOR plus 1.60%, adjusting quarterly, which was 3.37% at March 31, 2018.

Net Interest Income

Net interest income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 increased $737,000 to $39.4 million compared to $38.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017.  Net interest margin was 3.93% in the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to 3.78% in the three months ended March 31, 2017, an increase of 15 basis points, or 4.0%.  In both three month periods, the Company's net interest income and margin were positively impacted by the increases in expected cash flows to be received from the FDIC-acquired loan pools and the resulting increase to accretable yield, which were previously discussed in Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  The positive impact of these changes in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were increases in interest income of $1.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, and increases in net interest margin of 12 basis points and 19 basis points, respectively.  Excluding the positive impact of the additional yield accretion, net interest margin increased 22 basis points when compared to the year-ago period.  The increase was primarily due to increased yields in most loan categories and higher overall yields on investments and interest-earning deposits at the Federal Reserve Bank, partially offset by an increase in the average interest rate on deposits.

The Company's overall average interest rate spread increased 11 basis points, or 3.0%, from 3.63% during the three months ended March 31, 2017 to 3.74% during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The increase was due to a 24 basis point increase in the weighted average yield on interest-earning assets, partially offset by a 13 basis point increase in the weighted average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. In comparing the two periods, the yield on loans increased 16 basis points while the yield on investment securities and other interest-earning assets increased 55 basis points. The rate paid on deposits increased 12 basis points, the rate paid on short-term borrowings and repurchase agreements decreased 28 basis points, the rate paid on subordinated debentures issued to capital trusts decreased 63 basis points, the rate paid on subordinated notes decreased one basis point, and the rate paid on FHLBank advances decreased 160 basis points.

For additional information on net interest income components, refer to the "Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields" table in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
50

 

 

Provision for Loan Losses and Allowance for Loan Losses

Management records a provision for loan losses in an amount it believes sufficient to result in an allowance for loan losses that will cover current net charge-offs as well as risks believed to be inherent in the loan portfolio of the Bank. The amount of provision charged against current income is based on several factors, including, but not limited to, past loss experience, current portfolio mix, actual and potential losses identified in the loan portfolio, economic conditions, and internal as well as external reviews.  The levels of non-performing assets, potential problem loans, loan loss provisions and net charge-offs fluctuate from period to period and are difficult to predict.

Weak economic conditions, higher inflation or interest rates, or other factors may lead to increased losses in the portfolio and/or requirements for an increase in loan loss provision expense. Management maintains various controls in an attempt to limit future losses, such as a watch list of possible problem loans, documented loan administration policies and a loan review staff to review the quality and anticipated collectability of the portfolio. Additional procedures provide for frequent management review of the loan portfolio based on loan size, loan type, delinquencies, financial analysis, on-going correspondence with borrowers and problem loan work-outs. Management determines which loans are potentially uncollectible, or represent a greater risk of loss, and makes additional provisions to expense, if necessary, to maintain the allowance at a satisfactory level.

The provision for loan losses for the three months ended March 31, 2018, decreased $300,000 to $2.0 million when compared with the three months ended March 31, 2017.  At March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the allowance for loan losses was $36.3 million and $36.5 million, respectively.  Total net charge-offs were $2.1 million and $2.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, $1.3 million of the $2.1 million of net charge-offs were in the consumer auto category.  In response to a more challenging consumer credit environment, the Company tightened its underwriting guidelines on automobile lending in the latter part of 2016.  Management took this step in an effort to improve credit quality in the portfolio and lower delinquencies and charge-offs.  This action also resulted in a lower level of origination volume and, as such, the outstanding balance of the Company's automobile loans declined approximately $34 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018.  We expect to see further declines in the automobile loan totals through the remainder of 2018 as well.  In addition, three commercial loan relationships amounted to $626,000 of the total charge-offs during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  General market conditions and unique circumstances related to individual borrowers and projects contributed to the level of provisions and charge-offs.  As assets were categorized as potential problem loans, non-performing loans or foreclosed assets, evaluations were made of the values of these assets with corresponding charge-offs as appropriate.

All acquired loans were grouped into pools based on common characteristics and were recorded at their estimated fair values, which incorporated estimated credit losses at the acquisition date.  These loan pools are systematically reviewed by the Company to determine the risk of losses that may exceed those identified at the time of the acquisition.  Techniques used in determining risk of loss are similar to those used to determine the risk of loss for the legacy Great Southern Bank portfolio, with most focus being placed on those loan pools which include the larger loan relationships and those loan pools which exhibit higher risk characteristics.  Review of the acquired loan portfolio also includes meetings with customers, review of financial information, collateral valuations and customer interaction to determine if any additional reserves are warranted.

The Bank's allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans, excluding FDIC-acquired loans, was 1.02% and 1.01% at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.  Management considers the allowance for loan losses adequate to cover losses inherent in the Bank's loan portfolio at March 31, 2018, based on recent reviews of the Bank's loan portfolio and current economic conditions. If economic conditions were to deteriorate or management's assessment of the loan portfolio were to change, it is possible that additional loan loss provisions would be required, thereby adversely affecting future results of operations and financial condition.

Non-performing Assets

Non-performing assets acquired through FDIC-assisted transactions, including foreclosed assets and potential problem loans, are not included in the totals or in the discussion of non-performing loans, potential problem loans and foreclosed assets below.  These assets were initially recorded at their estimated fair values as of their acquisition dates and are accounted for in pools; therefore, these loan pools are analyzed rather than the individual loans. The overall performance of the loan pools acquired in each of the five FDIC-assisted transactions has been better than original expectations as of the acquisition dates.
 
51

 
 

 
As a result of changes in balances and composition of the loan portfolio, changes in economic and market conditions that occur from time to time and other factors specific to a borrower's circumstances, the level of non-performing assets will fluctuate.

Non-performing assets, excluding all FDIC-assisted acquired assets, at March 31, 2018 were $27.4 million, a decrease of $472,000 from $27.8 million at December 31, 2017.  Non-performing assets, excluding all FDIC-assisted acquired assets, as a percentage of total assets were 0.62% at March 31, 2018, compared to 0.63% at December 31, 2017.

Compared to December 31, 2017, non-performing loans decreased $2.0 million to $9.3 million at March 31, 2018, and foreclosed assets increased $1.4 million to $18.0 million at March 31, 2018.  Non-performing commercial business loans comprised $3.3 million, or 34.9%, of the total $9.3 million of non-performing loans at March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.2 million from December 31, 2017.  Non-performing consumer loans comprised $2.8 million, or 30.4%, of the total non-performing loans at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $427,000 from December 31, 2017.  Non-performing one- to four-family residential loans comprised $2.8 million, or 29.8%, of the total non-performing loans at March 31, 2018, an increase of $56,000 from December 31, 2017.  Non-performing commercial real estate loans comprised $360,000, or 3.9%, of the total non-performing loans at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $866,000 from December 31, 2017.  Non-performing construction and land development loans comprised $96,000, or 1.0%, of the total non-performing loans at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $2,000 from December 31, 2017. Non-performing other residential loans were $-0- at March 31, 2018, a decrease of $1.9 million from December 31, 2017, due to the transfer to foreclosed assets and related charge-down of the one property previously in this category of non-performing loans.

Non-performing Loans.  Activity in the non-performing loans category during the three months ended March 31, 2018 was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
to Non-
Performing
   
Removed
from Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Potential
Problem
Loans
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets and Repossessions
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
March 31
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
98
     
     
     
     
     
     
(2
)
   
96
 
Land development
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
One- to four-family residential
   
2,728
     
266
     
     
     
(34
)
   
(12
)
   
(164
)
   
2,784
 
Other residential
   
1,877
     
2
     
     
     
(1,601
)
   
(278
)
   
     
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,226
     
157
     
     
     
(894
)
   
(101
)
   
(28
)
   
360
 
Commercial business
   
2,063
     
1,751
     
     
     
     
(321
)
   
(233
)
   
3,260
 
Consumer
   
3,263
     
1,059
     
     
(307
)
   
(318
)
   
(555
)
   
(306
)
   
2,836
 
                                                                 
Total
 
$
11,255
   
$
3,235
   
$
   
$
(307
)
 
$
(2,847
)
 
$
(1,267
)
 
$
(733
)
 
$
9,336
 

At March 31, 2018, the non-performing commercial business category included nine loans, seven of which were added in the current period.  The largest relationship in this category included two loans and totaled $1.5 million, or 46.3% of the total category.  This relationship was previously collateralized by commercial real estate which has been foreclosed upon and subsequently sold.  Collection efforts are currently being pursued against the guarantors of the credit relationship.  The second largest relationship in the commercial business category, which was added during the current period, totaled $1.2 million, or 37.4% of the total category.  This relationship is collateralized by an assignment of an interest in a real estate project.  The non-performing consumer category included 206 loans, 83 of which were added during the current period, and the majority of which are indirect used automobile loans. The non-performing one- to four-family residential category included 30 loans, five of which were added during the
 
52

 
 
 
 
current period.  The largest relationship in this category, which was added during the three months ended September 30, 2017, included nine loans totaling $1.3 million, or 48.4% of the total category, which are collateralized by residential rental homes in the Springfield, Mo. area. The non-performing commercial real estate category included five loans, two of which were added during the current period and were part of the same customer relationship.  One loan in the category which was collateralized by commercial property in the St. Louis, Mo., area and totaled $652,000 was transferred to foreclosed assets during the current period.  The non-performing other residential category had a balance of $-0- at March 31, 2018.  The one loan previously in this category, which was collateralized by an apartment project in the central Missouri area, had charge-offs of $278,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and the remaining balance of $1.6 million was transferred to foreclosed assets.

Potential Problem Loans.  Compared to December 31, 2017, potential problem loans decreased $207,000, or 2.6%.  This decrease was due to $610,000 in payments, $26,000 in charge-offs and $9,000 in loans removed from potential problem loans, partially offset by the addition of $438,000 of loans to potential problem loans.  Potential problem loans are loans which management has identified through routine internal review procedures as having possible credit problems that may cause the borrowers difficulty in complying with the current repayment terms.  These loans are not reflected in non-performing assets, but are considered in determining the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses.

Activity in the potential problem loans category during the three months ended March 31, 2018, was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
to
Potential
Problem
   
Removed
from
Potential
Problem
   
Transfers to
Non-
Performing
   
Transfers to
Foreclosed
Assets and Repossessions
   
Charge-
Offs
   
Payments
   
Ending
Balance,
March 31
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Land development
   
4
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
4
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
One- to four-family residential
   
1,122
     
38
     
     
     
     
     
(12
)
   
1,148
 
Other residential
   
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Commercial real estate
   
5,759
     
95
     
     
     
     
     
(551
)
   
5,303
 
Commercial business
   
503
     
     
     
     
     
     
(17
)
   
486
 
Consumer
   
549
     
305
     
(9
)
   
     
     
(26
)
   
(30
)
   
789
 
                                                                 
Total
 
$
7,937
   
$
438
   
$
(9
)
 
$
   
$
   
$
(26
)
 
$
(610
)
 
$
7,730
 

At March 31, 2018, the commercial real estate category of potential problem loans included four loans, one of which was new during the current period.  The largest relationship in this category, which is made up of three loans totaling $5.2 million, or 98.2% of the total category, is collateralized by theatre and retail property in Branson, Mo.  This is a long-term customer of the Bank and these loans were all originated prior to 2008.  The borrower experienced cash flow issues due to vacancies in some of the properties and the loans were added to potential problem loans during the three months ended September 30, 2017.  Payments of $550,000 were received on these loans during the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The one- to four-family residential category of potential problem loans included 19 loans, three of which were added during the current period. The consumer category of potential problem loans included 61 loans, 25 of which were added during the current period.  The commercial business category of potential problem loans included four loans.

Other Real Estate Owned and Repossessions.  Of the total $23.0 million of other real estate owned and repossessions at March 31, 2018, $3.3 million represents the fair value of foreclosed and repossessed assets related to loans acquired in FDIC-assisted transactions and $1.6 million represents properties which were not acquired through foreclosure. The foreclosed and other assets acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions and the properties not acquired through foreclosure are not included in the following table and discussion of other real estate owned and repossessions.
 
53

 

 

Activity in foreclosed assets and repossessions during the three months ended March 31, 2018, was as follows:

   
Beginning
Balance,
January 1
   
Additions
   
Sales
   
Capitalized
Costs
   
Write-
Downs
   
Ending
Balance,
March 31
 
   
(In Thousands)
 
One- to four-family construction
 
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
   
$
 
Subdivision construction
   
5,413
     
     
(38
)
   
     
(539
)
   
4,836
 
Land development
   
7,729
     
     
(45
)
   
     
     
7,684
 
Commercial construction
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
One- to four-family residential
   
112
     
44
     
(65
)
   
     
     
91
 
Other residential
   
140
     
1,601
     
(140
)
   
     
     
1,601
 
Commercial real estate
   
1,194
     
894
     
     
     
     
2,088
 
Commercial business
   
     
     
     
     
     
 
Consumer
   
1,987
     
2,491
     
(2,756
)
   
     
     
1,722
 
                                                 
Total
 
$
16,575
   
$
5,030
   
$
(3,044
)
 
$
   
$
(539
)
 
$
18,022
 

At March 31, 2018, the land development category of foreclosed assets included 18 properties, the largest of which was located in the Branson, Mo., area and had a balance of $1.2 million, or 16.2% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the land development category of foreclosed assets, 36.3% and 21.7% was located in the Branson, Mo. and the northwest Arkansas areas, respectively, including the largest property previously mentioned.  The subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets included 15 properties, the largest of which was located in the Springfield, Mo. metropolitan area and had a balance of $1.2 million, or 25.5% of the total category.  Of the total dollar amount in the subdivision construction category of foreclosed assets, 37.6% and 25.5% is located in Branson, Mo. and Springfield, Mo., respectively, including the largest property previously mentioned.  The commercial real estate category of foreclosed assets included six properties, three of which were new during the current period.  The largest property in the commercial real estate category, which was recreational property in the St. Louis area and was added during the three months ended March 31, 2018, had a balance of $652,000, or 31.2% of the total category.  The other residential category of foreclosed assets included one property, which was added during the current period totaling $1.6 million, and is an apartment building in central Missouri.  The larger amount of additions and sales under consumer loans are due to a higher volume of repossessions of automobiles, which generally are subject to a shorter repossession process.  The Company experienced increased levels of delinquencies and repossessions in indirect and used automobile loans throughout 2016 and 2017.  This trend generally continued into the first quarter of 2018.

Non-interest Income

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, non-interest income decreased $763,000 to $6.9 million when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the following items:

Amortization of income related to business acquisitions:  Because of the termination of the loss sharing agreements in previous years, the net amortization expense related to business acquisitions was $-0- for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $489,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2017, which reduced non-interest income by that amount in the previous year.

Late charges and fees on loans:  Late charges and fees on loans decreased $489,000 compared to the prior year period.  The decrease was due to fees on loan payoffs totaling $502,000 received on two large commercial loans during the 2017 period, with no similar large fees in the current year period.

Net gains on loan sales:  Net gains on loan sales decreased $410,000 compared to the prior year period.  The decrease was due to a decrease in originations of fixed-rate loans during the 2018 period compared to the 2017 period.  Fixed rate single-family mortgage loans originated are generally subsequently sold in the secondary market. In 2018, the Company has originated more variable-rate single-family mortgage loans, which have been retained in the Company's portfolio.
 
54

 
 

 
Other income:  Other income decreased $341,000 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017.  This decrease was primarily due to final residual income related to certain federal tax credits in the prior year period, which was not repeated in the current year period.

Non-interest Expense

For the three months ended March 31, 2018, non-interest expense decreased $261,000 to $28.3 million when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily as a result of the following items:

Salaries and employee benefits:  Salaries and employee benefits decreased $710,000 from the prior year three month period.  In the 2018 period, residential loan originations have been lower than in the prior year period, resulting in less incentive compensation for loan originators and staff.  The Company has also reorganized some staff functions over the past year to operate more efficiently.  In addition, there are budgeted but unfilled positions in various areas of the Company that have resulted in lower compensation costs in some areas.

Office supplies and printing:  Office supplies and printing decreased $464,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.  During the 2017 period the Bank incurred printing and other costs totaling $373,000 related to the replacement of a portion of customer debit cards with chip-enabled cards, which was not repeated in the current year period.

Expense on foreclosed assets:  Expense on foreclosed assets increased $566,000 compared to the prior year period primarily due to valuation write-downs of certain foreclosed assets during the current period, totaling approximately $617,000, and higher levels of expense related to consumer repossessions than in the year ago period, partially offset by valuation write-downs in the prior year period.

Legal, audit and other professional fees:  Legal, audit and other professional fees increased $489,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.  The Company's other professional fees were higher during the current year period due to consulting fees related to ongoing  process improvement initiatives and fees paid related to the implementation of the Company's new commercial loan system.  In the 2017 period, the Company received some large recoveries of legal fees on loans totaling $72,000, which was not repeated in the current year period.

The Company's efficiency ratio for the three months ended March 31, 2018, was 61.05% compared to 61.58% for the same period in 2017.  The improvement in the ratio in the 2018 three month period was primarily due to a small decrease in non-interest expense and an increase in net interest income, partially offset by the decrease in non-interest income.  The Company's ratio of non-interest expense to average assets increased from 2.55% for the three months ended March 31, 2017, to 2.59% for the three months ended March 31, 2018.  The increase in the current three month period ratio was due to a decrease in average assets in the 2018 period compared to the 2017 period.  Average assets for the three months ended March 31, 2018, decreased $115.2 million, or 2.6%, from the three months ended March 31, 2017, primarily due to decreases in investment securities and other interest-earning assets, loans receivable and other non-earning assets.

Provision for Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, H.R.1, originally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act"), was signed into law. Among other things, the Act permanently lowers the corporate federal income tax rate to 21% from the prior maximum rate of 35%, effective for tax years including or commencing January 1, 2018.  The Company currently expects its effective tax rate (combined federal and state) to decrease from approximately 26.7% in 2017 to approximately 15.5% to 17.5% in 2018, mainly as a result of the Act.

For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company's effective tax rate was 16.4% and 26.1%, respectively.  These effective rates were lower than the statutory federal tax rates of 21% (2018) and 35% (2017), due primarily to the utilization of certain investment tax credits and to tax-exempt investments and tax-exempt loans which reduced the Company's effective tax rate.  The Company's effective tax rate may fluctuate in future periods as it is impacted by the level and timing of the Company's utilization of tax credits and the level of tax-exempt investments and loans and the overall level of pre-tax income.  The Company's effective income tax rate is currently expected to continue to be less than the statutory rate due primarily to the factors noted above.
 
55

 
 

 
Average Balances, Interest Rates and Yields

The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the total dollar amount of interest income from average interest-earning assets and the resulting yields, as well as the interest expense on average interest-bearing liabilities, expressed both in dollars and rates, and the net interest margin. Average balances of loans receivable include the average balances of non-accrual loans for each period. Interest income on loans includes interest received on non-accrual loans on a cash basis.  Interest income on loans includes the amortization of net loan fees which were deferred in accordance with accounting standards.  Net fees included in interest income were $0.8 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.  Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis. The table does not reflect any effect of income taxes.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56

 

 

   
March 31,
2018(2)
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2018
   
Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
 
   
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/
Rate
   
Average
Balance
   
Interest
   
Yield/
Rate
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                                         
Loans receivable: (1)
                                         
  One- to four-family residential
   
4.17
%
 
$
431,121
   
$
5,183
     
4.88
%
 
$
484,139
   
$
6,095
     
5.11
%
  Other residential
   
4.71
     
738,722
     
8,839
     
4.85
     
679,465
     
7,526
     
4.49
 
  Commercial real estate
   
4.55
     
1,245,462
     
14,358
     
4.68
     
1,216,632
     
13,529
     
4.51
 
  Construction
   
4.64
     
518,976
     
6,488
     
5.07
     
401,601
     
4,376
     
4.42
 
  Commercial business
   
4.84
     
284,736
     
3,343
     
4.76
     
294,563
     
3,814
     
5.25
 
  Other loans
   
6.04
     
541,449
     
6,597
     
4.94
     
689,195
     
8,030
     
4.72
 
  Industrial revenue bonds
   
5.29
     
23,715
     
357
     
6.11
     
27,366
     
374
     
5.54
 
                                                         
Total loans receivable
   
4.86
     
3,784,181
     
45,165
     
4.84
     
3,792,961
     
43,744
     
4.68
 
                                                         
Investment securities(1)
   
3.07
     
187,007
     
1,309
     
2.84
     
220,363
     
1,415
     
2.60
 
Other interest-earning assets
   
1.73
     
99,080
     
408
     
1.67
     
139,634
     
254
     
0.74
 
                                                         
Total interest-earning assets
   
4.69
     
4,070,268
     
46,882
     
4.67
     
4,152,958
     
45,413
     
4.43
 
Non-interest-earning assets:
                                                       
  Cash and cash equivalents
           
102,368
                     
107,815
                 
  Other non-earning assets
           
197,441
                     
224,533
                 
Total assets
         
$
4,370,077
                   
$
4,485,306
                 
                                                         
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                                                       
Interest-bearing demand and savings
   
0.33
   
$
1,564,610
     
1,310
     
0.34
   
$
1,555,350
     
1,095
     
0.29
 
Time deposits
   
1.35
     
1,331,474
     
4,274
     
1.30
     
1,488,266
     
3,869
     
1.05
 
Total deposits
   
0.79
     
2,896,084
     
5,584
     
0.78
     
3,043,616
     
4,964
     
0.66
 
Short-term borrowings and structured
   repurchase agreements
   
0.04
     
99,489
     
28
     
0.11
     
237,513
     
226
     
0.39
 
Subordinated debentures issued to
    capital trusts
   
3.37
     
25,774
     
202
     
3.18
     
25,774
     
242
     
3.81
 
Subordinated notes
   
5.56
     
73,713
     
1,025
     
5.64
     
73,552
     
1,025
     
5.65
 
FHLBank advances
   
1.91
     
145,517
     
605
     
1.69
     
31,438
     
255
     
3.29
 
                                                         
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
0.94
     
3,240,577
     
7,444
     
0.93
     
3,411,893
     
6,712
     
0.80
 
Non-interest-bearing liabilities:
                                                       
  Demand deposits
           
630,530
                     
608,151
                 
  Other liabilities
           
18,820
                     
26,432
                 
Total liabilities
           
3,889,927
                     
4,046,476
                 
Stockholders' equity
           
480,150
                     
438,830
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
         
$
4,370,077
                   
$
4,485,306
                 
                                                         
Net interest income:
                                                       
  Interest rate spread
   
3.75
%
         
$
39,438
     
3.74
%
         
$
38,701
     
3.63
%
  Net interest margin*
                           
3.93
%
                   
3.78
%
Average interest-earning assets to
   average interest-bearing liabilities
           
125.6
%
                   
121.7
%
               

_______________________
*
Defined as the Company's net interest income divided by total average interest-earning assets.
(1)
Of the total average balances of investment securities, average tax-exempt investment securities were $55.6 million and $66.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. In addition, average tax-exempt loans and industrial revenue bonds were $27.1 million and $29.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Interest income on tax-exempt assets included in this table was $873,000 and $867,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Interest income net of disallowed interest expense related to tax-exempt assets was $830,000 and $829,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(2)
The yield on loans at March 31, 2018 does not include the impact of the accretable yield (income) on loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions.  See "Net Interest Income" for a discussion of the effect on results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
 
57

 


Rate/Volume Analysis

The following tables present the dollar amounts of changes in interest income and interest expense for major components of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities for the periods shown. For each category of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities, information is provided on changes attributable to (i) changes in rate (i.e., changes in rate multiplied by old volume) and (ii) changes in volume (i.e., changes in volume multiplied by old rate). For purposes of this table, changes attributable to both rate and volume, which cannot be segregated, have been allocated proportionately to volume and rate. Tax-exempt income was not calculated on a tax equivalent basis.

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
   
2018 vs. 2017
 
   
Increase
       
   
(Decrease)
   
Total
 
   
Due to
   
Increase
 
   
Rate
   
Volume
   
(Decrease)
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
Interest-earning assets:
                 
Loans receivable
 
$
1,522
   
$
(101
)
 
$
1,421
 
Investment securities
   
121
     
(227
)
   
(106
)
Other interest-earning assets
   
245
     
(91
)
   
154
 
Total interest-earning assets
   
1,888
     
(419
)
   
1,469
 
Interest-bearing liabilities:
                       
Demand deposits
   
208
     
7
     
215
 
Time deposits
   
842
     
(437
)
   
405
 
Total deposits
   
1,050
     
(430
)
   
620
 
Short-term borrowings
   
(108
)
   
(90
)
   
(198
)
Subordinated debentures issued to capital trust
   
(40
)
   
     
(40
)
Subordinated notes
   
(2
)
   
2
     
 
FHLBank advances
   
(178
)
   
528
     
350
 
Total interest-bearing liabilities
   
722
     
10
     
732
 
Net interest income
 
$
1,166
   
$
(429
)
 
$
737
 

Liquidity

Liquidity is a measure of the Company's ability to generate sufficient cash to meet present and future financial obligations in a timely manner through either the sale or maturity of existing assets or the acquisition of additional funds through liability management. These obligations include the credit needs of customers, funding deposit withdrawals, and the day-to-day operations of the Company. Liquid assets include cash, interest-bearing deposits with financial institutions and certain investment securities and loans. As a result of the Company's management of the ability to generate liquidity primarily through liability funding, management believes that the Company maintains overall liquidity sufficient to satisfy its depositors' requirements and meet its customers' credit needs. At March 31, 2018, the Company had commitments of approximately $250.3 million to fund loan originations, $1.04 billion of unused lines of credit and unadvanced loans, and $21.8 million of outstanding letters of credit.
 
 
58


 


Loan commitments and the unfunded portion of loans at the dates indicated were as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31,
2018
   
December 31,
2017
   
December 31,
2016
   
December 31,
2015
 
Closed loans with unused available lines
                       
   Secured by real estate (one- to four-family)
 
$
138,375
   
$
133,587
   
$
123,433
   
$
105,390
 
   Secured by real estate (not one- to four-family)
   
12,382
     
10,836
     
26,062
     
21,857
 
   Not secured by real estate - commercial business
   
108,262
     
113,317
     
79,937
     
63,865
 
                                 
Closed construction loans with unused
     available lines
                               
   Secured by real estate (one-to four-family)
   
29,757
     
20,919
     
10,047
     
14,242
 
   Secured by real estate (not one-to four-family)
   
749,926
     
718,277
     
542,326
     
385,969
 
                                 
Loan Commitments not closed
                               
   Secured by real estate (one-to four-family)
   
37,144
     
23,340
     
15,884
     
13,411
 
   Secured by real estate (not one-to four-family)
   
200,192
     
156,658
     
119,126
     
120,817
 
   Not secured by real estate - commercial business
   
12,995
     
4,870
     
7,022
     
 
                                 
   
$
1,289,033
   
$
1,181,804
   
$
923,837
   
$
725,551
 

The Company's primary sources of funds are customer deposits, FHLBank advances, other borrowings, loan repayments, unpledged securities, proceeds from sales of loans and available-for-sale securities and funds provided from operations. The Company utilizes particular sources of funds based on the comparative costs and availability at the time. The Company has from time to time chosen not to pay rates on deposits as high as the rates paid by certain of its competitors and, when believed to be appropriate, supplements deposits with less expensive alternative sources of funds.

At March 31, 2018, the Company had these available secured lines and on-balance sheet liquidity:

Federal Home Loan Bank line
$563.5 million
 
Federal Reserve Bank line
$510.9 million
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$220.0 million
 
Unpledged securities
$44.9 million
 

Statements of Cash Flows. During both the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had positive cash flows from operating activities.  The Company experienced negative cash flows from investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and positive cash flows from investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2017.  During both the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had negative cash flows from financing activities.

Cash flows from operating activities for the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows have been primarily related to changes in accrued and deferred assets, credits and other liabilities, the provision for loan losses, depreciation and amortization, realized gains on sales of loans and the amortization of deferred loan origination fees and discounts (premiums) on loans and investments, all of which are non-cash or non-operating adjustments to operating cash flows. Net income adjusted for non-cash and non-operating items and the origination and sale of loans held for sale were the primary source of cash flows from operating activities. Operating activities provided cash flows of $29.9 million and $13.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, investing activities used cash of $37.0 million, primarily due to the purchase of loans and the net origination of loans and the purchase of equipment, partially offset by the sale of other real estate owned and payments received on investment securities. Investing activities in the 2017 period provided cash of $64.4 million, primarily due to the net decrease in loans partially offset by the purchase of loans, the sale of other real estate owned, payments received on investment securities and the redemption of FHLBank stock.
 
59

 
 

 
Changes in cash flows from financing activities during the periods covered by the Statements of Cash Flows are due to changes in deposits after interest credited, changes in FHLBank advances and changes in short-term borrowings, as well as dividend payments to stockholders and the exercise of common stock options.  Financing activities used cash of $15.2 million and $129.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, due primarily to the decrease in certificates of deposit in the 2018 period, partially offset by increases in FHLBank advances, checking account deposits and short-term borrowings.  In the 2017 period, financing activities included the reduction of short-term borrowings, partially offset by a net increase in deposits.  Financing activities in the future are expected to primarily include changes in deposits, changes in FHLBank advances, changes in short-term borrowings and dividend payments to stockholders.

Capital Resources

Management continuously reviews the capital position of the Company and the Bank to ensure compliance with minimum regulatory requirements, as well as to explore ways to increase capital either by retained earnings or other means.

At March 31, 2018, the Company's total stockholders' equity and common stockholders' equity were $480.0 million, or 10.9% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $34.02 per common share. At December 31, 2017, total stockholders' equity and common stockholders' equity were $471.7 million, or 10.7% of total assets, equivalent to a book value of $33.48 per common share. At March 31, 2018, the Company's tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio was 10.7%, compared to 10.5% at December 31, 2017. (See Non-GAAP Financial Measures below).

Banks are required to maintain minimum risk-based capital ratios. These ratios compare capital, as defined by the risk-based regulations, to assets adjusted for their relative risk as defined by the regulations. Under current guidelines banks must have a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 4.50%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 6.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 8.00%, and a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 4.00%. To be considered "well capitalized," banks must have a minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio of 6.50%, a minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of 8.00%, a minimum total risk-based capital ratio of 10.00%, and a minimum Tier 1 leverage ratio of 5.00%. On March 31, 2018, the Bank's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.4%, its Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.4%, its total capital ratio was 13.2% and its Tier 1 leverage ratio was 12.2%. As a result, as of March 31, 2018, the Bank was well capitalized, with capital ratios in excess of those required to qualify as such.  On December 31, 2017, the Bank's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.3%, its Tier 1 capital ratio was 12.3%, its total capital ratio was 13.2% and its Tier 1 leverage ratio was 11.7%. As a result, as of December 31, 2017, the Bank was well capitalized, with capital ratios in excess of those required to qualify as such.

The FRB has established capital regulations for bank holding companies that generally parallel the capital regulations for banks. On March 31, 2018, the Company's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.0%, its Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.5%, its total capital ratio was 14.1% and its Tier 1 leverage ratio was 11.4%. To be considered well capitalized, a bank holding company must have a Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio of at least 6.00% and a total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10.00%.  As of March 31, 2018, the Company was considered well capitalized, with capital ratios in excess of those required to qualify as such.  On December 31, 2017, the Company's common equity Tier 1 capital ratio was 10.9%, its Tier 1 capital ratio was 11.4%, its total capital ratio was 14.1% and its Tier 1 leverage ratio was 10.9%. As of December 31, 2017, the Company was considered well capitalized, with capital ratios in excess of those required to qualify as such.

In addition to the minimum common equity Tier 1 capital ratio, Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio and total risk-based capital ratio, the Company and the Bank have to maintain a capital conservation buffer consisting of additional common equity Tier 1 capital greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets above the required minimum levels in order to avoid limitations on paying dividends, repurchasing shares, and paying discretionary bonuses.  This capital conservation buffer requirement began phasing in beginning on January 1, 2016 when a buffer greater than 0.625% of risk-weighted assets was required, which amount increased by an additional 0.625% as of January 1, 2017 and 2018, and will continue to increase an equal amount each year until the buffer requirement of greater than 2.5% of risk-weighted assets is fully implemented on January 1, 2019.
 
60

 
 

 
For additional information, see "Item 1. Business--Government Supervision and Regulation-Capital" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Dividends. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.28 per share, or 29% of net income per diluted common share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.24 per share (which was declared in December 2017).  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company declared a common stock cash dividend of $0.22 per share, or 27% of net income per diluted common share for that three month period, and paid a common stock cash dividend of $0.22 per share (which was declared in December 2016).  The Board of Directors meets regularly to consider the level and the timing of dividend payments.  The $0.28 per share dividend declared but unpaid as of March 31, 2018, was paid to stockholders in April 2018. 

Common Stock Repurchases and Issuances. The Company has been in various buy-back programs since May 1990. During the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its common stock.  During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company issued 23,609 shares of stock at an average price of $23.17 per share to cover stock option exercises.  During the three months ended March 31, 2017, the Company issued 40,939 shares of stock at an average price of $24.86 per share to cover stock option exercises.

On April 18, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The plan does not have an expiration date.  The authorization of this new plan terminated the previously repurchase plan which was approved in November 2006, with an authorization to repurchase up to 700,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock.

Management has historically utilized stock buy-back programs from time to time as long as management believed that repurchasing the stock would contribute to the overall growth of shareholder value. The number of shares of stock that will be repurchased at any particular time and the prices that will be paid are subject to many factors, several of which are outside of the control of the Company. The primary factors, however, are the number of shares available in the market from sellers at any given time, the price of the stock within the market as determined by the market and the projected impact on the Company's earnings per share and capital. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
61

 
 

 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This document contains certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"). These non-GAAP financial measures include tangible common equity to tangible assets ratio.

In calculating the ratio of tangible common equity to tangible assets, we subtract period-end intangible assets from common equity and from total assets.  Management believes that the presentation of this measure excluding the impact of intangible assets provides useful supplemental information that is helpful in understanding our financial condition and results of operations, as it provides a method to assess management's success in utilizing our tangible capital as well as our capital strength.  Management also believes that providing a measure that excludes balances of intangible assets, which are subjective components of valuation, facilitates the comparison of our performance with the performance of our peers.  In addition, management believes that this is a standard financial measure used in the banking industry to evaluate performance.

This non-GAAP financial measure is supplemental and is not a substitute for any analysis based on GAAP financial measures. Because not all companies use the same calculation of non-GAAP measures, this presentation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures as calculated by other companies.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation:  Ratio of Tangible Common Equity to Tangible Assets

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2018
   
2017
 
   
(Dollars in Thousands)
 
             
Common equity at period end
 
$
480,000
   
$
471,662
 
Less:  Intangible assets at period end
   
10,438
     
10,850
 
Tangible common equity at period end  (a)
 
$
469,562
   
$
460,812
 
                 
Total assets at period end
 
$
4,411,439
   
$
4,414,521
 
Less:  Intangible assets at period end
   
10,438
     
10,850
 
Tangible assets at period end (b)
 
$
4,401,001
   
$
4,403,671
 
                 
Tangible common equity to tangible assets (a) / (b)
   
10.67
%
   
10.46
%












62





ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Asset and Liability Management and Market Risk

A principal operating objective of the Company is to produce stable earnings by achieving a favorable interest rate spread that can be sustained during fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. The Company has sought to reduce its exposure to adverse changes in interest rates by attempting to achieve a closer match between the periods in which its interest-bearing liabilities and interest-earning assets can be expected to reprice through the origination of adjustable-rate mortgages and loans with shorter terms to maturity and the purchase of other shorter term interest-earning assets.

Our Risk When Interest Rates Change

The rates of interest we earn on assets and pay on liabilities generally are established contractually for a period of time. Market interest rates change over time. Accordingly, our results of operations, like those of other financial institutions, are impacted by changes in interest rates and the interest rate sensitivity of our assets and liabilities. The risk associated with changes in interest rates and our ability to adapt to these changes is known as interest rate risk and is our most significant market risk.

How We Measure the Risk to Us Associated with Interest Rate Changes

In an attempt to manage our exposure to changes in interest rates and comply with applicable regulations, we monitor Great Southern's interest rate risk. In monitoring interest rate risk we regularly analyze and manage assets and liabilities based on their payment streams and interest rates, the timing of their maturities and their sensitivity to actual or potential changes in market interest rates.

The ability to maximize net interest income is largely dependent upon the achievement of a positive interest rate spread that can be sustained despite fluctuations in prevailing interest rates. Interest rate sensitivity is a measure of the difference between amounts of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities which either reprice or mature within a given period of time. The difference, or the interest rate repricing "gap," provides an indication of the extent to which an institution's interest rate spread will be affected by changes in interest rates. A gap is considered positive when the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities repricing during the same period, and is considered negative when the amount of interest-rate sensitive liabilities exceeds the amount of interest-rate sensitive assets during the same period. Generally, during a period of rising interest rates, a negative gap within shorter repricing periods would adversely affect net interest income, while a positive gap within shorter repricing periods would result in an increase in net interest income. During a period of falling interest rates, the opposite would be true. As of March 31, 2018, Great Southern's interest rate risk models indicate that, generally, rising interest rates are expected to have a positive impact on the Company's net interest income, while declining interest rates would have a negative impact on net interest income. We model various interest rate scenarios for rising and falling rates, including both parallel and non-parallel shifts in rates. The results of our modeling indicate that net interest income is not likely to be materially affected either positively or negatively in the first twelve months following a rate change, regardless of any changes in interest rates, because our portfolios are relatively well matched in a twelve-month horizon. The effects of interest rate changes, if any, are expected to be more impacting to net interest income in the 12 to 36 months following a rate change.

The current level and shape of the interest rate yield curve poses challenges for interest rate risk management. Prior to its increase of 0.25% on December 16, 2015, the Federal Reserve Board had last changed interest rates on December 16, 2008. This was the first rate increase since September 29, 2006.  The FRB has now also implemented rate increases of 0.25% on five different occasions beginning December 14, 2016, with the Federal Funds rate now at 1.75%.  A substantial portion of Great Southern's loan portfolio ($1.33 billion at March 31, 2018) is tied to the one-month or three-month LIBOR index and will adjust at least once within 90 days after March 31, 2018.  Of these loans, $999 million as of March 31, 2018 had interest rate floors.  Great Southern also has a significant portfolio of loans ($306 million at March 31, 2018) which are tied to a "prime rate" of interest and will adjust immediately with changes to the "prime rate" of interest.
 
63

 
 

 
Interest rate risk exposure estimates (the sensitivity gap) are not exact measures of an institution's actual interest rate risk. They are only indicators of interest rate risk exposure produced in a simplified modeling environment designed to allow management to gauge the Bank's sensitivity to changes in interest rates. They do not necessarily indicate the impact of general interest rate movements on the Bank's net interest income because the repricing of certain categories of assets and liabilities is subject to competitive and other factors beyond the Bank's control. As a result, certain assets and liabilities indicated as maturing or otherwise repricing within a stated period may in fact mature or reprice at different times and in different amounts and cause a change, which potentially could be material, in the Bank's interest rate risk.

In order to minimize the potential for adverse effects of material and prolonged increases and decreases in interest rates on Great Southern's results of operations, Great Southern has adopted asset and liability management policies to better match the maturities and repricing terms of Great Southern's interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities. Management recommends and the Board of Directors sets the asset and liability policies of Great Southern which are implemented by the Asset and Liability Committee. The Asset and Liability Committee is chaired by the Chief Financial Officer and is comprised of members of Great Southern's senior management. The purpose of the Asset and Liability Committee is to communicate, coordinate and control asset/liability management consistent with Great Southern's business plan and board-approved policies. The Asset and Liability Committee establishes and monitors the volume and mix of assets and funding sources taking into account relative costs and spreads, interest rate sensitivity and liquidity needs. The objectives are to manage assets and funding sources to produce results that are consistent with liquidity, capital adequacy, growth, risk and profitability goals. The Asset and Liability Committee meets on a monthly basis to review, among other things, economic conditions and interest rate outlook, current and projected liquidity needs and capital positions and anticipated changes in the volume and mix of assets and liabilities. At each meeting, the Asset and Liability Committee recommends appropriate strategy changes based on this review. The Chief Financial Officer or his designee is responsible for reviewing and reporting on the effects of the policy implementations and strategies to the Board of Directors at their monthly meetings.

In order to manage its assets and liabilities and achieve the desired liquidity, credit quality, interest rate risk, profitability and capital targets, Great Southern has focused its strategies on originating adjustable rate loans, and managing its deposits and borrowings to establish stable relationships with both retail customers and wholesale funding sources.

At times, depending on the level of general interest rates, the relationship between long- and short-term interest rates, market conditions and competitive factors, we may determine to increase our interest rate risk position somewhat in order to maintain or increase our net interest margin.

The Asset and Liability Committee regularly reviews interest rate risk by forecasting the impact of alternative interest rate environments on net interest income and market value of portfolio equity, which is defined as the net present value of an institution's existing assets, liabilities and off-balance sheet instruments, and evaluating such impacts against the maximum potential changes in net interest income and market value of portfolio equity that are authorized by the Board of Directors of Great Southern.

In the normal course of business, the Company may use derivative financial instruments (primarily interest rate swaps) from time to time to assist in its interest rate risk management.  In 2011, the Company began executing interest rate swaps with commercial banking customers to facilitate their respective risk management strategies.  Those interest rate swaps are simultaneously hedged by offsetting interest rate swaps that the Company executes with a third party, such that the Company minimizes its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.  Because the interest rate swaps associated with this program do not meet the strict hedge accounting requirements, changes in the fair value of both the customer swaps and the offsetting swaps are recognized directly in earnings. These interest rate derivatives result from a service provided to certain qualifying customers and, therefore, are not used to manage interest rate risk in the Company's assets or liabilities. The Company manages a matched book with respect to its derivative instruments in order to minimize its net risk exposure resulting from such transactions.

In 2013, the Company entered into an interest rate cap agreement related to its floating rate debt associated with its trust preferred securities.  The agreement provided that the counterparty would reimburse the Company if interest rates rise above a certain threshold, thus creating a cap on the effective interest rate paid by the Company.  This agreement was classified as a hedging instrument, and the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative was
 
64

 
 
 
 
reported as a component of other comprehensive income and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.  The interest rate cap related to the $25.0 million trust preferred security terminated per its contractual terms in the third quarter of 2017.

For further information on derivatives and hedging activities, see Note 15 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this report.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

We maintain a system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")) that is designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate. An evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures was carried out as of March 31, 2018, under the supervision and with the participation of our principal executive officer, principal financial officer and several other members of our senior management. Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that the information we are required to disclose in the reports we file or submit under the Act is (i) accumulated and communicated to our management (including the principal executive officer and principal financial officer) to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure, and (ii) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13(a)-15(f) under the Act) that occurred during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

We do not expect that our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control procedure, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control procedure are met. Because of the inherent limitations in all control procedures, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns in controls or procedures can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. The design of any control procedure also is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.  Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control procedure, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are subject to pending and threatened legal actions, some of which seek substantial relief or damages.  While the ultimate outcome of such legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty, after reviewing pending and threatened litigation with counsel, management believes at this time that, except as noted below, the outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
 
65

 
 

 
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

On April 18, 2018, the Company's Board of Directors authorized management to repurchase up to 500,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock, under a program of open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The plan does not have an expiration date.  The authorization of this new plan terminated the previously repurchase plan which was approved in November 2006, with an authorization to repurchase up to 700,000 shares of the Company's outstanding common stock.

As indicated below, no shares were purchased during the three months ended March 31, 2018.

   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   
Average
Price
Per Share
   
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
As Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plan
   
Maximum
Number of
Shares that
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under the
Plan(1)
 
                         
January 1, 2018 – January 31, 2018
   
   
$
     
     
378,562
 
February 1, 2018 – February 28, 2018
   
     
     
     
378,562
 
March 1, 2018 – March 31, 2018
   
     
     
     
378,562
 
     
   
$
     
         

_______________________
 
 
(1)
Amount represents the number of shares available to be repurchased under the November 2006 plan as of the last calendar day of the month shown.
 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable

Item 5. Other Information

None.

Item 6. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

 
a)
Exhibits
 
 
See Exhibit Index.
 
 
 
66

 
 

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 
Great Southern Bancorp, Inc.
 
Registrant
 
 
Date: May 4, 2018
/s/ Joseph W. Turner
 
Joseph W. Turner
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
Date: May 4, 2018
/s/ Rex A. Copeland
 
Rex A. Copeland
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
67

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
Description
   
(2)
Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation, or succession
     
 
(i)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of TeamBank, N.A., Paola, Kansas, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 26, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1(i).
     
 
(ii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2009, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Vantus Bank, Sioux City, Iowa, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 11, 2009 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2.1(ii).
     
 
(iii)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2011, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Sun Security Bank, Ellington, Missouri, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(iii) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(iii).
     
 
(iv)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement, dated as of April 27, 2012, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Inter Savings Bank, FSB, Maple Grove, Minnesota, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(iv) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(iv)
     
 
(v)
The Purchase and Assumption Agreement All Deposits, dated as of June 20, 2014, among Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Receiver of Valley Bank, Moline, Illinois, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Great Southern Bank, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 2.1(v) to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 2(v).
     
(3)
Articles of incorporation and Bylaws
     
 
(i)
The Registrant's Charter previously filed with the Commission as Appendix D to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 31, 2004 (File No. 000-18082), is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.1.
     
 
(iA)
The Articles Supplementary to the Registrant's Charter setting forth the terms of the Registrant's Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2011, are incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3(i).
     
 
(ii)
The Registrant's Bylaws, previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 3(ii) to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 19, 2007, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 3.2.
     
(4)
Instruments defining the rights of security holders, including indentures
     
 
The Company hereby agrees to furnish the SEC upon request, copies of the instruments defining the rights of the holders of each issue of the Registrant's long-term debt.
 
 
68

 

 

     
(9)
Voting trust agreement
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(10)
Material contracts
     
 
The Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File No. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 14, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.2.
     
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and William V. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.3.
     
 
The employment agreement dated September 18, 2002 between the Registrant and Joseph W. Turner previously filed with the Commission (File no. 000-18082) as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.4.
     
 
The form of incentive stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.5.
     
 
The form of non-qualified stock option agreement under the Registrant's 2003 Stock Option and Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K (File no. 000-18082) filed on February 24, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.6.
     
 
A description of the current salary and bonus arrangements for 2018 for the Registrant's executive officers previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.7.
     
 
A description of the current fee arrangements for the Registrant's directors previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.8.
     
 
Small Business Lending Fund – Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 18, 2011, between the Registrant and the Secretary of the United States Department of the Treasury, previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2011, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.9.
     
 
The Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission (File No. 000-18082) as Annex A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 4, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.10.
     
 
The form of incentive stock option award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.11.
     
 
The form of non-qualified stock option award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.12.
 
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The form of stock appreciation right award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.13.
     
 
The form of restricted stock award agreement under the Registrant's 2013 Equity Incentive Plan previously filed with the Commission as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File no. 333-189497) filed on June 20, 2013 is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 10.14.
     
(11)
Statement re computation of per share earnings
     
 
     
(15)
Letter re unaudited interim financial information
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(18)
Letter re change in accounting principles
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(19)
Report furnished to securityholders.
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(22)
Published report regarding matters submitted to vote of security holders
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(23)
Consents of experts and counsel
     
 
Inapplicable.
     
(24)
Power of attorney
     
 
None.
     
(31.1)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.1
     
(31.2)
Rule 13a-14(a) Certification of Treasurer
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 31.2
     
(32)
Certification pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350)
     
 
Attached as Exhibit 32.
     
(99)
Additional Exhibits
     
 
None.
     
(101)
Attached as Exhibit 101 are the following financial statements from the Great Southern Bancorp, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, formatted in Extensive Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) consolidated statements of financial condition, (ii) consolidated statements of income, (iii) consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iv) consolidated statements of cash flows and (v) notes to consolidated financial statements.

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