LION 12.31.2014 10K
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014
Commission File Number 001-34981
Fidelity Southern Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
|
| | |
Georgia | | 58-1416811 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| |
3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 1550 Atlanta, Georgia | | 30305 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (404) 639-6500
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, without stated par value
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No ý
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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, 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 ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
|
| | | | |
Large accelerated filer ¨ | Accelerated filer ý | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ | |
| | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | | |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No ýThe aggregate market value of the common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant (assuming for these purposes, but without conceding, that all executive officers and directors are “affiliates” of the registrant) as of June 30, 2014 (based on the price the Common Stock was last sold on June 30, 2014 on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System), was $226,016,270.
At March 2, 2015, there were 21,381,332 shares of Common Stock outstanding, without stated par value.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.
FIDELITY SOUTHERN CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
Report on Form 10-K
December 31, 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
| | |
| | Pages |
| PART I | |
| | |
Item 1. | Business | |
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | |
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | |
Item 2. | Properties | |
Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | |
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | |
| | |
| PART II | |
| | |
Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | |
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | |
Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | |
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | |
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | |
Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | |
Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | |
Item 9B. | Other Information | |
| | |
| PART III | |
| | |
Item 10. | Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance (1) | |
Item 11. | Executive Compensation (1) | |
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters (1) | |
Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence (1) | |
Item 14. | Principal Accountant Fees and Services (1) | |
| | |
| PART IV | |
| | |
Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules | |
(1) All or portions of this item are incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders.
PART I
Item 1. Business
General
Fidelity Southern Corporation (“FSC” or “Fidelity”) is a bank holding company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. We conduct operations primarily through Fidelity Bank, a state chartered wholly-owned subsidiary bank (the “Bank”). The Bank was organized as a national banking corporation in 1973 and converted to a Georgia chartered state bank in 2003. LionMark Insurance Company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FSC and is an insurance agency offering consumer credit related insurance products. FSC also owns three subsidiaries established to issue trust preferred securities. The “Company”, “we” or “our”, as used herein, includes FSC and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires.
FSC is a legal entity separate and distinct from its bank subsidiary. We coordinate the financial resources of the consolidated enterprise and thereby maintain financial, operational and administrative systems that allow centralized evaluation of subsidiary operations and coordination of selected policies and activities. FSC's operating revenues and net income are derived primarily from management fees and cash dividends received from the Bank. At December 31, 2014, we had total assets of $3.1 billion, total net loans of $2.6 billion, total deposits of $2.5 billion, and shareholders’ equity of $265.0 million. For more information about our business and recent material transactions, see Item 7.—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect our current expectations relating to present or future trends or factors generally affecting the banking industry and specifically affecting our operations, markets and services. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions we believe are reasonable and may relate to, among other things, the difficult economic conditions and the economy’s impact on operating results, credit quality, liquidity, capital, the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses, changes in interest rates, and litigation results. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected for many reasons, including without limitation, changing events and trends that have influenced our assumptions.
These trends and events include (1) risks associated with our loan portfolio, including difficulties in maintaining quality loan growth, greater loan losses than historic levels, the risk of an insufficient allowance for loan losses, expenses associated with managing nonperforming assets, unique risks associated with our construction and land development loans, our ability to maintain and service relationships with automobile dealers and indirect automobile loan purchasers, and our ability to profitably manage changes in our indirect automobile lending operations; (2) risks associated with global, general, and local economic and business conditions, including economic recession or depression, the pace, consistency, and extent of recovery of values and activity in the residential housing and commercial real estate markets of the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area and eastern and northern Florida markets; (3) expectations of and actual timing and amount of interest rate movements, including the slope and shape of the yield curve, which can have a significant impact on a financial services institution; (4) market and monetary fluctuations, including fluctuations in mortgage markets; (5) inflation or deflation; (6) risks associated with government regulation and programs, uncertainty with respect to future governmental economic and regulatory measures, new regulatory requirements imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, new regulatory requirements for residential mortgage loan services, and numerous legislative proposals to further regulate the financial services industry, the impact of and adverse changes in the governmental regulatory requirements affecting us, and changes in political, legislative and economic conditions; (7) the ability to maintain adequate liquidity and sources of liquidity; (8) our ability to maintain sufficient capital and to raise additional capital; (9) the accuracy and completeness of information from customers and our counterparties; (10) the effectiveness of our controls and procedures; (11) our ability to attract and retain skilled people; (12) greater competitive pressures among financial institutions in our market areas; (13) failure to achieve the revenue increases expected to result from our investments in our growth strategies, including our branch additions and in our transaction deposit and lending businesses; (14) the volatility and limited trading of our common stock; (15) the impact of dilution on our common stock; (16) risks related to acquisitions; compliance with certain requirements under our loss share agreements with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC"); changes in national and local economic conditions resulting in higher charge-offs not covered by the FDIC loss share agreements; and (17) risks associated with technological changes and the possibility of Cyberfraud.
This list is intended to identify some of the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements included herein and are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and uncertainties in our business. We assume no obligation to update or revise, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, any forward-looking statements that are made in our 2014 Annual Report or in any other statement, release, report, or filing from time to time. Investors are encouraged to read the risks discussed under “Item 1A.—Risk Factors.”
Market Area, Products and Services
We provide an array of financial products and services for business and retail customers primarily in the metropolitan Atlanta and northern Florida markets, and online at www.LionBank.com. Our customers are primarily individuals and small to medium- sized businesses. Mortgage loans, indirect automobile loans, and Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans are provided in twelve Southern states.
We are primarily engaged in attracting deposits from individuals and businesses and using these deposits and borrowed funds to originate commercial, residential mortgage, construction and installment loans. We actively sell originated and brokered residential mortgage loans, SBA loans and indirect automobile loans, retaining servicing on a significant amount of the sales. Internet banking, including online bill pay and mobile deposit, and Internet cash management services are available to individuals and businesses. We also offer trust and wealth management services to individuals, as well as cash management services, remote deposit services and international trade business services for businesses. Through our marketing partners, we offer merchant services for businesses and credit cards for both individuals and businesses.
We have generally grown our assets, deposits, and business internally by building on our lending products, expanding our deposit products and delivery capabilities, opening new branches, and hiring experienced bankers with existing customer relationships in our market areas. We do not generally purchase loan participations from any other financial institution. We have completed both FDIC-assisted and non FDIC-assisted transactions and will continue to review opportunities for other acquisitions in the future.
Deposits
We offer a full range of deposit accounts and services to both individuals and businesses. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, deposits consisted of:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 |
(in thousands) | | Amount | | % of Total | | Amount | | % of Total |
Noninterest-bearing demand deposits | | $ | 558,018 |
| | 22.7 | % | | $ | 488,224 |
| | 22.2 | % |
Interest-bearing deposits: | | | | | | | | |
Demand and money market | | 788,373 |
| | 32.1 | % | | 701,556 |
| | 31.8 | % |
Savings deposits | | 321,621 |
| | 13.1 | % | | 325,133 |
| | 14.8 | % |
Time deposits | | 675,806 |
| | 27.5 | % | | 620,172 |
| | 28.1 | % |
Brokered deposits | | 114,204 |
| | 4.6 | % | | 67,367 |
| | 3.1 | % |
Total deposits | | $ | 2,458,022 |
| | 100.0 | % | | $ | 2,202,452 |
| | 100.0 | % |
During 2014, we continued a marketing program to increase the number and volume of our personal and business demand deposit accounts with the goals of building relationships with existing customers, adding new customers, increasing transaction accounts, and helping manage our cost of funds. We believe the marketing program was a contributing factor to the growth in our core deposits in 2014 in addition to the $170.9 million in deposits acquired during September 2014.
Lending
Our primary lending activities include originating commercial loans to small and medium sized businesses, SBA loans, consumer installment loans (primarily indirect automobile loans), construction loans, and residential real estate loans. Commercial lending consists of the extension of credit for business purposes, primarily in the Atlanta metropolitan and northern Florida areas. We originate SBA loans primarily through our SBA loan production offices located in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Indirect loans are originated in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, Tennessee, and Louisiana. We offer direct installment loans to consumers on both a secured and unsecured basis. Residential mortgage loans are offered in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland and South Carolina. Residential construction loans to home builders and developers are originated primarily in the Atlanta, GA, Savannah, GA, Birmingham, AL and Jacksonville, FL metropolitan areas.
The following table summarizes our total net loans outstanding by category as of December 31, 2014:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
(in thousands) | | Loans | | Loans Held-for-Sale | | Total Loans |
Commercial | | $ | 658,911 |
| | $ | 12,511 |
| | $ | 671,422 |
|
Construction | | 123,994 |
| | — |
| | 123,994 |
|
Consumer | | 1,232,604 |
| | 175,000 |
| | 1,407,604 |
|
Mortgage | | 237,797 |
| | 181,424 |
| | 419,221 |
|
Total loans | | $ | 2,253,306 |
| | $ | 368,935 |
| | $ | 2,622,241 |
|
Certain of the following discussions are in part based on the Bank defined loan portfolios and may not conform to the above classifications.
Commercial and Industrial Lending
We originate commercial and industrial loans, which include certain SBA loans comprised of partially guaranteed loans and other credit enhanced loans that are generally secured by business property such as inventory, equipment and accounts receivable. All commercial loans are evaluated for the adequacy of repayment sources at the time of approval and are regularly reviewed for any deterioration in the ability of the borrower to repay the loan. In most instances, collateral is required to provide an additional source of repayment in the event of default by the borrower. The amount and type of the collateral varies from loan to loan depending on the purpose of the loan, the financial strength of the borrower, and the amount and terms of the loan. In addition, we may require personal guarantees on these loans.
Commercial Real Estate Lending
We engage in commercial real estate lending through direct originations. We do not generally purchase loan participations from other banks. Our primary focus is on originating owner-occupied loans to finance real estate out of which an individual or company will operate their business. Non-owner occupied real estate loans for investment purposes are made on a selective basis and only where the borrowers or guarantors add substantial support to their credit. Loans where the sole source of repayment is derived from the project, or where the absence of the project’s success would call into question the ability of the borrower to service the debt, are avoided. We make commercial real estate loans to individuals and to small and medium sized businesses to provide loan diversification, to generate assets that are sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates, and to generate deposit and other relationships. Commercial real estate loans are generally prime-based floating-rate loans or shorter-term (one to five year) fixed-rate loans. Approximately 64% of our commercial real estate loans are owner occupied real estate loans. The remaining non-owner occupied loans were generally made to established commercial customers for purposes other than retail development.
We have a growing portfolio of SBA loans and SBA loans held-for-sale as a result of increased SBA loan production. These loans are primarily commercial real estate related, with a portion of each loan guaranteed by the SBA or with other credit enhancements provided by the government.
Indirect Automobile Lending
We purchase, on a nonrecourse basis, consumer installment contracts secured by new and used vehicles purchased by consumers from franchised motor vehicle dealers and selected independent dealers located throughout the South. A portion of the originated indirect automobile loans is sold with servicing retained. During 2014, we produced approximately $1.5 billion of indirect automobile loans, while profitably selling $679.9 million to third parties with servicing retained. At December 31, 2014, we were servicing $902.8 million in indirect automobile loans we had sold, primarily to other financial institutions.
Consumer Lending
Through our retail branch network, we originate consumer loans including automobile loans, residential mortgage and home equity loans, and secured and unsecured personal loans.
Real Estate Construction Lending
We originate real estate construction loans that consist primarily of one-to-four family residential construction loans made to builders. Loan disbursements are closely monitored by management to ensure that funds are being used strictly for the purposes agreed upon in the loan covenants. We employ both internal staff and external inspectors to ensure that requests for loan disbursements are substantiated by regular inspections and reviews. Construction and development loans are similar to all residential loans in that borrowers are underwritten according to their adequacy of repayment sources at the time of approval. Unlike conventional residential lending, however, signs of deterioration in a construction loan or development loan customer’s ability to repay the loan are measured throughout the life of the loan and not only at origination or when the loan becomes past due. In most instances, loan amounts are limited to 80% of the appraised value upon completion of the construction project. We originate real estate construction loans primarily throughout the metropolitan area of Atlanta, GA, Savannah, GA, Birmingham, AL and Jacksonville, FL.
Real Estate Mortgage Lending
Our residential mortgage lending focuses on one-to-four family properties. We offer Federal Housing Authority (“FHA”), Veterans Administration (“VA”), and conventional and non-conforming residential mortgage loans. We originate our residential mortgage banking loans primarily in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions through 21 retail loan production offices. We also operate a wholesale lending office to support our purchase of loans from qualified brokers and correspondents. We are an approved originator and servicer for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“FHLMC”) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”), and an approved originator for loans insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”).
We primarily sell originated residential mortgage loans and brokered loans to investors, retaining servicing on a significant amount of the sales. The balances of mortgage loans held-for-sale fluctuate due to economic conditions, interest rates, the level of real estate activity, the amount of mortgage loans we retain, and seasonal factors. During 2014, we originated and sold to third parties approximately $1.6 billion in mortgage loans. At December 31, 2014, we were servicing $5.4 billion in residential mortgage loans we had sold to FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA. As a seller, we make certain standard representations and warranties with respect to the loans being transferred. To date, our repurchases of mortgage loans previously sold have been immaterial.
Significant Operating Policies
Lending Policy
The Board of Directors of the Bank has delegated lending authority to our management, which in turn delegates lending authority to our loan officers, each of whom is limited as to the amount of secured and unsecured loans he or she can make to a single borrower or related group of borrowers. As our lending relationships are important to our success, the Board of Directors of our Bank has established loan approval committees and written guidelines for lending activities. In particular, the Officers’ Credit Committee reviews all lending relationships with aggregate exposure exceeding $250,000. In addition, the Officers’ Credit Committee approves credit for commercial and residential construction loan relationships up to $5 million. The Loan and Discount Committee must approve all credit for commercial and residential construction loan relationships exceeding $5 million. Our policy on calculating total exposure to an entity or individual, or related group of entities or individuals is more encompassing than the method required under law and calls for the combining of all debt to all related entities, regardless of the presence of independent sources of repayment or other conditions that might otherwise allow a portion of debt to be excluded.
Our written guidelines for lending activities require, among other things, that:
| |
• | secured loans be made to persons and companies who maintain depository relationships with us and who are well-established and have adequate net worth, collateral, and cash flow to support the loan; |
| |
• | unsecured loans be made to persons who maintain depository relationships with us and have significant financial strength; |
| |
• | real estate loans be secured by real property located primarily in our market area or primarily in the South for SBA loans; |
| |
• | working capital loans be repaid out of conversion of assets or earnings of the commercial borrower and that such loans generally be secured by the assets of the commercial borrower; and |
| |
• | loan renewal requests be reviewed in the same manner as an application for a new loan. |
Residential construction loans are made through the use of officer guidance lines, which are approved, when appropriate, by the Officers’ Credit Committee or the Loan and Discount Committee. These guidance lines are approved for established builders and developers with track records and adequate financial strength to support the credit being requested. Loans may be granted for speculative starts or for pre-sold residential property to specific purchasers.
Residential mortgage loans are primarily originated to FNMA, FHLMC, GNMA, and other similar investor standards and guidelines.
Loan Review and Nonperforming Assets
The Credit Review Department reviews our loan portfolios to identify potential deficiencies and recommends appropriate corrective actions. The Credit Review Department reviews more than 30% of the commercial and construction loan portfolios and reviews 10% of the consumer loans originated annually. In 2014, the Credit Review Department reviewed more than 80% of the construction and commercial portfolios. The results of the reviews are presented to the Loan and Discount Committee on a monthly basis.
We maintain an allowance for loan losses, which is established and maintained through provisions charged to operations. Such provisions are based on management’s evaluation of the loan portfolio, including loan portfolio concentrations, current economic conditions, past loan loss experience, adequacy of underlying collateral, and such factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve consideration in estimating losses. Loans are charged off when, in the opinion of management, such loans are deemed to be uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance.
Management also estimates the fair value of collateral dependent real estate loans and Other Real Estate (“ORE”) based on the latest appraised value, trends of similar property values within our market areas and our own observations and experience with similar properties. At least quarterly, valuations are reviewed to take into account the aging of the appraisals and the recent economic trends for the specific types of collateral.
A dedicated special assets group is assigned to evaluate potential nonperforming loans, to properly value nonperforming assets and to facilitate the timely disposition of these assets while minimizing losses.
Asset Liability Management
The Asset Liability Committee (“ALCO”) manages the mix of and terms related to our assets and liabilities. ALCO monitors asset growth, liquidity, and capital in order to reduce interest rate risk and maximize income. ALCO directs our overall acquisition and allocation of funds and reviews and sets rates on deposits, loans, and fees.
Investment Portfolio Policy
Our investment portfolio policy is designed to maximize income consistent with liquidity, risk tolerance, collateral needs, asset quality, regulatory constraints, and asset liability objectives. The policy is reviewed at least annually by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are provided information on a regular basis concerning significant purchases and sales of investment securities, including resulting gains or losses. They are also provided information related to average maturity, Federal taxable equivalent yield, and appreciation or depreciation by investment categories. The Board of Directors are responsible for the establishment, approval, implementation, and annual review of interest rate risk management strategies, comprehensive policies, procedures, and limits. Senior management is responsible for ensuring that board-approved strategies, policies, and procedures are appropriately executed through a robust interest rate risk measurement process and systems to assess exposures.
Supervision and Regulation
The following is a brief summary of supervision and regulation of FSC and the Bank as financial institutions and is not intended to be a complete discussion of all NASDAQ Global Select Stock Market ("NASDAQ") registrants, state or federal rules, statutes and regulations affecting their operations, or that apply generally to business corporations or NASDAQ listed companies. Changes in the rules, statutes and regulations applicable to each entity can affect the operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways.
As a financial institution, we operate under a regulatory framework. The framework outlines a regulatory environment applicable to financial holding companies, bank holding companies, and their subsidiaries. The regulatory framework under which we operate is intended primarily for the protection of depositors and the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund and not for the protection of our security holders and creditors. To the extent that the following information describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it is qualified in its entirety by reference to the particular statutory and regulatory provisions.
General
The current regulatory environment for financial institutions includes substantial enforcement activity by the federal and state banking agencies, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange ("SEC"), and other state and federal law enforcement agencies, reflecting an increase in activity over prior years. This environment entails significant increases in compliance requirements and associated costs.
We are a registered bank holding company subject to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “Act”). We are required to file annual and quarterly financial information with the Federal Reserve and are subject to periodic examination by the Federal Reserve.
The Act requires every bank holding company to obtain the Federal Reserve’s prior approval before (1) it may acquire direct or indirect ownership or control of more than 5% of the voting shares of any bank that it does not already control; (2) it or any of its non-bank subsidiaries may acquire all or substantially all of the assets of a bank; and (3) it may merge or consolidate with any other bank holding company. In addition, a bank holding company is generally prohibited from engaging in, or acquiring, direct or indirect control of the voting shares of any company engaged in non-banking activities. This prohibition does not apply to activities listed in the Act or found by the Federal Reserve, by order or regulation, to be closely related to banking or managing or controlling banks as to be a proper incident thereto. Some of the activities that the Federal Reserve has determined by regulation or order to be closely related to banking are:
| |
• | making or servicing loans and certain types of leases; |
| |
• | performing certain data processing services; |
| |
• | acting as fiduciary or investment or financial advisor; |
| |
• | providing brokerage services; |
| |
• | underwriting bank eligible securities; |
| |
• | underwriting debt and equity securities on a limited basis through separately capitalized subsidiaries; and |
| |
• | making investments in corporations or projects designed primarily to promote community welfare. |
Although the activities of bank holding companies have traditionally been limited to the business of banking and activities closely related or incidental to banking (as discussed above), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (the “GLB Act”) relaxed the previous limitations and permitted bank holding companies to engage in a broader range of financial activities. Specifically, bank holding companies may elect to become financial holding companies, which may affiliate with securities firms, and insurance companies and engage in other activities that are financial in nature. Among the activities that are deemed “financial in nature” include:
| |
• | lending, exchanging, transferring, investing for others or safeguarding money or securities; |
| |
• | insuring, guaranteeing, or indemnifying against loss, harm, damage, illness, disability, or death, or providing and issuing annuities, and acting as principal, agent, or broker with respect thereto; |
| |
• | providing financial, investment, or economic advisory services, including advising an investment company; |
| |
• | issuing or selling instruments representing interest in pools of assets permissible for a bank to hold directly; and |
| |
• | underwriting, dealing in or making a market in securities. |
A bank holding company may become a financial holding company under this statute only if each of its subsidiary banks is well capitalized, is well managed and has at least a satisfactory rating under the Community Reinvestment Act. A bank holding company that falls out of compliance with such requirement may be required to cease engaging in certain activities. Any bank holding company that does not elect to become a financial holding company remains subject to the bank holding company restrictions of the Act. We have no current plans to register as a financial holding company.
As a state bank organized under Georgia law, the Bank is subject to the supervision of, and is regularly examined by, the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance ("GDBF"). We must also register with and file periodic information with the GDBF with respect to the financial condition, operations, management and intercompany relationships for Fidelity, the Bank, and related matters. The GDBF may also require other information as necessary to keep itself informed as to whether the provisions of Georgia law have been complied with, and the GDBF may examine Fidelity. The Florida Office of Financial Regulation ("FOFR") does not examine or directly regulate out-of-state bank holding companies that have a branch located in the State of Florida. However, the Bank's Florida branches are subject to examination by the FOFR. The Bank is regularly examined by the FDIC. Both the FDIC and GDBF must grant prior approval of any merger, consolidation or other corporation reorganization involving the Bank.
Under the Federal Reserve Act, FSC is an “affiliate” of the Bank. As such, there are certain restrictions on (1) loans by the Bank to FSC, (2) investments in the stock or securities of FSC by the Bank, (3) the Bank’s taking the stock or securities of an “affiliate” as collateral for loans by the Bank to a borrower, and (4) the Bank's purchase of assets from FSC. Further, a bank holding company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of property or furnishing of services.
TARP Capital Purchase Program
On October 14, 2008, the Treasury announced the Troubled Asset Relief Program (“TARP”) Capital Purchase Program (the “Program”) which was instituted pursuant to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”), to provide up to $700 billion to the Treasury to, among other things, take equity positions in financial institutions. The Program was intended to encourage U.S. financial institutions to build capital and thereby increase the flow of financing to businesses and consumers.
On December 19, 2008, as part of the Program, we entered into a Letter Agreement (“Letter Agreement”) and a Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms with the Treasury, pursuant to which we agreed to issue and sell, and the Treasury agreed to purchase (1) 48,200 shares (the “Preferred Shares”) of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, and (2) a ten-year warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 2,665,946 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $2.71 per share, adjusted for dividends, for an aggregate purchase price of $48.2 million in cash.
On June 27, 2012, the Treasury sold all of the Preferred Shares in a public offering as part of a modified Dutch auction process. We did not receive any proceeds from this auction; however, our operations are no longer limited by the TARP restrictions or regulations regarding executive compensation. In addition, certain terms set forth in the Letter Agreement only applied so long as Treasury held preferred shares and are no longer applicable.
On August 30, 2013, we used a portion of the proceeds of our public offering that closed on June 10, 2013 to redeem all$48.2 million of the Preferred Shares originally issued to the Treasury. The Warrant remains outstanding under the terms of the original purchase, as adjusted for dividends.
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) was signed into law on July 21, 2010. The Dodd-Frank Act affects financial institutions in numerous ways, including the creation of a new Financial Stability Oversight Council responsible for monitoring and managing systemic risk, granting additional authority to the Federal Reserve to regulate certain types of non-bank financial companies, granting new authority to the FDIC as liquidator and receiver, abolishing the Office of Thrift Supervision, changing the manner in which insurance deposit assessments are made, requiring the regulators to modify capital standards, establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ("CFPB") to regulate compliance with consumer laws and regulations, capping interchange fees which banks charge merchants for debit card transactions, and imposing additional requirements on mortgage lenders. There are many provisions in the Dodd-Frank Act mandating regulators to adopt new regulations and conduct studies upon which future regulation may be based.
A number of new regulations issued by the CFPB affecting the origination, administration, and servicing of mortgage loans became effective in January 2014. These new regulations contain various compliance requirements and standards which have increased our compliance costs and create new rights for consumers in the event of certain violations.
Some of the key Dodd-Frank Act provisions that affect SEC public companies are as follows:
| |
• | Public companies are required to provide their shareholders with a non-binding vote: (i) at least once every three years on the compensation paid to executive officers, and (ii) at least once every six years on whether they should have a “say on pay” vote every one, two or three years. |
| |
• | A separate, non-binding shareholder vote is required regarding golden parachutes for named executive officers when a shareholder vote takes place on mergers, acquisitions, dispositions or other transactions that would trigger the parachute payments. |
| |
• | Securities exchanges are required to prohibit brokers from using their own discretion to vote shares not beneficially owned by them for certain “significant” matters, which include votes on the election of directors, executive compensation matters, and any other matters determined to be significant. |
| |
• | Stock exchanges are prohibited from listing the securities of any issuer that does not have a policy providing for (i) disclosure of its policy on incentive compensation payable on the basis of financial information reportable under the securities laws, and (ii) the recovery from current or former executive officers, following an accounting restatement triggered by material noncompliance with securities law reporting requirements, of any incentive compensation paid erroneously during the three-year period preceding the date on which the restatement was required that exceeds the amount that would have been paid on the basis of the restated financial information. |
| |
• | Disclosure in annual proxy materials is required concerning the relationship between the executive compensation paid and the financial performance of the issuer. |
| |
• | Item 402 of Regulation S-K will be amended to require companies to disclose the ratio of the Chief Executive Officer's annual total compensation to the median annual total compensation of all other employees. |
| |
• | The SEC is authorized to adopt rules requiring public companies to make their proxy materials available to shareholders for nomination of their own candidates for election to the board of directors. |
Certain requirements of the Dodd-Frank Act have yet to be implemented. Therefore, the full extent of the impact of these new requirements on our business and financial condition is unclear.
FDIC Insurance Assessments
Deposits at our bank are insured up to applicable limits by the Deposit Insurance Fund ("DIF") of the FDIC. As insurer, the FDIC imposes deposit insurance premiums and is authorized to conduct examinations of and to require reporting by FDIC-insured institutions. The FDIC may terminate the deposit insurance of any insured depository institution, including the Bank, if it determines after a hearing that the institution has engaged in unsafe or unsound practices, is in an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by the FDIC or the GBDF. Our management is not aware of any practice, condition or violation that might lead to termination of the Bank's deposit insurance. The FDIC maintains the DIF by assessing depository institutions an insurance premium. The amount each institution is assessed is based upon statutory factors that include the balance of insured deposits as well as the degree of risk the institution poses to the DIF. The Dodd-Frank Act permanently raised the FDIC insurance coverage limit per depositor to $250,000.
On February 7, 2011, the FDIC approved a final rule implementing changes to the deposit insurance assessment system mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act. The base on which deposit insurance assessments are charged was revised from one based on domestic deposits to one based on assets. The assessment rate schedule was also revised to a range of 5 to 35 basis points annually, and fully adjusted rates will range from 2.5 to 45 basis points annually. There were no changes to the FDIC assessment formula or rates during 2014.
Payment of Dividends
FSC is a legal entity separate and distinct from the Bank. Most of the revenue we receive results from dividends paid to us by the Bank. There are statutory and regulatory requirements applicable to the payment of dividends by the Bank, as well as by us to our shareholders.
Under the regulations of the GDBF, dividends may not be declared out of the retained earnings of a state bank without first obtaining the written permission of the GDBF, unless such bank meets all the following requirements:
| |
(a) | total classified assets as of the most recent examination of the bank do not exceed 80% of equity capital (as defined by regulation); |
| |
(b) | the aggregate amount of dividends declared or anticipated to be declared in the calendar year does not exceed 50% of the net profits after taxes but before dividends for the previous calendar year; and |
| |
(c) | the ratio of equity capital to adjusted assets is not less than 6%. |
The payment of dividends by Fidelity and the Bank may also be affected or limited by other factors, such as the requirement to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines. In addition, if, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a bank under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending upon the financial condition of the bank, could include the payment of dividends), such authority may require, after notice and hearing, that such bank cease and desist from such practice. The FDIC has issued a policy statement providing that insured banks should generally
only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. In addition to the formal statutes and regulations, regulatory authorities consider the adequacy of the Bank’s total capital in relation to its assets, deposits and other such items. Capital adequacy considerations could further limit the availability of dividends to the Bank.
In 2014, FSC paid $6.4 million in cash dividends. The Board of Directors for both the Bank and FSC reviews whether to declare and pay dividends on a quarterly basis, in light of current regulatory limitations, earnings, capital requirements, and forecasts of future earnings.
Capital Adequacy
The Federal Reserve and the FDIC have implemented substantially identical risk-based rules for assessing bank and bank holding company capital adequacy. These regulations establish minimum capital standards in relation to assets and off-balance sheet exposures as adjusted for credit risk. Banks and bank holding companies are required to have (1) a minimum level of Total Capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets of 8%; and (2) a minimum Tier 1 Capital (as defined) to risk-weighted assets of 4%. In addition, the Federal Reserve and the FDIC have established a minimum 3% leverage ratio of Tier 1 Capital to quarterly average total assets for the most highly-rated banks and bank holding companies. “Tier 1 Capital” generally consists of common equity excluding unrecognized gains and losses on investment securities available-for-sale, plus minority interests in equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries and certain perpetual preferred stock, less certain intangibles. The Federal Reserve and the FDIC will require a bank holding company and a bank, respectively, to maintain a leverage ratio greater than four percent (4%) if either is experiencing or anticipating significant growth or is operating with less than well-diversified risks in the opinion of the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve and the FDIC use the leverage ratio in tandem with the risk-based capital ratio to assess the capital adequacy of banks and bank holding companies. The Federal Reserve and FDIC consider interest rate risk in the overall determination of a bank’s capital ratio, requiring banks with greater interest rate risk to maintain adequate capital for the risk.
Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act implemented the prompt corrective action provisions that Congress enacted as a part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (the “1991 Act”). The FDIC has adopted regulations implementing the prompt corrective action provisions of the 1991 Act, which place financial institutions in the following five categories based upon capitalization ratios: (1) a “well capitalized” institution has a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 10%, a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of at least 6% and a leverage ratio of at least 5%; (2) an “adequately capitalized” institution has a Total risk-based capital ratio of at least 8%, a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of at least 4% and a leverage ratio of at least 4%; (3) an “undercapitalized” institution has a Total risk-based capital ratio of under 8%, a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of under 4% or a leverage ratio of under 4%; (4) a “significantly undercapitalized” institution has a Total risk-based capital ratio of under 6%, a Tier 1 risk-based ratio of under 3% or a leverage ratio of under 3%; and (5) a “critically undercapitalized” institution has a leverage ratio of 2% or less. Institutions in any of the three undercapitalized categories are prohibited from declaring dividends or making capital distributions. The FDIC regulations also establish procedures for “downgrading” an institution to a lower capital category based on supervisory factors other than capital. Regulators are also empowered to place in receivership or require the sale of a financial institution to another depository institution when its capital leverage ratio declines to 2%. Better capitalized institutions are generally subject to less onerous regulation and supervision than institutions with lesser amounts of capital.
To continue to conduct our business as currently conducted, we must maintain capital levels well above the minimum regulatory requirements. At December 31, 2014 and 2013, the Bank's capital ratios exceeded the well captialized and regulatory minimum ratios discussed above. The following table presents the Bank's capital ratios and the minimum regulatory requirements:
|
| | | | | | | | |
| | Fidelity Bank | | Minimum Regulatory Requirement |
| | December 31, 2014 | | December 31, 2013 | | Adequately Capitalized | | Well Capitalized |
Total risk-based capital ratio | | 11.69% | | 13.39% | | 8.00% | | 10.00% |
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio | | 10.38% | | 11.68% | | 4.00% | | 6.00% |
Leverage capital ratio | | 9.76% | | 10.14% | | 4.00% | | 5.00% |
FSC is not subject to the provisions of prompt corrective action. FSC's total risk-based capital ratio, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and leverage capital ratio were 12.01%, 11.07%, and 10.40% respectively at December 31, 2014. FSC's total risk-based capital ratio, tier 1 risk-based capital ratio, and leverage capital ratio were 13.96%, 12.71%, and 11.02%, respectively at December 31, 2013.
Public Offering
On June 10, 2013, we closed a $60.0 million public offering of our common stock at $12.00 per share and on June 18, 2013, the underwriters exercised their option of the allotment shares for an additional $9.0 million in capital. We used the net proceeds from this offering as follows: (i) on August 30, 2013, we redeemed the $48.2 million in shares of our Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, originally issued to the U.S. Department of the Treasury under TARP; and (ii) on September 8, 2013, we redeemed two series of our trust preferred securities with an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $20.5 million.
Basel III
In 2004, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision ("BCBS") published a new capital accord (“Basel II”) to replace Basel I. Basel II provided two approaches for setting capital standards for credit risk—an internal ratings-based approach tailored to individual institutions’ circumstances and a standardized approach that bases risk weightings on external credit assessments to a much greater extent than permitted in previous risk-based capital guidelines. Basel II also set capital requirements for operational risk and refined the existing capital requirements for market risk exposures.
In December 2010, the BCBS released its final framework for strengthening international capital and liquidity regulation, now officially identified by the BCBS as “Basel III”. Basel III, when fully phased-in, will require bank holding companies and their bank subsidiaries to maintain substantially more capital, with a greater emphasis on common equity.
The Basel III final capital framework, among other things, (i) introduces as a new capital measure “Common Equity Tier I” (“CET1”), (ii) specifies that Tier 1 capital consists of CET1 and “Additional Tier 1 capital” instruments meeting specified requirements, (iii) defines CET1 narrowly by requiring that most adjustments to regulatory capital measures be made to CET1 and not to the other components of capital and (iv) expands the scope of the adjustments as compared to existing regulations.
On July 2, 2013, the FRB approved the final rules implementing the BCBS's Basel III capital guidelines for U.S. banks. Under the final rules, minimum requirements will increase for both the quantity and quality of capital we maintain. The rules include a new common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets ratio of 4.5% and a common equity Tier 1 capital conservation buffer of 2.5% of risk-weighted assets. The final rules also raise the minimum ratio of Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets from 4.0% to 6.0% and require a minimum leverage ratio of 4.0%. The final rules also implement strict eligibility criteria for regulatory capital instruments.
On July 9, 2013, the FDIC approved, as an interim final rule, the Basel III regulatory capital requirements for U.S. banks, following the actions of the FRB. The FDIC's rule is identical in substance to the final rules issued by the FRB.
The phase-in period for the final rules became effective for us on January 1, 2015, with full compliance with all of the final rule's requirements phased in over a multi-year schedule. Management expects the impact on the March 31, 2015 Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets and total capital to risk-weighted assets will be a reduction of approximately 40 - 60 basis points. The decrease is primarily attributable to limitations on our mortgage servicing rights and inclusion of commitments with an original maturity of less than one year.
Commercial Real Estate
In December 2006, the federal banking agencies, including the FDIC, issued final guidance on concentrations in commercial real estate lending (the “Guidance”), noting that increases in banks’ commercial real estate concentrations could create safety and soundness concerns in the event of a significant economic downturn. The Guidance mandated certain minimal risk management practices and categorized banks with defined levels of such concentrations as banks that may warrant elevated examiner scrutiny. The regulatory guideline defined a bank as having a concentration in commercial real estate if its portfolio of land, construction (both commercial and residential) and Acquisition and Development loans ("A&D loans) exceeds 100% of the Bank’s total risk based capital. Our ratio of A&D loans to total risk-based capital was 40% at both December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2014. The regulatory guideline for all real estate loans, except owner-occupied property, as a percentage of capital is a maximum of 300%. Our ratio of all real estate loans, except owner-occupied property, as a percentage of capital, decreased slightly from 111% at December 31, 2013, to 104% at December 31, 2014.
The Guidance does not formally prohibit a bank from exceeding either of these two thresholds. Rather, it defines the circumstances under which a bank will be declared to have a commercial real estate concentration. Further, the Guidance requires any banks with commercial real estate concentrations to have heightened and sophisticated risk management systems in place to adequately manage the increased levels of risk. While management believes that our credit processes, procedures and systems continue to meet the risk management standards required by the Guidance, and we continue to maintain our commercial real estate loan portfolio at a level below the concentration thresholds, regulatory authorities could effectively limit increases in the real estate concentrations in our loan portfolios or require additional credit administration and management costs.
Loans
Inter-agency guidelines adopted by federal bank regulators mandate that financial institutions establish real estate lending policies with maximum allowable real estate loan-to-value limits, subject to an allowable amount of non-conforming loans as a percentage of capital. The Bank adopted the federal guidelines in 2001.
Transactions with Affiliates
Under federal law, all transactions between and among a state nonmember bank and its affiliates, which include holding companies, are subject to Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W promulgated thereunder. Generally, these requirements limit these transactions to a percentage of the bank’s capital and require all of them to be on terms at least as favorable to the bank as transactions with non-affiliates. In addition, a bank may not lend to any affiliate engaged in non-banking activities not permissible for a bank holding company or acquire shares of any affiliate that is not a subsidiary. The FDIC is
authorized to impose additional restrictions on transactions with affiliates if necessary to protect the safety and soundness of a bank. The regulations also set forth various reporting requirements relating to transactions with affiliates.
Financial Privacy
In accordance with the GLB Act, federal banking regulators adopted rules that limit the ability of banks and other financial institutions to disclose non-public information about consumers to non-affiliated third parties. These limitations require disclosure of privacy policies to consumers and, in some circumstances, allow consumers to prevent disclosure of certain personal information to a non-affiliated third party. The privacy provisions of the GLB Act affect how consumer information is transmitted through diversified financial companies and conveyed to outside vendors.
Anti-Money Laundering Initiatives and the USA Patriot Act
A major focus of governmental policy on financial institutions has been aimed at combating terrorist financing. This has generally been accomplished by amending existing anti-money laundering laws and regulations. We are subject to the USA Patriot Act of 2001 (the “USA Patriot Act”) which imposes significant compliance and due diligence obligations, creating new crimes and penalties. The Treasury has issued a number of implementing regulations that apply to various requirements of the USA Patriot Act. These regulations impose obligations on financial institutions to maintain appropriate policies, procedures and controls to detect, prevent and report money laundering and terrorist financing and to verify the identity of their customers. Failure of a financial institution to maintain and implement adequate programs to combat terrorist financing, or to comply with all of the relevant laws or regulations, could have serious legal and reputational consequences for the institution.
Future Legislation
Various legislation affecting financial institutions and the financial industry is from time to time introduced in Congress. Such legislation may change banking statutes and our operating environment in substantial and unpredictable ways, and could increase or decrease the cost of doing business, limit or expand permissible activities or affect the competitive balance depending upon whether any of this potential legislation will be enacted, and if enacted, the effect that it or any implementing regulations, would have on the financial condition or our results of operations. With the enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the nature and extent of future legislative and regulatory changes affecting financial institutions continues to be very unpredictable.
Competition
The banking business is highly competitive. We compete for traditional bank business with numerous other commercial banks and thrift institutions in our primary market area in Georgia for residential construction and development loans, SBA loans, residential mortgages, and indirect automobile loans. We also compete for loans with insurance companies, regulated small loan companies, credit unions, and certain governmental agencies. We compete with independent brokerage and investment companies, as well as state and national banks and their affiliates and other financial companies for trust and wealth management services. Many of the companies with whom we compete have greater financial resources.
The indirect automobile financing and residential mortgage banking industries are also highly competitive. In the indirect automobile financing industry, we compete with specialty consumer finance companies, including automobile manufacturers’ captive finance companies, in addition to other financial institutions. The residential mortgage banking business competes with independent mortgage banking companies, state and national banks and their subsidiaries, as well as thrift institutions and insurance companies.
Employees and Executive Officers
As of December 31, 2014, we had 1,038 full-time equivalent employees. We are not a party to any collective bargaining agreement and we believe that our employee relations are good. We offer our employees a variety of competitive benefit programs including a retirement plan and group health, life and other insurance programs. We also support training and educational programs designed to ensure that employees have the types and levels of skills needed to perform at their best in their current positions and to help them prepare for positions of increased responsibility.
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Our executive officers, their ages, their positions with the Company at March 2, 2015, and the period during which they have served as executive officers, are as follows:
|
| | | | | | |
Name | | Age | | Since | | Position |
James B. Miller, Jr. | | 74 | | 1979 | | Principal Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity since 1979; President of Fidelity from 1979 to April 2006; Chairman of Fidelity Bank since 1998; President of Fidelity Bank from 1977 to 1997, and from December 2003 through September 2004; and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank from 1977 to 1997 and from December 2003 until present. A director of Fidelity Bank since 1976. Chairman of LionMark Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary, since November 2004. |
H. Palmer Proctor, Jr. | | 47 | | 1996 | | President of Fidelity since April 2006; Senior Vice President of Fidelity from January 2006 through April 2006; Vice President of Fidelity from April 1996 through January 2006; Director and President of Fidelity Bank since October 2004 and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Bank from October 2000 through September 2004. Director and Secretary/Treasurer of LionMark Insurance Company since November 2004. |
Stephen H. Brolly | | 52 | | 2008 | | Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Fidelity and Chief Financial Officer of Fidelity and Fidelity Bank since August 2008; Treasurer of Fidelity and Fidelity Bank from May 2006 through August 2008. Chief Financial Officer of LionMark Insurance Company since August 2008. |
David Buchanan | | 57 | | 1995 | | Vice President of Fidelity since 1999; Executive Vice President of Fidelity Bank since October 2004; and Senior Vice President of Fidelity Bank from 1995 through September 2004. President of LionMark Insurance Company since November 2004. |
Available Information
We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements, and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act. The public may read and copy any materials that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including Fidelity, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make available free of charge on our web sites http://www.fidelitysouthern.com or http://www.lionbank.com, our Annual Report to Shareholders, our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and if applicable, amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may adversely impact our business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
Risks Related to our Business
A sizable portion of our loan portfolio is secured by real estate loans in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area and eastern and northern Florida markets, and adverse changes in real estate market values in those areas may adversely affect our business.
Currently, our lending and other businesses are concentrated in the Atlanta, Georgia, metropolitan area and eastern and northern Florida. As of December 31, 2014, commercial real estate, real estate mortgage, and construction loans, accounted for approximately 46.3% of our total loan portfolio. Unlike larger national or regional banks that are more geographically diversified, our success depends primarily on the general economic conditions of the specific local markets in which we operate. Conditions in these markets strongly affect our results of operations and financial condition. Real estate values and the demand for commercial and residential mortgages and construction loans are affected by, among other things, general and local economic conditions, changes in governmental regulation, monetary and fiscal policies, interest rates and weather. Declines in our markets could adversely affect the demand for new real estate loans, and the value and liquidity of the collateral securing our existing loans. Adverse conditions in our markets could also reduce our growth rate, impair our ability to collect loans, and generally unfavorably impact our financial condition and results of operations.
Delays in our ability to foreclose on delinquent mortgage loans may negatively impact our business.
Because we originate loans secured by real estate, we may have to foreclose on the collateral property to protect our investment and may thereafter own and operate such property, in which case we are exposed to the risks inherent in the ownership of real estate. The amount that we, as a mortgagee, may realize after a default is dependent upon factors outside of our control, including, but not limited to:
| |
• | general or local economic conditions; |
| |
• | environmental cleanup liability; |
| |
• | operating expenses of the mortgaged properties; |
| |
• | supply of and demand for rental units or properties; |
| |
• | ability to obtain and maintain adequate occupancy of the properties; |
| |
• | governmental rules, regulations and fiscal policies; and |
Certain expenses associated with the ownership of real estate, principally real estate taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs, may adversely affect the net proceeds received from the real estate, if any. The ability to mitigate the losses on defaulted loans depends upon the ability to promptly foreclose upon the collateral after an appropriate cure period. In some states, the large number of mortgage foreclosures that have occurred has resulted in significant delays in foreclosing. Any delay in the foreclosure process adversely affects us by increasing the expenses related to carrying such real estate and exposes us to losses as a result of potential additional declines in the value of such collateral. As a result, the increased cost of owning and operating such real estate may exceed the rental income earned from the real estate (if any), we may have to advance additional funds to protect our investment or we may be required to dispose of the real estate at a loss.
The allowance for loan losses may be insufficient.
We maintain an allowance for loan losses, which is established and maintained through provisions charged to operations. Such provisions are based on management's evaluation of the loan portfolio, including loan portfolio concentrations, current economic conditions, past loan loss experience, adequacy of underlying collateral, and such other factors which, in management's judgment, deserve consideration in estimating loan losses. Loans are charged off when, in the opinion of management, such loans are deemed to be uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance.
The determination of the appropriate level of the allowance for loan losses inherently involves a high degree of subjectivity and requires management to make significant estimates of current credit risks and trends, all of which may undergo material changes. Changes in economic conditions affecting borrowers, new information regarding existing loans, identification of additional problem loans and other factors may require an increase in the allowance for loan losses. In addition, bank regulatory agencies periodically review our allowance for loan losses and may require an increase in the provision for loan losses or the recognition of further loan charge-offs, based on judgments different than those of management. In addition, if charge-offs in future periods exceed the estimated charge-offs utilized in determining the sufficiency of the allowance for loan losses, we will need additional provisions to increase the allowance. Any increases in the allowance for loan losses will result in a decrease in net income and, possibly, regulatory capital, and may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We may be unable to maintain and service relationships with automobile dealers and we are subject to their willingness and ability to provide high quality indirect automobile loans.
Our indirect automobile lending portfolio comprises the majority of our loan portfolio. We depend, in large part, upon our ability to maintain and service relationships with automobile dealers, the strength of new and used automobile sales, the loan rate and other incentives offered by other purchasers of indirect automobile loans or by the automobile manufacturers and their captive finance companies, and the continuing ability of the consumer to qualify for and make payments on high quality automobile loans. There can be no assurance we will be successful in maintaining such dealer relationships or increasing the number of dealers with which we do business, or that the existing dealer base will continue to generate a volume of finance contracts comparable to the volume historically generated by such dealers, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The earnings of financial services companies are significantly affected by general business and economic conditions.
Our operations and profitability are impacted by general business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad. These conditions include recession, short-term and long-term interest rates, inflation, money supply, political issues, legislative and regulatory changes, fluctuations in both debt and equity capital markets, broad trends in industry and finance, and the strength
of the U.S. economy and the local economies in which we operate, all of which are beyond our control. A deterioration in economic conditions could result in an increase in loan delinquencies and nonperforming assets, decreases in loan collateral values and a decrease in demand for our products and services, among other things, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
The Federal Reserve has implemented significant economic strategies that have impacted interest rates, inflation, asset values, and the shape of the yield curve, and currently is transitioning from many years of easing to what may be a new period of tightening.
In recent years, in response to the recession in 2008 and the following uneven recovery, the Federal Reserve has implemented a series of domestic monetary initiatives. Several of these have emphasized so-called quantitative easing strategies, the most recent of which ended during 2014. Other significant monetary strategies could be implemented in the future including, in particular, so-called tightening strategies. Federal reserve strategies can, and often are intended to, affect the domestic money supply, inflation, interest rates, and the shape of the yield curve. Effects on the yield curve often are most pronounced at the short end of the curve, which is of particular importance to us and other banks. Among other things, easing strategies are intended to lower interest rates, flatten the yield curve, expand the money supply, and stimulate economic activity, while tightening strategies are intended to increase interest rates, steepen the yield curve, tighten the money supply, and restrain economic activity. Other things being equal, the current transition from easing to possible tightening should tend to diminish or reverse downward pressure on rates, and to diminish or eventually end the stimulus effect that low rates tend to have on the economy. Many external factors may interfere with the effects of these plans or cause them to be changed unexpectedly. Such factors include significant economic trends or events as well as significant international monetary policies and events. An example of the former is the substantial drop in oil prices experienced in late 2014 and early 2015. Two examples of the latter are the rise in 2014 and 2015 (to date) in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to many other currencies, and decisions in the EU in late 2014 and 2015 (to date) to pursue or enhance easing strategies. Risks associated with interest rates and the yield curve are discussed in this Item 1A under the caption “Fluctuations in interest rates could reduce our profitability and affect the value of our assets.” Such strategies also can affect the U.S. and world-wide financial systems in ways that may be difficult to predict.
Legislative and regulatory actions taken now or in the future may have a significant adverse effect on our operations.
Recent events in the financial services industry and, more generally, in the financial markets and the economy, have led to various changes in the regulation of the financial services industry. The Dodd-Frank Act made a number of material changes in banking regulations. The full impact of these changes remains to be seen, which includes the impact of rulemaking and oversight by the CFPB. Our compliance costs have increased as a result of the various new regulations and we anticipate our compliance costs will continue to increase as a result of new regulations. Changes arising from implementation of Dodd-Frank and any other new legislation may impact the profitability of our business activities, require we raise additional capital or change certain of our business practices, require us to divest certain business lines, materially affect our business model or affect retention of key personnel, and could expose us to additional costs, including increased compliance costs. These changes may also require us to invest significant management attention and resources to make any necessary changes, and could therefore also adversely affect our business and operations.
Increases in FDIC premiums could have a material adverse effect on our future earnings.
The FDIC insures deposits at FDIC insured financial institutions, including the Bank. The FDIC charges the insured financial institutions premiums to maintain the Deposit Insurance Fund at an adequate level. During the prior economic recession, the FDIC increased its assessment rates and imposed special assessments. The FDIC may further increase these rates and impose additional special assessments in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on future earnings.
Liquidity is essential to our businesses and we rely on external sources to finance a significant portion of our operations.
Liquidity is essential to our businesses. Our liquidity could be substantially affected in a negative fashion by an inability to raise funding in the debt or equity capital markets or an inability to access the secured lending markets. Factors that we cannot control, such as disruption of the financial markets or negative views about the financial services industry generally, could impair our ability to raise funding. In addition, our ability to raise funding could be impaired if lenders develop a negative perception of our financial prospects. Such negative perceptions could be developed if we suffer a decline in the level of our business activity or regulatory authorities take significant action against us, among other reasons. If we are unable to raise funding using the methods described above, we would likely need to finance or liquidate unencumbered assets to meet maturing liabilities. We may be unable to sell some of our assets, or we may have to sell assets at a discount from market value, either of which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Fluctuations in interest rates could reduce our profitability and affect the value of our assets.
Like other financial institutions, our earnings and cash flows are subject to interest rate risk. A sizable portion of our income is net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and investments and the interest paid on deposits and borrowings. We expect that we will periodically experience imbalances in the interest rate sensitivities of our assets and
liabilities and the relationships of various interest rates to each other. Over any defined period of time, our interest-earning assets may be more sensitive to changes in market interest rates than our interest-bearing liabilities, or vice versa. In addition, the individual market interest rates underlying our loan and deposit products (e.g., prime versus competitive market deposit rates) may not change to the same degree over a given time period. In any event, if market interest rates should move contrary to our position, our earnings may be negatively affected. Also, the volume of nonperforming assets will negatively impact average yields if and as it increases. In addition, loan volume and quality and deposit volume and mix can be affected by market interest rates. As a result of the sustained low interest rate environment, an increasing percentage of our deposits are comprised of money market accounts, short-term certificates of deposit and other deposits yielding no or very low rates of interest. Changes in levels of market interest rates, including the current rate environment, could materially adversely affect our net interest spread, asset quality, origination volume and overall profitability. Income could also be adversely affected if the interest rates paid on deposits and other borrowings increase quicker than the interest rates received on loans and other investments during periods of rising interest rates.
We principally manage interest rate risk by managing our volume and the mix of our earning assets and funding liabilities. In a changing interest rate environment, we may not be able to manage this risk effectively. If we are unable to manage interest rate risk effectively, our business, financial condition, and results of operations could be materially harmed. Changes in the level of interest rates also may negatively affect our ability to originate construction, commercial and residential real estate loans, the value of our assets, and our ability to realize gains from the sale of our assets, all of which ultimately affect our earnings.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and market areas.
We face substantial competition in all areas of our operations from a variety of different competitors, many of which are larger and have more financial resources. Such competitors primarily include national, regional, and community banks within the markets in which we operate. Additionally, various out-of-state banks continue to enter the market area in which we currently operate. We also face competition from many other types of financial institutions, including, without limitation, savings and loans, credit unions, finance companies, brokerage firms, insurance companies, and other financial intermediaries. Many of our competitors have fewer regulatory constraints and may have lower cost structures. Additionally, due to their size, many competitors may be able to achieve economies of scale and, as a result, may offer a broader range of products and services, as well as better pricing for those products and services. A weakening in our competitive position, could adversely affect our growth and profitability, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Financial services companies depend on the accuracy and completeness of information about customers and counterparties.
In deciding whether to extend credit or enter into other transactions, we rely on information furnished by or on behalf of customers and counterparties, including financial statements, credit reports, and other financial information. We may also rely on representations of those customers, counterparties or other third parties, such as independent auditors, as to the accuracy and completeness of that information. Reliance on inaccurate or misleading financial statements, credit reports or other financial information could have a material adverse impact on our business and, in turn, our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to extensive governmental regulation.
We are subject to extensive supervision and regulation by Federal and state governmental agencies, including the FRB, the GDBF and the FDIC. Current and future legislation, regulations, and government policy could adversely affect us and the financial institution industry as a whole, including the cost of doing business. Although the impact of such legislation, regulations, and policies cannot be predicted, future changes may alter the structure of, and competitive relationships among, financial institutions and the cost of doing business, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Our growth may require us to raise additional capital in the future, but that capital may not be available when it is needed.
We are required by Federal regulatory authorities to maintain adequate levels of capital to support our operations. We anticipate our capital resources will satisfy our capital requirements for the foreseeable future. We may at some point, however, need to raise additional capital to support our growth. If we raise capital through the issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other securities, it would dilute the ownership interest of our current shareholders and may dilute the per share book value of our common stock. New investors may also have rights, preferences and privileges senior to our current shareholders, which may adversely impact our current shareholders.
Our ability to raise additional capital, if needed, will depend on conditions in the capital markets at that time, which are outside our control, and on our financial performance. Accordingly, we cannot assure that we will have the ability to raise additional capital, if needed, on terms acceptable to us. If we cannot raise additional capital when needed, our ability to further expand our operations through internal growth or acquisitions could be materially impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to more stringent capital requirements under the final Basel III rules.
In early July 2013, the Federal Reserve approved revisions to its capital adequacy guidelines and prompt corrective action rules that implement the Basel III regulatory capital reforms in the United States. As a result, Basel III will generally lead to higher capital requirements and more restrictive leverage and liquidity ratios than those requirements currently in place. Most banking
organizations, including the Bank, were required to apply the new capital rules beginning on January 1, 2015. Compliance with these rules will impact our capital plans, affect returns on capital, and impose additional costs on us.
The building of market share through our branching strategy could cause our expenses to increase faster than revenues.
We intend to continue to build market share through our branching strategy. There are considerable costs involved in opening new branches. New branches also generally require a period of time to generate sufficient revenues to offset their costs, especially in areas in which we do not have an established presence. Accordingly, any new branch can be expected to negatively impact our earnings for some period of time until the branch reaches certain economies of scale. Our expenses could be further increased if we encounter delays in the opening of new branches. Finally, we have no assurance that new branches will be successful, even after they have been established.
New lines of business or new products and services may subject us to additional risks.
As part of our strategic plan of steady, consistent growth, we may enter into new lines of business or begin offering new products or services to our customers. There are risks and uncertainties associated with expansion into a new line of business, as well as any other new material product or service we may decide to offer in the future. In developing and marketing new lines of business and/or new products and services, we may invest significant time and resources. Initial timetables for the introduction and development of new lines of business and/or new products or services may not be achieved and profitability targets may not prove feasible. External factors, such as compliance with regulations, competitive alternatives and shifting market preferences, may also impact the successful implementation of new lines of business. If we do not successfully manage these risks in the development and implementation of these new lines of business and/or new products and services that we may decide to engage in, such failure could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Potential acquisitions may disrupt our business and dilute shareholder value.
From time to time, we evaluate merger and acquisition opportunities and conduct due diligence activities related to possible transactions with other financial institutions. There is no assurance that any acquisitions will occur in the future. However, if we do acquire other banks, businesses, or branches, such acquisitions would involve various risks, including the following:
| |
• | potential exposure to unknown or contingent liabilities of the target company; |
| |
• | exposure to potential asset quality issues of the target company; |
| |
• | difficulty and expense of integrating the operations and personnel of the target company; |
| |
• | potential disruption to our business; |
| |
• | potential diversion of management's time and attention; |
| |
• | the possible loss of key employees and customers of the target company; |
| |
• | difficulty in estimating the value of the target company; and |
| |
• | potential changes in banking or tax laws or regulations that may affect the target company. |
If we were to pay for acquisitions with shares of our common stock, some dilution of our tangible book value and net income per common share may occur since acquisitions may involve the payment of a premium over book and market values. Furthermore, failure to realize the expected benefits of an acquisition, such as anticipated revenue increases, cost savings, or increased geographic or product presence, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to risks related to our acquisitions.
The ultimate success of our past acquisitions and any transactions in which we may participate in the future, will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to:
| |
• | fully integrate the branches acquired into our operations; |
| |
• | limit the outflow of deposits held by our new customers in the acquired branches and to retain and manage interest-earning assets acquired; |
| |
• | generate new interest-earning assets in the geographic areas previously served by the acquired branches; |
| |
• | effectively compete in new markets in which we did not previously have a presence; |
| |
• | control the incremental noninterest expense from the acquired branches in a manner that enables us to maintain a favorable overall efficiency ratio; |
| |
• | retain and attract the appropriate personnel to staff the acquired branches; |
| |
• | earn acceptable levels of interest and noninterest income, including fee income, from the acquired branches; and |
| |
• | reasonably estimate cash flows for acquired loans to mitigate exposure greater than estimated losses at the acquisition date. |
As with any acquisition involving a financial institution, there may be higher than average levels of service disruptions that would cause inconveniences to our new customers or potentially increase the effectiveness of competing financial institutions in attracting our customers. Integration efforts will also likely divert management's attention and resources. We may be unable to integrate acquired branches successfully, and the integration process could result in the loss of key employees, the disruption of ongoing business or inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies that adversely affect our ability to maintain
relationships with clients, customers, depositors and employees or to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions. We may also encounter unexpected difficulties or costs during the integration that could adversely affect our earnings and financial condition. Additionally, we may be unable to achieve results in the future similar to those achieved by our existing banking business, to compete effectively in the market areas previously served by the acquired branches or to manage effectively any growth following the acquisitions.
Our ability to continue to receive the benefits of our loss share agreements with the FDIC is conditioned upon our compliance with certain requirements under the agreements.
We are the beneficiary of loss share agreements with the FDIC that call for the FDIC to fund a portion of our losses on certain assets we acquired in connection with our FDIC-assisted transactions. To recover a portion of our losses and retain the loss share protection, we must comply with certain requirements imposed by the agreements. The requirements of the agreements relate primarily to our administration of the assets covered by the agreements, as well as our obtaining the consent of the FDIC to engage in certain corporate transactions that may be deemed under the agreements to constitute a transfer of the loss share benefits. When the consent of the FDIC is required under the loss share agreements, the FDIC may withhold its consent or may condition its consent on terms that we do not find acceptable. If the FDIC does not grant its consent to a transaction we would like to pursue, or conditions its consent on terms that we do not find acceptable, we may be unable to engage in a corporate transaction that might otherwise benefit our shareholders or we may elect to pursue such a transaction without obtaining the FDIC's consent, which could result in termination of our loss share agreements with the FDIC.
Changes in national and local economic conditions could lead to higher losses in connection with assets acquired in our past FDIC-assisted transactions and the loss sharing agreements with the FDIC may not cover all of those losses.
In connection with our past FDIC-assisted transactions, we acquired portfolios of loans and ORE. Although we have marked down the loan portfolios and ORE we acquired, the non-impaired loans we acquired may become impaired or may further deteriorate in value, resulting in additional charge-offs to our loan portfolio and ORE losses. The fluctuations in national, regional and local economic conditions, including those related to local residential, commercial real estate and construction markets, may increase the level of charge-offs that we make to our loan portfolio and ORE losses and consequently reduce our capital. The fluctuations are not predictable, cannot be controlled and may have a material adverse impact on our operations and financial condition even if other favorable events occur.
Our loss sharing agreements with the FDIC will not cover all of our losses on loans and ORE we acquired.
Although we have entered into loss share agreements with the FDIC that provide that the FDIC will bear a significant portion of losses related to specified loan portfolios and ORE that we acquired, we are not protected for all losses with respect to those specified loan portfolios and ORE. Additionally, the loss sharing agreements have limited terms. Therefore, the FDIC will not reimburse us for any charge-offs or related losses that we experience after the term of the loss share agreements expire, and any such charge-offs would negatively impact our net income. Moreover, the loss share provisions in the loss share agreements may be administered improperly, or the FDIC may interpret those provisions in a way differently than we do. In any of those events, our losses could increase.
Our controls and procedures may fail or be circumvented.
Management regularly reviews and updates our internal controls, disclosure controls and procedures, and corporate governance policies and procedures. Any system of controls, however well designed and operated, is based in part on certain assumptions and can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurances that the objectives of the system are met. Any failure or circumvention of our controls and procedures or failure to comply with regulations related to controls and procedures could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
We use financial models extensively to manage our day-to-day operations that may produce inaccurate information which differs significantly from actual results.
Management relies on the output from a number of quantitative models to measure risk and to estimate certain financial values. We use these models as part of several key business processes such as pricing various products and services, classifying loans, setting interest rates on loans and deposits, calculating interest rate and other market risks, measuring capital adequacy, and estimating the value of certain financial instruments. Business decisions relying on inaccurate or erroneous financial models may prove inefficient or ineffective. We also provide information to our investors and regulators which may be negatively impacted by inaccurately designed or implemented models.
We may not be able to attract and retain skilled people.
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and retain key people. Competition for the best people in most activities that we engage in can be intense and we may not be able to hire or retain people. The unexpected loss of services of one or more of our key personnel could have a material adverse impact on our business because of their skills, knowledge of our market, years of industry experience, and the difficulty of promptly finding qualified replacement personnel.
We rely on third party vendors for a number of key components of our business.
We contract with a number of third party vendors to support our infrastructure. Many of these vendors are large national companies who are dominant in their area of expertise and would be difficult to quickly replace. Failures of certain vendors to provide services could adversely affect our ability to deliver products and services to our customers, disrupting our business and causing us to incur significant expense. External vendors also present information security risks. We maintain a vendor management program to monitor vendor risk, including the financial stability of our critical vendors.
Our information systems we use to operate our business may experience an interruption or breach in security.
We rely heavily on communications and information systems to conduct our business. Any failure, interruption or breach in security of these systems could result in failures or disruptions in our customer relationship management, general ledger, deposit, loan, and other systems. While we have policies and procedures designed to prevent or limit the effect of the failure, interruption or security breach of our information systems, there can be no assurance that any such failures, interruptions or security breaches will not occur or, if they do occur, that they will be adequately addressed. Additionally, to the extent we rely on third party vendors to perform or assist operational functions, the challenge of managing the associated risks becomes more difficult. The occurrence of any failures, interruptions or security breaches of our information systems could damage our reputation, result in a loss of customer business, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny, or expose us to civil litigation and possible financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, future legislation and regulation related to privacy, data breach notification, cybersecurity and information security could have a significant impact on our current and planned data privacy and security practices.
Our customer electronic information systems may experience a security breach, computer virus or disruption of service.
We provide our customers with the ability to bank online. The secure transmission of confidential information over the Internet is a critical element of online banking. We also deploy part or all of a number of our other core business applications and services under cloud computing arrangements using the Internet. While we use qualified third party vendors to test and audit our network and maintain an enterprise-wide information security program, our network could become vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses, phishing schemes and other security problems. We may be required to spend significant capital and other resources to protect against the threat of security breaches and computer viruses, or to alleviate problems caused by security breaches or viruses. To the extent that our activities or the activities of our customers involve the storage and transmission of confidential information, security breaches and viruses could expose us to claims, litigation and other possible liabilities. Any inability to prevent security breaches or computer viruses could also cause existing customers to lose confidence in our systems and could adversely affect our reputation and our ability to generate deposits. Any failures, interruptions or security breaches could result in damage to our reputation, a loss of customer business, increased regulatory scrutiny, or possible exposure to financial liability, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
The operational functions of business counterparties may experience similar disruptions that could adversely impact us and over which we may have limited or no control.
In 2013 and 2014, a number of major U.S. corporations, particularly retailers, experienced data systems incursions, mainly perpetrated at point of sale devices and reportedly resulting in the thefts of sensitive financial data of tens of millions of individuals. These incursions affected cards issued and deposit accounts maintained by many banks, including the Bank. Although our systems were not breached in these incursions, these events can cause us to take costly steps such as reissuing debit cards to avoid significant theft loss to the Bank and our customers. Other possible points of incursion or disruption not within our control include internet service providers, electronic mail portal providers, social media portals, distant-server (“cloud”) service providers, electronic data security providers, telecommunications companies, and smart phone manufacturers.
Our business is technology dependent, and an inability to invest in technological improvements may adversely affect our earnings and financial condition.
The financial services industry is undergoing rapid technological changes with frequent introductions of new technology-driven products and services, which may require substantial capital expenditures to modify or adapt existing products and services. In addition to better customer service, the effective use of technology increases efficiency and results in reduced costs. Our future success will depend in part upon our ability to use technology to provide products and services that provide convenience to customers and to create additional efficiencies in operations. Many competitors have substantially greater resources to invest in technological improvements. We cannot make assurances that technological improvements will increase operational efficiency or that we will be able to effectively implement new technology-driven products and services or be successful in marketing these products and services to our customers. The ability to keep pace with technological change is important, and the failure to do so on our part could have a material adverse impact on our business and therefore on our financial condition and results of operations.
We are subject to claims and litigation.
From time to time, customers and others make claims and take legal action pertaining to our performance of our responsibilities. Whether customer claims and legal action related to our performance of our responsibilities are founded or
unfounded, or if such claims and legal actions are not resolved in a manner favorable to us, they may result in significant financial liability and/or adversely affect the market perception of us and our products and services, as well as impact customer demand for those products and services. Any financial liability or reputation damage could have a material adverse effect on our business, which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
Negative public opinion could damage our reputation and adversely impact business and revenues.
The risk to our business, earnings and capital from negative public opinion regarding our reputation, our competitors, and the financial institutions industry in general, is inherent in our business. In addition, negative public opinion of third parties with whom we have important relationships may adversely impact our reputation. Negative public opinion may result from our actual or alleged conduct in any number of activities, including lending practices, the failure of a product or service to meet the clients' expectations or applicable regulatory requirements, corporate governance and acquisitions, or from actions taken by government regulators and community organizations in response to those activities. Actual or alleged conduct by one of the business lines may result in negative public opinion about the other business lines. Negative public opinion may adversely affect our ability to keep and attract clients and employees and may expose us to litigation and regulatory action. Although we take steps to minimize reputation risk in dealing with our clients and communities, this risk will always be present given the nature of our business.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
Our stock price can be volatile.
Stock price volatility may make it more difficult for shareholders to resell common stock when they want and at prices they find attractive. Our stock price can fluctuate significantly in response to a variety of factors including, among other things:
| |
• | news reports relating to trends, concerns and other issues in the financial services industry; |
| |
• | actual or anticipated variations in quarterly results of operations; |
| |
• | recommendations by securities analysts; |
| |
• | operating and stock price performance of other companies that investors deem comparable to us; |
| |
• | perceptions in the marketplace regarding us and/or our competitors; |
| |
• | significant acquisitions or business combinations, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital commitments by or involving us or our competitors; |
| |
• | changes in government laws and regulation; and |
| |
• | geopolitical conditions such as acts or threats of terrorism or military conflicts. |
General market fluctuations, industry factors, and general economic and political conditions and events, such as economic slowdowns or recessions, interest rate changes or credit loss trends, could also cause our stock price to decrease, regardless of operating results.
Our common stock trading volume is less than that of other larger financial services companies.
Although our common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the trading volume in our common stock is less than that of larger financial services companies. A public trading market having the desired characteristics of depth, liquidity, and orderliness depends on the presence in the marketplace of willing buyers and sellers of our common stock at any given time. This presence depends on the individual decisions of investors and general economic and market conditions over which we have no control. Given the lower trading volume of our common stock, significant sales of our common stock, or the expectation of these sales, could cause our stock price to fall.
There are substantial regulatory limitations on changes of control of bank holding companies.
With certain limited exceptions, federal regulations prohibit a person or company or a group of persons deemed to be "acting in concert" from, directly or indirectly, acquiring more than 10% (5% if the acquirer is a bank holding company) of any class of our voting stock or obtaining the ability to control in any manner or election of a majority of our directors or otherwise direct the management or policies of our company without prior notice or application to and the approval of the Federal Reserve. Accordingly, prospective investors need to be aware of and comply with these requirements, if applicable, in connection with any purchase of our common stock.
The exercise of the Warrant by the Treasury would dilute existing shareholders' ownership interest and may make it more difficult for us to take certain actions that may be in the best interest of shareholders.
On December 19, 2008, we granted the U.S. Treasury a ten-year Warrant to purchase up to 2,665,946 shares of our common stock at a price of $2.71 per share, adjusted for dividends. While the Treasury auctioned the Preferred Shares in 2012, it did not sell the Warrant, and while we redeemed the Preferred Shares in 2013, the Treasury continues to hold the Warrant. If the Treasury exercises the entire Warrant, it would result in a significant dilution to the ownership interest of our existing shareholders. Further, if the Treasury exercises the entire Warrant, it will become our second largest shareholder. The Treasury has agreed that it will not exercise voting power with regard to the shares that it acquires by exercising the Warrant. However, Treasury's abstention from voting may make it more difficult for us to obtain shareholder approval for those matters that require a majority of total shares outstanding, such as a business combination.
Provisions in our Bylaws and our Tax Benefits Preservation Plan may make it more difficult for another party to obtain control.
Our bylaws elect for the provisions of Article 11A of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (the “Business Combination Statute”) to apply to the Company. We have also adopted a Tax Benefits Preservation Plan. Our bylaws and Tax Benefits Preservation Plan could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us or could have the effect of discouraging a third party from attempting to acquire control of us. These provisions could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us even if an acquisition might be at a price attractive to some of our shareholders.
Issuing additional shares of our common stock to acquire other banks, bank holding companies, financial holding companies and/or insurance agencies may result in dilution for existing shareholders and may adversely affect the market price of our stock.
In connection with our growth strategy, we may issue, in the future, shares of our common stock to acquire additional banks, bank holding companies, financial holding companies, insurance agencies and/or other businesses related to the financial services industry that may complement our organizational structure. Resales of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market and the potential of such sales could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of equity securities. We may be required to pay an acquisition premium above the fair market value of acquired assets for the acquisition of banks, bank holding companies, financial holding companies and insurance agencies. Paying this acquisition premium, in addition to the dilutive effect of issuing additional shares, may also adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock.
Our ability to declare and pay dividends is limited.
There can be no assurance of whether or when we may pay dividends in the future. Future dividends, if any, will be declared and paid at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors. Although our recent dividends have been paid out of excess cash at the holding company. Historically, the principal source of funds used by us to pay cash dividends has been dividends received from the Bank. The Bank’s asset quality, earnings performance, liquidity and capital requirements will be taken into account in addition to our liquidity and capital requirements.
Federal and state banking laws and regulations and state corporate laws restrict the amount of dividends Fidelity or the Bank may declare and pay. For example, under the regulations of the GDBF, dividends may not be declared out of the retained earnings of a state bank without first obtaining the written permission of the GDBF, unless such bank meets certain classified assets ratio, dividend payout and equity ratio.
The payment of dividends by Fidelity and the Bank may also be affected or limited by other factors, such as the requirement to maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines. In addition, if, in the opinion of the applicable regulatory authority, a bank under its jurisdiction is engaged in or is about to engage in an unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending upon the financial condition of the bank, could include the payment of dividends), such authority may require, after notice and hearing, that such bank cease and desist from such practice. The FDIC has issued a policy statement providing that insured banks should generally only pay dividends out of current operating earnings. In addition to the formal statutes and regulations, regulatory authorities consider the adequacy of the Bank’s total capital in relation to its assets, deposits and other such items. Capital adequacy considerations could further limit the availability of dividends to the Bank.
The price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly, which may make it difficult for our shareholders to resell shares of our common stock at desired times or attractive prices.
Our stock price may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are beyond our control. The market for our common stock historically has experienced and may continue to experience significant price and volume fluctuations similar to those experienced by the broader stock market in recent years. Generally, the fluctuations experienced by the broader stock market have affected the market prices of securities issued by many companies for reasons unrelated to their operating performance and may adversely affect the price of our common stock. In addition, our announcements of our quarterly or annual financial results, changes in general conditions in the economy or the financial markets and other developments affecting us, our affiliates or our competitors could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. We expect that the market price of our common stock will continue to fluctuate and there can be no assurances about the levels of market prices for our common stock or that it will trade at prices at or above the price offered hereby.
Securities that we issue, including our common stock, are not FDIC insured.
Securities that we issue, including our common stock, are not savings or deposit accounts or other obligations of any bank and are not insured by the FDIC or any other governmental agency or instrumentality or any private insurer and are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of your investment.
We may issue debt or equity securities or securities convertible into equity securities, any of which may be senior to our common stock as to distributions and in liquidation, which could negatively affect the value of our common stock.
In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by entering into debt or debt-like financing that is unsecured or secured by all or up to all of our assets, or by issuing additional debt or equity securities, which could include issuances of secured or unsecured commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior notes, subordinated notes, preferred stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for equity securities. In the event of our liquidation, our lenders and holders of our debt and preferred securities would receive a distribution of our available assets before distributions to the holders of our common stock. Because any decision to incur debt or issue securities in our future offerings will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings and debt financings. Further, market conditions could require us to accept less favorable terms for the issuance of our securities in the future.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None
Item 2. Properties
We deliver our products and services through a network of offices located in Southern states consisting of 45 retail bank branches and 25 loan production offices. At December 31, 2014, we owned 36 of these retail bank branches and we leased all 25 loan production offices. The remaining retail branch locations are leased.
We deliver administrative support functions through our executive offices located at 3490 Piedmont Road, Atlanta, Georgia and our corporate operations center which is located at 3 Corporate Square, Atlanta, Georgia, both of which are leased.
We generally consider the properties owned and leased throughout our footprint to be adequate. We are continuing to modernize, expand, acquire and, when necessary, replace facilities to support our strategic plan of steady, planned growth.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
We are a party to claims and lawsuits arising in the course of normal business activities. Although the ultimate outcome of all claims and lawsuits outstanding as of December 31, 2014 cannot be ascertained at this time, it is the opinion of management that these matters, when resolved, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol "LION." As of March 2, 2015, there were approximately 1,000 shareholders of record. In addition, shares of approximately 2,300 beneficial owners of our common stock were held by brokers, dealers, and their nominees.
The following table sets forth the per share cash dividends declared and the high and low closing sale prices per share for our common stock for the calendar quarters indicated, as published by NASDAQ.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | High (*) | | Low (*) | | Cash Dividends Declared |
2014 | | | | | | |
First quarter | | $ | 16.57 |
| | $ | 13.63 |
| | $ | 0.04 |
|
Second quarter | | 14.44 |
| | 12.80 |
| | 0.08 |
|
Third quarter | | 14.88 |
| | 12.98 |
| | 0.09 |
|
Fourth quarter | | 16.36 |
| | 13.55 |
| | 0.09 |
|
2013 | | | | | | |
First quarter | | $ | 11.54 |
| | $ | 9.35 |
| | $ | — |
|
Second quarter | | 12.96 |
| | 10.65 |
| | — |
|
Third quarter | | 15.84 |
| | 12.47 |
| | 0.02 |
|
Fourth quarter | | 17.80 |
| | 13.32 |
| | 0.03 |
|
| | | | | | |
(*) Historical periods prior to and including December 31, 2013 adjusted for stock dividends |
A cash dividend of 9 cents per share was declared by the Board of Directors on January 16, 2015, payable on February 13, 2015, to holders of record as of February 2, 2015.
Stock dividends declared, by quarter, for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
|
| | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, |
| | 2014 | | 2013 |
First quarter | | None | | 1 for 100 |
Second quarter | | None | | 1 for 120 |
Third quarter | | None | | 1 for 170 |
Fourth quarter | | None | | 1 for 210 |
The Board of Directors reviews whether to declare and pay dividends on a quarterly basis, in light of current regulatory limitations, earnings, capital requirements, and forecasts of future earnings.
See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 8 for a further discussion of the restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table presents information relating to our purchase of shares of common stock in the fourth quarter of 2014.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Period | (a) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased | | (b) Average Price Paid per Share (or unit) | | (c) Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | | (d) Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) Shares (or Units) That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs |
October 1 - 31, 2014 | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 10,000,000 |
|
November 1 - 30, 2014 | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,000,000 |
|
December 1 - 31, 2014 | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 10,000,000 |
|
Total | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | $ | 10,000,000 |
|
The repurchase plan announced April 3, 2014, authorizing the repurchase of up to $10 million of our outstanding common stock, has no expiration date for the authorized share repurchases under this plan.
Sale of Unregistered Securities
We have not sold any unregistered securities during the period.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table presents information as of December 31, 2014, with respect to shares of our common stock that may be issued under equity compensation plans. Our equity compensation plans consist of the stock options, restricted stock grants, and other awards as defined in the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and the 401(k) tax qualified savings plan.
|
| | | | | | | | | | |
Plan Category | | Number of Securities to be Issued upon Exercise of Outstanding Options | | Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options | | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column A) |
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Shareholders(1) | | 554,998 |
| | $ | 12.12 |
| | 3,410,360 |
|
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Shareholders(2) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total | | 554,998 |
| | $ | 12.12 |
| | 3,410,360 |
|
| | | | | | |
(1) 2006 Equity Incentive Plan. | | | | | | |
(2) Excludes shares issued under the 401(k) Plan. | | | | | | |
Shareholder Return Performance Graph
The following graph compares the percentage change in the cumulative five-year shareholder return on our common stock (traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LION”) with the cumulative total return on the NASDAQ Composite Index, and the SNL Bank NASDAQ Index.
Fidelity Southern Corporation
The graph assumes that the value invested in our common stock and in each of the two indices was $100 on December 31, 2009, and all dividends were reinvested.
. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Period Ended December 31, |
Index | | 2009 | | 2010 | | 2011 | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 |
Fidelity Southern Corporation | | $ | 100.00 |
| | $ | 197.80 |
| | $ | 174.54 |
| | $ | 290.97 |
| | $ | 522.57 |
| | $ | 519.67 |
|
NASDAQ Composite | | 100.00 |
| | 118.15 |
| | 117.22 |
| | 138.02 |
| | 193.47 |
| | 222.16 |
|
SNL Bank NASDAQ | | 100.00 |
| | 117.98 |
| | 104.68 |
| | 124.77 |
| | 179.33 |
| | 185.73 |
|
Item 6. Selected Financial Data
The following table contains selected consolidated financial data. This information should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in Item 7 of this report and the consolidated financial statements and notes included in Item 8 of this report.
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Years Ended December 31, |
($ in thousands, except per share data) | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
INCOME STATEMENT DATA: | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | $ | 101,667 |
| | $ | 97,563 |
| | $ | 97,570 |
| | $ | 93,710 |
| | $ | 95,338 |
|
Interest expense | | 11,226 |
| | 13,961 |
| | 17,078 |
| | 22,849 |
| | 30,563 |
|
Net interest income | | 90,441 |
| | 83,602 |
| | 80,492 |
| | 70,861 |
| | 64,775 |
|
Provision for loan losses | | 531 |
| | 5,440 |
| | 13,420 |
| | 20,325 |
| | 17,125 |
|
Noninterest income, including securities gains | | 95,320 |
| | 96,878 |
| | 87,961 |
| | 51,429 |
| | 42,855 |
|
Securities gains, net | | — |
| | 189 |
| | 307 |
| | 1,078 |
| | 2,291 |
|
Noninterest expense | | 138,754 |
| | 132,325 |
| | 115,397 |
| | 85,422 |
| | 75,973 |
|
Net income | | 30,036 |
| | 27,638 |
| | 25,327 |
| | 11,398 |
| | 10,133 |
|
PERFORMANCE: | | | | | | | | | | |
Earnings per common share - basic (1) | | $ | 1.41 |
| | $ | 1.35 |
| | $ | 1.47 |
| | $ | 0.60 |
| | $ | 0.56 |
|
Earnings per common share - diluted (1) | | $ | 1.28 |
| | $ | 1.21 |
| | $ | 1.32 |
| | $ | 0.54 |
| | $ | 0.51 |
|
Book value per common share (1) | | $ | 12.40 |
| | $ | 11.07 |
| | $ | 9.57 |
| | $ | 8.33 |
| | $ | 7.76 |
|
Cash dividends paid per common share | | $ | 0.30 |
| | $ | 0.05 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 0.02 |
| | $ | — |
|
Dividend payout ratio | | 21.28 | % | | 3.70 | % | | — | % | | 3.33 | % | | — | % |
Return on average assets | | 1.11 | % | | 1.09 | % | | 1.08 | % | | 0.55 | % | | 0.54 | % |
Return on average shareholders’ equity | | 12.07 | % | | 12.20 | % | | 14.19 | % | | 7.43 | % | | 7.50 | % |
Net interest margin | | 3.62 | % | | 3.58 | % | | 3.74 | % | | 3.67 | % | | 3.66 | % |
END OF PERIOD BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY: | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 3,085,225 |
| | $ | 2,564,168 |
| | $ | 2,477,291 |
| | $ | 2,234,795 |
| | $ | 1,945,300 |
|
Earning assets | | 2,848,618 |
| | 2,357,273 |
| | 2,285,460 |
| | 2,073,969 |
| | 1,830,803 |
|
Loans, excluding Loans Held-for-Sale | | 2,253,306 |
| | 1,893,037 |
| | 1,777,031 |
| | 1,623,871 |
| | 1,403,372 |
|
Total loans | | 2,622,241 |
| | 2,080,403 |
| | 2,081,125 |
| | 1,757,720 |
| | 1,613,270 |
|
Total deposits | | 2,458,022 |
| | 2,202,452 |
| | 2,068,011 |
| | 1,871,516 |
| | 1,613,248 |
|
Long term borrowings | | 46,393 |
| | 56,393 |
| | 67,527 |
| | 120,027 |
| | 142,257 |
|
Shareholders’ equity | | 264,951 |
| | 236,230 |
| | 192,888 |
| | 167,280 |
| | 140,511 |
|
DAILY AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY: | | | | | | | | | | |
Total Assets | | $ | 2,715,759 |
| | $ | 2,543,145 |
| | $ | 2,345,176 |
| | $ | 2,063,169 |
| | $ | 1,879,657 |
|
Earning assets | | 2,510,247 |
| | 2,345,492 |
| | 2,161,438 |
| | 1,944,385 |
| | 1,778,811 |
|
Total loans | | 2,284,245 |
| | 2,109,575 |
| | 1,931,714 |
| | 1,611,825 |
| | 1,480,618 |
|
Total deposits | | 2,259,825 |
| | 2,103,465 |
| | 1,933,473 |
| | 1,499,451 |
| | 1,562,617 |
|
Long-term debt | | 48,366 |
| | 69,008 |
| | 86,256 |
| | 125,828 |
| | 129,102 |
|
Shareholders’ equity | | 248,783 |
| | 226,457 |
| | 178,517 |
| | 153,312 |
| | 135,132 |
|
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS: | | | | | | | | | | |
Net charge-offs to average loans | | 0.33 | % | | 0.38 | % | | 0.60 | % | | 1.38 | % | | 1.44 | % |
Net charge-offs to average loans excluding covered loans | | 0.33 | % | | 0.39 | % | | 0.47 | % | | 1.39 | % | | 1.44 | % |
Allowance to period-end loans | | 1.13 | % | | 1.78 | % | | 1.92 | % | | 1.72 | % | | 2.00 | % |
Nonperforming assets to total loans, ORE and repossessions | | 2.61 | % | | 3.78 | % | | 4.56 | % | | 5.59 | % | | 6.89 | % |
Allowance to nonperforming loans, ORE and repossessions | | 0.43x |
| | 0.46x |
| | 0.41x |
| | 0.30x |
| | 0.29x |
|
SELECTED RATIOS: | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans to total deposits | | 91.67 | % | | 85.95 | % | | 85.93 | % | | 86.77 | % | | 86.99 | % |
Average total loans to average earning assets | | 91.00 | % | | 90.00 | % | | 89.91 | % | | 83.35 | % | | 83.34 | % |
Non-Interest Income to Revenue | | 48.39 | % | | 49.83 | % | | 47.41 | % | | 35.43 | % | | 31.01 | % |
Leverage Ratio | | 10.40 | % | | 11.02 | % | | 10.18 | % | | 9.83 | % | | 9.36 | % |
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital | | 11.07 | % | | 12.71 | % | | 12.06 | % | | 11.85 | % | | 10.87 | % |
Total Risk-Based Capital | | 12.01 | % | | 13.96 | % | | 13.43 | % | | 13.70 | % | | 13.28 | % |
Average equity to average assets | | 9.16 | % | | 8.90 | % | | 7.61 | % | | 7.43 | % | | 7.19 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | |
(1) Historical periods prior to and including December 31, 2013 adjusted for stock dividends |
|
|
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL REVIEW
The following management discussion and analysis addresses important factors affecting our results of operations and financial condition as of and for the periods indicated. The consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes should be read in conjunction with this review.
Overview
Since our inception in 1974, we have pursued managed profitable growth through providing quality financial services. Our overall focus is on building shareholder value. Our mission is “to continue growth, improve earnings and increase shareholder value; to treat customers, employees, community and shareholders according to the Golden Rule; and to operate within a culture of strong internal controls.”
Our franchise spans the metropolitan Atlanta market and northern Florida. We also conduct indirect automobile lending, residential mortgage lending and SBA lending activities in twelve Southern states. During 2014, we continued to expand our footprint with the opening of additional offices in our retail banking, mortgage lending, and indirect automobile lending divisions including the commencement of indirect automobile lending activities in Louisiana, expansion of mortgage lending activities into Alabama and the acquisition of a group of retail branches in northern Florida.
Our lending activities are significantly influenced by the local economic environments in the markets we serve. We have organically grown our consumer installment, mortgage, construction and commercial loan portfolios as the economic recession of 2007 to 2009 began to recede in 2012 and 2013. Our loan portfolio is well diversified among consumer, business, and real estate lending. The credit quality of our loan portfolio has continued to improve.
Financial Performance
We recorded net income for 2014 of $30.0 million compared to $27.6 million in 2013, an increase of $2.4 million, or 8.7%. Net income per basic and diluted common share were $1.41 and $1.28, respectively for 2014 and $1.35 and $1.21, respectively, in 2013. The increase of $6.8 million, or 8.2%, in net interest income and decrease in provision expense of $4.9 million, or 90.2%, were the main factors impacting the growth in our earnings for 2014.
We derive approximately half of our revenues from noninterest income sources such as service charges on loan and deposit accounts and fees on other services; income from mortgage banking, indirect automobile, and SBA activities; and gains on ORE sales. The majority of this revenue is earned from gains on sales of originated and brokered loans. We retain servicing on the majority of loans sold which generates servicing revenue over the life of the loans sold.
A portion of our profitability, as with most financial institutions, is dependent upon net interest income, which is the difference between the interest we receive on interest-earning assets, such as loans and securities, and the interest we pay on interest-bearing liabilities, principally deposits and borrowings. Our net interest margin is affected by prevailing interest rates, nonperforming assets and competition among financial institutions for loans and deposits.
We continue to attract new customer relationships, and talented and experienced bankers to support our growth. The focus in 2015 will continue to be on credit quality, revenue growth, expense controls, deposit growth and quality loan growth.
Critical Accounting Policies
Our accounting and reporting policies are in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and conform to general practices within the financial services industry. Our financial position and results of operations are affected by management’s application of accounting policies, including estimates, assumptions, and judgments made to arrive at the carrying value of assets and liabilities and amounts reported for revenues, expenses, and related disclosures. Different assumptions in the application of these policies, or conditions significantly different from certain assumptions, could result in material changes in our consolidated financial position or consolidated results of operations. Our accounting policies are fundamental to understanding our consolidated financial position and consolidated results of operations. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.” Significant accounting policies have been periodically discussed and reviewed with and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Board of Directors.
The following is a summary of our critical accounting policies that are highly dependent on estimates, assumptions, and judgments.
Allowance for Loan Losses
The allowance for loan losses is established and maintained through provisions charged to operations. Such provisions are based on management’s evaluation of the loan portfolio, including loan portfolio concentrations, current economic conditions, past loan loss experience, adequacy of underlying collateral, and such other factors which, in management’s judgment, deserve consideration in estimating loan losses. Loans are charged off when, in the opinion of management, such loans are deemed to be uncollectable. Subsequent recoveries are added to the allowance.
A formal review of the allowance for loan losses is prepared at least monthly to assess the probable credit risk inherent in the loan portfolio and to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. For purposes of the monthly management review, the loan portfolio is separated by loan type. The level of allowance required for each loan type is determined based upon historical charge-off experience and current economic trends. In addition to homogeneous pools of loans, every commercial, commercial real estate, SBA, and construction loan is assigned a risk rating using established credit policy guidelines. All nonperforming commercial, commercial real estate, SBA, and construction loans and loans deemed to have greater than normal risk characteristics are reviewed monthly by the Credit Review department to determine the level of additional allowance for loan losses, if any, required to be specifically assigned to these loans.
Acquisition Accounting
We account for acquisitions under the acquisition method of accounting. Generally accepted accounting principles require the use of fair values in determining the carrying values of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, as well as for specific disclosures. The fair value of a loan portfolio and foreclosed property acquired in a business combination requires greater levels of management estimates and judgment than the remainder of assets or assumed liabilities.
The credit risks inherent and evidenced in our FDIC-assisted transactions resulted in substantially all loans purchased in the transactions having a credit discount. On the date of acquisition, when the loans have evidence of credit deterioration since their origination and we believe it is probable that we will not collect all contractually required principal and interest payments, we refer to the difference between contractually required payments and the cash flows expected to be collected as the non-accretable discount. We must estimate expected cash flows at each future reporting date. Subsequent decreases to the expected cash flows generally result in a provision for loan losses, net of the amount due from the FDIC under the applicable loss share agreement. Subsequent increases in cash flows result in a reversal of the provision for loan losses to the extent of prior charges and adjusted accretable discount, which will have a positive effect on interest income.
Because we recorded acquired loans at fair value, we recorded no allowance for loan losses related to the acquired loans on the acquisition date, given that the fair value of the loans acquired incorporates assumptions regarding credit risk. We recorded acquired covered loans at fair value, exclusive of the loss share agreements with the FDIC. The fair value estimates associated with the loans include estimates related to expected prepayments and the amount and timing of expected principal, interest and other cash flows.
FDIC Receivable for Loss Share Agreements
We entered into loss share agreements with the FDIC in conjunction with our FDIC-assisted transactions in which the FDIC has agreed to reimburse us for 80% of all losses incurred in connection with the portion of our loan and ORE assets covered under the loss share agreements. We estimated the amount that will be received from the FDIC under the loss share agreements that will result from losses incurred on the covered loans and ORE assets, and we recorded the estimated fair value as a receivable from the FDIC. The FDIC receivable for loss share agreements is measured separately from the related covered assets because it is not contractually embedded in the assets and is not transferable if we sell the assets. We estimated the fair value of the FDIC receivable using the present value of cash flows related to the loss share agreements based on the expected reimbursements for losses and the applicable loss share percentages.
We review and update the fair value of the FDIC receivable prospectively as loss estimates related to covered loans and ORE change. Subsequent decreases in the amount expected to be collected from the covered assets result in a provision for loan losses, an increase in the allowance for loan losses, and a proportional adjustment to the FDIC receivable for the estimated amount to be reimbursed. Subsequent increases in the amount expected to be collected from the covered assets result in the reversal of any previously recorded provision for loan losses and related allowance for loan losses and adjustments to the FDIC receivable, or prospective adjustments to the accretable discount if no provision for loan losses had previously been recorded. We discounted the receivable for the expected timing and receipt of these cash flows using a risk-free rate plus a premium for risk. Fair value accounting incorporates into the fair value of the FDIC receivable an element of the time value of money, which is accreted back into income over the life of the loss share agreements.
Amortization of the FDIC receivable is recorded as an expense over the estimated life of the receivable or the remaining life of the underlying assets, whichever is shorter. The ultimate realization of the FDIC receivable depends on the performance of the underlying covered assets, the passage of time and claims paid by the FDIC.
Other Real Estate ("ORE")
ORE, consisting of properties obtained through foreclosure or through a deed in lieu of foreclosure in satisfaction of loans, is initially reported at fair value, determined on the basis of current appraisals, comparable sales, and other estimates of value obtained principally from independent sources, adjusted for estimated selling costs. Management also considers other factors, including changed economic conditions since the last appraisal, changes in absorption rates, stale appraisals or imprecision and subjectivity of the appraisal process, length of time the property has been on the market and anticipated sales values, which have resulted in adjustments to the collateral value estimates indicated in certain appraisals.
Significant judgments and complex estimates are required in estimating the fair value of ORE. As a result of the significant judgments required in estimating fair value and the variables involved in different methods of disposition, the net proceeds realized from sales transactions could differ significantly from appraisals, comparable sales, and other estimates used to determine the fair value of ORE. The period of time within which such estimates can be considered current is significantly shortened during periods of market volatility.
At the time of foreclosure or initial possession of collateral, any excess of the loan balance over the fair value of the real estate held as collateral is treated as a charge against the allowance for loan losses, net of amounts covered under loss share agreements with the FDIC. After the transfer to ORE, the fair value, less estimated selling costs, becomes the new cost basis for the ORE. Subsequent declines in the fair value of ORE, net of amounts covered under loss share agreements with the FDIC, below the new cost basis are recognized by a charge to income.
Management reviews the value of ORE on at least a quarterly basis and adjusts the values as appropriate. Generally, a new appraisal is received annually on each ORE property. Any subsequent adjustments to reflect changes in fair value and selling costs are recorded as a component of other noninterest expense or a reduction of any existing valuation allowance on a property by property basis, but not below zero. In response to market conditions and other economic factors, management may utilize liquidation sales as part of its problem asset disposition strategy.
Revenue from ORE operations as well as gains or losses on sales are recorded as a component of noninterest income, net of amounts due to/from the FDIC on ORE covered under loss share agreements. Expenses from ORE operations are recorded as a component of noninterest expense, net of amounts due from the FDIC on ORE covered under loss share agreements.
Capitalized Servicing Assets and Liabilities
We sell indirect automobile loan pools, residential mortgages and SBA loans with servicing retained. When the contractual servicing fees on loans sold with servicing retained are expected to be more than adequate compensation to a servicer for performing the servicing, a capitalized servicing asset is recognized. When the expected costs to a servicer for performing loan servicing are not expected to adequately compensate a servicer, a capitalized servicing liability is recognized. Servicing assets and servicing liabilities are amortized over the expected lives of the serviced loans utilizing the interest method. Management makes certain estimates and assumptions related to costs to service varying types of loans and pools of loans, the projected lives of loans and pools of loans sold, and discount factors used in calculating the present values of servicing fees projected to be received.
No less frequently than quarterly, management reviews the status of all loans and pools of loans sold with related capitalized servicing assets to determine if there is any impairment to those assets due to such factors as earlier than estimated repayments or significant prepayments. Any impairment identified in these assets will result in reductions in their carrying values and a corresponding increase in operating expenses.
Loan-Related Revenue Recognition
Loans held for investment (excluding acquired loans) are reported at principal amounts outstanding, net of deferred fees and costs. Interest income and ancillary fees from loans are a primary source of revenue. Interest income is recognized in a manner that results in a level yield on principal amounts outstanding. Rate-related loan fee income, loan origination, and commitment fees, and certain direct origination costs are deferred and amortized as an adjustment of the yield over the contractual lives of the related loans, taking into consideration assumed prepayments. The accrual of interest is discontinued when, in management’s judgment, it is determined that the collectability of interest or principal is doubtful.
For business loans, the accrual of interest is discontinued and the loan categorized as nonaccrual when, in management’s opinion, due to deterioration in the financial position or operations of the borrower, the full repayment of principal and interest is not expected, or principal or interest has been in default for a period of 90 days or more, unless the obligation is both well secured and in the process of collection. Business loans may be returned to accrual status when management expects to collect all principal and interest and the loan has been brought current. Interest received on well collateralized nonaccrual loans is recognized on the cash basis. If the business loan is not well collateralized, payments are applied to reduce principal.
Consumer loans are placed on nonaccrual upon becoming 90 days past due or sooner if, in the opinion of management, the full repayment of principal and interest is not expected. On consumer loans, any payment received on a loan on which the accrual of interest has been suspended is applied to reduce principal.
When a loan is placed on nonaccrual, interest accrued during the current accounting period is reversed and interest accrued in prior periods, if significant, is charged off. Adjustments to principal are made if the collateral related to the loan is deficient.
Income Taxes
We file a consolidated Federal income tax return, as well as tax returns in several states. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are recovered or settled. The net deferred tax asset is reviewed at each reporting period to assess the probability of realization of benefits in future periods and whether valuation allowances are appropriate. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is recorded in situations where it is "more likely than not" that a deferred tax asset is not realizable. Management has reviewed all evidence, both positive and negative, and concluded that a valuation allowance against the net deferred tax asset is not needed at December 31, 2014. The calculation of the income tax provision is complex and requires the use of judgments and estimates in its determination.
Fair Value
Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3 measurements). A financial instrument’s level within the hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The primary financial instruments we carry at fair value are investment securities, interest rate lock commitments on residential mortgage loans (“IRLCs”), derivative instruments, and residential mortgage loans held-for-sale. We also carry certain impaired loans, foreclosed assets and capitalized servicing rights on residential mortgage and SBA loans at fair value.
Investment securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value utilizing Level 2 inputs. For these securities, we obtain fair value measurements from an independent pricing service. The fair value measurements consider observable data that may include dealer quotes, market spreads, cash flows, the U.S. Treasury yield curve, live trading levels, trade execution data, market consensus prepayment speeds, credit information and the bond’s terms and conditions, among other things. The investments in our portfolio are generally not quoted on an exchange but are actively traded in the secondary institutional markets.
We classify IRLCs on a gross basis within other liabilities or other assets. The fair value of these commitments, while based on interest rates observable in the market, is highly dependent on the ultimate closing of the loans. These “pull-through” rates are based on both our historical data and the current interest rate environment and reflect our best estimate of the likelihood that a commitment will ultimately result in a closed loan. The loan servicing value is also included in the fair value of the IRLCs.
Derivative instruments are primarily transacted in the secondary mortgage and institutional dealer markets and priced with observable market assumptions at a mid-market valuation point, with appropriate valuation adjustments for liquidity and credit risk. For purposes of valuation adjustments to our derivative positions, we evaluate liquidity premiums that may be demanded by market participants, as well as the credit risk of our counterparties and our own credit.
The credit risk associated with the underlying cash flows of instruments carried at fair value was a consideration in estimating the fair value of certain financial instruments. Credit risk was considered in the valuation through a variety of inputs, as applicable, including, the actual default and loss severity of the collateral, and level of subordination. The assumptions used to estimate credit risk incorporated relevant information that a market participant would likely use in valuing an instrument.
The fair value of residential mortgage loans held-for-sale is based on what secondary markets are currently offering for portfolios with similar characteristics. As such, we classify these loans as Level 2.
SBA and indirect loans held-for-sale are measured at the lower of cost or fair value. Fair value is based on recent trades for similar loan pools as well as offering prices for similar assets provided by buyers in the secondary market. If the cost of a loan is determined to be less than the fair value of similar loans, the impairment is recorded by the establishment of a reserve to reduce the value of the loan.
Impaired loans are evaluated and valued at the time the loan is identified as impaired, at the lower of cost or fair value. Fair value is measured based on the value of the collateral securing these loans and is classified as a Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Collateral may include real estate or business assets, including equipment, inventory and accounts receivable. The value of real estate collateral is determined based on an appraisal by qualified licensed appraisers. If significant, the value of business equipment is based on an appraisal by qualified licensed appraisers; otherwise, the equipment’s net book value on the business’ financial statements is the basis for the value of business equipment. Inventory and accounts receivable collateral are valued based on independent field examiner review or aging reports. Appraised and reported values may be discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of the valuation, and management’s expertise and knowledge of the client and client’s business. Impaired loans are evaluated on at least a quarterly basis for additional impairment and adjusted accordingly.
Foreclosed assets are adjusted to fair value upon transfer of the loans to foreclosed assets. Subsequently, foreclosed assets are carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less estimated selling costs. Fair value is based upon independent market prices, appraised values of the collateral or management’s estimation of the value of the collateral. When the fair value of the collateral is based on an observable market price or a current appraised value, we record the foreclosed asset as nonrecurring Level 2. When an appraised value is not available or management determines the fair value of the collateral is further impaired below the appraised value and there is no observable market price, we record the foreclosed asset as nonrecurring Level 3. Appraised and reported values may be discounted based on management’s historical knowledge, changes in market conditions from the time of the valuation, and management’s expertise and knowledge of the client and client’s business.
Capitalized servicing rights on SBA and residential mortgage loans are initially recorded at fair value when the underlying loans are sold with servicing retained. These assets are then amortized in proportion to and over the period of estimated net servicing income. On a monthly basis, these servicing assets are assessed for impairment based on fair value. Management determines fair value by stratifying the servicing portfolio into homogeneous subsets with unique behavior characteristics, converting those characteristics into income and expense streams, adjusting those streams for prepayments, present valuing the adjusted streams, and combining the present values into a total. If the cost basis of any loan stratification tranche is higher than the present value of the tranche, an impairment is recorded.
Results of Operations - 2014 Compared to 2013
Net Income
Our net income for the year ended December 31, 2014, was $30.0 million or $1.41 and $1.28 basic and fully diluted earnings per share, respectively. Net income for the year ended December 31, 2013, was $27.6 million or $1.35 and $1.21 basic and fully diluted earnings per share, respectively. The $2.4 million increase in net income in 2014 compared to 2013 was due primarily to an increase in interest income of $4.1 million, a decrease in provision expense of $4.9 million, and a decrease in interest expense of $2.7 million. Partially offsetting these items was an increase in noninterest expense of $6.4 million. Details of the changes in the various components of net income are discussed below.
Net Interest Income/Margin
Taxable-equivalent net interest income was $90.8 million in 2014 compared to $84.0 million in 2013, an increase of $6.9 million, or 8.2%. Average interest-earning assets in 2014 increased $164.8 million to $2.5 billion, a 7.0% increase when compared to 2013. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $25.9 million to $1.9 billion, a 1.4% increase. The net interest margin increased by 4 basis points to 3.62% in 2014 when compared to 2013. The primary components of the net interest margin are described below.
Taxable-equivalent interest income had an increase of $4.1 million for 2014 as compared to 2013. Although the yield on interest-earning assets in 2014 reflected an 11 basis point decrease as compared to 2013, the resulting decrease in interest income was offset by the additional interest income earned during 2014 on the net growth of $164.8 million, or 7.0%, in average interest-earning assets, primarily in our loan portfolio. The average balance of loans outstanding in 2014 increased $174.7 million, or 8.3%, to $2.3 billion when compared to 2013 due to the increased number of loan originations and market expansion, net of loan payoffs and problem loan resolutions. However, consistent with changes in market interest rates, the yield on average loans outstanding for 2014 decreased 20 basis points to 4.24% when compared to 2013, primarily in the indirect automobile component of the consumer loan portfolio. Average interest-bearing deposits held at correspondent banks decreased $14.9 million to $49.2 million to fund loan growth throughout 2014.
Interest expense in 2014 decreased $2.7 million, or 19.6%, to $11.2 million, primarily as the result of a 15 basis point decrease in the cost of interest-bearing liabilities, net of a $25.9 million, or 1.4%, increase in average interest-bearing liability balances. The increase in average interest-bearing liabilities for 2014 was primarily used to fund growth in the indirect automobile loan portfolio at various times throughout the year. The reduction in the cost of interest bearing deposits is due to management's strategy of focusing on lower cost core deposits. Average total interest-bearing deposits increased $35.0 million, or 2.1%, to $1.7 billion during 2014 compared to 2013, while average borrowings decreased $9.1 million, or 4.8%, to $180.9 million. The increase in average total interest-bearing deposits was primarily due to an increase of $73.7 million in interest-bearing money market and NOW deposits. The decrease in interest expense in 2014 was primarily attributable to the $1.6 million decrease in subordinated debt expense, as a result of the Company repaying $21 million of subordinated debt during the third quarter of 2013. In addition to this, interest expense on short-term borrowings had a decrease of $323,000, as rates have declined year over year.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, information regarding (i) the total dollar amount of interest income from earning assets and the resultant average yields; (ii) the total dollar amount of interest expense on interest-bearing liabilities and the resultant average rate; (iii) net interest income; (iv) net interest spread; and (v) net interest margin. The average balances are principally daily averages, and, for loans, include both performing and non-performing balances. Interest income on loans includes the effects of discount accretion on PCI loans acquired in the FDIC-assisted transactions and net deferred loan origination costs accounted for as yield adjustments.
Average Balances, Interest and Yields
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | For the Years Ended December 31, |
| | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 |
| | Average Balance | | Income/ Expense | | Yield/ Rate | | Average Balance | | Income/ Expense | | Yield/ Rate | | Average Balance | | Income/ Expense | | Yield/ Rate |
($ in thousands) | | |
Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Loans (1) | | $ | 2,284,245 |
| | $ | 96,830 |
| | 4.24 | % | | $ | 2,109,575 |
| | $ | 93,573 |
| | 4.44 | % | | $ | 1,931,714 |
| | $ | 92,566 |
| | 4.79 | % |
Investment securities (1) | | 175,174 |
| | 5,141 |
| | 2.93 |
| | 170,265 |
| | 4,249 |
| | 2.50 |
| | 201,048 |
| | 5,351 |
| | 2.66 |
|
Interest-bearing deposits | | 49,156 |
| | 84 |
| | 0.17 |
| | 64,032 |
| | 113 |
| | 0.18 |
| | 27,753 |
| | 33 |
| | 0.12 |
|
Federal funds sold | | 1,672 |
| | 1 |
| | 0.06 |
| | 1,620 |
| | 1 |
| | 0.06 |
| | 923 |
| | 1 |
| | 0.11 |
|
Total interest-earning assets | | 2,510,247 |
| | 102,056 |
| | 4.07 | % | | 2,345,492 |
| | 97,936 |
| | 4.18 | % | | 2,161,438 |
| | 97,951 |
| | 4.53 | % |
Noninterest-earning assets: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Cash and due from banks | | 13,605 |
| | | | | | 13,884 |
| | | | | | 12,692 |
| | | | |
Allowance for loan losses | | (30,363 | ) | | | | | | (33,512 | ) | | | | | | (28,699 | ) | | | | |
Premises and equipment | | 52,666 |
| | | | | | 40,830 |
| | | | | | 33,982 |
| | | | |
Other real estate | | 26,327 |
| | | | | | 37,469 |
| | | | | | 37,172 |
| | | | |
Other assets | | 143,277 |
| | | | | | 138,982 |
| | | | | | 128,591 |
| | | | |
Total assets | | $ | 2,715,759 |
| | | | | | $ | 2,543,145 |
| | | | | | $ | 2,345,176 |
| | | | |
Liabilities and shareholders' equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Interest-bearing liabilities: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Demand and money market | | $ | 722,448 |
| | $ | 1,889 |
| | 0.26 | % | | $ | 648,734 |
| | $ | 1,806 |
| | 0.28 | % | | $ | 581,577 |
| | $ | 1,610 |
| | 0.28 | % |
Savings | | 316,439 |
| | 1,147 |
| | 0.36 |
| | 317,845 |
| | 1,319 |
| | 0.41 |
| | 342,806 |
| | 1,169 |
| | 0.34 |
|
Time | | 681,915 |
| | 6,671 |
| | 0.98 |
| | 719,205 |
| | 7,293 |
| | 1.01 |
| | 679,940 |
| | 8,294 |
| | 1.22 |
|
Total interest-bearing deposits | | 1,720,802 |
| | 9,707 |
| | 0.56 |
| | 1,685,784 |
| | 10,418 |
| | 0.62 |
| | 1,604,323 |
| | 11,073 |
| | 0.69 |
|
Federal funds purchased | | 16,947 |
| | 116 |
| | 0.68 |
| | 23,071 |
| | 174 |
| | 0.75 |
| | 29,003 |
| | 228 |
| | 0.79 |
|
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase | | 15,064 |
| | 23 |
| | 0.15 |
| | 15,470 |
| | 21 |
| | 0.14 |
| | 13,007 |
| | 28 |
| | 0.22 |
|
Other short-term borrowings | | 100,529 |
| | 259 |
| | 0.26 |
| | 82,446 |
| | 582 |
| | 0.71 |
| | 78,769 |
| | 1,050 |
| | 1.33 |
|
Subordinated debt | | 46,393 |
| | 1,113 |
| | 2.40 |
| | 60,926 |
| | 2,733 |
| | 4.49 |
| | 67,527 |
| | 4,242 |
| | 6.28 |
|
Long-term debt | | 1,973 |
| | 8 |
| | 0.41 |
| | 8,082 |
| | 33 |
| | 0.41 |
| | 18,729 |
| | 457 |
| | 2.44 |
|
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | 1,901,708 |
| | 11,226 |
| | 0.59 | % | | 1,875,779 |
| | 13,961 |
| | 0.74 | % | | 1,811,358 |
| | 17,078 |
| | 0.94 | % |
Noninterest-bearing liabilities and shareholders' equity: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Demand deposits | | 539,023 |
| | | | | | 417,681 |
| | | | | | 329,150 |
| | | | |
Other liabilities | | 26,245 |
| | | | | | 23,228 |
| | | | | | 26,151 |
| | | | |
Shareholders’ equity | | 248,783 |
| | | | | | 226,457 |
| | | | | | 178,517 |
| | | | |
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | | $ | 2,715,759 |
| | | | | | $ | 2,543,145 |
| | | | | | $ | 2,345,176 |
| | | | |
Net interest income/spread | | | | $ | 90,830 |
| | 3.48 | % | | | | $ | 83,975 |
| | 3.44 | % | | | | $ | 80,873 |
| | 3.59 | % |
Net interest rate margin | | | | | | 3.62 | % | | | | | | 3.58 | % | | | | | | 3.74 | % |
(1) Interest income includes the effects of taxable-equivalent adjustment using a 35% tax rate
Rate/Volume Analysis
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | 2014 Compared to 2013 Variance Attributed to(1) | | 2013 Compared to 2012 Variance Attributed to(1) |
(in thousands) | | Volume | | Rate | | Net Change | | Volume | | Rate | | Net Change |
Loans(2) | | $ | 7,532 |
| | $ | (4,275 | ) | | $ | 3,257 |
| | $ | 8,183 |
| | $ | (7,176 | ) | | $ | 1,007 |
|
Investment securities(2) | | 72 |
| | 820 |
| | 892 |
| | (775 | ) | | (327 | ) | | (1,102 | ) |
Interest-bearing deposits | | (25 | ) | | (4 | ) | | (29 | ) | | 58 |
| | 22 |
| | 80 |
|
Federal funds sold | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total interest-earning assets | | $ | 7,579 |
| | $ | (3,459 | ) | | $ | 4,120 |
| | $ | 7,466 |
| | $ | (7,481 | ) | | $ | (15 | ) |
Interest-Bearing Deposits: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Demand and money market | | $ | 197 |
| | $ | (114 | ) | | $ | 83 |
| | $ | 187 |
| | $ | 9 |
| | $ | 196 |
|
Savings | | (6 | ) | | (166 | ) | | (172 | ) | | (90 | ) | | 240 |
| | 150 |
|
Time | | (391 | ) | | (231 | ) | | (622 | ) | | 458 |
| | (1,459 | ) | | (1,001 | ) |
Total interest-bearing deposits | | (200 | ) | | (511 | ) | | (711 | ) | | 555 |
| | (1,210 | ) | | (655 | ) |
Federal funds purchased | | (43 | ) | | (15 | ) | | (58 | ) | | (45 | ) | | (9 | ) | | (54 | ) |
Securities sold under agreements | | | | | | | | | | | | |
to repurchase | | (1 | ) | | 3 |
| | 2 |
| | 5 |
| | (12 | ) | | (7 | ) |
Other short-term borrowings | | 110 |
| | (433 | ) | | (323 | ) | | 48 |
| | (516 | ) | | (468 | ) |
Subordinated debt | | (549 | ) | | (1,071 | ) | | (1,620 | ) | | (384 | ) | | (1,125 | ) | | (1,509 | ) |
Long-term debt | | (25 | ) | | — |
| | (25 | ) | | (172 | ) | | (252 | ) | | (424 | ) |
Total interest-bearing liabilities | | $ | (708 | ) | | $ | (2,027 | ) | | $ | (2,735 | ) | | $ | 7 |
| | $ | (3,124 | ) | | $ | (3,117 | ) |
(1) The change in interest due to both rate and volume has been allocated to the components in proportion to the relationship of the dollar amounts of the change.
(2) Reflects fully taxable equivalent adjustments using a Federal tax rate of 35%.
Provision for Loan Losses
Management’s policy is to maintain the allowance for loan losses at a level sufficient to absorb probable incurred losses inherent in the loan portfolio as of the balance sheet date. The allowance is increased by the provision for loan losses and decreased by charge-offs, net of recoveries, net of amounts due from the FDIC under the loss sharing agreements for our FDIC-assisted transactions.
The provision for loan losses was $531,000 in 2014, $5.4 million in 2013, and $13.4 million in 2012. Net charge-offs were $6.7 million in 2014, compared to $6.9 million in 2013, and $10.4 million in 2012. The decrease in the provision in 2014, compared to 2013 was primarily due to improved credit quality in the loan portfolio and a decrease in net charge-offs. Average nonperforming assets were $62.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2014, compared to $75.9 million for the same period in 2013, a decrease of $13.9 million or 18.3%.
The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans outstanding at the end of 2014, 2013, and 2012 was 1.13%, 1.78% and 1.91%, respectively.
For additional information on asset quality, refer to the following discussions regarding loans, credit quality, nonperforming assets, and the allowance for loan losses.
Analysis of the Allowance for Loan Losses
The following table outlines the changes in our allowance for losses during the five-year period ended December 31, 2014. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | December 31, |
($ in thousands) | | 2014 | | 2013 | | 2012 | | 2011 | | 2010 |
Balance at beginning of year | | $ | 33,684 |
| | $ | 33,982 |
| | $ | 27,956 |
| | $ | 28,082 |
| | $ | 30,072 |
|
Charge-offs: | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial | | 5,440 |
| | 3,820 |
| | 1,080 |
| | 2,090 |
| | 1,264 |
|
Construction | | 361 |
| | 303 |
| | 3,476 |
| | 13,494 |
| | 11,274 |
|
Mortgage | | 180 |
| | 634 |
| | 653 |
| | 804 |
| | 656 |
|
Consumer | | 4,303 |
| | 4,993 |
| | 4,410 |
| | 5,638 |
| | 7,086 |
|
Covered | | 766 |
| | 300 |
| | 2,630 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Acquired Non-covered | | 94 |
| | 30 |
| | 77 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total charge-offs | | 11,144 |
| | 10,080 |
| | 12,326 |
| | 22,026 |
| | 20,280 |
|
Recoveries: | | | | | | | | | | |
Commercial | | 33 |
| | 425 |
| | 61 |
| | 86 |
| | 28 |
|
Construction | | 2,219 |
| | 682 |
| | 678 |
| | 596 |
| | 361 |
|
Mortgage | | 76 |
| | 106 |
| | 21 |
| | 44 |
| | 8 |
|
Consumer | | 1,424 |
| | 1,757 |
| | 1,193 |
| | 849 |
| | 768 |
|
Covered | | 627 |
| | 195 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Acquired non-covered | | 59 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Total recoveries | | 4,438 |
| | 3,165 |
| | 1,953 |
| | 1,575 |
| | 1,165 |
|
Net charge-offs | | 6,706 |
| | 6,915 |
| | 10,373 |
| | 20,451 |
| | 19,115 |
|
Provision for loan losses(1) | | 531 |
| | 5,440 |
| | 13,420 |
| | 20,325 |
| | 17,125 |
|
(Decrease) Increase in FDIC Indemnification Asset | | (2,059 | ) | | 1,177 |
| | 2,979 |
| | — |
| | — |
|
Balance at end of year | | $ | 25,450 |
| | $ | 33,684 |
| | $ | 33,982 |
| | $ | 27,956 |
| | $ | 28,082 |
|
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans | | 1.13 | % | | 1.78 | % | | 1.91 | % | | 1.72 | % | | 2.00 | % |
Allowance for loan losses as a percentage of loans, | | | | | | | | | | |
excluding covered loans and related allowance | | 1.12 | % | | 1.65 | % | | 1.88 | % | | 1.81 | % | | — | % |
Ratio of net charge-offs during period to average | | | | | | | | | | |
loans outstanding, net | | 0.33 | % | | 0.38 | % | | 0.60 | % | | 1.38 | % | | 1.44 | % |
(1) Net of benefit attributable to FDIC indemnification asset | | | | | | | | | | |
Net recoveries on construction loans increased by $1.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 to a net recovery in 2014 of $1.9 million, compared to net recovery of $379,000 in 2013. Net recoveries on construction loans improved during 2014 primarily due to a recovery of $1.5 million on one relationship during 2014.
Commercial net charge-offs increased $2.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2014 from $3.4 million in 2013 compared to $5.4 million in 2014. This increase was primarily the result of a few large loan charge-offs in 2014.
Noninterest Income
The categories of noninterest income, and the dollar and percentage change between the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013, are as follows:
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| For the Year Ended December 31, | | $ | | % |
($ in thousands) | 2014 | | 2013 | | Change | | Change |
Service charges on deposit accounts | $ | 4,438 |
| | $ | 4,156 |
| | $ | 282 |
| | 6.8 | % |
Other fees and charges | 4,349 |
| | 3,871 |
| | 478 |
| | 12.3 |
|
Mortgage banking activities | 55,781 |
| | 66,560 |
| | (10,779 | ) | | (16.2 | ) |
Indirect lending activities | 18,457 |
| | 9,040 |
| | 9,417 |
| | 104.2 |
|
SBA lending activities | 4,987 |
| | 3,640 |
| | 1,347 |
| | 37.0 |
|
Bank owned life insurance | 1,673 |
| | 1,273 |
| | 400 |
| | 31.4 |
|
Securities gains | — |
| | 189 |
| | (189 | ) | | (100.0 | ) |
Other | 5,635 |
| | 8,149 |
| | (2,514 | ) | | (30.9 | ) |
Total noninterest income | $ | 95,320 |
| | $ | 96,878 |
| | |